Julie Lane Gay

Julie Lane Gay lives and gardens in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she previously owned a nursery specializing in climbers and perennials.

  • Design

    Summer Stalwarts to Carry Things Through to Season’s End

    Dwarf panicle hydrangeas and a few masses of some dependable perennials add instant interest to this collection of summer stunners. The water feature could be replaced by a piece of…

  • Design

    Exciting Plant Selections to Add Softness in the Shade

    It’s great to have some suggestions of plants that can take a beating, but unless you pair them with ideal partners, your garden could still fall flat. Here are a…

  • Design

    Sturdy Spring Plant Options to Lean On

    With the addition of a couple of four-season evergreens and a few long-blooming perennials, these spring options could be just the ticket for a corner of the landscape that’s lacking…

  • A mature-looking garden full of plants with an umbrella, stone wall and small stone patio
    Design

    A Garden That’s Younger Than It Looks

    They never weeded a bed or planted a seed, but our four teenagers were heartbroken to leave the big garden of their childhood. Why couldn’t we wait 10 years? Where…

  • A passageway with vertical shrubs, shade-loving vines, and woodland favorites like ferns.
    Design

    Plants for Shady Passageways

    The frequently used pathway along the west side of my house is shady all day. Wedged between the house and a 5-foot fence, this narrow space was once a homeland…

  • Design

    Surprising Shrubs for Small Spaces

    My old garden was big. There was room for tree-size lilacs, billowy shrub roses, and rhododendrons so sturdy that you could climb on them. I knew that moving across town…

  • Article

    Regional Picks: Plant This With That—Northwest

    Plant this . . .   Sunset Celebration™ rose Name: Rosa ‘Sunset Celebration’ USDA Hardiness Zones: 6–9 Size: 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide Conditions: Full sun;…

  • Article

    Regional Picks: Color in the Shade – Northwest

    Northwest   Heart-leaved disanthus (Disanthus cercidifolius) USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8 Size: 5 to 7 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide Conditions: Partial shade; moist, well-drained soil…

  • Article

    Vines: The Missing Piece of the Puzzle

    Climbing plants are like a troupe of exceptionally versatile thespians—pleased to perform a myriad of roles in an endless number of plays. Are you in need of a shining star…