The weather is hot and so are all the gardening events that are happening around the area.  Take a day and cruise the countryside.  Check out the local farmers markets and enjoy the fresh produce that is coming in daily.  It is a great time to be a northwest gardener.

This week we featured...

Oregon Garden

It is mid-summer and if you haven’t been to the Oregon Garden (1-877-674-2733), now would be a perfect time to go.  The garden changes from season to season and after the past few years it is really starting to fill in.  We took a tour with Jill Martini to see what is looking good right now.  We also learned about all the changes that are happening too.  Plus, don’t forget about all the events that are happening.  The summer concerts are done, but there are plenty of classes that are being offered into the fall.  Of course you can also stop by the café and gift store!

Champoeg Heritage Garden

How would you like to step back in time?  As a gardener what would you grow?  We did just that when we paid a visit to the heritage garden at Champoeg state park (503-678-1251).  Gardens of the past had to include everything a family would need to meet their basic needs.  Our tour guide Marie Van Patten showed us how plants in this 1860s-style garden had to not only provide food, but also seed for the next season.  We saw some of the same types of vegetables that we see today.  One of the surprising things we found in the garden was tobacco.  The master of the house had to grow his own for personal use and for the occasional guest.  If you want to see what a garden looked like one hundred years ago, check out the garden at Champoeg.  A good time to visit would be during the Pioneer Farmstead Day happening Saturday, September 2 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm.

Summer Asian Vegetables

It is the time of the year to harvest the home garden.  Most of us usually plant the same vegetables year after year, but we found a couple of Asian varieties that we are going to try.  Sue Berg from New Dimension Seed gave us a tour of her garden where we saw asparagus beans that were over a foot long and a variety of green peppers that mature very quickly, then we got to head up to her patio to taste test a few more varieties and learned how to prepare them.  Sue also told us how to start our fall and winter garden.  If you would like to start a fall garden follow this link to get her tips.  You will also find her recipes for the Boiled Soybeans and the marinated Zucchinis.  Try a different variety in your garden this fall or next spring.

Jan’s Tips for August

Jan McNeilan from OSU extension joined us for her tips of the month for August.  Jan told us about how to harvest seed from your flowers.  She was collecting seed from her Clarkia.  We then went to the patio where we found out how to spot mites and leaf miner in your garden plants.  Also, if your trees are losing their cones we heard that it may be from the local squirrels and their ravenous appetites.  Finally we learned about a recipe for a zucchini relish that you can make at home.  Check out the recipe here.  If you ever have gardening questions you can always check with your local OSU extension agent.

Re-blooming Iris

Irises are known for their great blooms and sweet smells.  They are also one of the first plants in the spring garden.  Steve Schreiner from Schreiner’s Iris Gardens (1-800-525-2367) told us about some varieties that re-bloom, bringing you color 2 times a year!  These varieties are consistent, but not guaranteed to re-bloom, though some varieties are close to 100% re-bloomers for our area.  Re-blooming depends on different variables including weather, soil type and watering.  Varieties that were featured included Buckwheat, Total Recall, Immortality, Cantina, Rosalie Figgy, Invitation, and Sugar Blues.   If you are interested in these varieties or if you have any questions, give Schreiner’s a call.