Author: Callista Fenn

When you think about bird migration, it’s easy to picture wide-open forests, wetlands, and remote wildlife areas. But some of the most important stops along the way are much closer to home. In Oregon, everyday backyards are playing a bigger role in migration than most people realize. Each spring and fall, thousands of birds pass…

Gardening in Central Oregon comes with its own set of rules. Hot, dry summers, cold winters, and big temperature swings can make even experienced gardeners rethink their usual routines. One simple habit stands out more here than almost anywhere else: mulching. At first glance, mulch doesn’t seem exciting. It’s just a layer of material on…

Step outside on a quiet morning in Western Oregon and there’s a good chance you’re not alone, even if it feels that way. Something is usually moving, watching, digging, flying, or quietly passing through your yard while you’re sipping coffee or checking the garden. Backyards here are busy little ecosystems, whether we notice them or…

Let’s be honest, not every plant ages gracefully in an Oregon garden. Some start the season looking great, then slowly unravel as the rain, wind, and uneven sunshine do their thing. By mid-season, you’re staring at floppy stems, soggy leaves, or plants that look like they gave up halfway through the job. It’s not always…

As the weather warms up, Oregon gardens start buzzing with activity, and not all of it is good news. While you’re getting excited about new growth, blooms, and time outside, some unwelcome visitors are getting ready to show up too. Invasive insects have a sneaky way of blending in at first, quietly settling into gardens…

Keeping a lawn green in urban Oregon can feel like a full-time side project. Between uneven shade, compacted soil, water restrictions, and busy schedules, that perfect patch of grass often turns into more work than it’s worth. That’s exactly why more homeowners are starting to look for smarter, easier alternatives. Enter kinnikinnick, a native ground…

Some plants earn their place in the garden by being dependable year after year. You plant them once, they settle in, and they quietly do their job without constant attention. In Oregon, where weather can shift from soaking rain to dry spells, low-maintenance perennials are the ones many gardeners come to rely on the most….

Oregon rain has a way of demanding attention. Just when you think the ground can’t possibly hold any more water, another storm rolls through and reminds you otherwise. Puddles reappear, downspouts gush, and that one low spot in the yard does what it always does. Instead of fighting it, more Oregon gardeners are starting to…

Winter in Oregon has a talent for exposing things we’d rather ignore, especially in the backyard. One week it’s rain, the next it’s more rain, and suddenly your yard has opinions. That low spot becomes a temporary pond, the lawn squishes when you walk across it, and the path you swear was fine last summer…

Spring doesn’t arrive all at once in Oregon, it tiptoes in. One day the light looks different, the next your houseplants seem a little more awake. Maybe you notice a fresh leaf unfurling, or you realize that plant you ignored all winter is suddenly leaning toward the window. It’s a small shift, but it feels…

When winter settles in, many Oregon homes start to feel a little darker. Days are shorter, skies stay gray, and the sunny windows your houseplants loved in summer don’t seem quite as bright anymore. You might notice a plant leaning toward the glass or slowing down altogether. Is it getting enough light, or is it…

Winter in Oregon can make the garden feel quiet, but that doesn’t mean problems stop. You might notice a plant looking a little off while everything else is resting, darker spots on leaves, stems that seem softer than usual, or growth that never quite bounced back. Have you ever brushed it off, thinking winter would…

After a stretch of heavy rain, it’s natural to step into the backyard and take a quick look around. Maybe you’re checking the fence line, noticing soggy patches of grass, or spotting puddles that weren’t there before. Have you ever wondered which of those changes matter and which will sort themselves out on their own?…

If you’ve been stepping carefully through your garden lately, you’ve probably noticed a few things don’t feel quite right. Soil that never seems to dry out, plants looking stressed instead of refreshed, paths turning muddy again just after you fixed them. Oregon’s rain season has a way of revealing problems that stay hidden the rest…

January isn’t usually the month people think of when it comes to planting. The days are short, the ground is damp, and most gardens look like they’re on pause. Still, you might find yourself eyeing an empty spot in the yard or wondering if it’s really necessary to wait until spring to get started. Is…

You might notice it during a quiet moment outside, a branch that’s grown the wrong way, stems crossing over each other, or a plant that looks heavier than it should. Winter has a way of slowing everything down just enough for those details to stand out. Is this a good time to prune, or better…

Have you ever noticed some plants in your garden seem to lose their spark after a few seasons? They stop blooming as much, the centers look a bit sparse, and the whole clump just seems tired. Many native plants actually thrive when you divide them regularly. This process rejuvenates the root system, encourages fresh growth,…

Right now, in the middle of an Oregon winter, you might be looking out at your garden through a gray sky and wondering how it’s really doing out there. The beds are quiet, the plants look a little rough, and everything feels paused. Have you ever stepped outside in your coat, maybe just to check…

Have you noticed the garden slowing down as winter drags on in Oregon? Maybe you’ve been checking on your plants, pruning a little here and there, or just watching the rain fall, wondering what you should even be doing this time of year. It’s easy to feel like the garden is on pause, but there…

If you’ve noticed green, slippery patches spreading across your garden paths, lawns, or even flowerbeds during Oregon’s wet winters, you’re not alone. Moss and algae thrive in the cool, damp conditions that define our winters, and it can feel like they take over overnight. It’s frustrating when you’ve worked hard on your garden, only to…

Gardening in Oregon is incredibly rewarding, but even experienced gardeners make mistakes that can quietly affect their plants. Sometimes it’s easy to assume that what works in one part of the yard will work everywhere, or to follow a tip without realizing your soil, climate, or season might require something different. Small missteps like overwatering,…

Have you ever walked past a garden and noticed a plant that feels familiar, like it’s been there forever? Maybe it’s a flower you remember from your childhood yard, or a shrub that your neighbor always seems to grow perfectly. Sometimes those classic plants get overlooked as new trends come and go, but lately, Oregon…

It can be frustrating when water starts pooling in your yard or soggy spots appear after heavy rain, and even more so when it looks like a neighbor’s tree might be the cause. Suddenly, questions pop up: who’s responsible, and how do you handle it without creating tension? In Oregon, the general rule is that…

A few years ago, I realized one of the trees in my Oregon yard wasn’t doing so well. It was leaning a little more each season, and I started wondering if it might be time to remove it. That’s when I discovered just how tricky tree removal can be here, and how important it is…

During Oregon’s long, gray winters, I’ve learned that keeping houseplants happy can feel like a bit of a challenge. Some days, the light barely makes it past the clouds, and it’s easy to feel like my plants are struggling right along with me. Over the years, I’ve discovered that not all houseplants need bright sun…

I’ve always loved the idea of growing my own fruit, but when I first looked at my small Oregon yard, I wasn’t sure it was even possible. Space is tight, and I worried about trees taking over or not producing enough to make it worth the effort. Over time, though, I discovered that small doesn’t…

Ever notice those tricky little spots in your garden that never seem to grow anything? Maybe it’s the shady corner under a tree, the patch along the fence, or a slope that’s hard to keep watered. It can be frustrating when you want something to fill the space, but nothing seems quite right. A lot…

If you’ve spent any time in an Oregon garden after a heavy rain, you know how quickly soggy spots can take over. Poor drainage doesn’t just make the garden messy, it can stress plants, wash away soil, and create headaches you don’t want in the spring. Luckily, there are simple fixes that can make a…

Winter in Oregon can make gardens feel a little gray and sleepy, and I know the feeling of looking out the window wishing for a splash of color. You might think nothing blooms now, but that’s not the whole story. There are actually several hardy plants that brighten up gardens even in the coldest months,…

It’s tempting to grab the pruners and tidy up your garden, especially after a long winter of wet weather. I’ve definitely been there, thinking, “This shrub looks messy, I’ll just trim it back.” But in Oregon, pruning at the wrong time can do more harm than good. Some plants are still recovering from winter stress,…

Shady spots don’t have to be dull. Some corners of your backyard barely see the sun, and it can feel like nothing really grows there. Maybe you’ve tried planting flowers or small shrubs, only to watch them fade or struggle. I guess we’ve all experienced this, it’s a little discouraging when you want your yard…

Winter in Oregon can be a little rough on the garden, but they don’t have to mean a dormant garden. Cool temperatures, steady rain, and gray skies make it tricky to know which plants will actually survive, and thrive, until spring. Maybe you’ve planted something in the past, only to watch it wilt or fade….

Some parts of your yard barely see the sun in winter, and it can feel like nothing wants to grow there. Maybe you’ve tried a few plants, only to watch them struggle or fade. I’ve definitely been there, it can be a little discouraging, especially when you want your garden to feel cheerful year-round. The…

You’re standing in the garden center or looking at a sunny spot in your yard, thinking about herbs that smell good and don’t need constant attention. Lavender sounds perfect. Rosemary does too! Then you wonder, can they actually grow well together in Oregon? It’s a simple question, and one a lot of gardeners quietly ask….