Award-winning writer and dynamic speaker Mary-Kate Mackey offers great gardening ideas. She is co-author of Sunset’s Secret Gardens, and her numerous articles have appeared in Fine Gardening, Horticulture, and Sunset.

Solve Horticultural Conundrums with a Handy App—Editor Kathleen Brenzel Tells How

Why consider a gardening app? Let’s compare: The New Sunset Western Garden Book costs $23.47 at Amazon, features 768 pages, and weighs four pounds. The New Sunset Western Garden Book mobile app costs $19.99 through Inkling, totals one gigabyte, and weighs—well, how … [ Read More ]

Garden with Color Confidence

OK, I confess—I don’t know much about color design in my garden. I’m just pleased when my plants thrive. However, on visits to other gardens, I appreciate the bright (or subtle) combinations. How does that happen? Recently, I walked through … [ Read More ]

Grow Grafted Tomatoes Now – It’s all about taste and bountiful harvests

The grafted tomatoes are coming! Marry a disease-resistant rootstock on the bottom to a tasty scion on top, and you get the best wedding of both worlds—tomatoes with vigor and higher yields, as well as the amazing variety of taste … [ Read More ]

What Makes a Winter Garden Look Good?

Designing a fabulous winter garden seems entirely appropriate for Northwest Garden Nursery owners, Marietta and Ernie O’Byrne. After all, they are the developers of the Winter Jewels® Hellebore Collection. With many plants dormant, the hardy surprises in their Oregon display … [ Read More ]

Plant the Right Tree – Every Time

Research your next tree with a series of simple steps Plant the wrong geranium in your garden and you can always send it to compost heaven. But plant the wrong tree and you’ll waste money and time (often years). So … [ Read More ]

Three Holiday Gift Books – Control deer and other uninvited visitors in your garden

It’s the season for welcoming family and friends to our homes. However, we don’t greet all creatures great and small with open arms. Here are three informative books for your holiday gift list— to give or to get. If the … [ Read More ]

Beyond a Rain Barrel – One Oregon homeowner solves her watering problems

Weather patterns that swing between drought and deluge are becoming more common over much of the U.S. So what’s a home gardener to do? You might think about capturing some of what here in the Pacific Northwest we call “liquid … [ Read More ]

Farwest’s Best Plants for Next Year – start your wish list now

In most parts of the country, autumn signals the end of the gardening season. Tender plants are stored in greenhousesand garages. Borders get a winter mulch. Even in warmer climates, it’s time for a break. But wait—there’s more. Here are … [ Read More ]

Blueberries for All – Gorgeous plants, great taste

“There’s no reason not to have a blueberry in every garden,” says Amelie Brazelton Aust, second-generation owner of Fall Creek Nursery in Oregon. She should know. Fall Creek will ship 14 million plants worldwide this year, mostly for farming production. Now … [ Read More ]

Six Plants for Water Gardens in Containers – the most xeric plants live in water

The hot weather chore of watering container plants can make you feel like you’re trapped in a perpetual motion machine. What, wilted again? However, you can enjoy wonderful containers that need little extra care when the temperatures soar. Simply choose … [ Read More ]