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Waterwise Gardening - a book review

Waterwise Gardening: Everything You Need To Know About Efficient Watering to Grow a Healthy Yard by Richard Restuccia Published by Rizzoli, 2025 I would guess that watering is the major issue that most gardeners grapple with, especially novice gardeners. I know from working at the nursery that the majority of questions and issues we get stem from either watering too much or not watering enough.  Many people in our area have sprinkler systems and I'm sure that can be a good thing if used properly but I feel that they primarily keep the lawns green but fall short for landscape plants. Especially when it comes to trees and larger plants, the timing and amounts are not satisfactory for many plants. I often hear people say that their sprinklers are set to come on every day - yikes! And there are those who did not water because it "rained" when it actually drizzled.  The best thing to do in this situation is to have a xeric garden but that would mean sacrificing favorite plant...
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March Bloom Day 2018

Anemone coronaria 'Marianne Blue'

 Spring is springing here in south Washington and it is an exciting time. We have had some warm temperatures lately (warmer than average) and the garden is quickly coming out of its winter slumber.
Camellia 'Nuccio Bella Rosa' just started blooming today. I kept it covered during the recent freezes.

Of course, the daffodils are blooming everywhere around town. I planted a few along the strip next to the road and they are not making a huge show yet, but they are blooming. 

Euphorbia characieas wulfenii starting to unfurl. 


This beautiful Euphorbia was already planted here when we moved in. It is really striking.
Helleborus x ballardiae Gold Collection 'Merlin' has been blooming for months now.

Magnolia x loebneri 'Dr. Merrill' is one of the earliest trees I planted. It is in one of the terraced beds and I don't think it is going to be too big there once it starts to expand. I should have already moved it. The question is where?
Spirea thunbergii 'Ogon' - I never grew this variety before but loved it in one of the tour gardens last year. They had massed it to dramatic effect.

Viburnum 'Spring Bouquet' is another shrub that is probably ill placed. There are two growing along the hell strip border. 
Lily of the Valley Shrub (Pieris japonica 'Valley Frost'). This is one of three different varieties in the garden. My photos of the other two came out unfocused. This is a very popular shrub here and you see them everywhere. 
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is hosted by May Dreams Gardens. Check out what is blooming in other blogger's gardens around the world and share your photos as well.
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. Lynn HuntMarch 15, 2018 at 12:16 PM

    Beautiful Phillip! I have never seen that Lilly of the Valley shrub before! Thanks for sharing all your spring beauties.

    ReplyDelete
  2. bookwormMarch 15, 2018 at 4:01 PM

    Your photos are beautiful. It was hard to pick a favorite, but I would have to say the spirea. I live in the "snow zone" in the Northeast, so it was a treat seeing what was in bloom in your area.

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  3. LesMarch 15, 2018 at 4:04 PM

    Your blooms are about on the same schedule as ours, but we have hit a chill spell, which hopefully may makes ours last a little longer than normal.

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  4. Lisa at GreenbowMarch 15, 2018 at 4:55 PM

    You do have some beautiful blooms Phillip. As to those shrubs you are worrying about moving, leave them there. They look quite happy. Happy GBBD.

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  5. LeaMarch 15, 2018 at 5:47 PM

    Beautiful blooms! Great variety of colors!
    Happy Garden Bloggers Bloom Day!

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  6. Endah MurniyatiMarch 15, 2018 at 7:25 PM

    I have never seen Euphorbia like that before. So beautiful

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  7. ConnieMarch 15, 2018 at 8:10 PM

    Love the Euphorbias, especially the one with the red-tint foliage.

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  8. outlawgardenerMarch 15, 2018 at 10:33 PM

    Your garden wears spring beautifully! Love Camellia 'Bella Rosa.' The symmetrical petal arrangement is gorgeous and the new red foliage is fabulous. Unfortunately, I forgot to adequately water one I planted last summer. It survived but lost some of it's fullness and isn't blooming this spring. Oh well, maybe in a few years.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anna KMarch 15, 2018 at 10:48 PM

    Those little blue Anemones always set my heart aflutter. I keep trying and failing with them. Maybe that elusive tease is part of the attraction? Either way, I keep trying...

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  10. Seraphinas PhantasieMarch 16, 2018 at 6:27 AM

    Marvelous photos of the different flowers. Such a beauty !
    Best, Synnöve

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  11. KatieMarch 16, 2018 at 8:55 AM

    Beautiful images Phillip. I can't wait to see your garden this summer! See you at work next week!

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  12. Barbara H.March 16, 2018 at 10:47 AM

    All your photos are stunning, as usual, but oh my, that anemone stole my heart.

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  13. AaronMarch 16, 2018 at 6:58 PM

    I'm not usually a fan, but I *really* like your Hellebore!

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  14. AlisonMarch 17, 2018 at 10:00 AM

    I've been looking for that gorgeous Camellia 'Nuccio Bella Rosa' to add to my garden. I don't have many Camellias, but that's one I think is worth trying. I wasn't a big fan of all the white Pieris when I first moved here, but I only recently realized there were quite a few with bright ruby-like drupes of flowers, which I love!

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  15. Ali, The Mindful GardenerMarch 17, 2018 at 1:27 PM

    Wow! These are utterly beautiful images. I love the euphorbia, especially. Do you mind me asking what lens you use on your camera? I am looking to buy a macro lens for my SLR; I want to take close-ups of flowers, with a nice blurry background.

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    Replies
    1. Phillip OliverMarch 17, 2018 at 1:37 PM

      Thank you very much Ali! I use both a general Nikon 50mm and the Nikon 105mm. The 105mm is the more expensive lens. It can get really pristine images but I often having trouble focusing it (part of that is just me not knowing how to use the focus properly).

      Delete
  16. Kris PetersonMarch 17, 2018 at 2:48 PM

    Every time I see Viburnum 'Spring Bouquet' I wonder why I don't have it in my garden. I'm envious of the anemones and hellebores too.

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  17. AnonymousMarch 19, 2018 at 12:03 PM

    I love 'Ogon' spirea. It's one of my go-to shrubs in Oklahoma believe it or not. Also, the hellebores! Mine are finally doing their thing. Will you grow Daphne there Phillip? I love the perfume. It's often been blooming in February when I speak at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. Happy Bloom Day!

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  18. JasonMarch 23, 2018 at 9:17 AM

    Love those blue Anemones. The bicolor Daffs look really good also.

    ReplyDelete

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