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Water thoroughly, then allow soil to become moderately dry before watering again. Likes bright, full, or filtered sunlight, but will tolerate lower light. I had good luck with this plant hanging in the far corner of a large classroom which only had high narrow horizontal windows, although they were facing south. I recently ordered this from my local florist and it arrived labeled as 'Danish Ivy' with no botanical name. The grower was from British Columbia so perhaps it is known up north by this alternate name.

55 days to maturity. Yields heavy crops of slender, tender, light green, stringless beans. Grows 7-9 feet tall on trellis.

"The Red Bartlett, known also as 'Max Red', was first discovered as a bud sport on a standard Yellow Bartlett tree near Zillah, Washington in 1938. A 'bud sport' is a rare, naturally occurring transformation that develops spontaneously on fruit trees. The Red Bartlett pear was then cultivated by pear growers, resulting in the large crop we enjoy today." Excerpt from USAPears.org

As with other pears, if allowed to ripen on the tree, these pears may become more gritty due to deposits of lignin and cellulose; they are much smoother in texture if picked and allowed to ripen at room temperature.

This is a true blue, always a nice welcome to the garden, which turns pinkish when it is about done. It blooms in early spring, then kind of disappears during the hot summer. I find it works well under daylilies or ferns, which hide the tattered summer foliage. It seems to like regular division, which rejuvenates it.

Per Washington State University, this pear needs a cross-pollinator of Bosc, Comice, or d'Anjou. I have a solitary tree which has reliably produced fruit for several years. I don't believe any of my immediate neighbors has a pear tree, although I could be wrong. I do run into severe scab problems with the fruit, which necessitates peeling for fresh eating. Juicy and sweet once peeled.

Per USAPears.org, this pear was originally discovered in 1765 and known as 'Stair's Pear.' It later became known as 'Williams Bon Chretien Pear' and finally as 'Bartlett Pear' - all named after various nurserymen/propagators. At some point, Mr. Bartlett realized his pear was the same variety as the Williams pear, but by then it had been widely distributed as, and remains commonly known as 'Bartlett' in the United States.

Bartletts have a rounded bell bottom, with a smaller shoulder or neck. They can be eaten fresh, canned, frozen, or dried. One can replace apples with pears in just about any recipe. It has a green skin that changes to yellow as it ripens. The flavor is sweet, and the texture is smooth if allowed to ripen off the tree. If left on the tree to ripen, it becomes more gritty due to deposits of lignin and cellulose. A good guide for fresh eating: green skin will be crunchy and tart; yellow-green skin will be moist and mild; yellow skin will be soft and juicy. Let pears ripen at room temperature.

Class B noxious weed in Washington state (do not allow to spread). Found on both sides of the Cascade Mountains from British Columbia south to Oregon, in moist areas, usually on disturbed soil. Forms dense colonies that out-compete natives and reduce habitat quality for wildlife. Dig out, being sure to get all of the taproot. Or till into the soil, then overplant with native grasses.

Class B noxious weed in Washington state (do not allow to spread). Colonizes roadsides, vacant lots, pastures, waterways. Wear protection when removing this plant, all parts are toxic, even after it has dried. Best to dispose of in the trash.

Class A noxious weed in Washington state (relative new-comer, trying to eradicate before it settles in). Forms dense canopies that out-compete natives, and increases erosion along waterways. Dig out, but be cautious. As noted by others, the clear watery sap can sensitize the skin to sunlight, resulting in a blistering long-lived rash.

Class A noxious weed in Washington state (relative new-comer, if found advise your local Weed Board with location and photo). This is a biennial - the first year it forms a rosette of kidney shaped leaves; and the second yard a stem grows up to 3' tall, blooming in early spring. The fruit can eject seeds up to 10' away, and the plant releases compounds into the soil that prevent other plants from growing. If left unchecked, it can quickly dominate forest floors and displace natives. Pull plants before they go to seed.

Class B noxious weed in Washington state (do not allow to spread). Found in moist places on both sides of the mountains, from British Columbia to Washington, and east to Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Introduced from Europe. It is unpalatable to mammals and out-competes native forage. Hand pull or dig out.

Class B noxious weed in Washington state (do not allow to spread). This plant spreads quickly, forming dense colonies that out-compete natives. Pull the plant and burn or put in the trash, do not compost as this will just increase the spread.

Class B noxious weed in Washington state (do not allow to spread). Can form dense stands displacing natives, reduced forage as it is not palatable to either livestock or wildlife. Hand pull, dig out, or over-plant with competitive native grasses.

Class B noxious weed in Washington state (do not allow to spread). Often confused with Scotch broom (another non-native invasive), gorse has spiny thorns on its stems, and blooms earlier than Scotch broom, usually Feb-Apr. Out-competes natives, shades tree seedlings, and is a fire hazard due to its volatile oils. Pull or dig out plants.

Class A noxious weed in Washington state (relative newcomer, report to Weed Board if found, with location and photo if possible). This plant is native in the midwest, where it hosts the Colorado beetle. Eradication in Washington is a high priority to prevent it from becoming established. Plants may be dug out, or, since it is an annual, mowing before it goes to seed would likely be helpful.

Class B noxious weed in Washington state; introduced from Eurasia, found mostly west of the Cascades from British Columbia to Oregon in roadsides and open moist woods. Very shade tolerant, will grow in the understory of evergreens. Often "planted" by birds, it can form monotypic stands that out-compete native plants. Seedlings can be hand-pulled and larger shrubs dug out, but be cautious of toxins in the sap, stem, leaves, and fruits.

Class B noxious weed in Washington state. This grass forms dense colonies displacing native vegetation and degrading wetlands. Mowing can reduce infestations. Another tactic is to plant taller native trees and shrubs that will shade the grass and make it more difficult to thrive.

National plant of Namibia. The branches were used to make quivers, hence the name. Insects, birds, and mammals are drawn to the nectar, and it provides nesting sites for sociable weavers. Interestingly, a hollowed out dead plant can be used as a natural refrigerator as the fibrous tissue of the trunk has a cooling effect. Young flower buds are edible and taste similar to asparagus.

Tidy plant with pretty brownish leaves and red stems. A good accent plant. A decoction of roots was used for snakebites. Some sources report that it can spread aggressively through rhizomes or reseeding and, but I have not found that to be a problem in the Pacific NW.

Introduced invasive in the Pacific NW found from British Columbia to California, occasionally east to Idaho. Found in disturbed areas and roadsides, mostly at low elevations. Strongly armed evergreen shrub with long clambering canes. Does not increase as readily as the more common Himalayan blackberry. I find the berries to be firmer, sweeter and seedier than Himalayans. For this reason, some folks prefer these for pies. This shrub outcompetes natives and may prevent the growth of native trees that require sun for germination (although I often find a big leaf maple growing smack dab in the midst of a blackberry bramble). It can also form impenetrable thickets that block access to water, and does not particularly help with bank stabilization. Hard to get rid of, although goats will eat it down to the ground.

This is a Class C noxious invasive in the Pacific Northwest. Control is recommended but not required. It may sicken livestock although it is generally avoided by herbivores. It clogs small streams and irrigation systems, displaces native vegetation along streambanks, and reduces habitat for waterfowl and fish. It spreads quickly into large clumps in shallow water. It can be pulled by hand or machine, although some folks react to the resins in the leaves and rhizomes. It is extremely difficult to get all the roots and I have had poor luck trying to clear this thug from my pond (we've dug them up using a backhoe). I have also read that one can persistently cut all leaves and stems below the waterline, but have not tried that method. On the plus side, it is a pretty plant with showy yellow flowers. It is native to Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and Asia Minor.