Tuesday, April 1, 2014

April Fools? Just Spring in Central Oregon

I awoke this morning to a vision of winter outside my window.  At first I was surprised but then I remembered that in Central Oregon, anything goes really when it comes to weather and it's actually not an April Fools joke by Mother Nature.



My daughter is convinced that it is still Winter even though I have explained that it really is Spring, at least it's not freezing anymore.  That is one thing I tell my clients over and over, it is not so much our planting zone but the unpredictability of our weather that makes it more difficult to garden here in Bend and Central Oregon.

 
My hardy Rugosa Rose will be fine even though it has been budding out and greening up.  Hardy plants that can take our erratic weather patterns are the best choices for a successful garden as well as plant diversity.

Mother Nature couldn't have chosen a better day to make it snow, but I know that it is still Spring and I'm planning my garden anyways.

Happy Gardening!

Monday, March 10, 2014

It sure feels like Spring to me!

The weather was so gorgeous last Friday that I spent most of the afternoon cleaning up my garden and soaking up the warm air. 

Spring is such a gorgeous time of year, full of new hope, flip flops, spring bulbs and new plans.  I love the return of leaves on the trees, warm earth and new plants. 

First Daffodil of Spring
 
 
 
So many catalogs and magazines have inspired me these past few months, my favorite being "The American Gardener" by the American Horticultural Society.  A recent article was about the new plants for 2014.  It's just amazing what the plant breeders can come up with! 
 
Here are some of my faves that will grow in Central Oregon:
 
 
Echinacea purpurea Supreme 'Cantaloupe by Terra Nova Nurseries
 
 
 
'Rose Bells' Pasqueflower by Jelitto Seed

This is a gorgeous re-blooming Daylily from Walters Garden, 'Midnight Raider'
 
Coreopsis always do well in Central Oregon, and this one has a great yellow and red color,
this is 'Bengal Tiger' from Terra Nova Nurseries


I am planning on growing carrots this year and there is a great new selection from Johhnys Selected Seeds called the 'Adelaide' carrot.  It matures in about 55 days and is a baby carrot at 3-4 inches long at maturity, perfect for my daughter!

Happy Gardening!








 



Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Creating Outdoor Spaces

I am working with a fantastic outdoor lifestyles contractor idea generator Backcountry Builders on an amazing backyard remodel and we are generating lots of ideas for creating a relaxing, inviting, outdoor scape for entertaining and lounging.
It must be on everyone's mind right now because I just came across an article in Garden Design titled "Eat, Play, Lounge". Lot of great ideas for large or small outdoor areas, my favorite is the wooden lounge deck:




What a great space for picnics, plays, painting, dancing.......

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Time to Design!

It is the beginning of a new year and thoughts of new ideas for my garden are brewing.  Spring will be here soon enough, what would you like to do this year?



Thank you to Seed Savers Exchange for the thoughtful quote. 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Fall Colors in Central Oregon

I always say that I love spring the best for all the hope and brightness it brings, but right now, with these amazing stunning colors, I am loving Fall.

Check out some of these amazing sites....

Stunning Red Maples!


Deep blue sky with yellow leaves......
 

Such a variety!
 

I love this contrast of the Blue Atlas Cedar in front of a maple tree.
 

Sand Cherry is a great hardy shrub and the fall colors are gorgeous!
 
 
A great example of the red branches of Red Twig Dogwood!


Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Planting Bulbs

What a lovely time of year! As I am wrapping up my garden one of my tasks is to plant spring bulbs which always invokes feelings of positive anticipation and makes me look forward to next year when the little surprises will poke their sunny little heads up in my garden.

Here are some steps to getting the most out of your bulbs:

1.  First, place your bulbs.  I usually plant in natural looking groups throughout the garden.


2.  Rake the bark mulch away and dig the soil to below the proper depth for your bulbs to allow room for organic soil amendment.  This helps to improve the drainage crucial for bulbs and adds nutrients.



3.  Add compost soil amendment and bulb fertilizer to ensure healthy and robust bulbs.


4.  Place your bulbs at the proper depth, tips up, roots down and sprinkle with a little more fertilizer, add more compost, fill with native soil and rake your bark mulch back over. 


5.  Look forward to the spring display!

Other hints and tips: Remember that deer love tulips so only plant them where they are protected from the deer.  Otherwise Daffodils, Narcissus, Alliums, Crocus, Hyacinth, Muscari, Frittilaria, Glory of the Snow, Miniature Iris, Siberian Squill and more.  Check out Deer Resistant Bulbs for more info and remember to stop by your local nursery.




Monday, September 23, 2013

Landscape Design Projects 2013

Since I have posted since forever, you must all be wondering what have I been up to?  Quite a lot it seems.  Below are some of the projects I have been doing this year, enjoy!

Water Feature, NE Bend

The backyard was more or less a rock shelf covered in Juniper trees and shrubs which the owners had removed but were at a loss as to how to make their backyard into the beautiful and bird friendly paradise they wanted. 


See all those rocks?  I brought in about 12 yards of garden mix soil amendment plus 3/8" gravel fines to make paths as a first step.  That gave me a few inches of good soil for planting (no joke!  the owner rented a jackhammer to plant some of the shrubs and small trees!).

Next step was to build a water feature.  I love boulders and the challenge of designing with water. I received such great help from Ewing's in NE Bend, thanks Molly!


We were able to dig about six inches down for the basin, the rest I had to build up.


That pond liner material is so cool!  I have some left over and wondering what kind of Halloween costume I could make out of it...

The structure is coming along, quite a puzzle getting all those Oregon Mossy Rocks to fit together.



Wow, the water feature is finished and it is gorgeous!!!  I look forward to getting it planted and filling in around it.



The soothing sound of water...