Barbara and Her Garden

Here's something to beat back any winter blues you may be feeling. Barbara Blossom Ashmun discusses her book, Married to My Garden, and her remarkable garden in this video clip from Garden Time:

Upcoming Events for Barbara Blossom Ashmun

Spring is on the way; a few events for Portland's favorite garden writer are in order:

Thursday March 6, 7 p.m.
Beaverton City Library , 12375 SW Fifth Street, Beaverton, OR 97005, Garden Retreats: Creating a Tranquil Garden, slide show and lecture with Q & A, followed by book signing, Free event.

Saturday April 5, 10:30 a.m.
Smith & Hawken, 26 NW 23 Place, Dreaming Up a Garden from the Heart, lecture and reading from Married to My Garden and Q & A, 10 minutes, Cost: $15, each attendee gets a signed copy of Married to My Garden. To register, contact 503-274-9561.

Tuesday April 8, 7 p.m.
Forest Grove Library, 2114 Pacific Ave Forest Grove, OR 97116. Garden Retreats: Creating a Tranquil Garden, slide show, lecture and Q & A followed by book signing and sales. Free event.

Awaiting spring with Barbara Blossom Ashmun

Seems impossible that we can start planning for the spring already, but early-bird Barbara Blossom Ashmun, author of Married to My Garden, is getting ready for it with two upcoming events in Portland:

Friday February 15, 3:30 p.m., lecture and slide Show, Dressing Up Your Garden with Art, Yard Garden & Patio Show, Oregon Convention Center.

Saturday February 23, 2 p.m., lecture and slide show, Designing My Garden of 20 Years, Portland Home & Garden Show, Portland Expo Center.

Married to My Garden featured in The Oregonian

“This one is about how she was romanced by her garden, with all the ups and downs of any great love. With insight, she tells her story, using descriptions and metaphors to make the journey one that most anyone can relate to.”

So says The Oregonian’s garden columnists Kym Pokorny in her feature on winter reading to transport you to the garden.

Barbara Ashmun at Powells books

Barbara Ashmun will present a writer's life: hard work, Lucky breaks and connections at Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, Oregon at 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 26, as part of the Oregon Writers Colony Presents series.

Barbara is the author of six books, including Married to My Garden and Garden Retreats: Creating an Outdoor Sanctuary (Chronicle Books, 2000). She writes a weekly garden column for the Portland Tribune, and has written for many garden magazines, including Fine Gardening and Better Homes & Gardens.

Oregon Writers Colony Presents is a series of workshops for and about writers and writing, held the fourth Monday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Powell's Books Cedar Hills Crossing and Beaverton. Authors talk about the craft of writing, nonfiction or fiction. Free and open to the public.

Barbara Ashmun in St. Paul, OR

Barbara will read from Married to my Garden and talk roses at Heirloom Roses in St. Paul at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 16. Wear your favorite garden hat for a chance to win a signed copy of her popular book.

Heirloom Roses is located at at 24062 Riverside Drive NE, St. Paul, iin Oregon's fertile Willamette Valley, one of the finest climates in the world for growing roses. We are just 25 miles from Portland, the city of roses. This is a perfect time to visit.

Barbara Ashmun at Third Street Books

Third Street Books in McMinnville is hosting an event with Barbara at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 14 - sponsored by the McMinnville Garden Club.

In a talk entitled “Floral Prozac,” Barbara will identify the plants in a flower bouquet from her garden and read from “Luxury of Bouquets”, a chapter in her book Married to My Garden. There will be time for Q & A, followed by a book signing.

Gardeners are encouraged to wear their favorite garden hats. Barbara will reward the wearer of her favorite with a signed copy of her book.

Third Street Books is in the heart of Historic Downtown McMinnville, Oregon, an area rich with some of the best Oregon wineries, restaurants, art galleries and shopping available. It is a general interest bookstore with mostly new books, some used, and a great selection of magazines, cards, and other unique gift items.

Barbara Ashmun at Main Street Books

Barbara will be reading and signing copies of her book Married to My Garden at Main Street Books in Hillsboro, Oregon at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 2nd. This makes for a great itinerary addition for anyone attending the fabulous, renowned Hillsboro Farmers Market.

Barbara's appearance is a special event for Main Street Books, which generally sells pre-loved hardcover and paperback books, both recent and not-so-recent. Located at 211 E. Main Street.

Barbara Ashmun at 23rd Avenue Books

Barbara will read from and sign copies of Married to My Garden at Twenty-Third Avenue Books at 7:00p.m. on Thursday, May 24th.

Established in 1980, independently owned Twenty-Third Avenue Books is is noted for its unique inventory of new fiction, selected classics and mysteries (and there's plenty more). The shop is located at 1015 NW 23rd Avenue in Portland, in the Nob Hill district of Northwest Portland, across from Good Samaritan Hospital.

Barbara Ashmun at St. Johns Books

Barbara will read and sign copies of Married to My Garden at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22 at St. Johns Books, located at 8622 N. Lombard Street in Portland.

Barbara's launch party

Barbara Ashmun's launch party for Married to My Garden at Annie Bloom's Bookstore was a smash. Wine flowed, garden hats glowed, and books found loving homes. Here are some pics.

Barbara and publisher Jim Leisy

the fans!

the book signings!

author with her dapper husband

Barbara Ashmun at Borders Books

Barbara will do readings and signings of her new release Married to My Garden at Borders Books in Beaverton at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15.

Her appearance at the Tigard store (in the Bridgeport Plaza) at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 17th has been cancelled.

Launch party for Married to my Garden at Annie Bloom's

If you're in the Portland area, please join us for the launch party of Barbara Blossom Ashmun's new release Married to My Garden. The party starts at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9 at Annie Bloom's Books - 7834 SW Capitol Hwy in Portland, OR.

This treasure of a book delivers valuable horticultural information with humor and joy, Barbara's story of her "marital" relationship with her garden is a failsafe gift for anyone who enjoys digging in the dirt. Charmingly illustrated by Kate Synoground.


From the bookjacket
Barbara Ashmun's life as a gardener follows the stages of romance. At first she's obsessed, dreaming of plants day and night. Like a woman in love, she's possessed, until weeds and slugs make her question the whole affair. Yet even a brief absence makes her realize that she can't live without her hands in the dirt. In the end, she surrenders to her garden, even with all its faults. These essays are sure to lure you into the backyard where your heart, too, will be filled with joy.

About Barbara
A celebrated garden writer and acclaimed garden designer, Barbara Blossom Ashmun is the author of six books, including Garden Retreats: Creating an Outdoor Sanctuary (Chronicle Books, 2000). She writes a weekly garden column for the Portland Tribune, and has written for many garden magazines, including Fine Gardening and Better Homes &; Gardens.

Barbara lectures for garden shows, garden clubs, botanic gardens, libraries, and garden societies such as Hardy Plant Society of Oregon and Oregon State University Master Gardeners. She has appeared on AM Northwest, on Mike Darcy’s and Anne Jaeger’s TV shows, and has been interviewed on many radio shows and for many newspapers, including the New York Times.

Originally from New York (the Bronx), Barbara is a longtime, dedicated Oregonian. She gardens on 2/3 of an acre in Southwest Portland and enjoys opening her garden to the public.

Book info: 128-page illustrated paperback from William, James & Co. $15.00 U.S.
Order direct for fast, free shipping.
ISBN: 1-59028-193-4
ISBN-13: 978-1-59028-193-2

Barbara Ashmun on Garden Time TV

Barbara (Married to My Garden) will be interviewed in her garden on Portland's #1 televised garden show Garden Time with host Jeff Gustin, to air Saturday, May 12. Her garden will be in budding spring splendor (she has open gardens scheduled May 12 & 19), so it should be a real treat!

All shows are archived on the show's Web site, and Garden Time airs in

• Portland on KPTV-12 on Saturdays at 9:00 a.m.
• Salem on KWVT-52 on Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m.
• Eugene
  

Jeff Gustin photo from the Garden Time TV Web site

Barbara Ashmun on Santa Fe public radio: Journey Home

Barbara Blossom Ashmun (Married to My Garden) will be on Santa Fe's alternative, afternoon drive time talk show The Journey Home Radio Show hosted by Diego Mulligan on May 2nd.

Listen to the show stream live on Santa Fe's public radio station KSFR starting 5:10 Mountain Time, or catch it on our radio page soonafter.

About Diego
Diego combines his sustainable development experience with a solid commercial broadcasting background to bring in-depth understanding and professional skill to Connections. Ten years in Santa Fe doesn't make Diego an expert on all our local issues, but you can expect him to ask the right questions and dig for some real answers. His somewhat irreverent humor will also add a welcome dash of levity to the intense gravity of today's problems.

Barbara Ashmun at University of Oregon bookstore

Barbara will be at the U of O bookstore at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 19. She will give her talk "finding peace in the garden during tumultuous times" and sign copies of Married to My Garden. The event is free, and the public is welcome.

About Peace in the Garden
In the darkest moments of life, the garden can be a source of personal light. While Barbara Blossom Ashmun usually writes and talks about practical matters in the garden, this day she’ll be talking about something more intimate – how her garden has nurtured and healed her during tough times – and she offers insights on how others can find solace and peace in their gardens as well.

“The garden asks us to stay in the moment,” says Barbara, “and in doing so, we become more present and more peaceful. There is simply no time to ruminate about the past or worry about the future when you’re trying to keep your balance on a ladder while pruning off apple tree suckers.”

Barbara Ashmun at Oregon Garden for Earth Day

You can hear Barbara talk on how to work with your site and its imperfections at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 21. Barbara's talk is part of the 8th annual Earth Day Celebration at the Oregon Garden, located at 879 W. Main Street in Silverton, Oregon. Her lecture and discussion will be followed by book signing and sale of Married to My Garden. Sustainable agriculture is the theme of this year's celebration.

New releases!

We're pleased to announce that you can now read out all about our three newest releases on our Web site. We hope you'll enjoy these excellent additions.

Married to my Garden by Barbara Blossom Ashmun
Portraits by Ann Ploeger
In the Presence of Books by Deborah DeWit Marchant

Barbara Ashmun on In the Garden, KXL

At 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 14th, Barbara will talk about finding peace in the garden on In the Garden hosted by Mike Darcy. You can listen to the show online or live on Portland's News Radio 750 KXL.

Our new edition of Married to My Garden comes out next month.

Photo of Mike Darcy from the KXL Web site

Barbara Ashmun Portland libraries tour

This spring, Barbara will be speaking on the two topics she is an authority on--gardening and the writing life--plus signing copies of her book Married to My Garden at several libraries in the Portland, Oregon area. This media diva will be appearing in all sorts of garden and book venues all season, with her marvelous book in tow. View her full schedule at BarbaraBlossom.com.


Portland library events

Sun., March 11, 2-3 p.m.
St. Johns Library - 7510 North Charleston Avenue

Tues., March 13, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Fairview-Columbia Library - 1520 Northeast Village Street

Sat., March 24, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Gresham Library - 385 Northwest Miller avenue

Tues., April 10, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Woodstock Library - 6008 Southeast 49th avenue

Sat., April 28, 2-3 p.m.
Central Library - 801 Southwest 10th Avenue

Tues., May 1, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Sellwood-Moreland Library - 7860 Southeast 13th Avenue