Shooting Star Gardens

06/19/2026

We recently went back to a site where we’ve been phasing out installation for clients’. The hardscape, and rain garden (plus another in back) were installed back in 2024. It’s been really fun to see the progress so far, and we’re excited to see the rest of the space fill in!!

We personalize and custom build plant palettes for our clients, and that is exactly what we did back in 2024. However, sometimes they need to be revised. We adjusted the palettes to fit their full sun plan and work around the other elements that will eventually be installed.

If you’re on the fence about a design, let this be an incentive to get one. Our clients have been slowly installing the garden and man is it worth it to see it explode with life 🌱

06/10/2026

PRIDE MONTH 🏳️‍🌈 Over the last 50 years we have come a long way. When I was in college you could be fired for being gay. When I was a child you could be arrested. And now we have Marriage Equality, hate crime protections, employment protections.... and being a le***an in Seattle is kind of like saying you have brown hair.

But with over 1,000 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills pushed in the last two years alone, we refuse to let that progress be stripped away. We’ve never been here to just care for your garden.

As an LGBTQIA+ owned business we are here to celebrate the progress we have made.

Today, that means continuing the fight to protect trans youth, defend basic healthcare, and stand up against the current wave of Draconian rollbacks.

Stand up, show up, and look out for your neighbors.

06/05/2026

Let’s talk about rain gardens.

Why? They are important in cities like Seattle & Shoreline because older homes do not manage rain in an effective way during large rain events.

I’m sure you’ve seen streets flooding or even dealt with wet areas on your property. It’s likely you even have a downspout free draining right next to your homes foundation.

How does it work? We help homeowners install rain gardens to manage storm water runoff and keep it on their property using science and beautiful plants. Any non permeable space is eligible for management (roof, driveway).

Sometimes you may not even notice a rain garden is there, but come rainy season, it’s a living sponge.

We work with and Soak It Up Shoreline to help homeowners manage rain water on their properties and they provide financial support to do it!

If you’re hoping to be prepared for next winter, start designing your rain garden now 🌧️ 🪏

Shooting Star Gardens is a certified Rain Garden & Cistern Installer 💧🌈

06/02/2026

Still not convinced meadows are way better than lawns?

Head down to the Magnuson Park Native Meadow! 🌼
We recently went on a SSG field trip to admire and learn from this new meadow space.

A construction project lead by Dean Drugge & where they replaced lawn with native meadow seed.

We were fascinated by the simple approach to prep the site and it was awesome getting to see how they used staggered seeding times to see how the meadows have evolved over the last couple of years. Intentional or not, we noticed and think it’s a fantastic way to see how a meadow begins and how easy it is to start.

If you haven’t had a chance to visit, we highly recommend stopping by because something different is blooming every time.

05/29/2026

Slow down and take a second to notice: Now is the time to get out and take a nature walk! Many native plants are showing off right now and there is no better time to get outside than spring in Washington!

Keep an eye out for -
Big Leaf Lupine
Wild Ginger - look for the flowers under the leaves!
Iris(s)
Western Columbine - one of our favorites!
Yarrow
Blanket Flowers
White Camas
Ferns - all the new fronds have opened (Deer Ferns)!
(All pictured)
Douglas Fir - new needle growth is soft & light green
(Not pictured)

Photos courtesy of our team members!

05/27/2026

You're probably use to our typical before/after photos, but we thought it would be helpful to share what a new installation looks like compared to an established one.

This small front yard redesign breathes life and function into our clients' space. We call this the Paperbark Maple Entry. They wanted to integrate texture/privacy/color with pollinator plants, permeable pavers, a trellis and a little bit of whimsy with the ornamental onions!

If you're hoping to re-design your garden for 2026, we are taking on new design clients for late summer. Installations will begin in late fall early winter.

Link in bio or https://forms.gle/jLN2GJXGaZSHNEmR7

05/20/2026

Updates from an install we completed back in 2024!

You always need a pollinator bed to go along with your edible garden! We helped our lovely client Kelly bring her edible garden dreams to life. Juniper raised beds are the focal point, where the espalier posts help define the space between the upper lawn/perennial beds to the lower tier.

The space has since expanded since we installed in 2024 with the addition of a flagstone pathway. One of the things we offer our clients is phased installation. You don't have to install everything at once and we don't expect you to!

If you are hoping to re-design your garden, reach out now and we can set you up for Fall 2026!

Read more about this project on our website! https://shootingstargardens.com/food-garden-sanctuary/

05/18/2026

We were so excited to host the RainWise table at the Tilth Alliance Plant Sale earlier this month! It was nice to meet you all and talk about the importance of rain gardens & cisterns!

Managing stormwater runoff is a big part of what we do here at Shooting Star Gardens. About half of our clients reach out to us with some concern about managing stormwater on their properties. Thankfully there is a beautiful straightforward solution and you can potentially get free money from the city of Seattle to build a rain garden and or cistern.

We are a registered Rainwise Contractor and would love to help you with your upcoming rain garden/cistern project! Find out if you are eligible for a rebate on the Rainwise website.

Not eligible? No biggie, we can still help you!

https://700milliongallons.org/rainwise/eligibility/

05/06/2026

Before & After: We took this underutilized front yard and turned it into a functional haven. Now, the owners can enjoy their outdoor space in peace, surrounded by a stunning stone patio.

We love when a DIY/SSG mashup blossoms into a truly unique space.

We’re grateful this client has become a beloved friend to SSG 💜

05/05/2026

I love this garden and this plant sale is great fun a wonderful mix of unusual pnw native and ornamental plants.

Email from Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Foundation Sale May 8–10 and members pre-sale May 7. Plus new Thursday evening hours and a fresh website. Click Here to View as Webpage From the Garden May, 2026