10 things Western Washington gardeners should be thankful for

The third week of November is the time for my annual Thanksgiving column to remind us all about how fortunate we are to live and garden in Western Washington. Here are 10 things to be thankful for as a Western Washington gardener.

1. Rain, not serious drought

Moisture from heaven is what keeps our region green all year long. Make jokes about webbed feet, but rain is our most valuable resource giving us cheap hydro power and naturally lush wild spaces.

2. Deer, not moose

Yes, the overpopulation of our deer are the cause of car accidents, lime disease and millions in lost plant material, but deer are less likely to attack than moose — or bear.

3. Slugs, not rattlesnakes

Slimy slugs take hostas hostage and feed on seedlings, but they won’t hide in your garden shed then attack with poison venom.

4. Ivy, not kudzu

English ivy needs to be removed from our forests because this non-native plant smothers our natives, but at least we don’t battle the evil kudzu, the vine that ate the South as it grows a mile a minute.

5. Mountains, not hills

Anyone else want to laugh when visiting California and they point out their “mountains?”

6. Moles, not gophers

Mole runways do less damage than gopher mounds – which may be considered mountains in some areas.

7. Aphids, not June beetles

The fast-moving June beetles are more difficult to control than our slow-moving aphids when it comes to eating rose buds overnight. Just pinch an aphid colony and watch the ladybugs move in.

8. Wind storms, not hurricanes

I will take loss of power over loss of home any day.

9. Moss, not dust storms

Emerald green and soft, moss is beautiful. Down South dust makes it hard to breathe and coats outdoor living spaces with grit.

10. Space, not skyscrapers

Having room to garden even if it is just a balcony is a luxury in some big cities.

Let’s all be grateful for life’s simple pleasures and keep growing.

Marianne Binetti has a degree in horticulture from Washington State University and is the author of several books. Reach her at binettigarden.com.

This story was originally published November 20, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "10 things Western Washington gardeners should be thankful for."