A Word of Warning
Beware the shining geranium

A small but perniciously invasive plant is headed to a yard near you. And trust me, this is not a plant you want in your own … Continue reading
We've got issues.
A small but perniciously invasive plant is headed to a yard near you. And trust me, this is not a plant you want in your own … Continue reading
Join us while spring is in the air for a festival to celebrate both the inaugural Fiddlehead Festival and the opening of the new Wildcraft … Continue reading
At a plant sale last year I found some nice specimens of Solomon’s seal wrongly placed on a table reserved for Oregon native plants. And … Continue reading
In response to my March column about the scourge of shining geranium, local resident Alan Van Zuuk has provided more detail on how to control … Continue reading
Years ago a chiropractor who was into nutrition told me that salads should be composed of at least nine ingredients. Or was it seven? Plain … Continue reading
Cheer up! Yes, I know it’s bleak outside, but every day brings a few more minutes of daylight and new intimations of spring — and … Continue reading
After months of getting out early to harvest the garden bounty and water the vegetable beds, fall is here and I have a little extra … Continue reading
Most gardeners would like to do a little less routine yard maintenance and spend more time being creative, or even relaxing. But the low maintenance … Continue reading
Don’t miss a golden opportunity to pick up some locally sourced native plants while supporting the efforts of the Friends of Buford Park and Mount … Continue reading
Snoop Dogg, in partnership with MERRY JANE, Uncle Snoop’s Army, and AEG Presents, officially announces the 2018 420 Wellness Retreat Tour. The 5th Annual Wellness … Continue reading
Planning is one of the most important elements of gardening. It is also one of the easiest steps to overlook, especially for the beginner. Knowing … Continue reading
It looks like the school garden concept is getting some serious respect from the 4J school district. Just look at the spanking new Howard Elementary … Continue reading
What’s the most cost-effective crop you can grow in a small space? Many commercial growers agree that it’s culinary herbs, and I think this may … Continue reading
Significant rain in early October is a boon to gardeners who value the fall gardening season. This goes in spades for those of us who … Continue reading
August went by in flash, as usual. Daily watering chores. Jam making. An ocean of applesauce. After a week’s vacation in a cabin by the Metolius, I somehow carved out time to think about the fall and winter vegetable garden. Space must be carved out, too, and I’m grateful for any crops that can go in after the pole beans and tomatoes are torn out in October. But starts of red Russian kale, my favorite for winter eating, need to go in as soon as possible. By October what you see is more or less what you get until growth starts up again in March. Continue reading
Not every garden in the Willamette Valley has super river-bottom silty loam. If your soil sets up like concrete when it’s dry it probably holds lots of moisture in the winter. Some wonderful summer blooming perennials have a problem with that. I’m thinking in particular of the many ravishing cultivars of agastache (ag-ah-STAK-ee) and salvia that have hit the market in recent decades. Lots of them need really good drainage to over-winter reliably in our region. Continue reading
A few weeks ago, I ran into Steve Solomon and Marina McShane at the Lane County Farmers Market. This meeting was remarkable for two reasons. One, Solomon, a guru of Northwest vegetable gardening and founder of Territorial Seed Company, has lived in Tasmania since 1998. Two, McShane had recently given me a copy of a book she and Solomon wrote together. Continue reading