by Bruce Bennett • Autumn is a great time to look to leaf foliage or berries for color without the need for flowers. Many foliage plants even develop better color when temperatures drop. For example, dwarf heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) ‘Fire Power’ never looked better when its fire engine red color develops during the cool […]
Climate-Ready Landscape Plants
by Bruce Bennet • The last three years have given us some of the increasingly hottest weather on record and forecasts for the next decade really don’t provide us much hope for the cooler, “normal” weather cycles. The next logical step in landscape development includes the issue of global warming in our part of the […]
Native Plant Sale on October 21
A native plant sale will take place on October 21 at H.J. Carroll Park on October 21. The sale, the primary fundraiser for the Kul Kah Han Native Plant Garden at the park, is an excellent way to obtain healthy native plants for the home garden. Kul Kah Han arranges plants in seven different ecosystems, […]
New Sign for Demo Park
by Honey Niemann • Recently several Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation (JCMGF) volunteers spruced up the recognition signage at the Demo Park on Sims Way across from The Cup Restaurant. After sanding and repainting the original lettering, WSU and a 50th Anniversary logo was added. In true spirit, JCMGF wanted to acknowledge and support our […]
Butterflies in Your Garden
by Bruce Bennett • In June, the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle reopened the Molbak’s Butterfly Garden after a two-year pandemic-related closure. Why would a zoo dedicate precious urban space to an exhibit which is open for only four months of the year? The 20 or so varieties butterflies that call western Washington home are […]
Tricks for Fooling the Eye in the Garden
by Bruce Bennet • Trompe l’oeil is the French term for “fool the eye,” and is an artistic phrase used for the creation of optical illusions of three-dimensional space and objects on a two-dimensional surface. While the term usually deals with paintings, gardeners can use several of the same techniques to make their three-dimensional green […]
Foundation Grants Available
by Suzanne Eggleston • The Jefferson County Master Gardeners Foundation (JCMGF) wants to support Jefferson County residents with up to $1,000 in funding for volunteer horticulture and environmental stewardship projects. Schools, community gardens, individuals, and organizations with not-for-profit projects are eligible to apply. Grants are available for supplies and materials. Monies are not intended to […]
Get Your Tickets to 2023 Y&G!
by Suzanne Eggleston • Tickets are on sale for the 2023 Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Yard & Garden Virtual Lecture Series. The lectures are offered in a live webinar format, and will run on six Saturday mornings: February 11 and 25, and March 4, 11, 18, and 25. Lectures will be recorded; […]
Gifting Plants for the Holidays
by Bruce Bennett • If you have been a gardener for more than a few years, you’ve probably been pegged by those around you as a gardening authority and someone who is all about plants. If that’s the case, gifting a plant makes perfect sense. Plants are one of those presents that will keep on […]
Half-Price Tickets to NW Flower & Garden Festival!
The Northwest Flower & Garden Festival takes place at Seattle’s Convention Center from February 15–19, 2023. With a theme of “Spring Vibes Only,” the festival will feature 20 display gardens, more than 90 free seminars and workshops, and thousands of treasures in the garden marketplace. From November 25–28, tickets are half price. After November 28, […]