GardenMaid| Gardening In The Pacific Northwest

Gardening In The Pacific Northwest

By Susan Molthop

Our area refuses to be generalized. We have mountains, deserts, and shoreline considerations. Sunset has identified 10 broad climate zones, for the Northwest, each with additional variables and special considerations. With that said, here's the general situation:
* Summers are cool and short.
* Spring and fall are long and lazy.
* Winters are wet, but not too cold (in most places).
* Finding enough sun for gardening is a challenge among the big trees.
* Shade plants love it here. Hostas and ferns couldn't be happier.
* Our soil is rich and mostly acid, so rhododendrons, azaleas, and hydrangeas thrive.
* Blackberries and morning glories will take over if you let them.
* Our list of native plants would put most nurseries to shame. Bleeding heart, false solomon's seal, ferns, lily-of-the-valley, iris, rhododendron, piggyback plant, trillium, columbine, and monkey-flower are just a few of my favorites.

Weather is another variable. In 2005, we skipped winter. In 2007, we skipped summer. Again, spring and fall rule.

I have gardened in the Southeast, the Southwest, Northern and Southern California, and the Midwest. Here are my observations on gardening in the Northwest.

What impressed me most about gardening, here, is that everything grows. Landscaping is simply a matter of taking out what you don't want and controlling the rest. We had prunella, ivy, and tiny daisies scattered through the lawn when we bought our old house. Before mowing, we dug them up and put them in beds where we wanted them. They're all doing fine.

When we wanted more plants, we just picked up a small shovel and a plastic bag and took a walk down a back road, where we dug up some false solomon's seal, Oregon iris, lamb's ears, and wild daisies. Since the highway department mows these all down every year, we knew it was okay to collect a few plants.

My biggest surprise came that first summer, when it quit raining in June and didn't start again until September. Imagine my reaction, when I had to water every other day for 2 1/2 months, in an area that gets over 200 inches of rain per year.

My biggest adjustment was allowing for the slow growth of sun-loving annuals and veggies. My tomatoes didn't start turning red or my zinnias start to bloom until after Labor Day.

My greatest reward is in growing herbs. I have so much lavender, sage, oregano, and mint I could start a business. Thyme and rosemary maintain their dignity, but also thrive.

My greatest pleasure is blackberries. Yes, they're nasty, invasive, and not even native, but they also produce nature's most outstanding source of antioxidants-way ahead of whatever's in second place-and their magnificent bounty is given freely, starting in July and continuing through early September. They thrive on neglect and the more you cut them back the more delicious berries they'll give you next year.

All things considered, gardening in the Northwest is a true pleasure.

~*~ Susan Molthop is a freelance writer and webmaster. Please visit her main website, Country Naturals, at Country Naturals, Simple Life Ideas

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