Richie Steffen

Richie Steffen is a contributing editor and the executive director of the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden in Seattle.

Pacific Northwest Regional Reports
Peak-Season Perennials for the Northwest

While we would all ideally have gardens that look at their peak in every season, the reality is often far from that ideal. Very few of us have all the…
Design
Fabulous Foliage in a Shade Plant: ‘Spotty Dotty’ Mayapple

There are times when, as an avid collector, I see a special plant for the first time and feel a desire start to bubble up. I try desperately not to…
Pacific Northwest Regional Reports
Late-Winter and Early-Spring Bloomers for the Northwest

In Jason Reeves' article Plants That Bloom in Late Winter or Early Spring, he discusses how plants that bloom during the coldest time of the year, often go underappreciated: "Some…
Pacific Northwest Regional Reports
Unusual Fall Perennials for the Northwest

In Andy Brand's article Unusual Fall Perennials, he discusses some out-of-the-box plant picks for this spectacular time in the garden: "As we reluctantly accept the inevitable and begin preparing our…
Pacific Northwest Regional Reports
Plants for the Northwest to Add to Your Shopping List

Whether you're walking through your local garden center, flipping through the pages of your favorite catalog, or scrolling the website of an online retailer, the sheer number of plant choices…
How-To
Making the Most of Microclimates in the Winter Garden

Every garden has microclimates—small spaces that stay a little warmer or don’t catch the cold north winds, allowing you to grow a more delicate plant or provide extra care for…
Design
Winter Interest From the Ground Up

As the last autumn leaves reluctantly drop and as bare seed heads stand tall in the field, we can no longer deny that winter is upon us. Our lush summer…
Pacific Northwest Regional Reports
Shrubs for Small Spaces in the Northwest

Mark Weathington, director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, discusses several small shrub varieties that provide big interest in a petite package as…
Design
A Variegated Shrub With a Long Season of Interest

I vividly remember my first encounter with Japanese summersweet (Clethra barbinervis, Zones 5–8). The local arboretum had a few large mature specimens that I stumbled across when they were starting…
Pacific Northwest Regional Reports
4 Must-Have Plants for the Northwest

As garden centers start to open their doors for the season (and we get ready to run into them with open arms), we decided to ask some regional experts what…

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