...cool, scentless, and somewhat aloof... It is no accident that botanical illustrators and photographers have so often brought their scrupulous eye to bear on this particular flower:  it rewards that particular gaze like no other.

~Michael Pollan, Botany of Desire

There's that moment in spring when I walk out my door in the morning and realize that I no longer need a coat. The outside feels like room temperature for the first time since last year; a blanket of warmth washes over my face. I close my eyes and face a warming sun. Spring fever kicks in. At last, spring is really here.

Technically, sometime during the third week of March is the official start of spring on the calendar, but like the date of the Vernal Equinox, spring shifts. As March swings into April, spring can be deceptive. The month of April keeps me on my toes. I can get caught off guard by spring snow showers. I get annoyed when I see yet another morning of frost on my car's windshield. The temperature is near the 70's for part of the week, then it suddenly drops into the 30's! Nature can't quite decide whether it wants to advance into spring or not. My closet reflects it. Turtle necks, long-sleeved V-necks and short sleeve shirts all occupy the same space with polar fleece vests. Sweaters and wool socks aren't quite put away yet. Capris with leggings. Wool socks with sandals. Still, woolies in Wellies. Oh yeah, our region is known for its cold, wet springs, huh.

 

Packets of Giant Pumpkin seed harvested from 3 of the biggest pumpkins of last year is now available to you at no charge! Each packet has one seed from each pumpkin and instructions for growing one of these giants. It's a first come, first serve deal, so hurry in to take advantage of this great opportunity!

April is when you need to start germinating your seeds of giant pumpkins indoors for transplanting outdoors later - and you'll want to be part of the fun this year, since Christianson's is planning its best Giant Pumpkin Festival! The Fourth Annual Skagit Valley Giant Pumpkin Festival is set for Saturday, September 27. We'll have great prizes for the pumpkin weigh-off, games and food, music and pony rides - a day not to be missed!

Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Mariesii': If you have room for a large, wide-spreading deciduous shrub, this is one of the best multi-season shrubs you can grow. Doublefile viburnum develops a branching pattern with strong horizontal layers as it matures, which creates an interesting winter framework. It is difficult for any other shrub to match the brilliant floral display in the spring: Its smothered with flat sprays of pure white flowers, standing straight up off the branches. Later in summer clusters of red berries take the place of flowers. Fall brings a brilliant display of saturated reds. It is wide spreading up to 10 feet, so give it plenty of space to develop its spectacular form. For smaller spaces consider removing its lower branches to create a small, multi-stemmed tree. Hardy to -30 degrees (F).

Ribes sanguineum 'King Edward VII': Our native flowering currant is a reliable performer for the spring garden, blooming every year without any special care needed. 'King Edward VII' makes a compact, upright plant that drips with dark red flowers, starting in April. Blue black berries are a favorite of birds. A more compact grower than most, at 3 to 6 feet tall and wide, it is excellent as a hedge or in a mixed shrub border in native landscaping. Deciduous. For a white flowering form, 'White Icicle' is a heavy blooming local selection. Plants can be left unpruned, but for the best performance it is worth cutting the branches that have flowered back to a strong pair of buds just after they have bloomed. Hardy to -10 degrees (F).

Pieris japonica 'Katsura': This evergreen shrub is noted for its continuous new growth through spring and summer; large glossy leaves that are wine-red in color before turning green with age, and rose-colored flowers. In late spring, blooms cascade over green foliage, and new growth afterwards comes in glossy red again. The elegant flowers, born on rose-colored racemes are lilac-white with a lilac skirt. The habit of this broad upright bush is compact and reaches 4' to 5' high in 10 years. Pieris 'Katsura' thrives in well drained, humus rich, lime free soil similar to its native mountain forest habitat in sun or light shade. 'Katsura' makes a stunning addition to a Japanese themed garden. Hardy to -10 degrees (F).

Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Mariesii'	Ribes sanguineum 'King Edward VII'	Pieris japonica 'Katsura'

Rhododendrons in Red
R. 'The Honourable Jean Marie de Montague': This is the highly rated red rhododendron that is the standard for all other reds. 'The Hon. Jean Marie de Montague', often affectionately shortened to 'Jean Marie', produces a profusion of large, bright red flowers in early to mid-May. These contrast nicely with its leathery deep green leaves that cup like taco shells and are often softly freckled. Plant Himalayan white birch (Betula utilis var. jacquemontii) nearby for contrast with the red flowers or Japanese Stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia) for fall color interest against the deep green leaves. This cultivar is sun tolerant which is unusual for a larger leaved rhodie. Grows 5 - 7 feet tall and wide. Hardy to -10 degrees (F).

R. 'Taurus': A hybrid between 'Jean Marie' and strigillosum, this evergreen rhodie is an impressive, high-impact shrub  with deep red buds that contrast nicely with handsome, deep green leaves. Mature plants bloom early to mid-season with large, glowing red flowers. Similar to Grace Seabrook, with a larger stature. Excellent choice for foundation or hedge plantings.  Reaches 6 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide. Hardy to -10 degrees (F).

R. 'Grace Seabrook': Another red rhodie with 'Jean Marie' parentage, 'Grace Seabrook' blooms early (late March), with bright, blood-red flowers. It is also a hybrid of R. strigillosum, and this shows in the light indumentum beneath its handsome leaves. Grows to 4 feet tall and wide. 'Grace Seabrook' may be hard to find but we have it here. Hardy to -10 degrees (F).

R. x 'The Honourable Jean Marie de Montague'	R. 'Taurus'	R. 'Grace Seabrook'

Species Tulips

Species tulips grow best in well drained soils without summer water, in full sun. It is ideally suited for rock gardens or gravel strips. Plant potted starts slightly below soil level in the container. Add a bit of bulb fertilizer when planting. After blooming, allow the plant to dieback naturally so all its energy goes back into the bulb. It is very drought tolerant once established. They are very cold hardy but don't need an extended cold period to bloom which makes them well suited for the Pacific Northwest.