At GFG, we love client referrals. That’s why when we were working in Jen’s garden - one of our longest-served clients - we were excited to hear about her friend Mark.  “If he reaches out to you, it’s because I sent him! I told him he needs to hire you guys!” Jen is a powerful force in our gardening community, so we weren’t surprised to get an inquiry from Mark a few days later.  When asked, he said his main concern was that he had four large raised beds, but hardly any time to manage them. Many of us know the feeling. With demanding jobs, kids in sports, and numerous social engagemen ..read more

In March 2023, we hosted an herb gardening workshop at Petite 4. The weather was still mushy and cold, so we gathered inside the cozy walls of the restaurant and planted rosemary, chives, and a number of other hardy herbs together. As we planted, we sipped on bubbly drinks and housemade apps. That evening, we met Daphne and planted the idea for a garden renovation in her own backyard.  A few weeks later, I visited with Daphne in her home in the Highlands and we talked about her dream garden space. When I arrived on that morning in April, she showed me her current set-up. With a complicate ..read more

This week, we celebrated the end of summer with a group of our clients that have been working with us all season long. We’ve had the privilege of tending to their gardens every other week with bi-weekly maintenance, visiting with them monthly for coaching sessions and setting them for the spring and summer with seasonal transition support. Over 50 folks joined us on the patio at Petite 4 for celebratory drinks, snacks, live music and conversation. It was the first time I met some of our new clients, and I was so proud to introduce them to my growing family. It was a true pinch me moment as a ..read more

Dig deep enough, and every garden comes full circle. The reason for this blog’s lapse in posts is also the reason for its revival. I’m honored to share the story of how this particular Boise kitchen garden came to be. I installed the very first Gold Feather Garden in a North End alley with Gina at the beginning of 2021. She had just retired from teaching in the Boise school district and wanted to invest in her future with a garden she could grow into. So that’s what we created. Over the last few seasons, Gina’s skills have grown and developed, as has her identity as a gardener. So much so, she ..read more

Evening temps are in the 50s and crisp fall days are coming. That means, crisp fall lettuces need planting! As you make room in your summer garden for fall plants, keep these things in mind and then hit the nursery for gorgeous fall transplants and fun new seeds. Four tips for planting those cool season veggies: 1. Plant Strategically: Right now, your larger summer plants (tomatoes, squash, cucumbers) are taking up most of the space in your garden. When you plant your fall plants, try and place them in the understory of your summer veggies. This will help them to establish themselves without ..read more

With the hot temperatures this past week, we’re seeing a lot of our spring planted lettuces and spinach going to seed. Don’t know what I mean? See the picture below for the first sign of “bolting.” Bolting is defined as the production of a flowering stem on crops before the crop is harvested, in a natural attempt to produce seeds and reproduce. We see this often when the temperatures get too hot/sunny too quickly, or when a plant is nearing the end of its lifecycle. Many folks snip off the bolting parts of plants in an effort to slow down the end of the plant’s season, but I’m partial to a di ..read more

The news this week has been heavy, as it has for a while. The news of the shooting at an elementary school in Texas brought up so many familiar emotions. 10 years ago, as I packed up my college apartment, I watched the news unfold about the shooting at Sandy Hook. I'll never forget the way that felt. I had just finished my journalism degree about to walk across a stage and get my diploma, and I felt enraged. I cried angry tears for the kids who would never get to do what I was about to because of senseless violence. I cried resentful tears for the legislators who cherry picked freedoms for cam ..read more

Looking out my window over the past week, I’ve seen an eclectic collection of weather events. Wind, snow, rain, sleet, hail, frost and falling branches. My sunshades were torn down and my irrigation system turned off. Spring certainly sprung in the strangest ways. Not unlike a captive chimpanzee, it’s sunshine one minute, torn limbs the next. We’re well into May, past Mother’s Day, which usually is a reliable indicator that tomato plants can go in the ground. So what gives? and what should we do?  Now, I don’t have a crystal ball, but I do have a weather app that  suggests that dayt ..read more

May snow brings … June grow(th)? Most folks in Boise woke up today to a winter wonderland. While around Christmas time, this was a welcome sight, the day after Mother’s Day incited an audible groan from everyone. Everyone, that is, except some of the gardeners. The snow was wet, heavy and unexpected. In our neighborhood, many limbs fell down, snapping power lines on their way and some homes were even crushed by whole or parts of trees. Luckily, most of us people will come out of this late spring snowstorm safe and sound, but only time will tell how many plants suffered or survived. Most of Bo ..read more

It’s the first Monday of February, and for us at GFG, this month marks the start to our spring season. We’ll start installing the gardens we designed over the fall/winter months, and we’ll be exploring new backyards throughout Boise to bring you even more gardens in 2022. That’s why this week, we wanted to give you a peek behind the scenes to show you what it’s like to work with us. You’ve heard us say that every garden starts with a single seed, so we’ll outline our process with garden metaphors (of course). Here’s how it goes: Seeding Stage: Consultation Every garden starts with a consulta ..read more