The heat is on, again!  After the cool days of August (never thought I would be saying that), we are heating up for the last days of summer.  With all the craziness of the Labor Day weekend and the return to school behind us, let’s enjoy these coming days by spending a little extra time outside.   And don’t forget, the Le Tour des Plants is starting on the 15th.  Get your bracelet and get going!

This week we featured...

Unusual Tree Fruits

The fall is the time to harvest the bounty of your garden and for some that means picking the fruits off of your trees and bushes.  We travel to One Green World (1-877-353-4028), a nursery in Molalla that specializes in unique fruits and ornamentals from around the world.  Jim Gilbert took us out into the fields to graze in his fields.  First we saw the Sea Berry, which is a berry that is packed full of healthy oils and vitamins.  It is a native to Asia and is just catching on here in the states.  Next we talked about the Cornelian Cherry.  This is not a cherry at all, but the fruit from a dogwood tree.  Some varieties can look and taste like cherries, but they are also packed with vitamins.  Pawpaw was next.  It is a native to the Americas, but people are unaware of it.  It tastes fruity or banana-like and is loaded with protein.  Finally we found an old favorite with a twist, the apple.  This apple, however, is a columnar variety.  It fruits on the main trunk and remains relatively small so it can be quite at home on a deck in a container, the perfect tree for the small garden.  If you would like to see these plants or taste the fruits you can check out the Harvest Festival at One Green World on the 15th of September.

Medicinal Plants

Did you know that some of your favorite garden plants can be good for you?  Medicinal plants have a long history and some are proven to help you stay healthy and happy.  We found some interesting plants at Portland Nursery on Division (503-788-9000) and Bebhimn to tell us about them.  Some of the ones we saw were Lemon Balm, which makes you calm and happy, Echinacea, which boosts your immune system, Arinca, which helps heal skin abrasions and bruises, and Valerian, which helps with sleep and insomnia.  You can check out more of these plants at Portland Nursery on Stark or Division.  Remember, before you try any herbs or home grown remedy, you should check with your doctor or herbalist.

Preserving Hydrangea Blooms

Saving the color of summer is easy if you are growing hydrangeas.  Kristin from Hydrangeas Plus (866-433-7896) told us how easy it can be to preserve your blooms by following a few simple steps.  First, don’t do it too early, unless you have a preservative handy.  The early blooms have more color, but they are also touchy and need TLC and a professional preservative to keep that fresh color.  Most varieties will dry on the vine to a nice chartreuse color that can last all winter long.  Check the Hydrangeas Plus website for more tips.

Aquarium Natives

The Oregon Coast Aquarium (541-867-FISH) has more than just sharks and jelly fish.  The mission of the aquarium is to educate people about the Oregon coast and the plants and animals that inhabit it.   We met with Bob Llewellyn, the head groundskeeper, who told us that the aquarium is also planted with 98% native species.  These plants are the food, homes and support system for all the native birds and animals that live in and around the aquarium.  He also shared some of the interesting facts about the plants.  Take Chittam for example, it is a sacred tree with Native American people because it was a powerful laxative.  You certainly don’t want this one for your marshmallow stick!  We also saw salal, the wild huckleberry, Clarkia and the red monkey flower.  Next time you are at the aquarium, pull your eyes away from the fish and crustaceans and check out the ‘other’ Oregon Natives that are around!

Kindergarden – Bug Cups

This week’s kindergarden segment was a hoot!  We learned how to amplify the sounds of bugs using a small cup and some wax paper.  Amy Bigej from Al’s Garden Center (503-981-1245) brought this project to us and it was so easy we couldn’t resist.  To do it at home, capture a bug in a cup.  Stretch some wax paper across the top and then secure it with a rubber band.  Hold it up to your ear and you will be able to hear the bug clearly!  The fun part of this story was the ladybugs getting loose and tickling one of our little gardeners.

Parr Small Planter

As we roll into fall we look at creating colorful planters or making more gardening space closer to your doorstep.  Chris Erskine and our friends at Parr Lumber (503-644-1178) have come up with a simple plan for a small cedar planter that uses only 2 boards.  With a couple of minutes, a hammer, some 5d galvanized nails and a miter saw we were able to construct a planter that will last for years.  The best part?  It cost less than 10 bucks to build.  Chris also recommended that we seal the cedar so it lasts longer and that we drill a couple of drainage holes too.  Still, not bad for a simple, quick to assemble planter!