Late-August, 2005

Dear Friends,

I am most sad to post here that last year's breast cancer has now metastasized to my lungs, the treatment of which is likely to be chemotherapy to slow the growth in my lungs and the spread to other parts of my body. If you are interested in following details of the saga, see the blog Bruce and I will keep updated. I am on indefinite medical leave and not checking my email or updating this Web site. My friend Laurel and I will be contacting clients and lecture coordinators this week and next to cancel my upcoming appointments. My office is now closed.

Mid-August, 2005

Back from France and running on fumes! I look forward to posting some of the images from Chaumont's International Festival of Gardens, Paris, and the French countryside in the next week or so.

July, 2005

I'm out of the office July 13-31, traveling to France to watch crazy Lance Armstrong ride up all those hills. I also hope to take in Chaumont-sur-Loire, the contemporary garden design festival in the Loire. You can leave me email or voicemail, but I won't be checking either until my return.

May, 2005

Seattle magazine has named me one of the top 40 designers in the Pacific Northwest! Congratulations to other friends receiving the honors: Robyn Cannon and Sue Goetz.

April 21, 2005

I am pleased--tickled, even--to announce that I have signed a book contract with Sasquatch Books for a garden trivia book tentatively titled Gardener's Miscellany. Thanks to Debra Prinzing for setting this up! If you would like to send me a trivia tip, please check out the new Gardener's Miscellany section.

March 23, 2005

HGTV filmed another segment today, this one in my office. The subject was "Indoor Windowboxes" and was also for Gardening by the Yard. The segment should be on air in about one year.

October 24, 2004

HGTV is filming a segment on topiary standards at my greenhouse in Kirkland next week. The show, Gardening by the Yard, is "designed for people who want their yards to look great but don't have a lot of time to spend on them." If anyone has any standards they want to loan me, I'm on the hunt! I would love to have a big coleus standard to share...

September 7, 2004

The garden tour was too much fun! I came home and ripped out the plum border! I'll be posting the best photographs shortly, so stay tuned.

And don't miss the NHS Plant Sale this weekend!

August 16, 2004

Hooray! I'm finished with treatment! After a well-deserved garden tour to Montreal, Quebec City, New England, NY and Pennsylvania -- and one more surgery -- I expect to be back in the office part-time in October.

March 2004

Dear Colleagues, Clients and Friends,

Many of you know that I was diagnosed with stage IIb breast cancer in January. Following surgery I started a new and aggressive chemotherapy regime. As it turns out, I haven't been able to work as much as I'd hoped. For that reason, I've decided to take a medical sabbatical from my business.

I am still compiling the garden events calendar for Seattle Homes & Lifestyles and writing my weekly garden column for the Ballard News-Tribune. I have a few public speaking engagements this year, but will not be teaching at Edmonds Community College this spring. I am taking on new clients, but am only offering consultations. And I continue to edit Garden Notes, the quarterly newsletter of the Northwest Horticultural Society. And, of course, I weed in my own garden!

Thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement! I look forward to resuming my normal work schedule later this autumn.

My best wishes for a beautiful spring and summer,