Acorn squash is a type of squash related to other summer varieties of squash, like zucchini. It’s often referred to as a winter squash because of its use in more winter culinary dishes. Acorn squash is an easy type of squash to grow that produces delicious food straight from your garden. Knowing when and how...
I have a long-running affinity for Christmas cactuses. They’ve been in my life pretty much since the day I was born. When I was young, my mom had a Christmas cactus that she got from her mom (and still has) that to this day still erupts in bright pink flowers every December. I feel lucky...
Backyard chicken keeping is an increasingly popular hobby that is experiencing a resurgence. More and more cities are rolling back ordinances that prevent keeping chickens on your property, leading to an uptick in interest. There are hundreds of different types of chickens to choose from – hybrids, heritage breeds, crosses. One of those breeds is...
Although the Thimbleberry is beneficial for wildlife, are they also edible to people? Yes. They used to be a staple diet for the local native populations. So if berries are on your mind, consider growing thimbleberry. This native plant is a thornless shrub with deciduous leaves. It grows untamed in disturbed areas, among hills covered...
The western bleeding heart, Dicentra formosa, also known as the Pacific bleeding heart, is a blooming plant in the poppy family that can be found from California to British Columbia in damp, forested environments. From a horizontal rootstock, it is a perennial (tuber). The plant can grow as tall as 0.5 meters. The flower has...
Rosa woodsii, also known as woods’ rose, is a wild-growing plant that is an important part of various ecosystems. The plant is a multi-branched, deciduous shrub growing up to 5 feet tall. What is Rosa woodsii? Rosa woodsii grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8. Its flowers form from June to July, and the...
Backyard chicken keeping is an increasingly popular hobby that is experiencing a resurgence, and the Cornish Cross chicken is on the rise in popularity. More and more cities are rolling back ordinances that prevent keeping chickens on your property, leading to an uptick in interest. Meat chickens are also becoming increasingly popular as the cost...
If you want a hardy, native perennial wildflower in your garden that will wow guests, thrill your native pollinators, and attract Monarch butterflies, Showy Milkweed is just the flower for you. In this article, we’ll do a deep dive on this awesome wildflower, how to grow it, and what care considerations you should take. Additional...
If you’re a Pacific Northwest gardener with a shady, property and you need a flowering groundcover, there are few I’d recommend more than Trientalis latifolia, or starflower. It grows to be about 8 inches tall, creeps slowly, and produces lovely pink and white flowers from mid-spring to early summer. What is Trientalis latifolia? Trientalis latifolia,...
Tellima grandiflora is an excellent plant to add to any native flower garden in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Montana. It forms a lush, spreading groundcover that is perfect for shady, damp gardens. In this article, we’ll explore the fringe cup flower, how to grow it, and everything else you need to know. What is...
The piggyback plant is a great addition to your garden, both as a houseplant and as a native, shade-loving perennial groundcover when planted in the Pacific Northwest. In its native range, it stays green year-round and grows best in the western, rainier parts of California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. What is a piggyback plant?...
I am fond of keeping Muscovy ducks on my little backyard farm. They come with tons of benefits, namely fresh eggs and free pest control. If you have a few Muscovy ducks in your yard, you’ll probably never see snails or slugs ever again. They do a pretty efficient job of taking care of business...
