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gracepete

Albany, Oregon
member

The bug bit when I was quite small. I still remember the crunching of the cinder pathways as I strolled along and sang Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon... It was a veritable paradise, my grandparents spread nestled among southern Oregons rolling hills and bordering the picturesque North Umpqua River. They were both ardent gardeners and wittingly or not they passed the baton, or should I say the shovel.

I live in the Pacific Northwest and Im completely spoiled by the mild climate of western Oregons Willamette Valley.(Zones 8-9) Among the plethora of plant nurseries is a favorite where Ive been able to buy small plants at bargain prices. Of course this feeds my ravenous addiction, but Im in good company. My garden buddy Carol is a fellow hort-a-holic and we encourage each other. Needless to say my garden borders are way too crowded and there are probably a hundred plants on my deck waiting for spring.

I write a monthly garden column for a regional newspaper and I have a website, blog and photo gallery. Please visit me!

Happy growing,

Grace
www.gracepete.com

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Contributions

One of our three cats

Feb 19, 2009

The first photograph I took when I got my new camera. Isn't he handsome?

Random Photos of my Garden

Dec 27, 2008
2 comments

These are just random photos taken during the 2008 growing season. Now that things are water-soaked and wind-blown and otherwise pitiful, it's nice to look back and remember that it wasn't just a...

Recent comments

Re: This plant's future is in your hands...

Hi Michelle, The poor plant is top-heavy and looks like it's been sheered to look like a lollipop. I feel badly for its mistreatment. I'm with the Mrs. It should definitely stay. But, I understand the Mr.'s complaints. If the plant were mine, I'd thin it out to show off its branching and allow more light onto the porch and I'd get rid of the lawn in front of it. A medium sized evergreen shrub, off to one side, would look nice and some lower growing white flowering perennials in front to echo the flower color would be nice. Then add a piece of garden art like a birdbath and voila. :) I hope you'll share the "after" photos.

posted: 8:56 am on September 21st

Re: Green and even more green

These are some of the nicest pots I've seen, Michelle. I love the combination of plants especially the understory and need to be on the lookout for a replacement for the little Sedum 'Ogon' since mine is all-gone. :)

posted: 8:32 am on September 2nd

Re: An Adirondack garden

The lollipop makes my mouth water!

posted: 6:32 pm on December 27th

Re: samples from 08 gardens

I can just smell that buddleia!

posted: 6:31 pm on December 27th

Re: Flowers from Georgia to Florida

GardenLady45 said...

Love your site. Here in Florida, my gardening attitude is just the opposite: this is the time of year when it's a joy to be working outside. High summer, I sit inside with the glass of ice tea, watching the birds and butterflies.
December 27, 2008 12:17 PM

Several years ago I was in Miami in January. There were huge planters with impatiens blooming away. I remember thinking how cool it would be to be have flowers in January. I don't think I'd get tired if my plants weren't so tired. :-)

posted: 6:30 pm on December 27th

Re: Planterly Combinations

The hillside with the flagstone steps...to die for! What a beautiful design.

posted: 6:20 pm on December 27th

Re: Shipwreck in the Garden

Very cool. You MUST tell us how you got the ship. What inspired you...and all of that. You've got me and I'm sure others, curious.

posted: 6:18 pm on December 27th

Re: Backyard Oasis

Jeff, Beautiful photographs both here and on your website. I like the foreground/background photography style. I'll have to try it with my new camera. :-) The pottery/ceramic fountain (website photo) is cool.

www.gracepete.com

posted: 6:12 pm on December 27th

Re: My "Keep busy and lose weight" garden!!

Silverridge0, I'm smiling! Your photos are great. I'm with you. My garden evolves with my whims and obsessions and I never take it too seriously. Gardening is supposed to be fun and yes the aches and pains are worth it. Who needs the gym when you've got a garden?

www.gracepete.com

posted: 3:05 pm on December 27th

Re: Flower Box Herb Garden

SJWallace, I bet you use them more often because they're close at hand. It's not always convenient to traipse out to the garden. I grow my herbs in containers too.

Nice photos.

www.gracepete.com

posted: 2:58 pm on December 27th

Re: Butterfly favorites

PlantsnobIN, Years ago I was reading about the sphinx moth and learned that the caterpillar is the "dreaded" tomato horn worm. A few days later, I was at a nearby nursery and saw one chewing away on a fuchsia bush. Thankfully the staff recognized its importance and took it (and the fuchsia) away to be nurtured into adulthood. On summer evenings when I see a sphinx moth skittering around from honeysuckle to phlox, I remember its ominous appearance in its previous life and hope that people won't destroy it just because it's big and ugly and likes to gobble on our precious plantings.

Your Picasa album has some gorgeous photos.

www.gracepete.com

posted: 2:54 pm on December 27th

Re: MY Cactus

Beverlyhy, Your cactus is magnificent. You must be very proud. I'm an Oregon gardener too. Did you survive the arctic blast?

www.gracepete.com

posted: 2:37 pm on December 27th

Re: red Amaryllis on windowsill

PinkAmy, Interesting how it grows sideways like that. :-) Actually I have a white flowered amaryllis that IS growing sideways. I think I started the bulb too late or something. I love that red, very festive.

www.gracepete.com

posted: 2:34 pm on December 27th

Re: Flowers from Georgia to Florida

GardenLady45, Your pit bull plant! LOL. Beautiful photos and nice website. Visit me sometime.

www.gracepete.com

posted: 2:31 pm on December 27th

Re: Different Seasons

I especially love the roses with the snow hat. Ahh, the simple things.

posted: 2:26 pm on December 27th

Re: High Altitude Vegetables

Avis, I love this sign. Do you mind if I copy it for my garden? :-)

www.gracepete.com

posted: 2:22 pm on December 27th

Re: Bleeding hearts

Sunshine6, I love this photo. It's not easy to get close ups so blur-free. Bleeding heart is a work of art. Makes me wish spring would hurry up.

www.gracepete.com

posted: 2:19 pm on December 27th

Re: Flowers in my garden

Is Double-trouble a daylily? I've never seen anything like this. Stunning!!

www.gracepete.com

posted: 1:49 pm on December 27th

Re: August beauty

"We are gardeners that do what looks good to us."

Here, here! It looks good to me too. Beautiful.

posted: 1:35 pm on December 27th