News from Le Jardinet

Le Jardinet Newsletter

May 2010

With our dog Bailey now trained on full deer alert, I feel more confident that I can plant containers which won't be seen as a Smorgasbord for the local wildlife! Don't get me wrong, I love seeing the deer - just not standing in the middle of my prize Hostas! Of course the dog does as much damage as he charges after them.Oh well.

To think that I used to consider aphids the menace of the season...

....GO!

It's time to plant! With night temperatures steadying at 50' we can enjoy our favorite summer annuals in baskets and container gardens.

I have two wonderful assistants this season, Angela Heise whom many of you met last year and Brenda Skinner, a former Molbaks colleague. Both ladies are delightful, graduates of the Horticulture program at Edmonds CC and independent business owners. I shall continue to do all consultations and design but the three of us will share the planting to ensure you are all accommodated in a timely manner.

What will it be this year? Dramatic orange and purple? Soft pastels? An elegant monochromatic scheme in white and silver?

Call or email today to schedule your summer fun!

Garden Events

May 8th 10am-4pm Bellevue Botanical Gardens Native Plant Sale Free entry.
May 16th 4-6pm Wine Tasting at the historc Dunn Gardens, Seattle. Sip and stroll. My sort of gardening! $50 suggested donation.
May 22nd 9.30-10.30 Molbaks. Easy Solutions & Tips for a Successful Vegetable Garden featuring expert Willi Galloway. Free.
May 29th 10-11 Molbaks. How to Eat Your Front Yard. Seminar and book signing by Marianne Binetti. Free

Companion Planting

With an increase in interest for growing our own produce there is also a desire to do so without the use of harmful chemicals.

Companion planting means growing certain plants together for a variety of beneficial reasons such as

To attract pollinating insects e.g. Honey bees
To attract aphid eating insects such as Hoverflies
To deter pests.

Here are just a few ideas for your to incorporate into your edible container designs or kitchen gardens;

Brassicas with marigolds, coriander and/or dill to confuse cabbage root fly and cabbage white caterpillar with their scent.

Carrots with onions, chives and/or garlic to deter carrot flies

Zucchini and other squash with borage and marigolds to attract pollinating insects

Onions with parsley
to distract onion flies

Tomatoes with marigolds to deter harmful nematodes,and basil to repel flies.

There are lots of other suggestions in the book 'The Family Kitchen Garden'. Look how pretty they can be too!

My seminars

Just one seminar remaining on my schedule before I turn my attention full time to container garden design. This is 'by invitation' but I know John will make you most welcome.

Seattle Rose Society, Center for Urban Horticulture, Seattle

Wednesday May 18^th 7.30pm. BEYOND THE ROSE GARDEN; meeting new neighbors. Join me as I share experience and tips to help you create artistic companion plantings for roses. Be inspired as you learn the design tricks behind successful combinations. For further details contact John Harmeling rosebudjohn@comcast.net