Author Archives: Keith Possee

It’s getting harder to keep up with everything that is flowering. The pictures in this post are a fraction of what has come into bloom.  Recent warm weather and a little rain have been ideal. Compared to the last two … Continue reading →

As an attentive observer of birds, it pains me that my little point-and-shoot camera, perfectly fine for flower shots, cannot do justice to the beautiful birds of the Medicinal Herb Garden. Luckily, Emile Pitre, Associate Vice President at the UW … Continue reading →

I recently had the chance to talk to UW entomologist Evan Sugden. In addition to teaching traditional entomology classes, Evan teaches a class on scientific beekeeping. It’s not just because I get a jar of delicious honey at the end … Continue reading →

I’ve been busy planting recently. It’s been a good mix of rain and sun and though it cooled off a bit today, we haven’t had the protracted cold of the last few springs. Knock on wood. It’s tough when plants … Continue reading →

Most of the yard attached to the house where I live belongs to the city. Past landowners have fenced it in, creating a de facto private space. My housemates and I have a large vegetable garden in the side yard, … Continue reading →

I first encountered a xeriscape garden in 1990, while living in Austin, Texas. Xeriscaping is gardening with plants that require very little or no watering. It certainly made sense in a hot, dry (though humid in summer, ack!) place like … Continue reading →

What can I add, really? Here’s some of what is currently flowering (or interesting) in the Medicinal Herb Garden. Not bad for April.                 nootka rose, fringecups columbine and fairy bells nodding in … Continue reading →

The Medicinal Herb Garden is lucky to belong to an international seed exchange network. Many hundreds of botanic gardens around the world participate and each garden produces a catalog of its available seeds, called an Index Seminum. By agreement, all … Continue reading →

When I venture into the garden on spring mornings, I’m generally looking at the big picture. What work requires immediate attention? Maybe it’s weeding or deadheading or cutting down cover crops, planting out starts or filling in holes dug by … Continue reading →

  It’s late nettle season around here. Even in the city, nettles abound in the green spaces. In the Medicinal Herb Garden, there are two types of nettle. In section E, from the eastern USA and Canada, is Laportea canadensis … Continue reading →