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Tsugawa Annual Christmas Open House

We got to jump start our holidays at Tsugawa Nursery (360-225-8750) in Woodland, Washington.  Brian Tsugawa and his crew have dressed up the nursery in greens, ribbons and bows to kick off the holiday season.  This weekend they have a huge party to help get you in the mood.  The holiday open house features all kinds of Christmas decorations.  They have decorated Christmas trees, poinsettias, refreshments and great gifts.  On Saturday and Sunday you can learn how to make your own wreath or refresh your containers or learn how to make a Bonsai gift.  You can also pick up a ‘live’ Christmas tree.  Live trees are a great tradition for some families.  They are a reminder of the holiday that you can have in your garden year-round.  The key is knowing how to treat them during the holiday season so they survive and thrive.  Brian recommends only having them inside for 5-7 days. Tsugawa’s has a huge variety of trees and all the instructions on keeping them healthy and happy.   (Original air date: 11/22/08)

Bauman Holidays

The tastes of the holiday sometimes create the best memories.  We found a potpourri of tastes at Bauman’s Farm and Gardens (503-792-3524).   Brian filled us in on all the great events they have planned for the up-coming holidays.  First we started in the bakery.  There we saw all the great fresh-baked treats you can get for your home.  We saw fresh bread, rolls, donuts and pies; including the new Bauman’s Berry Blast.   This pie is a combination of 3 different berries, it is fantastic.  Call Bauman’s now to order yours for the holidays.  We also found some Berry Blast jam in the gift section of Bauman’s.  In the gift area you can design your own gift basket to include many of the local products that Bauman’s offers or you can get one that is pre-made.  Just bring your shopping list to take care of your holiday shopping.  Stop by the farm on the weekend of December 5th and 6th and you can pick out your Christmas tree and listen to local school choirs during their annual Holiday Open House.  (Original air date: 11/22/08)

Grilling Prime Rib

Every year we end our season by stopping by the home of Deb and Jerry Yost.  Jerry works at Gartner’s Meats (503-252-7801) and he loves to show us how easy it is to grill different cuts of meat.  This year he raised it up a notch by grilling a prime rib on his Traeger grill.  It was very easy to do.  First he picked up a prime rib at Gartner’s.  They cut the bone off the meat and then re-tie it on the meat for cooking.  The night before, jerry applied a meat rub on the prime rib.  Then he put the meat on the grill and seared it for a half-hour at 450 degrees.  Then he turned the heat down to 350 and left it on for another 4 hours.  For a rare/medium piece the internal temperature has to reach 125-130 degrees, for a medium piece it has to be 150 degrees.  After it reaches the right temperature you take it off the grill and let it set under a piece of foil for 20 minutes (the meat is still cooking from the heat of the bone).  Then you slice and serve.  It was fantastic.  If you are looking for help you can contact the experts at Gartner’s!  (Original air date: 11/22/08)

Jan’s November Tips

Everyone wants to go green, but what does that mean?  We met up with retired OSU extension agent, Jan McNeilan to learn about how you can take little steps the will make your garden healthier and more organic.  First Jan recommended looking at your soil.  A good soil creates a good base for the overall health of your garden.  Next she talked about plants and their care.  Knowing where to place plants and how to diagnose problems goes a long way to helping them grow and thrive.  There are lots of resources for helping you make the most out of your garden.  OSU Extension, Master Gardeners, and your local garden center can help you determine problems and how to address them in a safe and effective manner.  If you want to learn more, check out this list of tips that Jan put together.  (Original air date: 11/22/08)

Gifts for the Gardener

If you have a gardener in your family it may be hard to find the right gift for them. If you are having troubles check out this list of suggestions we put together.  We also brought out a bunch of different gift ideas to show you on camera.  You can always pick out a big gift like a fountain or fire pit, which will last for years, or you can focus on a favorite interest for your friend.  If they love birds you can pick up some bird watching/feeding items.  There are also tools, books, seeds, gloves and garden accents.  The main thing is to not stress out about gifts for your gardener friends.  As a gardener, they love things of beauty and the fact that you are thinking of them will make them enjoy you and your gift.  (Original air date: 11/22/08)

Smith Wreaths

Nothing welcomes people to your home during the holidays like a wreath on your front door.  We stopped by Smith Berry Barn (503-628-2172) to learn how you can add some special touches to your own wreath to make it something special.  Joelle started with a basic wreath and then added a bow.  The choice of the bow helps you determine the color and design you want to pursue.  Next she worked in a systematic pattern around the wreath to create a special design.  You can use different things on your wreath, from pinecones to small fruits to seed pods.  If you need help you can stop by Smith Berry Barn for wreaths and materials.  You can also get one that is already made.  You can even have them shipped to your friends and family.  Stop by check out their gift shop and pick out a wreath for yourself during their holiday open house on the 6th of December.
(Original air date: 11/22/08)

Timber Press Fall Books

The colder weather is driving everyone indoors, but you don’t have to give up on your love of gardening.  You can always read some great gardening books.  We stopped by Timber Press (1-800-327-5680) to check out four of the newest books they have to offer for the coming spring.  Tom, the editor, started with the book ‘Plant Driven Design’.  Normally designers will tell you to start with the hardscaping in your design and then add plants.  This book tells you how to start with the plants you love, make your landscape beautiful, and then fill in around those plants.  The next book is from local author, Sean Hogan, and is called ‘Trees for All Seasons’.  This book focuses on broadleaf trees and picks ones that will work well in our climate.  Sean has picked out a huge selection of trees and covers them in detail.  The third book is for the garden photographer and is called ‘Macro Photography for Garden and Nature Lovers’.  This book gets down and dirty with tips and techniques for getting some really great close-ups in your garden.  Plus it isn’t just about plants, it has some great tight shots of insects too.  The final book is the best of the bunch.  It is the latest great reference book for the Northwest Gardener.  It is the ‘Timber Press guide to Gardening in the Pacific Northwest’.  This is the complete guide for being a successful gardener here.  It has great micro-climate maps, growing guides and lists to help you be a great gardener!  You can get Timber Press books at local bookstores or you can buy them on-line at Timber Press.  (Original air date: 11/22/08)

Drake's Holiday

The holidays are here.  Believe it or not Thanksgiving is sneaking up on us, but you don’t have to be caught by surprise.  We stopped by Drake's 7 Dees (503-256-2223) and talked to Lynn about some decorating ideas for the thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.  First we looked at some of the potpourri of ideas from Lynn that included ornament hangers, multiple wreaths, and a new type of easy-to-use Christmas tree stand.  We then moved over to another area in her nursery to see how she used pumpkins to create a display to light up her garden path in the dark evenings.  She used a cheap pumpkin, a string of lights and some spray paint to make interesting luminaries.  We also saw how she flocked a dead tree to create a wonderful display for the upcoming holiday.  For more information on creating these projects or other holiday themed classes, check out the Drake's 7 Dees website or stop by their nursery on Stark Street. 
(Original air date: 11/15/08)

Garden Path

Even though the rains have returned you can still get some project done in your garden.  We met with Ron from Mutual Materials (888-688-8250) to see how to install a garden path with bricks and pavers.  Hardscaping has become one of the new trends in gardening.  People are adding garden paths, walls and permanent art to their landscape for the long term enjoyment of their garden.  Ron showed us how easy it is to use the Mutual Material pavers to create a path.  Earlier we had built a retaining wall and this path was going to add the finishing touches to this garden.  First we figured out our pattern and the area where we wanted the path.  Next we dug the path out to create a bed for the base of our path.  We then lined the path area with edging to keep the stones straight and tight.  Next we put down a few inches of crushed gravel (3/4 minus), leveled and tamped it down.  Then we added about an inch of washed sand over the gravel.  This was leveled and tamped as well.  Then we started to place in the stones, starting from the low end of the path.  We did end up cutting some of the stones to fit and create the pattern we wanted.  The finished project looks great and it only took a couple of days to do.  If you are interested in this project you can check the Mutual Material website for tips, ideas and locations where you can buy stones and pavers. 
(Original air date: 11/15/08)

Bird Camera

If you are a bird lover, you probably have feeders in your garden and enjoy watching the birds feed.  That might be a problem if you can’t get close to the feeder.  During the winter it is too cold to go outside and in the summer they might be too skittish to let you come near.  We found a great product that will allow you to capture the beauty of your feathered friends as they visit your feeder.  The Bird Camera from Wingscapes (888-811-WING) is easy to put together and get started.  You can also modify it to do custom recording of the birds.  To get started you just put in the batteries, set the distance, turn it on and point it toward the feeder…and you are done.  It comes with an internal memory but you can also get an optional SD card for more memory.  You can set it to record stills or even movies of the birds feeding.  It has a photoelectric eye so it can activate when a bird is at the feeder, or you can use the remote to activate it when you see a bird at the feeder.  For you flower lovers it can capture time-lapse of your favorite flowers blooming.  You can find it locally at the Backyard Bird Shop (503-635-2044, ) or you can order it on-line at Wingscapes.  (Original air date: 11/15/08)

Pruning Tips

Fall is a great time to cut back your garden perennials.  The ‘Queen of Deadheading’, Tracy DiSabato-Aust, joined us to give us some tips for doing it correctly.  Tracy is an internationally known garden author who has written a couple of books on perennial care.  She has researched pruning techniques and has some great information that she is always willing to share.  She walked through William’s garden and chatted with Judy.  First she talked about bloom time and how you can regulate it by how you prune early in the season.  Cutting back or pinching off blooms can delay some flowering perennials for a couple of weeks during the blooming season.  She also showed us how to cut back to a lateral branch and how to clean-up your perennials without damaging the new growth for next year.  Her 2 books ‘The Well Tended Perennial Garden’ and ‘The Well Designed Mixed Garden’ are available through Timber Press (1-800-327-5680).  (Original air date: 11/15/08)

Winter Berry Plants

The leaves are falling off your garden trees and shrubs, and you are thinking that there isn’t much of interest in the garden, right?  Well we found some great plants with winter berries at Larsen Farm Nursery (503-638-8600) that serve 2 functions, they help feed our local wildlife and they look great in your garden.  Ryan from Larsen Farm showed us a huge variety of plants that you can find at your local garden center. Some of the plants we saw included the Porcelain Vine ‘Elegans’, Snowberry ‘Scarlet Pearl’, Pyracantha ‘Victory’ and ‘Yukon Belle’, Arbutus also called Strawberry Tree, Beautyberry ‘Profusion’, Holly ‘Ebony Magic’ and Holly Veriegata.   If you are looking for more winter interest in your garden or a plant that will help feed the local wildlife then check out the selection of winter berry plants at Larsen Farm. 
(Original air date: 11/15/08)

Adaptive Tools

It is never too early to start thinking about injuries in the garden.  We are talking about the aches and pains of the average gardener.  William and Judy shared some tips and some of the newest tools on the market.  First the tools, Fiskars shared some of their newest tools that have been recognized by the Arthritis Foundation for their ease of use and design.  They are designed with power gears and are lighter in weight to relieve stress and strain on your hands and body.  We also saw tools with extending handles and benches to make it easier to get work done around the garden.  Tips to help your body included working later in the day once your muscles warmed up and working with containers and raised beds to relieve stress on your back.  For other labor (and body saving devices) check out your local garden center.  (Original air date: 11/15/08)

Terrariums

Terrariums used to be BIG in the 70’s. I remember having a big acrylic ball with one in our living room. It was cool; it even had a little scene in it with a gnome skiing down some white rocks in the center. Well, terrariums have come a long way and to see the latest in designs we went to Cornell Farm (503-292-9895). Terrariums are basically small self contained gardens. They usually contain smaller varieties of plants and create their own atmosphere. Deby showed us how easy it is to build one. She started with a layer of decorative rocks on the bottom of the container. You can also use marble, glass beads, etc. anything to allow for good drainage. Then you need to add a layer of charcoal. This will help absorb and filter the fumes and smells from the decomposing plant material. Next we added a cactus mix for our potting soil. It is a quick draining soil that will keep the plants from sitting in water. Then we looked for small, slow growing plants to include in the scene. These plants included a couple of polk-a-dot plants and some mosses. Remember; do not fertilize these plants because you don’t want them to grow fast. You can check out a great selection of pre-built terrariums at Cornell, or stop by your local independent garden center for more information.  (Original air date: 11/8/08)

Winter Bird Care

The change of the seasons signals a change for your local bird populations. Some of the non-migratory birds will be hanging around and may need a little help from you to survive the cold and wet of winter. We visited with Stuart of Gray’s Garden Center (541-345-1569) in Eugene to learn more. We started with hummingbirds. They need to have a good clean feeder. The mixture in the feeder needs to be changed every couple of weeks to keep the bacteria down. For seed eating birds you can use a black oil sunflower seed. This is a good basic seed that provides calories for high energy birds. For insect feeders you can set out a suet cake. Use different types of suet to attract different types of insect feeders. You can also welcome birds to your garden by incorporating different types of shrubs and trees. We saw some that work well in the landscape including ‘Cranberry’ Cotoneaster, Crabapple ‘Strawberry Parfait’, Pyracantha ‘Mohave’, and the ‘Profusion’ Beautyberry. To learn more about attracting birds to your garden during the winter you can check with Gray’s, your local independent garden center or The Audubon Society of Portland. 
(Original air date: 11/8/08)

Fall Slug Care

Slugs are not just a spring time problem. Fall, with its increasing rains, can bring them back into your garden when you thought they were under control. Remember to bait now so they don’t destroy your beautiful fall flowers. We recommend a quality bait like Corry’s, but if you have pets or small children you can use a product like Worry Free from Lilly Miller. It is an organic product that is safe to use in any garden setting. You can also use some of the all natural traps and baits using safe products like beer. Remember those traps need to be checked and refilled often due to the frequent rains. Some people say that if you bait now you will reduce the amount of slugs you get next spring because they are not around to lay eggs. Always remember to read and follow the label directions with any garden product. 
(Original air date: 11/8/08)

Albany School Garden

We stopped by a great little garden at Memorial Middle School in Albany. They created a peace garden in one of the open spaces at the school. A special part of the garden is the paperclip in the middle of the garden. This ‘paperclip’ made from bricks, shows the kids solidarity with concentration camp survivors from World War II. Paperclips were worn on lapels during WWII to show solidarity with those who were persecuted during the war. This project started out as a class assignment and has grown to become one of many gardening and community projects that the school and the city of Albany have worked together on. In fact, the school just recently won a Citizenship Award from SOLV. Check out their video here. This is an excellent example of how to bring gardening into the classroom.  (Original air date: 11/8/08)

Fall Rose Care

Now that the cold winds are blowing, your roses may be in need of some fall and winter care. Chris Williams of Heirloom Roses (503-538-1576) showed us how to clean up your roses now to keep them healthy through the winter. She recommended that you cut your plants down to waist high AFTER the first frost. You avoid making your cuts until then to prevent the plant from adding new growth. You also cut them back to avoid wind damage to the canes and to keep them from being blown over in the wind. It is also recommended that you remove the leaves and throw them away (don’t compost them) to prevent disease next spring.  (Original air date: 11/8/08)

Call Before You Dig

In the fall there is no better feeling than turning some soil in your garden. That feeling will disappear quickly if you dig into a utility line. We found out that there is a new, easy way to avoid this problem. Steven and Jenna from NW Natural Gas told us about the new 811 number. This number is a nationwide number to help homeowners and businesses locate buried utility lines so you can stay out of trouble. The ‘Call Before You Dig’ program is not new, but the way of contacting them is! One call will help you locate any line. If you don’t call you can be held liable for the damages of cutting a line. Just call 811 two business days before you dig!  (Original air date: 11/8/08)

Al’s Poinsettias

Your local garden centers are getting into the holiday mood!  Al’s Garden Center (503-981-1245) is one of the best at sharing that cheer with the gardener.  We paid a visit to the Al’s growing facility in Woodburn to see some of the 50 different varieties that they grow.  Paul the Al’s Grower showed us how they use light or the lack of it to get the poinsettias to color up at the right time.  Black plastic will help them control the light and the resulting brilliant color is hard to argue with!  He showed us a couple of his favorites that were just starting to turn color.   We saw Jester Dark Red, Cortez Electric Red, White Glitter, Orange Spice and Ann’s Christmas Star.  Here are some tips you should remember about poinsettia care: give them lots of light, keep them out of drafts, keep them watered (but not over-watered), don’t fertilize them.  You can get more care tips at your local Al’s location.  If you are looking to decorate for the holidays or are trying to find a great gift for a gardener, check out Al’s.  Better yet, check out their annual Evening of Lights happening at the Sherwood location on Thursday, and the Woodburn location on Friday, from 4-9pm.  (Original air date: 11/1/08)

Pond Winterizing

It is getting colder and it’s about time to get your pond ready for winter.  We met up with Eamonn Hughes of Hughes Water Gardens (503-638-1709) to see how to prepare our ponds and pond animals for the cold.  Eamonn talked about the importance of feeding your fish the correct foods to prevent them from dying.  Once the pond temperature drops below 50 degrees you should stop feeding your fish.  They can’t process the food in the colder water.  You will also want to keep your pond running.  The water movement will prevent freezing and damage to your pond liner and pumps.  If you have to shut off the pump, you will need to drain all the water out of the water feature to prevent long-term damage.  You should also take care of your pond plants by either lowering them deeper into the water or moving them to protected areas.  To get answers to all your pond questions, contact the experts at Hughes.  (Original air date: 11/1/08)

Territorial Seeds

Ever wonder where your garden seeds come from?  To find out we traveled to Cottage Grove to visit with Josh of Territorial Seeds (800-626-0866).   We started our tour at the trial gardens.  Here is where they test the different varieties they sell to see how they perform in the northwest climate.  It isn’t pretty because they don’t use any chemicals or weed killers.  That way they can get an accurate feel for the conditions the seed will perform the best in.  They have hundreds of varieties of tomatoes, beans, corn, peppers and pumpkins.  In fact we even got a preview of one of their new peppers that will be introduced next year, Calico.  Then we moved to the seed packing facility.  Here, they have a machine the can pack just the right amount of seed in a packet.  Of course if it is a large or hard-to-handle seed, those are still packaged by hand.  They even test the germination to make sure they will sprout for you at home.  If you want to pick up some seed, you can stop by their retail store in Cottage Grove or give them a call for a catalogue.  (Original air date: 11/1/08)

Fall Mums

A lot of gardeners have the common chrysanthemums in their garden, but one of the overlooked types of mum is the show mum.  We visited the garden of Clair Kidd who grows lots of these huge varieties and is part of the Portland Chrysanthemum Society (503-255-6119).  The show mum is grown for contests and also for the stunning display they put on in your garden.  These mums are protected from the sun, pinched back to just a few blooms and cultivated carefully.   Clair explained that these are classified by bloom type into categories like ‘Reflex’ and ‘Irregular Incurve’.  We also saw the varieties, ‘White City’ and ‘Xena’.  If you are interested in seeing these blooms up close you can check out the 69th Annual Flower Show "Kaleidoscope of Mums” this weekend, November 1-2, Saturday and Sunday at Portland Nursery, 90th and Division hours, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  You can also get information on joining the society at this event.  (Original air date: 11/1/08)

Solexx Greenhouses

Having a ‘green’ house in your backyard shouldn’t send you to the ‘poor’ house.   We found one by Solexx that is easy to assemble and really inexpensive too.  A greenhouse will help to extend your gardening season and it will give you a head start on next year.  Michelle Moore from Solexx Greenhouses (800-825-1925) and William assembled one in just a few hours.  When you order the kit it arrives in just a couple of boxes.  The kit is so well organized, and color coded, that it is really simple to assemble with just a couple of tools.  A couple other benefits… it can be sited anywhere and there is no need for expensive site preparation, you can place it directly on your lawn.  Plus it is lightweight.  You can assemble it in one area and move it to another area with just 2 people.  This is great if you want to place it over an existing garden area.   Check out their website to see all the different types of greenhouses available and all the tools to extend your growing season.  (Original air date: 11/1/08)

Red Pig Small Tools

Small tools help the gardener get the job done quicker and easier.  But there are some small tools that defy description and whose tasks are interesting.  Bob Denman from Red Pig Tools (503-663-9404) is a tool genius and he pulled out some of the more interesting tools he makes.  The first one was a girdling tool.  This tool cuts a small piece of bark off a fruit tree and shocks the tree into producing more fruit.  He then brought out a bench scoop that is designed to pick-up more stuff from your potting bench.  He also had a weeding tool, a bulb lifter, a root hook and a ball weeder.  These are all made by Bob and will last for generations to come.  If you are interested in more tools you can check out their website for the full list of tools they make.  (Original air date: 11/1/08)

E.Z. Orchards Harvest Fest

It’s the Great State of Corn Oregon at E.Z. Orchards (503-393-1506) and their annual Harvest Fest.  But before John Zielinski gave us a tour of the farm and some of the events, he took William on a quick tour of some of the great squash and pumpkins they have available at the farm.  Here is a list of the varieties we saw.  After the squash we heard about all the great things that are happening at the farm including the Corn Maze (a map of Oregon) where you can visit some of the major cities of the state and learn some facts about them.  There is a Native American tipi, slides, horse-drawn hayrides and even Mt Hood to climb.  You are also able to pan for gold, hear live music and make a quick stop at the Cider Saloon.  You may even want to try your hand at the pie eating contest!  Of course you can also pick up a pumpkin for the porch and fresh veggies from the market.  You can enjoy all the festivities through Halloween.  (Original air date: 10/25/08)

Grays Winter Interest Trees

For most of the season trees can blend into the background, but for some trees fall is the time to shine.  We stopped by Gray’s Garden Center (541-345-1569) in Eugene to visit with Stuart who is the tree and shrub buyer to see what his favorites were for fall color trees.  He picked out 4 of his favorites to show us.  The first one was the Coral Bark Japanese Maple.  This one has great fall color, but then it has the extra bonus of the deep red branches for great winter color.  Next we saw Parrotia ‘Persian Ironwood’.  This one has incredibly dark fall foliage.  Finally we saw a couple of maples.  The Pacific Sunset maple, ‘Warrenred’ and the Flame Maple.  The Sunset maple turns multiple shades as it drops its leaves. And the Flame is as red as its name as it makes the transition to winter.  As you can see there are lots of good fall color trees for any sized yard.  Stop by your local garden center to see what they have for you.  (Original air date: 10/25/08)

Pumpkin Grasses

This a great project for using the best of the fall season to create a display for the up-coming holidays.  We stopped by Al’s Garden Center (503-981-1245) in Woodburn to see how Amy Bigej used local fresh pumpkins and some ornamental grasses to make some ‘pumpkin people’.  She showed us ones that used fun perennial grasses like ‘Toffee Twist and Black Mondo Grass.  Then we saw a smaller pumpkin that used a small pin-cushion plant.  Amy had cut open the top of the pumpkins but didn’t clean them completely out.  She also had a bag of potting soil. Finally, we saw a couple of pumpkins that were painted black. This may seem like it isn’t a good idea but when you look at them with the selected grasses, they were great!  The best part is that you can take the grasses out when the holidays are over and plant them in your garden.  (Original air date: 10/25/08)

Chinese Edible Plants

We learned something new at the Portland Classical Chinese Garden (503-228-8131) on our last visit.  These types of gardens were not only used as a place of respite, they were also used as gardens to grow edibles including berries and fruit trees.  We visited with Glin to learn about some of the fruits of the garden and see some that they will be adding to the garden in the near future.  Glin showed us some of the most interesting of the plants they have, including the dwarf pomegranate, Goumi berry, the ‘Buddha’s Hand’ dwarf citrus, the tea camellia and the Goji berry.  We also saw some of the fragrant osmanthus varieties they have.  If you would like to see these plants or maybe pick one up for your own garden you can go to the Portland Classical Chinese Garden on the weekend on Oct. 25-26 for their fall plant sale.  (Original air date: 10/25/08)

Grilled Stuffed Peppers

Grilling season is in full swing, really!  We found a recipe that uses fresh fall green bell peppers from the garden.  First we stopped by Bauman’s Farm and Garden (503-792-3524) to pick up the bell peppers.  Brian filled us in on the differences between the different colors.  One thing we found out is that the red bells tend to be a little sweeter than the other and that the more color in the pepper, the higher the anti-oxidants.  With the holidays coming up you should check out the great selection of fresh fall fruits and vegetables at Bauman’s.

Next we took the peppers to Jerry from Gartner’s Meats (503-252-7801).  He had a recipe for grilling peppers on his Traeger grill.  He made an easy stuffed pepper recipe by using the ready-made Gartner’s meatloaf.  This is already seasoned so he just stuffed the peppers and put them on for about an hour until they reached an internal temperature of 160 degrees.  The other trick we learned was that he used a muffin tin to hold the peppers upright.  The tin was also placed in a shallow metal pan with a little water in it.  This kept the peppers nice and moist.  They were delicious!!  If you are really busy you can just buy the peppers already stuffed at Gartner’s.  (Original air date: 10/25/08)

Dyeing Fabric

Pots that break in the winter cold are a myth! Sort of… Wayne from Little Baja (503-432-8959) 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 either Little Baja location if you ever have any questions. There is one on Burnside and the new location on Hall in Tigard.  (Original air date: 10/18/08)

"A" is for apple, and you will find a ton of apples at Portland Nursery’s (503-231-5050) 21^st Annual Apple tasting at the Stark Street location.  Over 60 different varieties of apples and pears are available to taste.  Many varieties are available for purchase with a percentage of the sales going to Elders in Action.  There is a kid’s area with face painting and balloon creations.  Plus you can stop by on Fridays for ‘kid days’ which are loaded with kids activities.  Cooking demonstrations, an apple press and live music are also on the list of activities. Another reason for stopping by is to get a chance to vote for the best scarecrow.  Fellow shoppers have entered their best scarecrows for the chance to win prizes.  You can also shop from a variety of local vendors that will be offering local honey, mustard, jam and a whole lot more.  Special events include a ‘live’ radio broadcast with the ‘Garden Doctor’ show, a special ‘Senior Day’ with 10% off for seniors, and everyday discounts on apple prices. Now is the time to also take advantage of all the wonderful fall perennials available at both locations of Portland Nursery.  (Original air date: 10/11/08)

With all of your perennials starting to lose their leaves you may be looking for some plants to brighten up your garden.  We found some great conifers to spice up your garden.  Conifers are not just those tall giants that you find in the forest.  Lee Powell from Garland Nursery (1-800-296-6601) found some great small varieties that will work great in a smaller garden or even a container.  The first one he started with was not really a very small conifer but one that had a new twist.  The Port Orford Cedar, ‘Blue Surprise’ used to have problems with root rot but now it is grafted on a better root stock and it is becoming a true winner in the fall garden with the blue foliage it has.  We then moved to the smaller varieties which included, Cryptomeria ‘Little Diamond’, Cypress ‘Vintage Gold’, the weird ‘Tasmanian Cedar’ – Microcachrys tetragona, plus Chamaaecyperus ‘True Blue’, ‘Heatherbun’ and ‘Red Star’.   If you are looking for some great fall color that will last through the seasons check out these varieties of conifers at Garland or your local independent garden centers.  (Original air date: 10/11/08)

There is a fungus among us and it is homegrown and tasty.  We caught up with a group from the Oregon Mycological Society as they were preparing logs and straw to be the future home for some wonderful mushrooms.  Ed Foy told William about how they make these portable mushroom gardens.  There are a couple of different ways for them to make the mushroom ‘gardens’.  The first way is with straw.  First they chop up some straw and pasteurize it.  Then they place the straw in plastic bags mixed with the spawn of the mushroom spores.  The other ways of growing mushrooms involves logs.  In one version you can place the spawn in cuts on the logs and in another you drill holes in the log and place pegs in the holes.  These pegs have been inoculated with spores.  If you are curious about how to start your own log or you want to learn more about wild mushrooms, you can check out the Oregon Mycological Society’s Mushroom show happening on October 12th from noon-5pm at the World Forestry Center.  (Original air date: 10/11/08)

Harvest time is here and you can buy numerous fruits and vegetables from local farmers.  But what if you want to try growing some fruits of your own?  If you plant fruit trees now you can start to enjoy some of the ‘fruits’ of your labors as early as next season.   Steve, the owner of Livingscape Nursery (503-248-0104), had pulled out some varieties that he really liked.  We started with a couple of apple trees.  The first one, ‘Scarlet Surprise’, has the distinction of looking normal from the outside, but containing a red flesh on the inside.  A very interesting apple!  The other apple was called a columnar apple, ‘Golden Sentinel’.  That type fruits on the main trunk and doesn’t grow on the limbs, in fact, it generally doesn’t have limbs.  We then saw the fig variety, ‘Stella’.  Stella is a wonderful fig for containers and produces great fruit.  We also saw the ‘Arbequina’ olive, which is well suited to our NW climate.  It can produce ripe olives and fruit for oil too.  Finally, we looked at a blue berry.  Livingscape carries about 10 different varieties of Blueberries and Steve recommends that you plant 2 or more varieties that will fruit at different times so you can extent your harvest through the whole summer.  Now is the time to get those plants in the ground and you can be enjoying fresh fruit in your own garden next fall.  (Original air date: 10/11/08)

Your yard debris of today is becoming the rich garden compost of tomorrow.  Since it is fall and everyone is cleaning up their yard we decided to check out where that yard debris ends up.  Jeff Grimm walked us through the composting facility at Grimm’s Fuel (503-636-3623).  This facility in Tigard is where a lot of your lawn clippings end up.  At the Grimm’s facility they cut up the garden waste, pile it, turn it (to keep it hot) and let nature take it’s course.  Most of this will become ‘Metro certified’ garden mulch.  What that means is it is clean of residual herbicides and meets ‘Earthwise’ standards. Grimm’s has a complete selection of different types of soils and amendments for your lawn or garden.  It is also a great time to mulch your plants to protect them from the coming cold.  Give them a call for delivery rates and availability.  (Original air date: 10/11/08)

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!  (Original air date: 10/4/08)

We found our way to Fir Point Farms (503-678-2455) for their Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off. Fir Point is one of the locations where they weigh giant pumpkins to determine who has the largest in the country! The last few years we have witnessed some of the biggest pumpkins in the nation. We talked with Kathy Jacoby about all the events going on out there. The Giant Pumpkin Festival kicks off the month-long Fall Festival at Fir Point Farms, which is now over 25 years old. Every weekend in October, Fir Point offers the full compliment of pumpkin patch activities, including hayrides, a corn cannon, a hay maze, pony rides, a hay-slide, delicious food, pumpkin carvers, live entertainment, and pumpkin arcade games for small children ... plus various farm animals featuring a whole bunch of new animals that were born on the farm this past year.  (Original air date: 10/4/08)

A couple of months ago we visited with Bob Denman at Red Pig Tools (503-663-9404) to watch him make a garden trowel. Bob’s tools are well made and built to last and sometimes they are designed from tools that have been used in the past. Bob brought out a few of his unusual long handled tools to show us. The first one was a mangle cutter. This tool was used by pig farmers to cut up corn pieces into smaller chunks so the pigs wouldn’t choke. It is great for local gardeners that want to cut their compost into smaller bits for quicker composting. Bob also makes a weed fork for those tough to get weeds, a ridger that helps in planting seed crops, and a half-moon weeder/cultivator. Our favorite was the blackberry hoe. This tool, which Bob designed himself, has edges that let you easily get the small plants with one side and the large tap roots of the old plants with the other side. If you are interested in unique tools for tough jobs, check them out when you are in the Boring Oregon area.  (Original air date: 10/4/08)

With the cooler nights we noticed that our grapes are getting pretty tasty. It is also a reminder that it is time to harvest the wine grapes for future vintages. We visited the award-winning Willamette Valley Vineyards (800-344-9463) to see the steps for making an excellent Pinot noir. Jim Bernau, the owner and founder, took us out in the vineyards to explain the conditions for growing a good wine grape. We also got to use a refractometer to check the Brix level (sugar level) of the grapes. They have to be just the right level of sugar to age and ferment properly. We then traveled to the bottling area to see where the grapes are de-stemmed, crushed and stored during the fermentation process. This is a busy time at Willamette Valley Vineyards but you can still stop by the tasting room and sample to fruits of their labors!  (Original air date: 10/4/08)

Pansies, despite the name, are the workhorses of the winter garden. They take a beating and keep on coming back. It is great that Cornell Farm (503-292-9895) has a festival just to celebrate them. We caught up with Corinne at Cornell to hear about all the different events they have going on at the Pansy Fest which ends this weekend. Some of the classes they will be offering include ‘3 season containers’ that include bulbs and perennials for constant color and interest; ‘Orchid care 101’ that will take the fear out of growing orchids and ‘fabric dying’ that will show you how to use leaves and ferns to make great colored fabrics with materials from your own garden. But this is a Pansy Fest and that means you can choose from over 50 varieties of pansies, including Lemon Fizzy Berry. These little flowers really stand up to the cold. Judy even told the story about the ice storm a few years back when the pansies were covered in ice. After the ice melted, the pansies were back into full bloom and looking great! There is also a special offer from Cornell! Stop in this week and see all the great flowers that Cornell Farm has to offer.  (Original air date: 9/27/08)

It is time to start thinking about putting away your garden power tools for the season. Before you stash them in the tool shed we have some tips for protecting them and getting them ready for next season. We stopped at Jay’s Mower and Chainsaw on N. Williams to get some pointers. Jay recommends that you add a fuel stabilizer to the gas tank and fill it to the top. That will keep condensation from forming in the tank and gumming up your engine. Also, by keeping the tank full you will keep the seals from drying out. He also recommends that you wait until spring to do any major maintenance. In spring you can change air and fuel filters and do other basic work. There is one thing you can do right now and that is sharpening. You can sharpen your blades and then apply a thin coat of motor oil to protect the sharpened edge. This is really effective on reel mowers. With all the cutting edges they can really benefit from a protective coating of oil. For more information you can stop by Jay’s shop. You will also find a discount coupon in the new Chinook Book.  (Original air date: 9/27/08)

During the warm summer days, a lot of us took our indoor plants outside to give them a little vacation. But, with the cooler nights upon us you can start to get your indoor plants ready to return to the warmth and protection of your house. Dan from Terra Gardens (503-581-0441) in Salem gave us some tips for making the transition better for you and your plants. You will want to clean your plants up before bringing them in so they don’t bring any bug or disease problems inside with them. First, give them a good wash-down. Then you will want to treat for bugs and diseases. Depending on the plant and where you are planning on keeping it you have a wide selection of organic and chemical solutions. Then, let the plant sit for another day (to let the bugs fall off), wash it down and bring it inside. If you have questions on what product to use, you can check with your local independent garden center or stop by Terra Gardens. 
(Original air date: 9/27/08)

We return to the Village Green Resort (800-343-7666) to learn about more of their wonderful gardens.  Jon, the head gardener, took Judy through 2 of the 14 gardens they have on site.  The first one was the Bird Garden.  This garden is all about our feathered friends.  Feeders are around the area, but the staff also leaves plants to go to seed to feed the birds as well.  There is a thicket of sumacs in the garden that provides cover for the smaller birds too.  While we were there the hummingbirds were in an aerial war over prime feeding areas.  We even had one fly through the interview while we were there!  Next we moved to the Mahogany Garden.  This garden is all about color.  Dark browns and chocolates are the color of choice.  Plants like the canna, chocolate cosmos, dark-leaved heucheras and the chocolate mimosa are all here.  Also, around the grounds you will also find mailboxes.  These contain the ‘mission statement’ for each garden.  It is not a listing plants but a description of the type of a garden and the feeling they were trying to capture.  You can stop by the gardens anytime, but better yet, check into the resort and stay awhile.  The Resort is also the host of the Gathering of Gardeners which takes place the 20th and 21st of September.  William and Judy will be speaking there and joining over 40 other garden vendors and artists.  It is another event that is tied to the Le Tour des Plants!  (Original air date: 9/6/08)

Want to know what the hot plant for 2009 will be? Actually, you can help make the choice. We paid a visit to the plant trials that are happening at the Al’s Garden Center (503-726-1162) in Sherwood. The plant trials are where growers are trying out new and different varieties of plants. This is where they determine what will be grown for sale for the coming year. Now through the end of the month you can check out the newest of plants and vote for your favorites. Paul Fukasawa told William about the trials and the hundreds of varieties on display. This year Al’s is celebrating their 60th anniversary as a garden center and have placed a replica of their fruit stand in the middle of the nursery along with a great vegetable garden. The garden is free and open to the public during store hours from today until August 23rd. On August 24th the display plants will be available for purchase. The trials display fills a 1/2 acre greenhouse area at the Sherwood garden center. Take some time to check out this huge display and vote for your favorite. Who knows you may pick the hot plant for 2009!  (Original air date: 8/16/08)

There are certain plants that really start to shine in the heat of the late summer. We stopped by Bloomer’s Nursery (541-687-5919) in Eugene to check out the best in the garden center right now. Stephanie pulled 3 different plants for us to look at. First we saw the Anemone, or windflower, ‘September Charm’. It likes good shady spot in the afternoon and really doesn’t need much care. Next we saw 2 types of Clethra (Sweetshrub), one named ‘Rosea’ and one named ‘Hummingbird’. It has a great fragrance and depending on the variety it can be a tall shrub or a short one in your garden. The bees love it! Finally we took a look at a tree, the Sourwood. It is a great tree for a small space. It is covered in long spikes of white flowers right now, but it will exchange that for brilliant red foliage in the fall. For more choices on great summer plants, stop by Bloomer’s in Eugene or your local independent garden center.  (Original air date: 8/16/08)

When you ask people about native trees of the Northwest, a lot of people will come up with the Douglas Fir. There is another one that is native and is slowly disappearing from Oregon gardens. The White Oak is a great tree that is perfectly suited to the Oregon climate. Once planted and established it can handle the cold wet winters and also the hot dry summers with little or no care. One nursery in Salem is making a name for itself by not only growing these giants, but also for salvaging mature trees from being destroyed. Mahonia Vineyards and Nursery (503-585-8789) is working with local developers on removing oaks from developments and finding homes for them in other gardens. Frank told us about the oaks and how they can be a great part of a Northwest garden (if you have the room) and about some of the plants you can use around them. If you would like to learn more about the oaks or would like to add one to your acreage give them a call.  (Original air date: 8/16/08)

A variety of plant that is hard to kill is the sedum. These little wonders grow in areas that other plants find hard to endure. Donna Wright from Black Gold shared a way to enjoy your wreath on a garden wall or on your picnic table. She used a wire wreath frame and then planted 5-6 varieties of sedums in patterns of three for a beautiful display of color and texture. If you would like to build your own wreath, check out these directions.  (Original air date: 8/16/08)

It is a great time of year to live in the Northwest. All the fresh fruits are ripe and ready for the picking. But that also begs the question, when is something ripe? We found that it is hard to tell with some fruit, like peaches. We traveled to Salem to see the experts at Olson Peaches (503-362-5942). The Olson family has been farming in the Salem area for decades and they open their farm to u-picks the entire summer. Stuart told us to look for a good overall gold color with good blush of red. Plus, you don’t want to twist the fruit to remove it. You want to lift it up to snap the stem from the branch. Then we moved to the grill where Kristina showed us how you can wrap quarter slices of peach with prosciutto and then place them on the grill on medium heat.  (Original air date: 8/16/08)

The tastes of summer can be at your fingertips all year long. We found a counter top mini-hydroponic system that is incredible. The Aero-garden is a small self contained system that allows you to grow vegetables on your kitchen counter. It can be purchased with different types of seeds or you can use your own. It also has watering and fertilizer reminders that take the guesswork out of the maintenance of the system. Michelle of The Greenhouse Catalog (800-825-1925) then showed us another little gadget that will let you make your own salad dressing with the fresh herbs you’ve grown. You simply cut them back and drop the pieces in this mini-blender and you have fresh dressing for your greens! Very tasty.
(Original air date: 8/16/08)

Berry Botanic Garden

One of the jewels of the Portland public garden scene is the Berry Botanic Garden (503-636-4112) in southwest Portland. The garden exists with 3 main goals in mind: Conservation, horticulture and education. We took a tour of the Alpine Garden with Andrea Raven. She described the differences between their alpine garden, a scree garden and a rock garden. Berry has a wonderful assortment of alpine plants and a tremendous collection of garden rhododendrons, including the Rhododendron tsusiophyllum. They also have a wonderful trough garden and have classes that can show you how to build your own trough garden at home. Berry is also known for being the largest seed bank for rare and endangered native plants of the Pacific Northwest. If you would like to pay a visit you have to call and make an appointment. The Garden is located in a residential neighborhood and they want to make sure they don’t overwhelm the neighbors. Admission is $5 for non-member.  (Original air date: 8/9/08)

Summer Tree Problems

Summer time brings a variety of pest and disease problems to your landscape trees and shrubs. We met up with Terrill Collier from Collier Arbor Care (503-72ARBOR) to talk about some of the problems he has been finding around town. First we stopped by the Willamette River in downtown Portland to check out the heavy pruning job that was done by a local critter. A beaver had cut down some trees and even started working on others along the esplanade. If you live near water you can see this type of damage in your yard. The best way to protect your trees is to wrap a mesh around the trees to protect the bark. Next we saw a bad case of sun scald. This happens when you put the wrong tree in the wrong place. This one suffered the effects of thin bark, hot sun and reflective pavement. Next we moved to a neighborhood. Various oaks and maples have seen selective limbs dying. We saw that a non-native species of squirrel had stripped the bark off the smaller limbs and that caused the limb to die. Our final stop put us at a park where we saw trees with rows of holes in their bark. This is damage caused by a bird, the Sap Sucker Woodpecker. It drills holes for sap and then comes back to feed on the bugs that get caught in the sap. We also saw a big glob of dried sap and that turned out to be the Sequoia Pitch Moth. If you are having problems with your trees you can check out the Collier Arbor Care website for more tips and information.
(Original air date: 8/9/08)

Larsen Tropicals

Bring the look of the tropics to your garden. It is not too late to bring the vibrant color of flowers and foliage to your summer garden with some plants we found at Larsen Farm Nursery (503-638-8600). Ryan Seely has filled the demonstration patio at the nursery in Wilsonville with tons of exotic and not so exotic plants for people to look at. He showed Judy some of the best of the best. These favorites included the Lily of the Nile/Agapanthus ‘Elaine’, Mandevilla ‘Red Riding Hood’, Canna ‘Tropicana’, Bougainvillea ‘Purple Queen’, Hibiscus ‘Cherie’ and the Colocasia or Taro. There is still a lot of summer left and you can dress up your deck or patio with great tropical color for months to come.  (Original air date: 8/9/08)

Garden Pot Recycling

If you are a gardener you probably have a stack of those black nursery pots hanging out in your potting shed or garage. Instead of throwing those in the garbage can we found a business in Brooks Oregon that recycles all types of agricultural plastics. Agri-plas (503-390-2381) collects plastics from various garden retailers and growers and recycles the plastic for other uses. Some of the plastic ends up in other products like bender board and some is re-used in the manufacturing of new garden pots and containers. They even deal in milk jugs, soft drink bottles and plastic sheeting. If you would like to clean out your garage and help the environment at the same time check out this list of garden centers where you can drop off your old pots.  LIST  (Original air date: 8/9/08)

Hewlett Packard Gardens

Large businesses around the country are looking to go green. In the high-tech industry this has become very important. One of the leaders in the ‘green’ movement has been Hewlett Packard. This push for more environmentally friendly practices doesn’t stop at the door; it has moved out on to the grounds at many of the Hewlett Packard campuses. We stopped by the Vancouver campus to look at some of the flower and vegetable gardens the employees have put together. Hewlett Packard has supported employee gardens on their campuses for over 25 years and it must be popular, they have a waiting list for spaces. The Vancouver site has 35 garden plots and 20 corn plots. If an employee grows more than they can use they can leave the extra for other employees at stations around the facility. It is a great example of a big company and employees working together to make a better world where they work.
(Original air date: 8/9/08)

Garden Lights

Extending your outdoor entertaining into the evening in the late summer and early fall is easy. All you need to do is add a little light! We found a great assortment of solar and passive lights at the Greenhouse Catalog (800-825-1925). These lights need no plugs or power; they get their energy from the sun. There are also a bunch that are powered by batteries for those typical northwest cloudy days. We saw all-weather Chinese lanterns, garden stakes and even one that floats in a bowl! If you are looking for some colorful night time accents for your garden, check out their website or give them a call.  (Original air date: 8/9/08)

Night Blooming Plants

With people working longer hours, it is hard to enjoy that garden you have worked so hard to create.  Enjoyment of your summer garden can extend into the twilight hours and longer if you design a garden with a group of special plants.  Certain plants have characteristics that make them perfect for night time gardens.  Erica from Garland Nursery (1-800-296-6601) took us on a tour of her garden where she has plants that show off in the late evening.   For an evening garden you want to look at plants that are white, silver or variegated.  There are also plants that bloom in the evening or become fragrant later in the day.  You can also add hardscaping that can reflect moonlight or ambient light.  Erica showed off some of the plants she has chosen to include in her garden.  Plants included an Annabelle Hydrangea, a variegated hosta, honey suckle, and a porcelain vine that was planted with a Star Jasmine.  In another part of her garden she had nicotiana, Angels Trumpet, Four o’clocks (which start to bloom at 4 o’clock), foxglove and stargazer lilies, all excellent plants for a night time garden.  If you are looking for some reading material about night time gardens you can get the book, ‘The Evening Garden’ by Peter Loewer from Timber Press (1-800-327-5680, ), or you can stop by your local garden center for help.  (Original air date: 8/2/08)

Smith Summer Jam

Saving the taste of summer is made easy if you capture the flavor in a homemade jam or jelly.  Joelle from Smith Berry Barn (503-628-2172) invited us into her kitchen to show us how quick and easy it is to make a jam from fresh fruit.  All we needed was 3 ingredients, fresh fruit, pectin and a sweetener.  The pectin we used was Pomona Universal Pectin which is great because you can use any type of sweetener (Equal, Splenda, Honey or even Steevia), so it is great for diabetics.  First we crushed the berries and then added the pectin, next we added the calcium mixture (part of the Pomona product) to our sweetener.  After bringing the fruit to a boil we added the calcium/sweetener to the pot and kept stirring.  After a couple of minutes we pulled the mixture off the stove and poured it into out containers (in this case it was sterilized jars).  Joelle went one step further when she added a sprig of lavender to the mix during cooking to add an additional unique flavor.  If you would like to try this at home, you can call Smith Berry Barn, or pick up a packet of Pomona’s Pectin; the instructions are in the box.  (Original air date: 8/2/08)

Summer Roses

A lot of flowers are looking tired in the garden right now, but there are some flowers that are showing off in spite of the heat.  We stopped by Heirloom Roses (503-538-1576) to see a few roses that are loving the weather.  Louise took us out into the garden to see 3 different roses that are in full bloom.  The first one was ‘Rosa Moschata’ which is rumored to be the famous ‘musk rose’ that Shakespeare referred to in some of his plays.  It is a large rose that smells like cloves when in full bloom.  The other varieties included ‘Good Ol’ Summertime’ and one of our favorites, ‘The Impressionist’.  Louise also gave us some tips for keeping our roses in shape during this time of year.  You should deadhead your roses (cut off the old, dead blooms) to promote new flowers; give them a boost of a balanced fertilizer and lots of water.  If you are looking for more information you can always give them a call, or better yet stop by during the big annual sale August 8-10 for a deal on some great roses.  (Original air date: 8/2/08)

Terrestrial Waterbowl

A few weeks ago we learned how to build a water bowl in less than 5 minutes with Eamonn Hughes at Hughes Water Gardens (503-638-1709).  This time we returned to learn about his ‘surf and turf’ special.  What we are talking about is combining a water feature and a planter in one pot.  First Eamonn showed us a miniature fountain that contained a mushroom-like feature in the center of it.  This is placed in a large planter.  Then we started to add plants around it.  These plants don’t have to be water plants because we treat the rest of the container as if it were a regular planter.  Once everything is planted we dressed the area around the fountain to hide the edges and then we plugged in the fountain.  It was done in less than 10 minutes!  It is a great way to enjoy the best of both worlds, and planter and a fountain.  If you are near Hughes you can see more of these little combination pots and enjoy the final weekend of the 6th Annual Waterlily Festival and Invitational Art show (through August 3rd).  (Original air date: 8/2/08)

GardenTime.TV

So many people say they like the Garden Time TV show and are asking how they can get more information about stories on the show and other gardening information that William and Judy took everyone on a tour of the website.  But since you are reading this you have probably explored the site already.  If you haven’t you can go back to the home page and learn about places to go, projects to do, and soon, Garden Time apparel.  You can also see some of the stories you have missed in our streaming video area. 

And here is an insider secret for people who read this far down the page: You can now get to see some of the stories before the show airs on Saturday.  You can go to YouTube and look up the GardenGuy06 page.  Once you are there you can subscribe to the page.  Then, every week when we post the videos (usually on Wednesday or Thursday) you will receive an e-mail and you can go to the YouTube sight and see the stories before anyone else!  Also, don’t forget to check out our blog to hear from William and Judy about their gardens and behind the scenes stuff about the show.  (Original air date: 8/2/08)

Hughes Waterlily Festival and Invitational Art Show

It is time for the 6th annual Waterlily Festival and Invitational Art Show at Hughes Water Gardens (503-638-1709). Eamonn joined us to tell us about the festival that is happening from today until the 3rd of August. If you drop by you will see a huge assortment of waterlilies and other aquatic plants, seminars, tropical treats and guided tours. On July 31st, you can enjoy Bloom night and see the largest collection of the spectacular night-blooming Victoria Lilies. This year they are going to try and ‘trick’ the flowers into blooming earlier for everyone. Also at the nursery, over 30 regional artists will be exhibiting their art in the garden. It is a great way to see how art can enhance your garden or water feature. We had a chance to visit with Michael David Neilson, an artist who works with fabric and bamboo. He has incorporated some of the existing trees and plants into his designs. Stop by and check out the festivities!  (Original air date: 7/26/08)

Hot Lips Soda

If you are hooked on ordinary fountain soda we have one that will make you change your mind. We found a line of fruit sodas that are made locally that will knock your socks off. Hot Lips Pizza has always worked with local farmers to get the freshest products for their pizzas and they decided a couple of years ago that they wanted to create a fresh beverage and patronize local growers at the same time. David Yudkin joined us to tell us about Hot Lips Soda and how they came to bottle it for everyone. Hot Lips Soda (503-224-2069) only uses fresh locally grown berries and fruit. It is probably the only soda that contain pulp (and fiber), and drinking it is like eating fresh fruit. To learn where you can get some and for more information check out their website.  (Original air date: 7/26/08)

Dancing Oaks Festival

We paid a visit to a nursery that we had heard a lot about. Dancing Oaks (503-838-6058) is considered a ‘must see’ nursery if you are in the mid-Willamette Valley. Leonard, one of the owners, gave us a tour and we found out why! The nursery covers 7 acres and is full of display gardens and plants for purchase. We saw a couple of the plants that were looking good in the gardens. The first one was the Purple Appleberry (Billardiera longiflora). This is an evergreen vine that grows to about 15 feet. It starts its show in mid-spring with yellow flowers then ends up in mid-summer with tons of purple fruit. It’s a real showy plant. Next we saw the Sea Holly (Eryngium planum) which was in a bed combined with some other contrasting color plants. The Sea Holly really stands out with spiky, steel blue flowers. It has a sharp character that contrasts nicely with softer foliage plants. Finally we saw the Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia uvaria), also known as the Torch Lily, which is represented by many bright colors and not just the traditional red. It’s also a great nectar plant for many types of birds. If you would like to see the gardens, this Saturday is the perfect time to stop by. On July 26th the nursery will be hosting their 11th annual Summer Garden Festival. You can enjoy live music, fresh baked pies and a portion of all proceeds will benefit the local charter school. Stop by and enjoy the day.  (Original air date: 7/26/08)

Jan’s August Tips

It is the middle of August and we found Jan in her vegetable garden once again. We watched her harvest some of the radishes she planted a month ago with her grandson. She also told us that now is the time to cut back your June-bearing strawberries. You can cut them down and fertilize them so they can set fruit for next year. Also, if you are losing blooms off of your tomatoes or squash, that is normal and is caused by the temperature fluctuations earlier this summer. Then we saw Jan cut her newly harvested radishes into rosettes for a cold water bath. We also saw what sun scorch looked like on your berries and how one of her clematis plants made a miraculous recovery. If you are looking for more mid-summer information for your garden, check out the OSU extension website.  (Original air date: 7/26/08)

Garland Art in the Garden

If you are looking for something of interest in your garden that doesn’t require watering, you may be thinking of garden art. The local garden art scene is packed with talented people and you can see many of them this weekend at Garland Nursery (1-800-296-6601) in Corvallis. Erica told Judy about the 28 local artists that will be displaying all types of art including paintings, metal work, stained glass, wood carving and stone work. They will also have food and wine tasting on both Saturday and Sunday from 10-4. If you are down in the Albany or Corvallis area, stop and check it out.  (Original air date: 7/19/08)

Daylily Care

One of the best bloomers in the summer garden is the Daylily. When all the other flowers are looking a little tired, this flower comes on strong and looks great. We caught up with Gail Austin the retired grower of these plants to learn about the rules for growing these successfully. The first rule we learned was that there are NO rules. You can plant them at any time; you can dig and divide them at any time. If you do it in the heat of the summer you will need to water more, but other than that, they are very resilient. Speaking of the heat; the bloom is slightly affected by the heat, but remember they only bloom for only one day! The next day there is a new bloom to great you. If you have questions for Gail you can contact her through her blog or attend her last open garden of the year on Saturday, July 19th.  (Original air date: 7/19/08)

Red Pig Tools

This pig can dig! After years of constant grumbling about the quality of hand tools available to the gardener, we were eager to meet with Bob Denman of Red Pig Tools (503-663-9404). Bob and his wife have a long history of developing and building hand tools. Bob is an expert blacksmith and he gave us a demonstration on how he builds a trowel. He explained how he reinforces certain parts of the tool so it stays stronger and lasts longer. He is also an inventor and showed us the different types of trowels he has developed. If you would like to see some of their tools you can stop by their store near Boring, Oregon off of highway 26, it is a cute old barn that Bob built himself. Or you can check out their website. Either way you will be very happy with the garden tools you will find.  (Original air date: 7/19/08)

Sunburned Plants

The Truth About Organics

Jeff Gillman is a university researcher and author. He has written a couple of books for Timber Press (1-800-327-5680), but this one is creating a buzz in the gardening world. He takes a non-biased look at organics in his book, The Truth about Organics. He has looked at the organic craze and found some interesting facts concerning chemicals, organics and all-natural products. He has found that there are chemicals that should be avoided at all costs, but he also found that some of the all-natural elements are mined minerals and can eventually be depleted over time. Also, some people can over-use ‘home’ remedies and cause more damage than good. If you are trying to get rid of a weed or 2 it may be better to use a chemical product in a small quantity, than to pour a salt or vinegar solution on the weed. The salt/vinegar solution may cause more long term damage to your soil than the chemical. To learn more about his research, check out his book from Timber Press or his university website.  (Original air date: 7/19/08)

Table Top Gardener

Our trip to the tool shed this week features a potting bench for those that are limited on space. The Table Top Gardener portable potting tray is made by the Argee Corporation and is perfect for those who like to garden but don’t have the space for a big potting bench or greenhouse. It has raised sides to keep everything (soil, fertilizer and plants) contained. It is also light weight so you can pick it up and carry it to the area you are working in or out to the garden. It is also good for craft projects indoors. You can get it locally at the Greenhouse Catalog (800-825-1925) in Brooks.  (Original air date: 7/19/08)

If you are looking to add fish to your pond or water feature there are some things you should be thinking about. We visited with Eamonn Hughes of Hughes Water Gardens (503-638-1709) to learn how to introduce them to your pond successfully. First, make sure that the pH of your water can support the fish. Next, determine the size of fish that the pond can support. Also, you will want to create an environment for them to thrive. This includes areas for them to hide from predators, and determining the type and amount of food you need to provide. You can even add fish to small water features or water bowls. If you have any questions give the staff at Hughes a call.  (Original air date: 7/12/08)

It is not too late to plant and enjoy the color from summer bulbs. Usually you have to have them in the ground by early spring to get summer color, but when we stopped and talked to Yolanda Wilson from VanVeen Bulbs (888-289-2852) she told us how to trick the plant so we can still get color by late summer or early fall. She places them in a cooler so they think it is winter. Then when you take them out they start to grow and in 6-8 weeks you get great color. She also showed us some of the plants that are looking good right now. Plants we saw were Canna ‘Cleopatra’, Color Calla Lilies, Canna ‘Durban’, and Lily ‘Conca D’Or’. You can find these plants and more at the VanVeen booth at the Portland Farmers Market, Beaverton Saturday Market and the Hillsdale Farmers Market.  (Original air date: 7/12/08)

Just when it seems too hot to be outside there is a place you can go to relax and stay cool, the Portland Classical Chinese Garden (503-228-8131). It is also a great place to check out some great summer color. Glin from the horticulture staff joined us to show us some of the great plants that you will find blooming right now. The first plant was the Hypericum ‘Hidcote’. This plant is covered in waves of blooms. It is very hardy and can handle full sun; in fact the highway department uses this plant along roads because it needs very little maintenance. Right next to that plant was the Clematis montana, var. wilsonii. This clematis is growing through a magnolia and is loving it there. Finally we saw the Rose ‘La Sevillana’. Normally you wouldn’t see too many roses in a classic Chinese garden, but since this is the city of roses the designers decided they needed one here. Also, a ‘normal’ classical garden would only have around 50 species of plants, but in Portland you have over 500 to enjoy! If you need a place to relax and enjoy summer color, check out the Portland Classical Chinese Garden.  (Original air date: 7/12/08)

Even though we are in the ‘summer’ season, there are nights where we still get a chill. To take the chill off we stopped at Little Baja (503-432-8959) to look at the ‘Baja Chimney’, an outdoor fireplace for your deck or patio. Wayne gave us a couple of tips for making your chimney last for years and years. Always start your fire small and let the chimney slowly warm up. Never use a metal poker, it can damage the clay and cause cracks. When burning a fire, use a hard wood or pressed log. This will minimize the ‘popping’ of softer woods, and never burn garbage in the chimney. Finally make sure you keep all combustibles away from the area around your fire. Little Baja will also help you in selecting a metal fire pit or instructions on how to create your own. Stop by for instructions and tips.  (Original air date: 7/12/08)

Last week we talked to Ross from Tuesday Morning (503-699-8954) stores about making over your patio for $250 or less. This week we talked to him about the 3 hot trends for outdoor entertaining. Trend #1, people want value. With the weak economy people want a bang for their buck. They can get that at Tuesday Morning, a great discount store. Trend #2, people are looking to be more environmentally responsible. This means living ‘green’ whenever possible and being earth friendly. You can do that by using products that are easily renewable, like bamboo. Ross showed us some bamboo products that included towels, mats, furniture and utensils. Finally, trend #3; people want ideas and options for outdoor entertaining. Since people are trying to save money by staying home they are looking for ways to entertain in style. We saw portable ice makers, margarita makers, bar-b-q supplies and beer machines. Stop by one of the many Tuesday Morning stores for more ideas.  (Original air date: 7/12/08)

One Weekend Wonder - Easy Garden Retaining Wall

One of the easiest ways to build a raised bed for your garden is to use Stack Stones from Mutual Materials (888-688-8250). They are easy to find, come in different colors and styles, and they look good when you are finished. We met with Ron to get some tips on building a simple retaining wall. First you measure out the area where you want your wall. Then you dig a trench for the base of the wall, this will make the first row of bricks more stable. Next you pour a layer of crushed rock in the trench and tamp it down so it creates a solid base. Starting at the lowest part of the wall, you set your first row of stones in the trench making sure they are level to the ground and to each other. The first base is the most important because it is the basis for the rest of the wall. Once you have that first row done, you can stack the rest of the stones on top. The tongue and grove of the bricks helps hold them in place. If you are looking for a larger wall or you are in need of holding back a large volume of soil you should check out some of the other types of bricks and stones that Mutual Materials has to offer. For ideas and simple how-to instructions you can give them a call or check out their website.  (Original air date: 7/5/08)

Hardy Orchids

Most people think that orchids are a hard plant to grow indoors and even harder to grow outdoors. But here in the northwest we even have native orchids that are very easy to grow and are very forgiving. Sean from Hana Farms (503-638-0985) in West Linn walked through a couple of the more interesting orchids he has at the nursery. The first one was the very unique ‘Northern Marsh Orchid’ or Dactylorhiza purpurella with a tight grouping of blooms at the top of the stem. We then saw to other natives called Stream Orchids or Epipactis gigantean. These looked more like the orchid blooms we are familiar with except one had green foliage and the other had purple foliage. Of course Sean also has a bunch of the Japanese hybrid, bietilla. If you ever have any questions you can contact Sean and he will be more than happy to help you! 
(Original air date: 7/5/08)

$250 Patio Makeover

With the high cost of gas more people are deciding to stay at home and vacation in their backyard. If you have decided to do that we had some ideas for refreshing the look of your deck or patio for $250 or less. Ross Manning from Tuesday Morning (503-699-8954) joined William to share his ideas for changing your outdoor entertaining area. Tuesday Morning is a chain of discount stores that buy high quality over-stocked items from other stores. Ross brought his recipe for a successful re-design, FAAST. The F stands for Flooring. Look at the type of flooring you want based on wear and tear and style. The 1st A stands for Accessories. With your established base (flooring) you want to build on that look or feeling that you want to achieve. The 2nd A stands for Accents. Look to add accents that help with mood or comfort. Candles, plants, and lighting are all good accents for achieving mood. The S stands for Seating. What type of chairs do you want, maybe benches would work better. Which type of table works with it all? And finally, the T stands for Topical and Timely. What are the hot trends in the garden right now? What is your style? Don’t be afraid to experiment. Ross set up 2 different vignettes to demonstrate these points for us. If you are looking to make a splash this summer, look at your patio and stop by Tuesday Morning for ideas. 
(Original air date: 7/5/08)

Monnier New Varieties

For a plant person the most exciting thing is to see the introduction of a new variety of plant. Ron Monnier of Monnier’s Country Gardens (503-981-3384) is a leading grower of fuchsias and he invited us out to take a look at some of the new varieties that he has developed. A hybridizer crosses different plants looking to develop new plants with combined the best characteristics of the parent plants. Most times you end up with a lot of losers and only a few winners. Ron looked at plants that had good blossom color and shape. Once he had some of those, he then looked at growth habit. Does the plant perform well in the garden or in a container? After all that work he shared his newest selections with us. These selections are all named Debron, short for Debbie and Ron Monnier. These selections included ‘Madison Mae’, Tonii Nichole’, ‘Kaite Belle’, ‘Austin Allan’, ‘Beau Dean Richard’, ‘Hokey Pokey’ and ‘Party Girls’ (named for Debbie and her friends). Right now these varieties are only available at Monnier’s and are being tested for hardiness in their garden, but you can still take one home. If you have any questions or would like to tour their gardens give them a call and set up a time to go out there and see them, they have tours most days. 
(Original air date: 7/5/08)

Some gardeners think that you are limited in the amount of materials you can choose from for a shady spot in your garden. To find out the truth we traveled to Extra Perennial Nursery (503-628-1492) in Scholls to learn more. Sharon Korpowski talked to William about enhanced shade woodland gardens and what that means. An enhanced shade garden is one where you combine plant material that has similar growing requirements into a landscape, working with nature instead of against it. She talked about pulling your eye from the woodland canopy to the forest floor and how you can use plantings to draw the eye around your garden. You can also use structure in your garden to create small vignettes to look at. If it sounds confusing, it is really simple. If you need help for your woodland area, stop by and see Sharon or Ken at Extra Perennial Nursery.  (Original air date: 7/5/08)

2nd Annual Clackamas County Lavender Festival

Ever wonder where they get the flower scents for your favorite soaps and perfumes? We returned to the Oregon Lavender Farm to see the lavender fields and to chat about the upcoming festival where you can visit a flower distillery to see how they steam the essential oils out of flowers to bring fragrance to your favorite toiletries. Jim Dierking from Liberty Natural Products (800-289-8427) told us about how you can come out and help harvest the first crop for distillation. Then you can get your chance to see the machinery in action at the 2nd annual Clackamas County Lavender Festival at the Oregon Lavender Farm near Oregon City. They will have demonstrations of the equipment plus a full slate of other events. You can taste Oregon beers and wine, listen to bluegrass music, and enjoy lavender theme treats like the lavender chicken and ice cream that we were able to enjoy! This is a one day event; happening Saturday only, so don’t miss it.  (Original air date: 6/28/08)

Drake Pond First Aid

The summer heat has returned and that means that your algae has returned to your pond too. Lynn from Drake's 7 Dees (503-256-2223) put together a ‘first aid’ kit for the homeowner so they can tackle and get rid of that algae problem. First she recommended Algae Fix, this will kill your algae and not hurt your fish or animals. Next, Algae Clear will grab that floating dead algae and sink it to the bottom of the pond. MicroLift will then help the sludge at the bottom of the pond decompose. If you are looking for a completely organic solution you can try one of the many ‘barley’ products that are available. Also, don’t forget the Mosquito Dunks to keep the mosquito population in check.

Then we turned our attention to the plants and pond designs that you can use in your garden. We saw a couple of kid friendly water features they have on display. These don’t have standing water and so there is no way to fall into them. We also looked at a simple water bowl and how that can bring the joy of water gardening right to your doorstep. Some of the plants she recommended included Colocasia elepio ‘Variegated Elephant Ear’ or ‘Milky Way’, Lobelia – Cardinal Flower, Society Garlic, Canna and Marsh Marigold. We also saw how easy it is to set a lotus bowl up. If you have questions they have a seminar on Saturday, June 28th at 10:00am, or you can stop by anytime to have your questions answered. 
(Original air date: 6/28/08)

Gartner’s Summer Sizzle

It is finally summer and that means time to head outside and enjoy some of this wonderful weather at the grill. First we have to set the table, so to speak, with a cute and festive centerpiece. Deb Yost walked Judy through the simple and easy steps to create one. Deb found everything we needed at a local dollar store. Deb found a decorative hat, some flags, a couple of reflective tassels and a couple of pinwheels. She punched a hole in the top of the hat and then arranged the festive parts into a grouping and put them in the center of the hat. She also added a couple of fresh tulips for effect. The hat covered a small vase which held water for the flowers.

Then we headed to the grill where Jerry from Gartner’s Meats (503-252-7801) gave us some grilling tips. The big question this time was how do you get different meats to finish grilling at the same time. Jerry recommended that you start your thicker meats like chicken and steaks about 20 minutes before your put on your ribs, burgers or thin cuts of meat. The hotdogs and sausages should go on last. Since they are already cooked they can hit the grill for the last 5 minutes, just enough to heat them up and give them some grill marks. If you are looking for some great meats to impress your guests on the 4th, stop by Gartner’s and check out their fine selection.  (Original air date: 6/28/08)

6th Annual Berry Festival

The cold weather has made everything late this season. The flowers have been blooming later and the fruits are also delayed. But the hot weather has arrived just in time. We previewed the 6th Annual Berry Festival at Smith Berry Barn (503-628-2172) and found out that there will be plenty of berries for the festival. Joelle showed William the star of the show so far, the Hood strawberry. This is one of the first berries available from the farm and it is delicious. She also had some Cascade Dawn raspberries and some Tayberries. The Tayberry is a cross between the raspberry and the blackberry. The festival is a one-day event that takes place on the 4th of July and offers live music, face painting, a petting zoo and sampling of some gourmet foods. If you are looking for fresh berries for canning, they have what you need. You can check out the website each day to see what they have available and you can also find recipes for canning and preserving those delicious fruits.  (Original air date: 6/28/08)

Jan’s June Tips

This month we found Jan in the veggie garden. She was doing some late planting to show us that there is still time to get your vegetable garden planted. As a retired OSU extension agent she knows that this cold spring has only delayed her garden. She was planting radishes which are a quick grower and will be up soon. She also brought in some plants, like tomatoes, peppers and basil, which were started in a greenhouse so she can get a running start to her garden. We then moved into the greenhouse to look at her flower seeds and how she was taking cuttings from some of her other garden plants. If you are looking for additional tips for your veggie garden check out the OSU website or call your local extension office. 
(Original air date: 6/28/08)

PCCG Water Plants

You can tell when summer is starting at the Portland Classical Chinese Garden (503-228-8131); they bring the water lilies and lotus back to Lake Zither. William joined Bill from the staff to chat about the lotus and how they get them to look so good so early in the season. The PCCG takes the lotus out of the lake late in the fall and keeps them in a warm greenhouse during the cold months of winter. This gives them a head start on the spring. Normally the home gardener can hope for blooms in late summer and early fall, but you can see the blooms starting now at the Garden. They also divide them once every three years and fertilize the plants three times each year. The lotus is significant to Chinese culture in many ways. They are prized as a food source and for the uniform beauty of the bloom. To learn more, stop by the Portland Classical Chinese Garden and take a tour.  (Original air date: 6/21/08)

Simple Drip Irrigation

Being green doesn’t mean you can’t have a beautiful garden. It means you should be responsible with the resources that you use. A drip irrigation system is a great way to use your water more efficiently. Mark from Al’s Garden Center (503-726-1162) showed William how easy it is to build a drip system with supplies that many garden centers carry. First Mark recommended that you figure out the amount of water that your system can provide. Use a bucket to see how many gallons per minute you can get. Then you can use that number to figure out how many drip emitters you can use. There are 2 types of emitters that you can use; a slow drip and a small sprayer. Once you have figured out the number of emitters you want, you just punch a hole in the tubing, attach the small emitter and place it in the plant. If you have any questions you can check with your local independent garden center. Call first to make sure they have all the parts you need.  (Original air date: 6/21/08)

Worm Bins

We are talking about healthy gardens and with this story it all begins with poop. Worm Poop (or castings) to be exact. Compost bins and worm bins are one of the best ways to help the environment and your garden at the same time. We stopped by the Greenhouse Catalog (800-825-1925) to see some of the different ways you can recycle your yard and kitchen debris to create an all natural fertilizer. Michelle started by showing us the Worm Factory. It is a stacked composter. As you add waste you add more trays and as the worms eat their way higher you can use the lower trays in your garden or containers. You can also use the overflow fluids from the composter as a liquid fertilizer. Next we saw the Pet Poo Converter. This composter is designed for the pet owner. You just add the dog droppings to the bin and the worms take care of those as well and convert that into rich fertilizer. The Greenhouse Catalog also has worms for sale to give your composter a quick start. You can also get a compost caddy for under your sink to hold the scraps until you make the trip to your compost bin. Check out all the different types of composters and supplies on-line or give them a call.  (Original air date: 6/21/08)

Dog Landscaping

Having a welcoming garden for you and your pet can be a challenge sometimes. We went to one of the local experts in landscaping, ProGrass (800-776-4727), to get some tips to help you and your pet. Steve walked Judy through a yard to show her some of the things that the pet-owner can do to create a safe pet environment. First we looked at shade areas. Pets love to lay in the shade on those hot days so provide an area for them to do that. Next, protect your annuals from being damaged by using pots and containers when possible. Because animals like to dig use a solid fencing that can keep them in and remember to add a base so they can’t dig under the fence. Hardscaping with stone or brick instead of wood decking will help protect their paws and is lower maintenance for you as well. Also be careful about using edging so they don’t cut their paws on that. If you have urine burns in your lawn, just use a grass seed and mulch to fill those holes. Finally, pick all-natural or organic products to create a chemical free environment for your pet. If you have any more questions you can contact ProGrass or your local garden center. 
(Original air date: 6/21/08)

Spring Mulching

Now is the time to apply a good layer of mulch to your garden. Jeff Grimm from Grimm’s Fuel (503-636-3623) joined us to talk about the different types of mulches you can get for your garden beds. In the past, people liked the red, fresh color of a new Fir or Hemlock mulch. This type will age to a grey color and will help keep the weeds in check. The problem is that they tend to pull nitrogen from your soil as the wood breaks down and that leaves less for your plants. The other problem this year is availability. The wood based mulches are harder to come by due to the housing market, fuel costs and timber harvesting. The new popular mulch is Garden Mulch. This is a nice dark color and it will help your garden by providing nutrients for your plants. Grimm’s has all the different types of mulches and can deliver them in bulk or can even blow them in so the work is done and you save your back!  (Original air date: 6/21/08)

Tsugawa Strawberry Festival

Hughes Water Bowl

Adding a water feature to your garden, deck or patio may not be as expensive or time consuming as you think. We went to Hughes Water Gardens (503-638-1709) to learn how easy and inexpensive it is to assemble a small water bowl. Eamonn Hughes showed us how easy it is to create a beautiful water feature with a small list of ingredients including a bowl, pump, rocks and a few plants. The plants he used included Canna “Watermelon”, Columbia Sedge, water lettuce and fairy moss. In less than 15 minutes you can create a simple water feature that can live indoors or outdoors and provide unending joy. 
(Original air date: 6/14/08)

Cornell Succulents

Strawberry Pots

Tool Shed - Big Daddy Driver

Heirloom Rose Days

We paid a visit to Heirloom Roses (503-538-1576) for their Rose Days event.  Heirloom not only grows roses, they also hybridize new varieties and this weekend you can get a sneak peak at some of the thousands they have growing for the future.  In addition to the roses, you can catch seminars from local gardening experts, enjoy the gift shop and stroll the huge display gardens.  One of the seminars this weekend will cover rose pests and how to control them.  Chris showed William a couple of pests and told us whether we should worry about them or not.  The biggest damage to their roses was from the local deer.  Deer love to munch on roses and Heirloom has a recipe that you can spray on your roses to deter the deer from snacking.  If you want to learn more about pests or need the recipe give them a call.  Or better yet, stop by, see and smell the best roses in the state!  (Original air date: 6/7/08)

Herb Pots

Growing your own vegetables and herbs are very popular right now.  So to learn how to make an herb pot we went to one of the local experts, Rosie Sullivan from N & M Nursery (503-981-9060).  Rosie, and her husband Sean, grow herb and perennials that they sell at the Beaverton Farmers Market  and to local garden centers around the area.  She showed us how to plant up 2 different kinds of planters, one for cooking herbs, and one for salads and teas.  First, Judy tried to help by handing her cilantro.  Rosie recommends that you keep the cilantro separate.  It is such a short lived annual that you should cut it and use it 4-5 times and then just compost the plant.   In the culinary herb pot you can include African Blue Basil, chives, sweet basil, Rosemary, Oregano, thyme and sage.  In the salad and tea pot she included saliva, mint (keep it in a pot, it spreads), Stevia (natures sugar) and lavender.  Try building your own herb pot this spring and enjoy fresh herbs all summer long.  (Original air date: 6/7/08)

Tuesdays by Twilight

One of the most beautiful public gardens in the state is the Portland Classical Chinese Garden (503-228-8131).  It is constantly changing year-round.  But there is one time of year where you can see the garden in a different light and that is at night.  The garden looks totally different at twilight and the best way to see it is during the ‘Tuesdays by Twilight’ concert series.  Gloria Lee told Judy about some of the great groups that will be appearing, including the Vancouver Music Ensemble, which plays music on traditional Chinese instruments, and Darrell Grant and the One-O’clock Jump.  There will be food and drinks available for sale during the concert.  The Garden Time crew has enjoyed the garden at twilight many times and it is really something to see.  For more information about the concerts and how to buy tickets you can check out the Portland Classical Chinese Garden website.  (Original air date: 6/7/08)

Evison Clematis

If you are looking for plants to bring height, color and texture to your garden the clematis is the one most gardeners look to.  Raymond Evison is one of the top hybridizers of this beautiful plant and he was in town recently to promote his new book by Timber Press (1-800-327-5680), ‘Clematis for Small Spaces’.  As the name implies he is introducing newer varieties for smaller garden and patios.  He met with Judy at the Al’s Garden Center in Sherwood to talk about how gardeners can achieve success in growing clematis.  Al’s is carrying some of his newer introductions this spring, but you can find beautiful clematis at any local garden center.  Raymond talked about the newer varieties that deliver lots of flowers over the longest period of time in your garden.  He also talked about his tips for planting clematis.  First he recommended that you dig an 18 x 18 inch hole, and then amend the soil with old potting mix or compost.  If you are using a container, pick one that has thick wall and good drainage.  Don’t use a plastic pot, they get too hot and will damage or kill your plant.  Next soak the plant in the container for 20 minutes before you plant it.  This will make sure it has a good long drink before it goes in the ground and will help it survive transplant shock.  Finally, plant your clematis 2-3 inches deeper than the crown.  Most plants don’t like being planted this deep, but the clematis will thrive if you do.  If you have more questions you can find the answers in his book. 
(Original air date: 6/7/08)

Larsen Hardscapes

To create a backyard entertainment area most people focus on the plants.  But adding a hardscape, a patio, wall or other features, will really help to focus your decorating ideas into one space.  Ryan at Larsen Farm Nursery (503-638-8600) showed us how to you can create a finished hardscape by addressing 3 things.  First, the patio area.  The patio becomes the focal point of entertaining if you have a nice solid surface to stand on.  Larsen Farm has a great display area that showcases a bunch of different brick and paver styles so you can get some ideas for a patio area.  Next we talked about water features.  Adding the sound of water to your garden creates a nice background ambient noise that is gentle and soothing.  It can be easy to do with a simple fountain or water feature.  Finally, the finishing touches included some iron railings.  Larsen Farm works with a company that creates railings in panels.  You just set the posts and the rails just bolt right in.  You could be done in a couple of hours.  Of course, if you don’t want to tackle these projects yourself they have contractors that can do the job for you.  If you have questions be sure to check out the free hardscaping seminar today (June 7th) at the Sherwood store at 11:30.  (Original air date: 6/7/08)

Schreiner’s Iris Gardens

In one of the flukes of the season, the Keizer Iris festival is over, but the iris blooms are just hitting their peak.  We stopped by Schreiner’s Iris Gardens (1-800-525-2367) and found that the blooms are just starting to pop.  Steve Schreiner took us out to the display garden and showed us how some of the blooms have been slowed down by the cold spring weather.  We also saw the latest edition of the Martha Stewart magazine that is featuring the iris fields in the current edition.  We then headed indoors to see the fabulous cut flower display.   The scent in the room was intoxicating.  People forget that most iris have a wonderful smell.  Schreiner’s even has a fragrant collection that you can order for your own garden.  The cut flowers are also wonderful because they are all labeled and are easy to see even if you have limited mobility.  Iris also make great cut flowers and Steve showed us how you can make them last longer in your house.  If you want to see the fields or the display garden you have more time to do so.  Schreiner’s has extended their show until the 8th of June.  Stop by and check out all the colors!  (Original air date: 5/31/08)

Stacked Pots

Are you ‘space challenged’ when it comes to your patio or deck?  Instead of spreading out your planters, consider going up!  Donna Wright of Black Gold showed us how to stack your pots to add height to your plantings.  We used smaller pots on top of larger pot and built layers of 3.  We showed you how to build one with color, but you can also make one filled with herbs to keep outside on your deck to use whenever you are cooking.  We also used the Black Gold Coco Blend potting soil.  The Coco Blend contains coconut fiber that helps retain water so you water less often.  You can also use the All Organic blend if you are doing the herb pot or just the regular All Purpose, which contains and slow release fertilizer.  If you are looking for a great selection of containers you can check out the huge inventory at Little Baja (503-432-8959).  We found a ton to choose from!  (Original air date: 5/31/08)

Garland New and Notable

It is spring and that means there are a ton of plants that are fighting for our attention.  Lee Powell from Garland Nursery (1-800-296-6601) in Corvallis went through the nursery and found some new and some notable plants for our consideration.  These plants are either new varieties or variations of old favorites.  Some are short and some are tall, but all are beautiful!  The ones he found included Ceanothus ‘Italian Skies’, Cistus ‘Major’, Box Honeysuckle ‘Twiggy’, Heuchera ‘Frosted Violet’, Potentilla ‘Pink Beauty’ and ‘Red Ace’, Salvia ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, Azalea ‘Cannon’s Double’,  and Smoke Bush ‘Royal Velvet’.  Some of these are reaching the end of their bloom cycle but will provide great structure or wonderful fall color too.  If you are looking to add some beauty to your garden that will return year after year you can check out most of these plants at your local independent garden center, or at Garland Nursery! 
(Original air date: 5/31/08)

Garden Remedies

In the quest to be ‘all natural’ or to find the best non-chemical treatments for our garden problems we may be overlooking some of the best remedies in our own kitchen!  Jeff Gillman recently wrote a book for Timber Press (1-800-327-5680) entitled ‘The Truth about Garden Remedies’.  He joined us to talk about what research has found about the most common folk remedies.   First eggs!  Jeff found that the egg is good for deterring deer and also for adding calcium to the soil, but that it is terrible for slug control.  Next we got a remedy that wasn’t in the book.  If you add 1 part milk to 2 parts water and spray your roses once a week with it you can prevent ‘black spot’ on your roses.  We also heard that baking soda will treat powdery mildew (but not black spot), that vinegar and salt are good for weed control and that garlic and hot peppers can be used to fight insects.  Check out the book to learn more about what works and what doesn’t!  (Original air date: 5/31/08)

Cornell Farmers Market

The cold and wet spring has many people thinking that planting a vegetable garden may be in vain this season, but the truth is that you can still plant an entire garden and have plenty of time to harvest and enjoy it.  In fact why not try a new variety of fruit of vegetable?  Rachel from Cornell joined Judy to show us the new Farmers Market at Cornell Farm (503-292-9895).  This area of the nursery has everything that is edible.  Rachel also showed us some of the newer plants they have to offer.  One of her favorites is the Pineapple Guava which has a spectacular bloom and if it is kept in a heated area can produce great fruit.  They also have 2 types of kiwi, peaches and a great selection of blueberries.  We also talked about the Honeyberry and its interesting fruit.  If you are into vegetables you can try the artichoke, Lemon Verbena, Stevia (sweetleaf) or Purple Basil.  If you haven’t planted your garden yet or are looking to try something new, check with Cornell for all that you need for a bountiful harvest.  (Original air date: 5/31/08)

Adelman Peony Blooms

The cold weather has pushed the bloom back on most of the spring flowers, which includes the peony.  Carol Adelman of Adelman Peony Gardens was quick to show us that the peonies have caught up big time!  We paid a visit to see all the blooms and colors that are popping right now.  Carol explained that there are many different styles of blooms and flowers.  There are singles, doubles, bomb-type, Japanese-type and full doubles in all different colors.  A couple varieties that we saw were ‘Salmon Dream’, ‘Red Charm’, ‘Carnation Bouquet’, and ‘Hillary’.  If you are interested in seeing all the different types you can stop by and view the fields while they are in full bloom.  There are plants you can take home, cut flowers for your vases and order forms for planting in the fall.  (Original air date: 5/24/08)

One Weekend Wonder - 4 Simple Trellises

If you are looking to add height to your garden you can buy something, or you can build a simple trellis yourself!  William and Judy walked us through the steps of building a couple of different ones.  The first one was easy.  William used a tomato cage to help his climbing peas.  Judy then showed us the second trellis, which was a simple teepee of bamboo sticks.  She tied them at the top and they made a quick and simple structure.  The third structure was a folding trellis made from PVC pipe.  We cut the pipe into various lengths to fit our garden size.  This one had 3, ¾ inch pipes that were 3 feet long.  These are for the two base pieces and the top.  Then we cut 4 longer pieces (6 foot) these are for the sides.  6 elbows create the square and then we also had 2 tees.  The top of the tee was a bigger size than the rest of the pipe.  This will allow the folding of the trellis when the season is done.  The finishing touch was the string.  Last year we used a hemp string for the plants to climb on.  This quickly broke down and that meant it didn’t work as well as we had hoped.  This year we are using a cotton fiber string, which will give our trellis the strength to give our beans and other climbing plants a good strong base to grow on.  The final one was a simple set-up of eyehooks that were screwed into the post on an arbor that we built a couple of weeks ago.  Then we ran fishing wire through the hooks to make a structure for the plants to climb on.  The fishing wire was invisible to the naked eye and if you are looking for more support you could use a wire, or if you wanted something more ‘earth-friendly’ a hemp string would be good.  Give one (or all of them) a try and see if you can get your gardening ‘off the ground’.  (Original air date: 5/24/08)

Garland Tropical Entertaining

With the cost of gas getting higher everyday you may want to escape to a tropical get-away to forget it all!  The good news is that you can build your tropical paradise in your own backyard.  Lee Powell from Garland Nursery showed us how he was able to assemble a garden retreat with materials he had at the nursery.  First he set the stage with plants.  He had some tropical and some hardy plants that will add that exotic look to your garden.  The ones we saw included the Red Leaved Banana, Gardenia ‘White Gem’, Hibiscus ‘Brilliant’, the Sago Palm, Bougainvillea ‘Orange King’, Plumbago ‘Royal Cape’, and Paraguay Nightshade ‘Sunny Daze’.  He also talked about adding accents to the setting with wine and new place settings.  Lee also mentioned that people can receive help with design if they feel like they are in over their head.  (Original air date: 5/24/08)

Jan’s May Tips

Jan McNeilan our retired OSU extension agent has been given a new name by Judy; she is now the ‘Garden Guru’!  Jan is great at giving us tips and pointers on achieving success in the garden.  This month we talked about some of the things that you should be looking for.  First we talked about the recent heat and how to recognize the heat damage and the burnt leafs of a stressed plant.  It is best to cut off the burned parts of the plant.  The new growth will soon follow and if the damage is not too bad you will have healthy plant again.  If it is a recurring problem then you may need to look at a new plant for that location or move the plant to someplace cooler.  We then talked about transplanting plants that have been in their containers too long and planting the starts from some of your other plants.  If you have a root-bound plant, try to get it out of the container without too much damage, maybe do a little root pruning and then spread the roots out and move it to a larger pot in another location.  Finally, we talked about insect damage and what to look for.  If you are not seeing insect damage, then don’t treat for insect damage.  Remember that if you treat for bad insects you may also be removing those good insects from your garden.  If you ever have any questions you can check with your local extension office or the help desk at your local garden center. 
(Original air date: 5/24/08)

Garden Primer Author

Getting good information about organic gardening is tough.  There are so many different sources of information out there.  We found one of the most comprehensive sources for garden information to help with that problem.  The ‘Garden Primer’ by Barbara Damrosch has been one of the most used garden books for over 20 years and now she has made everything organic in the book so people can get good information from the start.  She joined William to show him how to plant a wonderful organic garden in containers so you can have your veggies at your fingertips later this summer.  If you are looking for a great garden book that you can add to your collection and one that you can use every time you work in your garden, the ‘Garden Primer’ from Workman Publishing is fo you.  (Original air date: 5/24/08)

Rare Plant Unusuals

If you are looking for some interesting plants to add to your garden we found a bunch at Rare Plant Research.  Burl Mostul is always on the look out for new and unusual plants.  William and Judy stopped by and found some very cool plants.  First Judy found a couple that she wanted to share.  The first was a Lewisia cotyledon, a plant that was documented by Lewis and Clark during their journey to Oregon.  It has been hybridized into many different colored varieties.  Then we saw the Caladium ‘Thai Beauty’.  This has an incredible leaf and flower that almost looks fake.  Then William found a couple of his favorites.  The first was a banana called the ‘Musa zebrina’.  This one has deep red spots on the leaves and stays short in your garden, which the old banana varieties don’t do so well.   Finally he had the Tetrapanix papyriferia, which is an incredible plant and it has leaves that are full of detail and structure.  These leaves will get as big as a dinner plate.  If you love Gunnera you will love this one!  If you want to see these plants and possibly buy a couple you can stop by Rare Plant Research during their annual open nursery.  You can also stop by a few other nurseries in the area, Amber Hill Nursery, Pebble Stone Nursery and Nicole Preciado Nursery.  It is happening this weekend from 11am-4pm.  (Original air date: 5/17/08)

Wisteria

We were at Tsugawa Nursery (360-225-8750) to get our questions about wisteria answered.  Brian Tsugawa is a wealth of information and he shared some plant info with us.  Wisteria scares some people because it can grow very fast and overwhelm a garden in a hurry. Brian told us about some of the newer, smaller varieties.  He also recommended the grafted varieties.  These are stronger plants that will bloom quicker and can be trained smaller.  They are just coming into bloom right now and the fragrance is fantastic.  Don’t be afraid of pruning these plants in the fall, they respond well to heavy pruning!  If you have any questions you can contact Brian at Tsugawa’s or any of your local independent garden centers. 
(Original air date: 5/17/08)

Mole Solutions

One of the most common pests in the NW garden is the mole.  They can really tear up your flower bed and lawn.  There are lots of products out there to deter them.  Don Sprague of Don Sprague Sales (1-800-423-0158) told us about a couple of them.  The products that don’t seem to work… the vibrators, the home remedies, the gases and the bombs.  These products don’t always seem to work and they could be dangerous if you don’t read the directions carefully.  You may be doing more harm to your garden than the moles.  The problem with getting rid of moles, if you don’t remove them, they will just leave and will return later.  The best way of getting rid of moles is to trap them.  Don showed us how to use the Cinch Trap.  This product will trap them and remove them forever.  If the moles are in a general area and disturbing your garden then think about leaving them alone.  They are loosening up the soil and that can help your garden in the long run.  (Original air date: 5/17/08)

Worry Free Products

With the push to organics more and more people are asking for products that are effective and don’t harm the environment.  William met with our friend Norm from Lilly Miller and he showed us the newest line of Worry Free Products from Lilly Miller.  The first products are ones that we have become familiar with, the Worry Free Slug and Snail bait, and the Moss and Algae Control.  Now Lilly Miller has a bunch of new products that can help you control almost any pest.  For the garden they have the new 3 in1 Garden Spray and the Garden Insect Control.  Both of these products can naturally control bugs and diseases like the mites and black spot.  They also have an insecticidal soap that will take care of insect eggs too.  The big introduction is the new Weed and Grass Killer which takes care of grasses, broadleaf weeds and is safe to use around pets and wildlife.  Check out these new Lilly Miller products at your local garden center. 
(Original air date: 5/17/08)

Solexx Materials

We have always been impressed with the Solexx brand of Greenhouse.  Now we have found out that the secret of the greenhouse is in the Solexx panels.  Michelle from Solexx (800-825-1925) took us on a tour of the facility and we saw how some of the material is cut and processed.  We also found out that you can buy the material to rejuvenate an old structure if you wanted to.  We went to the house of an employee and saw how they had recycled an old canvas carport by attaching the Solexx material to it to create an incredible greenhouse.  All it took was an idea, some time and a few sheets of Solexx material to create something fantastic.  (Original air date: 5/17/08)

Tool Shed – Circle Hoe

We found a tool at the Oregon Garden that they use in their garden with great success.  It is the Circle Hoe (800-735-4815).  This tool is an improvement over the normal hoe you find in your garden center.  This one has a rounded edge so you don’t damage the plants in your garden.  It also has a sharpened edge on the inside of the circle so it only cuts the weeds.  It also breaks up the soil and cultivates it while you are weeding instead of creating piles or mounds of dirt.  If you are looking for a new hoe or you are tired of damaging your plants while weeding, check out this tool.  (Original air date: 5/17/08)

VaVaVa Bloom

Flowers are the fashion this spring!  That is the theme for the VaVaVa Bloom event happening this weekend at the Bridgeport Village in Tigard right off of I-5.  This is the 2nd annual event and they have a bunch of stuff planned for the gardener.  Spring brings a lot of questions to the gardener.  Well, you can get your questions answered by William and Judy; they will be there from 10-1 on Saturday.  Also, there will be a fashion show at 1:30.  If you are looking for ideas to use in your garden, there will be experts from 7 different garden designers at the Village to answer your questions as well.  Many of the merchants will be offering Mother’s Day specials as well, so stop on by.  (Original air date: 5/10/08)

Planting Tomatoes

Now is the time to plant your tomatoes and there are a few things you can do to ensure a bountiful fall crop. One thing you can do is to plant your tomato deep! Tomatoes will grow roots along their main stem as long as you leave a portion of the leaves above ground. Also, by adding a small amount of garden lime to the soil you can avoid ‘blossom end rot’, a condition that causes a brown spot at the end of your tomato.  It is still a little early so you may want to protect your new plants with a cover, like a cloche, or use a product like a Wall-o-Water.  Don’t forget to set your tomato cages up as well.  Use a couple of these tips now and you will have a great harvest this fall.  (Original air date: 5/10/08)

Overseeding Your Lawn

If you lawn is looking a little thin, now is a good time to overseed.  A recent USA Today survey found that 64% of us think that our neighbors’ lawn looks better than our own.  You can turn that around by using these tips from Micha at JB Instant Lawn and Nursery (800-527-1439).  First, treat for moss and weeds in your lawn.  Then use a de-thatcher to clean-up the dead moss and weeds.  Then use a quality seed that is right for your conditions.  The sun varieties will have a combination of rye grasses; the shade selections will contain a mix of rye and fescue.  Make sure the weed content is close to zero (you don’t want new weeds when overseed).  Then cover with peat moss or a good garden compost to ¼ inch depth, we used a compost delivered by Grimm’s fuel.   You then have to keep the seed moist and don’t let it dry out.  A fine mist of water a couple of time a day for about a week should do it.  You should start to see germination in about 7 days.  Don’t mow until the new grass gets a couple of inches long.  (Original air date: 5/10/08)

The Hulda Klager Lilac Festival '08

We took the short trip up I-5 to Woodland, Washington to check out the lilacs at the Hulda Klager Lilac Festival (360-225-8996).  The 2008 Lilac Festival has been extended this year due to the cold wet spring we have had.  The good news is that the lilacs will hit their peak this weekend.  It is a great time to see some of the different varieties and what they might look like in your yard.  Ruth showed us the following varieties; ‘Agincourt Beauty’, ‘Krasavitsa Moskvy’, ‘Wedgewood Blue’, ‘Congo’, ‘Dappled Dawn’, and the spectacular ’lacianata’ or split-leaf lilac.  Hulda hybridized many lilacs and became known as the ‘Lilac Lady’ in the Woodland area.  She opened her garden to the public for an open house in the spring during the 20’s.  She passed away in 1960.  The Hulda Klager Lilac Society now runs the garden and opens it every year for this festival.  They charge a small $2 fee during the festival.  That, and the proceeds from the gift shop, keeps this garden going all year long.  Take the time and visit it when you get a chance, it is spectacular! 
(Original air date: 5/10/08)

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

We went to see the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden for their big Portland Rhododendron Show and Plant Sale that happens every year on Mother’s Day weekend.  Dick Cavender talked to Judy about the events happening at the garden this weekend.  He also covered some care issues dealing with rhodies and walked us through the details on pruning your rhododendrons.  The garden is maintained by volunteers and the plant sale that the Rhododendron Society is conducting helps to raise funds for the garden.  For more information check out the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden website, or call 503-771-8386.  (Original air date: 5/10/08)

Dicentra

William and Judy paid a visit to Portland Nursery on Division (503-788-9000) this week and found an old garden favorite, dicentra.  This plant is also called ‘Bleeding Heart’ due to the appearance of the bloom.  It looks like a little heart with a drop of blood dripping from the bottom.  There are 2 different families of dicentra, the Formosa and the Spectabilis.  William started by showing us the taller versions of the spectabilis.  The variety that he had was the ‘Golden Heart’, but there are many more varieties available.  Most of the spectabilis will die back in the heat of summer, but return with a wonderful show of blooms during the spring each year.  Judy then moved to the shorter versions of Formosa.   These are closer to the native varieties.  She started with the ‘pacific’ then ‘King of Hearts’, ‘Eximia’ and finally, ‘Luxuriant’.  All of these will stay low and will give you a choice of different blooms for you to choose from.  It may be an oldie but it is definitely a goodie!  (Original air date: 5/3/08)

Edible Weeds

If you are working up a hunger pulling weeds in the garden, you may not have to look very far to get a snack! We met with Dr. John Kallas from Wild Food Adventures (503-775-3828) and took a stroll through his garden and built a salad with the ‘weeds’ we had found there.   John likes to mix different plants based on the flavor and texture they have.  He uses greens that he calls ‘foundation greens’ these are ones that have a good overall flavor and texture.  Then he adds ‘pungent’ greens.  These have a little more ‘bite’ or flavor to them.  The pungent greens should be no more than 1/3 of the salad.  The greens he chose for this salad included Eastern Blue Violet, Miner’s Lettuce, Wild Mustard, Sheep Sorrel, Ox-eye Daisy and Dandelion.  If you are looking for more information you can contact Dr. Kallas at Wild Food Adventures.  He also conducts many workshops and tours (including the ‘Native Shores Rendezvous’ next weekend).  And to think, all that work pulling weeds in the garden and I could have been eating!  (Original air date: 5/3/08)

One Weekend Wonder – Patio Fountain

We bring you another of our One Weekend Wonders, projects that you can tackle in a weekend and are easily done by the time Monday rolls around.  This week we went to Tsugawa Nursery (360-225-8750) in Woodland, Wash. to learn how to build a patio fountain.  Brian Tsugawa walked Judy through the steps and William put in the labor to build this outstanding feature.  The hardest part was waiting for the sealant to dry on the pot.  This project requires a container that holds water, a decorative container, piping, a pump and a couple of bricks.  Check out the instructions here. (Original air date: 5/3/08)

Drakes Sprinkler Care

It is spring and even though the rain showers will be with us for awhile it won’t be too long and we will need to fire up the lawn and garden sprinklers again.  Drake Snodgrass from Drake's 7 Dees (503-256-2223) helped explain some quick fixes to Judy to stop the leaks and help save you some water.  Plus he talked about how to use a timer to help regulate your water usage and help your plants get the right amount of water that they need.  This is the time of year to also assess the plants in your garden and their water needs.  If your plants have grown they may need more water or watering at different times.  Take a look at your garden watering system and if you feel it is too much to handle you can contact Drake's for help. 
(Original air date: 5/3/08)

Oregon Garden Spring Flowers

The spring has been wet and cold but the flowers at The Oregon Garden (1-877-674-2733) don’t know that.   Richard walked us through a small part of the garden to show us all the color that is popping up.  We saw a couple of plants including the Pasque Flower – Pulsatilla vulgaris, a viburnum, a couple of azaleas and the Mahonia, the state flower.  The garden is now open with its summer hours (until 6pm) and now the tram is also included in the price of admission.  The garden is really starting to pop and now that it has had a couple of years of growth; the plants are really looking good!  Also, the new resort hotel is starting to take shape.  You can book rooms now for the grand opening in September.  So if you are looking for a great place to check out the colors of spring, you should stop by the Oregon Garden. 
(Original air date: 5/3/08)

Hoyt Magnolias

Spring is a great time to catch all those early blooming plants, but don’t forget about the trees that are showing off.  We took a walk with Dan Moeller of Hoyt Arboretum to check out the magnolia collection in Washington Park.  The arboretum has a great collection of the 2 main varieties of magnolias, the Asian and the American.  The first one we saw was a huge specimen, the magnolia ‘veitchii’.  This one can get as tall as 60-90 feet so you better have room for it, but it also has pink blooms the size of a dinner plate!  Dan contrasted that with the small evergreen magnolia ‘dianica’ this one wasn’t quite blooming but had great coppery buds that will open to white fragrant flowers and wonderful glossy leaves.  Finally we saw the old favorite, the star magnolia.  This one has white flowers that burst open in a star shape and will stay small for the garden.  If you get a chance, check out the magnolia collection at the arboretum.  It is free and there are self guided maps at the visitor’s center.  (Original air date: 4/26/08)

Root Stimulator

When you are putting your new plants in the ground it is always a good idea to give them a boost with a shot of fertilizer.  The problem is that most fertilizers are granular and take a while to break down and release their nutrients to the plant.  Fertilome has a liquid product that will do what the dry fertilizers do and a whole lot more, it also contains plant hormones that help reduce transplant shock and stimulates root growth.  You just mix it in with the water you use to transplant and give your plant a good drink when it goes in the ground.   Ryan at Larsen Farm Nursery (503-638-8600) showed us how well it works.  You can find it at Larsen Farm or other independent garden centers.  (Original air date: 4/26/08)

Cold, Wet Plants

With all this bad weather it is hard for the avid gardener.  It is also confusing.  Some people have been thinking that they are seeing a lot of new disease on their garden plants.  We visited with Laura Altvater at Portland Nursery on Stark St. (503-231-5050) to see some of the problems that plants are having in the garden.  First we checked out what winter damage looks like on plants.  There was a sedum that had spots on its leaves.  The same thing was a cabbage start.  It looked like a disease, but when you looked at the new growth of leaves it wasn’t there.  That means it was hail damage.  If it were a disease it would be on all the leaves.  Next we saw the burnt tips to some chives that were caused by frost killing the very ends of the plant.  Of course we like to think that it is only making the plant stronger!  None of this light damage would kill the whole plant but it should be a warning to protect your plants if you see this.  Finally we talked about tomatoes.  These really need to be protected if you get them in the ground too early.  There are walls of water, protective mulch and other ways of making sure they survive the early days of spring.  If you ever have any questions you can call or stop by your local independent garden center. 
(Original air date: 4/26/08)

Bauman Art

Spring is here and it is time to dress up the garden.  We stopped by Bauman’s Farm and Garden (www.baumanfarms.com, 503-792-3524) to see how they are dressing up.  We found the addition of a new greenhouse at the farm.  To celebrate the Bauman’s are having a Greenhouse Gallery this weekend.   Brian Bauman invited us out to meet a couple of the artists and see some of their work.  We visited with Ann Munson who makes a variety of different pieces, from mosaics, to paste paper, to some interesting cement works.  Then we talked to Debbie Knitz about garden bling!  She makes her art to bedazzle your garden; from little dangling pieces that you can hang from your trees to decorated pots and jewelry.  If you are out and about on the 26th or 27th you should stop by and find some pieces you can use to decorate your garden!  (Original air date: 4/26/08)

Drakes Tools

Spring is the time to get your tools in shape for the coming season.  It is also the time to think about getting new tools.  Sometimes the old favorites make the job harder than it needs to be.  We stopped by Drakes 7 Dees (503-256-2223) to see some of the favorite new tools that people ask for.  Clare had a great display set up for a seminar that they will be having at noon on the 26th.  She even had some of our favorites including the negirigama hoe.  This one is sharp, but it is great for scraping those surface weeds off of your garden beds.  The Japanese Hand Rake was next one the list and it looks like a backscratcher on steroids!  It is one that really does a bunch of jobs; as a weeder, a cultivator, and a digging tool.  We also saw a customer favorite, the EZ digger.  It too is a multiple use tool and is great at making furrows in the ground for planting.  It is always important to protect your hands whatever you do and so we checked out the new bamboo gloves that are on the market.  Those gloves work really well with the many different pruners from Felco.  These pruners are wonderful because you can buy new and replacement parts when they start to wear out.  Finally we saw the Expando Rake.  It is the favorite of one of the Garden Time crew (Therese).  It can expand to become a leaf rake and then collapse down to be a rake for a smaller garden bed.  With all the work you need to do in your garden, you should check out the new tools at your garden center.  (Original air date: 4/26/08)

Jan’s April Tips

The weather has been cold and wet, but you can still get some important work done in the garden.  Jan McNeilan, retired OSU extension agent, showed us how they are preparing the soil for the coming season.  Jan is also digging and dividing the hostas in her garden.  This weather is great for transplanting and she is getting some of her perennials moved before it gets too warm.  Jan also showed us the ‘soil in the jar’ test.  This test lets you figure out the composition of your soil with out a lot of testing.  You fill a jar about 2/3’s of the way with soil and then the rest of the way with water.  You shake it up and let it sit for a day.  The water will cause the soil to separate into the different types of soil.  Sand, silt and clay will stay at the bottom and the organic matter will float to the top.  The more stuff at the top, the better your soil is for your plants.  If you have little or no floating stuff, it is time to amend!  To learn more you can always check out the OSU extension website.
(Original air date: 4/26/08)

Grimm’s Lawn Seeding

Spring is a great time to plant or over-seed your lawn.  Jeff Grimm took us to a home to walk us through the steps for success.  First, you have to remove the old lawn either with a turf cutter or by spraying it with a broad herbicide (like a Round-up), then you add a couple of inches of garden mulch or compost and roto-till that in.  You then roll it to remove the bumps and lumps. Next you call Grimm’s Fuel (503-636-3623)!  They will come out and apply another layer of mulch, and then a layer of a mulch and grass seed mixture.   They can apply your new yard in a matter of minutes.  Now is the perfect time to act, the soil temperatures are finally warming up and soon you will have a rich, full lawn to enjoy. 
(Original air date: 4/19/08)

Slug Control

SLUGS!!!  These little pests will devour your new plants and vegetables.  If you are looking for way to keep them in check, William met with Norm from Lilly Miller to cover some of the different ways you can deter them.  Norm told us that 80% of the slug bait manufactured is used here in the Northwest.  First William talked about the non-chemical methods of control.  He covered beer traps, some of the scent traps, copper tape which gives them a shock and even an electric fence.  Norm then covered a couple of the broad range applications.  First was the Worry Free product that is safe for pets and wildlife.  Then we talked about the Corry’s product that has a great track record of success, the Deadline liquid product and finally a powdered meal from Lilly Miller.  There are various ways to handle them including chemical and natural methods, and if you have pets or small children you need to make your choices wisely. Take the time to find the method that’s best for you and check with your local garden center if you need help.  (Original air date: 4/19/08)

Call Before You Dig

There is no better feeling than turning some soil in your garden.  That feeling will disappear quickly if you dig into a utility line.   We found out that there is a new, easy way to avoid this problem.  Steven and Jenna from NW Natural Gas told us about the new 811 number.  This number is a nationwide number to help homeowners and businesses locate buried utility lines so you can stay out of trouble.  The ‘Call Before You Dig’ program is not new, but the way of contacting them is!  One call will help you locate any line.  If you don’t call you can be held liable for the damages of cutting a line.  Just call 811 two business days before you dig!  (Original air date: 4/19/08)

Little Baja Containers

Choosing the right container is not always easy.  There are so many choices.  We stopped by the new location of Little Baja (503-432-8959) in Tigard to chat with Wayne about what options you have for planters.  Wayne’s main advice, you get what you pay for!  Little Baja selects their containers from smaller companies that they know personally.  This means they get better quality pots and statuary.  Which type of container should you chose?  Wayne mentioned that the serious gardeners will usually select the red clay pots.  These containers breathe and allow the plants to grow better.  If you are looking for a little more style you may want a glazed pot from China or Vietnam which have more colors and shapes to choose from.  If you are looking for a durable container, consider concrete.  These are next to indestructible!  Which ever style you choose, Little Baja can help you make the right decision.  Stop by the new location in Tigard this weekend and enjoy their Grand Opening Celebration!  (Original air date: 4/19/08)

Stepable Topiaries

Creatures are invading your backyard!  Well, maybe it’s just ‘Creature Features’ from Stepables...  Stepables are the ground covers you can find in your local garden center.  The new Creatures are found on the Stepables.com website.   These topiary animals and characters can be planted with various types of Stepables to create a new skin of color and texture.  All you have to do is remove a few wires, plant your favorite plant and water!  This is a great project for the whole family and you can get your youngsters excited about gardening. 
(Original air date: 4/19/08)

23rd Annual Tulip Fest

William and Judy visited the Woodburn Tulip Festival at the Wooden Shoe Tulip farm for the 23rd annual Woodenshoe Tulip Fest (1-800-711-2006). This event showcases the fields full of beautiful tulip blooms and runs from mid-March to the 27th of April. This year the fest was extended until the 27th because of the cold wet weather. The blooms were held back but now they are ready to pop! Barb Iverson showed us over 18 acres of tulips in bloom, and the bloom was incredible! The flower fields may be just getting started but the farm is full of events and it is still a must see for anyone, even non-flower lovers. Every weekend they are packed with different activities including a wooden shoe carver, pony rides, arts and crafts, steam tractors, wine tasting and other entertainment for a small fee of $5 a car. The rest of the week it is free! Even when the weather is a little damp, the fields never disappoint. Bring a camera; this is a scene you have to capture on film!  (Original air date: 4/12/08)

Twisted Garden Plants

Getting twisted in the garden doesn’t mean you are having a little risky business happening. We are talking about plants; specifically plants that are twisted in the appearance or texture. We found a bunch at Cornell Farm (503-292-9895). Deby Barnhart had found plants of all different sizes to show us. First she had a dwarf Alberta Spruce that was trimmed into a spiral shape. This one will require a lot of maintenance to keep it in shape, but there is nothing better for a front entryway. A really twisted plant was next, the Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar. This one is trained in to a serpentine shape and would be really outstanding against a wall or fence. Dwarf Yellow Hinoki’s have a great twisted foliage that is accented by the golden tips to the new growth. Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick is a relative of the hazelnut, but is much different than its upright cousin. It also has the added benefit of the catkins during the late winter and early spring. A mock orange also called Poncirus ‘Flying Dragon’ was next. This plant is interesting because of the many different qualities it has. It has very fragrant white blooms in the spring followed by dark green foliage. In the fall it has a small, non-eatable, orange shaped fruit. The most interesting part to this plant is the twisted stems and curved thorns. We also saw a small curly plant that can become a big boy in time called Cryptomeria ‘Spiraliter Falcata’ with a unique curly branch that could reach 20 feet tall when fully grown! We moved to a smaller euphorbia next. Euphorbia is a twisted plant in general, but the ‘Despina’ variety has drooping blooms and tips which makes it really unique. Finally we saw the Spike Moss ‘Emerald Isle’ which looks almost like a small green brain! If you are looking to get twisted in the garden check out these and many other ‘twisted’ plants at your local garden center.  (Original air date: 4/12/08)

Chinese Camellias

Camellias are a great garden plant but people usually don’t know about all the different types that are available. It is sometimes next to impossible to see a good selection in bloom. We are lucky that one of the best displays of camellias in the Portland area is at the Portland Classical Chinese Garden (503-228-8131). Bill gave William a tour of the grounds to show him parts of the camellia collection at the garden. We first saw 2 different varieties in one area. It looked like they were from the same bush! One was ‘Mountain Tea’ and the other was ‘Dr. Robert Schwartz’. Then we talked about the light pink ‘Nuccio’s Pearl’. This one is a crowd favorite and has a huge amount of light pink blooms with darker pink edges. Next was one of the most interesting ones in the garden, ‘Kujaku-tsubaki’. This one is has a weeping form that spreads out on the ground with very interesting blooms that look almost like a red daisy. The other one that has a unique look to it is the ‘transnokoensis’. This one has small single blooms that are white with a spot of pink on the outside of the bloom. Very beautiful! Finally, we saw one that is a real standout, ‘Jury’s Yellow’. This one is outside of the garden walls so everyone can see it and it is really putting on a show! The double blooms are a yellowy, cream color that just seems to shine in the sun! If you want to see more camellias you need to pay a visit to the garden soon!
(Original air date: 4/12/08)

Planting Asparagus

Some people have tried asparagus in the past and have not had too much luck. Jack Bigej from Al’s Garden Center (503-981-1245) loves asparagus and gave us some tips for planting success. He uses a variety called Jersey Knight which is made up of all male plants that will not go to seed, plus it yields a bigger crop. First, you dig a well-drained hole that is about a foot deep. That is the key…good drainage! Asparagus doesn’t like standing water. Then, lightly cover the root. When the plants get to be about a foot tall you fill in the rest of the hole. Don’t harvest the first year. Lightly harvest the second year and cut all you want the 3rd year and beyond. The plant will produce a good crop for up to 20 years after that.  
(Original air date: 4/12/08)

Trilliums

One of the signature woodland plants of the spring is the trillium. These woodland wonders naturalize well in shady areas under trees and can fill a niche if you need a plant for these hard to grow areas. We found a huge selection of trilliums at Extra Perennial Nursery (503-628-1492) in Scholls. Ken Korpowski told us about the types of trilliums they have and showed off the newest of the bunch, the Kurabayoshi which is a native to southern Oregon forests. They have outstanding deep red flowers that grow upright. He also had one that he teased us with, a rare yellow form of the Kurabayoshi which is available in limited quantities this year. They are easy to grow if you know how and Extra Perennial has a sheet of instructions to help you be successful!  (Original air date: 4/12/08)

Portland Classical Chinese Garden

The Portland Classical Chinese Garden has some very unique plants on display in the garden. People admire the variety and year round interest they display. Now is your chance to take some of those plants home with you. Glin from the PCCG showed William some of the plants they will have for sale at the Gardenpalooza event. She started with Crabapple ‘Prairifire’ and moved on to Loropetalum ‘Sizzling Pink’. We also saw 3 Quince varieties; Texas Scarlet, Contorta, and Cameo. There were 2 Lysimachia; paridiformus, and Persian Chocolate. We finished with Epimedium ‘O’Kuda’s White’, Osmanthus burkwoodi, the Uzu Lime. As you can tell they are all unique and you will find them all at Gardenpalooza.  (Original air date: 4/5/08)

Ferguson’s Fragrant Nursery

If you are only looking for color in your garden, you are missing a huge part of gardening. Scent and fragrance are big factors in creating a garden of enjoyment. The best place to find fragrant plants is at Ferguson’s Fragrant Nursery and this weekend they are bringing a huge selection to Gardenpalooza. Dani and William covered the attributes of a bunch of plants and they included Daphne ‘Summer Ice’, Pulminaria, Corydalis ‘Canary Feathers’, Dicentra ‘Gold Heart’, Geum ‘Fire Ball’, Cypress ‘Goldcrest’ and Hosta ‘Venus’. Some of these were in bloom and are showing off now, but others are holding their promise of blooms and fragrance for the coming months ahead. Check out the selection at Ferguson’s Gardenpalooza booth.  (Original air date: 4/5/08)

Edelweiss Perennials

One of the greatest small nurseries in the Northwest is Edelweiss Perennials. Urs is known for growing some fantastic perennial plants that perform well in our area. He pulled a few out of his greenhouses to show us. He believes that primroses are one of the most under-looked plants in the garden. A century ago they were favorites in the garden and he is hoping to bring them back to Northwest gardens. Edelweiss also grows a ton of other unique plants and we saw those as well. We saw four different types of Primula. There was ‘Amethyst’, ‘Argus’, ‘Boothman’ and the rare ‘Cortina’. We also saw Clematis recta ‘Midnight Masquerade’, Acanthus mollis ‘Tasmanian Angel’, Astrantia major ‘Sunningdale variegated’ and the Anemone hortensis. You can see Urs at Gardenpalooza or on the weekend of the 12th of April at the Hardy Plant sale at the Expo Center.  (Original air date: 4/5/08)

Mini-Greenhouse

Garden spaces are getting smaller and people are wanting to garden year-round. Those 2 factors are behind the idea of the mini-propagator. This tiny greenhouse is just right for small space gardening. Michelle from Solexx Greenhouse showed us how compact it is and how easy it is to use. This greenhouse can handle shelves and lights. It is so small that you may only need a single light to heat it. You can get your garden off to a early start in the spring or you can carry your garden into the late fall with this little wonder. It can also become a playhouse for your kids during the summer months when you are not growing plants. Stop by Gardenpalooza to see one set up and even take one home!  (Original air date: 4/5/08)

Kindergarden – Seed Starting

We tackled two different ways of getting your kids excited about starting their own veggie gardens. The first project showed how to plant seeds in a clear plastic cup. We used Black Gold Seedling mix to fill the cups. The Seedling mix is light and fluffy and will also help the tender shoots to grow quicker and easier. Then we pushed some bean and pea seeds down the sides of the cup. When they germinate your kids can watch them grow and see the roots form through the clear sides of the cup.

The second project involves planting seed in a pot and keeping them indoors until they start to grow. Instead of having the seeds in the back of the yard where no one goes to visit them, now you can have your garden right up close and personal! Once the seeds start to grow you can move them out on the deck or patio to harden them off (get them used to the cold), then move them to your garden for the season… or leave them on the deck for easy harvesting.  (Original air date: 4/5/08)

Garland Spring Plants

Everyday there are more and more plants that start showing off.  We found some more early spring bloomers at Garland Nursery (1-800-296-6601).  Lee Powell brought out a couple of his favorites to show us what is available in your local garden center.  His first plant was a bright one!  The Japanese Rose is showing off bright yellow blooms, this is a Kerria ‘Golden Guinea’ and has bare green branches with those fantastic blooms.  Then we saw a vibernum ‘Korean Spice’ which has the bronze colored buds that open to a creamy white flower with a spicy fragrance.  Next, the daphne ‘Summer Ice’ is a real winner.  It has a beautiful bloom, but the flowers are only part of the attraction.  The fragrance is overpowering and long-lasting.  We moved to the ceanothus ‘Dark Star’.  It has evergreen small waxy leaves and great dark blue blooms.  Then it was time to feel sorry for the male of the plant world.  The male skimmia japonica is often overlooked because the female has great red berries, but it has great bunches of white blooms.  Finally, we moved to a camellia.  Camellias are very popular this time of year, but the ‘Taylor’s Perfection’ camellia is an old favorite that really shines.  It has great foliage and vibrant blooms that really stand out this time of year.  (Original air date: 3/29/08)

Dividing Hostas

One of the easiest perennials to divide is the hosta.  We paid a visit to Sebright Gardens (503-463-9615) to learn how to do it from Thomas Johnson.   Sebright grows over 300 different varieties of hostas so they know what they are doing.  Thomas told us that you should see the points of the new growth poking out of the ground before you dig them up.  If you are seeing the new leaves starting to unfold you should wait a couple of weeks so you don’t damage the new growth, but that is the only warning he gave.  He washed a clump and then just tore it by hand.  So easy that you can chop up a clump of roots with a shovel and still not kill the plant!  You can see some of Thomas’s hostas at Gardenpalooza on April 5th at Fir Point Farms.  (Original air date: 3/29/08)

Garden Sketching

You can capture your garden to remember for years and find a new hobby if you learn to sketch or paint scenes from your garden.  René Eisenbart, botanical artist for The Oregonian, teaches a series of botanic drawing classes in the Portland Classical Chinese Garden (503-228-8131) and at her own studio, Rene-Art.  We caught up with her to learn about her art and to get some pointers on how aspiring garden artists can get started.  Using William as a guinea pig she shared some of her tips with us.  Tip 1: Get the right tools.  She uses an ever sharp pencil and a kneaded eraser. Tip 2: Keep it simple.  Don’t try to sketch a whole plant.  Work on one leaf and then add more as you feel comfortable.  Tip 3: Use your own perspective.  Draw what you see and don’t try to be ‘picture perfect’.  You are capturing how it looks to you!  Tip 4: Add shading to create depth.  This can take your drawing to the next level and that leads us to tip 5: Add color.  Colors will make your drawing pop!  Tip 6: Practice, practice, practice!  Don’t be disappointed; Rene always sees areas where she can make a drawing better, but she always finds a point where she can call it ‘done’.  Rene’s signing people up for new classes now, so contact her now.   
(Original air date: 3/29/08)

Spring Equipment Maintenance

Now is the time to take care of those lawn equipment service problems so you can head into spring with ‘working’ equipment.  Scott from Stark Street Lawn and Garden (503-255-5393) walked us through some of the issues you may be dealing with and how to fix them.  If your mower is acting up you can take care of the problem by changing the fuel and oil filters, changing the oil, spark plug and sharpening the blade.  The same is true for all your lawn and garden equipment.  If you have a job you don’t think you can handle, give the guys at Stark Street a call or find a reputable repair shop.  Always remember to have your model number and brand written down for the technician when you call so they can have the parts you need available.   Stark Street is also starting to carry a full line of electric powered lawn and garden equipment so you can cut down the amount of exhaust you create in the garden.  Check out the new equipment soon!  (Original air date: 3/29/08)

Mini-Hooper

Getting a jump start on your summer vegetables is hard this time of year.  You can get your plants in the ground, but a quick frost could wipe them out pretty quickly.  We found a tool that will help your tender plants make it to the warmer days of spring.  The Mini-hooper is an instant mini hoop house and it is just right to protect your smaller garden plants.  You can use it with the shade cloth and insect screen to get your plants off to a good start.  It is also great in the fall to extend your growing season.  Sue Berg of New Dimension Seeds carries this product on her website, or you can pick one up at either location of Portland Nursery.  Sue will also have some available at Gardenpalooza.  Stop by at Fir Point Farms on April 5th and pick one up.  (Original air date: 3/29/08)

Fuchsia Rejuvenation

Fuchsias are one of the most beautiful plants in the summer garden.  They are also one of the easiest to winter over on your deck or patio.  We found one that was a little tight in its pot and decided to clean it up a little bit.  For the older plants you want to cut back the branches to the strong new growth.  Look for healthy canes and new leaves.  Cut above the new leaves to promote new branching.  You will also want to break up the roots and shake off the old soil.  Use a new potting soil to replant them.  We use the Black Gold product because it has Multicoat fertilizer so we don’t have to worry about fertilizing for awhile.  If you are planting new plants remember to break up the roots a little bit to stimulate new growth.  If you are scared about planting new plants you can stop by any Fred Meyer store on Saturday March 29th from 9:00am-4:00pm to have them plant up your plants for you.  Just buy the plants and the pot at Freddy’s and they will plant it with free Black Gold for you.  (Original air date: 3/29/08)

Garland Pots and Fountains

Container gardening is the big buzz word for this year.  Gardens are getting smaller and that means pots that look and perform well are in high demand. Erica from Garland Nursery told us about some new pottery from Vietnam that is made from special clay that is incredibly heavy duty.  It can handle even your largest plants.  We also saw some of the newest designs of planters that are new to the market.  The paints and glazes are all hand done so they are all one-of-a-kind.  We then moved to the fountain area.  Garland carries the Henry line of fountains.  These are fountains and bubblers with a warranty!  Fill out the card when you purchase one and you are covered or one year.  We also heard about the ….. constructed fountains.  These are reinforced fountains that are a little lighter but just as strong as the conventional water features you can buy.  Containers and fountains can take your garden to the next level; check out the selection at Garland.  (Original air date: 3/22/08)

Tool Posture

Having the right tool for the job is only half the battle, using that tool correctly is the other half!  Bob Denman from Red Pig Tools gave us a quick primer on the correct use of some of the most common long handled tools that you may have in your garden shed.  First we started with the hoes and cultivators.  Bob recommends getting a tool that is at least as tall as yourself.   This allows you to avoid bending at the waist to get the job done.  He also weeds across his body, this lets him use his upper body strength and avoid stress on his lower back.  Shovels use a different technique.  Shovels need to be selected according to the type of job you are trying to do and the type of material you are moving.  You should also consider the ‘lift’ of the shovel, which in layman’s terms means the angle of the blade to the handle.  Bob even demonstrated the correct way of digging.  If you have any questions, check out one of Bob’s classes or stop by the ‘Red Pig’ store in Boring.  (Original air date: 3/22/08)

Daffodils

Ahhh… the true sign of spring, daffodils!  We braved the cool and wet weather to learn about daffodils and visit with Ken Iverson from Wooden Shoe Bulb Company (1-800-711-2006) and to talk about how they can add an early touch of color to your garden.  We talked about care and feeding of these early bloomers and how you can use them in your yard or garden.  Wooden Shoe cuts and ships daffodils all over the country so they have to know how to make them last!  They are a great cut flower with one warning:  Don’t place them in a vase with other cut flowers right away.  The sap from the daffodil will cause other flowers to plug up!  The sap doesn’t allow the other flowers to draw water.  Here is another tip for keeping deer away from your prized tulips; surround them with daffodils.  Deer hate the ‘daffs’ and will ignore your tulips to avoid the daffodils.  If you have anymore questions about daffodils or tulips you can contact Wooden Shoe. 
(Original air date: 3/22/08)

Hellebores

These plants are true winter bloomers and were old garden favorites many years ago.  They have become popular again and bring wonderful winter color to the garden.  We visited with Ken Korpowski from Extra Perennial Nursery (503-628-1492) in Scholls.  These plants are true evergreen woodland perennials and Extra Perennial has a wonderful selection of them.  Ken showed us a couple of his favorites.  He had Helleborus ‘Slate Blue’, Mardi Gras ‘Parade Yellow’, Hellebores ‘Party Dress’ and one plant that makes a great companion plant, the Hepatica ‘Blue Jewel’.  Once established they are really hardy and will become the best part of your spring garden!  (Original air date: 3/22/08)

Roof Moss

A couple of weeks ago we talked to Norm McCreight of Lilly Miller about getting rid of moss in your lawn.  Today we chatted with Jenny Adams about the moss you find on your roof.  Jenny told us about a couple of products that Lilly Miller makes to take care of the problem.  We found out that the moss on your roof is different than the stuff in your grass and it might not even be moss.  Jenny explained that algae may be your problem.  Also, if you fail to remove the moss from the roof you may be looking at expensive repairs in the long run.  The moss will get underneath the shingles and allow moisture to get into wood supports.  She recommends using the new Moss Out products the have been reformulated to be much safer than the older roof products.  There are also some citrus based products that will be safe for your pets.  Treat the problems now and when the weather warms up it will get rid of your moss and algae for good! 
(Original air date: 3/22/08)

Small Fruit Tree

Smaller gardens have special requirements for use of space.  These smaller spaces have some people thinking that they can’t enjoy fruit trees.  The people at Tsugawa Nursery (360-225-8750) don’t believe you have to give up on your dream of fresh fruit if you have a smaller garden.  Brian Tsugawa showed us some of the different varieties that are either grown on dwarf stock or were hybridized so you can have fruit in any garden space.  He pointed out a couple of columnar apples that would be perfect for a small lot or even in a container.  Columnar trees have a main leader and not a lot of branching.  Then we moved to a cherry tree that was grafted on smaller root stock.  This tree will provide cherries and since the plant will stay around 8 feet tall, you can easily reach the fruit.  Finally we moved to the grafted multiple varieties.  You can now get 3 to 6 varieties of fruit on one trunk.  We saw how you can train the different branches and have different types of fruit at different times during the late summer.  Don’t forget, you can also pick up your strawberries and cane berries right now too.  Check out the variety at Tsugawa’s and your local independent garden center.  (Original air date: 3/15/08)

Sharpening Tools

As you start pulling out your garden tools for the coming season, it is a good time to give them a good cleaning and sharpening.  Clean and sharp tools will make your garden chores much easier.  Some tips to follow include using alcohol and steel wool to scrub them clean and disinfect them.  Then you want to use a sharpening stone to give a good sharp edge to them to make the cutting easier.  Remember to only sharpen the beveled edges of the blades!  Also, if you have a pruning saw, take it to a professional or buy a new one.  They are just too dangerous to attempt on your own.  Your local garden center has all the tools you need and they can even demonstrate how to do it correctly.  Do a little sharpening now and all your spring garden clean-up will be a breeze!
(Original air date: 3/15/08)

Larsen Spring Blooming Plants

With all the bulb and smaller plants starting to bloom in the garden we thought we would look for some taller blooming plants that will accent the spring colors in your beds.  Ryan at Larsen Farm Nursery (503-638-8600) in Wilsonville brought out a handful of the taller plants you will find in your garden center right now.  First we saw a couple of old favorites.  Forsythia ‘Magical Gold’ was the first one we saw.  This one is a compact grower, only getting 5 feet tall instead of the 12 feet of the older variety.  The other ‘old favorite’ was ‘Valley Valentine’ Andromeda.  This one is great because of its wonderful spring color.  The hot pink/deep red of the flowers are a great contrast to the evergreen foliage. 

We then moved to the newer additions to the garden center.  Rhododendron ‘Rock Rose’ is an early blooming rhodie that starts out with small pink buds that open to a bright white bloom.  The red stems are an added bonus!  We then found a Redbud.  These have been around for quite a while but ‘Avondale’ is a stand-out because of the compact shape and the spectacular deep purple blooms that appear before the leaves.   The final plant we saw was the Fragrant Forsythia (Roseum).  This one is very fragrant and stays small with white blooms that end up with an arching habit. 

This spring add one of these to your garden and make your spring a little more colorful.
(Original air date: 3/15/08)

Kindergarden – Garden Chimes

The breezes of spring are music to our ears and we found a kindergarden project to help catch those breezes.  Lynn Snodgrass from Drake's 7 Dees (503-256-2223) showed us how to use little clay pots, string and tongue depressors to make some cute and easy wind chimes.  Jenna and Jackson joined us to show how to decorate them with paint and stickers.   You need to do a little prep work by drilling some holes in the depressors for the string.  Then you can hang the pots upside down from the depressors with the string to have them ready for that next breeze.  For complete directions give our friends at Drakes a call or stop by the nursery on the 15th of March at 10:00am for a ‘Sprouts’ class to build your own for free. 
(Original air date: 3/15/08)

Jan’s March Tips

It is a new season and that means a new season of tips from Jan McNeilan.  Jan is a former OSU extension agent and she has taught gardeners how to be successful for years.   This month we took a tour of her garden to see what tips she had for us.  First we saw some geraniums that survived the winter.  That is a good thing to remember, don’t cut back a plant unless you know it is dead.  Sometimes the plant will survive when you don’t think it has.  We saw the same thing on a clematis.  We saw new growth so we only cut off the old, dead branches.   We moved out into the garden to chat about pruning.  At Oregon State, they have finished their pruning, but for the home gardener you can still squeeze it in.  The blueberry needs to have the oldest wood cut out every year.  Look for branches that are woody looking and don’t remove more than 1/3 or your plant at anytime.  Grapes can be pruned, but they may ‘bleed’ for a short time.  Roses need to be taken care of as well.  Now is a good time for dividing grasses too.  Get out and finish that winter clean-up and prepare for a bountiful spring!  (Original air date: 3/15/08)

Mason Bees

We went into the garden to find the ‘loner’ of the bee world.  The Orchard Mason Bee is a wonderful, early spring, pollinator.  It will fly in colder weather than its honey-making counterpart.  It is also a very busy bee.  It can pollinate many more flowers than the honey bee, plus it is much more docile too.  It hardly ever stings!  The one difference between the 2 varieties?  The mason bee is pretty much done pollinating by June 1st and then it heads into hibernation to wait for the next spring to start all over again.  We met with Brenda Lee Calvert who is with the Clark County Beekeepers Association.  She told us about these industrious bees and how they reproduce.  These bees will find holes in the wild to lay their eggs.  We have found them laying eggs everywhere including cracks in our house.   The best part is that they don’t do any damage to the area where they lay their eggs.  Brenda showed us how you can make a Bee Block for them to lay their eggs.  She used an untreated 4x4 and drilled 5/16 holes in the wood for them to use.  If you are interested in building your own block check out these instructions.  (Original air date: 3/15/08)

Grill Check-Up

Our tip of the week takes us back to Gartner’s Meats.  Jerry Yost reminded us to tune-up our grills and outdoor cooking equipment for the coming season.  Check your burners and grill for rust and weakness.  If you have a gas grill you also want to check on the gas lines for weakness and make sure your tank is ready for the first cookout of the season.  You want to make sure that everything is in order so you don’t end up with ‘marinade’ on your face when your guests are there!

We also saw a selection of some of the great meats you can try on your grill (or even in your oven).  Remember to try something different on your grill this year and impress your guests.  If you have questions you can always get great instructions and helpful tips from the experts at Gartner’s.  (Original air date: 3/15/08)

Container Rejuvenation

Our hanging baskets are pathetic!   If your containers are a little tired, we showed you how to give them a fresh start.  William got some helpful hints from Andrea at Al’s Garden Center (503-726-1162) in Sherwood.  She told us how to use structure and color to build a winning hanging basket, but first she dumped our old baskets in the trash!  She was trying to prove a point.  You may want to start your basket fresh, with new soil, plants and fertilizer.  If you really love an old plant in your basket, put it out it in your garden.  Andrea also showed us how to mix perennials and annuals to get great color all season long.  She also rotates her annuals to freshen up her pots every couple of months.  (Original air date: 3/8/08)

Lawn Moss

If you live in the Northwest you have moss.  This is one of the biggest problems facing the homeowner and with the warmer weather you may have the urge to renovate your lawn for the summer months ahead.  But first you have to get rid of the moss.  We talked to Norm McCreight of Lilly Miller about moss and why we seem to have so much of it in the Northwest.  It is a condition that we get from a lack of care.  If you take care of your lawn and help the grass grow, then you can help keep the moss from taking over.  Norm gave us some tips on getting rid of the moss and what you should do to keep it from coming back.  We also learned that if your have a moss control that contains iron you should be careful to not let it get on buildings, patio or clothing.  The iron will cause a stain.  We even sprayed one-half of our lawn to show you how fast the Lilly Miller product worked!  (Original air date: 3/8/08)

Evergreen Shade Perennial

With most of your garden plants still without their leaves you may be itching for plants that will stay green through these early spring months.  We paid a visit with Ken of Extra Perennial Nursery (503-628-1492) to see some of the wonderful plants that will thrive in those shady areas.  Ken started with a couple of gingers, the Chinese Wild Ginger and one named ‘Callaway’.  Then he showed us a couple of hellebores including ‘Mrs. Betty Ranicar’ and ‘Ivory Prince’.  He finished the ‘show and tell’ with Black Mondo Grass (which is really a member of the lily family) and a Plumed Soft Shield Fern.  William liked the fern so much; he bought one to take home!  We also found out that Extra Perennial Nursery is a chemically non-dependant nursery.  That means the plants are thriving without the use of chemical fertilizers and that makes them acclimate better to your garden when you get them home!  If you want to see a really cool nursery, check them out in the Scholls area.  (Original air date: 3/8/08)

Up-Potting Plant

Spring is a great time to move!  That is true for all your garden plants as well.  Some of your favorite trees and plants are inching for new, bigger homes.  They can tell you by the way they grow.  If you are seeing fewer flowers or less fruit that could be a sign that they need to stretch out.  We tackled a columnar apple tree that had been in its pots for 3-4 years.   We found a good stable pot that had holes for drainage.  We added some new Black Gold soil, some transplant fertilizer and a root stimulator in a bigger pot and then moved it to its new location before we watered it (to keep the pot lighter).  For more tips on transplanting, check out the help desk at your local independent garden center.  (Original air date: 3/8/08)

One Weekend Wonder – Garden Trellis

People are looking for more structure in their gardens.  One way of doing that is to build a trellis or arbor.  William and Judy showed us a One Weekend Wonder project on how to build a new trellis with just a few simple materials.  All it took was 2 treated posts, 2 twelve foot 2x4s, 2 bags of concrete, 2 ten foot 2x2s and some nails and bolts.  The project started with the placement of the posts.  Once the concrete was set, we built the top of the trellis.  If you are looking for step by step instructions, click here**, for all the details.  (Original air date: 3/8/08)

**You may need Adobe Reader to open the instruction file.  Click here to download a free version!

Portland Nursery Small Fruits

Adding fruits to your garden gets easier every year.  We stopped by Portland Nursery on Stark Street (503-231-5050) to see some of the different varieties they have in stock.  Ken, the assistant manager walked Judy through some of the plants.  First we saw some grapes.  When choosing a grape you need to remember that they are a vine and will need a little bit of room to grow.  You will also have to figure out whether you want a table or a wine grape.  Grapes should also be cut back pretty far this time of year.  If it is warm you may notice that the cuts will ‘bleed’.  Don’t worry, this is a natural thing and they will stop after a while.  Next we talked about blueberries and the new dwarf varieties that are now available.  Blueberries love acidic soils so they may not be a good choice around other fruits.  They will be right at home around azaleas and rhodies, and other acid lovers.  These shorter varieties also make great landscape plants.  Other plants you can consider are strawberries, kiwi, olives, and Pawpaw’s.  Check out the selection at your local independent garden center.  (Original air date: 3/1/08)

Spring Rose Pruning

If you follow the traditional rules, your roses should have been pruned a couple of weeks ago, but with roses you can break a few rules.  We went to the experts at Heirloom Roses (503-538-1576) to see how they tackle the chore of pruning.  Louise Clements was out in the fields pruning away some of the old winter canes and prepping the plants for a full season of bloom.  Roses are very forgiving, but we tend to treat them gingerly when it comes time to cut them back.  Louise showed us the tools she uses and then showed us how to cut them back and even how to remove some of the older canes to promote that new growth.  Of course now is also a good time to get new plants in the ground.  If you have any rose questions you can call Heirloom, or better yet, sign up for one of the Saturday Academies where you can learn in a ‘hands-on’ setting.  (Original air date: 3/1/08)

Espalier Fruit Trees

Sometimes finding small trees for small spaces can be very difficult, but one of the recent trends in fruit trees features smaller trees with multiple varieties on one trunk.  We saw William and Judy show us how easy it is to trellis or espalier a small pear tree on a wire between a couple of posts.  By training a tree on a fence, wall or posts, you gain the benefit of the fruit production without the tree taking over your garden.  Another way of growing fresh fruit is to try a columnar apple tree.  These are trees that are a single trunk or shoot that produces apples without branching.  Check your local garden center to see the many different varieties of dwarf fruiting trees.  (Original air date: 3/1/08)

Starting Seeds Indoors

Now is the time to start some of your seeds indoors in anticipation of the coming spring and summer.  Judy was joined by Sue Berg of New Dimension Seeds to show you how to plant your seeds and what types you can plant now to get a head start on the season.  The basic rules for success include starting with a quality soil and fresh seeds.  Sue also mentioned that you may want to remember the size of the pot that you use.  She moves and thins her small plant seedlings to bigger pots to give them the best start before they go in her garden.  Check out your local garden center for a great selection of seeds.  For a copy of Sue's tips on planting seeds, click here.  (Original air date: 3/1/08)

KinderGarden – Easter Grass

There is nothing like ‘REAL’ grass in your Easter basket.  In this Kindergarden segment we saw how easy it is to grow grass for your Easter (or spring) baskets.  All you need is weed fabric, potting soil, any type of grass seed (rye grass works well), and water.  First you line the basket with the fabric.  Remember the fabric will allow the water to drain so make sure it is a basket that can get wet.  Next put in the potting soil and keep it an inch or so below the edge of the basket.  Then sprinkle grass seed in the soil.  Don’t go too light on the seed; you want it to be really full looking!  Mix the seed into the soil and water lightly.  The seed should start growing in a week to 10 days.  Keep the soil moist until the seed germinates and it will be ready by Easter morning!  (Original air date: 3/1/08)

Early Spring Spraying

If you have fruit trees now is the last time you can dormant spray before the end of winter.  Dormant spraying will help control insects and diseases during the coming growing season.  William and Judy showed you the two main types of sprays you can use.  William had Lime-Sulfur spray.  This spray is made for fruits that have seeds.  It also has a special oil in it that will help smother the eggs of some of the harmful pests.  Judy used a liquid copper spray.  This is used for fruits that have pits.  Both of these sprays are safe for the environment once they are applied, but you should always use protective gear like gloves, a mask and eye protection when applying them.  Remember to make sure that you don’t apply them after the buds start to open, that will smother the flowers and harm the bees that are pollinating your flowers.  If you have any questions about spraying and what to use you can contact your local garden center. 
(Original air date: 3/1/08)

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