As the warm weather begins, we are noticing leaves on the water lilies, well-known for their distinctive lily pads as well as their showy flowers, are growing bigger. This growth not only adds elegance to your water feature but aids the protection of goldfish. Like other perennials, water plants need lots of light, appropriate soil…
As the long days of summer quickly approach and we begin to spend more time outside enjoying suppers on the patio and relaxing fireside conversations, we are also noticing the arrival of uninvited guests; mosquitoes, flies, and moths, to name just a few. Of course, the presence of insects is a natural and essential aspect…
On June 10, after a long and very full life, our beloved Nursery cat, Bamboo, passed away. He made a gallant effort to overcome a progressive neurological disorder of unknown origin but sadly, after about six weeks of kitty hospice care from our devoted staff, he died peacefully and was surrounded by love right up…
Initially thought to be a Sonoran saguaro (found in northern Mexico and southern United States regions), the cactus you see in front of you is a completely different plant. Trichocereus terscheckii, is a southernmost growing columnar cactus originally from South America. Cold-hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, it prefers an arid and cooler climate. It will…
The line above from the poem, “The Old Vicarage, Grantchester” by Rupert Brooke, often comes back to me when driving around Skagit Valley during the month of April. Tulips don’t wander into pathways or ditches or roadway medians. They stay in perfect rows of luminous color with perfect cup-shaped flowers. Even the newly developed doubles…
A wealth of dahlia resources at your fingertips! Download the 2019 Northwest Dahlia Show Schedule below provided by John and Kathy Willson at the “Starting, Planting, and Staking Dahlias Made Easy” class today, former owners of Swede Hill Dahlia Farm. Dahlia Show Schedule 2019
Thank you to all who expressed a desire for Sheila Pera and Jane Brandt’s (Skagit Audubon Society) presentation notes last week’s “Designing a Four-Season Hummingbird Garden” class. As promised, they are posted below. We are offering this class again (as per customer requests) on Saturday, March 25 at 10:30 am. Call the Garden Store to…
Winter’s barren branches represent a promise of spring to some. The knowing that those dormant twigs can bring such simple beauty indoors is satisfying. Forcing early-blooming branches is quite simple, provided you start with the correct naturally early-blooming tree or shrub. The following are all excellent examples that can be forced to bloom indoors: Flowering…
Roses are easy to grow, long-lived, and remarkably tolerant. With a little extra care and attention the more healthy and disease resistant your roses will be. When planting roses, make sure you place them in a sunny spot that gets a minimum of four hours sun and space them about 3-4 feet away…
It is a joy to pick whatever is in bloom and bring inside. June is an exciting month because so much is growing and blooming, and it seems the choices in creating a fresh cut bouquet are only limited by what grows in or around your garden. Adding more variety to June-blooming…
Congratulations to the award-winning gardeners who were chosen by a community vote in the Tri-Valley Rose Society display for the best in the following categories: Best In Show: ‘Fragrant Plum’ by Chris Eubanks Best Fragrance: ‘Larks Ascending’ by Donna Smith Best Miniature Rose: ‘You’re the One’, by Larry Sawyer Best Climber & Rambler Rose: ‘Cloud…
Natural bridal inspiration in botanical gardens Washington Bridal Inspiration & Wedding Inspiration By Magnolia Rouge “We are smitten with the clean fresh feeling of this shoot by HEATHER PAYNE and Erin from FLORET that we featured in Issue 14 of MAGNOLIA ROUGE MAGAZINE. Captured at CHRISTIANSON’S NURSERY in Mount Vernon, Washington, it features the most…