Clethera alnifolia, or Summersweet as it is commonly called, is a delightful deciduous shrub that hails from our very own east coast and grows along the entire eastern United States.
What gives Summersweet its name is the flowers, which come in either white or pink on three to five inch racemes.
Everybody loves hydrangeas. After the cacophony of spring has passed and all the rhodies and azaleas are out of bloom, hydrangeas pick up the baton and continue with the parade of color in our gardens.
Ferns are an amazing group of plants. They are among some of the oldest plants to still inhabit the earth. Ever since I was a young child I have been drawn to their delicate and soothing foliage.
Pruning happens multiple times as does weeding, but the best task of all that gets to happen almost year ‘round is planting.
There isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t find some new treasure on the benches in the nursery that I have to take home and try out in my garden. It just so happens that this week that plant is a perennial lobelia.
The Whistling Gardener explains the the history and characteristics of modern roses. Even he had to use the Internet to research aspects of this subject!
June is a fabulous month to be gardening in the Northwest. The soils have warmed up adequately and the air temp is very pleasant. There’s lots of daylight, so we can get out after work and still get plenty done.
Gardeners have options when it comes to selecting plants that are low water users and once established, many of these shrubs, trees, and perennials can manage quite well with occasional deep watering.
When I hear the word “dogwood” I am immediately transported back to a time in my life when I was living on the east coast in Virginia serving my country as a trumpet player in the 392nd Army Band. If you have ever lived in that part of the country, then you probably have noticed the similarities between our state and Virginia.
As a garden center owner, I am thrilled to see everyone return for another season, but I always feel compelled to remind everyone that we can plant almost year around in the northwest. Don’t feel like you have to do it all in the next couple of weeks. There is plenty of time.
One of the things that always gets me all twitterpated this time of year is “new growth” - it is so clean and incredibly vibrant.
Even if you are a casual gardener, you should really spend some time looking closely at your plants as the new foliage unfolds for the season. It is a sight to behold.
As houses continue to get larger and yards smaller, it is becoming more and more challenging to find the space to plant everything that we would love to have in our gardens.
It can become a real design challenge to maximize the space we have to work with.
The Whistling Gardener has been employed on and off in the horticultural industry since he was 14 and during that time he has heard just about every conceivable crazy idea about what to do and what not to do in the garden. Here are a few from the top of his list.
April is a tortuous month for me. While it is clear that spring has arrived in the garden, the weather still feels like winter with only an occasional sunny day here and there to try and cram in all the chores that need to be done.
