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Whee! We're in The American Gardener Magazine

A New Spin on Forever vs. For Now Planting Concept

I had the pleasure of collaborating with garden writer Mary Kate Mackey on a retelling and reframing of the planting design concept I've coined "Forever vs. For Now." I've talked about this idea in multiple ways and at different times over the years. 

And now, in her expert hands, the ideas have been made available to a wider audience. The American Gardener is published by the American Horticulture Society, a national organization with deep roots and a long history in the horticultural world. I am thrilled to be included in this top-quality magazine. I hope you'll get a chance to see it.

For a practical demonstration of how I practice the "Forever vs. For Now" concept in my home garden, you might enjoy the video and blog post that I link to below.

SPOTLIGHT ON PLANTS

Delightful Details From My Early Spring Garden

Over the last several years, I've been adding lots more early-season ephemerals and it's really starting to pay off. Treasures tucked in last year around this time have been settling in and are now making themselves known. Pictured above is a Trillium kurabayashii that I was lucky enough to find and plant last spring. They can be a bit tricky to locate, but worth the hunt.

Above, Corydalis solida 'Purple Bird' is much easier to find and is easy to get established. I picked up several of this one and C. s. 'Beth Evans' last year at Xera.

I'm loving this new addition! Small treasures like this newly-acquired Anemone x lipsiensis are a delightful way to indulge my plant passions without overwhelming my small, densely-planted garden. I picked this cutie up from Cistus earlier this week.

Pulmonaria 'Raspberry Splash' is a robust, spring-blooming perennial. I've grown it for several years now and in my experience it is by far the strongest of the genus. Unlike other lungworts, this one has been very resistant to powdery mildew in my garden.

And I could go on and on—so many wonderful plants are bringing me joy right now. Poking around my garden this time of year is so exciting—it changes so much day by day. Seeking out the transient delights of emerging foliage is one of my favorite springtime activities. (Above: Helleborus argutifolius 'Fire and Ice')

PLANT COMBOS TO INSPIRE

The backbone of the eGardenGo website is its searchable database of plant combination ideas. There are multiple ways to use the tool. 

• Browse the plant database, find one that meets your criteria, then click through to get plant combination ideas that include it. If you can't find the particular plant you're looking for, search for something similar. For more tips on how to choose the best subs, read this blog post.

• Use the searchable directory of plant combinations to find one that is a match for your growing conditions and aesthetic desires. Then click through to learn about the individual plants included in the combination.

BONUS: The video below takes a deep dive into the thinking behind the planting plan from above.

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