What’s New
A Lily By Any Other Name…
Maybe because Susan actually means ‘Lily’ do I feel a connection with lilies. They are usually bold in colors and fragrance, tough and durable in the garden. Humm… Many types of plants are called lily, from Agapanthus to Voodoo lily. Here are a few of my favorites...
Garlic Harvest
As the pumpkins start to take over the garden bed I know it is time to harvest the garlic. You may remember that I planted garlic last fall. I can tell it is ready to harvest because the tops are starting to turn yellow. Some gardeners wait until the tops are...
Fragrance in the Air
Summer is here. No not the blazing sun and hot nights of last year but the soft warmth with cool breezes and clouds blowing by that we in the Pacific Northwest are used too. With the summer winds comes fragrance from the garden. Sometimes the fragrance comes from...
Shady Characters
Most of you know I spend a lot of time creating shade, or at least trying to. Real shade is necessary for some plants. They like to hide out in the leafy glades under big trees. Traditional shade plants can have very different structure, giving an otherworldly look to...
Plants I Dig: Summer Hydrangea Madness
The beginning of Summer marks the beginning of hydrangea season. Still in my minds eye is a picture of the long hydrangea border at Martha Stewart’s house. I have long loved Hydrangeas and each year there are new ones introduced. Several in the past couple of years...
Outdoors, Where the Wild Things Are
One of the main reasons I left an accounting career to do garden design was so I could be outdoors. At first gardening was just a way to be outdoors and still make a living. Now gardening has turned into a passion, not just a job. However, I still look for ways to get...
Mid-Century Woodland Garden
A beautiful house with history and modern lines, a stand of old mature fir trees, and wonderful clients, what more could a designer ask for? This lovely home was remodeled and updated about 6 years ago. Built many years ago without permits it was a definite challenge....
Plants I Dig: Rare Plant Trials
Most of you know I like a challenge. Whether it is growing something that many people can’t, killing something many people don’t, or knowing a plant that someone sends me a photo of. Rare plants can be a challenge. While I love the happy prolific plants in my garden I...
Ho Hum? I Think Not!
This is the Pacific Northwest. As we drive through neighborhoods, parking lots, and walk through forest trails and parks we see Rhododendrons. Actually, we kind of get tired of seeing Rhododendrons for sale everywhere, and planted everywhere. Even in the design...
And So It Begins…
The days have been very warm for April and the garden beds are ready to plant. I don’t know about you but sometimes I get carried away with new seeds I’ve purchased and forget about the old ones. This year I sorted through my boxes of seeds and found several packs...
Fine Gardening Magazine
Susan is a regular contributor to Fine Gardening Magazine. Head over to www.finegardening.com to see more from Susan's work and expertise.
Let Susan and Plantswoman Design help you with your garden!
Address: PO Box 10505, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Phone: 206.842.2453 or 360.394.2453
Email: info@plantswomandesign.com