Agave in a Turkish field. We are so very lucky to live in the Pacific Northwest. I’m telling you this, as if you didn’t already know. We are even luckier to be gardening in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). The more I travel to different places and take note of their climate and available plant material, the more I realize how truly lucky we are. We can plant almost anything here. It’s kind of crazy. Even plants that you think, “No way, we can’t plant that here,” like olive trees, agave (my... more

When the days grow short and the blustery Winnie-the-Pooh weather sets in, it’s time to tuck in your garden beds, store the tools, take a few months’ break from your outside chores, and settle in for a cozy fall and winter. Now, it’s really no secret that I really love fall. Love is actually an incredible understatement. Even my most patient friends, employees, and husband are sick to death of me wandering around saying, “Can you believe the colors on those trees?” But as much as I adore... more

Why would anyone want to convert a 100 year old garage into a gardening shed? Because they can? No. They can’t. So says the building department at the City of Portland, OR. When Kathi Wells of Laurelhurst first explained to me her desire to convert their rickety garage into a gardening shed, I thought, “No problem.” Wrong. Foolishly, I drew up the plans to replace the garage with a shed of exactly the same dimensions and overall appearance as the original garage, which was a virtual... more

I was recently thinking about when I first started gardening, and I’m amazed at how much my garden and I have changed over time. When I bought my house, having a garden did not even occur to me… gardening was weeding for my mother in high school. Blech… not much to like about that. My style is so different now than when I first started out. I guess that is how it always goes, isn’t it? The types of garden spaces I am attracted to have changed drastically as well as the type of plants. When... more

We’ve been lucky to have such a mild winter. Things are raring to go in my garden and yours as well, I’m sure. The birds are singing, daffodils are blooming, and I’m digging around my garden like a wild woman. That being said, this month I’m talking about a new-ish trend in indoor plants. Not so new really, more like a resurgence of a trend from the 1970s. Isn’t it funny how everything just comes around full circle every 20 to 30 years? You would have to be living under a rock to not have... more

If you have read my column more than once, you are well aware that I am a total garden geek. A garden is an ever-changing performance art project. I love a good garden. I also love plants, and I love, love outdoor furniture, and adore how, when done right, it all comes together. So I guess having a career as a garden designer as well as an interior designer was a really obvious choice for me. How lucky am I to get to wallow around in the dirt and get paid for doing it! This morning I visited with... more

Tucked away on a quiet side street in a peaceful neighborhood in north Portland is a small business on an oversized lot. It boasts one really big garden. A design studio. And a nursery. There’s also a client base that travels up the west coast to buy plants and order custom woodwork. This enterprise is called Bamboo Craftsman, and the company has grown its reputation largely through word-of-mouth, charming designs, and the owner’s business savvy. Bamboo Craftsman’s 2,000 sq ft showroom... more

Helleborus Orientalis 'Red Lady' in a winter garden. I don’t know about you, but this fall season has really snuck up on me. I simply cannot believe how fast this year has gone by. I swear, New Year’s Day 2011 seems like yesterday. Okay, so maybe it is. Or maybe it’s because we had such a late start to our good gardening weather. I don’t know, but it sure feels weird. As I write this article and look out in my garden, fall is clearly here and we are well on our way to winter. Again,... more