Click here to view the ’2011 Year in Pictures’ photo album

Marianne Binetti and John Christianson at our 2011 Winter Festival

annuals • annual baskets • indoor plants

our plant guarantee

Additionally we carry an extensive collection of fruit trees and fruiting shrubs suitable to our climate. They are offered in late winter as bare root plants and throughout the year as containerized plants. And, with the popularity of blueberries rising as it has, we are carrying dozens of varieties year round.

Let us know if there are plants you have not been able to find. We just may have them and, if not, John really enjoys the challenge of finding unusual plants for customers. So leave your name, number and the name of the plant you are searching for in our notebook in the Garden Store and maybe John can find it.

Harlow Carr

Click here to go to our 2012 Rose List Page
or download the PDF of our 2012 Rose List

*Supplies are limited-call ahead for specific varieties. (360) 466-3821 or 1-800-585-8200

We carry over 600 varieties of roses with diversified groups of top rated roses for our climate. The groups include hybrid teas, grandifloras, floribundas, David Austin English Roses, climbing, rugosa, old garden roses and ground-cover roses. We have multiple reference books for your research if you are in need of help while choosing rose plants and our knowledgeable staff can always offer assistance on choices and care. Our rose list with its legend is a quick reference for customers wanting a particular color, a particular group such as hybrid teas, or only fragrant roses.

Because roses are our passion, we love to fill the Garden Store and Primrose with roses from our display garden during the spring and summer months. We also look forward to our annual Rose Festival in June where we showcase the display garden around our Schoolhouse and offer classes and clinics on rose varieties and rose care. The weather is usually cooperative and guests often picnic out on the Schoolhouse lawn. The Schoolhouse is filled with cut roses from the Tri-Valley Rose Society and it is here you can see and smell many of the most popular roses first hand. This offers a rare opportunity for those who are considering planting a rose garden. There is nothing better than seeing the real flower rather than viewing it in a picture.

Rose Care and Culture
Roses prefer full sun (6 hours or more) and well-drained soil. When planting your rose dig a hole 18″ deep and 24″ in diameter. Mix your native soil with 50% composted organic matter such as mushroom compost or composted manure. Add bone meal to encourage root growth. If you have a dog that loves to dig skip the bone meal. Plant the rose in the plantable fiber pot if it is leafed out and in active growth. Taking it out of the pot will disturb delicate roots and may put the plant into shock. Before settling the fiber pot into the hole, slit the pot vertically from just below the top to the bottom on all four sides. Set the pot in the prepared planting hole so the soil level in the pot is the same as the surrounding soil. Back fill the prepared soil around the pot and tamp down. Cut off the top of the pot that is above ground level. Forgetting to do this will cause the fiber material that is above the ground to wick water away from the rose which means the rose will need to be watered more often. Water in well, soaking the entire planting hole. Deep water once a week during the active growing season.

 We recommend feeding in April, June and August with an organic fertilizer such as Whitney Farms Rose Food and/or alfalfa meal.

The best defense against rose diseases is a healthy rose. Diseases can be controlled with healthy soil and appropriate watering and fertilizing practices. Picking off diseased leaves and raking fallen leaves when you notice them goes a long way toward growing healthy plants and blossoms. Raking rose leaves in the fall also keeps rose diseases from over wintering and infecting your roses in the spring. Avoid planting roses with a history of black spot and mildew. If you insist on growing a rose with a history of disease plan on spending more time keeping it healthy by monitoring and removing diseased leaves. These leaves should not go into your compost pile but should be burned or placed in garbage bags and sent to the dump. We have several roses in our home garden worthy of this extra effort. We would not be without an Anna Pavlova or Jude the Obscure not only because of their beauty but because of their fragrance. One Anna will fill a room with old rose fragrance while Jude does the same but with a fruity/rose scent. Insect pests that appear (most often aphids) may be controlled organically with predators, a soapy solution (Safers) or a strong blast from your hose. Powdery mildew and blackspot can be controlled with Neam oil, copper spray or sulfur spray. These products are organic and will not harm the environment.

Lightly prune tall roses in November to prevent snow or wind breakage, with the primary pruning done in March. Most modern roses may be severely pruned, to a height of 6″ to 18″. This encourages new growth and more flowers. Old roses, English roses and climbing roses prefer a more minimalist pruning, removing just the least productive old wood and damaged or diseased wood.

In late October or early November apply an organic mulch (composted manure or mushroom compost) 8″ to 12″ up the canes. This will protect against winter injury but must be pulled away and spread out in March when you prune your roses.

The above are ‘best rose practices’ and since we are hit and miss at our home I need to say that roses are not as difficult to grow as this information would lead you to believe. If you are not growing for show but for your own enjoyment roses are fairly easy care. The most important practices being feeding in early spring and removing diseased leaves. We are not fanatical about removing the leaves but we do when we see them. Because we are not offended by an occasional spot on a leaf we are fairly casual about our roses. The pleasure of having roses definitely outweighs any negatives.

ENJOY YOUR ROSES!

If you love orchids, come enjoy a fun and informative seminar taught by orchid specialists Joe Grienauer and Spencer Lane from Emerald City Orchids in Seattle.  A beautiful array of live flowering orchid plants will be displayed and discussed, as well as the history of orchids and fun facts.  Information regarding growth and cultivation of orchids, such as watering, fertilizing, and repotting, will also be discussed. A large selection of orchids, including plants from the display, will be available for purchase.

For class reservations,  please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

There’s a Deer in my Garden
Saturday, January 21
11 am – noon
reservations required ($5 class fee)

In every class we offer at the nursery one question comes up most consistently:  “What can I do about the deer?  They are eating everything in my garden!”  There are as many answers to this question as there are variables that contribute to the ‘problem.’ WSU Master Gardener Diana Wisen will offer a range of strategies for managing our deer visitors, including effective ‘deer proofing’ techniques, recommendations on successful deer-resistant plants for our region, and how to create soil chemistry that discourages deer from grazing.

For class reservations,  please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

The Virtues of Bareroot
Sunday, January 29
11 am – 12:30 pm
reservations required ($5 class fee)

Join John Christianson and Ani Gurnee as they sing the praises of bareroot trees and shrubs.  John will start by reviewing the many advantages of buying bareroot (such as cost savings, ease of planting, and faster root growth) and he will answer all your questions about the varieties that are arriving daily. Ani will review what to do after bringing your bareroot home, such as how to choose a location where it will thrive, how to plant it properly, and how to prune your new bareroot tree or shrub to get it off to a good start. This promises to be a lively and informative session. What a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon in January.

For class reservations,  please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

Basic Fruit Tree Pruning
This class will be offered twice:  Saturday, February 4 and Saturday, March 3
11 am – 12:30 pm
reservations required   ($5 class fee)

This class will familiarize you with the basics of pruning and training.  Fruit trees, unlike most other trees, require annual attention in order to perform their best. Learning enough to do it yourself is very fun and rewarding. If you are planning to take either of the specialty classes (‘Espalier Pruning’ or ‘Renovating Old Fruit Trees’) it would be well worth your while to start with this class as there will be more time spent covering the basic concepts common to all.  Guest Speaker:  Ani Gurnee from Aulos Design.

For class reservations,  please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

Growing the Great Pumpkin
Saturday, February 11
11 am – 12:30 pm
reservations required   ($5 class fee)

Interested in growing a 1,000-pound pumpkin for our Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off this coming October?  Come learn the basics, including seed germination, early season protection, vine and pruning strategies, protecting the fruit, fertilizing and watering, as well as the first place to start – a soil test. Seeds will be available.  Guest Speaker Phillip Renninger, the first place winner in Christianson’s 2011 Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off, is a local gardener who has been growing giant pumpkins for 10 years.  His largest pumpkin to date was 1,016 pounds.

For class reservations,  please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

Espalier Pruning
Saturday, February 18
11 am – 12:30 pm
reservations required   ($5 class fee)

Espalier is the art of training a three-dimensional tree into a two-dimensional plane, usually with the aid of a support system. It is a wonderful way to accommodate fruit trees in even the smallest garden or courtyard. Though espalier is not complicated, there are definitely things to know that often make the difference between success and failure.  Guest Speaker:  Ani Gurnee from Aulos Design.

For class reservations,  please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

Hellebores and Beyond: Decorating Your Garden with Color, Texture and Scent
Saturday, February 25
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
This is a complimentary presentation but reservations requested

No longer considered the “off” season, winter is a time when the garden is alive and well. One of the most beautiful winter flowers, the hellebore, comes in colors from pure white to deep purple, and makes the perfect companion to the many other winter ornamentals that can fill our landscapes with colorful flowers, foliage, stems, and bark. Come and see what’s possible in your garden.  Marty Wingate is a Seattle-based writer and speaker on the subjects of gardening and travel. She lives in Seattle and leads garden tours to European and North American destinations.

For class reservations,  please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

Basic Fruit Tree Pruning
Saturday, March 3  (repeated class from February 4)
11 am – 12:30 pm
reservations required   ($5 class fee)

This class will familiarize you with the basics of pruning and training.  Fruit trees, unlike most other trees, require annual attention in order to perform their best. Learning enough to do it yourself is very fun and rewarding. If you are planning to take either of the specialty classes (‘Espalier Pruning’ or ‘Renovating Old Fruit Trees’) it would be well worth your while to start with this class as there will be more time spent covering the basic concepts common to all.  Guest Speaker:  Ani Gurnee from Aulos Design.

For class reservations,  please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

Renovating Old Fruit Trees
Sunday, March 4
1 pm – 2:30 pm
reservations required   ($5 class fee)

Does your garden or property have some older fruit trees that need some TLC?  There can be great satisfaction in bringing these trees back into good form and productivity.  This class will give you the ability to assess what these trees need and how to proceed, as well as some clues to evaluate whether a tree is worth saving or not.  Guest Speaker:  Ani Gurnee from Aulos Design

For class reservations,  please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

Rose Pruning with John Christianson
Saturday, March 10
11 am – noon
reservations requested     (complimentary)

If you have been wondering why your roses do not have the health, form or flowers you would like, you might be interesting in knowing how to prune them properly. John’s class will give you all the information you need to grow healthy, beautiful roses. Instruction in the classroom will be followed by hands on pruning in the Schoolhouse Garden.  Bring gloves if you wish to help with the pruning.

For class reservations,  please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs
Saturday, March 17
11 am – 12:30 pm
reservations required   ($5 class fee)

This class will cover the pruning of ornamental trees, as well as a broad spectrum of shrub species. Learn how to recognize the different growth patterns. Many species can be treated more than one way depending on the form you desire.  Guest Speaker:  Ani Gurnee from Aulos Design.

For class reservations,  please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

Hedging Techniques
Sunday, March 18
1 pm – 2:30 pm
reservations required   ($5 class fee)

Hedging is an ancient European art and plays an essential role in the garden.  We will explore the function and uses of hedges and the selection of plants for different kinds and sizes of hedges.  Timing, tools and techniques for their development will also be discussed.  Guest Speaker:  Ani Gurnee from Aulos Design.

For class reservations,  please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

Pretty Enough To Eat
Saturday, March 24
11 am – noon
reservations required   ($5 class fee)

You don’t need to till up a square of soil to grow food in your garden. Many edible plants from blueberries to lettuce are both lovely and productive. Let us show you how to incorporate edible plants into your landscape. Why not let your garden give you both visual delight and hors d’oeuvres?  Guest Speakers:  Kathy Hirdler from Floribunda Designs and Lily Hirdler from Christianson’s Nursery.

For class reservations,  please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

Decorating with Spring Botanicals
Saturday, March 31
10 am – 11:00 am
reservations required   ($5 class fee)

Bring the outdoors inside this spring! This demonstration-style session will spark your creativity for creating beautiful displays and arrangements using natural spring botanicals, such as forsythia, budding quince, spirea, and cherry blossom branches, forced spring bulbs, moss, and a wide array of spring-blooming flowers. Guest Speakers:  Karin Kempers from Christianson’s Nursery and Mindy McCabe.

For class reservations,  please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

Spring Walk with John Christianson
Saturday, March 31
1 pm
reservations requested (complimentary)

Join us for the first garden tour of 2012. John Christianson will lead you through the 11-acre English Garden at La Conner Flats. This walk will begin in our Schoolhouse Garden and from there you will stroll with John as he points out trees and shrubs and emerging bulbs that await you on this fun and informative tour.

For reservations for the Spring Walk,  please call us at 1-800-585-8200 or 360-466-3821

Following the Spring Walk on March 31, plan to have Tea at the Granary at La Conner Flats. This tea features sandwiches, scones, fruit, and dessert. The perfect ending to an afternoon stroll.  Call 466-3190 for reservations and prepayment for this popular event ($14 per person).