Steve Smith

All hail the lowly ‘pigsqueak,’ the Bergenia from Great Britain

This plant will literally grow anywhere in the garden, and looks breathtaking this time of year.

Orange Vireya Rhododendron Flowers Blooming

Believe it or not, rhodies can be yellow and orange, too

Most of the plants have blue, purple, pink and red flowers, but here are eight recommended yellow-ish rhodies

Orange Vireya Rhododendron Flowers Blooming

‘Ruby Gold’ bleeding heart is a plant that will steal your heart

Its yellow foliage has a golden-orange hue that projects summer warmth in spring.

Steve Smith wears a funny hat.

The Wonder Shrub blossomed on April Fool’s Day 2004

Customers clamored for this ballyhooed — and entirely mythical — plant after it was featured in a nursery’s April 1 advertising.

Steve Smith wears a funny hat.
Waterfall with Spring Flowers in a woodland Scene--Gibson County Indiana

Vernal equinox triggers a case of spring fever in the garden

After a long dark winter, it’s now time to go outside and immerse yourself in the glory of the spring garden.

Waterfall with Spring Flowers in a woodland Scene--Gibson County Indiana
Ripe tomatoes growing on the branches - cultivated in the garden

Follow these tips for a successful vegetable garden this year

Make sure you have good soil that is well-fed. A plot of land under full sun also is critical, especially for tomatoes.

Ripe tomatoes growing on the branches - cultivated in the garden
pink flower of a rose frost with hoarfrost close up

Disaster in the garden has an upside: Choosing new plants

Gardens are always in flux, and hard freezes give us a chance to change things and create new compositions.

pink flower of a rose frost with hoarfrost close up
Sunbeams through Willow Tree in morning fog. Beautiful spring

Some undeniable signs that we’re on the road to spring

Buds are swelling, bulbs are up and blooming and the frogs are croaking. Winter’s almost over!

Sunbeams through Willow Tree in morning fog. Beautiful spring
aaxasxasxsaxs

Garden tasks to tackle during Prunuary — er, February

Sharpen those pruning tools and get to work — spring is just around the corner.

aaxasxasxsaxs
Red Rose

Want to plant a rose for Valentine’s Day? You have options

There is a reason roses are considered the queen of flowers. And now is the time to plant them.

Red Rose
The Silver Dollar blueberry boasts sweet, pineapple-flavored fruit and foliage resembling eucalyptus.

The gray days of February are time to plant blueberries

The delicious superfood berries are supremely easy to grow here. And they’re great-looking landscape plants, too.

The Silver Dollar blueberry boasts sweet, pineapple-flavored fruit and foliage resembling eucalyptus.
Red apples with leaves isolated over white background. Gala apple. Top view

Everything you never wanted to know about fruit tree pollination

If your trees are blooming and not setting fruit, the most likely culprit is poor pollination.

Red apples with leaves isolated over white background. Gala apple. Top view
Gardening at spring. Planting tree in garden. Senior man watering planted fruit tree at his backyard

Bare root trees and roses have arrived for spring planting

They’re only available from January through March, so shop early for the tree or rose you want.

Gardening at spring. Planting tree in garden. Senior man watering planted fruit tree at his backyard
Header, garden shovel or spade puts into soil, green meadow in the back, low angle shot

Regenerative gardening helps save the planet one garden at a time

Regenerative gardening is founded on the principle that if we take care of our soils then everything else will work out for the best.

Header, garden shovel or spade puts into soil, green meadow in the back, low angle shot
A fresh layer of mulch protects plants in a tropical bed in Steve Smith's garden (Nicole Phillips)

When extreme cold hits, compost is your garden’s guardian

Yearly applications of mulch also will keep your plants healthy during heatwaves and periods of heavy rainfall.

A fresh layer of mulch protects plants in a tropical bed in Steve Smith's garden (Nicole Phillips)
Steve Smith's anticipation of next year’s perennial growth is no better personified than in the clusters of basal buds on several clumps of Sedum “Autumn Joy.” (Getty Images)

Winter is a time of anticipation in the garden

Looking forward to the beauty we’ll reap motivates gardeners to keep on digging and planting.

Steve Smith's anticipation of next year’s perennial growth is no better personified than in the clusters of basal buds on several clumps of Sedum “Autumn Joy.” (Getty Images)
abstract background from a grass covered with hoarfrost

What a La Nina winter means for the Puget Sound gardener

Wet winters pose several challenges — not the least of which is saturated soil.

abstract background from a grass covered with hoarfrost
Helleborus one of the first spring flowers in the garden

Hellebores just keep getting better and better

Over the years, new cultivars have evolved with more upward-facing flowers and color ranges from pinks to reds to all the colors of the rainbow.

Helleborus one of the first spring flowers in the garden

Pick up your winter spirits with these indoor blooming bulbs

Easy-to-grow Paperwhites and Amaryllis can help you fill a need to be grounded in nature.

Steve Smith gift ideas for gardeners

Ten gift ideas for gardeners

From puzzles to pruners, how to pick the perfect present for the green thumbs on your list.

Steve Smith gift ideas for gardeners