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April 2016
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Vol 5, Issue 12
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Greetings from Christianson's!
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Photo by http://bunnycottage.blogspot.com
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As someone who has been "Konmari'ing" my house the last several months, I've been intrigued by the tiny house movement. I'm fascinated and impressed by people who can eliminate most of their extraneous belongings, parring them down to the basic necessities in order to live in what amounts to a space the size of a family room. Granted, some tiny houses are quite grand in a tiny way, incorporating fancy fixtures, appliances and built-ins of wood instead of the flimsy materials that one would encounter in a standard travel-trailer. They're built more substantially to feel like a miniature version of a framed house. Although the trailer part makes them portable, some owners would like a more permanent foundation but have hit the wall of zoning and minimum allowable square footage statutes. The trailer frame dictates the weight, width and height of a tiny house. Creativity shines in how the interior spaces are utilized.
Many people are going tiny because they're tired of the bills and maintenance of owning so much house. I live in a thousand square foot house in a neighborhood in what used to be a rural area in northern Snohomish County. This house is just big enough for me, my cat and my dog. I like living smaller. Less to clean, heat and pay taxes on. I actually built it myself (with a little help from my friends) through a sweat equity program from the Self-Help Housing program of the USDA-Rural Development agency. I'm coming up on 16 years in the house this month. I've made some improvements to it over the years by adding a fence, arbor and deck and ditching the lawn for plants. The only problem I have with the place is it's on a postage stamp lot. Basically the house sits on the setbacks. It's just big enough to have to garden, but not big enough to GARDEN. Too bad, because the land is really rich, deep top soil.
Last February, I went to the Home Show where a tiny house company had 3 models set up. Even the smallest one felt light and airy because it had a white bead-board interior and a lot of windows! It also had quality cabinets and a farmhouse style sink! The bathrooms in all the units were large and the kitchen layout worked well. Library ladders accessed the loft, or you could have stairs built. If you can crawl around in your yard weeding, you can certainly handle a sleeping loft. When well done, tiny houses can function really well. And they're just drop dead cute with potted flowers all around.
Personally, I would like to have an acre or two, have some chickens (it's against the HOA to have chickens where I'm living - I'm not a fan of HOA's but I guess they keep the Betty Boop statues out of the yards), a spinner's flock of sheep, a big veggie garden and orchard, and be 'live outdoors' as much as possible. Now, I am aware that outdoor living only works for 3-4 months out of the year around here. You're thinking I'd get claustrophobic the other 9 months? But I did live in an older trailer on my folk's island property for several years in my younger days so I'm aware of its drawbacks. The trailer was rocked and rolled by strong Fraser River Nor'easters in winter and the power would occasionally go out. But, like childbirth, one tends to look back at such events with sentimental fondness, forgetting the traumatic bits.
The other thing is, I would love to have a fiber studio. So a finished barn or other outbuilding would be useful for my looms and two dozen fleeces I have waiting in the wings to be spun or felted. Economically, this could work for me. So, forget the house and its 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, etc. Give me 200 square feet of living (with one toilet to clean!), a large outdoor living area, 500 square feet of studio space and a couple of acres to garden and play in and I'd be a happy camper...literally.
Debra Lacy,
Certified Professional Horticulturist & Editor
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Where To Find Us
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15806 Best Road
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Map and directions
www.christiansonsnursery.com
360-466-3821
1-800-585-8200
Spring Hours
Now Open daily 9 am - 6 pm
Weekly Radio Broadcast:
Sunday Mornings at 10:30 am
The Garden Show
with John and Mike
KAPS AM 660
Voted Best Greenhouse and Nursery
in Skagit Publishing's
People's Choice Awards for
2010 - 2014
Award at the 2015 & 2016 Northwest Flower & Garden Show for Outstanding Plant Market Display
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April Specials
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April 1 - 17
Magnoliashundreds of beautiful blooming trees
with white, pink, purple or yellow flowers
including evergreen varieties 20% off
April 18 - May 1
Rhododendrons & Azaleas
thousands to choose from
including evergreen and deciduous azaleas
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Upcoming Classes & Events
.: APRIL :.CLASSES:
No classes in April TULIP FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS:
Art at the Schoolhouse Friday, April 1 - Sunday, April 30 Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 New and returning artists from Stanwood Camano Arts Guild will show their art in our historic Schoolhouse for the eighth season. The Guild's members' art includes many different types; outdoor stained glass garden art, paintings, jewelry, greeting cards, photography, fiber arts and more. This is a must-see stop while touring the picturesque tulip fields of the Skagit Valley.
Judy and Annie's Philly Cheese-steak Sandwiches
Weekends in April
Back by popular demand, Judy and Annie will be offering their warming lunch fare on weekends and some weekdays during April, weather permitting. In addition to Philly cheese-steak sandwiches, they will also be offering their award winning Crab-Shrimp Chowder, crepes and fresh-squeezed lemonade.
Artisan Truffles by Evolve Chocolates
April 16, 23, 24, 30 and May 1 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
 Evolve Chocolates will be setting up their 'Pop-up' Chocolate Lounge at our Nursery on several weekends during the Tulip Festival. They offer complimentary tastings of their award winning truffles and will have many varieties available for purchase. A sweet treat after a savory lunch at the Philly Cheese-steak Sandwich tent. The 2016 Rose List is now available. Click here for a PDF version.
For more information visit our web site at
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Our Great Selection of Deciduous Azaleas
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Deciduous azaleas show an array of color that is hard to equal in your garden. Vivid yellow, pink, orange and flame red blooms glow as harbingers of spring. Most are hardy -5 to -40 degrees (F) and can grow in most exposures from part-sun to full-sun. They are also adaptable to many soil types which makes them a very versatile shrub. Unless otherwise noted, deciduous azaleas bloom in mid to late May and have excellent fall color and a lovely fragrance. Many are originally from England, hybridized by the Exbury and Knap Hill nurseries.
This year, we have the best selection of deciduous azaleas, ever in 1, 2 and large 5 gallon pots. Here are the varieties in stock:
Cheerful Giant: An Exbury hybrid with stunning and voluminous 6" double yellow, ball-shaped flowers are generously displayed on an upright, moderately branching structure. Blooms in late May. Grows 6' tall and 4' wide.
Fireball: Rich, flame red flowers with orange flares grace a somewhat upright habit. The new leaves are shiny bronze. Grows 7' tall and 5-6' wide.
Gibraltar: An all-time favorite Exbury variety, beautiful frilled-edged, orange ball-shaped blooms grace this more compact plant. Mildew resistant. Grows 5' tall and wide.
Irene Koster: An occidentale hybrid, delightfully honeysuckle-like fragrant white blooms are flushed with dawn pink and have a yellow eye. Grows 8' tall and wide.
Klondyke: This Exbury hybrid has striking, golden yellow flowers displayed on a somewhat upright, bushy branch structure. Bronzy fall foliage display. Grows 6-8' tall and 4-6' wide.
Golden Comet: This wonderfully fragrant yellow blooming compact variety is a selection of R. luteum by the Rhododendron Species Foundation. The bright red fall foliage is mildew resistant. Grows 4' tall.
Maggie Brown: Wonderfully fragrant, double pink flowers grace a somewhat upright growing branch structure. Grows 4' tall.
Millenium: Fragrant, deep red flowers with a pale orange flare are highlighted by beautiful blue-green foliage that is mildew resistant. Unusual that it blooms in July. Grows 4-5' tall.
Mary Poppins: Blazing orange-red flowers are beautifully presented on an upright branch structure with excellent fall color. Mildew resistant. Grows 4' tall and wide.
Mount Saint Helens: Fragrant, bright strawberry-pink blooms with a large orange flare cover this upright, well-branching variety. Stunning orange-yellow fall foliage. Grows 4-5' tall and 3-4' wide.
R. occidentale: A native western azalea from Northern California to Southern Oregon, the pink-white flowers have a lovely fragrance on a branch structure that grows to 5' tall.
Royal Command: Flashy reddish-orange flowers bloom on an upright branch structure. Excellent fall color. Grows 5-6' tall.
Red Sunset: An Exbury hybrid, flaming red flowers bloom on a rounded, dense plant with attractive foliage. Mildew resistant. Grows 6-8' tall and 4-6' wide.
Totally Awesome: Dark red-orange buds unfurl to large 7" rounded flowers of pale yellow shaded with vivid yellow and highlighted by bright red-orange margins and sunny yellow flares. Broadly branching with excellent fall color. Grows 3-4' tall and wide.
Washington State Centennial: This award-winning variety has a delightful fragrance from deeply ruffled, ball-shaped blooms, edged with golden orange and ornamented with a vivid chrome colored eye. Bronze colored fall foliage grace an upright, moderately branching structure. Mildew resistant. Grows 5' tall. Introduced in 1989, of course.
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Cheerful Giant
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Fireball
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Gibraltar
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Klondyke
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Golden Comet
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Maggie Brown
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Millenium
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Mount Saint Helens
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R. occidentale
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Royal Command
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Totally Awesome
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Washington State Centennial
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The Pelargoniums Are Here!
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Commonly referred to as Geraniums, our Prop House has become a riotous display of colors with over 5,000 plants in many varieties from Martha Washingtons, scented and many hybrids. We also have a huge selection of fuchsia hanging baskets in my colors.
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Nursery Expansion Update
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The windows on the new greenhouse are installed and new bedding tables are being constructed. We've also opened the first phase of north end parking. Our Nursery is shaping up for a fantastic Spring! 
New bedding tables are being constructed for the expanded Retail greenhouse. Soon, thousands of bedding plants will fill the space!
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Milky Way kousa dogwoods line the planting strip between the expanded parking and Best Road.
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John, Adon and Manuel plant Armstrong red maples along the north side of the field as a windbreak.
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Primrose Antiques & Gifts
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"Spring work is going on with joyful enthusiasm."
- John Muir, The Wilderness World of John Muir
The celebration of spring is in full bloom here in Primrose! Our shelves and displays are bursting with beautiful candles, soaps and bath items, specialty kitchen items, spring-themed paper napkins, whimsical kitchen towels, top-quality linens, and a dazzling assortment of home d�cor items and antique treasures. As you wrap up your spring-cleaning chores, it's the perfect time to treat yourself to something special that will bring springtime cheer and joyful enthusiasm to your living spaces.
 Perhaps you're also changing up your closets and looking for a splash of spring in your wardrobe? We now carry 100% cotton tunic-style blouses that look great with skinny jeans or leggings, and come in three sizes and three lovely fabric designs. We also have a fresh new selection of hats from a wonderful line called the 'Toucan Collection'. These hats are beautifully made and many bear the 'Made in USA' label.
Of course, another great way to celebrate spring is to sit in the sun with a shiny new book! Primrose offers a wide selection of books including practical 'how-to' gardening guides, books to inspire your home and garden designs, wonderful recipe books, coloring books, sweet little gift books with poetry and essays, and many more. We've also freshened up our greeting card racks and have a great assortment of new designs, ranging from whimsical to vintage classics.
We hope your April is filled with joy and abundant sunshine. If you need some inspiration for your home or garden, a Mother's Day gift, or just a little extra spark of springtime enthusiasm, please stop by and visit us. We are happy to help!
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Fresh Ideas
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Here's a collection of interesting ideas, helpful tips and great recipes gathered together to inspire and inform. Always on the look out for information on best practices, new approaches to horticultural related topics and delicious recipes, we hope you enjoy this month's collection of fresh ideas!
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Closing Thought...
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"And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."
- Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Sensitive Plant
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Garden Notes Editor:
Debra Lacy, Public Relations
Christianson's Nursery & Greenhouse
360-466-3821
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