Monnier Orchids
If someone has a problem with a plant, it is hard to get them to try growing that plant again. Orchids are a plant that many people have problems growing. Ron Monnier from Monnier’s Country Gardens (503-981-3384) is known for his fuchsias, but he also is crazy about orchids. His are just coming into bloom right now. He gets great blooms by starting in the summer. He moves his plants outdoors to expose them to the light and temperature. Just before the first frost he moves them indoors. The change in temperature sets the flower spikes and ensures a great winter bloom! Orchids also like a well drained bark mix. They are not a ‘soil’ type of plant. If you are looking to grow orchids, you can check at your local garden center or give Ron a call.
Ferguson’s Fall Fragrant Plants
You may think that all the plants are done showing off for the season but we found some at Ferguson’s Fragrant Nursery (503-633-4585) that are just starting to attract attention. Danielle Ferguson pulled a bunch of plants that could become the highlight of your garden. She started with the Pink Dawn Viburnum. This plant is just starting to bloom and the scent is getting stronger every day. Other plants she pulled from her nursery included Abelia mosanensis, Wintersweet ‘Chimonanthus praecox’, Sweetbox ‘Sarcococca humilis’, Euphorbia ‘Tasmanian Tiger’, Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’, Poncirus ‘Flying Dragon’, Fothergilla gardenia, and the Chinese Paper Bush also known as Edgeworthia papyrifera. Some of these were just budding up and will soon be in bloom while others were already showing flowers. To find the best plant for your garden check out the selection at Ferguson’s or your local garden center.
Red Pig Long Tools
This past summer 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.