Unusual House Plants
Often times when we think of house plants, we neglect to think of the many outdoor plants that might make enjoyable and unusual house plants, if given the right conditions. Or if we cannot duplicate the right conditions, many will at least last for several weeks or longer and then taken back outdoors. But during this interval, we have been able to enjoy them indoors. Read More Read More
Donkey Tail
Photo by Rich Baer With the various growth characteristics, foliage colors and textures of sedums, it is always interesting to see how people use them. Sedum morganianum, often called ‘Donkey Tail’ is a sedum that has long trailing stems. In the Pacific Northwest, it would need to be brought indoors as a house plant in the winter but can easily be grown outdoors during the summer months. Donkey Tail needs fast-draining soil and with the addition... Read More
House Plant Ideas for Winter
While there are always many things we can be doing in our garden during the winter months, it is also a time to give some thought to different house plant ideas. Here in the Pacific Northwest, I have been doing quite a bit of transplanting in my outdoor garden, and as I am probably like many gardeners, I have plants in the wrong places. Short plants are behind tall plants and vice versa. Read More Read More
Succulents Squared
Succulent Square. Photo by Brian Jacob There are many fun things to do with succulents and a recent trend is to use them as pockets in a wall or planted in a wooden ‘picture’ frame and used either vertical or horizontal. In this particular photo, the wooden frame of succulents is part of a fence and notice the variety of colors and leaf shapes that have been used. This same succulent square could be used as a centerpiece on an outdoor table. Read More
Odd Poppy Seed Heads
Gardening should be fun and I love visiting a garden and seeing the unexpected. I especially like it when it makes be smile. These might be considered as odd looking poppy seed heads, and they certainly are. The owner of this garden painted them purple to compliment some purple flowers in the background. I have seen people stop and ponder these seeds heads and then ask the owner what variety they are! Read More
Abutilons as House Plants
Surprise your guests with an Abutilon in bloom as a house plant. As long as these Abutilons have a good light source, they perform well indoors and then can be planted outside in the spring. This particular Abutilon is called ‘Red Tiger’ and the flowers look like fine cut glass. It is an outstanding plant in a pot, either in a house or on a deck, and when people visit my garden and see this in bloom, they are amazed at the colors and pattern. Read More
Schefflera delavayi
Many of us are familiar with the houseplant Schefflera as it is fairly common and easy to grow. Several years ago I was given Schefflera delavayi and was told it was an outdoor plant that would grow in my Pacific Northwest garden. I was skeptical but planted it outside. Now, after several very cold winters, my plant is thriving with no winter damage, shiny green leaves, and growth to about six feet. It gets morning sun but is protected from hot... Read More
Lucky or Curly Bamboo
In my January Black Gold Featured Article, House Plant Ideas for Winter, I mentioned the houseplant Lucky Bamboo or Curly Bamboo (Dracaena sanderana), and that this is an excellent plant to use to encourage children to get involved with some of the wonders of gardening. Not only is the twisted stem a novelty but once the stems are placed in water, they quickly begin to form roots. I have found that children are often fascinated with this because... Read More
Christmas Trees, Wreaths, Paperwhites
Cut Christmas Trees When buying a cut tree at a lot, keep in mind that the tree has probably been cut for several weeks and it could even be several months. When the tree is cut, it is a natural response for it to seal off the cut in order to conserve moisture. Since the butt end is sealed, it can only absorb a small amount of water, if any. Read More Read More
Air Plants
One of the easiest house plants to take care of is the Tillandsia or often referred to as ‘air plants’. These will grow with no soil and as long as they are given light (not direct sun) and a weekly spray of water, will live for many years. Try placing them in a vase, as in the photo. There are many varieties of air plants to choose from and some will have much larger leaves than the group shown in the photo. Read More
Hydrangea ‘Shooting Star’
I think a plant makes an especially nice winter gift for the gardener if it is blooming and so can be enjoyed indoors and then later planted in the garden. Hydrangeas from a garden center (not a florist) are usually good choices. One of my favorites is Hydrangea ‘Shooting Star’. It blooms for a long period indoors and once spring has arrived, can be planted in the garden as a permanent plant. Read More
The Visitors: Garden Art
Garden art comes in many shapes, sizes and forms and often can reflect to something about the gardener. I love visiting gardens and seeing creative garden art that has been found, bought, or made. This past year one of the most original pieces I saw was a group of colored mannequin heads mounted on posts. In this garden, they looked as though they belonged and the owner titled them “The Visitors”. Make a resolution for 2012 to collect something... Read More
Saint Fiacre – Patron Saint of Gardening
The world of gardening is full of legends and one of my favorites is that of Saint Fiacre, the Irish Patron Saint of Gardening. Here he is in my garden among the fall color of a hydrangea. He has a prominent place and welcomes visitors. With our cool and wet weather, he has developed moss on his face which adds more character. This holiday season, I send you good wishes and happy gardening in 2012! Read More
A Gift Idea for the Gardener In Your Life
If you have a garden friend on your list that is needing a gift, think about Hydrangea ‘Limelight’. Here in the Pacific Northwest, this particular garden gift idea has proven to be an easy to grow and spectacular blooming plant and your garden friend will thank you next summer. In my garden, I mix Black Gold Soil Conditioner into the soil when planting. Read More
Rose Pruning for Fall
Fall is the time for rose pruning. Trim your roses to about waist high (3 ft). I like to take off the old leaves if they are still on the plant. Prune out any dead or diseased canes. Wait until mid February for the severe pruning of cutting canes to about 18 inches. Read More
Keeping Christmas Trees Fresh
If you are planning on getting a cut Christmas tree, before bringing it indoors, make a fresh cut about one inch from the butt. Immediately submerge in fresh water. No need to add a preservative, just don’t let the reservoir in the tree stand run out of water. Christmas trees will ‘drink’ heavily for first few days. Read More
Lion’s Tail and Itoh Peony
November is a great gardening month here in the Pacific Northwest. While we usually have some rain, we still get rain-less days making it ideal to work outside. This year has been no exception and while we have had rain, we have also had some sunny days. The rain has added much needed moisture to the soil and has made it easy to dig and cultivate. Since we have not had cold temperatures, the soil temperature is still relatively warm. This kind... Read More
Indoor Gardening With Black Gold®
There is no reason we need to stop gardening just because summer is ending and winter will soon be here. Many gardeners that I know ‘switch gears’ and set up a special place where they can continue to garden indoors. It might take a little more effort but it is worth it, not only with what you can grow, but the idea you have accomplished what some perceive as difficult. Think for a moment of the many summer herbs we have enjoyed in... Read More
Weeping Larch
~by Mike Darcy In my own garden, I have very few conifers, but I recently added a weeping larch (Larix deciduas ‘Pendula’). A deciduous conifer with a beautiful weeping form, soft needles, and wonderful fall color. This is a specimen tree – good for even a small garden. Plant it where you can see it all year. Read More
Fall Color of Coral Bark Maple
~by Mike Darcy The fall leaf color this year is truly outstanding. A good example is Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’ (Coral Bark Maple) which is a four season plant. Coral colored branches in winter, bright green leaves in summer which turn to golden yellow and make a striking contrast against the red bark. A good tree for a small garden; plant Coral Bark Maple where you can see it in winter. Read More
Ginkgo Biloba ‘Majestic Butterflies’
~by Mike Darcy Often when we think of a Ginkgo tree, we think of a very large, street-type tree that is not appropriate for many of today’s smaller gardens. Recently some new types have been developed that are very slow growing and even referred to as ‘dwarf’. A favorite of mine is Ginkgo biloba ‘Majestic Butterflies’, with beautiful variegated foliage; an excellent choice for a container. Read More
Prepare Your Garden for Fall Planting
~by Mike Darcy Here in the Pacific Northwest, autumn is certainly here. Temperatures are cooler, rains have begun (hopefully not continuously), and plants are beginning to show signs that their season is over. This is a wonderful time to visit an arboretum, if you have one, and absorb some of the fall colors. It is also an opportunity to visit your local garden center and see what is still looking good. You might be surprised at the color awaiting... Read More
Salvia ‘Wendy’s Wish’
Salvia ‘Wendy’s Wish’ This year I was introduced to a salvia called ‘Wendy’s Wish’. I have it in a container and in a location with full sun. It began blooming in June and it is still in flower now in early November. Discovered in the Australian garden of salvia enthusiast Wendy Smith, the flowers are deep rose fuchsia and have proven to be a hummingbird magnet. Read More
The Garden in September
~Written by Mike Darcy. Once September arrives and school starts, I consider summer over. I realize it is not “officially” over yet, but September is a time to relax and enjoy the garden and perhaps a time to scale back. Living here in the Pacific Northwest, some people will say that we had no summer, but we did, it just arrived late. Our spring was so wet and cool, it seemed as though summer did not happen until July. The spring weather frustrated... Read More
Enjoying Summer Gardening
Here it is July and summer has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest. It took quite a long time for this to happen as our spring was one of the coolest and wettest on record. But now that summer is here, what a glorious time of year it is. As some garden friends have told me; this is why we live here and perhaps it is because we have had such a gloomy winter that when we do see sun, it is a cause to celebrate. Finally summer herbs and vegetable... Read More
Transitioning from Cool to Warm Weather
~Written by Mike Darcy, photos by Rich Baer. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have finally had some sunny days and the temperature actually reached the 80′s. How nice it was to see the sun and what a wonderful feeling to get outside in the garden without a jacket. I always like to visit other gardens and made a recent visit to the garden of a friend to check on the status of the peas he had planted from seed earlier this spring. Since peas... Read More
Magnificent May Gardening
Written by Mike Darcy, photos by Rich Baer When I wrote my April article for this newsletter, I thought when May arrived we would surely have warm weather. While we have had a few warm days, overall it does not appear at all like spring. In the last few days we have continued to have cool/cold weather, some hail, and lots of rain. Trying to be optimistic, I am thinking the weather will change by mid month!! A neighbor recently came back... Read More
