Welcome to
the last
weekend of
Le Tour de
Plants. For
the last 7
days, 29
local
nurseries
have been
swamped with
people who
have enjoyed
free gifts,
seminars,
music, tasty
treats and
great plant
specials.
Time is
running
out. While
we jump into
fall, take
time to stop
by your
local garden
center and
see what the
new season
brings!
This week we
featured...
Le Tour de
Plants
Drake's 7
Dees –
Our first
stop on this
last weekend
of the Le
Tour de
Plants is at
Drake's 7
Dees
(503-256-2223)
on SE Stark
in
Portland.
Lynn
Snodgrass
told us
about the
great
specials
they have
for everyone
during this
final
weekend. We
started with
ergonomic
gardening.
If you are
looking to
make your
gardening
less painful
and more
enjoyable
then check
out this
seminar.
During the
seminar you
can enjoy
10% off all
tools. They
also have
special on
trees and a
seminar on
taking
pictures in
the garden.
Portland
Nursery –
Division
– Our next
stop was
Portland
Nursery
(503-788-9000)
on
Division.
Michael told
us about
their
Monrovia
bracelet
specials
including a
choice of a
free t-shirt
or a
Portland
Nursery
canvas
tote. We
also found
out about
their plant
specials
like an
additional
10% off all
Monrovia
plants.
They are
also packed
with
seminars
including
one on Feng
Shui in the
garden.
Other
seminars
include how
to divide
hostas with
Thomas of
Sebright
Gardens and
learning the
basics on
bonsai with
Michael.
You can also
meet William
and Judy on
Sunday from
noon to
2:00pm.
Larsen Farm
Nursery
– Our final
stop on the
tour took us
to Larsen
Farm Nursery
(503-638-8600)
in
Wilsonville.
Ryan met
with Judy
and William
to explain
some of the
different
events they
have coming
up for
Saturday and
Sunday.
Specials
include 35%
off all
trees and
shrubs, 30%
off all
pottery and
‘buy 2 get
one free’
perennials.
Ryan also
showed us
the
fountains
and water
features
they have on
display. If
you stop by
the store on
Saturday
(Sunday in
Hillsboro)
they will
show you how
to make your
own. We
also saw
their new
stone
patio.
Western
Interlock
has set up a
display
patio the
will give
you some
ideas for
adding hardscapes
to your
garden.
Bulb
Layering
As we enter
fall we are
reminded to
plant our
spring
blooming
bulbs.
Donna Wright
from
Black Gold
reminded us
that bulbs
are great in
pots too!
You can
create waves
of color by
layering
your spring
blooming
bulbs. She
demonstrated
that by
using
different
layers of
bulbs in a
pot you can
have color
that lasts
all spring!
She used
daffodils,
tulips and
crocus in 3
different
layers.
When the
warm days of
spring
arrive she
will have
these bulbs
blooming at
different
times and
will have
waves of
color for
months. But
always
remember to
start with a
quality
potting
soil, like
Black Gold!
Little Baja
Tips
Pots that
break in the
winter cold
are a myth!
Sort of…
Wayne from
Little Baja
(503-654-5359)
joined us to
tell us how
adding
drainage
will extend
the life of
our pots and
our plants.
Wayne has
become an
expert on
pots and
container
planting and
he explained
the
importance
of creating
proper
drainage for
your potted
garden.
Pots bust
when they
retain water
in their
clay. The
water
expands and
when it does
it cracks
the pot.
When you
create
better
drainage you
help the pot
and it helps
your plants
as well.
Wayne also
explained
how clay
pots can
‘breathe’
and how that
helps your
plants
thrive.
Stop by
Little Baja
if you ever
have any
questions.
Chinese
Lanterns
We found a
unique
lantern that
doesn’t give
off any
light! The
Chinese
Lantern (Physalis
alkekengi)
is a
perennial
that you can
plant in
your garden
to brighten
up these
dull fall
days. Glenn
Cavender of
Cavender
Farms walked
us through
his fields
of Chinese
Lanterns and
explained
how his farm
grows these
colorful
plants to
the cut
flower
market
across the
U.S. The
Chinese
Lantern can
be an
invasive
perennial if
you don’t
take care of
it. It can
propagate by
seed or
root. It
likes full
sun and can
get as high
as 3 feet
tall.
Glenn’s
family has
been growing
them for
years in the
Canby area
but you can
find their
lanterns as
far away as
New York and
parts of the
east coast.
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