Backyard Forest Posts

  • Pioneering Native Plants

    Pioneering Native Plants

    As I selectively hand weed beneath the canopy of the forest, I am inspired by the native-plant pioneers naturally regenerating in the ground once smothered in ivy. This…

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    4 min read

  • Red Elderberry – Sambucus Racemosa

    Red Elderberry – Sambucus Racemosa

    The eighteen photos in this post show the growth of the Red Elderberry shrub from the buds of winter through the ripe fruit of early summer.

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    4 min read

  • Drought in the Pacific Northwest

    Drought in the Pacific Northwest

    The weather in the Pacific Northwest the last few months has been nice for working outside, but unfortunately it’s partly because we’re in a moderate drought.

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    4 min read

  • Bolting Forbs

    Bolting Forbs

    Bolting marks a distinct transition in the life cycle of many forbs in which survival of the individual, as expressed in the growth of leaves and roots, shifts…

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    4 min read

  • The Hazard of Overclearing

    The Hazard of Overclearing

    A recent post in Weeds of the Northwest asked how best to clear a 400 square-foot patch of vinca. The question struck a chord with me because of…

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    4 min read

  • Early Planting Season

    Early Planting Season

    In March, as we leave freezing temperatures behind and welcome spring rains, the planting season is upon us again. It may be too early for the best selections…

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    4 min read

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