Is Spring finally here? March and April always have me fooled. Here in Portland, after months of dreary winter weather we get a splash of sun in February and it goes straight to our heads. We all sigh with relief and loudly proclaim “Spring is here” and then March comes along and brings driving rain and freezing temperatures and we are plunged back into winter. I try to console myself that at least my newly planted seeds are happy with the rain.

This year I expanded the cutting garden and am planting tons of new flowers and foliages. My favorite is a lovely and rare white nigella with a purply black center. We also have fragrant cleome, several new varieties of huechera, gobbs of new tulips, swallowtail columbine, hebe and 3 new varieties of hydrangea.  For the past few years I have been looking for this gorgeous variety of cut leaf coneflower that grows to over 6 feet tall and I have finally found it! There are no signs of the little seedlings showing yet but hopefully come summertime…. I just can’t wait for June!