Dig It!

Time to bring in marginal hardiness plants now, or put under protected overhangs- they may not like the frequent rains.

**Fertilize your gardens and lawns with a complete organic fertilizer that includes Kelp and Rock phosphate, also use these in each planting hole when planting new plants, along with Yelm worm castings or homemade compost. Rock phosphate leaches out of our soils from all the rains, and Kelp is one of the best materials for an earth garden. For one thing, kelp helps stimulates soil bacteria. This, in turn increases fertility of the soil by humus formation (which feeds on the bacteria), aeration and moisture retention.

**Leave the seed heads on flowers like grasses and flowering perennials for winter interest, but also, because the birds will eat up all this free food

**Use daylily foliage, or leaves, as a mulch around shrubs or in the back of perennial borders, where it will break down and add nutrients back to the web of life underground.

**As far as tree leaves go- personally I just leave them, or rake them into the borders, especially maple, alder, and birch, they break down by spring, the worms and beetles use it as a protective canopy under which they get down to work, and create that healthy soil you admire in the forest. Or you can rake it up, compost it and put it back in the spring- but use it, it’s free, adds nutrients, and quite valuable!

I want to remind you of our upcoming changes for October…including the SALE

We will be going to reduced hours  

Sat/Sunday 10-5:30, other times by appointment-please call or email to confirm a time.

We will be closed on Thursdays/Fridays.

As we keep saying- Fall is The Best time to plant. 

Trees, shrubs, perennials-they all enjoy the cooler temperatures, combined with all the rain as it helps them to develop strong healthy roots systems, meaning they will be that much stronger in the spring, and summer. 

Remember trying to get new plantings established in the spring? All the watering, not knowing if they will make it? Try this- see if you notice a difference. 

We will be offering 50% off all perennials, shrubs and Natives for the month of October

We will exclude the usuals…not the Japanese Maples, Roses, and the Garden art or sculptures.

30% off all Vietnamese pottery

Some of our plants/ shrubs worth mentioning

Beautyberry- whose beautiful purple metallic berries literally glow in the light and last well into late winter 

Fuchsia’s- these gorgeous shrubs are still blooming like crazy and attracting all sorts of hummingbird action

Plumbago- is blooming in this incredible shade of blue with red and burgundy leaves, this shrub takes full sun, and is drought tolerant in good soil.

Canna’s- how about a bit of Tropical flair? Beautiful striped leaves and bright orange flowers- these are fantastic in containers.

Asters -  many varieties to choose from- Lady in black, Aster davaraticus is a woodland variety, Boltonia is a fabulous tall white that is very tough

We still have some winter veggies like Kale and some salad mixes,we also have Bay Laurel starts.

  Thank you so much -we had a Fantastic turn out for the Halibut BBQ September 13, 2008. We served 150 sandwiches!  Almost 30lbs of Halibut, and lots of smiles! Everyone had a great time. The Face painting was a BIG HIT-loads of pirates, butterflies and fairies running around in the woods, and the weather was perfect- what more can you ask for? Thank you for all the support in the last 5 years-we would not be here without your support.

  Thank you to ‘The Atlas String Band’ whose music made the atmosphere happy and lively!

Congratulations to the Raffle winners- Tom Rassmussen won the “Fill yer Red Wagon” drawing!

You can see it on the West Seattle Blog @ http://westseattleblog.com/blog/?cat=17  Please feel free to comment- we’d love to hear your comments.

  Also, on our website… we now have a Garden blog- this is where I will be writing garden info, events, posting photos of plants or new garden art- whatever comes to mind, and you can now comment, ask questions, or offer your own garden wisdom.