Geranium phaeum

Geranium phaeum makes a great background plant & filler of space in lightly shaded areas.  It is fairly tolerant of dryness.  It's a pretty plant with a profusion of dark blue, purple or black flowers in April & May.  Black flowers suggest the common name Mourning Widow.  Geranium phaeum is taller than most  species.  It grows to a height of nearly 2 feet when in flower.  The flower spikes with seed pods are also attractive.  There is no need to cut them back after bloom has faded.  The leaves are pleasing in form.  Some have nice purple blotches, like the cultivar 'Samobor'.  Geranium phaeum is native to Europe in the Pyrenees & Alps in subalpine meadows & forests.  This is a good candidate for dry, light shade.  

Green Plate Special

Shed with plans & information.

The garden is completed enclosed with fence.

All the planting beds are raised beds of wood.

The public entrance

Wood-fired pizza oven with the Treehouse building in the background

Kitchen.  These photos were taken in October 2014

Green Plate Special introduces middle school students to gardening & cooking fresh produce through after-school programs, summer camps & evening cooking classes. Food growing & cooking are tied to academic subjects like math, science & history. They provide snacks & lunch! Students can take home food they have cooked & produce from the garden. Chickens are also kept here. There are various opportunities for volunteers, such as helping out at the Garden Gala in September, working with the kids, maintaining the garden & tending the chickens. I went to a Garden Gala & it was a lot of fun. It's a wonderful space. Green Plate Special was founded in 2011 & moved to this space nextdoor to Treehouse in 2013.  It is located in the Rainier Valley of Seattle.