How nice to have a weekend to work at home, putter around in the garden and get closer to the goals I've set for a landscape I've dubbed "Landwave". Landwave is the literal translation of my Chinese name "Lu Tao", that my professor from Sichuan Province gave me while I was in China botanizing. There is a significant meaning to the name in that it sums up my work and aspirations for the future and I thought I'd name my garden in his honor.

While I always try and set the bar high each year, I try to be realistic: I'm the only one caring for this garden and its success depends on the amount of precious time I invest in it. Already I'm working at the UW Botanic Gardens (my second year as the Soest Perennial Gardener), helping out with a Plant ID course, teaching at Edmonds Community College, potting, propagating, meeting and working with 3 brand new clients, and it goes on and on...

It's an ongoing process and I've learned that there's only so much I can do with my packed schedule this spring. I constantly have to tell myself to

1) Focus on one task at a time
2) Do as much as you can in a set time frame (block out times of the week to work soley in the garden)
3) There's life outside of gardens and plants
4) Know your physical limits and let your body rest. (GET MORE SLEEP!)
5) IT'S OKAY TO SAY "NO"

While a busy schedule, funds, physical limitations and my inability to be mean to people restrict my progress and ambitions for my garden, it's all about the plants I've come to acquire and grow that make all this stress and hard work so totally worth it!

So, here's my ongoing project at Landwave:

WEEDS!!
Plants still push through, but dislike the competition of weeds. It's just neverending; I really need to get to those dandelions before they seed themselves into the beds (though they probably already have at this point, UGH!)

I've been digging out paths and creating new beds for a new vegetable and and tropical garden! Having encountered some garbarge while digging these paths, I need to have the soil tested where I'm going to be growing vegetables to make sure the soil is safe to plant edibles in!

On the other side of this construction zone is one of the older parts of the garden. The Blue 'n Gold Border.

My Chinese Woodland is coming along with perennials getting bigger and better each season. My collection of Epimediums are putting on quite a show here with Rhododendron hodgsonii in the back.

Speaking of Epimediums, they are at their peak!!!:

'Lilac Cascade'

'Spring Wedding' is an absolutely stunning hybrid from Darrell Probst. It had like two flowers on it last year after planting the previous fall of 2006, but this year......YUMMY!!! Look at that richly colored wide edge on the foliage and the prolific flowers!

A little charmer standing just 6" high and about 10" wide, this is Epimedium grandiflorum v. higoense 'Bandit'. Again, a bold edge on the leaves and adorable flowers.

My Epimediums from Emei Shan

Epimedium acuminatum RHR CH 055. My Shade Gardening Class actually helped me out in confirming which species this was. I brought my specimen of E. acuminatum from a different source and compared it to this one with them and they concluded that it was essentially the same besides the fact that my form has far more mottling on the foliage!!

While this flower isn't all that impressive to me, the leaves are just spectacular! Almost all red! I'm still not sure what species this is. Epimedium sp. RHR CH 056

Other favorites right now include:

A combination recommended by Brent & Becky's Bulbs and it works really well. Tulipa 'Blushing Lady' in sync with Dicentra spectabilis in terms of color. Truly lovely.

Another smashing combo in Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant' and Iris foetidissima 'Variegata' growing together.

The stunningly beautiful "Butterfly Flower", Iris japonica. This is a selection called 'Eco Improved' (could be the same as 'Eco Easter') I got as a gift from Richie Steffen at the Miller Garden.

Another bulb that's new to me this year and impressing me so far. This is a rare Muscari macrocarpum 'Golden Fragrance'. It is quite scented reminiscent of Stanhopea orchids, which reminds me of a sweet smelling cleaning solvent. Hahhahahah

I've been nursery hopping and found this at Swansons Nursery the other day. This is the rare Chatham Forget-me-not or Myosotidium hortensia. I've never been successful in cultivating this plant, but it is quite stunning with its glossy, hosta-like leaves, and these clusters of pale blue flowers!

Ohh spring, you really are here!!!!

Riz

Hey guess what?! I'm the new owner of a 99 Isuzu Rodeo! It was such a hassle buying a used car, but it all worked out Sunday when the guy finally called us back and agreed to show us this vehicle. This is my first time driving an SUV so I'm still very careful and getting used to rear-wheel drive, but I'm going to get so much done this coming week with classes and a BIG up and coming PLANT SALE this weekend that I have to gear up for!

This weekend is the FLORABUNDANCE PLANT SALE being held once again at Magnusson Park in Sand Point here in Seattle. This sale benefits the Washington Park Arboretum Foundation. Here are details of the event from their website.

Part of the huge headache over the weekend was in large part due to the funky weather we've been having.

One moment, we've got this:

Then followed by THIS: These plants were destined for this coming weekend's plant sale, but now I don't even know if I'll have much of anything to offer.

Luckily the snow melted off and now the weather's sort of getting back to normal, but there was some considerable damage. For the most part, plants that were splaying down on the ground sprang back up again, but some, like this poor tree peony, will have to wait until next year until it flowers.

And for something this special and expensive of a plant to be damaged is very painful to endure as you properly cut off the broken stems with fat buds just starting to enlarge. Leaving these uncut with a wound could promote unwanted diseases that could be detrimental to the plant.

I have so much work to do leading up to this weekend. I'm incredibly stoked for this event and I sure hope many of you can make it this Saturday.

But hey, for the VERY BEST SELECTION, purchase tickets to the preview party where you have first dibs on just about everything!!!! More info in that link above.

Cheers,

Riz

Oh good lord, there's just too much going on! I've been posting event after event to encourage people to come and attend, but I'm at a point where I just need a break so I can focus on things I really need to be on top of. The events taking place are all great; the people, the plants, the knowledge, everything, but I should know by now that I can't do everything I want to and as much as people like you and support all your endeavors and you feel like you're in debt to them, I have to force myself to just say NO!

Gardening in spring is like a drug, I tell you! You get just a little bit of it and then you're enabled by all those around you and you're constantly being tempted by all the delightful things that begin to wake up from winter's long and cold slumber with each and every single one of them DEMANDING some attention.

Here are some culprits, both good and bad:

BAD: I have a small collection of Asian Asarums, the wild woodland gingers. Slugs have a feast with the tender new leaves that emerge along with the evergreen ones that have persisted from last year. If I don't bait now, they basically desacrate the entire plant in a matter of weeks!

GOOD: Close by is a stunning clump of an Epimedium I collected in China back in 2004. It has been blooming since late February and is simply stunning in flower. While it doesn't take long to really admire a flowering plant, I'm tempted to take photos and collect specimens to press for the Otis Hyde Herbarium at the UW Botanic Gardens so they have a record of this wild collected plant.

GOOD: Bright red new growth always catches my eye as it signals the plants survival of a cold, harsh winter. The one on the left is another China accession of the stunning Viburnum propinquum and to the right is a very rare horse chestnut, Aesculus wilsonii looking fabulous as the buds break.

GOOD: I can't help but notice the cheerful, bright spring bulbs that are peaking now. This is a pale blue Chionodoxa, The Glory of the Snow.

At the Washington Park Arboretum, the Magnolias are taking center stage with various deciduous cultivars blooming now. Here's just one with M. x loebneri 'Ballerina'. Gently fragrant, it is like a small tree covered in marshmallows. Yummy....

GOOD: More new growth. This is Iris 'Gerald Darby' with sword like foliage suffused in purple that's quite striking if you know to look for it.

I should be happy, right? More GOOD then BAD.

It's been a struggle this week as I'm without a car YET AGAIN. I was driving to work last week and the car (which I was borrowing from my brother) stalled just as I was taking the U-district exit on I-5. After the towing and diagnosis from the nearby repair shop, it wasn't worth getting it fixed. I was late to work, missed an event I was suppose to attend at Molbak's later that night, I had to cancel two appointments with some new clients, and plants I'm suppose to pot up and transport from the greenhouses back to Shoreline have to wait when they're suppose to be hardening off so they're ready for sale in just a few weeks. What a mess that say was; it felt like my life was caving in and I couldn't do anything about it besides wait by a bus station as I tear through my bag looking for the $1.50 fare as my U-Pass had already expired.

I could have cried, but I've been through all this before and I just tried to suck it up. Things got worse, however when I learned that my credit history is preventing me from getting a new vehicle and when I eventually got home, I was reminded of everything that needed to be done in the garden so I can start having open garden days so I can start selling plants. I'm weeks behind and there's already orders that need to be filled.

There are three things I remind myself to get through all this:

1) "You're still alive, keeping busy and still doing what you love doing"
2) "It could always be worse"
3) "There are people out there that love you and support you and are happy because of the work that you do"

Early struggles, persistence and patience is the key to a successful garden. Oh, and good weather doesn't hurt!

Cheers,

R

I can't believe it! Just as we're beginning to enjoy the awakening of our tended landscapes; anticipating the surge of new growth and the magic of spring ephemerals, the season was well under way:

The emerging crosiers of Polystichum polyblepharum (Japanese Tassel Fern)

And the cool and voluminous Crocus signaling the arrival of spring.

This unforeseen weather we're having has not only interrupted this pleasing performance, but it has hindered the work of gardeners who have already begun to harden off plants to get them ready for spring planting.

I've been dividing plants, sowing seeds, ordering in liners and potting up like CRAZY and as plants come up, get rooted in and sending up new growth, they have to leave the confines of the comfy greenhouse to acclimate to outdoor temperatures. While temperatures have lingered just above freezing and providing a little bit of protection, the plants should be right on schedule, but when heavy rains AND SNOW are in the forecast, one can't help put panic just a little bit.

Plants are resilient creatures and I don't expect much, if any, damage, but it makes working conditions, running errands and all, difficult and more stressful fearing adverse weather conditions while driving, etc.

Sorry, I just had to vent.

Anyways, the work load has picked up dramatically. While I'm trying to get my taxes taken care of, there's always something in the garden, the nursery, or the greenhouse that's distracting me and calling for my attention. There's also been new clients, several lectures, and an upcoming class I'm teaching on Shade Gardening at Edmonds Community College, which, unexpectedly, filled up with a waiting list! You can say that I'm doing everything I've always hoped for, but now that I'm actually in the swing of things, it takes some serious time management and daily prayers that I stay on my feet throughout this season!

As for upcoming events, the biggest one on my Calendar that EVERYONE MUST GO to is the Elisabeth C. Miller Library's Garden Lover's Book Sale!

Here's a tidbit from the website:

"The third annual Miller Library Book Sale is set for April 4th and 5th. New this year is an art exhibit and sale by the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the American Society of Botanical Artists.

Want to have the first look at the bargains? Come to the Wine and Cheese Preview Party Friday, April 4 from 5pm to 8pm. Tickets cost $15 and are available for sale at the library or by calling 206-543-0415. Credit cards accepted.

The public sale runs Saturday, April 5 from 9am to 3pm, free admission. For more info on this event, visit the Miller Library's Website.


Hope to see you there!

Stay warm and stay busy! It's still spring so don't let the crummy weather bring you down!

Cheers,

Riz

I just got an email about an uncoming event readers might be interested in attending. Seattle Tilth is hosting Anna Lappé, the national bestselling author of "Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen".

Gotta love Seattle Tilth's mission statement:

"Founded in 1978, Seattle Tilth is a nationally recognized non-profit educational organization dedicated to cultivating a sustainable community, one garden at a time. Seattle Tilth inspires and educates people to garden organically, conserve natural resources and support local food systems in order to cultivate a healthy urban environment and community."

Here's a tidbit from the press release they sent me:

SEATTLE--Celebrating their 30th Anniversary, Seattle Tilth will host Anna Lappé, the national bestselling author of Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen, for an evening of conversations that examine the connection between the industrial food system and global climate change. Lappé's presentation "Eat the Sky: Dreams, Tales, and Warnings from the Climate Crisis to the Food on Our Plate" will highlight the perils of the industrial food system and examine how grass-roots efforts to build local food economies are a vital way for individuals and communities to address the climate crisis.
Lappé will share stories of ordinary people challenging the dominate global, corporate food system, including the development of a local food economy in Brooklyn, New York, efforts in Japan to reclaim traditional food culture, and a campaign in Hawaii to preserve and cultivate traditional agroecology practices. Following the presentation Lappé will participate in a Q&A session and will sign books.

Sounds interesting? You betcha!

I really hope this event is well attended, groups like Seattle Tilth really need the community's support for a cause that's so very important and it comes at a great time of year as spring is approaching and many of us are thinking about the upcoming growing season!

I've already got a patch dedicated to edibles this year. My parents will be please with no more, "RIZ, WHY DON'T YOU GROW ANYTHING WE CAN PICK AND EAT!?"

Cheers,

R

I'm just getting around to uploading my photos from the 2008 Northwest Flower and Garden Show and I must say.....meh.

I didn't get to see or meet Sally Field and the show gardens, again, failed to knock me off of my feet as they did in the past.

I refuse to continually be critical about an event I look forward to and highly respect as it has jump-started my career, but still I'm finding that rocks/hardscapes, garden junk and ornaments are taking over. This year, I've tried to overlook those aspects of the show and simply marveled at the magic that takes place year after year when inside the 4th Floor of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center is transformed into a sight to behold in the month of February.

There were definitely some highlights and then, well, let's just say I sort of felt sorry for a few exhibitors at the show. Here's just a glimpse of what took place last week:

Northwest Horticultural Society's "Eat Your Vegetables: From Garden to Table" was a hit with many show goers as it was planted in the main foyer of the Exhibition Hall. Growing vegetables for a February flower and garden exhibition is very difficult and NHS President Nita-Jo Roundtree and her diligent crew of board members and volunteers pulled off a successful display that showcased Veggies in an urban context. Just behind the four part display was a vegetable container patio, a demonstration podium where local experts and guest chefs presented demonstrations and the final quadrant was a lovely French garden utilizing the fresh edible greens so meticulously cared for to display at this show.

The natural light that shined in during the duration of the show was absolutely beautiful.

Entering the main Exhibition Hall amongst the hoards of crowds in the dim show lights and the all-too-familiar recording of chirping birds, visitors were greeted by two displays that commanded attention.

To the left was a grand display by Falling Waters Design which included a stunning specimen of a white saucer Magnolia that was just in the peak of bloom. Unique sculptures with otherwise mediocre plant material completed the display that "smoked up" every few minutes turning a few heads.

On the right was Washington Park Arboretum's Pacific Connection's Garden represented by totem poles specially carved to symbolize the regions this eco-geographical garden will represent. I remember running into garden designer and colleague Bob Lilly a few weeks ago saying how challenging it was to get plant material for this exhibit. The real highlight was the tallest specimen tree to ever enter the Convention Center. The famed "Monkey Puzzle Tree" Araucaria araucana

Moving right along, one of my favorite gardens had to be the one created and designed by my friend and fellow nurseryman, Judith Jones of Fancy Fronds Nursery: "Arabesque: Gardening on the Curve".

Combining Modern Design with some ultra-cool plant material, it was a unique blend or horticulture and theatrics Judith is known for!

Not only does she deal with ferns, she has so many contacts and connections to some fabulous plants. Check out what she brought:

Lapageria rosea may not be as eyecatching as some of the other plants on display, but this highly sought after plant is the national flower of Chile, where it is native to. It is an evergreen vine that has proven to be hardy in protected parts of Puget Sound. To see a specimen in flower even during it's normal bloom time in the summer here is a rare and special event and here it was in full bloom in February for the show! It's plants that like on display that reignite the excitement of this show for me!

I'm a sucker for good woodland perennials and seeing these at the show was most exciting. A hybrid Chinese mayapple from Terra Nova Nurseries dubbed Podophyllum x 'Kaleidoscope'. These were kept in a cool greenhouse and several specimens were even in flower!

This was by far the best example of where garden ornament actually work well in color and composition with plants. This is Beesia deltophyla

Not all show gardens are created equal and this one had everyone sort of confused.

I'm sure there was a firm concept and idea they were trying to push, but combining it with recycled skis and skimpy plantings of run of the mill plants and no real focal point to the display was quite disheartening. I hope they learn from this experience.

Something so simple, but executed more effectively was this display by the Puget Sound Bonsai Association. Take a few ancient potted trees, stands, a few slim birches in containers, arrange them formally and light each one of them up against a dark background and you've got this stunning landscape perfectly suited for an urban garden.

After my first day at the show, I bused over to the Seattle Center to KCTS Studios to attend an event that promoted the PBS Show, "The Victory Garden".

While all I got was a pre-autographed photo of Jamie Durie, I had a chance to sit in and get a feel for this guy and his potential impact on Pacific Northwest horticulture.

Jamie is a renowned designer and television personality. He has a staff of 48 people working in 12 different countries and has made a name for himself in this surge of makeover shows. A former cabaret dancer, he trained in horticulture for four years and suddenly was approached by producers to put a handsome face in the world of gardening.

Photo By Stephen Hegg. Courtesy of KCTS.

After a brief presentation and Q & A session, I got the impression that as handsome and charismatic as he is, he's still got a ways to go in terms of gardening in our region. I guess the fact that he's a landscape designer and not necessarily a horticulturist sort of got to me, but being that he's used to a certain palette of plants, he seems to be able to adapt and wing it whenever he's confronted with a region specific question. He might not appeal to the hardcore gardeners here, but he's got the potential to reach out to a younger audience.

In his talk, I was impressed at his commitment to pushing the importance of environmental awareness and sustainability. These are terms we're beginning to hear more and more of and I hope he stays true to his word.

Jamie brought up a most important point that I'll take with me as I do my part to promote Pacific Northwest horticulture. He states that we must bring space to people and not solely plants. My eyes rolled thinking, "What a typical landscape designer/architect things to say", but he added that, intrinsically, EVERYONE understands space. In my attempts to excite those around me with the massive collection of plants from around the world, it's generally the entire picture they see and want to see. If you bring them into the space, the details....the plants...come later. It's a simple concept that I probably already knew, but didn't really believe it until it finally made sense envisioning all the people I've tried so hard to convince that my work with plants was worthwhile and fulfilling not just for myself, but to those around me as well.

Talking to one of the producers after the event, they plant to do segments of the Victory Garden here in the Northwest in the near future. He has so many gardens to visit and so many people to meet here; if he ever needs a guide. I'm happy to help him!

What a tremendous week! I need to relax, recover (as I'm still a bit congested with a runny nose), and get revved up for the work that's to come before spring......

wait...spring is here....and it's off to a beautiful start with these Crocus from the Orin and Althea Soest Perennial Display Garden. I'm approaching my 1 year anniversary!!

Cheers,

R

It has just been brought to my attention that garden host and Aussie hottie, Jamie Durie, will be in Seattle at the KCTS 9 Studios to meet and greet fellow gardeners and promote the famous "Victory Garden" show, which he now hosts.

Growing up in the early 1990's, I was such a huge fan of this show back in the day where Roger Swain was the main host and he covered so many aspects of gardening that just got me hooked and inspired for the career I have today. Seriously! I'd tape different episodes and watch them again and again and I was just in awe of everything from "chitting" seed potatoes to Peter Seabrook's travels in the Island of Jersey browsing the greenhouses of renowned orchid growers! Oh oh and there's those segments with Holly Shimizu visiting inspiring landscapes and, of course, Marian Morash's delicious cooking segments!

So, I'm totally psyched to come to this event on February 21, 6:30PM at the KCTS Studios and meet the new host! I think it's refreshing to have someone who has a fresh perspective on gardening and he's got that "trend setter" way about him that might attract a new audience.

Now, if I can just get over this annoying cold!

Stay warm,

R

Jim Fox, bulb specialist for Wells Medina Nursery gave a entertaining and inspiring talk on his adventures botanizing in South Africa.

With so many plants from SA highly adaptable for our fairly mild Pacific Northwest Climate, he stresses that someone should devote a portion of their garden to exclusively contain SA plants. Fox says that the main secret to growing these plants well in our region is WELL DRAINED SOIL! Combined with full sun and and somewhat dryish conditions, we can broaden our already diverse plant palette here with some fascinating species!

Here are some notes on notable plants and some of the tips he offered to growing them successfully:

Nerine - a elegant fall-blooming bulb.
Plant in a sheltered location in bright light and will thrive on neglect once the bulbs are established after one or two years.

Eucomis- The Pineapple Lily
A popular bulb that thrives well in our area producing late summer spikes of lovely flowers and a tuft of foliage that make the inflorescence look like a pineapple. Fox says that it does well with competition as long as its not tall growing competition. Like most SA bulbs, it requires good drainage, but not to use gravel.

Zantedeschia- The Calla Lily
Most of us know the White Calla Lily (Z. aethiopica) thrives in our moist, shady areas against the house. This and the white spotted leaf Z. albomaculata thrive here with the latter species possibly able to take dry shade as he encountered the species growing in between the crevice of a rock in the shade. The colorful hybrids out there are still popular summer bulbs, but these are best overwintered.

Hesperantha coccinea aka Schizostylis coccinea
Becoming more well known and utilized in the garden, these late summer/fall bloomers, these plants actually require constant moisture to thrive!

Gladiolus
A popular summer bulb (er corm) grown mostly for cut flowers. The species are quite unique and there are even some hardy selections out there. Fox mentions G. dalenii as one of the parents of the modern day hybrids, but there's G. papilio and G. saundersii to look out for that have been proven to overwinter successfully in our region.

Crocosmia
The famous Montbretia is simply outstanding for that riot of hot color in late summer! Most complain of its floppy nature, but that's how most species grow in the wild. Fox recommends that they either be staked up or planted in areas where their grassy foliage can cascade over an edge of a bed.

Agapanthus - Lily of The Nile
Becoming one of my favorites, this plant is becoming more and more common here in the Pacific Northwest and NOT as a highway plant! Fox says A. inapertus and its hybrids thrive in moist, but drained areas as he noticed the straight species growing in such conditions. They also require full sun and resent disturbance.

Kniphofia
The Red Hot Pokers are gaining popularity and for good reason. They love the heat and are structurally very appealing as specimens or in mass. He showed us photos of stunning masses of K. caulescens in the wild and mentioned the numerous hybrids out there to try!

Future meetings can be found on their website: www.n-p-a.org! Next lecture will be with renowned gardener, author, Thomas Hobbs, who wrote "The Jewel Box Garden" for the Nicolay Lecture! We heard recently that he sold his famous gardens and will be moving into a new property to start a new landscape! Many will be looking forward to hear him speak, I'm sure!

This Wednesday, I attended the monthly NHS Lecture series (and also attend my first meeting as an NHS Board Member!!) to hear fellow plantsman, Ray Larson, present his Master's Thesis:

The Flora of Seattle in 1850:
The Landscape Before Urban Development

Remember Ray is the dude that manages the gardens over at Hillcrest, the UW President's home just south of the Arboretum. He was a grad student at the Center for Urban Horticulture when I was an undergrad there.

While most attendees to these lectures expect a talk on strictly plants, garden design and aesthetics, Ray set the "fluff" aside and took on a more historic and scientific approach to this very interesting presentation that was well organized and delivered with ease. Well, duh! It was his master's research project!

Anyways, It was a nice change of pace: through digitized maps, diagrams and archived photographs, he highlighted several neighborhoods of the Seattle area and talked about the native flora that existed before the landscape drastically changed due to urban development.

The historic photos were quite compelling seeing an intersection I encounter almost everyday over 100 years ago when it was simply a dirt road with just a few small shops. Then there are areas such as downtown, Queen Anne, Alki Beach, Sand Point, etc.. it's amazing how much used to exist in terms of plant diversity.

Highlighting some natives that are excellent for the cultivated garden, his talk didn't stray too far from what the audience is used to seeing and hearing ("fluff"), but he also made us think about what our own gardens looked like before it was developed for housing; before invasives took over; before your hardscape and yards and yards of topsoil and compost were brought in. By replanting nature in your own creative way utilizing a wide assortment of plants, he didn't necessarily stress the need or forced this audience to use more natives, but simply to not let us forget what used to be there and what was there can be effectively incorporated in an urban landscape.

Sounds interesting to you? Of course it does! You can check out his thesis at the Miller Library!

Garden writer Val Easton also wrote this piece about his talk LAST YEAR! This dude is going places with press like this!:

Natives Unearthed

Well done Ray!

R

The holiday season flew by so fast and I've been so flustered over all sorts of things, a close gardening friend of mine actually had to remind me that I still had a garden blog for the Seattle P-I!! Thanks Kevin! lol

OK, so I've got a lot to share with you folks. The past few months have been a bit hectic with all sorts of news that's sure to shake up our gardening community here in the Pacific Northwest:

*Prof. David Mabberley resigns as the Director of UW Botanic Gardens*

Prof. Mabberley (L) seen here with Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels at a tree planting ceremony at Washington Park Arboretum.

What a somber group we were when Prof. Mabberley called for an urgent All UWBG meeting announcing that after three years as Director, he would be leaving UW Botanic Gardens. He has been offered a highly prestigious position position at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. This is an opportunity of a lifetime for him and we all wish him the best!
He's done so much to move us forward and attempt to make us an international institution, I just pray that we continue on that track when we hire a new director.

*Arborist Lou Stubecki leaving Washington Park Arboretum*
They're dropping like flies at UWBG, it seems like! It's sad to see such great people suddenly leave, but opportunity abounds for this great guy. Lou will be working for the City of Seattle doing more overseeing than the actual back-breaking work he usually does for so much less money working for the Arboretum. Someone with his experience, work ethic and character is a hard combination to find and he'll truly be missed. I've known him since I was a senior in high school and he's been with the Arboretum for 16 years. He's committed to his work and has always stood behind it! Awesome, he is!

It almost makes me think of how long I can stay with UWBG. I love the people and the mission we try and accomplish with our limited resources, but there's only so much they and the University can offer. I think that's why so many people have jumped ship since I first got on board as a student back in 2001. I've never really understood the politics of it all, but I'm just beginning to scratch the surface. What I'm seein' ain't all that pretty. The horticultural community has waited for a very long time to see the Center for Urban Horticulture live up to its potential.

I think Mabberley said it best when he stated that, "There's no excuse for Seattle not to be recognized as one of the top botanical institutions in the world!".

There really isn't. Now, what to do about it.....

In order to garner more interest in gardening in the Pacific Northwest, the Northwest Flower and Garden Show had read my blog last year and invited a fairly big name to take part in this year's show! Hhahaha....I'm sure my blog had nothing to do with it, but I was stoked to hear that an Oscar-winning actress would make an appearance and give a talk this February.

Check this out, Sally Field
will be talking about "Gardening for Health".

While it won't bring in raging crowds and paparazzi like Oprah Winfrey or Martha Stewart.....it's still a pretty prominent name and a great role-model for women....

Women have always been the target for this show and that's how it has always been. Men and children have traditionally been the "drag-alongs" to these shows. I don't think this will ever change, but a little hype and attention to gain more support for the NW Flower and Garden Show surely doesn't hurt.

Yeah, it's been awhile. Maybe with this early onset of a cold, I might have more time to blog!

Cheers to a hopefully more uplifting and exciting 2008!

Riz