Happy Fourth of July weekend! We are getting the hammock back out and the grill ready for the upcoming weekend (look out Gartner’s Meats!) We hope that you take some time to enjoy the nicer weather and get out and enjoy the holiday, in the garden, with family and friends!
This week we featured...
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 again recently to talk to gardeners about clematis and promote his book by Timber Press (1-800-327-5680), ‘Clematis for Small Spaces’. As the name implies he has introduced newer varieties for smaller garden and patios. He met with William at the Garden Corner (503-885-1934) in Tualatin to talk about how gardeners can achieve success in growing clematis. The Garden Corner carries some of his newest introductions this spring and summer, but you can find beautiful clematis at any local garden center. A couple of years ago he talked to Judy about the ‘Boulevard Collection’ which included ‘Cherokee’, ‘Cezanne’ and ‘Angelique’. On this trip Raymond talked about the newer varieties that deliver lots of flowers over the longest period of time in your garden. These newer introductions include ‘Diana’s Delight’, and ‘Chevalier’. Last time he recommended tips for planting and we thought we would repeat them here so you can be successful in your planting. 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 a 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. You can find the Evison Collection of clematis at many local garden centers. You can also learn more about his varieties at his website.
Pest Patrol – Ants on Peonies
If you grow peonies in your garden you probably have seen the ants that accompany them. Ants are attracted to the sugary sap that forms on the buds. Even though they make great cut flowers, you may be hesitant to bring a bouquet inside your home because of these little critters. The problem is easily solved by washing them in a bucket of water. Just swish the blooms in the water for a couple of seconds and then take them inside and enjoy the wonderful color for a week or more!
Smith Berry Festival
It is time for the 9th Annual Berry Festival at Smith Berry Barn (503-628-2172) on Scholls Ferry Road. On the 4th of July from 11am to 4pm, you can stop by and enjoy fresh berry desserts, wine tasting from Provincial Vineyards, hot off the grill sausages and hot dogs, and live music. This is a family friendly event with face painting and balloons. You can also stop by the gift shop to pick up some gourmet products and sample a fresh berry milkshake. Plus there will be a ‘Berried’ Treasure Hunt for the kids. You can also go out and do a little u-picking of your favorite berries. Joelle talked about the slow spring and how the berries are really starting to grow really well right now after the long cold winter. They have lots of new varieties that are ripe for the picking everyday and you can take them home to remember your day in the country!
Asparagus Vinaigrette
One of the first vegetables of spring is the asparagus. Once established it is one of the easiest vegetables to grow and can produce for 20 years or more in your garden. To learn a new way to prepare it we stopped by the Glockenspiel Restaurant (503-845-6222) in Mt. Angel, Oregon. Chef Paul Brakeman uses a lot of local, fresh produce in his recipes at the restaurant and he made a lovely vinaigrette that he shared with us. First he showed us how to pick some asparagus and how to remove the fibrous parts of the stalks (you simply snap them off!). We then moved to the actual recipe, which is a ‘cold dish’ appetizer. This one started with Chef Paul blanching the asparagus with salt and sugar. He then added shallots, garlic, salt, mustard, lemon juice, balsamic vinaigrette and oil into a bowl and mixed it all together. You pour that over the asparagus, garnish and serve. You can try the recipe (click here) or stop by the Glockenspiel Restaurant in Mt. Angel to try some of Chef Paul’s other recipes featuring local produce.
Water and Bog Plants
If you have a water feature or pond you may have some beautiful plants in it, but if you have a marshy area you may be looking for some plants that will thrive in that area as well. We stopped by Hughes Water Gardens (503-638-1709) to learn more about water and bog plants from the expert, Eamonn Hughes. First he covered a bunch of water plants. These plants either live in the water or can handle lots of moisture without rotting. These plants will help add character and depth to your pond and also create a habitat for wildlife. Eamonn started with some low growing plants. These will help soften the edges of your water feature. He showcased Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia ‘Aurea’), Corkscrew Rush (Juncus effusus ‘Spirallis’) and the Marsh Fern. Next we moved to the medium height plants like Yerba Yerba, Sagittaria ‘Silk Stockings’ and the Purple Pickeralweed (Pontaderia cordata). He then highlighted the taller water plants like Cannas, Iris Ensada, the hibiscus and the Egyptian papyrus.
We then moved over to the bog type plants. These can handle lots of moisture, but don’t like to be immersed in water for extended periods of time. Some of these plants included Rumex, Pitcher Plant (a great fly catcher) and one of the buttercup family and even some lobelia. As you can see there are lots of different plants that you can use in your pond, bog or even the soggy places in your garden. To check out more you can stop by Hughes Water Garden. Also, check out this past issue of Garden Time On-line magazine to read the feature article on Eamonn.
