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William McClenathan

 Episode 40
 April 7,
 2007

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Judy Alleruzzo

Wow, spring is here!  It certainly feels like spring; what a week and weekend.   We are also excited about the Gardenpalooza event this weekend at Fir Point Farms in Aurora.  If you do not have a huge case of spring fever, you are not a normal person!  Have a great holiday weekend.

This week we featured...

Gardenpalooza

It is the 5th annual Gardenpalooza and time to get out and get your plants for the coming spring and summer.  This one-day event has become one of the biggest garden parties of the spring.  Over 40 vendors are selling plants, garden art, food, and garden tools and supplies.  If you are a gardener then you have to be at Fir Point Farms on Saturday!  Also, this year, many vendors are offering huge discounts of their plants.  There is a coupon sheet available to all who attend.  Check out William and Judy in the Garden Time booth for a bouquet of free cut flowers (from the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm) and a free packet of seeds (from New Dimension Seed), while supplies last.  The event runs from 8-4.

Trilliums

One of the signature woodland plants of the spring is the trillium.  These woodland wonders naturalize well in shady areas under trees and can fill a niche if you need a plant for these hard to grow areas.  We found a huge selection of trilliums at Extra Perennial Nursery in Scholls.  Ken told us about the types of trilliums they have and showed off the newest of the bunch, the Kurabayashii, which is a native to southern Oregon forests.  They have outstanding red flowers that grow upright.  He also had one that he teased us with, a rare yellow form of the Kurabayashii, which will be available next year.  You can add your name to the wish list and be the first on your block to have one these next season.

QingMing

Every culture celebrates the rebirth and growth of the spring season with special rites and festivals.  The Chinese do it with their QingMing or ‘Clear Brightness Festival’.   QingMing is a spring holiday, dually celebrating the rebirth of nature and a return to outdoor activity.  The Portland Classical Chinese Garden celebrates the festival by scheduling a family-friendly weekend of events and a month long series of exhibits.  Amy Freyer joined us to fill us in on the big events happening this weekend at the garden.  You can come down and release a new goldfish into Lake Zither or build a special kite to commemorate the change of seasons. 

Then we met up with Jodi Gurtov to see some of the plants that the Chinese Garden will be selling at Gardenpalooza on Saturday.  These are plants that you can find in the garden or at one of the sales.  She featured Rubus irenaeus, Trochodendron aralioides and Helwingia chinensis.  If you are not sure which is which, stop by Gardenpalooza of the PCCG to see them.

Portland Nursery Eco-roof

We had heard about a strange re-roofing job that the Portland Nursery on Division did to one of their buildings, so we had to go see it.  Justin met with Judy to show of a ‘eco-roof’ they have installed at the nursery.  An eco-roof is one where you use plant material on the top of a building.  They do this to accomplish a couple of things.  One, it controls rain runoff and cleanses it before it flows into the storm drains.  Two, it helps to maintain a balanced, more energy efficient way of controlling temperature inside the building.  The staff started by checking the weight limit on the roof.  Then they build a ‘raised bed’ on the roof.  Then they used a variety of ‘water efficient’ (drought tolerant) plants to cover the roof.  It was a great way to put words into action and show people how easy it is to be earth-friendly.  Stop by and check it out!

Kindergarden – Seed Starting

We tackled two different ways of getting your kids excited about starting their own veggie gardens.  The first project showed how to plant seeds in a clear plastic cup.  We used Black Gold Seedling mix to fill the cups.  The Seedling mix is light and fluffy and will also the tender shoots to grow quicker and easier.  Then we pushed some bean and pea seeds down the sides of the cup.  When they germinate your kids can watch them grow and see the roots form through the clear sides of the cup. 

The second project involves planting seed in a pot and keeping them indoors until they start to grow.  Instead of having the seeds in the back of the yard where no one goes to visit them, now you can have your garden right up close and personal!  Once the seeds start to grow you can move them out on the deck or patio to harden them off (get them used to the cold), then move them to your garden for the season… or leave them on the deck for easy harvesting.
 

 
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