I admit it; I'm a plant snob. If a plant doesn't look fabulous it has just 12 months to prove itself before it is relegated to the compost bin. Many a shrub has trembled at the sight of my spade. My philosophy is, that it has to earn its right to be a resident in 'Karen's Garden' either by fabulous foliage, fragrant flowers or an interesting shape. No disease prone, self seeding or floppy things for me any more. Every specimen must be self deadheading, stand straight without strings, canes or other contraptions and be able to cope with everything from drought to deer. That's the theory anyway. Meanwhile I'll have to keep this newsletter brief; my Phlox need staking, the Campanula need deadheading (again) and I'm on my third truckload of Bishops Weed (aka gardeners bane) to the dump this month. Hmmm.
|
|
Container Garden Care
Compared to last year, our containers gardens have got off to a sluggish start here in the PNW. Never fear,you will still enjoy a dazzling display if you follow these simple tips.
1. Regularly dead head and remove dead leaves, especially from the soil surface.
2. Water thoroughly until it pours from the container base. Small containers will need once or even twice a day depending upon your potting soil mixtures, the type of watering system you use and sun/wind exposure.
3. If I have planted your containers then no fertilizer should be necessary. However if you feel the containers need a little boost water every other week with a liquid plant food such as Miracle-Gro.
4. Adjust the spacing of containers as they grow in to maintain good air circulation
5. Sprinkle slug bait in all your containers. Sluggo Plus is preferred since it also gets those pesky earwigs which are thriving this year.
|
|
|
Time to Reassess  Are you happy with your garden? Does it reflect your personality and function for intimate gatherings or larger functions as you had envisioned? If not, let's get together and realize your garden dreams.
A simple landscape consultation may be all you need to see how you can maximize your gardens potential. Or I would be happy to explore drawing up a completely new landscape design for you to either implement yourself or with professional assistance. Don't settle for less than FABULOUS! Take advantage of this months coupon to get you started on your garden journey.
|
|
Garden Tours & Events
-
Saturday August 7th, 10-4.00pm Vegissimo! 2nd Annual Whidbey Island Vegetable Garden Tour & Garden Party. 9 gardens to tour with proceeds benefiting Whidbey Island Nourishes, an organization devoted to feeding young people in need on South Whidbey Island. Details.
-
Saturday August 7th and 21st, 11-12:00pm Ethel Dupar Fragrant Garden Tour. Enjoy over 50 varieties of plants selected for their touch and smell with many signs being in braille. Wheelchair accessible. Free.Details
- Saturday August 14th, 9.30-noon. Seattle Rose Society's Public Rose Show, hosted by Molbaks and featuring my good friend and rosarian John Harmeling. This show is open to the public and is a great opportunity for gardeners of all skill levels to display their blooms in a judged competition. Molbaks will provide the vase and name tag for each rose to be displayed, you provide the bloom. The Seattle Rose Society will also be showing their roses. Learn from the experts and enjoy a breathtaking display of roses. Look for guidelines and prize information at the Information Booth in the Garden Store starting August 1. (Note to my Mum - no you can't send in an entry from England!)
|
|
Share the Harvest
Our local food banks need healthy, fresh food. You can help.
 Participating is easy!
Each Saturday in August and September harvest your herbs, fruits and vegetables and drop them off at Molbak's nursery in Woodinville. They will get the donations to Hopelink each week for their food bank program.
Click here for more info on what to donate.
|
|
Special Garden Event; August 15th.
Here is an opportunity you won't want to miss - visit the fabulous award winning garden of my wonderful friends Tina Dixon and Paul Stredwick and donate to a worthwhile cause at the same time.
This fund raising benefit is for Hopelink; a regional, non-profit, social service agency which provides a food bank, transitional housing, transportation, daycare and many other services. The clientele of Hopelink are ordinary people who are going through a bad time and need some meaningful assistance during a transitional time in their lives.
Click here for information regarding tickets and registration for the event, and if you can't make it, please feel free to donate online using the links on the flyer.
See you there!
|
|
Gardens are a form of autobiography. ~Sydney Eddison, Horticulture magazine, August/September 1993
Who does your garden say you are?
Karen Chapman CPH
Le Jardinet
425 765 3574 |
|
|
|
|
 PLANT OF THE MONTH
Geranium Rozanne |
How can anyone resist the striking color of this hardy geranium? It blooms from May until November, loves full or part sun and doesn't self seed everywhere. Stunning.
|
|
Add the bright yellow Sedum 'Angelina' to add punch to Million Bells 'Dark Blue' & 'Peach'
|
|
Imagination goes here
| |
