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Garden Notes

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Greetings from Christianson's!
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We have a confession. Now that summer is here (almost) and we're up to our elbows in glorious plants, it's much harder to come inside and sit at computers. However, there's much to talk about this time of year and so many happenings at the nursery. So here we are back at the computer, with dirt under our fingernails and lots to say in little spaces.
For starters, our Eighth Annual Rose Festival is on June 18 (see article in this newsletter for details). On top of that, our brand new website will be launching in mid-June and we can finally plant basil. It's a triple celebration!
We also wanted to thank you for all your positive feedback in response to our first issue of Garden Notes. It seems to be building momentum, thanks in large part to all of you who forwarded your Garden Notes to family and friends. If you have ideas for future articles or any other feedback, please let us know. We'd love to hear from you!
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A Weeding Primer
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When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
~ Author Unknown
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Our long wet spring has produced a bumper crop of weeds in Skagit Valley gardens. However, there are a few basic practices you can do to manage your 'crop' of weeds and discourage new growth down the line. For example:
- Fluff it up. Keeping your soil loose and rich makes it easy to extract weeds. Use a tool like a cultivator fork to loosen up the top layer.
- Amend it. If your soil is heavy or compacted, consider changing the composition by adding a bark or compost mixture (incorporating it to about 12" depth) and then adding a 2" thin layer of bark top dressing.
- Disturb it. Once you've loosened your soil and pulled the weeds, it's easy to maintain with a tool like a Hula hoe or Diamond hoe. Weeds grow by photosynthesis (the leaves feed the roots) so using a hoe to skim off the tops of the weeds when they first appear stops the flow of nutrients down to the root and slows new growth. Hoe weekly during the growing months.
- Tools are our friends. There are many tools to choose from when it comes to weeding. Some of our favorites include the Hula hoe, the Nejiri-Gama hoe, and the Hori Hori knife. When removing weeds from sod or thick ground covers, try a dandelion weeder.
- Timing is everything. The best time to pull weeds is when the ground is moist. If the ground is dry, water the soil the night before you weed. It's also far better to pull a weed before the plant has gone to seed. Otherwise, you are essentially spreading seeds each time you handle the plant.
- Take care of your body. Use tools, stretch, change positions, take breaks, and drink water.
- Know your weeds. Many weeds are poisonous to livestock and crops. "Weeds of the West" is an excellent book for identifying weeds in your garden. Here's the noxious weed list for Washington State.
- Do no harm. Your soil is alive with nutrients. Herbicides, chemical fertilizers, and weed cloths can kill the nutrients that make your 'good' plants thrive and grow. The most environmentally friendly and effective method for removing weeds is simple: basic labor, good tools, and consistent management.
So put on some music, listen to an audio book, or set up a series of round-robin weeding parties with your friends. Who knows? Spending some quality time with your weeds may enrich your life in ways you've never imagined!

Many thanks to contributing writer, Catherine Boland. Known as 'Industria hortulanus' (a hard working gardener), Catherine offers a wide range of gardening services here in Skagit Valley. She can be reached at 360-639-4580 or at catherineboland@me.com
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Summer Specials
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June 1 - 12
Vines ~ 20% off
June 13 - 19
Japanese Maples ~ 20% off
June 13 - 23
Perennials ~ 20% off
June 24 - 30
"Lemon" Sale
Nursery seconds at greatly reduced prices - up to 70% off
July 1 - 5
Annuals - 40% off
July 6 - 17
Hydrangeas ~ 20% off
July 18 - 31
Summer Herbs - 20% off
August 1 -21
Outdoor Containers - 20% off
August 22 -31
Summer Heather - 20% off
August 22 -31
Water Plants - 30% off
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Where to find us |

15806 Best Road
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Our new website will be launching in mid-June!
360-466-3821
1-800-585-8200
Open daily 9 am - 6 pm
NW Flower & Garden Show "People's Choice Award 2011"
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The Garden in June...with Ani Gurnee
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Yes, dear gardeners, our spring continues to be wetter and cooler than normal. You may want to save the watermelons for next year, but most normal Pacific Northwest vegetable crops will have a long-enough season, even if planted at the end of May. All ornamental trees and shrubs will thrive with this long cool period for establishment.
- If you are doing winter squash, corn, peppers, or other long-season vegetables, the sooner you get them in the ground at this point, the better. Black plastic as a ground cloth over bermed soil will help hold warmth and promote rapid growth of seeds or starts.
- Weeding is much easier when done early and often. With light soil, a hoe skims through the top inch severing newly germinated weeds. Easier said than done when it's so wet! If the weeds have gotten ahead of you, shearing or weed-eating them to the ground before digging the roots sometimes makes it easier or less overwhelming.
- Start planning your winter garden to be ready to plant June through August. Some winter crops, such as leeks and brussel sprouts, can take longer than you may think.
- If you look at the spent flowers from your fruit trees this month, you will be able to differentiate between flowers that were pollinated and are starting to swell into fruit, and those not pollinated that are shriveling and falling. Pollination has been a challenge this spring with the cold, rain, and wind.
- If you have any spring-blooming clematis (the Montana types) that have outgrown their trellis space, the best time to hard prune them is right after bloom. The vines have the rest of summer to re-fill their trellis space and be set to bloom next spring.
- Rhodies are also best pruned immediately after bloom so next year's buds can form this summer.
- If you are left with any fallow ground this year, or anticipate expanding your edible or ornamental plantings next year, consider the wonderful opportunity to start planning early. Any beds prepared and mulched this year will be ready to go next spring!
- Mulching all planted areas before the heat of summer will do wonders to help preserve the spring's banking of soil moisture. Plant health is greatly served by the tempering of soil wet-dry cycles.
- If you are slug-baiting your strawberries, begin as berries start to swell. Make sure to use products with iron phosphate (ex. Sluggo) rather than products that are toxic to pets and wildlife.
- If you are looking for contrast in your ornamental plantings, give thought to all the different foliage textures, colors, and sizes while strolling in your neighborhood or in the nursery. Take note of some of the stunning foliar color variations available in some species, such as the Japanese maples, barberries, ninebarks, and smoke trees. The purples, coppers, and lime greens really add dazzle to the garden, especially appreciated during the lulls between bloom times.
- Speaking of lulls, the best way to fill 'the time between' is to go shopping during the lulls. The nursery orders in the most quantity during a plant's bloom time when it is really showing itself off so you can readily pick from those plants to know what would fill the gaps in your own garden's scheme.

Ani Gurnee is a popular and greatly-adored guest speaker at the nursery.
Ani is the owner of Aulos Design and she can be reached at 360-445-2028.
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A Word About Our Organic Veggie Starts...
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Graham Kerr, Sue Phillips, and basil. Photo from Graham's talk at the nursery on May 20.
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We carry a wide selection of organic veggie starts that are: * Sustainably and locally grown * Certified organic * Suitable for our environment and short growing season We also have knowledgeable staff on hand who can help you make your selections and answer any questions you may have about the planting and care of your veggies. By the way, our night time temperatures are now warm enough for tomatoes, squash, peppers, eggplant, and basil.
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Eighth Annual Rose Festival is June 18
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Please join us as we celebrate...
A Rosy Day Out
Saturday, June 18
9 am - 6 pm
 Keynote Speaker: Ciscoe Morris 8 am - 9:45 am Rose display entries can be submitted 9 am - 6 pm Tour of Schoolhouse Rose Garden 10 am - 5 pm Tri-Valley Rose Society Rose Display 10 am - 1 pm Tri-Valley Rose Society Plant Clinic 1 pm - 2 pm 'Growing Great Roses' with Robyn Swesey and Larry Sawyer 2:30 pm 'Roses and Rose Companions' with Ciscoe Morris Ciscoe's talk will be followed by a Rose Ice Cream Social in the Schoolhouse Garden
Admission to this all-day event is free. We hope to see you there!
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Upcoming Events in June
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'A Rosy Day Out' Saturday, June 18, from 9 am to 6 pm Our Eighth Annual Rose Festival will feature keynote speaker, Ciscoe Morris. Festivities include a rose garden tour, floral display, plant clinic, rose workshops, and a Rose Ice Cream Social. Please see the article above for more details. Happy Father's Day!
Sunday, June 19
Skagit Artists Together Studio Tour: Preview Show at Christianson's Schoolhouse Opening Reception: Friday, June 24, 3 pm - 6 pm Open Art Show: Saturday, June 25, 10 am - 6 pm Sunday, June 26, 10 am - 4:30 pm
Gardens of Note in Anacortes Sunday, June 26, from 10 am to 5 pm Tour seven Anacortes town and country gardens and listen to live music. Enjoy sweeping views of the San Juan Islands as you drive around Fidalgo Island. Bring a picnic lunch or eat in one of Anacortes' restaurants. Tickets are $25 and are available online at www.brownpapertickets.com. For further information call 360-848-9336. |
Summer Class Calendar
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Invincible Vines
Saturday, June 4 11 am - noon
reservations required class fee: $5
Join Sally Isaiou from T&L Nursery in Woodinville as she showcases a wide array of flowering vines, focusing on shade-loving akebias, fragrant lonicera and clematis, dramatic climbing hydrangeas, and vines that attract hummingbirds. In the Kitchen with Suzanne Butler Saturday, June 4 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm reservations required class fee: $5 On June 20th, Graham Kerr spoke at the nursery and inspired us to grow a kitchen garden, but what will we do with all those veggies when they actually arrive in our kitchens? Suzanne Butler, Graham Kerr's Cooking Assistant since 1993, former Manager of the Mount Vernon Farmer's Market, and a Chef Instructor, will focus on preparing and cooking early spring vegetables, such as spinach, asparagus, peas, chard, and kale. Learn new and wonderful ways to transform your spring harvest into meals that are as nutritious as they are delicious. Nursery Walk with Ani Gurnee Saturday, June 11 11 am - noon complimentary but reservations required class limit: 20 Ani Gurnee from Aulos Design will lead you on a tour of our greenhouses, gardens and nursery grounds, answering any questions you may have about the selection and care of perennials, annuals, grasses, trees, shrubs, and any other plant you are interested in learning more about. Ani will provide design tips, offer new insights, and spark your imagination during this informative and interactive walking tour through the nursery. Hypertufa Saturday, July 9 and August 27 10 am to 12:30 pm reservations required class fee: $35 Local landscape designer and garden artist, Kathy Hirdler of Floribunda Designs, returns to Christianson's to share her knowledge of making hypertufa containers and ornamentation for your garden. Make a traditional hypertufa trough to take home for planting with alpines or sedums, while learning all about hypertufa and other cement-based materials. Planters, water basins, stepping stones, leaves and sculptural pieces can all be made using the techniques Kathy will be presenting. All materials and supplies are provided but students should wear gardening/work clothes or a sturdy apron, and bring a trowel. Using and Preserving Herbs with Suzanne Butler Saturday, July 16 11 am to noon reservations required class fee: $5 Awaken your senses as you look at, smell, and taste a variety of fresh seasonal herbs. Suzanne Butler, Graham Kerr's Cooking Assistant since 1993, former Manager of the Mount Vernon Farmer's Market, and a Chef Instructor, will lead you through this engaging and interactive session as she reviews the variety of ways to preserve herbs for the winter and demonstrates how to use both fresh and dried herbs in recipes. It's Blueberry Time Saturday, July 30 11 am to noon reservations required class fee: $5 Matt Groff, a longtime blueberry farmer and Christianson's staff member, will share his years of experience raising blueberries in Skagit Valley. Matt will review which varieties are best suited for this region and answer all your questions about how to grow great blueberries. Growing Winter Vegetables with Bill Thorness Saturday, August 6 11 am to noon reservations required class fee: $5 Want to serve your own salad on Thanksgiving, Swiss chard at the winter solstice, collards for Christmas, and purple sprouting broccoli for Valentine's Day? You can do it if you start your fall and winter garden now. This class will talk about winter gardening techniques, succession planting, soil building and the right timing to grow food throughout the year. Instructor Bill Thorness, author of 'Edible Heirlooms: Heritage Vegetables for the Maritime Garden', has been growing food in his Seattle garden for more than two decades. www.edibleheirlooms.com  Hypertufa Saturday, August 27 10 am to 12:30 pm reservations required class fee: $35 This class is also offered on July 9 and the full class description is provided above. For class reservations, call us at 360-466-3821 or 1-800-585-8200
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Closing thought...
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Many gardeners will agree that hand-weeding is not the terrible drudgery that it is often made out to be. Some people find in it a kind of soothing monotony. It leaves their minds free to develop the plot for their next novel or to perfect the brilliant repartee with which they should have encountered a relative's latest example of unreasonableness.
~Christopher Lloyd, The Well-Tempered Garden, 1973

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Garden Notes Editor:
Eve Boe, Public Relations and Education Coordinator
Christianson's Nursery & Greenhouse
eve.christiansons@gmail.com
360-466-3821
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