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January 16, 2010

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Rain, rain, rain…

It seems like it never stops.  The weatherman said we are due for more of the same.  Just remember to check those plants that may be under your eaves and in shadows of buildings, they need a drink too.  A couple of things to showcase for this week; Judy has a new blog and check out the Happy Spot (our special discount page) for a discount coupon at Bungalow Breads…  I know it is not garden related, but it is a reminder that we always have cool coupons and discounts updated all the time on the website.   

See you next week!

Fall and Winter Citrus

What kind of plant delivers great fragrance and beautiful blooms in the winter, and is delicious as well?  It is citrus!  We stopped by Drake's 7 Dees (503-256-2223) on SE Stark in Portland to see all the wonderful varieties they have in the store right now.  Lynn Snodgrass pointed out a couple of plants of interest including the Meyers Improved Lemon.  Citrus also has a lot of significance at this time of year.  It is one of the featured fruits of the Chinese New Year, citrus and anything in the red range symbolizes good luck. That includes oranges and tangerines which are piled in a pyramid shape. "Piling the oranges brings you closer to heaven," Families offer the pile of citrus fruits to ancestors as a sign of respect.  Also, fruit gifts convey the wish for health and happiness for the season and the new year to come.  A lemon type (citron) fruit is also used by the Jewish faith to celebrate one of their fall festivals (Sukkot).   Stop by Drakes or any other local garden center and try a citrus plant.

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.

Plant Pick – Pyracantha

Our plant pick this week is a great plant in any season.  The pyracantha is an evergreen shrub that is grown for its foliage and its fruit.  During the winter months it is a great natural food source for the local bird population.  It has plentiful orange or red fruit.  It is also a great plant for culturing, because it can easily be pruned to any shape or espaliered.  The 2 varieties we featured were from Drake's 7 Dees (503-256-2223).  They were Red Elf and Graber’s pyracantha.  One word of caution, it is also known as ‘firethorn’ because of its needlelike thorns.  Remember to wear your gloves!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 
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