The current drought in large portions of the United States makes the need for water-wise gardens more important than ever. But that doesn’t mean our gardens can’t look attractive.

That’s why Seasonal Wisdom turned to Noelle Johnson for some drought-tolerant plant suggestions.  This talented horticulturist runs AZ Plant Lady landscape consulting in Chandler, Arizona and she spends her working hours  making low-water gardens beautiful.

Check out five of Noelle’s favorite drought-tolerant plants, and get her expert gardening tips for growing them.

All photos are copyright to Noelle Johnson.

In Noelle Johnson’s Own Words:

Many people have the mistaken impression that drought-tolerant plants are boring, but nothing can be further from the truth. Just because a plant thrives on little water, doesn’t mean a water-wise garden is devoid of interest. In fact, the reality is quite the opposite. Countless plants add welcome beauty to the landscape while only needing deep, infrequent watering.

Drought-tolerant plants require well-drained soil, so before planting, amend the soil with 1 part compost to 1 part native soil.

Here are a few of my favorites:

‘Blue Bells’ (Eremophila hygrophana) – This is a newer shrub, which is prized for its compact growth habit and low-pruning requirements. Vibrant violet flowers appear throughout the entire year above blue/gray foliage.

Size: 3 feet tall and wide; Attracts Hummingbirds

Hardy to zone 8; Full sun to light, filtered shade

‘Valentine Bush’ (Eremophila maculata ‘Valentine’) – The dark green foliage of this Australian native transforms in winter with the appearance of hot pink to red, tubular blossoms, which add badly needed color to landscapes in winter on into early spring. Maintenance is low, with them only needing pruning once a year in late spring after flowering has finished.

Size: Up to 4 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide, although it can be maintained at a smaller size.

Hardy to zone 8. Full sun.

Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicigera) – This small shrub is an ideal choice for areas that receive light, filtered shade where it will produce narrow, orange tubular flowers all year long, much to the delight of hummingbirds. The bright green foliage adds a visually cooling element to the garden.

Size: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide; Hardy to zone 8

Attracts hummingbirds; Filtered shade

Firecracker Penstemon (Penstemon eatonii) – Many different species of penstemon grow throughout the western U.S. and are appreciated for their beautiful flowering spikes. This particular penstemon has red/orange blossoms that appear in winter and last through spring, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. When not in bloom, it fades into the background while warm-season flowering plants take center stage.

Size: 1 to 2 feet wide, and 2 feet tall when in flower; Hardy to zone 5; Attracts hummingbirds; Full sun

Coral Fountain (Russelia equisetiformis) – The cascading, needle-like foliage of this shrubby perennial is attractive on its own, adding a tropical feel to the garden. However, the appearance of small, orange/red flowers adds stunning beauty wherever it’s planted. Hummingbirds can’t resist the flowers, which last spring through fall and even winter, in frost-free areas.

Size: 3 feet tall and 4 feet wide; Hardy to zone 8

Attracts hummingbirds; Full sun to light shade

Noelle’s Tip: Once established, water each plant deeply approximately 3-4 times a month in summer, 2-3 times a month in spring/fall, and every three weeks in winter.

More Garden Resources:

Growing container gardens? Don’t miss Noelle’s advice in this Associated Press article published in the Washington Post.

Want more drought tolerant tips? Check out this advice for a water-wise garden from expert Nell Foster.

Connect with  Noelle Johnson of AZ Plant Lady

Website

Twitter

Facebook

What are those special ingredients that elevate a garden into a stylish and unforgettable space? What’s the best way to unleash your garden personality, and how can you create an outdoor place that’s uniquely your own?

Just in time for another gardening season, Seasonal Wisdom sat down with London-trained landscape designer Rochelle Greayer for ideas on developing personal style.

Photo copyright Adam Woodruff

If you’re an avid gardener or reader, you may already know Rochelle Greayer. She was a graduate of the English Gardening School in London. She is the creator and editor of  the hip gardening newspaper Pith + Vigor. And she also writes regularly for Apartment Therapy. I’ve gotten to know her better, because we are both members of the Troy-Bilt Saturday6 national blogging team.

Rochelle is also the author of Cultivating Garden Style: Inspired Ideas and Practical Advice to Unleash Your Garden Personality (Timber Press). This hard cover book is packed with photography, design tips and advice on styles ranging from Playful Pop to Xeric Hacienda and Handsome Prairie.

Whatever style you enjoy, you’ll find a wide variety of garden accessories – from modern umbrellas to retro fire pits to comfy loungers. There are literally hundreds of ideas to get your creativity flowing.

This visually stunning book is designed to help you determine the look that’s right for your home. Along with lots of design ideas, there is The Little Green Book in the back with good garden resources. You’ll also find general gardening advice for everything from firescaping a yard to choosing the right tree. There are many  little gems in this jewel of a book.

Obviously, Rochelle is a good person to ask about garden design:

Photo copyright Marianne Majerus

Q) How does someone cultivate “style” in the garden? 

Rochelle Graeyer: I think everyone has a personal style whether they know it or not.

Sometimes it is hard to find. But you can see personal style in the car they drive, the clothes they wear, the things they eat and the art they like. I think people are often afraid to embrace their style, particularly in the garden, because it can be so visible to everyone around them.

Finding your style is about finding what sings to you – the colors you love, the stories you like, the books you read, the images you are attracted to – and then learning how to translate that into a garden.

Pinterest is my favorite tool for people to use to find what they love. A fun activity is to go to Pinterest and perhaps go to someone else’s page that has a wide variety of boards.

The point is, expose yourself to a huge array of images. Then start liking — not pinning – but liking images.  Liking is super fast; you just click the heart in the corner on anything that looks interesting to you for any reason.   Let it come from your gut. The faster the better, so you aren’t over thinking or letting your critical thinking mind engage at all.

Don’t pin; that stops your freedom… it makes you organize and judge. The point is to turn that part of your mind off. Once you have done that, take a look at all the likes and see what patterns you find.  Did you like stuff with a particular color, style or element? What threads do you see? Sometimes a thread in your boards can be hard to find, but a friend can see it more easily. The threads are the beginnings of finding your personal style.

Photo copyright Hugh Main

Q) What are some common misconceptions about garden style?  

Rochelle: Style to me is very personal. It is not what the neighbor has down the street, although that may look great! Lots of people aim for what their neighbors have in the garden, but I think that only leads to a boring world (and boring neighborhoods).

Creating space around you that uniquely serves you, inspires you and comforts you is something that can only be done for you and by you.  Style isn’t universal – it is personal and unique.

Brooke Gianetti

Q) What have been some of your most important garden design inspirations?

Rochelle: Art and fashion are both hugely inspiring to me.  Both tell stories and when you are drawn to something (like art or fashion) you are drawn to some element of the story that it is telling.

Then, of course, there are other garden designers. From them, I am often more inspired by the technical elements – such as how they built something, or the plants they choose and how they put them together. If they are really thinking, then I can be very inspired by the stories they are telling. For example, I’m a fan of avant garde garden shows like Chaumont, because the whole point is to get away from “pretty” and more into an idea or concept.

Pretty is great – and of course pretty can carry the day in a garden – but just pretty can also be sort of a boring story.

Photo copyright Andrea Jones

Q) How would you recommend people deal with their “inner critic” and create their own garden style?  

Rochelle: Maybe thinking of it as “art” or “style” is too stressful and puts too much pressure on it?

Think more about what you love. Consider how you want to spoil and indulge yourself first. Then, once you know what is meaningful to you, it is easier to tell the inner critic to shut-up and go away. It’s all about you and whatever makes you happy. Who cares if that rhubarb plant is next to the mailbox, if it makes you happy?

Photo copyright Jim Charlie

Q) Is there anything else you’d like to add?  

People always ask me, ‘What about my homeowners association?’ And to that I say, there is always the back yard.  Build a fence if you must. Then do what you love and what inspires you out there.

Thanks, Rochelle! Best of luck with your own garden this year.

This is not a sponsored post. I was provided a free copy of the book from the publisher, but I was not compensated in any way.

Perhaps you have a small garden, and want to use that patio wall more effectively. Maybe you have a bad back and would prefer not to bend over. Or, maybe you just want an attractive place to grow your favorite plants. Whatever the reason, there are lots of different types of living walls, and they are easy to grow with the right gardening tips – whether it’s a sunny kitchen garden or a shady side yard.

To learn more about living walls, Seasonal Wisdom sat down recently with Shawna Coronado, book author, keynote speaker and media spokesperson.  She also agreed to give one lucky winner a copy of her new book. But hurry! This giveaway won’t last long.  Congratulations to Jess B. for winning this random drawing. All photos copyright Shawna Coronado.

My friend Shawna Coronado recently authored Grow a Living Wall: Create Vertical Gardens with Purpose (Cool Springs Press). Her four-color book gives step-by-step directions for building more than 20 attractive living walls, which are well suited to different growing conditions and design styles. From her home outside of Chicago, Shawna agreed one chilly autumn afternoon recently to share her thoughts on vertical gardening.

Leafy vegetables and ornamental vines grow in this living wall.

Q) What was the most important thing you wanted to show people about growing a living wall, Shawna?

A) Across the world, there is a crisis in growing useful and practical plants; there’s not enough space. A living wall can be done anywhere – on a fence, on a wall, on a balcony – and offers a no-weed, easy-to-maintain solution for people who would like to grow their own organic plants.

Q) What are some misconceptions that people have about vertical gardening?

A) People think their living wall gardens will dry out quickly from being too exposed to wind. The secret to preventing this situation is creating proper soil combinations. If you make a heavier soil mix for the vertical gardens, then the plants are less likely to dry out and more likely to succeed because you will be keeping the root systems moist.

Shady side yard with two living walls and a rain barrel.

Q) Your book has gardens that do everything from attract pollinators to provide ingredients for your dinner. Why was it important to you to show that living walls can have purposes?

A) In the United States, we often have gardens that I think are not environmentally friendly. Many are fueled by artificial fertilizers and chemicals, which are not necessary. I consider these types of gardens lower on the useful scale. Growing plants that are organic, helpful for therapeutic purposes, ornamental and edible, as well as beautiful, means the environmental impact is reduced and the impact on humanity is certainly more positive. Having a purpose for a garden means it is contributing somehow to a gardener’s well-being. Gardens that do this are important for mental health, because they contribute to our overall emotional needs and well-being.

Q) How did you select different gardens for your book?

A) First I found the living wall systems that truly worked, then I found locations for the systems that would work well, then I selected the plants. This is the same thing we might do for any raised garden or container system — find a container, find a spot, pick the plants and go.

Q) Anything you want to add that we haven’t discussed?

A) One of the most surprising things that happened recently is that I was diagnosed with spinal osteoarthritis after I wrote this book. Who could have guessed that I would need this style of gardening more than ever, because it is absolutely perfect for people who have a difficult time with traditional gardening? This gardening “up” technique reduces pain and discomfort while gardening. Arthritis-sufferers like me, in particular, will find this book useful for them because it can help make gardening easier.

 A backyard kitchen garden with two living walls.

Win this Book!

Here’s your chance to enter to win a copy of Grow a Living Wall.

It’s easy to enter, and there are different ways to participate.

Just use this Rafflecopter device, which allows Seasonal Wisdom to randomly select a winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Fine Print: This giveaway ends Nov. 18 at midnight, and is limited to U.S. citizens. The winner will be immediately contacted, and has until Nov. 23 to claim the prize before another winner is selected. PLEASE check your spam folders to see if you won.

This book and prize were supplied by the author at no charge. However, Seasonal Wisdom was not compensated for this blog post, and my opinion is my own.

Thanks for participating, and good luck.

Learn more about Shawna at www.shawnacoronado.com.

More on Vertical Gardening

Living Walls for Small Spaces

Garden Up! Vertical Gardening

Vertical Garden Trends for Bing

Flowers are fabulous. But what happens to your garden when those flowers stop blooming? The truth is that foliage really matters if you want gorgeous garden beds or containers.  To help you design your garden with spectacular foliage, renowned author and speaker Christina Salwitz shares her garden tips and plant ideas with Seasonal Wisdom.  Come take a peek…

Foliage Guru

When I think of plant foliage, I always think of my friend Christina Salwitz, owner of The Personal Garden Coach in Renton, Washington.

Christina co-authored the award-winning book Fine Foliage with Karen Chapman, and she has another book coming in 2016 called Foliage First. Her designs have been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, along with other publications. So, she really knows her foliage.

Fine Foliage Planting Ideas

One of Christina’s favorite combinations is Nandina ‘Gulf Stream’ and tri-color sage, shown above.

“I enjoy how big bold strong textures work together with fine delicate ones,” says Christina. “My other ‘go-to-idea’ is using the subtlety or exuberance of color tones to play off one another in unexpected ways.”

The above colorful planter features Blueberry ‘Bountiful Blue’; Barberry ‘Orange Rocket’; Kale ‘Redbor’; Heucherella ‘Stoplight’; Lamium ‘Ghost’; Ornamental millet ‘Aureum’; and Heuchera ‘Berry Smoothie’.

For a completely different look, Christina designed this container with variegated Plectranthus; Impatiens ‘White’; Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’; Coleus ‘Black Star’; Sweet Potato Vine “Sweet Caroline’;  and Coleus ‘Chocolate Drop’.

Yes, there are flowers in Christina’s designs. But they certainly aren’t the only stars in her gardens.

The above pot has variegated spreading White Sunpatiens; orange Nemesia; Oxalis ‘Dark Dancer’; and Creeping Jenny.

Once you start designing gardens with foliage in mind, you’ll find endless possibilities for combining plants, textures, colors and patterns.  Hope this article inspires you to go wild and experiment with fine foliage in your plantings. Your garden beds and containers will never be the same.

Connect with Christina

Fine Foliage Blog

Fine Foliage on Facebook

More of Christina’s favorite plants.

Christina is one of the well-known experts in Seasonal Wisdom’s presentation called “Garden Secrets from Seven Experts.” Contact me to learn more about hiring Seasonal Wisdom for a talk on this or other garden subjects.

The weather may still be cold and wintery where you live, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create unique and attractive bouquets.  Even better is when you can find the foliage and flowers for those arrangements locally, or from your own garden.  To learn more, Seasonal Wisdom spoke with Debra Prinzing, a Seattle-based advocate for local flowers, who shares expert bouquet arranging ideas and talks about her latest book, Slow Flowers.

Eighty percent of flowers sold in the United States are imported – and that is something Debra Prinzing wants to change.

This well-known author has written a book called Slow Flowers, which includes 52 beautiful, locally grown bouquets.  Her book received the Garden Writers Association’s 2014 Silver Award of Achievement.

But that’s not all. Debra also established SlowFlowers.com – an online directory to American grown flowers, farms and studios. Plus, she airs a podcast where you can meet innovative flower farmers, eco-conscious designers and do-it-yourselfers around the U.S.

“My ‘slow flowers’ mindset is closely aligned with the Slow Food movement, which ascribes to the desire to grow, prepare and eat what’s in-season or produced close to home,” explains Debra. “Our U.S. flower industry has become a commodity marketplace relying on imports, and it feels like a disconnect.  I hope to alert flower consumers that there is a better way to have beautiful, local and seasonal flowers.”

Just as foodies eat a different menu during winter than in the bountiful summer, floral designs should also be seasonal.  Debra encourages gardeners to channel their inner floral designers, and urges them to not be afraid to gather their own bouquet from what’s growing in their gardens.

Three Design Tips from Debra

• Think seasonally and design accordingly. “Floral design in the quieter, dormant seasons of our gardens requires more observation, more creativity and more originality, because the elements of our bouquets are less obvious,” says Debra.
• Remember foliage. “Anything evergreen or vegetative is up for grabs,” she urges. “But don’t think ‘twigs and conifers’ are your only cold-weather options. Consider the fabulous broadleaf foliage of plants like Southern magnolia, oakleaf hydrangea or Corsican hellebores too.”
• Be flexible. “Combine what delights you,” adds Debra, “and bring flowers, leaves, stems, branches, berries and herbs into your home.”

 Slow Flowers Design

To recreate the above Slow Flowers cold-weather arrangement, you’ll need:

INGREDIENTS

20 stems smooth eucalyptus foliage (Eucalyptus gunnii), grown by Charles Little & Co. (Oregon)

5 large leaves from oak leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), harvested from Debra’s Seattle garden

10 stems purple beautyberry (Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii ‘Profusion’) from Charles Little & Co.

7 stems rose hips (Rosa multiflora), grown by Charles Little & Co.

7 purple coneflower seed heads (Echinacea purpurea), harvested from Debra’s Seattle garden

5 stems pincushion flower seed heads (Scabiosa stellata ‘Paper Moon’) from J. Foss Garden Flowers (WA)

7 stems ‘Supergreen’ hybrid tea roses (Rosa ‘Supergreen’) from Peterkort Roses (Hillsboro, Oregon)

VASE

5-inch tall x 17-inch long aluminum planter with three 6-inch wide planting sections.

Learn More

Connect with Debra Prinzing.

Buy her book.

Debra Prinzing is one of seven experts I feature in my presentation, “Top Gardening Secrets from the Experts.” The others are Joe Lamp’l, P. Allen Smith, Robin Haglund, Christina Salwitz, Susan Cohan and Riz Reyes. To hire Seasonal Wisdom to speak at your next gardening event, contact me.

FCC Disclosure: Seasonal Wisdom was not compensated to write this article in any way.

Gardens are magical places, which can restore our spirits and bring us closer to nature’s miracles. Often our gardens have a “power spot,” which is a just a bit more special and noteworthy than other places in our yards. To learn more, Seasonal Wisdom turned to Jan Johnsen, author of Heaven is a Garden – Designing Serene Outdoor Spaces for Inspiration and Reflection (St Lynn’s Press, 2014).

Come learn how to find the power spot in your garden and create an outdoor space that brings you peace of mind all year long.  All photos from Jan Johnsen, all rights reserved.

Heaven is a Garden is not your typical gardening book. The pages of this book draw from Johnsen’s 40 years as a landscape architect and her travels to Japan, where she observed the healing powers and serenity of these ancient gardens personally.

As a result, Johnsen explores garden design with a mix of the East and the West. She combines ancient wisdom with contemporary horticultural practices to provide a more holistic approach to landscape design. She also encourages gardeners to look differently at their outdoor spaces, and to play with trees, rocks, colors, shapes and water sources to create heavenly spots in the garden.

The results are tranquil, serene landscapes that affect the readers on different physical and spiritual levels. I found myself looking around my yard with a new, more informed perspective, and I bet you will too.

Creating a Power Spot in Your Garden

In this guest post, Johnsen shares her thoughts with Seasonal Wisdom on how to find the “power spot” in your garden…

Every garden can be made into a special place. In my book, ‘Heaven is a Garden – Designing Serene Outdoor Spaces for Inspiration and Reflection’ (St Lynn’s Press, 2014) I talk about the many ways you can use plants, color, shape, rocks, trees and water to create a serene haven that encourages you to connect with the cosmos, the earth or simply the fireflies.

Such a garden can be as grand or as simple as you wish. It can be a community endeavor or a solitary undertaking. It can be filled with plants or be devoid of all vegetation. But what can be common to all these different gardens: the intention to create an outdoor space that replenishes, renews and relaxes.

One fun thing you can do to make your garden a little more special is to find its “power spot.”  This is a place that, for some reason, seems a little more interesting than anywhere else. A high section of lawn, a shaded corner or a half hidden rock can become the designated power spot in your yard.

Any land feature can be a power spot – the way to determine this is to walk around and stand quietly in different areas and feel the mood each one generates. Essentially it is all about how you feel standing in that spot. Higher points make good power spots, even if it is only a foot or two higher than anywhere else. But a power spot doesn’t need to be elevated; it can also be located in a shaded area in a corner. This area feels comfortable, like a favorite sweater.

If you are wondering where a power spot is on your property, please know that anyplace you deem to be a power spot is correct. The area that appeals to you the most will undoubtedly speak to others as well!

You may see something wonderful in a slight slope or be attracted to a particular rock. My advice is, ‘Go ahead and highlight it!’

Clear around it, illuminate it or make a small path that leads to it so friends can can get to it easily. Once they ascend to the top of a cleared slope or sit on a swing beneath a great tree, they will understand why you call it your “power spot.”

About the Author

Jan Johnsen is a professional landscape designer and is a principal, along with her husband, of the established design/build firm, Johnsen Landscapes & Pools, in Westchester County, NY. She is an adjunct professor at Columbia University and an award-winning instructor at the New York Botanical Garden. She is also a contributing editor for Garden Design Magazine.

Follow her popular garden blog, Serenity in the Garden and Facebook page, Serenity in the Garden blog.

Buy the Book

Heaven is a Garden – Designing Serene Outdoor Spaces for Inspiration and Reflection

What makes some container garden designs sing and sparkle, while others seem to fizzle out? For answers, Seasonal Wisdom turned to horticulturist and garden designer Nancy Wallace, who designs more than 300 containers a year for her clients in the Atlanta-Metro area (Zone 7B).

This stunning full shade container is one example. It features Carex ‘Evergold’ (upper left); Hosta ‘June’ (left and right) and Heuchera x villosa ‘Beaujolais’.  This pro agreed to share some of her growing secrets and sensational container garden designs with us. Take a peek… 

This story began a couple years ago, when Seasonal Wisdom met the friendly and talented garden designer via Twitter. We later got to know each better over Pinterest and Facebook. Wallace has an impressive Instagram following too.

Have Fun with Colors

Over time, I became impressed by Wallace’s creative container garden designs, which often feature contrasting colors, interesting textures and clever plant choices. That’s why I wondered if she’d share tips with Seasonal Wisdom. She agreed, and said her designs often have a lot to do with lemonade and grapes.

Well, not really, but …

“Lemonade and Grape is one of our theme garden collections,” explains Wallace, who offers her clients themed containers with names like Sugar and Spice, Foliage Frenzy and Chocolate Mint. “I like the idea of theme gardens, because it helps explain the color concept easily. It’s a fun way to play with plants and allows me to keep track of which plants work well together.”

In Lemonade and Grape designs, “lemonade” refers to lemon-yellow plants with shades of green. “Grape” refers to violet, fuchsia and blue tones. On a color wheel, these colors are opposite each other and provide a dramatic contrast.

“Texture and color are equally important to me,” says Wallace. “I use lots of foliage plants in combination with flower colors.”

The above Lemonade and Grape planter features (clockwise from top left): Euphorbia ‘Euphorbic White’ (new); blue Scaevola; Euphorbia ‘Euphorbic White’; white Scaevola; wire vine; blue Scaevola; Duranta ‘Cuban Gold’; and blue Scaevola.

In the center is Alternathera ‘Little Ruby’, which will grow 12 to 14 inches tall and become the container’s centerpiece. These plants thrive in hot humid climates in full sun to part shade.

A Good Container Keeps Performing for Months

Ideally, container garden designs should look good from the time they’re planted in the spring, until the first hard frost. “A key component for every container I create is the ability of those plants to grow and thrive from the date of installation, until their removal six months later,” says Wallace.

The above container is a perfect example. Clockwise from top: Tibouchina grandiflora (princess flower); Scaevola; Coleus ‘Caipirinha’ (middle) and Coleus Under the Sea ‘Lime Shrimp’ (lower).

This poolside container garden design is shown here in summer, but by October, the princess flower will have pretty purple blossoms.

“Remember to choose the right plant for the right place,” says Wallace. “Take the time to make sure the location is suitable for the plant.”  All of these beauties, for instance, grow well in full sun.

Anchor Plants and Big Planters

Many of Wallace’s larger planters start with an anchor item, which remains in the planter for several seasons.  Above is a topiary conifer: Chamaecyparis obtusa.

“Use big planters, and buy the best quality you can afford,” advises Wallace. “Not only can you create more impact with a larger planter, but it will require less water. Whatever container you use, always make certain it offers excellent drainage.”

Here’s the same container in late fall. It was filled with foliage plants like dusty miller, Algerian ivy, and Heuchera ‘Beaujolais’, along with blue, purple and yellow violas. The next spring, the container was bursting with spring bulbs like tulips, hyacinths and daffodils, which bloomed in time for Easter. After they stop blooming, they are replaced with summer plants.

Wallace recommends investing in excellent quality potting soil, and replacing the soil every growing season for intensively planted containers. “Don’t reuse old potting soil,” she says. “I use two brands of soil, both locally produced here in Georgia. Providing a good home and proper nourishment to the root systems means everything to the success and longevity of the final product.”

Above is a pretty spring container with variegated boxwood, Acorus grass, Vinca ‘Illumination’ (a variegated vine with blue flowers) and Hyacinth ‘Woodstock’, along with lemon yellow and white pansies.

Throughout the growing season, don’t forget to water properly. “Not every container garden will need the same amount of water,” says Wallace. “Containers in full sun, or those exposed to wind, will need more frequent watering. Those in shade or sheltered locations will need less. Smaller containers need more water than larger containers too.”

Lemonade and grapes are interpreted here (clockwise from top left) with purple Angelonia, Coleus ‘Mosaic’, Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’, Calibrachoa ‘Superbells Yellow’, Scaevola ‘New Wonder’, Geranium ‘Contessa Purple’ (Black Magic) and Lonicera.

“Gardening is a lot like cooking,” adds Wallace. “Select good local ingredients and respect the basic rules of composition to insure the best possible results. But don’t hesitate to explore and take risks. You can still respect the rules of horticulture while playing with plants.”

Connect with Nancy Wallace.

Contributor: Enjoying a lattice trellis garden at home is easy with these tips from Chris Long at Home Depot. Here’s what Chris recommends in this exclusive guest post for Seasonal Wisdom readers… 

Summer’s heat can be brutal, particularly for outdoor plants. But before you take up a project to revitalize your struggling outdoor garden, consider taking steps to bring additional focus to your plants by installing a lattice trellis garden. From ivy to roses, there are a number of plant varieties that can climb the crisscrossing wooden structures, and this inexpensive project can bring new life and beauty to your yard. Above photo Steven.Butler/Flickr.

Photo Sirwiseowl/Flickr

If you decide that a lattice trellis will add the perfect touch to your outdoor garden, consider what style you would like before making a purchase. Will a free-standing lattice trellis suit your outdoor oasis, or is a wall trellis your best option?

 Photo Field Outdoor Spaces/Flickr

Free-Standing Trellis

If you are looking for a garden that stands strong on its own, consider purchasing and installing a lattice trellis panel that you can attach to posts anchored in the ground. This not only provides the perfect place for a vertical garden, but it can also provide privacy from peering neighbors.

Once you have your lattice trellis panel and posts, take the following steps to install them.

Photo by Rachel Black/Flickr

1. Dig your post holes the exact width of the lattice trellis panel, and make sure they are at least 24-inches deep.
2. Place the posts in the holes and fill in the holes around them. Don’t use cement unless you are installing the trellis in an area that is frequently plagued by standing water.
3. Use a level to make sure that the posts are vertically and horizontally straight.
4. Pack dirt around the posts until the holes are fully covered.
5. Nail the lattice trellis panel to the posts.
6. Plant your climbing plants at the base of the trellis and weave the vines into the lattice.

With the gardening season fresh upon us, these helpful resources may come in handy now. Here are free gardening tips for growing foods — from arugula to winter squash — as well as ornamental plants. You’ll find recipes for using edible flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables in your kitchen.  There is advice for the best burning woods for fires, and an invigorating bath oil infused with aromatic pine needles, plus more…

These resources will get your garden, food and seasonal lifestyle off to a good start.

Recently, I realized that many Seasonal Wisdom readers weren’t aware of the gardening and food articles I’ve been writing as one of eight members of the Fiskars National Garden Authors Team.

These articles address the same types of organic gardening tips, healthy lifestyle projects and food recipes that we do at Seasonal Wisdom.  Below are stories organized by various topics to make them easier to find.

I hope you enjoy these gardening tips, healthy recipes and seasonal lifestyle resources. And – as always – let us know what you think! Happy gardening…

Growing Plants from Seeds

Six Questions to Ask Before Buying Seeds

Easy Plants to Grow from Seeds Sown Outdoors

Growing Poppies from Seeds

Growing Edible and Ornamental Plants 

Arugula

Begonias Indoors

Bromeliads

Chive, Rose and Viola Flowers to Eat

Fabulous Plants with Fall Flowers

Fall Foliage Plants for Containers

Heirloom Vegetables (4)

Ivy Indoors

Peace Lilies

Salad Greens

Six Xeric Plants (herbs and flowers)

Winter Squash

Seasonal Recipes and Food Advice 

Arugula Pistachio Pesto with Asiago Cheese

Delicious Flavored Butters

Fall Fruit Cobbler

Freeze it! Quick Tips for Freezing Foods

Fun Ways to Freeze Flowers and Herbs

Fruit Liquors

Garden-Fresh Recipes for Kids

Healthy Sauteed Greens

Herbal Infused Honeys

Hungarian Apple Soup

Stuffed Acorn Squash

Three Ways to Serve Peppers

General Gardening Tips

Compost This, Not That

Gardener’s Winter Survival Guide

Getting in Shape for Gardening

Help a Hungry Neighbor, Share Your Harvest

How to Read a Fertilizer Label

New Year’s Resolutions for Gardeners

Seven Ways to Save Water in Garden

Ten Holiday Gifts for Gardeners

The Language of Flowers

Thomas Jefferson and Why Garden Journals Matter

Unusual and Fun Container Garden Ideas

Miscellaneous Resources

Best Burning Woods for Fires

Christmas Tree-Infused Bath Oil (beauty recipe)

Making Place Cards for Thanksgiving

From traditional garden fountains to contemporary styles, such as this one above, water treatments were making a splash at the 2013 Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle recently.

Regardless of your design style, you’ll find a good mix of fountains in this post. Come take a look and see for yourself…

My favorite parts of attending the 2013 Northwest Flower and Garden Show — besides giving a talk on vertical gardening — included hearing all the other great talks and visiting the amazing demonstration gardens.

Nearly every garden had a water treatment of some type, each different in its own way. For example, this contemporary fountain came from the California Dreaming garden, designed by Under the Arbor Landscape Design. The cool fountain wall itself came from Falling Water Designs.

Don’t you think it would make a great privacy wall for a contempory home or restaurant? (Click on photos to enlarge them.)

This charming garden features tulips, azaleas, primroses, daffodils and other romantic spring flowers. The traditional, two-tiered fountain here is closely linked to the feminine style of this garden.

This Pillow Talk garden, designed by Wight’s Home and Garden, is inspired by the popular 1959 movie with Doris Day and Rock Hudson. The pastel-colored, wildly-romantic garden would have been owned by Doris Day.

Next door is Rock Hudson’s garden. Notice how the warm neutral colors in his office are spotlighted by the crisp, sophisticated garden design in white and green.

Naturally, “his” fountain is more modern and streamlined. (We are talking about 1959 stereotypes, after all.) Wicker and metal adorn his contemporary fountain, while a planter box grows yarrow on top.

A closer look at his serene gardens shows white hyacinths, tulips and other flowers growing wildly together.

Over at the Beach Garden designed by Plantswoman Design, two striking water columns by the garden shed are uplit and surrounded by spring flowers.

Near the bottom of the water treatment are spring flowering plants, including Narcissus ‘Barret Browning’ and Helleborus Winter Jewel Series.

Prefer to “boogie down” in your garden? This Disco Fever garden by Susan Browne and Issaquah Landscaping may just give you a “Saturday Night Fever.”

The formal stone pond has two dazzling disco balls that will have you lusting after leisure suits and bell bottoms.

To get you in the mood, the outside floor tiles change colors in tune with the music. This makes this Seventies Retro garden an ideal place to “get down” and have a little fun.

A small demonstration garden by Molbak’s Garden and Home was one of my favorites.  Along with this classic lion fountain, there are wonderful plants in hot orange, black, lime green and salmon pink.

From orange bromeliads to black mondo grass and lime-green asparagus ferns, this little garden bursts with life and good cheer. Even on a cloudy Seattle day, you can’t help but smile when seeing it.

The Renewal: Enchanted April in the Northwest garden features this attractive, space-saving water feature made of glass and iron. A planter, bursting with leafy plants, sits on top.

Designed by Jim Honold, Home and Garden Art, the garden is “fenced in” with a playful fence topped with glass spheres.

At the western part of It’s All In The Movies garden sits this simple rock fountain, which looks like it has been here forever.

All you need is a nice firepit under the stars and some comfy chairs for lounging, with maybe a couple horses grazing in a nearby pasture.

No doubt John Wayne would feel right at home in this garden created by the Washington Association of Landscape Professionals.

Looking for something more naturalistic? How about a real “river” running through your property?

This four-season garden – appropriately named A River Runs Through It – was created by Evergreen Landscaping and Ponds.

The animals aren’t real in this photo, but the garden looks like the perfect setting for outdoor enthusiasts. It reminds us how Mother Nature can be a great inspiration for our home gardens.

 Want More?

Don’t forget to read my trend report on how rocks, wood and innovative plants starred at the 2013 Northwest Garden and Flower Show. The above rock fountain was created by Butchart Gardens.

Also, don’t miss my upcoming show report with creative garden designs for your own home. Coming soon!

Meanwhile, how are you using water features to add excitement in your garden?

All photos and content copyright Seasonal Wisdom.