{"id":24373,"date":"2025-07-05T05:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-05T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/yakima\/?p=24373"},"modified":"2025-07-01T15:59:32","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T22:59:32","slug":"interview-with-laura-willett","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/yakima\/2025\/07\/05\/interview-with-laura-willett\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Laura Willett"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This is a continuation of a series of interviews with local Master Gardeners, who graciously share their wisdom, joys, tips, and tribulations of gardening in Yakima County.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0Originally published July 5, 2025 in the Yakima Herald-Republic. Minor edits have been made for web publication and accessibility.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

by Caroline Crowley<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interview with Laura Willett<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Laura Willett has been a Master Gardener since 2022 and has brought her skills and enthusiasm to a range of activities throughout the organization. She\u2019s been active in the greenhouse, the plant clinic, the art department, youth education, and most recently co-chaired the annual plant sale. Laura gardens in a small city lot in Yakima off Summitview, where she has created a shady plant cocoon. Her house is surrounded by relaxing outdoor living spaces and well-tended large and small trees and shrubs of all sorts, many of which are not commonly seen in the area. The garden has perfect privacy and is a lovely web of textures and shades of green. There are only a few small patches of lawn. Colorful perennials and potted annuals are sprinkled throughout.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell me about how you got started gardening here.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have been in this house for forty years. It was supposed to be our \u2018starter home\u2019 but we never left.  I\u2019ve only worked in the garden for about the last twenty years, after the boys moved out and were done smacking balls everywhere. (laughs)<\/em> In the beginning, we pulled out many overgrown shrubs and discovered layers of Mount St. Helen\u2019s ash. While our three boys were growing up, our small yard became a baseball field, soccer field, basketball court, and putting green.  Serious gardening was put on hold because most plants were destroyed by the variety of balls. Now the grandkids have started playing basketball, but I let it go.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had deep shade in front and back for decades. Hostas and other shade plants prevailed. Then we took out the large trees and we needed sun-loving plants. Many sun umbrellas were used around the garden to provide shade. It looked like the Atlantic City beach! Now, as the trees and shrubs grow, shade-loving plants are again needed in our landscape.  I\u2019m constantly removing plants that didn\u2019t make the cut, and I enjoy trying new ones.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are some of your special plants?<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plants that I received as gifts. My paperbark maple was a gift from my PTA friends when my father died. I have many of what I call \u201cmemory plants\u201d because they remind me of family or friends that had such a plant. There are many plants that people in my life had, so I wanted one, too. One special one is a progeny of my grandmother\u2019s hydrangea. It\u2019s been passed around through family members and I took a cutting from my cousin\u2019s plant two years ago.  Now it\u2019s going to bloom for me for the first time. It\u2019s very special because my grandmother was a painter and she painted the flowers from that plant many times.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love the heart-shaped leaves on the weeping redbud. I like to give redbuds for a wedding gift, a baby gift or when people move into new homes. I also like to give people a plant that has their name.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have any advice for gardeners starting out in Yakima? <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes! Please don\u2019t plant fruit trees because they add to the pest insect and disease pressure for local agriculture. And if you have a fruit tree in your yard that you aren\u2019t taking care of, please consider taking it out. Consider an ornamental fruit tree or even something that doesn\u2019t bear fruit. Local nurseries and Master Gardeners can help you with your choices.  I\u2019m also really impressed with the work that I\u2019ve seen by the landscape architects in town.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any other advice?<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Really think about what you have to start with. What do you need to keep and what do you need to take out? Think about the light and water needs of the plants and what you are able to give them. If you have lots of sun, you have an open palette. I\u2019d suggest that you work with the Heritage Garden folks to make a garden without having to put in an expensive sprinkler system. They don\u2019t charge for their services. We don\u2019t know about water availability in the future, so we all need to think about it now.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m forever looking at gardens when I walk or drive around.  I try to take notice of what does well and what lighting, watering and maintenance those plants need and the size they can become. Gardens are all very different. People need to grow what they like.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources: Heritage Gardens is a program dedicated to promoting the use of native plants in developed landscapes and gardens in the Columbia River Basin. Its services are free to residents in Yakima County. Learn more at their website<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Hydrangea<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"View<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yellow<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Yellow<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n