Container Gardening

I really love to dress up those small or large unusual containers. They bring great joy and life to any small space such as a patio or deck. The require less care, have less weeds and bloom the entire season. Vegetables, flowers and any variety or mix that you may like. I especially enjoy the brightly colored flowers in the early spring and late fall. A great site to check out for the northwest gardener is: pacifcnorthwestgardening.com There are so many wonderful ideas there and how to plant sections. Gardening in the Northwest can be challenging, but so worth the effort! Enjoy...

Pollen in the Garden

In the Fall season we do indeed have Pollen in the garden and outdoor areas of our homes. Most of the worst pollen comes from the trees and ragweed plants. To help minimize the problem: stay indoors on the worst days, wear a mask and washable clothing after being outdoors. Change clothing as to not bring the pollen indoors. Track the movement of the pollen in your own area on the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology website @ www.aaaai.com and the National Allergy Bureau @ 1-800-9-pollen. Many local newspapers and television stations also track this information. And if it gets too bad... simply garden indoors! Enjoy the lovely gardens in the Pacific Northwest....

Bring the Garden Indoors

Every year we know that we will miss our dear summer blooming flowers. My solution when the season changes is to bring some of the flowers indoors. Many varieties do very well in our homes. It is an efficient way to keep those plants healthy and to bring them forward into the spring. Get together your most unique containers and experiment with design, color of blooms and location of good light sources. Close to a window with natural light is always best. Transplant the garden variety of just about any outdoor plant into a work of art featuring a lovely living and blooming plant.( Just make sure to shake off any bugs first!) Geraniums, pansies, petunias, daisies, ivy, parsley, chives, peppers, just about any favorite plant will do. Turn your most interesting container into a delightful centerpiece with a small amount of design and imagination. A truly wonderful project for young and old to do together. Just be sure to add water! Have fun planting!

Wright Park Arboretum

Tacoma's Wright Park is located on twenty seven acres in downtown Tacoma Washington. The park contains over seven hundred trees, both of exotic and native northwest varieties. On site is the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory. Built in 1907 from three thousand five hundred panes of glass. It is home for five hundred and fifty plants in the permanent exhibit. In the spring of 2009 we visited a special event at the conservatory.

Northwest glass artist Dale Chihuli presented a mix of his work in a delightful blend of spring blossoms. Perhaps one of my favorite all time art presentations! The color of the flowers and the mixed media of glass sculptures and design was fabulous. Truly a feast for the eyes and our souls. The Arboretum was designed for just such a display. A beautiful historical landmark for all to enjoy. Easy to find and worth the trip for a visit. As always enjoy the simple way of life!

Pumpkins Trees

Ever wonder if Pumpkins grow on trees? Well , just maybe! The other day at Trader Joe's grocery store we saw the most unique plant. Looks just like the photo on this page. $6.99 for one stem. Did not purchase the stem because I did not know if it was real or not. As it turns out, it is! The Pumpkin Tree is commonly used in ornamental flower arranging. Especially in the fall of the year. It is a member of the Solanum Integrifolium family, known by other names, Japanese golden eggs, tomato eggplant, Chinese Scarlett eggplant. Most being sold here are grown in San Diego county, California. It is very popular because of its novel look and appearance that resembles a lovely fall pumpkin. Might just have to try to grow these next spring as they have intrigued my growing spirit once more! A truly unique and unusual plant to enjoy! A delight for children to see in their gardens...

Mukilteo garden stories, continued.

Early today I wrote about the city park on Mukilteo's waterfront. I forgot the most interesting item... the Lighthouse and quarters park. Can't believe I did that. Sorry! So this will become the second part. The old Mukilteo Lighthouse is one of many in the state of Washington. It has had much work and restoration to the buildings and the adjoining grounds. It is one of the most photographed sites in the northwest. During the summer months, volunteers take interested persons on tours, you can even climb the narrow stairwell to the top where the beacon is stored. You can also take a look into the museum, that is carefully tended by community volunteers and donations are welcome. If you are lucky enough during your visit, you may even see a wedding or birthday in progress! The Lighthouse is together with the city park, making it easy for parking, beach trekking, eating and overall sightseeing. A wonderful place to spend an afternoon or the entire day. A small oasis in the northwest! My very favorite Lighthouse and park! Enjoy your visit!

Mukilteo garden stories

Many years ago I lived in a lovely quaint "city by the sea," it is perhaps one of the most beautiful and scenic places I have ever visited or made a home. The natural shape of the landscape lends itself to magnificent views and even better sunsets over the Olympic mountains, peninsula and Whidbey Island. We have so many fond memories of this community. They have a spectacular waterfront park in the heart of the old town area. It was a state park, but now a city park. Several hundred feet of small pebbles and stone beach. Baseball and soccer fields, picnic area, tables, restrooms, and a Ivar's seafood restaurant adjoining the park. A great place to spend a saturday afternoon flying kites, or fishing off the dock next to the boat launch ramp. Close in to shops and fairly good on site parking. Pack a lunch and head to a great beach park... A a truly rare find in the metropolis we call Mukilteo. Check it out summer or winter for a great day in a northwest park...