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I awoke to a horrifying sight last weekend. My beloved tulip bed, the bed that graces my yard with bright colors early in spring, was a mess. Uprooted, half-chewed bulbs were strewn across the yard Some even had a few tender stalks poking out of them. I replanted those that were merely uprooted but unchewed, hoping for the best, but many were destroyed completely. I knew who to blame.
I've been craving fresh vegetables and greens this last week. Not that flavorless stuff shipped from who knows where in the grocery store, but real, flavorful garden food. Unfortunately it's still a bit early for anything fresh from the garden outdoors, but I picked up a bag of sprouting seeds and resolved to fix my dilemma.
You don't need a fancy sprouter to grow edible sprouts at home. A regular mason jar or any glass jar works well. If you are using a mason jar, all you need is the metal ring portion of the lid. For a reused jar, such as mayo container, toss the lid.
Read more about Sprout Your Salad
As we begin to thaw out in the Emerald City, our lawns and gardens are looking a bit worse for wear. Many of us see broken branches, split shrubs and other signs of the severe weather when we survey the landscape. The good news is that plants tend to bounce back quickly in our area, partially because of our rich soil that helps spur on healthy new growth once spring arrives.
Will a rhododendron thrive in that bare corner of your lawn? What is eating the roses? Does the soil need anything done to it to grow prize winning tomatoes? The answers are as varied as the selections in the spring seed catalog, but there is a readily available source that has all the answers plus even more resources to keep your flower beds happy, your lawns green and the myriad of pests in the emerald city at bay.
If you are opting for a real tree this Christmas season then you are in for a real treat. The great smell, beautiful fullness of the boughs and branches and more can add instant holiday cheer to any home. However, there are lots of Christmas trees to choose from in the Seattle area and is best to know what your options are before hitting the city shopping for a tree.
Grand Fir – Grand firs are popular for their shiny needles which are quite long, perfect for propping up strands of lights and garlands. Grand firs also give off a citrusy smell which might surprise you, but don’t worry, it is just as Christmasy as any other scent.
Noble Fir – Noble firs are a popular choice because of its strong one inch long needles and again, a citrusy smell. Noble firs are available in a variety of heights and create a noticeable presence in any room, even one with vaulted ceilings.
Douglas Fir – The Douglas Fir is named after David Douglas who studied trees in the 1800s. Aside from celebrating an important person in tree history, the Douglas Fir is a great choice for a Christmas tree because it is shaped like a cone and smells amazing with green-blue needles that hold their color if watered regularly.
Scotch Pine – Scotch Pines have needles which are 4-6 inches long, a big difference from any of the Fir trees. Scotch trees also have strong branches and can hold lots of ornaments for many weeks. Scotch Pine is probably the most popular Christmas tree choice every year.
The perfect tree is ready and waiting for you in Seattle!
Read more about Choosing a Christmas Tree 
Seattle has seen its first frost day of the new season and this means most people are putting their garden to rest until springtime rolls around. This doesn’t mean that you can’t still enjoy plants, flowers and more, just that you must find different ways to appreciate the beautiful foliage of the Pacific Northwest.
Thanksgiving is a great holiday for decorating your indoors with garden types plants and décor pieces to bring nature to your dinner table You can make wreaths and table settings using plants from your garden or the many parks and trails around the Seattle area. You will also find great pieces at the grocery store, which can be much easier than hiking Mt. Si in an effort to find the perfect limbs for a centerpiece. Here are some different Thanksgiving themed indoor plant and foliage ideas:
Wreaths: Although it is easy to buy a wreath, it can be fun to make one with branches, leaves and more from the great outdoors. Fortunately Seattle is filled with evergreen and leafy trees for a nice variety. To make a wreath you will need wire, wire cutters and a variety of garden items such as twigs, branches, evergreen boughs and more. Once you have a circular base for your wreath, it can be decorated with smaller items such as acorns and pinecones.
Centerpieces: Thanksgiving themed centerpieces are a breeze to make with items form your autumn garden. Gourds, squash, pumpkin and dried up ears of corn can be elegantly arranged in a crystal bowl to look festive and elegant.
Turn to your garden for Thanksgiving décor this fall.
Read more about Thanksgiving Foliage 
Autumn in Seattle is usually something to truly look forward to. Summer sticks around until September at least as a way for making up for the fact it doesn’t start until August. A Seattle October is blessed with foggy mornings leading to sunny afternoons and cool temperatures perfect for pumpkin patches and honey crisp apples. Seattle doesn’t stand a chance against New England’s foliage, but there are still some beautiful trees in the area peeping out from behind evergreens to give residents the feeling of fall. Consider taking a drive to Snoqualmie Pass on 90 to soak up some rich red colors on the mountainside or just cruise down 148th from Bellevue to Redmond and be dazzled by natures color show.
If you live in Seattle and have a sizeable windowsill which isn’t always shaded by a large evergreen, then you have an ideal location for a beautiful array of Asian indoor plants. Asian plants are a beautiful touch to any home. Living and breathing plants always have the ability to brighten and refresh a room no matter what country they originate from.
Some popular indoor Asian plants are the following:
Bamboo: Small personal bamboo plants are wildly popular for indoor growth. Bamboo shoots can grow freely in just a vase of water or in a grouping inside of a potted planter with soil. One of the best attributes of bamboo is it will grow tall, green and beautiful, giving even the most novice gardeners a strong sense of accomplishment.
Bonsai Tree: Bonsai trees are well known for their dark green leafy branches which can be carefully trimmed into artistic and sometimes humorous sculptures. Bonsais trees are often used as comic relief in quirky plays and skits because they require serious ongoing care, to the point that the gardener often forms a long term relationship with the plant. Bonsais are great for the office because it is a location frequented often for regular watering in between meetings and conference calls.
Orchids: Orchids aren’t just for bouquets of flowers, they also make beautiful indoor plants which require only weekly watering and moderate sunlight. The beautiful flower will delight you for months to come.
Don’t let the rainy November weather in Seattle keep you away from the beauty of nature – start your indoor plant collection this week!
Read more about Go Asian with your Growing Growing plants indoors in Seattle can be tricky. It is hard enough to recreate the essence of the outdoors in climates which provide sun through the windows but in Seattle where sun is sparse it is even more difficult. If you happen to be visiting a friend and notice they have successfully grown a beautiful plant indoors despite the odds then ask for a just a cutting from their original so you can root it and grow your own. Growing roots from a plant cutting is easy. Here are the steps:
Step One – Fill a glass part way with water and put the cutting in the water. Be sure the glass can accommodate the plant cutting even if it grows.
Step Two – Put the glass near a window that catches any sunlight which Seattle comes by. Chances are, if the plant grew successfully for a neighbor then it can grow in your home as well.
Step Three – Watch for roots. Roots typically take about three weeks to grow a few inches which is enough to replant the cutting into its own planter.
Step Four – Get some good soil from a gardening store and start your cutting out in a small planter. It is important to give the roots more time to grow in a small area before repotting it to something larger.
Now your plant is good to go and you can treat it like any other growing plant. Repot it if it gets too big, water it regularly and keep it in the sun. Read more about Turn a Cut Plant into your own Plant
Seattle is filled with at-home culinary geniuses who a scout through farmer’s markets for the freshest and greatest ingredients to make the next delightful dinner at home. Many people can grow great little herb gardens on their porch or in their yard but when the clouds of winter settle on the Puget Sound its either dried herbs or a hydroponic gardens for Seattle-ites.
Hydroponic gardens are growing in popularity because they usually can grow reliable good herbs. Basil, rosemary, thyme, sage and more can all fit into a good sized hydroponic garden. Hydroponic gardening is growing small plants in water. There is also a nutrient solution which is added as food for the plants and in areas such as Seattle where there is little sun in winter, a grow light will be necessary. Many people enjoy hydroponic gardening not just because it yields relatively good results, but also because there are no weeds or messy soil.
There are also smaller scale hydroponic gardens available which quickly grow small basil plants and more which will regrow leaves soon after they have been plucked for cooking. A hydroponic set-up will take a little time and shopping around but for people who truly want fresh herbs it is a great solution. Be sure to purchase a high quality grow light and give plants the proper amount of light throughout the day with a “night” (no light) as well to simulate the outdoors. In no time you will be turning out delicious herbs and more.
Read more about Basil in the Winter Time with Hydroponics