Dirt Therapy - Gardening in the Pacific Northwest

Dwarf Spirea (Spiraea Morrisonicola)

2026-06-09T09:34:51.596-07:00

I don't remember what prompted me to purchase this plant at Dancing Oaks Nursery a few years ago. I may have fallen for the nursery's description (I'm really good at that!), or perhaps it was simply because it was such a cutie patootie sitting there on the display table. I seem to recall buying it on impulse after I had already arrived at the nursery. Whatever the reason, I brought it home, read a little about its preferred growing conditions, planted it, and then largely forgot about it.

I didn't completely forget about it, however, because I planted it right at the beginning of the gravel pathway leading into the back garden. It's one of the first plants you see after stepping through the back gate. It turned out to be an excellent location because it has done very well there. It is a slow grower, remaining compact and small. As advertised, it would make an excellent plant for a rock garden.

The botanical name for this interesting little plant is Spiraea morrisonicola. It is also known as "Morrison's Spirea" and "Mount Morrison Meadowsweet", named after the mountain range in Taiwan from which it originates. There, it thrives in cool, moist conditions and rocky soils.

Astilbe 'Amber Moon'

2026-06-04T22:07:53.481-07:00

My favorite plant in the shade garden right now is Astilbe 'Amber Moon'. Once the rhododendrons have finished flowering and before the hydrangeas are blooming, the woodland border is a sea of green. This modest little plant suddenly stands out like a beacon. Its bright chartreuse foliage catches my eye every time, and is always surprising. I have to stop and think a minute to remember what it is.

'Amber Moon' is a form of Chinese astilbe (Astilbe chinensis) and looks quite different from the more familiar astilbes found in gardens. It forms a neat, compact mound that reaches only about 18 inches in height, making it an excellent choice for the front of a shaded border. Although it is reported to produce flowers later in the season, mine has yet to bloom.

As striking as the spring foliage is, the plant becomes even more interesting as the season progresses. The vivid chartreuse leaves gradually develop warm coppery tones, creating a dramatic display that lasts well into the growing season.

In my garden, it grows in a predominantly shady location with a little early morning sun and dappled light for the rest of the day. The soil remains consistently moist, providing the woodland conditions that this plant seems to appreciate.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Joanne & Larry Turner's Garden (Kelso, Washington)

2026-06-01T18:22:50.490-07:00

Last week, I drove up to Kelso to visit Joanne and Larry Turner, who had cut some trees and had limbs for me to use in my twig fence. They have a great property, way out in the country. Fresh, crisp air and no traffic noise, just bird song. It is really beautiful.

The garden was at its peak, a tad behind our garden closer to the city. The dogwoods were magnificent. Joanne grew many of them from seed. The one in the above photo is 'Venus'. I'm not sure about the one below.

The Turners have a lot of rhododendrons and they were spectacular. Joanne told me the names of all of these and of course, I don't remember the names now.

I love to see rhododendrons that have been shaped into trees. They have a nice one -

I was impressed with their Mountain Laurel (Kalmia). In our garden, they are so slow growing, but perhaps we just have dwarf varieties. That occurred to me when I saw these, which were around 7 feet tall.

And, finally, Joanne has a lot of perennials and many unusual groundcovers. She shared some with me - Zebra Squill (Cooper's False Scilla, Ledebouria cooperi), Rhodoxis in two colors, a pale pink and a deep fuchsia, and Gentian, which I will be attempting for the third time.

Beautiful iris -

And this flower, which was new to me. It is Dichelostemma ida-maia (according to my plant ID app) -

I was happy to get the twigs, but so glad I was there at the peak bloom time in their garden. Thanks Joanne and Larry!

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Take Time to Smell the Roses

2026-05-30T21:05:27.895-07:00

'Julia Child'

The roses look great right now, but then again, I think they always do when they are having that first flush, and the leaves are usually unblemished. They are definely the highlight of the garden at the moment.

'Eden' and 'Phyllis Bide'

'Robin Hood' and 'Alchymist'

'Veilchenblau'

'Westerland'

'Buff Beauty'

'Champagne Wishes'

'Chinatown'

'Dublin Bay'

'The Impressionist'

'Lady of Shallot'

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Open Garden this weekend

2026-05-19T20:52:20.856-07:00

Our garden will be open this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, May 23-24, 10am-4pm (both days). (If you are a member of the Hardy Plant Society, there is a mini-tour on Sunday with three other gardens in our area. Check their website for details. You do not have to be a member to visit our garden on either day)

The roses are looking nice, but the annuals and pots are having a slow start. So there may be some holes, but at least there will be cookies!

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

The Marietta & Ernie O'Byrne Garden (Eugene, Oregon)

2026-05-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

Another road trip, this time to Eugene, Oregon (about 3 hours from Vancouver, Washington), to visit the garden of Marietta and Ernie O'Byrne. They and their gardens are well-known and they also operate a nursery, Northwest Garden Nursery, on site.

One of their specialties are hellebores and every year, they have a sale, usually in February. Back in 2020, I drove down for that, but I've always wanted to return and see their garden in spring. I would also love to see it in autumn. It is a fantastic garden! And one more plug - they wrote a wonderful book called "A Tapestry Garden" that I highly recommend.

Speaking of hellebores, I saw this one in the garden, and I must find it. I don't know if this is one of their introductions, but it is very unique -

It was another beautiful, sunny day. When we arrived, Marietta and Ernie, as well as other workers, were busy in the garden. We chatted briefly with them and then went out to explore the garden. Above, in the treetops, was a boisterous symphony from a flock of Evening Grosbeaks.

A long driveway divides their house and main garden. A small creek runs alongside the driveway. The side opposite the house is a shady, woodland garden. Towering above, and providing the shade, are massive Douglas Fir and Norway Spruce trees. The Douglas Firs were planted in the 1970s from small seedlings found in their forest that surrounds the home. The Norway Spruce was a transplanted Christmas tree.

Trails bordered with shade-loving plants, like ferns, trillium, epimedium, etc. are packed. There is no ground uncovered in this garden!

I was excited to see their 'Esk Sunset' Sycamore Maple (Acer psuedoplatanus). We have one in our garden. Had I read their book before planting it, I would have taken their advice and put it in a shadier spot. Ours eventually acclimated to full sun, but the first couple of years, it wasn't the happiest.

After leaving the long shade border, we walked across to the back of the garden, to the Chaparral Garden. This is a dryland garden with pines, manzanita, yucca, and plants that grow with limited water.

There were many iris in the Chaparral Garden, including this beauty that I would love to find -

Adjacent to the Chaparral Garden, beyond the fence and the pasture - peacocks! I could not get a photo of the colorful ones, but I did get one of the spectacular white one. I know a lot of people don't like their cries, but I do.

Heading back to the main house and surrounding garden, I began to notice the pebble mosaics that were made by the artist Jeffrey Bale. The largest one is in the photo at the beginning of this post. There were also smaller ones -

And this one close to the house. I think this was might be new, as I don't recall seeing it in their book -

The house is surrounded by perennial borders, conifers, heathers, rockeries and alpine troughs.

An elevated platform, with a spiral staircase, offers an aerial view. It also appears to be a favorite spot for the cat -

They also had several Corgis -

A goldfish pond and resident frog on the side of the house -

The Shade Garden -

A bamboo forest resides on a berm. They control them from spreading by digging a deep trench around the berm.

I'm so glad I finally got to see this garden in spring. I hope I can return to see it in the autumn season. I know it will be wonderful.

.
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Lychnis 'Petite Jenny'

2026-05-09T22:41:00.000-07:00

My favorite perennial for the last two weeks has been Lychnis 'Petite Jenny'. Lychnis has always been a confusing group to me. I'm very familiar with Maltese Cross

(L. chalcedonica) and Rose Campion (L. coronaria), which are quite different in appearance. And now, another species to know - L. flos-cuculi, with a variety of common names - "Ragged Robin", "Cuckoo Flower", "Catchfly", and I'm sure there are more.

This was the first perennial to bloom in our little garden off the deck a few weeks ago, and Michael asked me what the beautiful pink flower was. I had to go to my spreadsheet to find it. Last year, it was Lychnis 'Petite Henry', a white-flowered variety, that bloomed so beautifully in the front garden. This year, it doesn't look as good, but 'Petite Jenny' is another story. A billowy cloud of lavender-pink flowers has increased dramatically from last year and makes a definite statement. It is lovely, especially when blowing in the breeze.

This perennial grows in sun to part shade and is tolerant of damp soil. Ours gets shade in the morning and sun in the afternoon. The blooms keep producing if you keep them deadheaded. This is the second year for this plant (it was planted in June 2024) and is about a 2 feet tall and wide mound. It does need a hoop or support to keep it from flopping. Today was the first day I used the sprinkler for watering and I was careful to not let it hit this plant. The things we do!

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Bastard Balm

2026-05-06T20:57:00.000-07:00

I beg your pardon! This is indeed the common name of this unusual perennial. The botanical name is "Melittis melissophyllum". More on the name later.

This plant is in the mint family (Lamiaceae), and the leaves do resemble mint, but are very stiff and upright. The leaves have an odd fragrance when crushed. Many describe it as honey or lemon scented, although to me, it has a more chemical/medicinal smell. The flowers are orchid-like, white with a mauve/pink lip.

A friend shared this plant with me a few years ago, and every year, I'm more impressed with it. This year, it looks better than ever, and it has become a favorite of mine. Apparently, it is somewhat rare and not easily found in nurseries. I couldn't even find it listed in any of my books on perennials or herbs, although it could be listed under a different name.

Despite being related to mint, this is a well-behaved plant. It forms a tidy mound and has not spread. Many descriptions refer to it as a woodland plant. It hails from the UK and Ukraine, where it is found in woodland areas and along roadways. In our garden, it gets mostly sun this time of year, before the redbud above it leafs out. It does not seem to mind the sun and is flourishing.

Now, back to that name. In doing some research, I found that the prefix "bastard" was common in historical botany to refer to a lesser hybrid, or an imperfect version of a superior plant. Bastard Balm is similar to other balsamic plants, but it lacks the essential oils found in true balm (like lemon balm).

Another interesting fact - Bastard Balm was once called "melissa' after the Greek word for "bee". It is referred to as a pollinator and bee-loving plant, but I haven't noticed bees on my plant.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Vista Gardens

2026-05-02T23:55:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, a group of friends and I made the drive up to Bremerton, Washington, to visit Vista Gardens, a remarkable garden created by John Albers. Albers, a retired Research Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington, has clearly channeled his scientific curiosity into a deep passion for horticulture and environmental sustainability. He’s written several books on gardening in the Pacific Northwest, with another on the way later this year.

Vista Gardens began in 1998, when Albers and his wife Santica started developing what was then a 2-acre property. Over time, it has grown into a 4-acre nonprofit botanical garden featuring more than 1,200 plant species and cultivars. The collections are especially strong in conifers, heaths, heathers, and Japanese maples.

The garden sits on a steep hillside overlooking Phinney Bay, and the views alone would be worth the trip. But what really caught my attention right away were the rocks—huge ones, scattered and stacked throughout the landscape. It’s hard to imagine how they managed to haul them up that slope, let alone position them so artfully.

We arrived on a warm, sunny day, expecting crowds, but were surprised to find few people there. As we tried to get our bearings, we were greeted by Baqi Kopelman, the garden’s Executive Director. He suggested we start at the top and work our way down—a simple tip that made a big difference, especially as the temperature climbed.

In addition to plants, there is garden art strategically placed along the trails, like these beautiful glass structures.

The higher we climbed, the more expansive the views became, with glimpses of the bay opening up between the trees.

One highlight was “Sam’s Conifer Reserve,” named after Sam Pratt, who began volunteering in the garden at just fourteen. His connection to the space continues through his work with Conifer Kingdom, which now collaborates with Albers—an exchange of cuttings for plants that keeps the collection evolving.

Nearby is “Santica’s Perfect Solitude,” a peaceful area featuring a gazebo, a rose garden, and a particularly stunning crabapple tree.

Heading back down the slope toward the front of the house -

Heading away from the house and back towards the entrance gate is the "John Lentz Garden", a shady glen of ferns, rhododendrons, camellias, and Japanese maples.

This is a very special garden and one that I would like to see again in the autumn. As a bonus, we even had the chance to meet John Albers himself, who came out to greet us as we were getting ready to leave.

It was well worth the three-hour drive. And if you can’t make the trip yourself, there’s a wonderful video on YouTube that offers a virtual visit—

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Rhododendron ‘Loderi King George’

2026-04-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

I've always been intrigued by flowers that start out with a deep color in the buds and open to a different color, particularly pure white.

Rhododendron 'Loderi King George' is an example of this. The buds begin in almost a solid deep pink, opening to white. I would not call them "pure white", as there are traces of pink left, but the pink is on the underside of the blooms. When backlit by sunlight, the pink softly glows through the white. Lovely!

I remember looking at photos of massive rhododendrons in my early gardening days, and it was one of the features that lured me to the Pacific Northwest. They were difficult to grow in Alabama, not liking the hot, humid conditions.

After finally moving to Washington state, I was a bit mystified to learn that many gardeners here tend to dismiss them as "common". I suppose they are over-used and often not grown under the best circumstances, but seeing them used properly and grown in the right conditions, they are magnificent.

I find myself gravitating to the larger rhododendrons, and they are too large for our small garden. However, that hasn't always stopped me. 'Loderi King George' was one that I liked early on, but it was many years before I finally located one, and then it showed up at the nursery where I worked. This one can grow up to 15 feet tall. Right now, it is a mere 5 feet.

Another great feature about 'King George' is that it is fragrant! The scent is a light, fresh, and sweet. It has been blooming now for several weeks. A definite highlight of the early spring garden.

The name "Loderi" is for Sir Edmund Giles Loder (1849-1920), who was a plant collector and breeder.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Earth Day Garden

2026-04-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

Kiwi Vine (Actinidia kolomikta) 'Arctic Beauty'

This and that on a very rainy Earth Day 2026. Many of these photos were taken during the past two weeks.

Chilean Potato Vine (Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin')

Brunnera 'Diane's Gold'

Redbud (Cercis 'Flame Thrower')

Clematis 'Pauline'

Maidenhair Fern and Epimedium

Geranium pyenaicum 'Bill Wallace'

Anise (Illicium floridanum 'Woodland Ruby')

Michelia 'Fairy Cream'

Peony 'Shima Nishiki'

Rhododendron 'Loderi King George'

Podophyllum 'Spotty Dotty'

Columbine (noid)

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Sping Has Sprung - a neighborhood walk

2026-04-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

I usually do most of my walking during the winter months, so getting out for a spring walk feels like a bit of a rarity. The garden was still soaked from a night of rain, and a light drizzle hung in the air, so I decided to get exercise elsewhere.

The first things that caught my eye were the groundcovers, profuse blooming carpets.

Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)

Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)

Lithodora

I'm not sure what this groundcover is with the tiny, daisy flowers. I suspect that it is native. This garden has habitat signs, nice plants and landscaping.

Lilacs are very popular in the neighborhood and I saw several -

I'm a sucker for plants falling over walls, and this camellia caught my eye -

Dogwoods are another popular tree. The one in our garden is just beginning to show color on the buds. These were in farther along -

A gorgeous Japanese maple and azaleas -

My favorite garden along my route. I remember this stunning Darwin's barberry (Berberis darwinii) last year.

A more adventurous garden along the route. This one has a Monkey Puzzle Tree -

On my way back, I walked by the track behind the middle school at the end of our street. I noticed this massive tree blooming - it looks like a pear or maybe cherry. I did not know they grew this large. I wonder how old it is -

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Tulips and more April beauties

2026-04-10T20:08:00.000-07:00

Narcissus 'Sweet Ocean'

Tulips, Pansies & Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa)

Rhododendron 'Loderi King George'

Rhododendron 'Blue Baron'

Tulip 'Icoon'

Skimmia & Pieris 'Little Heath'

Red Flowering Currant (Ribes Sanguenium)

Saxifrage 'London Pride' (?)

Foamflower (Tiarella 'Pink Skyrocket')

Veronica 'Georgia Blue'

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Ruby Tuesday's Strawberry Tall Cake

2026-04-05T22:42:00.000-07:00

Much to my dismay, I have cut back on sugar consumption. Difficult, because I love sweet treats, but on the other hand, I want to be a healthier person. I still like to bake and I've just discovered "Prue Leith's Cotswold Kitchen" on You Tube and enjoying it very much.

That said, I normally make a dessert at least once per week, but I try to have only a piece or two, and share the rest. Going through some of my cookbooks, I came across a series of books by Todd Wilbur, who reproduces recipes from popular chain restaurants.

In the first volume, I saw the Ruby Tuesday Strawberry Tall Cake and remembered that it was a favorite of ours. I haven't visited a Ruby Tuesday in ages and I don't know if they still serve this. I decided to give it a try and it turned out pretty good. The photo I took doesn't show the cake layers and is not a very good representation, but you get the idea. Actually, we thought the best way to eat this was in a bowl, kind of like a trifle.

I am so used to Maida Heatter's recipes, which I am still going through on my other blog. Her recipes are so detailed (I learned to bake from her) that I am spoiled. The recipes in the "Top Secret" books are not as detailed as Maida's. They also have illustrations that look like a construction blueprint. Here is the illustration for the Tall Cake - how does this not terrify someone wanting to try this?

Aside from this intimidating illustration, I plunged forward. In the end, it all worked. It has motivated me to try some of the other recipes, particularly some of the main-dish ones.

Ruby Tuesday Strawberry Tallcake for Two

There are several components to the recipe -

Strawberry Mousse and Sauce

1 10-oz. package frozen strawberries in syrup
1 3/4 cups water
1 3 oz. package strawberry Jello
1 cup heavy cream

Defrost the strawberries and pour the entire package, including the syrup, into a blender

or food processor. Blend for 10-15 seconds, until you have a smooth puree.

Combine the puree with 1 1/2 cups of the water (reserving the remaining 1/4 cup) in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Add the Jello, stir to dissolve, and remove from the heat. Set aside to cool.

After the mixture has cooled, divide it into two bowls.

Whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Fold ONE bowl of the strawberry mixture into the whipped cream, a little at a time, until incorporated. Cover and chill. (This is the mousse).

Whisk the 1/4 cup of water into the other bowl of the strawberry mixture. Cover and chill. (This is the syrup).

Sponge Cake

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

5 eggs, separated

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup cold water

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Beat the egg yolks until they are light in color and creamy, about 4-5 minutes.

Blend in the sugar, water, and vanilla.

Reduce the speed of the mixer and add the dry ingredients a little at a time, until blended.

In a clean mixer bowl with clean beaters (I use the whisk attachment for this), beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until stiff peaks form.

Fold the egg whites into the cake batter.

Pour the batter into an ungreased 11 x 17" cookie sheet that has a rim. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the top of the cake is lightly golden. Let the cake cool for about 10 minutes, then invert it onto a board to remove it from the pan. Let it cool completely.

After the cake is completely cooled, it can be sliced. How you do this depends on how you plan to serve it. If using a goblet (the way it is served in the restaurant), you can use a cookie cutter or biscuit cutter to cut the cake into discs that will fit into the goblet. Alternatively, you could make a trifle out of it and cut it into larger pieces.

After the cake is cooled and the sauce and mousse have firmed, it is ready to assemble.

Toppings

Vanilla Ice Cream

1/2 pint strawberries, sliced

1 can whipped cream

First, place a layer of cake on the bottom of the container. Spread a layer of mousse on top of the cake layer. Repeat this two or three times, depending on what size of container you are using.

Next, top the cake and mousse layers with scoops of ice cream and strawberries. Drizzle with the strawberry sauce. Top with whipped cream.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Golden Currant (Ribes aureum)

2026-04-02T18:10:00.000-07:00

For several years, I've been slowly adding more and more native plants to the garden. One of the most spectacular of spring-bloomers is the Red Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum), which I've had from the beginning, but there is another Ribes relative that I didn't know about until a few years ago.

This is the Golden Currant (Ribes aureum). It was planted in the fall of 2023, and heading into its third year, it is 5 feet tall. The flowers are not as showy as the Red Flowering Currant, but they are attractive in their own way. I was enticed by the wildlife benefits of this shrub. The flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. It is a host plant to bees, moths and butterflies. Fruits will hopefully follow in summer and are loved by birds (particularly the elusive cedar waxwings which I've yet to see in the garden).

Golden Currant grows in moist to semi-dry soils and tolerates drought after it is established. It does well in either sun or light shade.

The Red Flowering Currant has also been blooming for weeks now.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Camellias in the Late Winter Garden

2026-03-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

'Donation'

The camellias are very nice this year, probably due to the mild temperatures and lighter rainfall. I adore camellias and have eight varieties in the garden. Of course, the flowers are lovely but I like the foliage just as much.

'Donation'

'Donation' is one of the most popular camellias. It is a hybrid and has been around since 1941. It is very dependable, with blooms appearing continually for a long period (about a month). I've seen very large specimens of 'Donation' in photos, but for me, it has been a slow grower, not yet surpassing 4 feet tall.

'Nuccio's Bella Rossa'

The award for most blooms on a plant, however, goes to 'Nuccio's Bella Rossa'. This red-flowered camellia is dense with flowers. It has bloomed reliably over the years but sometimes the weather can interfere. This happened last year but this year, it is making up for lost time. This camellia has a very neat, compact habit. The leaves are glossy green and densely packed. It is currently about 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide, and 10 years old.

Magnoliaflora (?)

'Magnoliaflora' was the name on the label of this beautiful pink camellia. Photos show it as a much lighter color than this one, a very pale pink. So the jury is out as to if this is indeed that variety. I moved it to a new location last fall and it made the transition well. It has been blooming for weeks now, but just a handful of blooms. This camellia comes from Japan, where it is known as 'Hagoromo', a word that means 'feathered robe", referring to a magical cloak worn by celestial beings in Japanese folklore.

Our oldest camellia is 'Mathotiana'. It is also one of the oldest camellias, originating from Belgium in 1847. It was a gift from our realtor. It has an odd color (wine?) and is very difficult to photograph properly. It is not a profuse bloomer.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Early Spring Preview

2026-03-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

Anemone blanda and Orange Sedge (Carex testacea)

The first day of spring is not until tomorrow, but the garden is ahead of the game. The blooms are everywhere. Some of them are minuscule and require looking very closely.

I was thrilled to see a new addition in bloom—Epimedium 'Amber Queen.' I have many of these plants, but this is the first with orange blooms. They are not that easy to spot on a new plant, but the orange makes it easier.

Epimedium 'Amber Queen'

Another new one, this was a gift from my friend Linda Rectanus. It is Haquetia epipactis, a plant native to the woodlands of the European Alps.

Haquetia epipactis

I forget how early some of the groundcovers are, in this case, Lithodora and Omphaloides cappadocica ('Blue -eyed Mary') -

Lithodora 'Grace Ward'

Omphaloides cappadodica (Blue-eyed Mary)

No blooms yet, but I love the foliage of Potentilla 'Orange Starlit' -

Potentilla 'Orange Starlit'

The most spectacular native plant, the Red-Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum). I pruned ours back drastically last year and as a result, the plant looks tiny this year. This can be a large shrub if you have the space to let it do its thing.

Red Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)

Brunnera 'Diane's Gold' just starting to bloom -

Brunnera 'Diane's Gold'

Of course, the hellebores are still going strong.

The bay tree, in a pot on the back deck, has never bloomed like this. We didn't even realize it did this. What a treat! -

Pansies in a pot with tulips that haven't started to bloom yet -

Spirea 'Ogon', another shrub that I pruned strong last year. It is always a reliable bloomer -

Spirea 'Ogon'

As are the Lily of the Valley shrub, the Pieris. This one is 'Little Heath' -

Pieris 'Little Heath'

My favorite Rosemary, the 'Foxtail' variety -

Last, but certainly not least, are the camellias -

Camellia 'Bella Rosa'

Camellia 'Donation'

Camellia 'Magnoliaflora'

Camellia 'Mathotiana'

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Postcards from Alabama

2026-03-17T15:09:00.000-07:00

I’m back from my annual visit home to Alabama. The weather was… interesting. While I was there, we had two nights of thunderstorms (including a tornado warning on my last night), several blustery days with temperatures in the low 80s, and a cold front that brought bone-chilling winds. I was anxious to get on the plane, just to get warm. A record low was forecast for Monday night (after I left), which was unfortunate since things were just starting to leaf out and bloom.

All of these photos were taken in the woods behind my childhood home. The land slopes downhill to a creek that runs along the edge of the property. My brother likes to go there every day, and we did—except for a few days when it was too muddy. We spent many hours in those woods and at the creek, and it hasn’t changed much.

I wasn't into in plants then, but now it is interesting to see what actually grows there. It is not a very diverse landscape and is mostly filled with cedars, pines and oaks.

One very common plant here is the Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia). I don’t remember noticing it as a child, but it grows happily in these woods and reseeds freely, though not too aggressively. It was in bloom, and I remembered that Margie Anderton, a local wildflower expert, always said to put out hummingbird feeders as soon as it blooms—that’s when the birds arrive in our area.

Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)

Other natural residents -

Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)

Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

Mississippi River Wakerobin (Trillium foetidissimum)

And some of my introductions that have survived -

I planted various things here when I thought we were going to live here. Almost all have perished with the exceptions of a few. The most successful is this Mahonia -

I planted many daffodils but only a few were blooming. I don't recall planting Snowdrops, but apparently I did and there were at least two healthy clumps that were blooming beautifully. This made my heart sing -

Back in my Washington garden, I returned to find things popping all over. I can't wait to get out and explore.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Root Pruning Potted Japanese Maples

2026-03-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

I rarely remove a plant from a pot unless I'm transplanting but last year, I noticed that a few of our potted Japanese maples did not look as good as they have in the past. My first thought was root compaction. However, after sliding the tree out of the pot, I immediately saw something interesting.

The obvious culprit was the hole in the bottom of the pot. It was stopped up by roots.

Looking closer, I could also see an area that looked different. You can see a layer here that has a thinner, almost transparent quality -

First, I sliced off the bottom fourth of the root ball, right below the layer that looked thin -

Looking at it from the bottom, you can see that the roots are not that extensive. It certainly wasn't root bound. It shows why they are good candidates for containers. There is also a creeping wire vine (Muehlenbeckia axillaris) in the pot as well, and I suspected that it could have been causing problems. However, I didn't see any indication of that either.

I then took my pruning saw and sheared off the sides slightly -

I then repotted with fresh soil and did double-duty on the pot hole by placing both a light screen and a large, flat stone over it.

I wish I had photographed the next project, which was an umbrella pine in a pot, showing clear distress (the top tip of it had already turned brown). After I unpotted it, I discovered an entirely different situation. In the early days, to save money and not knowing better, I had used a variety of objects in the bottom of large pots to take up some of the space. In this case, I had used crushed plastic pots. What a disaster! Never, ever do that! This poor tree was suffering, I suspect, from too many air pockets in the bottom of the pot. Needless to say, I filled the entire pot this time with soil, again paying special attention to the drainage hole. This was a very large pot, so the soil was expensive, but I hope it survives. It will certainly be happier. I swear its green color looked healthier the next day.

As I heard someone say recently, "gardening is a never-ending education".

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Pruning & Transplanting Clematis (and other plants)

2026-03-02T22:17:00.000-08:00

Ah, the clematis, one of the most beautiful and frustrating of plants. I counted five books on my shelf devoted to them, and I still have to consult them every year when it is time to prune. This year I'm doing something new - moving a few that are obviously not doing well (lack of sun, more than likely).

I'm worried about one of my favorites - 'Jackmanii Superba'. First, I had to dig it up when the new gate was constructed. This clematis was massive, and the bottom stalk looked like a small tree. I divided it to give a piece to my neighbor. Somewhere along the way, it was cut back all the way down to the trunk. I'm still asking myself how this happened. Only time will tell if I've killed the poor thing. It has been replanted, and so far, no signs of life.

Others that I decided to move were not subjected to that abuse and were moved immediately after I dug them up. This is 'Etoile Violette'. This rampant variety was along the front fence and it always got tangled up in the plants surrounding in. I have moved it to the back gate and fence, where I hope it is better suited.

The ground is moist from all the rain we've received and fortunately, the root ball stayed intact. This clematis falls under the "C" category of pruning and one I like best - you just cut it down to the ground. I'm trying a new product that I've heard good things about - Epsoma Organic Bio-tone Starter. Has anyone else tried it?

'Etoile Violette' in its new home -

More pruning -

About a month ago, I pruned the Harlequin Glorybower (Clerodendrum) for the first time. Before and after -

I've always pruned the Chaste Tree (Vitex) but I do it moderately -

I'm always sad to cut back the 'Midwinter Fire' cornus but at least, the branches can be used in an arrangement -

Of course the Butterfly Bush is cut way back -

In addition, of course there are roses to be pruned. Today I pruned a little on the Strawberry Tree (Abrbutus) as well as the Tea Olive (Osmanthus).

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Winter Projects

2026-02-27T22:02:00.000-08:00

Pinus contorta 'Chief Joseph'

I was really too harsh in my last post concerning the weather. It has actually been a very mild winter, and looking back, I see that I have completed several projects.

The first, back in November, was a redo of the twig fence. This has been an ongoing project that has left me unsatisfied. At the beginning, I just piled the twigs up, along an existing chain fence, and soon realized that they would never stand on their own. Critters (squirrels!) continually knocked twigs out of the arrangement, but over time, it was simply gravity that caused problems. I used various methods to try and keep the twigs in place, including using wire to tie them and fence posts to brace them. All temporary solutions. Gravity always reared its ugly head.

At the end of summer, I decided on a different approach. The sheer weight of the twigs made a deep wall impractical, so I decided to construct a shallower fence and secure it with a stronger support.

This is how it looked, before I started to dismantle it (not too bad in this section, but very heavy and falling apart in other areas) -

This time, I used large cedar posts to brace the twigs against the chain fence. I placed the posts about every eight feet or so, with only 5-6 inches between the posts and the chain fence. The length of the fence runs along the back of our lot and runs about 112 feet. I worked on and off on this and managed to finish it within a month. I love doing this - it becomes a Zen-like experience for me, and I find it quite pleasurable. It is still a work in progress, as I would like the fence taller, so I'm adding twigs as I get them.

Project #2 was much quicker - a cattle panel arch. The 'Feelin' Blue' cedar (Cedrus deodora) has just kept growing. Not the best location, I'm afraid, but nowhere to move it. I wanted a simple arch to support it, but they are so overpriced. I forget how I stumbled upon this idea. I bought the cattle panel at Wilco for around $30. I watched a video on how to do it, and it wasn't difficult. I did not like the look of fence posts to secure it, and I came up with the idea of placing PVC tubes into the ground and sticking the prongs at the bottom of the panels into them. It worked (a rare instance of me constructing something that works!).

Project #3 - Gabion mailbox posts. The part I dreaded - putting the gabion cage together - turned out to be the simplest. Whoever came up with this idea was a genius. Each corner of the cage is secured by a long spiral piece that winds its way down, wrapping itself around each rung. It is fun to watch after you place one at the top and watch it spiral its way down - fascinating!

No, the hardest part was filling it with rocks. I made the second one (the main one), more difficult by going for a layered effect with two types of rock. It was like forcing pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together. The larger rocks, especially, were tricky to place. I'm not 100% pleased with it, but it will have to do for now.

The first one I did was for our old mailbox in the back garden. We use it to store garden tools. I used only the rainbow colored stones for this one and it was not as difficult.

For each, I had to cut out a portion of the bottom cage panel so that it would fit around the mailbox post.

Overall, I'm pleased with the results. I think I will like it better once the plants and vines soften it this summer.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

February Flowers

2026-02-25T18:23:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to feel a lot like spring, especially today. What a difference a day makes. It seems as thought we've had rain for the past week. The past two days were extremely wet, too miserable to get outside. I never thought I suffered from seasonal depression, but I think I'm beginning to, especially when the gray days go on for long stretches.

Today, we are back to sunny and dry, and it looks like it may continue for at least a week. Hooray, there's so much to do. And there are things to see...

The little yellow crocus at the top of the page has been blooming for several weeks. The purple ones were just beginning to bud this morning -

By the end of the day...

A few days ago, as I was taking the kitchen compost out during the endless drizzle, I almost stepped on these Iris reticulata 'Little Gems'. I planted these last fall. They were on the end-of-season markdown at Lowe's.

The hellebores have been blooming for some time now. I know people complain that you can't see the flowers unless you get down on the ground (true), but I think they are really pretty from the top -

I did manage to get down and get a view from below -

The snowdrops are very beautiful this year. It has taken several years for them to get going -

I love Euphorbia 'Ascot Rainbow' early in the season. Later, not so much -

And last but certainly not least - the Azara tree (Azara microphylla). The fragrance has been noticeable for about three weeks now. People describe it differently (vanilla or chocolate being the most common). To me, it smells like a cigar.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Chelsea Flower Show 2025 - The Show Gardens

2026-02-21T18:08:00.000-08:00

Cha No Niwa - Japanese Tea Garden

Now, on to the show gardens which are undoubtedly the biggest highlight of the show. There were 15 official show gardens and I got photos of most of them, but not all. I'm beginning with the most popular, which was the "Cha No Niwa - Japanese Tea Garden" which won the RHS Garden of the Year award and was the People's Choice winner.

This garden was designed by Japanese designer Kazuyuki Ishihara. Queen Elizabeth II referred to him as "The Magician of Greenery".

I would say the second most-popular garden (judging by the crowds) was Jo Thompson's Glasshouse Garden.

The Glasshouse Garden

The inspiration for this garden came from The Glasshouse, an organization that supported women leaving prison through horticultural training, resettlement and employment.

The following photo gives you an ideal of the crowds. This garden particularly was constantly surrounded by a thick barrier of people. I tried several times to get better photos. I should have looked at this one as soon as I got there.

"The SongBird Survival Garden", designed by Nicola Oakley, was
one of my favorites.

"The Down's Syndrome Scotland Garden" was designed by Nick Burton and Duncan Hall, and inspired by Hall's nephew Liam.

Children with Cancer UK "A Place to Be", designed by Tom Clarke
and Ros Couts-Harwood.

The ADHD Foundation Garden, designed by Katy Terry.

The Wildlife Trust's British Rainforest, designed by Zoe Claymore,
won the People's Choice All About Plants Garden award.

The Wildlife Trust's British Rainforest

The Avanade Intelligence Garden by Tom Massey & Je Ahn, so named because it has sensors that monitor tree health. This was very beautiful and this photo doesn't do it justice.

The King's Trust Garden: Seeding Success by Joe Perkins, featured
screen printed glass panels.

Hospice UK: Garden of Compassion by Tom Hoblyn

The Addleshaw Goddard Freedom to Flourish Garden, designed by Carey Garden Design Studio. This won "Small Garden of the Year" award and "Best Construction".

I especially liked the gabion wall design.

British Red Cross "Here for Humanity" Garden by John Warland and Tom Bannister. It was inspired by Henri Dunant, the Swiss visionary founder of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.

This was on the most unique gardens at the show. These columnar concrete planters were amazing.

Killik & Co. "Save For A Rainy Day" Garden by Baz Grainger.

Tackle HIV Challenging Stigma Garden by Manoj Malde
was another favorite of mine.

And that's a wrap! During the 18-day tour, we visited 35 attractions, mostly gardens but also some manor houses, cathedrals, a witchcraft museum and a cider processing plant. We stayed at seven different hotels. It was the trip of a lifetime for me. Hopefully, if all goes to plan, I will be going back this summer for a tour of eastern England that will include Sissinghurst and Great Dixter. I can't wait!

Part 1 - The Great Pavillion, Vendor Displays, Gardening Celebrities

(Visited May 21, 2025)

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Chelsea Flower Show 2025 - The Great Pavilion, Vendor Displays & Gardening Celebrities

2026-02-19T00:08:00.000-08:00

Next to the last day of the England tour (the final day was at RHS Wisley, which I just covered). I've saved the Chelsea Flower Show for last. We were lucky to have had exceptional weather during the entire three weeks of the trip. In fact, our tour guide, who has been to England over twenty times, said that he had never seen it so warm and dry. Today, however, there was rain, but it wasn't a lot. It reminded me of Pacific Northwest rain - just drizzle and sprinkles.

This is how it looked as we boarded our rides to the show -

By the time we arrived, just a few blocks away, the rain had stopped, and it stayed dry about ninety percent of the day.

At first, I thought "this isn't too bad". Roaming around the displays on the outside, there didn't seem to be that many people. That quickly changed, however, and by the time I entered the Great Pavilion, it was very crowded. The show gardens (which I will do in my next post) were especially difficult to see with so many people.

First, some of the vendor displays. Everything from greenhouses, statuary, tools, you name it, it was here.

I did get to see a few of the show gardens without too many people in the way, before I headed inside the Great Pavilion to escape a rain shower.

Once inside, an assault on the senses awaited. This is where vendors from all over the world showcase their goods, with stunning creative displays. Profusions of specific plants types are massed together in incredible numbers.

One of the first exhibits I saw was one of the rose displays. Have you ever seen so many roses in one place?

This is also where new plants make their introduction. The most talked about rose was the latest David Austin variety, their first striped one. It is called "The King's Rose" -

The Elton John AIDS Foundation rose - I don't recall seeing the rose itself, but I'm sure it was there. There was so much to take in -

Hmmm, 'The Menopause Rose"? - well, apparently there is one -

When it came to massed flowers, I thought the Raymond Evison Clematis exhibit was particularly a standout. This was a huge display and I only captured a small portion of it in this photo -

I am easily starstruck and I knew that celebrities who attended Chelsea got early access on previous days, but I thought there might be a possibility that I would see some of the stars of "Gardener's World". Sure enough, shortly after I entered the Pavilion, I stumbled upon a filming segment totally unexpected. And it was none other than the great Carol Klein, who I adore.

I watched the filming was quite some time but finally gave up hope of them wrapping it up, so I wandered further.

I think she was looking at me here - haha

Later, Bruce and Jerry said that they got to meet and have their photos taken with her - those rascals! I should have practiced patience.

I saw other filming segments, with people I didn't recognize -

Outside again, I was trying to get a better look at the show gardens (it was near impossible at this point), and I saw cranes and cameras in the distance and sensed something was afoot. Sure enough, it was none other than Monty Don and Arit Anderson filming!

Despite being surrounded (very closely) by a throng of admirers, they never once looked out at the audience or acknowledged our presence. I suppose they have to be focused on their duties, but I thought they would at least wave at us when they finished filming. (On the other hand, Bruce said that Carol Klein was very friendly and accommodating and even suggested they take the selfie with her.)

Chelsea Show Gardens 2025

(Visited May 21, 2025)

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver

RHS Wisley pt. 2 - Rock, Crevice, Alpine Garden, Rose Garden, Tropical Glasshouse & Oakwood

2026-02-16T16:17:00.000-08:00

The Rock Garden at Wisley is one of the most spectacular features. This huge garden sits on a north-facing hill, conducive to growing alpine plants. The Rock Garden was added after the RHS acquisition in 1903, and it was an extensive project that involved bringing in tons of Sussex sandstone.

An overview of the rock garden, standing from the top. Meandering pathways cover the hillside, with boulders, streams, and waterfalls. The Japanese-style landscaping was added in 2004.

At the top of the rock garden, the Cushion House is a greenhouse for alpine plants (particularly "cushion alpines" that grow in clumps and mats.

I think I've mentioned before that I am not enthusiastic about crevice gardens ( a strange statement, considering I love rocks). They had a large one, just outside the greenhouse.

I did like this trough crevice idea. This would be something I would be more inclined to do in my own garden, if that desire ever surfaces.

Nice bench!

The Bowles-Lyon Rose Garden is named after RHS President Sir David Bowles-Lyon, who served from 1953-1961. This garden was started in 2007 and replaced the old rose borders. There were a few roses blooming, but it was too early to see the majority.

Not to be confused with Sir David Bowles-Lyon, Edward Augustus Bowles, has a long association with RHS and was Vice-President at one time. He is commemorated in "E. A. Bowles Corner", which features bulbs and unusual plants that Bowles loved. Bowles wrote several books, including "My Garden in Spring", "My Garden in Summer" and "My Garden in Fall and Winter". (Note to self -I have all three of these books but have not read them yet).

The oldest part of Wisley is Oakwood. This woodland garden was inspired by wild gardening advocate William Robinson. It is a serene oasis that lies at the heart of Wisley. The layered plantings provide different views in each season. This is how the garden looks in late May and early June.

If I'm not mistaken, there are two walled gardens at Wisley. The first, with the parterred boxwood, was in my previous post. The second on is "Walled Garden West" which focuses on foliage plants.

And finally, last but not least, is the Glasshouse, which has three climatic zones - tropical, moist temperate and dry temperate.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy