MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Ciscoe Morris’ legacy transcends the garden

Sep 30, 2017, 7:46 AM

It has pretty much been established that every Seattleite loves gardening aficionado Ciscoe Morris. That fact was recently highlighted by John Oliver on his HBO show “Last Week Tonight.”

Ciscoe loves the “livin’ tweedle” out of life. I have the good fortune of serving up the local news during his “Gardening with Ciscoe” show every Saturday on KIRO Radio.

I recently spent an afternoon ogling and I’ll admit, pining after the magnificent garden Ciscoe shares with his wife, Mary, who is also an accomplished gardener. As you would imagine, their bungalow on a corner lot in full bloom will take your breath away. Ciscoe and Mary are so passionate about their plants that they split the garden in half; his side and her side.

The plants and blooms spilled onto the sidewalks in the front and side of the home, like an open invitation for the neighborhood to enjoy. Unusual plants, colorful blossoms of all shapes and sizes, petrified wood, stone, garden art, a bubbling stream, an abundant garden full of kale, broccoli and everything else you can imagine. And yes, Ciscoe grows his own Brussels sprouts.

But equally special was the accumulation of over 30 years of stories behind how Ciscoe and Mary, together, came to fill every nook and cranny of their home with exotic beauties from all over the world on their many trips.

One of those stories was how he got started in television. His first show was with Jeff Probst on a show on KIRO 7 in the 1980s called “Northwest Home and Garden Show.”

As everyone knows, Probst went on to host “Survivor.”

“Ciscoe made it look as though I was good and knowledgeable, which I wasn’t, because I didn’t know anything about gardening,” Probst said. “But it didn’t matter, I ended up with this great body of work for a young person in my career and it ended up helping me get ‘Survivor’ … which completely changed my career, so I owe a lot to Ciscoe.”

Ciscoe is exactly like the fun, unusual, funky and, above all, rare species of plants that he “ooh’s and ahh’s” over.

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

3 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

4 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

6 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

6 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

7 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

10 hours ago

Ciscoe Morris’ legacy transcends the garden