A Granary Sale!

A Granary Sale at Christianson’s

Saturday and Sunday, July 24-25, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

This is one not to miss! Avid antique and vintage collectors, John and Toni Christianson open their Granary to reveal a Pandora’s Box of antiques and vintage items for a first-ever Granary Sale. Moved from the neighboring Johnson’s farm in 2009 and renamed as The Granary, its usage has changed from farm equipment storage to seasonal props for the Nursery.

In typical garage sale fashion, the Granary Sale includes a spattering of hard goods from the Nursery to odds and ends (and all things in between) in need of letting go. Everything is stickered at rock bottom prices.

Once you arrive at the Nursery, whether shopping for plants or the Skagit Valley Farmers Market at The Vinery on Sunday, look for directional signs that will lead you to the south parking lot for its location.

Christianson’s Nursery is open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Want to shop more antiques? Visit our Etsy Store!

A Rosy Day Out Returns!

A Schedule of Rosy Events

9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Self-guided tour of our Schoolhouse Rose Garden Community Rose Display

9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Community Rose Display entry submission

9 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tri-Valley Rose Society members available for rose advice

11 a.m. “Growing Garden Roses” with Triple Wren Farms’ Sarah Pabody

1 p.m. “I Beg Your Pardon” with garden columnist, Marianne Binetti

3 p.m. “Favorite Roses and Rose Companions” with Ciscoe Morris and John Christianson

This year more than any other, we are looking forward to hosting our 18th Annual Rose Festival under the Big Tent centered in our beautiful Schoolhouse Rose Garden. As last year’s Festival transformed into an exclusive online event featuring educational rose care videos, Instagram Takeovers, and a Live presentation on Instagram, this year is firming up to be a hybrid of both the old and new.

“A Rosy Day Out” included all you had experienced before COVID-19: a community rose display and competition in the Schoolhouse, an ice cream social in between morning and afternoon speakers, and sitting together with like-minded gardeners in the Schoolhouse Rose Garden while listening to keynote speakers. Last year, “A Rosy Day In” included a week’s worth of helpful rose gardening videos, two all-day Instagram takeovers covering David Austin rose varieties, and instruction on using roses in flower arrangements. This led up to a live discussion between Ciscoe and John about their favorite roses and rose companions.

This year, “A Rosy Day Out” will celebrate a fusion of outdoor presentations, nearly a week’s worth of speaker-hosted Instagram posts, and a community rose display and competition in the Schoolhouse (judged by the Tri-Valley Rose Society). Our first in-person presentations under the Big Tent occur at 11:00 a.m. featuring Sarah Pabody, at 1:00 p.m. gardening columnist Marianne Binetti, and keynote speakers Ciscoe and John at 3:00 p.m. So you won’t miss a thing, we will be sharing all our presentations on IGTV and our “Events” page at ChristiansonsNursery.com afterward.

Submit your garden roses! Has anyone commented on the lovely garden roses you grow and suggest you enter them into a contest? Christianson’s Community Rose Display & Competition may be your opportunity to shine! Every June during our Rose Festival, we extend invitations to amateurs and experts alike to submit their roses to be voted on in the following categories: Best in Show, Best Fragrant Rose, and Best Floral Display incorporating perennials with roses. Ciscoe and John will announce the winners and award them each a $50 gift certificate after their 3 o’clock presentation under the Big Tent. Entries must be submitted between 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. on the day of the Festival.

A large part of our Rose Festival’s success is our volunteers who represent Skagit’s Tri-Valley Rose Society. For years, they have contributed to and managed the Community Rose Display in the Schoolhouse. A special thanks to Kathy and Leonard Gitchell and Robyn Swesey and the volunteer team for their outstanding efforts.

To learn all our updates as they are announced, follow us on our Instagram and Facebook pages @ChristiansonsNursery.

Early May-blooming roses at Christianson’s:

Skagit Valley Farmers Market Premier and The Vinery’s Open House

The Skagit Valley Farmers Market and The Vinery’s Open House

Sunday, May 30

10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The Skagit Valley Farmers Market at Christianson’s makes its debut this month! Every Sunday, beginning May 30 through September 26,
from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the market will feature a full range of community farmers and craft vendors.

The Sunday Market will be just north of the Nursery, in and around The Vinery.

We are taking vendor applications now! Contact Market Manager, Kathryn Shiohira for more information at SkagitValleyFarmersMarket@gmail.com.

Download the Market’s SVFM Registration Form

So many have been asking about the large structure across the north field from the Nursery. Because this picturesque structure was once a stationary pea vining site from the 1940s to the 1960s, we named it ‘The Vinery’ and it is now open as an event venue.

As a crowning touch in our restoration of the Vinery, Brenda Cornett, our special projects coordinator, and ‘How It Works’ in Anacortes have been working together to take various photos from our Christianson’s Nursery collection and the Skagit Valley Museum’s collection of old photos of pea farming and processing in the Valley and produce much larger images which now hang in our new Vinery location just north of the Nursery. The original pictures, while very important to Skagit Valley’s agricultural history, had many issues that made them unusable for enlarging to hang in the Vinery – some glossy, some matte, some black and white, some sepia, some out of focus, and some otherwise damaged. How It Works was able to work their magic and a mixed lot of images are now enlarged, some as big as 26” x 40”, all sepia, all-matte, all in focus, and all restored to professional quality. We are always impressed with the ability of this Anacortes business to turn the vision of what we want, compared to what we have in front of us, into reality.

We are hosting the Vinery’s Open House on Sunday, May 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It is available for weddings and other celebrations (the fee schedule will be posted) and we are offering it on a complimentary basis for garden club and agricultural conferences and gatherings. Join us on May 30th for the public opening of the Vinery and the first day of our new ‘Skagit Valley Farmers’ Market at Christianson’s’. Please come for one, come for the other, or, come to celebrate both!

Masks and social distancing required as mandated by Washington State.

Mother’s Day

Do you notice the hands of the maternal figure in your life? The chances are they often hold bouquets of flowers, caress cheeks, wipe tears, tie the shoes of little feet, and hold and kiss knees and elbows. They make art. They work machinery, high-five, pinky-promise, give encouraging gestures, shake hellos, and wave goodbyes. They may be stained with soil from hours spent in the garden and kissed with spots from the sun. They cheer to new beginnings and embrace bittersweet conclusions. In many ways, mother’s hands bridge the world of experience and wisdom, to the young, eager and exciting world their children are encountering. The comfort and hope felt through the hands of the maternal figures in our lives remind us that on this day (and all days) to hold our mother’s hands as they have held ours for so many years. -Emma Christianson

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 9, and we have a lovely selection of thoughtful gifts for the Mom(s) in your life. A newly featured sale occurs this Mother’s Day with geraniums to be enjoyed throughout spring and summer. All varieties, including zonal, ivy, and fancy leaf (4-inch pots), will be 20% off during Mother’s Day weekend, through May 13.

38th Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

April 1 – 30, 2021

Bloom updates (according to Mother Nature) found at TulipFestival.org

We are welcoming spring and the fabulous rainbow of tulip color this year! Last year, the daffodils and tulips still bloomed despite COVID-19 and we move forward this year with a little more awareness regarding our current Phase 2. To have a safe, enjoyable experience, we suggest reading our FAQs as well as the Tulip Festival’s COVID-19 page (above).

Enjoy the Gardens!

They both charge admission, have free parking, and acres of tulips to experience.

Tulip Town

RoozenGaarde

Enjoy the Fields!

APRIL 1 – 30

As we welcome spring and the fabulous rainbow of blooming tulips across our valley, it is safe to say that spring of 2021 will still be a slightly different version of Tulip Festivals from years past. Plan ahead: Tourists must buy tickets to reserve a specific time to view the colorful acres of tulips commercially grown at Tulip Town and RoozenGaarde. For up-to-date details, visit the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival website to learn about the fun!

This spring, we are delighted to re-open “Art in the Schoolhouse” beginning April 1 to May 2, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Camano/Stanwood Arts Guild artists have been producing beautiful works of art throughout the pandemic and are incredibly excited to share their creations with you.

Situated adjacent to the Meadow Schoolhouse will be Arbia Mobile Woodfired Pizza. Take-out a handmade authentic woodfired Napoletana style thin crust pizza or picnic on lawn chairs in the Schoolhouse Rose Garden. Most people who taste Arbia’s pizza for the first time say it is the best they have ever eaten!

TULIP & DAFFODIL BLOOM MAP

Although the Bloom Map is a buzzword throughout Skagit Valley, it may be new to you! Roozengaarde turns their map “on” once daffodils and tulips begin to bloom and “show color.” This is a great resource to refer to before you schedule a visit to Mount Vernon.

La Conner’s Daffodil Festival

Enjoy the Gardens!

They both charge admission, have free parking, and acres of tulips to experience.

Tulip Town

RoozenGaarde

Enjoy the Fields!

MARCH 1 – 30: Daffodils have already begun to send tender green shoots through the dark brown nutrient-dense Skagit soil, mainly in varieties of Dutch Master, Flower Carpet, and Standard Value – all hardy and proven varieties for the Pacific Northwest. La Conner hosts the 7th annual Daffodil Festival which celebrates these sunny harbingers of spring alongside the north/south waterside dock against the uniquely Skagit-lit blue skies against Mt. Baker’s backdrop. If you want to support small businesses, this is the town for you! Both Morris and First Streets are studded with hand-curated, interesting stores that keep innovating themselves and pivoting throughout the pandemic.

DAFFODIL AND TULIP BLOOM MAP

The Bare Root Season; It Only Occurs Now!

Christianson’s “Bare Root” season has arrived!

Now is the best time to find highly adaptable fruit trees (bigger plants, bigger root systems), flowering ornamental trees, and shrubs at a great discount.

Bare root plants typically cost far less than container-grown selections and traditional balled and burlap (B&B), and without the cost of soil and a container, the savings are passed on to you!

Another advantage bare rootstock has over container-grown is its stronger and wider root system that adapts more quickly in our native soil.

To view our entire selection, download our Fruit Tree List and our newly customized Apple Pollination Chart.

Follow our Instagram or Facebook pages to watch for our upcoming two-part educational gardening videos titled “Bare Root Season” in early and late January, as well as a bonus video all about “Houseplants Care & Culture” at mid-month.

A Fascination for Hellebores

Christianson’s 15th Winter Festival

Saturday and Sunday, February 27 – 28, 2021, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Now through April, when most perennials are slumbering in dormancy, hellebores are in full bloom with flowers that provide color and interest in the garden. Known as the Christmas or Lenten rose, hellebore’s cheery characteristic soothes a barren garden bereft of life and reinstills hope for warmer months ahead. Now available in endless varieties with endearing forms likened to single petal roses, both Helleborus orientalis and Helleborus niger are fit for winter survival from pot to ground.

Plant Christmas Roses in groups of three to five or combine them with other lasting companions such as snowdrops, daffodils, hardy cyclamen, bleeding hearts, Trillium, and Japanese tassel fern. Together, they will make a beautiful winter flower bed that requires little care. Discover your hellebore style by visiting the Propagation House during this year’s Winter Celebration. Please see our COVID-19 FAQ’s.

For up to date happenings about the Winter Festival follow us on Instagram & Facebook @ChristiansonsNursery

Visit the Animals

Did you know that we have all sorts of animals to see while essential shopping at the Christianson’s Nursery?

Bring a picnic lunch to the Schoolhouse’s Rose Garden while the sun is still shining brightly and chart your course to visit our family of animals.

You have most likely been introduced to our striped cat Paw-Paw during check out since he tends to hover around the counter in hopes for a treat and some love, or you may have been pleasantly surprised by the beauty of Amber, whose jet black fur and intense amber-colored eyes light up a blind corner. As you meander through the greenhouses, stop by the Propagation House to see pairs of African Ring Neck doves housed in oversized antique aviaries. Did you know that all of our doves were given to us? They bring us lots of joy and every once in a while, a new family member!

Watch your step! We have an overabundance of frogs this year who insist on jumping in, on, and around the rose and perennial bed plants. They like to leap out of the pathway when they feel people coming. Towards the south lot of the Nursery, our flock of free-range Rhode Island Red chickens exist happily next to the larger farm animals, Rosie the Llama, and the dwarf goats named after Goddesses, Iris, Athena, and Freya.

Tag us to let us know who you visited! #ChristiansonsNursery or @ChristiansonsNursery

Primrose Antiques & Gifts Now on Etsy!

A promise of the unexpected… now on Etsy!

Primrose Antiques & Gifts Shop on Etsy opens their Etsy doors so you can now shop hand-curated, hard-to-find, one of a kind items 24-hours a day.

Antiques will follow the lead of the European Garden aesthetic that Toni and John Christianson have cultivated over the years at Christianson’s Nursery. Toni’s antique collections emphasize French and English pieces that include ironstone, garden tools, bridal tiaras, French boudoir boxes, architectural salvage, and more.

Follow Primrose Antiques & Gifts on Instagram and Facebook as a place to expect the unexpected and to be part of our antique community where wonderful vintage and antique items will be listed.

#ChristiansonsNursery #PrimroseAntiquesandGifts #Wedding #Salvage #Ironstone #FrenchFloralFabric #AUBUSSON #VintageDecor

COVID-19 FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

As of May 14, 2021

Yes, we are an essential business. We are open!

Open daily, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Center for Disease Control updated mask guidelines on May 13 for fully vaccinated people not to wear masks indoors or outdoors. Washington State has adopted them and
Christianson’s Nursery continues to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines which means that if you are fully vaccinated, you are welcome to shop the Nursery without a mask. We appreciate it when those who are not fully vaccinated wear their masks while shopping indoors at the Garden Store and Primrose Antiques and Gift Shop.

Are you open?

Yes, we are open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Do you have to wear a mask while shopping at the Nursery?

If a person is fully vaccinated, they are not required to wear masks indoors or outdoors.

What if you are not fully vaccinated?

We appreciate it when those who are not fully vaccinated wear their masks while shopping indoors at the Garden Store and Primrose Antiques and Gift Shop.

What specific adjustments have you made to help keep it a safe place to visit?

Christianson’s Nursery continues to use protective measures recommended by the CDC that include social distancing, hand washing, and wearing face masks at the Garden Store and Primrose Antiques and Gift Shop if not fully vaccinated. As a preventative measure, we’ve installed plexiglass shields at each checkout to act as a berm between the Garden Store cash wrap and you to help remind you of the six-foot spacial requirement. We have also added a handwashing station in our Propagation greenhouse in addition to our two restrooms.

What is the best way to inquire about plant availability?

At this time, the best method to inquire about plant availability is to email Staff.Christiansons@gmail.com. Inquiries are reviewed and replied to on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please allow up to 24 hours for a reply from our staff. If you don’t have internet access or cannot send an email, call the Garden Store at 360-466-3821 to place your order.

Are you offering plant deliveries?

Not at this time. However, we continue to evaluate the best ways to offer this service.

Elegant Garden Weddings at Christianson’s Nursery

Welcome to Christianson’s Nursery and Greenhouse

Conveniently located minutes off the I-5 corridor, The Garden Venue at Christianson’s Nursery & Greenhouse sits among the fertile terroir of the Skagit Valley farmlands. From our manicured gardens and rural acreage on the Best Road, guests enjoy expansive views of majestic Mount Baker to the east and sunsets over the quaint town of La Conner and the San Juan Islands to the west. A desirable location for destination weddings, our beautiful gardens, historic architectural buildings, and authentically restored glass greenhouses are considered a favorite among Pacific Northwest garden enthusiasts.

Christianson’s Schoolhouse and Gardens

Built-in the year 1888, the 600 square foot Meadow Schoolhouse has been lovingly restored and positioned within a picture-perfect English-style rose and perennial garden. The expansive display gardens guide guests along with manicured grass lawns through a rose collector’s dream. Experience the quintessential natural beauty of our established northwest garden filled with scents of notable modern and old-fashioned roses. You and your guests will be surrounded by the colorful and fragrant blooms of companion plants, odoriferous shrubs, mature boxwood hedges, all surrounded by sentinel deciduous and evergreen trees. The Schoolhouse’s approximate capacity allows for 50 seated, 10 standing guests, and the Rose Garden’s (located outside behind the Schoolhouse) approximate capacity allows for 150 guests.

Like and follow our social pages! @ChristiansonsWeddings on Facebook and @Christiansons_Weddings on Instagram

The Teacher’s Cottage

Nestled into the southwest corner of the display gardens, The Teacher’s Cottage stands as another cherished nod to Skagit Valley’s rich history. The rustic cottage is adorned with antique furnishings and vintage accents. A quaint little cottage decorated in romantic tones and feminine finds, the cottage beckons bridal parties to gather in preparation for a very special day. Private washrooms are made available for our guests in this private event space.

The Oak Room

A leisurely stroll past the mini-farm, guests will enjoy a visit with Rosie the llama and her diminutive goat and red hen friends. The Oak Room is styled with masculine overstuffed leather chairs, antique decor, and a working vintage icebox ready to store snacks and refreshing beverages. The groom and his party will enjoy the casual out-of-doors setting and the views from the Old Granary loading dock in the shade of the old fir trees.

The Front House and Adjoining Propagation House

Additional venue space is made available during evenings (6 to 10 p.m.) inside our beautifully restored glasshouses which feature the seasonal year-round blooming foliage of annuals, nursery plants, and hanging baskets. The subtle cooing of the paired doves in the fully restored 1946 Propagation house is a perfect backdrop for photoshoots, cocktail receptions, and intimate sit down dinners. (Indoors approximate capacity: 50 seated, 75 standing.)

The Vinery

The Vinery will offer a grander space for your special occasions. We will share more about the availability of this special venue as we get closer to the opening date. Thank you!

Tours

Christianson’s invites you to come out for a tour and explore our unique offerings to host weddings, bridal showers, and special private or public events. Contact us or call for a personal tour at 360-466-3821.

Complimentary Accessories:
*Eight-foot Mercantile table (perfect for bar or catering placement)
*2, six-foot banquet tables
*Antique Podium
*4-6′ Rustic Benches
*Wi-Fi access
*AV equipment
*Restrooms
*Kitchen facilities with walk-in cooler for storage
*Dedicated parking space for food vendors adjacent to Schoolhouse and Rose Garden
*Access to the Nursery’s hand restored glass greenhouses accentuated with antique finials for photography
*Plentiful parking

CEREMONY & EVENT/RECEPTION CAPACITY: Christianson’s Schoolhouse seats 50 guests and our English-styled Rose Garden accommodates up to 150 seated guests.

Single Day Rental

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday: $1,600.00

Friday: $1,850.00

Saturday or Sunday: $2,200.00

Two-Day Rentals

Monday/Tuesday, Tuesday/Wednesday, Wednesday/Thursday: $2,800.00

Thursday and Friday: $3,300.00

Friday and Saturday: $3,650.00

Saturday and Sunday: $4,000.00

Alcohol:
Allowed, permit necessary

Catering:
Kitchen available with walk-in cooler
Food Truck
Off-site catering

Availability:
Year-round, with the exception of unavailability during the busy nursery months of April and May, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Included Accessories: The Venue at Christianson’s Nursery & Greenhouse includes the use of 60 wooden foldable chairs, two (2) 8-foot banquet tables, four (4) wooden benches, one antique podium, lawn furniture, and kitchen access. The mercantile table and bookshelves are permanent fixtures in the schoolhouse and should not be removed. Note: Additional vintage fixtures and furnishings (tables, candelabra, wrought iron arbor, floral bucket, and plant stands) are available to rent for an additional fee.

Specs of the Venue:
Meadow Schoolhouse (20′ x 30′)
Sweeping grass lawn (80 square feet)

Outdoor Electricity:
SW exterior of Schoolhouse
The east exterior of Bridal Cottage
Adjacent to food truck parking

Extended Location Uses:
Gardening Classes
Wedding Receptions
Special Events, Parties
Business Functions/Meetings
Garden Clubs and Society Meetings
Garden Events

Upcoming Events

A Schedule of Rosy Events

The Skagit Valley Farmers Market and The Vinery’s Open House

Sunday, May 30

10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

April 1 – 30, 2021

Enjoy the Gardens!

Enjoy the Fields!

Enjoy the Gardens!

Enjoy the Fields!

Christianson’s 15th Winter Festival

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we are an essential business. We are open!