Pacific nine bark (Physocarpus capitatus) with fall color in the nursery With the lowering of the sun’s angle, and the yellow school buses on the roads, we have signs that fall will soon be here. This is a great to time to plant natives, especially in the “golden” period from mid-September to late October. The soil […]
Milkweed for Central Washington
Milkweeds (Asclepias sp.) have been in the news in recent years, mostly because of their critical importance to the monarch butterfly. The larvae of this iconic butterfly must feed on milkweed to develop so the adults seek milkweeds for each generation. There are over eighty species of milkweed found in North America. In Washington we have only three native […]
Serviceberry, or is it Saskatoon?
Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) is one of the very first native shrubs to bloom each spring in our area. These medium to tall shrubs (8-18′ tall) can be mass of white flowers in April, prominently displayed on the hills around Peshastin and beyond. They are found throughout Washington, as well as from Alaska and across Canada, south […]
Can you identify these fruits?
These attractive fruits, loved by birds, grow on a woody plant common in most of Washington, and often planted in landscapes… Why, it’s… Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) The often bright red stems stand out in the winter, especially a winter like we’ve […]
Penstemon Time
I get excited about this time every year when the penstemons start to bloom, both in the nursery and in the wild. The colors and diverse forms of the penstemon species found in the West are amazing. In Washington we have at least 28 species found in nature. Many charming and lovely plants are among these […]