Mt Vernon Chamber of Commerce    

Here we are at the height of summer. There was a time when August, for me, was the beginning of three months of intensive harvesting and food processing. Kettles of salsa, tomato sauce, and corn dominated the kitchen in endless relays through the fall. Three large freezer chests were packed with cider, berries, and meat.

At the time, I believe this was referred to as returning to the simple life. Good for a laugh. Actually it was a very good life, though not always a simple one, and August does not arrive without my thinking reverently of this lifestyle. My canning jars now sit quietly as my life has grown busy with garden design work. These days I am happy to grow a few tomatoes, some lettuce and arugula, yet I salute all of you avid vegetable gardeners. And for those of you who are experimenting with food-growing for the first time, here are some things to pay attention to in August:

• Make sure you give veggies enough water. They must put on a lot of growth in a short time and many of them are heavy feeders. If you notice a sluggish growth rate or not the productively you anticipated, water and fertility are the keys. Note if you suspect that you might need to fertilize more generously early in the season next year. Some veggies are more sensitive to the onslaught of hot weather and can bolt quickly. Spinach, lettuce, mustard greens, basil - keeping these well watered can prolong their productivity.
• Those plants that produce over an extended season - summer squash, green beans, peas, cucumbers, basil - keep them picked or the plant will be inclined to make one big fruit/seed and consider its goal in life accomplished.
• If you put in potatoes relatively early you might be surprised to find nice tubers already. Brush the soil gently from the roots on one side, pluck them and push the soil back around the stems so new tubers can continue to form.
• If your tomatoes show signs of blight - a sudden blackening and wilting of portions of the plant - pick off the affected leaves and if possible keep all foliage picked off the lower one to two feet.   The blight moves on moisture, so low humidity and good air circulation around the base of the plant can make all the difference.   Water in the morning when surface moisture will lessen quickly, and water only the soil, not the foliage.
• Now is the time to think seriously about your edible winter garden. The idea is to establish a large plant before the cold closes in. Great starts of kale, collards, chard, and arugula are still available at the nursery. Give them lots of good nitrogen.
• If you have not yet harvested your garlic, do so now or the last of the enclosing skins will have disintegrated.   Hang it in a cool, dry, shady spot with good ventilation for a month to cure.  

 In the ornamental garden:

• Lift any tulips that are to be stored out of the soil for planting in fall.
• Read labels on any sprays used (including systemics applied to the soil) to make sure they won't harm pollinating insects.   If you run into bumble bee nests, try not to disturb them. They are excellent pollinators.
• As flowering species set seed, be conscious that some of this seed may be valuable food for birds. Many seed heads are striking and decorative in their own right and can be left through the season or into the winter.
• If you live in Anacortes or the islands, where fresh surface water can be scarce, remember that the birds and small wildlife may be very grateful for your offerings of drinking water. Having some at ground level will serve amphibians and other small creatures. Raised above the ground affords birds better visibility for predators that may be lurking in the bushes.
• If you have a compost pile that doesn't seem to break down, make sure it is constructed to retain moisture throughout. Bins made of wooden slats can often benefit by having the sides lined with black plastic. Make sure also to include dense, high nitrogen materials (like grass clippings) to keep the process working.
• Check dwarf conifers for double leaders (select one and remove the other) and for reversions to an upright form (clip out errant verticals).
• August is the bloom time for many fantastic large-stature perennials. The sunflower family (Helianthus, Rudbeckias, Heleniums, Asters, shastas, Echinaceas, Coreopsis...), the sages ('Hotlips' types, 'Black and Blue', Perovskyas), the Thalictrums, Cimicifugas, Veronicastrum, and Joe Pie weed...there are so many! Join us at the Nursery on August 4 for a tour of the perennial tables.

August 17 - 31

Summer Heather - 20% off

August 17 - 31

Water Plants - 30% off

"If I were a flower I would be a sunflower. To always follow the sun, turn my back to darkness, stand proud, tall and straight even with my head full of seeds."

- Pam Stewart  

Diane Szukovathy from Jello Mold Farm

Perennials!  Inspirational garden designer Ani Gurnee of Aulos Design will guide you through our magnificent perennials on hand and share her ideas about what works best and looks great. 

Sunday, August 12
Standout Pots and Stunning Plants 
1 pm - 2 pm (reservations required but class is complimentary) 
While our outdoor containers are on sale for 20 percent off, get help from Christianson's Nursery's Andrew Pickens to find the right pot among our huge selection: frost proof, glazed, terra cotta and more. Learn what shape and size will work best for you, and explore the dramatic effects you can get with year-round plantings.

Saturday, August 18
Desserts with an Herbal Inspiration
11 am - 12:30 pm (reservations required - $10 class fee) 
Chef Suzanne Butler will tempt your sweet tooth with treats enhanced by herb-garden snippets: anise hyssop ice cream ... orange and rosemary bread pudding ... mint chocolate mousse. Suzanne, a culinary arts instructor at Skagit Valley College, was Graham Kerr's cooking assistant for many years and manager of the Mount Vernon Farmers Market. You'll get fresh ideas for enjoying summer's fragrant herbs.

Saturday, August 25  

A Way with Weeds!
11 am - noon (reservations required  - $5 class fee) 
Eradicating weeds may be impossible, but you can find a new way of dealing with them in Ani Gurnee's insightful look at how weeds work and what we can do to minimize their aggravation. Ani, of Aulos Design, will help you devise a weed-management strategy for different garden situations: Which are the worst of the worst? How do they get so out-of-control? Will composting kill weed seeds? And even, could weeds have beauty or value?

For reservations, please call us at 360-466-3821 or 1-800-585-8200    

Preview of our September Classes...  

Saturday, September 8

Gorgeous Grasses

11 am - noon (reservations required  - $5 class fee)

Saturday, September 15

Preserving Your Harvest with Fermentation

11 am - 12:30 pm (reservations required  - $10 class fee)

Saturday, September 22

Rhododendrons for the Rest of the Year  

11 am - noon (reservations required  - $5 class fee)

Sunday, September 23 

Rain Gardens and Ponds for Winter 

2 pm - 3 pm (reservations required  - $5 class fee)

Saturday, September 29

Skagit Valley Giant Pumpkin Festival at Christianson's Nursery

Cooking Class: So Much More Than Pumpkin Pie! 

10:30 am - noon (reservations required  - $10 class fee)

Making Hard Apple Cider at Home

1 pm - 2 pm (reservations required  - $10 class fee)

And coming up later this fall...

Saturday, October 13

Mosaics for Garden and Home

1 - 5 pm   (reservations required - $35 class fee)  

Constance Funk and one of her works of art, a mosaic watering can

 

Constance Funk returns to Christianson's to teach an interactive class on her mosaic techniques for garden and home. Participants will learn about design, products, safety and techniques for this art form that has endless possibilities for expression. A class guide with invaluable resources will be provided to get you started on your own projects at home.