The native western sword fern, shown here surrounding the bird bath, can grow anywhere from 2 to 6 feet tall. It thrives in the moist, temperate climate of the Pacific Northwest and does well in a ...

Delicate as lace, or seemingly tough as leather, ferns can be found in climates ranging from rain forest to tundra. It's no wonder that they find their way to so many Pacific Northwest gardens.

WHAT: Sword fern, Polystichum munitum, is one of our most useful native ferns and a staple in the Northwest garden. Sword fern is evergreen and forms a shapely, arching mound. WHY PLANT IT: It is ...

IS THERE a more useful plant than evergreen ferns? They’re the stalwarts of the winter garden. Slugs are munching on the tiny iris that are just starting to bloom, and camellia blossoms brown out with ...

SEATTLE — There's a reason that ferns have been growing in popularity over the last few years. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors, require minimum care and have practically no ...

A handful of plants define the western Washington flora. They are both common and frequently encountered in even the most minimally transient contact with local nature. Douglas-fir, salal, western ...

Eilís O'Neill / KUOW/EarthFix Ellie and Emma are toddlers. They spend a lot of time with their dad Tim Billo in Seward Park, a fragment of old-growth forest on the edge of Lake Washington. Billo’s a ...

Don’t give up on that seemingly uninhabitable part of the yard that’s shaded by towering evergreens. With some creative planning, this tree-filled area can transform from a dark, neglected spot to an ...

INDIANOLA — The barren patch of ground stood out in the midst of the lush forest understory. All around, sword ferns crowded between tree trunks forming dense thickets of greenery, but in this spot, ...

The end of November is our national celebration of Thanksgiving. Years ago when we started to travel and see gardens all over the world, I started a tradition for this column listing all the reasons ...