They’re calling for gloom and doom tomorrow—ice and snow and more cold, blustery winds. A shock to humans and plants alike, who’ve just enjoyed the warmest August, September, and October in recorded history in Portland. As of yesterday, there were still roses, dahlias, asters, and marigolds blooming, among others. And fall color is still jamming, as you can see, though… Read more →
Wait! Before you rake those leaves up, let me get some pictures! Have you ever taken the time to truly appreciate the beauty of fallen leaves? I took a walk today looking down instead of up, and this is what I saw: Red maple (Acer rubrum) leaves strewn across the sidewalk. Not always red, their autumn leaves can also be orange… Read more →
Who said only trees and shrubs get to turn color in the fall? Some perennials get into the act, too, with colorful fall foliage. These plants really earn their keep in the garden—they also have blooms earlier in the year! The undisputed queen of perennials that turn color in fall is Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrictii). Its pale, steely blue flowers… Read more →
The rainy season has begun in Portland. It hasn’t been terribly cold, but we’ve had several fires in the fireplace. After a day of sloshing around in the garden, it’s nice to sit by the fire and dream of sunnier times. Like last week… We had one bright, sunny day last week, and I went looking for fall color. Here… Read more →
On this trip around the neighborhood, I check in on conifers. Upstaged by the flamboyant flowers of high spring—azaleas and rhododendrons, peonies, irises, and poppies—conifers are often overlooked this time of year, which is a shame. Although they don’t make a big spectacle, conifers are undergoing changes now, too. I love the contrast between the dark green old needles and… Read more →
In much of the country, April is a frenzy of blossoms–cherries and magnolias, crabapples, lilacs, and tulips. The landscape is flooded with new flowers, and they receive all the glory. Another, more subtle season also unfolds now, however. It is the season of tiny new leaves. Out they come in shades of bronze, silver, mustard, toffee, and lime green: maples… Read more →
March and April bring fresh new foliage back into our lives. I love to capture this special time of year in photos, so that I can better recall at any time of year the brilliance and translucency of those young spring leaves. But sometimes, when going through the day’s photos, I have found that they don’t capture the spirit of what I saw… Read more →
Not only do plants flower in a certain order, but they leaf out in a certain order, too, and some start to leaf even while frost is still a threat. Winter flowers like hellebores, crocuses, and daffodils hog the limelight in March, but our color-starved eyes are also glad to see new foliage. Look for the following early leafers to brighten up the… Read more →
Flowers are under attack. Have you noticed how many books and articles on garden design emphasize the importance of foliage to the point where flowers are entirely secondary? Many garden experts tell us that a sophisticated gardener overlooks the fleeting thrill of flowers and instead focuses, sensibly, on the form, texture, and color that foliage provides over the long haul. Once one… Read more →
