Roozengaarde Gardens

These are the most special spring gardens in Mount Vernon, Washington. They are by name, Roozengaarde bulb gardens. On my last trip Grandma Emma was along. We walked the fields, got mud on our shoes, took photos, and enjoyed the afternoon. A very nice memory!

Spring in the Northwest

Soon to be..... they will bloom again....

Spring in the Northwest

Spring is my favorite time of year in the Northwest, we long to see the sunshine return and make the days bright and beautiful once again....

Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania

I thought this was a great Holiday garden . Like to see this and thought all of you would enjoy it also....

Dancing Tree

The reason for this tree? Of course, to teach us that we are all connected to nature in so many distinct and interesting ways.... Open your eyes and look carefully...

Hood Canal , Washington

This is still one of the most pristine areas in the entire state... Raw and natural beauty are at their finest. Hood Canal is a fisherman's paradise, clams, oysters, boating, swimming, water skiing and canoeing are just some of the outdoor activities. Paradise found...

Mt.Hood Meadows

Mt.Hood is located in Oregon, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, winter or summer for great times in the mountains! Enjoy the beauty of nature at its finest...

Mt. Rainier, Washington

Mt. Rainier in all of its splendor! Simple and beautiful, full of nature and wonder...This photo is one in a million! @ sunset...

Hurricane Ridge, Washington

This is one of the best kept secrets in Washington for skiing, snowboarding, and hiking... Located on the Olympic peninsula, close to Port Angeles... Stunning views too... At twilight.... hurricaneridge.com for more info...

Crystal Mountain

Crystal Mountain ski resort and trails are located in Mt. Rainier National Park... A spectacular park, with so much to offer. Winter is a favorite for skiers and summer for hiking and picnicking... A must see in ones lifetime... a Scott Markewitz photo...

Soldier Mountain

Located in Idaho, Soldier Mountain ski resort is a great park, winter, spring or summer. This is just one beautiful photo!

Bibler Gardens

Bibler Gardens is located in Kalispell, Montana. When you are in Montana, stop and take a walk in this fabulous garden. Oasis in Montana....

Raab Park, P-Patch

Raab park and P-patch are located in the heart of Poulsbo, Washington. Small and quaint and provides so much fun for all ages... @ kitsapnow.com When in Poulsbo, stop by for a visit...

Bloedel Reserve

This is a very nice park and garden, located on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Bloedel Reserve is truly a rare find and is worth the drive or the ferry ride to visit there. It is open by reservations only, so take note... Their website is: bloedelreserve.org Always enjoy the gardens of the northwest...

Volunteer Park Conservatory

This is a very old part of this gem in the middle of Seattle. The Volunteer Park Conservatory is well kept and full of all kinds of unique tropical plants in the winter season. Their website is: volunteerparkconservatory.org A great place for a picnic or see both of their wonderful museums. Always art in the park...

Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens

This is a beautiful garden located in Woodland, Washington.(Almost to Portland, Oregon) They have mostly Lilacs, but a little bit of all your favorite spring blooms. They sell lilacs also, in a rainbow of colors. A feast for the eyes! It is open 365 days every year for our enjoyment. More information @lilacgardens.com

Butchart Gardens, B.C.

This is one of the best gardens on the planet... Visited there a few years ago... It has the " Wow" factor! On any given day in the summer, you can see a wedding in this very spot. Truly beautiful and well kept... A day for a walk in the park of beauty!

Point Defiance Park and Gardens

This city park has so many different areas, a zoo, a Japanese garden, tennis courts, meeting hall and wedding areas, rose garden, picnic areas and a fabulous beach park. All in one! See for yourself @ pdza.org

Woodland Park, Rose Garden

The Woodland Park Zoo and Rose Garden are in Seattle, Washington. The Rose Garden is spectacular and well tended. The colors and scents are fabulous! A great place to stroll on a summer day!

Allendale Gardens

Allendale Gardens in Australia... what a lush and gorgeous garden.... Enjoy!

Lighting up the garden for the holidays

These are some of the most beautiful lights of the season... lighting up the night sky... simple and plain, but so nice...

Poinsettia

One of my favorite seasonal flowers, simple and oh so lovely!

Gardens in the Northwest

We have many beautiful gardens in the Northwest, even in the winter. Lots to do and see! One that is a show stopper every year is " Molbaks Annual Festival of Poinsettias in Woodinville, Washington" Begins on Nov. 6 and goes till after the holidays. Check out 35 varieties and the extra large Poinsettia Tree. Gardening northwest style will bring a big smile to your face! Call ahead for directions, fairly easy to find.... enjoy the entire day in this quaint part of the northwest.

Daniel Stowe Garden, North Carolina

Organic Gardening

Organic Gardening is a great gift for the green and organic garden enthusiast. I really like reading their magazine and using their website. Full of good and practical ideas to have a successful natural garden. I never use any chemicals in the garden, ever. Most of the time it works! If it doesn't I just start over and try again. Working in the soil is a good stress reliever! Try it sometime.... the website is organicgardening.com , always some concise information and a good read. Happy gardening...

Green Gifts

This year may well be the year to change your spending for the holiday gift. Think about a different kind of gift. One for many will be new and unique! How about a " Green Gift" a favorite tree, potted tulips, a gardening class certificate, vegetable seeds, a fruit tree along with the muscle to till the soil. These can be great for a family or friend and will be so much appreciated in the spring! Lots of fun and maybe healthy too. Surprise someone with something "Green" and enjoy the special days of the holidays...

Fall Leaves

Today has been a lovely day for working in the Northwest Garden. Blue sky, some fantastic large white clouds and yes sunshine! Love these days, however I do not like all the leaves I have to take away just to get to my door. Every morning I'm greeted with Oak and Locust leaves covering everything in site... Oh, my gosh! Just too many to appreciate their great colors and style. In the summer they move, provide shade and give a nice look to our yard. But in the Fall, nothing but a mess! What is a girl to do? I get moving and cleaning everyday! Keeping me busy and also helps my bones and muscles stay young and healthy! Being in the fresh cool air is also a bonus. With winter just around the corner, the rain will be keeping us indoors more and more. I cherish these beautiful days cause I know the gray days are coming soon... You too can enjoy the time in the garden if we always look for the fantastic beauty with every season.

Finegardening magazine

This is a very nice online site, full of great ideas for gardeners everywhere. I often look online for clever ways to reuse containers, rescue plants, take cuttings and bulb division. The site is full of lovely photos also. Take a look @ finegardening.com for their online version. There are so many good ideas online now, especially for the winter gardener. Love the earth!

10 seeds to save from the garden

Saving seeds has long been a way of restoring my garden with no cost to me or the friends that receive them. It is interesting to see just how they dry and then return to life in the soil in the springtime. The ten are as follows: 1.Poppies, dry in the pod.2. Calendula, dry outdoors and large , easy to store.3. Hollyhocks, germinate in cool soil. 4.Sunflowers, easy to dry outdoors, just keep from the birds. 5. Cosmos, they dry on bloom. 6.Echinacea (coneflower) 7. Morning Glories, seeds are prolific. 8. Petunias, can be a little tricky, but worth it. 9. Nicotania, will dry outdoors. 10. Amaranthus, tiny seeds. With a little help your spring garden will be wonderful. Some planning and seed saving can save and be very rewarding also. Most seeds dry well and should be stored in a cool place in a plastic container once fully dried. Have fun and Happy gardening to you... Spring is just a short time away!

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...

Curran Apple Orchard Park

In the Northwest we are blessed with many great neighborhood parks. This is one that is very unusual. The Curran Apple Orchard Park is perhaps the only one in the USA. The park is located in the small urban community of University Place, Washington state. A city of approximately 30,000 can boast of its wonderful park system, but this is simply unique. Hundreds of apple trees of all varieties are situated on seven acres of gently sloping ground. A rock climbing playground for children, bee hives, bat and bird houses, park benches, picnic tables, and a lovely outdoor stage where concerts are held in the summer months .In September, a large cider squeeze with food and lots of music, truly a great event. It is public and can be accessed every day of the year. A group of volunteers called CORE help with park maintenance and costs. You can even adopt a tree for a mere thirty five dollars per year. You tend the apple tree and also get the harvest in the fall. Such a bargain! This is a great place for a walk or picnic anytime. A must see as a Northwest garden any time of year. More information is available at: www.curranappleorchard.com, check it out when you have the time. Enjoy!

Summer Carnations

Garden Anywhere

To grow your own produce is very rewarding. A patio, deck, porch or a full scale backyard garden can help us achieve better health in many ways. The exercise is great for our staying in shape and eating foods that are free from chemicals. So many benefits! Grow your own, eat better!, live longer.

Farmers Markets

In the Pacific Northwest we have many wonderful farmers markets during the week and on weekends. Saturday is the busiest I've noticed. I shop for organic produce and fresh flowers. They are usually of the best quality, very fresh and a great price. Usually below the competitors! You can find complete listings online for your specific area. Saturday local markets on Proctor in Tacoma, and Belfair on Hood Canal are two quaint and always good places to shop. In Belfair, plants and lovely flowers are in large demand, so be there early. Happy organic shopping!

Design

My wonderful and talented daughter helped design this page. She is so good with all the computer devices. She has an eye for color design also... Thank you!

First Day of Summer!

Today is the official "first day of summer." On this day we can dream that the sunshine will return to bless our gardens with multitude of fresh produce! We have done our job, now the sun will have to do the rest. Lots of rain makes our gardens grow, but without the sun it is slow growing. We are ready for the return... we need to put our garden boots away and instead get our sun hats ready. Happy first day of summer to our gardens! Grow, grow, grow! Keep gardening always!

Gardening Northwest Style

In the Pacific Northwest we have a moderate climate for growing just about any type of plant, shrub or tree. The recent abundance of rain has made the plants a most vibrant shade of green. Just like living in a jungle! The lush velvet new growth on all the plants makes a good backdrop for a spectacular garden. However, many fruits, such a strawberries, are actually molding on the vine this year, which will eventually make the fruit much more expensive. We need the sunshine to come back! Hopefully this will be the week for its return. Day by day we will return to a typical northwest weather pattern that will bring an amazing growing season again. Looking forward to tomatoes, corn, raspberries, apples, and carrots from our home gardens. Large or small. Happy northwest gardening!

Fragrant Cloud Rose

My very favorite Rose for all of my adult life has been a very popular coral to red lovely blossom called "Fragrant Cloud." It was bred by TanTau in 1967 in Germany, also known as "Duftwolke." It is a modern Hybrid tea rose bush. It has large, highly fragrant blooms that last on the bush or as a cut flower in a vase for many days.

The scent is strong, rich and luxurious.The color is sharp and full-bodied. Well shaped double petals, and lovely dark green foliage. They bloom in late spring and continue all summer in most regions. The Pacific Northwest provides an ideal climate for this fabulous tea bush rose. My mother's starts the bloom cycle in May, and weather permitting, through sometime in mid-November. When you bring the blooms indoors, the fragrance will fill the house with the luscious scent. A true joy for that lucky person who has this great tea rose in their garden. Everyone should have at least one of these in their garden... more if possible. Enjoy your "fragrant cloud rose!"