Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.  A lot of your plants are thinking the same thing.  If you have been on vacation you have returned to dry or dead plants.  Take some time to check your plants.  You spent a lot of time getting your garden into shape, take a couple of minutes to make sure they are doing well. 

This week we featured...

Al’s Plant Trials

What to know what the hot plant for 2007 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's trials, "fontani e fiori", which mean "fountains and flowers" in Italian was designed in a Mediterranean garden theme.  The garden is free and open to the public during store hours beginning Thursday August 10th and runs until August 26th.  On August 27th 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 2007!

Silver Falls Seed

If you have been driving through the countryside in the valley, you may have seen fields full of flowers.  This is not the work of a flower fanatic; they are flowers that are grown for their seed.  Angela Rose from Silver Falls Seed Company (503-874-8221) showed us some of the varieties that they grow.   In the field where she took us we found poppies and godetia.  Then we went to the cleaning operation where we saw how they clean, sort and package the seeds they grow.  We also learned that since the seeds are grown locally, they are acclimated to the area and you have a better chance for success.  You can find Silver Falls Seed at most of the local garden centers in the area, or you can buy them on-line through the Silver Falls website.

Garden Fever Tropicals

Adding a tropical feel to your garden is not a difficult chore.  To find out how, we stopped by Garden Fever (503-287-3200) in NE Portland.  Lori Vollmer told us that color and texture can go a long way to achieving that island look.  She showed us a variety of different plants that are good either in your garden or in pots for your deck or patio.  Varieties included Coleus ‘Rustic Orange’, Willow ‘Augustifolius’, Acorus ‘Ogon’, Bamboo ‘Arrow’, Red Banana, and a flowering Maple called ‘Marian’.  Apart, they are beautiful, but together they can really get you in the mood to luau!  These are all plants that are readily available at your garden center and can be added to your landscape or pond to give it that ‘South Seas’ look.  Always check with your garden center with any tropical plant you buy to make sure it can handle our Northwest climate.  

Dan Heims Garden

Do you have a yard that is boring?  Is it hard to grow grass?  Are you on a busy street?  All of these were problems for Dan Heims of Terra Nova Nursery.  Terra Nova is the grower of some of those interesting perennials you find at your local garden centers.  Dan bought a house that looked a lot like the houses you see in the paper; a lawn, a few plants and not a lot of interest…. He started by bringing in yards of good topsoil.  This helped set the ground work for his future success.  He then planted a good foundation of trees and shrubs that would create the backdrop for his other plantings.  Then he filled in with a wide assortment of perennials.  Paths, patios, and garden art helped put the finishing touches on his new urban oasis.

Rosie’s Herb Pots

Bring the taste of the garden to your doorstep.  It isn’t hard when you plant an herb pot.  Rosie Sullivan from N & M Nursery (503-981-9060) walked Judy through the process of building a pot full of herbs for your kitchen.  Some of the herbs included bay, a couple of basils, parsley, sage, rosemary, and oregano.  But what if you don’t use all those herbs  She also showed us how to build a pot of a single herb.  We also saw how you can extend the harvest time for a temperature sensitive plant like cilantro.  She plants 6 small plants in a pot and then once or twice a week she gives one plant a hair cut.  She moves from one plant to the next and soon she is back to the first one, which has re-grown its ‘hair’.  She gets lots of cilantro with out it bolting too soon!   You can find Rosie’s plants at some of the local garden centers or you will find her at the Beaverton Farmers Market.