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Episode 167 • June 5, 2010

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Welcome to Rose Festival. It is the annual tribute to rain... err, I mean roses, in Portland. Actually, rain is not uncommon for this time of year in Oregon and SW Washington. We should all be used to this type of weather. I like to think that the Rose Festival is the true kick-off to spring. Once the festival is over you can bet that, school will be out, the weather will improve and attitudes will change. I find it funny that we set aside 2-3 weeks to pay tribute to the rose. This week we went out to Heirloom Roses and they have been in bloom for about a month already. In fact, we paid a visit to help them celebrate their annual Rose Days happening this weekend. The Rose Days event is just one of many events happening around the area. Remember, you can always get the list of current events on the Garden Time events calendar.

Also, don't forget to check out the Garden Time Facebook, twitter and blog postings.

This week we featured...

Cornell Summer Containers

The summer is close at hand, even if the weather is saying otherwise. It is time to start thinking about putting together some great containers for your deck or patio. Deby at Cornell Farm (503-292-9895) walked us through the steps to put one together and showed us some of her favorite plants too. First she started with a wonderful pot with a nice hole in the bottom for good drainage. Then she added some of Cornell Farm's signature potting soil. This is a new blend made especially for their nursery. She also added some EB Stone Organic Sure Start fertilizer which will help jump start the plants. Then she told us about some of the plants she had picked out. She started with a New Zealand Flax, phormium tenax 'Purpurea' as her center starting point. She paired that with a Cape Daisy, Osteospermum 'Nuanza Copper Purple' which had some beautiful bronze and pink flowers. These flowers will close up at night, only to open in the warmth of the sun. Next came a group of plants that complemented either the color or the texture of those starting plants. A Coprosma 'Pink Splendor' joined an Ozothamnus diosmifolius 'Rose' and the popular Heuchera 'Crème Brule'. Around the edges of the container were a couple of petunias, 'Pretty Much Picasso' and an Agertum 'Artist Rose'. It may seem like a lot of plants for one container, but that just made it look full and grown in; you don't want to wait all season for your pots to look perfect. As Deby says, 'for the cost of a good dinner you can have a full season of color'. We couldn't agree more. Just remember to keep your container watered and give it a shot of fertilizer once a month and you will be enjoying this container for the next 6 months! If you have questions about sun or shade plants or any other container concerns, you can always count on the experts at Cornell Farm.

Heirloom Rose Days

We paid a visit to Heirloom Roses (503-538-1576) for their annual Rose Days event. Heirloom not only grows roses, they also hybridize new varieties and this weekend you can take a tour of the great display gardens and see some of the 1000's they grow at the nursery, then you can buy one and take one home. In addition to the roses, you can catch seminars from local gardening experts, sample wine and chocolate, listen to live music and enjoy a BBQ dinner. KXL will also have a radio remote from the gardens. We met up with Cheryl to talk about some of the great color in the garden right now. Cheryl pointed out the wonderful waves of color from 'Kateryna'. We also heard about 'Louise Clements' named after the owner of Heirloom Roses and 'Morning has Broken' named for the song that was playing when John and Louise Clements got married. We also saw the huge specimen, 'Paul's Himalayan Musk' which is growing nearly 50 feet up a neighboring tree. Cheryl also told us what homeowners should be looking for in their garden and how to combat the wet weather we are having. Heirloom is a great resource for rose lovers of any kind. If you are looking for a great time this weekend, come enjoy this free event.

Grande Valley Iron

Grande Valley Ornamental Iron (503-981-6923) is one of those places that we passed every couple of weeks or so and we never seemed to find time to stop in. Boy, have we been missing out! Jan and Ed Viska sent us an invitation and once we did stop, we fell in love with their creations. Jan and Ed started Grande Valley as a hobby to keep them busy in retirement. That hobby has grown to be one of the best places to get metal art and structures for your garden. Jan talked with William and had a hard time covering all the different items that they carry on their one-and-a-quarter-acre lot. You can find trellises, arbors, gates, benches, garden stakes, planters, gazebos and grates. They also do fountains and sheds. Pretty much everything you need for your garden that doesn't grow! Jan also told us about their custom work. Just bring them an idea and they can make it! If you are heading down I-5 and have a few minutes, you need to take the Canby exit and stop by their place near Hubbard. You will be glad you did.

Jan's June Tips

This late spring has been wet and cold, and that means some of your plants are suffering in the garden. We stopped by to check in with Jan McNeilan to learn what you can do to help them until the sun and warmth returns. Jan had heard that this was the worst weather in 20 years and we believe her! That means some of your garden veggies may not be doing much in the garden. In fact some of them may be showing some of the early signs of disease and stress. She recommended that you should wait on your most tender plants until the end of June (if possible) so they don't just sit and rot in your garden. If you do have plants in the ground, walk around and look for bugs like aphids and problems like botrytis (grey mold). If you do find pest problems in your garden, treat the problem with a good organic remedy like insecticidal soap. If you have any questions about what you can apply to your vegetables you can check with your local OSU Extension office or independent garden center. If your vegetable plants are slow in growing you can also help them by using a 'wall of water' to retain the heat and help them stay toasty. The key is to stay vigilant.

We also saw Jan's new hydroponic system. This self contained system applies the needed water and nutrients to the veggies she has planted in a soil-less container. She got her system from Green Air Products in Boring, Oregon. We will check it out in a month to see how her system does with the okra and tomatoes that she has planted, so stay tuned!

 
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