Sometimes common beliefs are misconceptions, sometimes overstated, sometimes plainly false – but sometimes, they are true. A common belief about Seattle is that we receive lots of rain. Buckets of rain, rivers of rain. And today, as I write this, we are receiving rain in huge amounts. We ended January three inches over our normalContinue reading “Gardening in the rain and dreaming about travel.”
Author Archives: tagpipspearl
Conifer Time
In a winter garden of dormant life, the conifer is king. Color, shape, texture, form – all contribute to a welcome variety of sights in a season of denuded branches, bare soil, and recurved leaves. Conifers, dwarf or full-size, create important structure in any garden, offer protection for wildlife, and offer beauty that changes withContinue reading “Conifer Time”
A Gardener’s thoughts on Genuine Hope
I watched the Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden and Kamala Harris this morning. Glued to my t.v., I wanted to see as much as possible so I put my phone aside. Joseph Biden. Kamala Harris. Biden’s Inaugural Address came from his heart and spoke with sincerity and true patriotism about the promise that this countryContinue reading “A Gardener’s thoughts on Genuine Hope”
A Winter Garden rescues the Gardener
A winter garden has an austere, understated quality enhanced by dim light and intermittent color. Beauty is present, of course, but not as prominent as in the other three gardening seasons. And this winter, only just begun, has taken a hard turn and run smack into worry. Last week my daughter was diagnosed with COVID.Continue reading “A Winter Garden rescues the Gardener”
Neighborhood Gardens, Part 2
Sometimes getting away is crucial for mental health. Leaving behind the world for a moment, even for only the time involved in taking a walk, can bring peace and clearer thoughts. The events in the Capitol Building in DC on the 6th of this month were overwhelming, infuriating, steeped in racism and ignorance, profoundly dangerous,Continue reading “Neighborhood Gardens, Part 2”
Forgiving Hate
A few years ago, my family and I attended a wedding of someone we feel very close to and love deeply. The young bride has been an important part of our lives for many years of her childhood and teen years. We have always tried to keep in touch with her – through her yearsContinue reading “Forgiving Hate”
Costa Rica, Part 1
In 2006, I had the great fortune to travel to Costa Rica with my daughter’s fourth grade class. Our group spent 15 days in this friendly, stunningly beautiful country, including a three-night stay with a multigenerational family on their small farm. The primary focus of the trip was to teach the children about the importanceContinue reading “Costa Rica, Part 1”
January – Time to plan the Summer Garden!
Every gardener I know starts to get restless after a couple weeks of winter. The call of the soil, the lure of green growing things, and the need for outside time is strong this time of year. Especially here in the Pacific Northwest where our winter days are short, dark, and stormy (although those daysContinue reading “January – Time to plan the Summer Garden!”
Colors of a Storm
Walking through the garden after an early morning rain storm I find dark, water-soaked soil beneath the mulch. The dusted, spent days of summer, hot and dry as a prairie, are long forgiven. A break in cloud cover pierces the garden with pale, white intensity. Subtle colors break through the curtains of gray and competeContinue reading “Colors of a Storm”
Happy in Seattle – a Gardener’s Take on Gray
A recent article in a local newspaper stated that a survey taken by the U.S. Census Bureau in mid-November of this year found Seattle to be the saddest major metro area in the country. Over half the population in the Seattle area reported feeling “depressed”, most reported feeling “down”, and many others reported feeling “hopeless”.Continue reading “Happy in Seattle – a Gardener’s Take on Gray”
