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SHOW ARCHIVE

Episode 124 • May 9, 2009

VIDEO ARCHIVE


Happy Mothers day weekend! This is one of the best years for blooms that we have seen in awhile. The tulip fields at Wooden Shoe (1-800-711-2006) in Woodburn are still looking great (even though the festival is done). The lilacs are putting on a show at the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens (the last weekend for them) and the rhododendrons are just popping at the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden (their big sale is this weekend). If your mother loves flowers it is a great weekend to see one or more of these attractions. It looks like the weather will be giving us all a gift with some great weather to celebrate with mom. Have a great time!

This week we featured...

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

We went to see the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden for their big Portland Rhododendron Show and Plant Sale that happens every year on Mothers Day weekend. Dick Cavender talked to William about the events happening at the garden this weekend. He also talked about the cut flower show and how anyone can be a part of it. He even showed us how to clean up the flowers for display and judging. The garden is maintained by volunteers and the plant sale that the Rhododendron Society is conducting helps to raise funds for the garden. For more information check out the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden website, or call 503-771-8386.

Top 10 Toughie Ground Covers

We are always looking for plants that can handle the worst we can dish out and still come back for more. Some groundcovers do that and more! We stopped by to visit with Fran from Stepables to learn about the new Top 10 Toughies in groundcovers. These are plants that were chosen by customers, growers and retailers as the best at handling cold winters, heavy traffic and ‘mean’ conditions in the garden. Some of the favorites include Blue Star Creeper, Scotch and Irish moss, wooly thyme, and elfin thyme. For a complete list you can visit your local independent garden center or go to the Stepables website.

Orchid Types

A lot of people think that orchids are hard to grow and difficult to care for. We put that myth to rest with a visit from Lori from the Oregon Orchid Society (503-632-4884). Lori was not a collector of orchids, in fact she was growing cactus until someone gave her 2 orchids and that got her excited about orchids and she now grows over 10,000 orchids as a hobby. She brought some of her collection to show us. They included a number of different types including Phalaenopsis (moth orchids) and some Paphiopedilum varieties (slipper orchids). As far as growing conditions, they pretty much like what we like; 70 degrees and comfortable, and a little water once in a while. Most people kill them with kindness and water them too much. Really they are not that touchy. You can find different varieties. There are some that are fragrant, some are delicate and some are pretty tough. If you are interested in orchids you can see a bunch of them at the Lloyd Center Doubletree Hotel this weekend the 9th and 10th from 9-6 on Saturday and 10-4 on Sunday. You can also find out more at the Oregon Orchid Society website.

Garland Mixed Pots

This year people are looking to get more out of their patio containers. To see how to do that we traveled to Garland Nursery (1-800-296-6601) to learn how they pick plant combinations for their customers. Lee showed us how they are using different types of plant material together. An example he had, combined edibles and herbs together in a very decorative container. It was a twist on the normal strawberry pot that everyone has seen before. He also had top-dressed the pot with smooth river rock. You could also use a tumbled glass that would be a great way to cover the soil. He then showed us the materials for building your own container. He recommended a good organic soil (he had Black Gold) that drained well but still held enough moisture so the plants didn’t get thirsty. He then showed us the plants he had chosen, which included a dwarf blueberry called ‘Sunshine blue’ and then top-dressed it with strawberries. As you can see, there is a ton of different ways to build a combination container. If you are looking for more ideas, stop by and visit the experts at Garland Nursery.

Parr Deck Refinishing

Time to think about outdoor entertaining and that takes us to Parr Lumber (503-644-1178) to visit Chris Erskine for tips about cleaning your deck. Getting your deck cleaned now will mean you have the whole summer to enjoy it. Chris told us the first thing you should do is to go outside and check the condition of your deck. How is it doing? Is it in need of a little maintenance? Are nails showing? Do boards need replacing? Take time to do these chores first. Next look at cleaning your deck with a good product and don’t worry if you have a composite deck or one made of cedar, there are a bunch of different products that will clean both. Corte-Clean is one of those products. Get a good stiff bristle brush to scrub the material in. After it is clean you may need to apply a preservative. By leaving your deck exposed you could be creating more problems in the future. Chris recommended the Penofin line of products, which are made with rosewood oil. Picking the right sealer is very important and could extend the life of your deck. If you have a composite deck you may not need anything else. Check with your local Parr Lumber location to find the product that works for you.

 
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