The fronds of Maidenhair Fern nod on slender black stems. Their horizontal orientation and gently curving black-veined pinnae remind me of green hands hovering over the forest floor, blessing the denizens of the duff: sow bugs, black beetles, microscopic creeping critters, long-toed salamanders, mosses, and of course, congenial companion species — Piggy-back Plant (Tolmiea menziesii) […]

Stop what you’re doing for a moment, look out of the window, and take a long, hard look at your fall garden.  What do you see? I’m sure there are individual trees or shrubs that are breathtaking, but are they shown off to their best advantage? Do they read as random sparks here and there,…

Land acknowledgment. We would like to begin by acknowledging that we live, work, and gather on the ancestral homelands of the Coast Salish Peoples, who have lived in the Salish Sea basin, throughout the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades watershed, from time immemorial. Please join us in expressing our deepest respect and gratitude […]

As we move into the fall season and shift our containers from summer to an autumn and winter theme, one of the major staples to consider is the genus Heuchera…

When I am weary of humans, I look to nature and digging in the dirt for hope and connection to creation. And I am reminded always that I am a part of that dirt, that I am one bit of nature, along with nematodes, fungal filaments, plants and people. That recognition prepares me to again […]

How seriously do we consider plants in our indoor spaces? Are houseplants just for decoration or can they do more?

If we’re lucky, October days are crisp and sunny with just enough rainfall to keep everything green and thriving. No matter what the weather, fall color is at its peak this month. Although most of the summer annuals have stopped blooming, stunning foliage takes their place and keeps color in the garden with warm yellows […]

Fall is a great time for composting. Not only for building your own bin with colorful fallen leaves, but also for top dressing your garden! Spreading compost over a garden bed, then covering it with mulch will encourage growth of soil organisms that will be super beneficial come springtime! Break-down of Benefits: • Encourages the […]

With the advent of September and autumn, the cooler nights are a time to give yourself a brief respite after the summer and refresh your vegetable garden with a cover crop. Cover crops, also called green manure, are very beneficial to the “tilth” (structure, or physical suitability for planting) of your soil. Sown in the […]

Now that we have had a few good soaking rains, some of you might think that the gardening season is over. But as you might expect, I am here to inform you that there are at least 2 more good gardening months to look forward to…