This just in, another reader question:

Do you know the best way to prune back large pampas grass and New Zealand flax?

Anyone have thoughts?

My neighbors and I attacked a gynormous flax last summer. It's on the west side of her yard. We tried to prune carefully, removing the dead stalks, then trying to reasonably trim the outer layers. The thing was just overgrown and taking up too much space. It wound up looking kind of funky. I have a flax in my back yard, sort of newish, but I imagine it will be a gigantic mess in the next few growing seasons. It is a large variety, not a dwarf. Advice appreciated.

Comment here, or e-mail me at sue.kidd@thenewstribune.com

Another question from a reader. Anyone have thoughts? Comment here or e-mail me at sue.kidd@thenewstribune.com.

My question is regarding pruning the older (blueberry) plants. Are the blossoms on new growth or older growth? I do some pruning in the fall and wait until a freeze is not apt to happen, to do more extensive work, especially for branches that cross each other. Any advice you can give I will certainly appreciate.

A reader poses the question below on what kind of grasses and trees to plan in a non functioning drainage easement. Anyone have thoughts? Reply with a comment or e-mail me at sue.kidd@thenewstribune.com.

I live in Milton and have an area that is an easement for drainage, but does not actually function in that manner. It's about 10 ft by 60 ft with 2 collection drains installed. I have plans to install a dry wash type run with rocks from earlier ground work. I want to plant grasses and other items that are native to WA and to provide a habitat for birds and bees. I currently have homes for mason bees and plan to install more this year. I want to get some height from the grasses and would consider fruit trees. We have an apple, and an almond tree that I'm not sure will get through this
winter.

The gardeners are getting antsy. We've been getting gardening questions from readers.

Here's one:

I have a problem with moss in my yard grass.
When is the best time of year to spread the moss killer??

Ahhhhh, yes, our beloved moss. We just love the moss here, don't we? When do you find the most effective time to eliminate moss? I was just contemplating getting rid of mine. Anyone use an ecologically friendly brand they like? I'm interested.

Comment here, or e-mail me at sue.kidd@thenewstribune.com. I'll post your reply.

Post amend: Leona Lisa, with the garden department at the Fircrest Home Depot, had some great advice she posted. If you're too lazy to read the comments (you know who you are), here is her advice for moss removal:

There are several ways to attack this-the least environmentally invasive of which is to get a "thatching rake" -(looks like Freddie Kreuger fingers) and do it by hand. You can also get a thatching blade for your lawnmower-the blade is shorter and has tines that stick down on the ends-be very careful and do a small test spot to ensure you aren't digging in too deep and adjust height accordingly. You can also rent a dethatching device for $44 for 4 hours (most get done in this time) or $62 bucks a day.
Now for the chemical options-there are moss killers for the lawn that the main ingredient is Iron-I would suggest this over the 'moss kill, fertilize at the same time' kind of product especially if you will be overseeding later as the fertilizer will burn the seed and cause it to not grow. Liquid application will be evident within a few hours, the granular stuff will take days to kick in. Either way you still need to REMOVE the dead moss after it turns black.-see above paragraph. Some people think it just magically melts away, sad to say-it does not.
You may also wish to do a soil test and check the PH-with all the evergreens in the area and our level of rain-the soil tends to be more acidic and less conducive to grass growing. This is easily ammended with lime.

I love it when readers send us photos of their garden work. This just arrived in my inbox. It's from Michael Maletich, of Orting.

From Michael:

I started in January of 2005 building a raised patio to take advantage of the Mt Rainier view and then completed this past Memorial Day with the awning attached to the house. I did all of the work except the concrete pour on both sides of the patio.

Before, and after:

It's (almost) spring. I saw the first sign of a day lily sprouting up in my front planting beds and I saw little tulip shoots popping through, too. yayyayayay. And here's another sure sign the growing season is nearly here: garden lecture series.

My inbox this morning yielded some serious funness (no, that's not a word, I just made that up):

From Metro Parks:

The History of Wright Park comes to life through Spring lectures. Discover Wright Park and the Seymour Conservatory in ways you may have never known at a series of lectures hosted at neighboring Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum.

Each lecture begins at 6 p.m. at the Karpeles Manuscript Library, 407 South G Street and followed by a reception at the W.W. Seymour Conservatory, 316 South G Street. For more information, please call 253-591-5330 or visit .

March 20: Wright Park Then and Now. Robert Van Pelt, Research Ecologist, University of Washington in Seattle
Join Robert Van Pelt, author and tree researcher, as he describes the transformation of Wright Park over the years. From its humble beginnings over 100 years ago as a logged-over parcel of land to today’s modern park with more than 600 trees representing at least 100 species, including 30 State Champions, Wright Park has stood the test of time to become one of Tacoma’s great treasures.

April 17: An Oasis in the Great Desert of the City's Paved Thoroughfares: Wright Park and the Two Natures of Tacoma 100 Years Ago. Doug Sackman, Associate Professor, University of Puget Sound. Using slides of historical photographs and paintings, this talk will explore the ambivalent attitude toward nature held by Tacomans 100 years ago.

May 1: Taking the Fear Out of Growing Orchids. Ron Bollick, Tacoma Orchid Society. Bollick started growing orchids about 10 years ago and has expanded his collection to over 500 orchids. He successfully grows these beautiful flowers in a greenhouse and indoors. His talk will cover proper care of orchids, including watering, fertilizers, temperature, light, and pests.

Lured by the glossy, pretty seed catalogs that have been arriving in the mail lately I ordered my first batch of seeds for Freak of Nature Garden 2008. So far, all I've ordered from is Territorial Seed Company. I like their speedy customer service and most importantly I love their seeds.

Most of the catalogs I've pawed through don't impress me. I've no idea how their products will do in the Pacific Northwest and I'm not suckered in with their fake photography or "old timey" graphics.

I'll blog later in the season on what I'm trying this year. For now, I'll recap what I grew last year and how they did. My results may not match yours (hopefully, yours will be better) but if I can grow these anyone can...

TERRITORIAL SEED Co. http://www.territorialseed.com/

Beer Friend edamame (soy beans): These were the best edamame I've ever tasted. I'm sure being straight from the garden made a difference. However, the plants take space and they weren't the most productive bean plants I've seen.

Chiogga beet: These are mighty odd red and white striped beets. They were very tasty but small. They sure are odd to look at.

Veronica broccoli: This yellow-green, tightly woven broccoli was both easy to grow and tasty - and I'm not the biggest broccoli fan.

Purple Haze carrot: The outsides were deep purple and the insides were orange. Medium sized and not too sweet I didn't see the point of these other than they are purple. But that in itself is a good reason to grow them.

Painted Mountain corn: This ornamental corn produced stunning ears and husks in a wide variety of colors and combinations. You can't eat them but kids love 'em. They make great fall gifts.

Redbor kale: This is the only plant that's still growing in my garden. Dark purple leaves make this a standout. It's also one of the healthiest leafy veggies you can grow.

Outredgeous lettuce: Prolific and easy to grow. And dark red to boot.

Flasy Trout's Back: This romaine is beautifully spotted.

Red velvet: Another easy to grow red leaf. Every garden should have some red lettuce in it.

Roquette arugula: I love arugula for the spicy flavor it brings to salads. Unfortunately, I planted way too much. And to make things worse arugula goes from too-young-to-harvest to flowering with about five minutes in between. If you have room go for it.

All blue potatoes: A dismal crop. I won't try these again.

Minowase daikon: Likewise, I'll be buying my daikon in the store. Mine were either full of worms, rotting in the ground or both.

Prado red sunflower: These reddish-brown sunflowers were a nice change from yellow.

BURPEE http://www.burpee.com/home.do

Red lightning Hybrid tomato: A great plant - if only mine produced more than a few ripe tomatoes. Its return ticket has been canceled.

Black Pearl Hybrid tomato: A prolific producer - of green tomatoes. It will not make a return visit.

Cottage red marigold: Some were red. Some were orange. A lot were in between.

Toy Choi Hybrid: Bok Choi (or Pak Choi) is one of my faves and this didn't disappoint. I like it because it combines the crispness of cabbage with the tenderness of a leafy green. Great for stir fry.

Our fantastic community columnist Kathleen Merryman, known as Kits to all of us who know and love her, stopped by the Northwest Flower & Garden show today. Here are a few of her musings and tips, a very fun read:

As a shameless garden groupie, I was delighted to meet Jenny Butchart's great-granddaughter at the Butchart Gardens booth.

Robin Lee Clarke is working the booth with two of the gardeners and the historian. All three are great fun and have lots of info and stories, plus Butchart bags for your literature, and half-off coupons.

Tip for scoring loot: You'll get a plastic card with your ticket. Visit the display gardens, big and small, pick your favorites and go to the survey kiosk before you hit the sales booths. Stick the card in, vote, answer a few questions, and the machine will start spewing coupons for things like discounts and free garden gloves & seeds. You have to redeem the coupons at the show.

Fair Trade Alert: MangoMango has bags woven of recycled & dyed pop bottle plastic. They'll tell you where they came from and how they're affecting women's lives there. Great, sturdy shopping bags at 2 for $10.

And don't miss the metal plaques from Haiti at Beyond Borders. They're made from recycled oil drums, and they're earning a living wage for the artisans who make them using only hammers and nails. $4 for a small heart. $30 for a foot-square carving of birds in a tree. $195 for a very large, intricate piece. Birds, mermaids, fish, hearts, crosses, wild animals.

One thing that's always jarring at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show is the mix of seasons in the display gardens. Usually, it's just spring and summer.

But this year all four seasons are represented - kind of like looking at a Thomas Kincaid print. But once you get used to it it's pretty cool (unlike a Kincaid.)

In "Crush" by Pacific Stone Company a perfect fall day has been created. Real apples hang in trees and pumpkins fill the garden. One pumpkin (pictured below) really stands out - it's been carved from stone.

In "Winter in Waiting" by Adam Gorski Landscapes fences from old skis line a garden with biodegradable fake snow.

Whatever season you are in a mood for you'll find it here.

There was so much over-the-top stuff in the display gardens at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, it was all a bit..... much. Of course, gardeners come here to see things that are outlandish. Things like underwater misting machines adding drama to moody looking ponds (scroll down for that eyeful). Things like 20-something-feet-tall monkey puzzle trees in the middle of the convention center.

There was a moment where I felt like I could see something at the show in my yard. At least on a small scale, that is. It was a collection of container plantings, organized in tiers, surrounded by stone. Very pretty. Very minimal. Elements of the display could look really cool in almost anyone's yard.

The display, called Infinity In Your Hand, was created by the Puget Sound Bonsai Association, which describes its work here:

The title, with apologies to William Blake, is suggesting a search in nature for eternal beauty. The simplicity found in a leaf or a grain of sand. Bonsai is simply sculpture, with the qualities of timelessness.

Here, take a look at it. See for yourself:

All the rock in this display garden (including the arch) is dry stacked. No mortar was used in the making of "From and Ordinary Pile of Rocks..." by Exteriorscapes.

You can see the designers and their crew working feverishly to complete it. When I made this photo they were about two hours away from their noon deadline. At that time all work stops and the judges come in.

I've got a kid, and because of that, a kid-friendly backyard (well, duh). The neighborhood kids love our yard, I think probably because I have a raised kitchen garden I let them dig around in, and I don't care if they make a mess or strip my rosemary bare (it'll grow back). Dirt is fun and they love it.

The one thing missing, something I've been working on in the winter, is some decent kid-friendly (and mommy-and-her -wine-sipping pals-friendly)seating areas where we all can lounge about outside -- them playing, us sipping.

Today, walking by the display garden by Tomisha Payment of Eden Landscape Design, I was interested in how the designer worked so many comfortable seating areas into such a small space. Her display, called Sippy Cups to Wine Stems, sits in the corner of the convention center, near the restrooms.

Her description of her garden:

A contemporary urban garden that does double-duty as inspiring entertaining space and imagination igniting play yard, proving that parents and children can live harmoniously in a small garden without sacrificing style.
Multicultural influences in planting and accessories evoke epic travels and create an eclectic, dramatic outdoor extension of living space in the small city lot. Water, pebbles and sand provide tactile experience for children while comfortable furniture invites leisurely meals and lingering conversation for the whole family.

I've got a small yard, and if you do, you're probably wondering how to make the space more usable, maybe even kidlet friendly. The answer, according to Payment's design, is to go vertical with the plantings, and reserve the surface area for lounging spaces. Here, take a look at how she did it:

Here's the first of many photos I'll be posting showing the display gardens.

This garden called "Dreams Really Can Come True" by Falling Water Designs was one of my favorites. Periodically, a cloud of mist rises above a pond and stone carvings. Rain drops from above.

Nearby is a stone firepit. It's all over the top and quite surreal...like a dream.

Craig Sailor and I are at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, writing from the press room at the Convention Center in Seattle. We just wandered away from the tour of the display gardens, which was led by Steve Lorton, former Northwest bureau chief of Sunset magazine.

It was an interesting tour, namely because the designers were scurrying about finalizing their displays. All a bit chaotic, fun to watch, a little distracting.

We saw some over-the-top displays. The kind that make you scoff a little, roll your eyes, maybe. There is no way most of that would work in our yards, well maybe Craig Sailor's yard, but it's all about the drama, clearly.

Read on here for more details ... in just a few... after we drink some more coffee ...

I get a lot of mail here and opening it is something I will do anything to avoid ... but not so much this time of year. The last few weeks have brought many, many garden catalogs to my overstuffed mailbox. I'm in the mood to garden, but, eeek, not in the mood to weather the weather. So the garden catalogs -- which fellow GetGrowing blogger Craig Sailor and I call "garden porn" -- will have to do. For now.

Today's garden porn pick: "The Cook's Garden," which has a subtitle of "seeds & plants for gourmet vegetables." OK, I'm in. I'm all about growing things that I can eat... or dump off on somebody's desk and slink off before they notice (referring to the great zucchini giveaway of two summers ago... people avoided me for days after I harvested. I guess I didn't need all those plants).

The page I'm coveting now: 38. It's all about specialty greens. We're talking Mei Qing Choi, Par-Cel and Dandelion Ameliore. Oh, that reminds me, Ed Murrieta will be writing about cooking greens in the 2/27 Food section. You'll want to read it. I'll have to... because I intend to grow a mess of greens this spring. Co-workers: consider yourself warned. I will be sharing.

Have a favorite catalog? E-mail me at sue.kidd@thenewstribune.com.... or just post a comment and let us know what we're missing.

So fellow SoundLife staffer Craig Hill was just giving me grief about the SuperBowl -- because I have no intention of watching it on Sunday. He knows I don't get sports. I was editing one of his stories not long ago and it took him nearly three minutes and two follow-up e-mails to explain the phrase "shagging home run balls." Hey, I'm a features editor, not a sports editor.

This is why I'll be at the Tacoma Home and Garden show on Sunday. I'll be the one buying the hebes and coveting the metal sculptures at the southeast corner of the Dome (scroll down people and check out the pic). I'll also be the one hanging out in the Click lounge with my laptop picking up on any free WiFi I can find. That's my idea of a good Sunday.

Read on for a few things I found while at the show yesterday.

Show details:

WHAT: Tacoma Home & Garden Show
WHERE: Tacoma Dome
WHEN: Saturday Feb. 2, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday Feb. 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Info: Clicky here