winter blues (and reds, yellows, greens….)

Having a dog means an outdoor adventure everyday.

kelp joy

This is especially important in winter when there is little to beckon you outside.  Here in the Pacific Northwest, where low light combines with heavy gray skies, winter can feel like this:

nope, this is not a black and white photo

If you look closely though, the winter landscape holds much color and beauty.  You just have to be a little more inquisitive.  We are fortunate to live about a mile from a fabulous waterfront park that was once an active military fort, Fort Ward, located on the south end of Bainbridge Island.

Recently taken over by the local parks department, Fort Ward was a state park for many years and fell into benign neglect…which I personally think suited it.  Improvements abound under the new owners.  The park offers dense forest, beaches, shrub rose thickets, old apple trees and crumbling moss covered gun mounts.  During the week in winter, it is deserted.  Today we (that would be the dog and I) grabbed the camera and headed to Fort Ward for our outdoor adventure.

“sounds good to me”

We slowed our usual pace, and looked closely at the winter landscape and found that while at initial glance, everything seems gray and brown – there is much color and excitement at close range. Without leaves and sun sparkles to distract you, elements that fade into the background during summer finally take center stage.  Shaggy moss covered trunks, sea foam green lichen dangling from branches, twiggy thickets that make you feel like a rabbit, washed up treasures on the beach and masses of vibrant rose hips and berries can be found around every corner in the park.

mossy gun mount

nature understands the color wheel

tides wash away the uplands revealing soil layers

“green roof” hobbit style

in the backdrop, a fading mansion that nature is reclaiming

A great adventure with the added benefit of rejuvenating a heart that misses the sun.

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a mini vacation at my desk

Now that I am deep into my fall installs where 15 hour days are the norm, it seems like ages ago when we took some time off and headed down to California.  In fact, it was just a few weeks ago.  We attended a family wedding in Montecito, then drove up the coast to Carmel where we stayed for a week.   Then up to SF for a quick spin around town before flying back to Seattle. 

I love long drives through changing landscapes. Watching the terrain and plants shift, noting where water must be (much more evident in the dry CA hills) and seeing the effect of agriculture on the landscape.  The bare and golden hills in CA are soothing, albeit an indicator of a harsh environment for plants.  Not all plants though.  Having last driven Big Sur over 15 years ago, I was shocked by the Cortaderia jubata (aka a form of pampas grass) that is rampant in this area.  We all have our invasives, but it was incredible how this grass is marching over the rugged terrain of Big Sur – wave after wave of plumes.  It was a bit surreal, actually.  I can’t imagine how they would begin to control this weed that has taken to impassable slopes.  In areas where the density was lower, you could see it beginning to spread down what were obviously drainage swales.   All and all it was a sobering experience and a good reminder for why we need to vet plants before unleashing them into an environment. 

On a more positive note, our time in Carmel was wonderful.  My high point was a visit to Point Lobos - if you are in the area, this is an absolute must stop.  Point Lobos and north of Carmel are the only two remaining spots where the Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) naturally grow.  This is the quintessential California cypress – craggy, twisted and hanging off of a cliff over the sea.  Not only are there plenty of cypress in Point Lobos, some covered in bright orange lichen, but many other interesting native flora including monkey flower, Ceanothus and my favorite – a succulent called “cliff lettuce” or Dudleya farinosa.   All of course cloaked in the ubiquitous fog.   Places like Point Lobos humble me as a designer – - I could spend a lifetime creating natural spaces, but I will never come close to matching the emotion of this landscape.

One evening, it was warm enough to eat outside at the Cypress Inn in Carmel.  The warm air enhanced fragrance, and all evening we were treated to wave after wave of a scent we both recognized from where we met, UCLA.   We asked the hotel if they knew what it was, but were met with amused but not helpful responses.  We came back during daylight to hunt it down, but could not find the source.  A trip to the Carmel Mission answered our question, as the fragrance again came at us in waves with the breeze.  We traced it to an unassuming evergreen broadleaf, and positively identified it when we sniffed the tiny, white unassuming flowers.  Based on my photos it appears to be Osmanthus fragrans…too bad we can’t grow it up here.  It is amazing how powerful fragrance can be, immediately taking you back to a single moment in time.  It was a perfect fragrance for that evening.

It is calming to just think about this trip and the beautiful landscapes we encountered…

OK enough of the mini-vacation…back to work.

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buzz buzz

Nursing the tail end of a cold, I headed downstairs last night seeking honey laced chamomile tea.  I ambled into the kitchen bundled in pajamas and a robe, and to my dismay noticed the honey jar was almost empty.  As the kettle was boiling, I attempted to extract the remaining honey, but found that each utensil I chose would not fit into the honey jar.  Finally, I found something that worked, and scraped what was left of the honey…and while doing so, realized just what a Pooh Bear moment this was.  Ah, but honey is worth it.     

My love of honey aside, bees are an important part of our lives and it is quite alarming what we have seen recently with Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD where entire colonies of commercial bees will abruptly disappear.   Data is not entirely conclusive, and several theories have been proposed (including pesticides).  So what is the good gardener to do to help bees and other pollinators?  First, toss the herbicides and pesticides (aka – dispose of them properly through local hazardous waste resources) and vow never to use them again.  Next, take a look at The Pollinator Partnership pollinator.org/index.html.  They have some fabulous information on their website – including regionally specific guides with tips for helping pollinators pollinator.org/guides.htm.  We can help these wee creatures by including food source plants in the garden, access to clean water and for some types of bees, like the mason bee, we can actually provides homes www.masonbeehomes.com/index.php.

Nothing makes me happier than the garden full of life in summer with bumblers, hummingbirds and other pollinators.  See what you can do improve your garden for your neighborhood pollinators.  Pooh Bear would strongly approve.

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plant salvage

A development project in my town recently made me ponder plant salvage.  The project in question involves the removal of existing landscaping around a parking lot, some of which is native and certainly salvageable.  There are also hardscape elements that can be reused - such as well aged boulders.   I often come across this in my work where an existing garden is being renovated and many of the plants are going be replaced or at a minimum divided and thinned.   I always think that there must be someone who would love to have these plants.  The question is who and how do you find them?  For homes scheduled for demolition, there are organizations you can call in to strip the home to reduce the material going into landfill.  What is the landscaping equivalent?

Connecting developers with the folks that are willing to salvage and remove plants is the solution.  For native plants, I was happy to find a wealth of organizations in Western Washington that salvage native plants for reuse simply by googling “plant salvage.”  If you are building a new home or commercial development, the following organizations may be interested in salvaging plants from your property.  For any green construction or development, native plant salvage should be on the agenda:

King County Native Plant Salvage:  ww.kingcounty.gov/environment/stewardship/volunteer/plant-salvage-program.aspx

Snohomish County Native Plant Program:  www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Public_Works/Divisions/SWM/Work_Areas/Outreach/Native_Plants/event.htm

Native Plant Salvage Foundation (Thurston County): www.nativeplantsalvage.org/about.php

Mercer Island Native Plant Salvage: www.miparks.org/salvage.htm

Native Plant Salvage Alliance (Pierce County): http://www.ssstewardship.org/salvage_guide.htm

Also, Sound Native Plants has posted this handy information sheet with tips for salvaging natives in Western Washington:

http://www.soundnativeplants.com/PDF/Salvage.pdf

For non-native salvage, there may not be as much infrastructure, however there are still some options:

1) craigslist: A friend shared with me his success story about revamping his garden.  He placed mature rhodies, arborvitae and large boulders on craigslist for free and found happy recipients for all, some of whom gave a hand to the removal process.  It’s a worth a try, though do be cautious about who you allow to come on your property to remove things from both a personal and property liability standpoint.

2) Master Gardeners:  Master Gardeners often host plant sales, and the plant material sold is generally donated.  If the timing is right for a sale, there may be interest in salvaging plants.

2) Local gardening clubs:   Gardeners love new plants, and know to come prepared to pot.

3) Landscapers:  Ditto above, except these folks have equipment for those larger specimens.

4) Your gardening friends:  Have a open day with the motto “bring shovel, soil and pots” and you can provide the treats.

While returning plants to the earth (e.g. composting) may not have quite the same impact as construction materials in landfill, there are still resources expended with producing ornamentals for sale, and certainly mounds of merit in saving native plants from the chopping block.  I know I am definitely going to think of all the ways to salvage plants when possible, and certainly will encourage the folks I know to do so as well.

Remember, this work is better done in the cooler seasons.  Here in the Pacific Northwest, fall is an ideal time to transplant trees and shrubs.  When transplanting, make sure to get as much of the root ball as possible, and remind those who are transplanting that the plants will need plenty of water at planting and continued watering until establishment.  For extra large specimens, consider root pruning in advance to reduce shock.

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plant candy

The Pacific Northwest boasts a variety of gorgeous native plants, many of which are included in my own gardens.  They beautifully knit my exotic plantings with the surrounding forest.  Though I admire purists who will only use native plants, I am not quite this disciplined.  Although I don’t limit my plant palette to “locals only”, I am a strong proponent of weaving in natives for several reasons.  For one, they are already here.  Before you automatically take out a native plant, think about how you can incorporate it into your design.  You will be surprised how that snowberry or native hazel backs your planting bed beautifully.   Second, they are well adapted to the conditions available – that is if you observe their natural habitat.  In other words, still apply “right plant, right place” and don’t put a wetland plant on your hot, dry, hillside.  Third, they often provide food for our woodland friends, such as the flowers on salmonberry frequented by the Rufous hummingbird.  Finally, they help knit the non-natives to the surrounding landscape – a key to achieving a sense of harmony.

In my own gardens, I have incorporated Blechnum spicant (deer fern), Tellima grandiflora (fringecup), Tolmiea menziesii (piggyback plant), Oxalis oregano (oxalis), Polystichum munitum (sword fern), Myrica californica (Pacific wax myrtle), Ribes sanguineum (red flowering currant) and my favorites Vancouveria hexandra (inside-out flower) and Corylus cornuta var. californica (beaked hazelnut).  I am also fortunate to enjoy Acer macrophyllum (big leaf maple), Cornus nuttallii (Pacific dogwood), Alnus rubra (red alder), Tsuga heterophylla (Western hemlock), Thuja plicata (Western red cedar), Vaccinium ovatum (evergreen huckleberry), Oemlaria cerasiformis (indian plum), Mahonia nervosa (low Oregon grape) Rubus spectabilis (salmonberry), and Lonicera ciliosa (orange honeysuckle) surrounding the gardens.

(Whew, that was a mouthful…)

If you are interested in learning more about our native plants, some great resources (other than your back yard) include:

• King County Native Plant Guide: http://green.kingcounty.gov/GoNative/Index.aspx (This is my favorite because it offers multiple ways to search for plants – by photo, by cultural needs etc.  Thanks King County!)
• Washington Native Plant Society: http://wnps.org/index.html
• WSU Extension: http://gardening.wsu.edu/text/nwnative.htm
• National Wildlife Federation: www.nwf.org/backyard/pacificnorthwest.cfm
• Plant Native’s list of WA Native Plant Nurseries: http://plantnative.org/nd_wa.htm

 If you prefer paper - some helpful books:

• Encyclopedia of Northwest Native Plants for Gardens and Landscapes Kathleen A. Robson, Alice Richter & Marianne Filbert
• Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon
• Native Plants in the Coastal Garden - A Guide for Gardeners in the Pacific Northwest April Pettinger and Brenda Costanzo
• Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest Russell Link

Though we just missed the 2009 deadline in Kitsap and King Counties (call asap – they may still take your order), Conservation Districts often have native plant sales.  The orders are usually due in January with pick up a month or so later.  It is a very economical way to get native plants.

In Kitsap County – www.kitsapcd.org/
In King Country – www.kingcd.org/

Not in either of these counties?  Google “your county conservation district”

Finally – a word about ethics. “Native” does not necessarily equal free.  While transplanting from your own property is of course open game, and you may even be able to harvest plants from a site slated for construction (ask first), it is never good form to poach from parks, open spaces, public property or your neighbor (without asking).  No, I didn’t really think you would.

 

brunnera, hakonechloa & astilbe mixed with deer fern, sword fern and hazel

primula japonica and iris sibirica backed by sword fern

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