In my heart of hearts, I'm a fair-weather gardener. I'd rather stay indoors when it's too cold or too hot, but my weather doesn't often cooperate. I sometimes fantasize about living in Hawaii where I would enjoy this very situation, but not for long. Mushroom containers repurposed as seed starting containers I sowed most of the seeds I'm starting indoors, and they sit cozy beneath their chicken grit and plastic germinating blankets atop heat mats. Once these were finished, and I could no longer stall, I braved the cold for two days planting cold-weather seeds like peas, lettuce, spinach, beets etc., along with several shrubs I ordered from Forest Farm. It may seem odd that I purchased shrubs all the way from Oregon, but if you want the odd or eclectic, Forest Farm is a great place to hand over your money. I desire more spring color in the berm...

Best use of black mondo grass at the show. Everyone has this idea it's always raining in Seattle. Not true. This week, while I attended the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, it was cloudy, but very little rain fell. Meanwhile in Oklahoma, we had hail, snow, sleet and freezing rain within a three-day period. It's raining even now as I write from my cozy kitchen workplace. Since we're in a drought, I'm grateful. The Hobbit Garden was very popular at the show. I'll take Seattle in February anytime. I wish I could carry you there in my pocket, but unfortunately, that isn't possible--so, I'm going to try virtually by describing the excitement and anticipation. I stayed in the Sheraton with the show in the convention center next door. To get to the show, you must travel up three floors by escalator, and excitement builds at each level. You check your...

It's no secret I enjoy Amanda's work. She is my colleague and friend, and we both write columns as Proven Winners Garden Gurus. I've been a fan of her blog since she started it. She makes me laugh regularly there and on Facebook where she shows the irreverent side of motherhood, and her husband's quips about life. In all this funny business, though, there is also a tender place, and I see that too. Amanda is a Master Gardener and landscape designer in the Chicago area. Kiss My Aster: A Graphic Guide to Creating a Fantastic Yard Totally Tailored to You is her second book after co-authoring Grocery Gardening, and it might surprise you. It is a graphic guide. In other words, like a graphic novel, it uses Amanda's drawings to tell the story. It is fun. However, because I am Amanda's friend and coworker, I didn't think I could give an unbiased review so...

The pansies and violas all look a bit tattered after the small snow we had a couple of days ago. Although this Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is not as blooming good as last February, we need this cold snap to delay bulbs and fruit trees from flower. Apple and peach blossoms haven't broken yet, and I'd rather they wait. I don't want ornamental fruit trees. I enjoyed dripping peaches and crisp apples last summer and fall. If they bloom this early, we are almost assured of getting several more freezes. Keep your fingers crossed. Next week, with all of its highs in the 60s looks like fun, but believe me, it's not good for our plants. We need the garden to wait. Bulb foliage is way up, and the pansies and violas are already singing a sweet February tune. My hellebores entrance me. I know I say this every year,...