Happy Easter!  Happy Spring!  There is a feeling in the air.  Sure, it is wet, but it isn’t as cold as it was a few weeks ago.  We have been getting wet while we are shooting the show and we have had a few people cancel stories because of illness.  Overall we can deal with the wet, if we have a few chocolate bunnies to tide us over the next week or so.  Judy even got chocolate for the whole gang the other day!!  Enjoy the sun breaks and think of warmer times ahead. 

This week we featured...

Garland Pots and Fountains

Container gardening is the big buzz word for this year.  Gardens are getting smaller and that means pots that look and perform well are in high demand. Erica from Garland Nursery told us about some new pottery from Vietnam that is made from special clay that is incredibly heavy duty.  It can handle even your largest plants.  We also saw some of the newest designs of planters that are new to the market.  The paints and glazes are all hand done so they are all one-of-a-kind.  We then moved to the fountain area.  Garland carries the Henry line of fountains.  These are fountains and bubblers with a warranty!  Fill out the card when you purchase one and you are covered or one year.  We also heard about the ….. constructed fountains.  These are reinforced fountains that are a little lighter but just as strong as the conventional water features you can buy.  Containers and fountains can take your garden to the next level; check out the selection at Garland.

Tool Posture

Having the right tool for the job is only half the battle, using that tool correctly is the other half!  Bob Denman from Red Pig Tools gave us a quick primer on the correct use of some of the most common long handled tools that you may have in your garden shed.  First we started with the hoes and cultivators.  Bob recommends getting a tool that is at least as tall as yourself.   This allows you to avoid bending at the waist to get the job done.  He also weeds across his body, this lets him use his upper body strength and avoid stress on his lower back.  Shovels use a different technique.  Shovels need to be selected according to the type of job you are trying to do and the type of material you are moving.  You should also consider the ‘lift’ of the shovel, which in layman’s terms means the angle of the blade to the handle.  Bob even demonstrated the correct way of digging.  If you have any questions, check out one of Bob’s classes or stop by the ‘Red Pig’ store in Boring. 

Daffodils

Ahhh… the true sign of spring, daffodils!  We braved the cool and wet weather to learn about daffodils and visit with Ken Iverson from Wooden Shoe Bulb Company (1-800-711-2006) and to talk about how they can add an early touch of color to your garden.  We talked about care and feeding of these early bloomers and how you can use them in your yard or garden.  Wooden Shoe cuts and ships daffodils all over the country so they have to know how to make them last!  They are a great cut flower with one warning:  Don’t place them in a vase with other cut flowers right away.  The sap from the daffodil will cause other flowers to plug up!  The sap doesn’t allow the other flowers to draw water.  Here is another tip for keeping deer away from your prized tulips; surround them with daffodils.  Deer hate the ‘daffs’ and will ignore your tulips to avoid the daffodils.  If you have anymore questions about daffodils or tulips you can contact Wooden Shoe.

Hellebores

These plants are true winter bloomers and were old garden favorites many years ago.  They have become popular again and bring wonderful winter color to the garden.  We visited with Ken Korpowski from Extra Perennial Nursery (503-628-1492) in Scholls.  These plants are true evergreen woodland perennials and Extra Perennial has a wonderful selection of them.  Ken showed us a couple of his favorites.  He had Helleborus ‘Slate Blue’, Mardi Gras ‘Parade Yellow’, Hellebores ‘Party Dress’ and one plant that makes a great companion plant, the Hepatica ‘Blue Jewel’.  Once established they are really hardy and will become the best part of your spring garden!

Roof Moss

A couple of weeks ago we talked to Norm McCreight of Lilly Miller about getting rid of moss in your lawn.  Today we chatted with Jenny Adams about the moss you find on your roof.  Jenny told us about a couple of products that Lilly Miller makes to take care of the problem.  We found out that the moss on your roof is different than the stuff in your grass and it might not even be moss.  Jenny explained that algae may be your problem.  Also, if you fail to remove the moss from the roof you may be looking at expensive repairs in the long run.  The moss will get underneath the shingles and allow moisture to get into wood supports.  She recommends using the new Moss Out products the have been reformulated to be much safer than the older roof products.  There are also some citrus based products that will be safe for your pets.  Treat the problems now and when the weather warms up it will get rid of your moss and algae for good!

Gardenpalooza

Two weeks to go to one of the biggest events on the Portland garden scene!  Gardenpalooza is gearing up and getting ready to start on the 5th of April at Fir Point Farms.  Be ready to shop over 40 different vendors, featuring the best in plants and garden art.  Mark your calendars, April 5th at Fir Point Farms.  Go to www.Gardenpalooza.com for more information, including a map and coupons from selected vendors.  See you there!