Check out this Halloween display featuring Black Plants, Ghoulish Goodies (Storey Publishing), and Wicked Plants (Algonquin) at The Missouri Botanical Garden. Who knew plants (and cupcakes) could be so scary?

[Mollie's dog, Moxie, submitted an entry for this blog, which Mollie was nice enough to type up for us.]

As the most reliable office dog in the building and self-proclaimed Timber Press mascot, I made a shocking discovery yesterday when checking this blog. Since when do we allow cats to review books? Who approved this? How can this be?

For the last several months I’ve faithfully arrived at work: I’ve traversed through 105 degree heat waves while wearing a fur coat. I’ve nearly been blown off the Burnside bridge during a freak summer thunderstorm. I’ve stuck my nose into smells that really should be forbidden. And then I take one month off (not by choice either — my human is participating in the September Bike-to-Work challenge and she still needs someone to buy her a bike trailer) and suddenly those few and far between animal/publishing opportunities are being handed out like catnip to animals that have never even set paw in the office.

I guess I’ll just have to start being a little more vocal with my ideas so all my co-workers don’t think I’m just lounging around and dreaming the day away. You know, maybe Tom’s next book could be about canines, the truest companion out there (much more loyal than perennials, I have to say). Or perhaps Laura Foster would be interested in refocusing her abilities in a Portland Dog Walks book? Give me a few belly rubs and I think I could dream up the perfect reviewer for those titles …

In the late summer and early fall, my husband and I pack up the car and head out to Smith Rock in eastern Oregon for a little camping and rock climbing. (We like to feel hardcore, even if we still only climb on the “easy” end of the spectrum.)

Smith Rock State Park is in the “high desert” of eastern Oregon, and is truly one of the most spectacular state parks that I have ever been in. In the fall, the foliage around the Crooked River would win all the top awards at design shows if it could be picked up and plunked down in the middle of a convention hall. (Admittedly, the towering rocks do add a fair bit of — ah — “drama” — that would be lost in a convention center. Perhaps a suitable backdrop painting could be arranged?)

The colors alone reduce me to squeaking fits of trying to point out how gorgeous everything is. There are beautiful earth tones, gold grasses and silver grey sage, punctuated with unidentified bright yellow flowers and the dried seedheads of Queen Anne’s Lace. There was also an interesting small plant that I couldn’t identify – it looked kind of like prickly heather – which was turning shades of purple and scarlet. Really! I can’t make this stuff up!

Continue Reading »

Upon the publication of our new book, Cats’ A.B.C., we humbly presented it to employees’ cats for review. Many of the cats expressed excitement at being consulted, though they expressed it in a dignified and reserved way, of course.

The Stray Cat of Gresham: “Remarkable. I read it cover to cover, held only inches away from my nose, such was my fascination. The author truly understands cats!”

Continue Reading »

I’m a relative newcomer to the world of garden blogging, and I sometimes come across blog topics that are a whole new world of gardening that I never thought of. The concept of “bloom day” was just such a topic. “What’s this ‘bloom day’?” I thought to myself. “It looks like pictures of people’s flowers. Surely it can’t be that simple? There must be some larger purpose.”

After much curious browsing of the internet, I think I’ve discovered three things.
1) There is no larger purpose that I can see – and really, it doesn’t matter.
2) Flowers are pretty.
3) Bloom Day appears to occur between the 14th and the 16th of every month. Ideally the 15th, but you know — some people get excited, and some people get late.

So, in honor of Bloom Day, finding useful information on the internet, and the release of our new book on black plants, I am posting some images of black flowers. I believe that technically, these flowers should be growing in my own garden, so I’ve picked ones that I would like to have in my garden, given half a chance. I am also posting a day late – but I’m hoping that no-one will refuse to look at flowers just because they are posted on the 16th instead of the 15th.

Continue Reading »

In the grand scheme of things, four business trips a year doesn’t seem like much. But for me, four trips feels like a lot. I’ve been to Seattle for the Northwest Flower Show. I’ve been to New York twice–once for Book Expo America, and again last month for pitching New York media. Next week, I’m headed to the most anticipated event in the garden media world–the annual Garden Writers Symposium, this year held in Raleigh (September 23-26).

If you’ve never been to the Symposium, you’re probably wondering what it’s all about. Typically, the show has a two day exhibit, lots of seminars, fabulous garden tours, and an awards banquet. This year is no different, but there are a couple of differences for me in my third year of attendance.

Continue Reading »

As the Timber Press Web and IT Manager, I’m probably one of the nerdier people in the office.

Well, I should probably qualify that, given that from my desk I can see coworkers who are probably thinking right now about graphic novels and/or Star Wars (don’t worry, office-mates, I will keep your identities safe from the Internet … for now). To say nothing of the discussions I’ve had with members of the editorial department on the finer points of grammar.

Fine, I’m one of many nerdy people in this office. But I’m the only one I know of to have taken an interest in a particular old book I found one day while perusing the extensive backlist in our library. That book is Computer Graphics in Biology, and this is the story of my adventure with that book.

No, wait, don’t stop reading yet!

Continue Reading »

Only a few short weeks ago I was complaining that my scarlet runner beans were not providing me with the green beany-ness that I was expecting. They had lovely red flowers, and the hummingbirds seemed to like them, but where were the beans? Nowhere. How was I going to practice making pickled green beans if I had no beans to pickle?

My green bean plant rose to the occasion. First, it assumed an intimidating Godzilla-like shape and loomed over my carrots.

Continue Reading »

There are few things in life to which I am willing to attach the phrase, “It will change your life!” Hence the reason that I will never make a living selling cars. Or shoes. Or face cream. But … I cannot say the same about books. They are life-changing.

A book can change the course of the future. A book can cause a society to see things differently, get riled up, burn things. For example, here is a small list of books that have been banned by certain societies:

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll was banned in China for the portrayal of animals acting as humans, Animal Farm by George Orwell was banned for political reasons.

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner was banned in Kentucky for language and for being anti-Christian.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger was banned in the US and Australia.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck was banned in many parts of the US, especially California, because it made the residents of the region look bad.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov was banned for obscenity in France, the UK, Argentina, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler was banned because of anti-Nazi laws and for being extremist.

Because books are so wonderful, important, and controversial, I feel 100% great telling everyone about the Sylvia Beach Hotel. I had the immense pleasure of staying there with my sister a few weekends ago, and it was perfect.

Located on a lovely ridge overlooking Nye Beach, Oregon, the Sylvia Beach Hotel is made for people who want to relax on a soft couch on Friday night, drinking mulled wine in lovely silence with a favorite book. There are no TVs or radios or phones or internet access. Instead, there is an enormous library/lounge filled with blankets and pillows and couches and journals for guests to write in. Each room is decorated in honor of a famous author: Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, J.R.R. Tolkien, Dr. Seuss, and many more.

Continue Reading »

Should Timber Publish a Book on Biodynamic Gardening?

This was the question of our publications board today, and I don’t think I’ve ever sat in a more contentious meeting!

For the uninitiated, biodynamic gardening can be considered the progenitor of all organic gardening. Begun right at the height of the industrial revolution by theologian Rudolf Steiner, biodynamics were clearly ahead of their time. (Steiner also founded the Waldorf Schools that are sprinkled around in high-income neighborhoods.) His essential belief was that any farm should be self-sufficient — no sending away to Monsanto for GMO seeds, no fertilizers other than compost you make yourself. In an era before we knew about carbon-free offsets and lowering environmental inputs, Rudolf Steiner had it all figured out. And he would have voted for Al Gore, too.

Continue Reading »