As I pointed out last year, garden shows are a place for designers to do all the crazy shiznit that's over-the-top stunning, but also completely impractical, hard to maintain or otherwise unsuitable for life in the real world. But the wonderful … [Continue reading]
Starting up this Monday's fun we have the ever-delightful Christina from The Personal Garden Coach with a post on how to divide your Heuchera plants! After a few years, Heucheras start diminishing in their foliage and get a little leggy, and this, … [Continue reading]
Longtime readers will know I've been a fan of Fern's stylish blog Life on the Balcony for some time. Fern's like an approachable version of Martha Stewart for container gardeners - while her photos and ideas are gorgeously inspiring, her projects are … [Continue reading]
When creating a space for calm contemplation, what you leave out is much more important than what you put in. It’s as true in the garden as it is elsewhere; clutter isn’t soothing. Whether you’re creating a small nook for restful solace or … [Continue reading]
16 years ago, when I took my first horticulture class, The Sunset Western Garden Book was the very first book I bought. Its status in the West is such that I owned three copies by the end of my first year: one old edition which had the best basic … [Continue reading]
When I first bought my own home years ago, there was one fact that made me particularly happy: as a responsible grownup and a homeowner, I was now allowed to get any pets that I darn well wanted, so long as I could take good care of them. No … [Continue reading]
One of my most dreaded tasks is when clients have a hose that hasn't been rolled up properly, so it's bent and folded and won't go back into place. Being the responsible horticultural professional I am, if I touch something, I have to leave it … [Continue reading]
Yes, people, it's giveaway week here at North Coast Gardening. And I use the term "week" loosely as there will be more giveaways to come in the weeks after, including a rototiller, cold frame, and some other neat goodies. But first, some cool links … [Continue reading]
I grew up a big-city gal, so when I moved to Humboldt County to go to college, I was amazed to find a field of cows just outside the backyard of my apartment complex. Passing by each day, I'd watch them grazing with an odd sense of unreality. Cows! … [Continue reading]
When I tell people I live in coastal California, they get this delightful image in their heads of sunshine, warmth, and many opportunities to suntan. Unfortunately for my vitamin D quota, I live at the other end of the state. It's foggy, rainy, and … [Continue reading]
Kicking things off this week, we have two very cool giveaways, both for my favorite type of loot - books! Timber Press has a giant edible gardening giveaway happening right now where you can win five edible gardening books (including my fellow … [Continue reading]