Landscape Design Articles
Native Plants for Drought Tolerant City Landscapes
Native Plants for Drought Tolerant City Landscaping People dream of a landscape that will need no watering. Sometimes because they think it will be less work but more likely these days they recognize that water or the lack of it is an environmental problem that will...
Dog Joy – Shady City Backyards with Dogs
Dog joy – Shady city backyards with dogs Is your shady city backyard with dogs a mud pit? This blog is dedicated to dog joy. It’s time to stop getting mad at your dog for bringing mud and dirt into your house. They can tell we are mad even if we try to hide it. ...
Coreopsis colorful easy low-water plantings
Coreopsis colorful easy low-water plantings As a Portland landscape designer I use Coreopsis verticillata and its' cultivars because it's a perfect colorful, low maintenance plant for modern landscape designs, bee friendly gardens, cottage gardens, container gardens...
Ornamental Grass in the Landscape
Low Maintenance Grass for Your Landscape Design Designers love to use ornamental grasses to add structure and seasonal interest. They have instant appeal and we designers are suckers for plants that soften pathways and make a dramatic statement. They are a staple in...
Boulders Create Opportunity in Portland Landscape Designs
Boulders create opportunity in Portland landscape designs. As a Portland landscape designer I love boulders. They are so versatile and especially helpful with complex small urban properties. New construction properties in the city are always on difficult lots now...
4 Drought-Resistant Landscaping Ideas for Increasing Your Property’s Eye Appeal
4 Drought-Resistant Landscaping Ideas for Increasing Your Property's Eye Appeal In recent years, droughts have made it harder to maintain your property’s landscaping, especially with water restrictions that make it almost impossible to maintain lush, green...
Mental Health Benefits of Gardening
Growing a new Perspective on Mental Health Tending the land to grow your own vegetables is an exceptional way to improve your diet, but access to unprocessed food at your doorstep isn’t the only reason to dig in the dirt. A recent study published by ScienceDirect...
Natural, Dog Friendly Slug & Snail Control In Your Portland Landscape
Slugs and Snails in your Portland Landscape My history with slugs in the garden I was never thrilled with my options for dealing with slugs and snails. In the 80’s we had the typical little gray French slugs and snails in our gardens and they were pesty enough. I...
Modern NW Natural Landscape Design
Modern Low Maintenance Landscape Design My new client Emily contacted me with two problems. One - she needed a landscape design for her new home that would be pleasing and fit her space and her style. She wanted to enjoy being outdoors in her small backyard in the...
Willamette Heights Hillside Landscape Design
Willamette Heights Hillside Landscape Design Portland, Oregon Hillside Residential Garden Design The Willamette Heights neighborhood of NW Portland is special for many reasons. The architecture of the grand old houses, views of the city, Mount Hood and that it is...
Landscape Designers Garden Tour 2017
Designers Garden Tour Save the Date: June 17, 2017 Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm This is my favorite event of the year. It's not a typical garden tour where the focus is only on attractive plant material. Each landscape from the paths to patios, plant vignettes with...
Ferns for Portland Landscape Designers
Ferns for Portland Landscape Designers I've been following Judith Jones and her career as a fern expert extraordinary before social media existed. She’s been my fern guru for 20 years and I’ve tried to catch her lectures when she comes to Portland at Joy Creek...
My Portland Spring Veggie Garden
An Edible Portland Garden I'm trying some new things to improve my early spring garden this year. Early Spring Garden Overall I'm happy with my edibles garden experience but I miss out on the early spring garden because I don't get my plants into the ground soon...
Controlling Erosion on Hillsides – A Portland Landscape Designer’s Perspective
Oregon Hillside Residential Landscape Design Controlling Erosion on Hillsides As a Portland landscape designer I often work with hillside properties. I also own a vacation home on Harstine Island in Mason County, Washington. We built our house about 10 years...
Great Low Maintenance Hellebore Flowers for Winter Cheer
All About Amazing Hellebores Red flowered Hellebores are still the holy grail for plant geeks but they are so tough that anyone can covet these and grow them. 'Peppermint Ice', 'Amethyst Gem' and 'Ashwood Double Bi Color Shades' are Hellebore cultivated varieties with...
Swim Spa Low Maintenance Landscape Design
Landscaping The Swim Spa That Took Over The Backyard Rachael and her family like to swim. They have twin toddlers who have been swimming since they were three months old. Seeing them playing like baby otters is adorable, even cuter than puppies which is saying...
Portland Rain Garden Fixes Front Yard Lake
Front Yard Thrives With Low Maintenance Rain Garden Cindy and Chris were house shopping in Eastmoreland Portland, Oregon. Chris found the house and brought Cindy to take a look. The curb appeal was so bad she gave it the thumbs down and would not even go in the...
Colorful Cape Fuchsia Makes Beautiful Summer Memories
Add Cape Fuchsia to Your Modern or Cottage Portland Landscape Hummingbirds love Cape Fuchsia for the nectar. I love to use it in designs because it adds so much color, is easy to grow and the new varieties work well with modern and cottage garden styles. This plant...
Holiday Open House at Portland Audubon Nature Sanctuary! 2016
Holiday Open House at Portland Audubon Nature Sanctuary! 2016 Saturday Dec. 3 from 10am to 6pm Sunday Dec. 4 from 10am to 5pm Join us for our free annual Holiday Open House as we kick off the solstice season. A warm, welcoming fire in our cozy Audubon House hearth...
Bad News about Slug Bait and Winter Garden Care Tips
Winter is just around the corner here in Portland. Here are 5 timely tips to help you care for your landscape right now. Slugs Last chance to knock out slugs! Control your slug population now in late fall. They lay thousands of eggs that will hatch in spring. I’ve...
Hummingbirds Favorite Summer Flower
Cape Fuchsia, Phygelius, is a colorful, low maintenance long blooming summer flower for the Pacific Northwest. I use it in landscape designs for clients who love color and watching hummingbirds. It’s a personal favorite of mine and rates at least 2 blogs. Cape...
Cedar Mills Woodland Low Maintenance Garden Design
DIYers Low Maintenance No Lawn Landscape I drove out to Cedar Mills in NW Portland to meet prospective landscape design clients Dave and Noelle. They were sitting out in their large front yard on a semi private patio. It was surrounded by large trees and was...
Entry Presence with Winter Red Foliage for Portland Landcapes
Entry Presence with Winter Red Foliage for Portland Landscapes Exciting Winter Color Shrub As a Portland landscape designer I have many clients who want exciting winter color in their landscapes. When new clients fill in their landscape preference survey they often...
Portland Landscape Designer and Plant Broker Team Up
Portland Garden Designer makes plant purchases affordable and easy using Plant Broker Services. I'm celebrating Roger Miller of Homescaper, his 15+ years of work and contributions to my clients and our industry upon his retirement. I'm introducing Brian Bradshaw to...
