If you garden in the Pacific Northwest, you know the feeling. After a long, gray winter, there’s a shift. The rain feels a little warmer, the days get a little longer, and a specific kind of excitement starts to bubble up. Spring is finally, truly here. For us, the sign is when the nights are consistently staying above 40°F. It’s the green light we’ve been waiting for! This is the crucial moment to start moving […]
The Pacific Northwest weather keeps teasing us lately. This morning it was 29 degrees. I have the hyacinths covered with bell jars to keep them from freezing and I mulched all of the little tender crocuses. They all thought the couple of warm days were the indicator to do their thing. Someday spring will actually arrive and then it will be non-stop gardening and preserving until October-ish. Stay tuned for updates as the busy season […]
There’s a popular saying that “April showers bring May flowers,” and here in the Pacific Northwest, that couldn’t be more true. After a long, damp spring, the garden suddenly explodes with color in May, making all the patience and hard work worth it. This year, the main event on our homestead is the triumphant first bloom of our bearded irises. I ordered them last year, and they arrived so late in the fall that I […]
As gardeners in the Pacific Northwest (specifically Zone 8b), we know that our growing conditions can be unique. Finding advice tailored to our cool summers and mild, wet winters is key to a successful harvest. That’s why I always recommend the Edible Gardens Workshop Series from the Pierce County Conservation District. If you live in the area and haven’t checked this program out, you are truly missing out on a wealth of local gardening knowledge. […]
Here in the Pacific Northwest, the shift from summer to fall can feel incredibly abrupt. One moment we’re harvesting daily, and the next, the familiar wet and windy weather has returned, and the trees are rushing to shed their colorful leaves. It’s a clear signal that the busy season of growing, harvesting, and canning is over. While it can feel a bit sad to say goodbye to the garden, this is a vital and […]
