Going Native

I have the most amazing friend Tonie, whose name I say in mafia-style if you can imagine it.  One of those never expected it, absolutely adore it, so thrilled to have kept it friendships.  I met her while working at WSU-Extension.  If fact, I remember quite vividly in my 6-person interview her face among them… visibly excited when I talked about new ideas.  When they called and offered the job and said she’d be my direct supervisor, it was an easy answer. 

Not that long ago she survived breast cancer.  I visited, we talked, but not near as much as I’dve wished.  Thankfully, we have more time, and her spirit and humor and incredible plant intelligence are intact.

I got more than lucky that she was willing to take on ‘my project.’  Last Fall she told me how to naturally kill off 1/3 of my front lawn.  Ok, done.  Perfect winter to try to kill grass for sure… under the snow and ice for a good long, suffocating time.

Spring rolls ’round, and yes I’m still serious - sorry Tonie.  She drew up the most fantastic native plant scheme for the front (now bare, except bark) area.  I researched the 3-4 choices she ID’d for each of 20 holes, extra for ground cover and boom, finally popped out with a plan. 

My time, her time… all made me gel just a little too firmly on “the Plan.”  Fortunately Terese, at Blue Moon Nursery, is a gem and ordered all my #1 picks if she didn’t have them.  Belinda at Firwood Nursery out way north of Spokane (no, not Canada) had some ideal options for ground cover and voila!  40 holes dug later and something good is going on in my front yard.  Drive by now, but in a couple years drive by again - it’ll be stunning. 

I even managed one selection from the Renewing Salmon Nation’s Food Traditions book - Wood’s Rose!  

Lewis & Clark even have a presence in their plant genus or species (I forget which) derivation!