low water use plants

Inspiration from our Neighbors: 7 Great Garden Ideas from the Edmonds Garden Tour

Inspiration from our Neighbors: 7 Great Garden Ideas from the Edmonds Garden Tour

I had the pleasure of attending the Edmonds Garden Tour this month and I came away filled with inspiration and excited to try out some new ideas in my garden. It may seem like “tour-worthy” gardens are unattainable, but the garden tour taught me that incorporating the fundamentals of good design and adding a dash of personality can really bring your garden to a new level. Here are seven of my favorite ideas from the tour.

Here are some of my favorite ideas that you can adapt to your own gardens. Enjoy!

Alex LaVilla's Must-Have Plants for Late August & September

Alex LaVilla's Must-Have Plants for Late August & September

Late summer can be the best time for sitting in the garden and enjoying the fruits of your spring labors. Keeping this in mind, I have structured my own garden to always have something blooming in August and September. Here are some of my must-have plants for blooms in late summer and into fall.

Plants for Dry Shade

Plants for Dry Shade

Way up here in the land of tall conifers, dry shade is a common gardening challenge. I’ve had success with the following plants in the shade of conifers, and they also work well in deciduous woodlands or in the dry rain shadow of north-facing buildings and garden walls. As with any new plantings, they will require summer water for several dry seasons until they have established a root system capable of competing with existing tree roots.