Blog - The White Pear

The Winter Season

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 21:38:00 GMT

"What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness."
John Steinbeck

Hello Garden Friends!

I hope you are enjoying these brisk, sunny winter days, here in the Pacific Northwest. We have a lot of cloudy days, so sunshine always makes me happy��! I’m hoping for a mild winter, but February usually brings us snow down to the lower levels. Check out my 10 Winter Landscaping Tips:

Winter is the best time to take inventory of your evergreens. Evaluate any areas lacking structure, and consider adding these winter-flowering evergreen plants: Hellebore, Bergenia, Daphne, Pyracantha and Witch Hazel. All of these plants really showcase their beauty during the winter season.
Although perennials may be cut down and dormant this time of year, that doesn’t mean there has to be empty spaces in the garden. Decorative obelisks can stand alone or serve as the perfect structure for vining plants. Iron cloches are both ornamental and protective, keeping emerging plants safe from rabbits or deer. Sculptural peony supports come in a variety of styles, holding their place in winter while protecting budding plants from being stepped on during regular maintenance.
The Pacific Northwest is no stranger to rain, and a torrential downpour can lead to pooling water and flooding in undesirable areas, jeopardizing your hardscapes and plants. This is an excellent time to assess drainage issues and consider managing rainwater on your property by installing a rain garden, dry creek bed, or drainage piping system.
An essential part of winter landscaping is applying mulch or compost. During the fall, harsh rains and winds can disturb the soil, leaving your garden looking unsightly and putting plants at risk. Adding a 2-3 inch layer of fine leaf compost or another type of mulch, provides insulation for plant roots against cold temperatures, improves drainage and water retention, reduces soil erosion, covers pesky irrigation lines, and gives your landscape a fresh, tidy appearance.
With shorter and darker days, coming home to a warmly lit landscape can make your outdoor space feel alive rather than dormant. Installing path and step lights creates a welcoming entry on winter nights and increases visibility to keep you safer. Up-lights can highlight the branching structure of bare trees, while overhead string lights create a lively atmosphere.
A landscape should feel like an extension of your home. Creating warm and cozy outdoor spaces expands your living area, even during the colder months. Gather around a fire pit, relax under a covered pergola, and continue your favorite outdoor pastimes with standing or overhead patio heaters.
While much of your garden may be "resting" in winter, positioning pots and container arrangements near doors, entryways, or in view of key windows adds a lovely display for you to enjoy up close. Most nurseries offer winter-hardy annuals for you to plant or pre-made arrangements for purchase.
Winter is also a great time to think about replacing your fence. With many plants and trees bare of leaves and perennials resting underground, this season provides the best access to hard-to-reach corners of your garden, making it easier to replace fencing without disturbing your prized flowers.
Now is also the perfect opportunity to hunker down indoors and take care of your garden tools. Cleaning tools, removing rust, and sharpening pruners and shovels can prolong the life of your gardening equipment and ensure you're ready to start gardening when the weather breaks.
And, one of the best things you can do over the winter is start designing your landscape! Organizing your ideas, preparing a budget, and selecting your favorite plants puts you one step ahead for a spring installation, allowing you to enjoy your new landscape through all the upcoming seasons!

Click below for YouTube video

We designed a dry rock creek with beautiful plantings
down a 200 foot slope to mitigate the overflow of rainwater.

Hidcote Manor Garden, Cotswolds, England

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 22:30:00 GMT

“That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
William Shakespeare

Hello Garden Friends!

Here is our second mini-video installment from our summer trip to the UK, featuring Hidcote Manor Garden in the Cotswolds, England. Hidcote Manor Garden is a world-famous Arts & Crafts inspired garden, designed by Major Lawrence Johnson, set against the backdrop of the rolling hills of the North Cotswolds countryside. What a delight it was to stroll through each of the connecting intimate garden ‘rooms’, spaces filled with a cottage-style profusion of plants.

The Old Mill at Lower Slaughter in the Cotswolds, England,
dating back to 1658.

Enjoy, and as always, love hearing from you!
Until next time...
Love, Holly ~ Your Queen Bee at The White Pear

Graduation Day St Andrews, Scotland

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:42:00 GMT

'Wherever you go, go with all your heart.' — Confucius

Hello Garden Friends!

I hope you’re all having a fabulous summer. I just returned from a garden / graduation trip to the UK, and I’d like to share with you a bit of the Scottish culture with short video of my nephew’s graduation from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. A very special day for my family and our friends.

English Perennial Garden

Enjoy, and as always, I love hearing from you!
Until next time...
Love, Holly ~ Your Queen Bee at The White Pear

Palms In The Northwest

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 17:06:00 GMT

I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck
Emma Goldman 1869-1940
Championed women's equality, free love, workers' rights, free universal education regardless of race or gender

Trachycarpus fortunei ‘Windmill Palm’

If you were wondering if you could grow palm trees in the Pacific Northwest—yes you can!

Windmill Palms are a classic palm in the Pacific Northwest. They are cold-hardy to 10 degrees and short drops to zero degrees. Windmill Palms thrive in zones 7 to 11. Their trunk is covered in fur and acts like an insulation to protect the interior from the cold. Moderately fast growing to 18’ tall in 10 years.

If they are newly planted in the fall, when the weather starts to drop, it’s a good idea to wrap them with burlap and tie up the fronds/leaves. The crown, or the top of its trunk, is the most susceptible to the danger of frost.

In warm southern climates, Windmill Palms prefer partial shade to full shade, but as you go further north they can tolerate full sun. So, here in the Pacific Northwest we can enjoy them in full afternoon sun.

Windmill Palms are widely used in the United Kingdom, so they fit well in English style gardens. They also work well in contemporary, tropical, and Mediterranean style gardens. Windmill palms are also wind and salt tolerant, so look fabulous in coastal gardens. And, they are easily maintained—just trim off the dead and damaged fronds and water once or twice weekly.

If your desire is to have the look of a lush garden, consider Windmill Palms.

“Spring has sprung with palms”
Enjoy, and as always love hearing from you!
Till the next time...
Love, Holly ~ Your Queen Bee at The White Pear

Winter In The Wine Country

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 23:40:00 GMT

“The love of gardening is a seed that once sown never dies.”
Gertrude Jekyll, 1843-1932
20th Century’s most influential garden designer and writer

Hello Garden Friends,

If any of you are wondering if you can plant in the winter—yes you can! You can plant in the winter, as long as what you’re planting is hardy for your planting zone. When the ground is frozen, what we do at The White Pear is use a pickaxe to break up the soil, dig out the appropriate size planting hole, fill with good blended soil, plant, and mulch with 2-3 inches of compost.

Last fall, we had the pleasure of designing a landscape on a hilltop in the Dundee / Dayton wine producing region of Oregon. The 360 degree views were stunning. We designed a modern style landscape to mirror the style of the home. A few weeks ago, we did the first phase of the plant installation. It was a cold, dry winter day, but with lots of sunshine, so it was very pleasant. We planted all native and hardy evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, and bulbs. The homeowners love olive trees—these were planted earlier in the fall, along with meadow grass in all the negative space areas. Check out our latest video.

Thanks for watching. Have a warm, cozy winter, and enjoy the beauty of the winter landscape. I hear we may have snow this week in Portland ❄️!

Enjoy, and as always love hearing from you! Till the next time...

Love, Holly ~ Your Queen Bee at The White Pear

Around For The Fall

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 22:08:00 GMT

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."
Albert Camus

Installing a Garden in the Fall

Installing a garden in the fall offers numerous advantages. Cooler temperatures, less plant stress, and the soil is still warm enough to encourage root growth. Additionally, fall planting allows plants to establish themselves before the heat of summer, leading to healthier, more resilient gardens. And, it’s also just a lovely time to be outdoors in the mild weather. Fall is my husband’s favorite time of the year, but I’m guessing it’s more for football, and not gardening…��

Choosing the Right Plants:
Check your climate zone and select plants that thrive in cooler temperatures and can establish roots before winter. Ideal choices include perennials, shrubs, trees, and don’t forget, fall is the time to plant spring-blooming bulbs like tulips and daffodils. Bulbs popping up in the early spring is one of my favorite spring delights.

Designing the Layout:
Consider the mature size of plants and their sunlight requirements when designing your garden layout. Group plants with similar needs to ensure efficient care and maintenance. Fall is also a good time to incorporate hardscape elements like pathways and borders.

Soil Preparation:
Prepare your soil by removing weeds and debris. Amend the soil with organic matter such as compost to improve its structure and fertility. Conduct a soil test to determine if any additional nutrients or pH adjustments are needed.

Timing and Planting Schedule:
Timing is crucial for fall planting. Aim to plant at least six weeks before the first expected frost to give plants enough time to establish roots. This varies by region, so check local frost dates and adjust accordingly.

Planting Techniques:
Dig planting holes twice as wide and just as deep as the root balls of your plants. Position the plants in the holes, backfill with soil, and gently firm the soil around the roots, making sure there are no air pockets— water in well.

Mulching and Watering:
Apply a layer of mulch around the plants to help retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. I like to use a fine dark leaf debris compost. Besides all the good that it does, the dark compost makes the garden look clean and beautiful— all the colors pop against the dark mulch. Water the garden regularly through the fall, especially during dry spells, to ensure that plants do not experience drought stress as they establish roots. Here in the Pacific Northwest we can experience some beautiful warm fall days even in the 80’s, although short-lived.

Fertilizing:
Fertilize your plants lightly in the fall to support root development. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers that promote excessive leaf growth. Instead, use balanced or phosphorus-rich fertilizers to encourage strong root systems.

Pest and Disease Control:
Monitor your garden for pests and diseases, which can still be active in the fall. Remove any affected plant material and use appropriate organic or chemical controls as needed. Maintaining garden cleanliness can also reduce pest and disease issues.

Preparing for Winter:
Prepare your garden for winter by continuing to water until the ground freezes. Protect tender plants with a layer of mulch or plant covers. Clean and store gardening tools and equipment, and make notes of any changes or improvements for the next growing season.

So, don't hesitate to start planning and planting this fall to take full advantage of this optimal gardening season. It’s a beautiful time to be out in the garden!

Artificial Grass vs Natural Grass

With fall comes football, and with football comes artificial turf or Astro Turf as some of you may know it. Artificial turf has shorter fibers and mainly used for sport fields. Artificial grass is used for residential applications. Many of us have grown up with an expanse of natural green grass and find it hard to part with. However, natural grass is one of the most labor intensive ground covers to maintain, not to mention the expense. More and more these days, our clients are asking for artificial grass, and those who already have it, love it. So let’s look at the pros and cons of artificial grass vs natural grass for residential use.

Pros of Artificial Grass

Low Maintenance:
Artificial grass requires significantly less maintenance compared to natural grass. There is no need for mowing, thatching, aerating, fertilizing, and pest control. This makes it an attractive option for those looking to save labor time and reduce cost.

Water Conservation:
One of the significant benefits of artificial grass is its contribution to water conservation. Unlike natural grass, it does not require watering, which can save thousands of gallons of water annually, especially in areas prone to drought.

Durability:
Artificial grass is designed to withstand heavy use. It doesn't get worn down by foot traffic, making it ideal for play areas for children and pets.

Consistent Aesthetic:
Artificial grass provides a consistently green and manicured look year-round, regardless of weather conditions. This aesthetic appeal is beneficial for homeowners and businesses aiming for a pristine lawn appearance.

Cons of Artificial Grass

Initial Cost:
The installation of artificial grass can be expensive. The upfront costs are significantly higher than natural grass due to the materials and labor involved. However, these costs can be offset over time by the lower maintenance expenses.

Heat Retention:
Artificial turf can become extremely hot in direct sunlight, potentially reaching temperatures that are uncomfortable or even unsafe for use. This can limit its usability during peak sun hours and in hotter climates.

Environmental Concerns:
While artificial grass saves water, it also presents environmental issues. The production of synthetic grass involves the use of petroleum-based products and contributes to plastic waste. Additionally, it does not provide a habitat for wildlife like natural grass does.

Injury Risk:
There is some evidence to suggest that artificial grass may increase the risk of certain injuries compared to natural grass, particularly in sports. The surface can be harder, leading to more impact-related injuries.

Maintenance Issues:
Although artificial grass is low maintenance, it is not maintenance-free. It still requires regular cleaning to remove debris, and in some cases, sanitizing to prevent the growth of bacteria, particularly in areas frequented by pets or children.

Turf Trivia

The first installation of synthetic turf at a major sporting venue occurred in Houston, Texas, at the Astrodome in 1966. ChemGrass (Monsanto) a short-fiber, dense nylon carpet, was installed over a compacted soil base in the stadium.

Mouse In The Tulip Box

There are many lessons about bulbs I could teach you — designing, sourcing, and planting, but I think you’ll really appreciate this one — learned first hand by yours truly, the hard way.

A few year’s ago, I planted about 200 tulip bulbs at my house, and about 2000 at my clients' homes. I love tulips — there are so many varieties and colors—I go crazy with happiness…�� By late December, I still had a few boxes of leftover varieties, 15 in this box, 9 in that box, etc. My plan was to plant the leftovers in pots with a loose design aesthetic, meaning no design…�� Because the cold hit us early that year in Portland, I dragged my feet to get them planted, so out in the garage they sat, where it was cold.

Then one night, early December, I heard rustling noises in the garage…yikes! I called to our kitty Gwendolyn, but she was in the house snoozing in her favorite spot. I quickly slammed and locked the kitchen garage door. My husband Fred was at a gig, but I texted him—no response—crap! I was freakin’ out, but then what could he do? I would have to wait it out…

Move forward a couple of months to Sunday, February 7th—beautiful, sunny low 50 degree day in Portland—absolutely gorgeous! I decided it was a good day to putter in the garden and organize the garage. I still had the boxes of leftover tulip bulbs and some looked in perfect condition, but didn’t I have a bunch more?

Then I saw it…black droppings—yikes, mice!! I don’t know why, but mice scare the be-jeepers out of me. Maybe it’s because they have those long skinny tails and scurry about at lighting speed.

I canvassed the space, opened the cupboards—oh my, what a site I would see and smell! I’m not sure how many there were. They shredded plastic, cardboard, and dried leaves for bedding. I also had tender perennials wintering-over in the garage and a wheelbarrow of mulch keeping dry. They had a lot to work with—and tulip bulbs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! They had everything they could ever want—it was their dream come true!

I was astonished at how much havoc they could wreck. It took a few hours to clean up the mess. We took everything out of the garage and washed the cupboards and concrete floor with a bleach/water solution. We found the small hole in the floor that they were coming through, and blocked it off with a brick.

What really makes me mad, is that I can’t believe how dumb I was—I know how rodents love bulbs! When I plant, I dip every single bulb in a rodent repellant solution.

Well, that’s my bulb lesson for this season. Don’t make the same mistake that I did!

To end on a pretty note… I’m looking forward to seeing tulip beauty very soon—can’t wait!

You might be wondering about the title of this newsletter, “Around for the Fall.” I was trying to come up with something that related to fall and remembered this beautiful song that my husband Fred wrote. Check it out on his YouTube channel.

My sweet niece Kalea, graduating from U.C. Santa Barbara in chemistry & biology. We are so proud of her!

Enjoy, and as always love hearing from you!
Till the next time...
Love, Holly ~ Your Queen Bee at The White Pear

Spring is Here

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 20:48:00 GMT

“Don't wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.”
Luther Burbank

Happy Spring Family & Friends,

“Spring is Here” is a beautiful song by Rogers & Hart—the same two who wrote numerous Broadway hits. I love to hear my husband Fred play it on the piano, as I gaze out my window at my tulips starting to poke their heads out of the freshly laid mulch—such a happy sight. This is what makes all the hardwork worthwhile.

In this spring 2004 newsletter, we have a fun video of my assistant Savannah and I, sourcing plants at one of our favorite nurseries, some fun facts about the equinox, 9 spring tips for the garden, and one of my favorite recipes for Easter from Ina Garten—Perfect Roast Chicken, and it is perfect, delicious, and easy.

It has been a busy first quarter for The White Pear—lots of fun and challenging projects to start the year off on a good note. We are so grateful to all our many wonderful clients, who we enjoy collaborating with, and who have become a part of The White Pear family.

Here’s a short video with Holly and her assistant Savannah, sourcing plants at Cascadian Nursery.

Equinox

We’ve all heard of the equinox, but what is it exactly?

The equinox happens twice each year, in the beginning of spring, around the 20th of March, and in the beginning of fall, around the 23rd of September.

Because the rotation of the earth as it circles the sun is always tilting in the same direction, at 23.5 degrees, the solar equinox is a moment in time when the sun appears directly above the Earth’s equator, resulting in the sun being at an equal distance from the northern and southern hemispheres. This is why we have the four seasons. Our summer is Australia’s winter, because we are closer to the sun and they are further from the sun. In spring and fall we both have the same weather around the time of the two equinoxes—spring and fall.

The two equinoxes are the only times when the "edge" between night and day is perpendicular to the equator. As a result, the northern and southern hemispheres are equally illuminated, lasting approximately four days—both north and south poles are in daylight. In other words, the Sun spends an equal amount of time above and below the horizon at every location on the earth, so night and day are about the same length.

Any planet with a tilted rotational axis has an equinox. A dramatic example is Saturn, where the equinox places its ring system edge-on facing the Sun. As a result, the rings are only visible as a thin line when seen from Earth.

Now my head hurts ��

9 Spring Tips For The Garden

1. After a winter of rain, snow, wind, and ice, spring is a good time to walk your landscape and inspect your trees. Damaged or broken branches should be removed at any time for safety and plant health, but if you didn't get to do your pruning over the winter, now is the last chance to prune for desired shape and size before the tree becomes full with foliage.

2. Be prepared for unexpected weather. A late freeze may damage tender emerging buds, be prepared to protect your plants if needed. Bring in or wrap potted plants, mulch roots, and cover shrubs with frost fabric if needed. Avoid plastic coverings as they can hold moisture against the plant and cause worsening freeze damage.

3. The start of sunny days and warming soil temperature means that many plants will be exiting the dormant season and ready to flush out new growth. Most trees and shrubs benefit from a slow-release fertilizer this time of year for a little bit of extra nutrients going into the growing season.

4. Crabgrass, a common lawn weed, is best tackled in the early spring. Applying a pre-emergent weed control helps tackle these weeds and others before its time to do other lawn care later in the season. If you plan to reseed, manage weeds first and then wait until later in the season to reseed, as the weed pre-emergent will prevent grass seed from growing!

5. After a good spring cleanup nothing livens up the landscape better than a fresh layer of mulch. An inch or two layer of mulch neatens up planting beds and helps protect plant roots and retains moisture, while eventually decomposing and adding organic matter to the soil. Make sure the mulch does not pile up on tree trunks or woody shrubs, as this can cause fungal diseases in the bark and smother shallow roots.

6. After we’re clear of freezing temperatures, inspect your irrigation systems (hose bibs, sprinkler heads, drip tubing). Take a look for any components damaged over the winter and make sure to get those fixed before regular watering resumes. Turning your system on and looking for any sprays or leaks can help you pinpoint any problem areas.

7. Know your shrubs before pruning. You might be eager to start your work pruning and shaping shrubs in the garden, but make sure to leave spring-blooming shrubs like Forsythia, Mock Orange, Flowering Quince, Deutzia, and Lilac alone until flowering is over. Shrubs like these bloom on “old wood”. Other summer and fall blooming shrubs such as Rose of Sharon, Hydrangea (paniculata), and Japanese Spirea flower on “new wood” and are fine to prune now.

8. Spring is a great time to divide many perennial plants. Dividing a perennial that has gotten large creates new space for roots to grow and can help you manage the health and size of your plant. As a bonus you now have 2, 3, or 4 new plants to move around your garden or share with friends and neighbors. Plants that can be divided in the spring include: Mondo Grass, Agapanthus, Aster, Astilbe, Black-eyed Susan, Echinacea, Crocosmia, Hosta, Japanese Forest Grass, and many others!

9. Don't forget your hardscapes! Prepare your outdoor lounging or entertaining areas and spruce up paths and edging. Check the condition of your deck or patio and consider if you need to power wash, paint, stain, or refresh patio joint sand. Note if you've had any runoff or erosion issues over the winter, start a plan to get those addressed before fall. Spring is a busy time for the landscaping industry, so getting started early with a Landscape Designer or Contractor ensures your landscape will be ready to enjoy for the summer and fall months.

Ina’s Perfect Roast Chicken

This is an Ina Garten recipe that my husband and I love! It’s delicious and super easy. We are big Ina Garten fans. We love watching her cook on her TV show. She’s fun and makes everything look so easy, like her famous saying “How easy was that?” She is also a lover of entertaining with good friends, good wine, easy cocktails that look fancy, and beautiful table settings with all the amenities. Try Ina’s Perfect Roast Chicken and let me know what you think.

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

2. Remove the chicken giblets. Rinse the chicken inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pin feathers and pat the outside dry. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, both halves of lemon, and all the garlic. Brush the outside of the chicken with the butter and sprinkle again with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken. Place the onions, carrots, and fennel in a roasting pan. Toss with salt, pepper, 20 sprigs of thyme, and olive oil. Spread around the bottom of the roasting pan and place the chicken on top.

3. Roast the chicken for 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Remove the chicken and vegetables to a platter and cover with aluminum foil for about 20 minutes. Slice the chicken onto a platter and serve it with the vegetables.

1 (5 to 6 pound) roasting chicken

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 large bunch fresh thyme, plus 20 sprigs

1 lemon, halved

1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, melted

1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced

4 carrots cut into 2-inch chunks

1 bulb of fennel, tops removed, and cut into wedges

Olive oil

Spring is here…Finally!

Enjoy, and as always love hearing from you!
Till the next time...
Love, Holly ~ Your Queen Bee at The White Pear

Happy Holidays!

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 20:50:00 GMT

"It's not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving."
Mother Teresa

Happy Holidays Family & Friends,

Well here we are again, one year older, one more trip around the sun, and we’re back into the holiday hubbub—can you believe it? In this last year, our little landscape company had its busiest year ever. We are so grateful to all our many wonderful clients, who we enjoy collaborating with, and who have become a part of The White Pear family.

For this winter newsletter, we’ve put together some fun facts about a well known holiday tradition, winter tips for the garden, and one of our favorite holiday dessert recipes. We hope this newsletter will be helpful, inspiring, and if nothing else, entertaining. Forward this to family or a friend, if you like, and wish them a happy holiday.

Here’s to a loving and peaceful celebration to bring in a new year full of joy and beauty in your home, in your garden, and for all humanity. ��

Mistletoe

It is said, that a man was allowed to kiss any woman standing underneath the mistletoe, and that bad luck would curse any woman who denied him. With each kiss, a berry was to be plucked from the mistletoe, and the kissing wouldn’t stop until after all the berries were picked.

And, let’s not forget the annual office Christmas party, were said mistletoe would create a means to get to know, more intimately, a potential partner.

The word mistletoe comes from the now obsolete Anglo-Saxon dialect. Apparently the old Anglos noticed that this plant would often sprout from bird droppings or dung on trees. Their word for dung is mistle. So they combined mistle with their word for twig, which was tan, and they came up with the word mistletan, which eventually would become mistletoe, as we know it today—did you get all that?��

Some mistletoe is considered bad for trees and plant life, while other varieties provide food for various animals, who eat the leaves and young shoots, while distributing pollen and seeds as they dine.

Remember the Pagans? Since the seeds resembled semen, the Pagans regarded the white berries as a symbol of male fertility. The Ancient Greeks referred to mistletoe as "oak sperm," and the Romans associated mistletoe with peace, love, and understanding, and hung it over doorways to protect the household.

Later on in the Christian-Western world, mistletoe became associated with Christmas, providing protection from witches and demons, and as a decoration under which lovers were expected to kiss. The middle class of Victorian England was responsible for continuing this kissing tradition.

Every year, the UK town of Tenbury Wells holds a mistletoe festival and crowns a ‘Mistletoe Queen'. There are 1500 varieties of mistletoe. ��

9 Winter Tips for the Garden

So you’re standing on your porch looking out on your front yard, and besides the colorful Christmas lights hanging off the gutters, your yard looks like crap! So what to do? During the winter, my goal is always to make my garden look as neat and clean as possible, which in itself is beautiful. There’s nothing wrong with negative space, and with well-placed evergreens the stage is set for the upcoming spring show of color and beauty. Here are a few tips…

1. Protect Your Trees
In the wintertime young ornamental trees with thin bark can be susceptible to sunscald. Sunscald is the death of bark tissue due to high temperatures. In winter, sunscald happens from rapid fluctuations in temperature. Bark that freezes in on the south and southwest sides of the tree thaws in the sun and then quickly refreezes in the evening, or as the sun is blocked by cloud cover. A best way to protect the trunk is to use a light colored fabric wrap to reduce rapid temperature changes.

2. Know Your Hardiness Zone
Do plants seem to disappear in your garden, not growing back the next year or have trouble with plants dying? Making sure you are choosing hardy plants for your region is easy to do. Most plants for sale have a tag that contains the USDA hardiness zone. In the greater Portland and Vancouver areas our USDA hardiness zone is 8b. The average low temperatures being from 15-20 degrees. Depending on your exact location and micro-climates, weather may be more harsh as cold and heat extremes become more unpredictable. At the White Pear, in general, we like to use reliable plants that are hardy to zone 7— 0-10 degrees.

3. Salting Roads and Walkways
Salt that gets washed away into the soil inhibits the uptake of water in most plants, so if you are worried about any prized or sentimental shrub, be cautious of getting salt around the roots, or use a deicer which is safe for plant material.

4. Prune Your Trees
Trees go dormant in the winter making it a great time to prune. The loss of leaves on deciduous trees makes it easy to see the branching structure and any dead or damaged wood.

5. Add Lighting
As the days get shorter and colder, outdoor lighting can really bring life back into your landscape. Uplights on trees, lights around paths, and even fence or wall lights is a great way to continue enjoying your garden during this time of year.

6. Add Color
Colorful pots, trellises, benches, and garden decor adds an interesting structural element to a changing winter landscape.

7. Pergola and Fire Pits
Expand your use of the garden into the colder months with a covered pergola or fire pit. Cozying up to an outdoor fire as the temperature drops, or outfitting your pergola with heaters is a great way to continue your time outdoors.

8. Deer Resistant
As the winter months go on and food sources for wildlife such as deer dwindle, you may have a problem with deer snacking on your plants. Although there are many methods for deer proofing your garden, the best practice is to pick plants that deer dislike such as lavender, boxwood, ninebark, and ferns. Deer dislike anything with aromatic foliage or fuzzy and spiny textures.

9. Add Winter Flowering Shrubs and Trees
Camellias, witch hazels, and hellebores, are great plants that add color to the garden this time of year. Annuals such as violas and pansies are frostproof and can be planted in beds and planters to add color and interest until your bulbs and perennials emerge in the spring. ��

Suzie’s Plum Tart

To celebrate the holidays, every second Saturday in December, my husband and I get together with a large group of friends called the Spice/Bison—some in this group have been friends for over 40 years—Fred and I are newbies at 20 years. It’s always a rockin’ time with great food, live music, and lots of laughter. Last year, our dear friend Suzie brought her fabulous plum tart—it was to die for. She was kind enough to share it here with The White Pear family. Maybe it will become a new tradition in your home. To print this recipe, go to file and export as a PDF.

1 8-ounce package of cream - cheese softened

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup water

12 purple prune plums halved and pitted

TART SHELL:

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup softened butter

1 egg yolk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

2 to 3 tablespoons water

To make tart shell, combine flour, sugar and salt. Beat butter and egg yolk together; work into flour. Add vanilla and 2 to 3 tablespoons water to form a ball. Dust with flour, wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap and refrigerate about 30 minutes. Roll dough on lightly floured surface and fit into a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Trim excess dough. Prick shell with fork. Bake at 400 degrees 15 minutes or until slightly brown. Cool.

Combine cream cheese, eggs, 1/2 cup sugar, almond extract and cinnamon; mix until smooth. Pour into tart shell. Bake at 375 degrees 15 minutes or until set. Cool. Bring water and 1/2 cup sugar to boil; add plums and simmer about 30 seconds or just until tender. Remove plums with slotted spoon, drain and cool. Continue boiling syrup until thickened or volume is reduced to one-third. Cool.

Arrange plums on baked cheese filling. Spoon glaze over plums. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Happy Holidays Everyone!
Enjoy, and as always love hearing from you!
Till the next time...
Love, Holly ~ Your Queen Bee at The White Pear

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Fall is Here!

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 19:19:00 GMT

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Hello Garden Friends,

Fall is here! Time to get out your sweaters, enjoy the cooler weather, beautiful warm fall colors, and in our household it’s football and nacho time! ��

Fall is also the time to plant spring flowering bulbs, such as daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, and alliums. My favorite bulb is the tulip. I absolutely adore tulips! I love their statuesque elegant form in such a wide array of styles and colors.

If you've never planted a tulip bulb, no worries, it's not heart surgery. There was a time many moons ago, when I thought the only way I could have tulips growing in my garden was to purchase them in bloom, and then plant them in the ground…�� Thank goodness, I have since learned that tulip bulbs are planted in the fall. They need a cold period (mimics their origin) to ensure the bulbs have a good root system to feed their foliage and spring blooms.

So, over the years, if you've been oohing and eyeing your neighbor's tulips and want to try your hand at growing them yourself, here's how to plant:

• Plant deep - 8 inches, measuring from the base of the bulb.

• Dip each bulb in a solution like Bobbex—chemical-free fertilizer that repels rodents.

• Plant 3-4" apart, pointed side up, flat root side down.

• Cover with soil, pat, water, mulch, and wait—piece of cake!

And, here are a few design tips:

• Plant in large drifts under deciduous trees and tall shrubs.

• Plant in clumps of as little as 5, but repeat loosely in a drift.

• Plant the same variety. Think bold strokes - big impact!

• Plant a few varieties in the same tonal range.

• Plant with low-growing spring blooming mounding perennials.

There are many resources available for purchasing tulip bulbs. I like to purchase for myself and for my clients online at Dutch Grown . Spending evenings with my laptop, a glass of prosecco, and drooling over all the choices is my happy place! Many local nurseries also carry bulbs this time of year.

However you buy your bulbs, be picky! Avoid bulbs with soft or insect damaged areas. Tulips should have their skins intact (also called tunics) or they'll be vulnerable to disease. A good rule of thumb, “the bigger the bulb, the bigger the bloom.” Next spring, your garden will be the one oohed and eyed over, with your long-stemmed, elegant, dazzling beauties!��

Flora Grubb Gardens

It’s the new Flora Grubb Gardens in L.A.! I was thrilled to spend time with Flora, who I’ve been following online for a number of years. Flora showed me around, while my husband Fred shot video. Click on the arrow and check it out.

Fall Tips for the Garden

There’s nothing like putting on a fresh pair of clean garden gloves to motivate me to get out in the garden and move my body—I currently have seven pairs that I rotate��! I’ve also been inspired by the Netflix series, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones , to move my body as much as much as I can, and fall gardening is definitely a great way to move your body, and have a spruced up garden to boot!

1. Some of the most opulent trees to have in your garden this time of year include: maples, dogwoods, katsuras, and sourwood trees. With the growing season over, fall is a great time to plant dormant trees.

2. When the display of color is over, there are many options for managing your leaf debris. Leaves can be used for composting and amending soil, mulching veggie beds or ornamental shrubs, or if possible, leaving areas of leaf debris for beneficial insects and pollinators to overwinter in. Make sure you get the right rake for the job. There are many garden rakes available on the market, but not all serve the same function.

3. Many trees and shrubs can be pruned in fall as the plants go dormant. Using the proper tools like a hand pruner for small cuts, loppers for 1.5-2” cuts, and a pruning saw for 2-4” cuts ensures a safer pruning experience. Many perennials will start to brown and can be cut back, as well as late summer blooming shrubs, such as macrophylla hydrangeas will finish blooming, and should be pruned now before winter.

4. Cooler weather can jumpstart lawn growth, keeping your lawn mowed to a 2.5” - 3” height is ideal for grass health. Aerating, fertilizing with slow-release fertilizer, thatching, and overseeding are all important tasks that can be done in the fall to make sure your lawn will look great year-round.

5. Summer annuals are coming to an end, and now is a great time to change out your planters for fall arrangements. Plants such as ornamental grasses, mums, pansies, ornamental cabbage and peppers can make interesting arrangements with a variety of colors and textures. Adding in a small pumpkin or squash can make a festive focal point!

6. Birds, squirrels and other garden animals are stocking up on food and nutrients before winter comes. Putting up a hummingbird feeder is a great way to attract garden friendly wildlife. ‘Anna's’ hummingbird is the only hummingbird species found regularly during Oregon winters, so letting them know your yard is a source for a food can entice them to continue visiting through winter.

7. Make sure to adjust your irrigation schedule when the cool and rainy weather becomes consistent. Continue to adjust and monitor planting as we head into fall and don't turn your systems off too early. Many smart irrigation controllers have weather tracking systems that can automatically adjust your irrigation program according to the forecast!

Jack-o'-lanterns

The custom of making jack-o'-lanterns at Halloween began in Great Britain, but the carving of vegetables has been a common practice in many parts of the world. In the 1800’s turnips were hollowed out and carved with faces to act as lanterns on Halloween. In the United States, carving pumpkins was first associated with the harvest season, before it became a symbol of Halloween. An 1895 article, suggested giving lit jack-o'-lanterns to children as prizes for games played on Thanksgiving.

As a child, I remember picking out pumpkins at the grocery store, trying to find the perfect shape for carving. Once we got home with our 2 or 3 pumpkins, we would head to the kitchen, spread newspapers across the floor, get out the big butcher knife, and carefully cut the exact shape out of the top, which would be the jack o’ lantern’s lid, then start shoveling out all the seeds and stringy innards.

The next step was to figure out what kind of faces you were going to carve on your pumpkins. This is where your artistic prowess came into play. In those days, there were no fancy carving sets that are available now. It was just you and the butcher knife. When you were finished, you would light candles inside each of your jack o’ lanterns, and carefully set them all out on the porch. They looked so cool lit up, and they were a signal to the trick-or-treaters that you were open for business. ��

Enjoy, and as always love hearing from you!
Till the next time...
Love, Holly ~ Your Queen Bee at The White Pear

In The Midst Of Summer

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 19:43:00 GMT

The Garden Detail

We’ve all heard of “auto detailing.” Well…instead of auto, think garden. We are introducing a new concept in landscape maintenance, “The Garden Detail.” For some of us, “mow & blow” just ain’t gonna cut it. 30 minutes of loud mowers and blowers is pure misery for you, and your neighbors. But, just to be clear, mowers and blowers are a necessity, but here at The White Pear we take time for the finer details. Does a 30 minute visit from your neighborhood mow & blow outfit get into all those tiny little nooks and crannies? With “The Garden Detail” we do all the dead-heading, pruning, planting, and irrigation, along with the fine edges and detailing that gives your garden that look of immaculate perfection. Give us a holler and we’ll set up a plan that works for you.

No one has an eye for detail like The White Pear.

“What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Echinacea / Coneflower

Whenever I see echinacea (part of the daisy family), I immediately think back to 1967, “The Summer Of Love,” and remember the small bottle of echinacea in the fridge to stave off a cold or the flu. This is one of Holly’s favorite summertime flowers with its wide variety of beautiful, multi-colored blooms.

Many of us have planted and cared for echinacea, but for this newsletter I wanted to find something interesting about this plant that you may not have heard about. I decided to visit one of my favorite websites, Wikipedia, typed in echinacea, scrolled down to history, and here’s what I found:

Echinacea angustifolia was widely used by the North American indigenous tribes as folk medicine. It was used for insect bites, burns, wounds, and many tribes chewed the roots to relieve cold symptoms. coughs, headaches, throat infections, toothaches, stomach cramps and as a pain medication.

Early European settlers took the cue from their Indigenous counter parts and began to use the plant as a remedy for the common cold. The first official preparation that was put out on the market was by, Meyers Blood Purifier around 1880 and was prescribed for neuralgia, rattlesnake bites and rheumatism.

By the start of the 20th century, echinacea was the most common herbal remedy in America. Chemists and pharmacologists began identifying potentially active ingredients in the plant. These echinacea extracts helped in the prevention and treatment of colds, influenza, and infection.

So, the next time you run out of your meds, just run out to your garden and dig up your favorite echinacea, and this should hold you over until the your meds are in.

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” Audrey Hepburn

A Spit In The Eye

What happens when a Euphorbia spits in your eye? It hurts like hell! And that’s what happen to our fearless leader, Holly Stickley, owner and founder of The White Pear. Apparently the milky substance in the Euphorbia is rather toxic and causes horrible pain if spit your eye.

At first, Holly thought the pain would just go away with time, but it did not, and after some time in the tub trying to rinse her eye out I decided to call the poison-hotline and they recommended that we take a drive to the ER. By the time we reached Emanuel Hospital, Holly could hardly see, so they had to assist with a wheelchair.

The physician’s assistant who was assigned to Holly had only seen two other cases of “spit-in-da-eye,” so it’s not common. After pulling out long, thin strands of the milky white gunk out of her eye, the nurse then ran a saline solution through her eye for about an hour to make sure they had gotten it all.

The euphorbia is a beautiful plant, but just beware. This is one of Holly’s favorite plants, and this incident was the first time in 25 years of growing euphorbias that she’s been spit on. She recommends using gloves and eye protection when planting and caring for your Euphorbias. Let this be a lesson to us all.

Let us know how things are growing in your garden, if you'd like to expand, replace, or just interested in some brainstorming. We'd love to hear from you! Have a wonderful summer from the team at The White Pear!

~ Holly Stickley / The White Pear