The lazy days
of summer! Welcome to August. The ‘back to
school’ sales are starting but there is plenty
of summer left for you to enjoy your gardens.
Fresh fruits from the fields and fresh cut
flowers from the garden prove that this is one
of the months gardeners love!
This week we
featured...
Japanese Gardens
During these hot summer months it is nice to
find an oasis in the city. We escaped to the
Japanese Garden (503-223-1321)
in the West Hills of Portland. This garden,
which is over 40 years old, has been called
one of the most authentic Japanese gardens
outside of Japan. We got a quick tour from
Sarah Fawcett of the garden. She told us
about a couple of the 5 gardens that fill 5½
acres. We heard about the Sand and Stone
Garden, the Flat Garden and even heard how you
can ward off evil spirits on the Zigzag
Bridge! In addition, now through the 3rd
of September, you can see the exhibit ‘Behind
the Shoji’, where local artists have created
works of art that have a Japanese flair. This
exhibit has an added benefit. You can buy
these works of art to take home if you want!
If the city is too busy, stop by the garden
and take a stroll.
Zoo Grass
If you have kids or pets you may think your
lawn is getting a workout. Imagine the
Oregon Zoo (503-226-1561).
Their exhibits and lawns have to deal with
wear and tear from hooves to strollers. We
talked with Rick Hanes from the zoo to learn
what he does to keep the grass in shape for an
entire summer. The rules he follows are the
same for him as they are for the home
gardener. The main rules include, testing the
soil, choosing the right seed for the right
location, aerating compacted soils,
over-seeding when necessary and applying water
and fertilizer as needed. By following these
basic rules he is able to provide a
comfortable atmosphere for the ‘animals’ on
both sides of the fence!
Hot Weather Stepables
The weather is hot and most of your bedding
plants are taking a beating. We were looking
for an alternative that can take the heat and
found some great ground covers that really
stand up to the summer weather! Fran Hopkins
from
Stepables (503-581-8915), a company that
markets groundcovers, showed us some that love
the hot weather and even a little trampling.
There are lots of ground covers out there and
her company has tested these and found them to
be great for the home gardener. The varieties
she recommends include Raoulia australis,
Sedum ‘Baby Tears’, Sedum hispanicum ‘Purple
Form’, and Sedum ‘Lydium’. These varieties
are known for the great job they do in the
garden and some feature other benefits as
well, including flowers or seasonal color
changes. Look for them at your local garden
center.
Adaptive Tools
Getting around in the garden shouldn’t be a
chore. Gardening can relieve your emotional
stress and using the right tools can relieve
your physical stress as well. Teresia Hazen
from the
Legacy Hospital system demonstrated some
of the tools you can use to make your
gardening a little easier. Teresia stressed
light weight and long handled tools to start
with. You can also extend your enjoyment in
the garden by using the correct posture and
limiting the time you spend doing a single
chore. If you take a break every 20 minutes
or so, you will find the ‘work’ of gardening
to be less taxing. Also, look at hand
tools that are comfortable to hold, not just
what is on-sale at the discount store.
Container gardening is also a way to take some
of the work out of gardening. With containers
you can garden from a chair or bench and it
also makes harvesting easier as well! For
more information on finding the right tool,
check at the help desk of your local
independent garden center.
Heirloom Roses
A lot of people think that you can’t plant
roses in the summer. Louise Clements from
Heirloom Roses (503-538-1576)
helped put that myth to rest. Roses love the
heat, but to be successful you need to follow
a couple of simple rules. First, a 2 foot by
2 foot hole will help give the roots room to
grow. Add some compost or manure to the
bottom of the hole so the plant has something
to help it grow once it is established. The
next rule is watering! Give them a good drink
everyday until the fall rains come.
Transplant shock is a big issue and that can
be alleviated by tender loving care when you
plant them. If you want to add roses to your
garden, this weekend is made for you.
Heirloom is having their big annual sale.
Over 250 varieties are on sale at 50% off.
You can add color and fragrance to your garden
and get all your rose questions answered at
the same time.