Oh, it's definitely trial and error. I've spent the past 17 years working the kinks out of growing flowers (perennials, mostly... there are actually a few that seem to thrive here), and this is my first year with a kitchen garden. Our adult kids finally moved out a few months ago (love 'em to pieces, but they're in their early 20s. It was time to go!), and that seemed to free up a fair amount of time, space in the house and yard, and money for us. So I bought myself a little greenhouse, along with frost blankets, row covers, etc. to extend our season out a bit. Hubby built me 3 nice 4' x 8' raised beds, and I started a number of the edibles early indoors. Now I have strawberries, lettuces, carrots, onions, a sweet yellow bell pepper, tomatoes, sweet corn, cucumbers, broccoli, basil, and rosemary in the beds. Also a dwarf blueberry in a big pot in the greenhouse (and 2 more cultivars of dwarf blues being shipped to me now, with their pots filled and ready for them). So far, I've learned that strawberries and onions tend to do pretty well here. No problems so far with the lettuces, either, of course. The corn is growing nicely, and no complaints from the broccoli so far, either. Tomatoes can be tough here, but I'm giving it a go. I'm having trouble with a Sweet 100 cherry (think it may have spotted wilt virus, but I'm watching and waiting for the time being to see if it comes back for me... it has flowered, so we'll see what happens). And of course the pepper plant may or may not ever fruit for me. Cukes are also probably hit or miss. But I've tried to watch the weather predictions and put out the frost blankets whenever needed. Depending on how things go this year, I'm thinking I'll try peas and potatoes next year, which should do just fine. Melons are very tempting... I suppose if I get one of the early cultivars, I might be able to pull it off. Of course, we could very well get one (or any number) of our sudden summer snowstorms, hailstorms, thunderstorms with torrential rain and killer winds... and it could very well wipe out most or all of my efforts in a matter of hours or even minutes. But since we're here, and we're not going anywhere (hubby's job... no moving at least until he can retire, a good decade or so away), I decided to make the best of it and give it a try, at least. Greenhouses and frost blanket are wonderful inventions! :-)

No, but if you don't get any takers there I will grow you on a few next year if you provide seed. Steve in Baltimore

Just wanted to say hi :-) I am a Louisiana transplant too. But I am on the other side of the mountains. I would love to see such a magazine too. I get a lot of PNW gardening books at the library..most are more geared to this side of the mountains though. I have seen a magazine that might be helpful to you, but its a Canadian one out of BC. Interior BC climate is very similar to Eastern Canada. My hubby is from Vernon which is near Kelowna BC and he gets homesick when he visits Wenatchee area. The name of the magazine is GardenWise. Its published by a company which can be accessed at www.canadawide.com. Here is a link that might be useful: Gardenwise

The Palouse area of Washington is one of the prettiest sites I have ever seen......we went thru there in the late afternoon and the shadows on the fields of wheat took my breath away. Love your sunrise pictures...amazing how fast the sky changes.