Barbara Libner

Barbara Libner

Barbara Libner accidentally turned a lifelong passion for plants and design into a career when a seasonal nursery job became a full-time, decades-long journey of botanical discovery. She specializes in four-season containers for the mild Pacific Northwest climate. When not designing containers or being a general plant nerd, she is the lead visual merchandiser for Ravenna Gardens, an independent urban garden center in Seattle.

  • ‘Mt. Vernon’ dwarf English laurel
    Pacific Northwest Regional Reports

    Shade-Loving Shrubs for the Northwest

    Finding interesting plants for shade can be a struggle, but when you add in the desire for that plant to be a woody shrub, the list narrows even more. But…

  • long-lasting containers
    Design

    Designing Long-Lasting Containers

    We are all probably familiar with this scenario: You’ve created a beautiful container planting that brings you joy in spring, only to have that joy turn to dismay when the…

  • container care
    Design

    Care and Feeding Tips to Make Flower Containers Last Longer

    With all the care and effort you put into selecting plants that last, you want to do your part to keep them looking their best throughout the seasons. Follow these…

  • fall and winter containers
    Design

    Containers That Celebrate Fall and Winter

    As the growing season winds down and we put our gardens to bed, containers can be a creative playground going into fall and winter. The key to successful late-season containers…

  • containers with bold contrast
    Design

    Containers With Serious Contrast Always Stand Out

    How often do you return home from an expensive assault on the local nursery to find that, ultimately, your container design is disappointing for reasons you cannot quite explain? Creating…

  • Fall in Love With Unexpected Autumn Color
    Design

    Fall in Love With Unexpected Autumn Color

    Autumn is a glorious yet often overlooked season for container creativity. As summer annuals wane, garden centers lure us with rows and rows of ornamental cabbage and stiffly budded mums…

  • colorful circles and white plus sign
    Design

    Garden Design Basics: Use Two Colors Plus Green

    In a world full of glorious color, why limit oneself to just two when designing containers? Because limitations can be . . . liberating. Color is so seductive that it…

  • Drought Tolerant Containers
    Design

    Drought-Tolerant Container Garden Designs

    Plants in containers will always be at a disadvantage when it comes to water. Without the insulating earth to protect them, their roots can dry out quickly in summer heat.…