TOMATO-PALOOZA!


It is time to plant tomatoes – And we have so many!

Order now for summer caprese, gazpacho and all your favorites. Try something unique like: indigo cherry drops, pineapple, chocolate sprinkles, pink bumblebee or jersey devil!

They’re all delicious!

THICKET IS OPEN (CURBSIDE PICKUP)

We are so THANKFUL for our supportive community during this challenging time. The feed back we have received has been so generous and made us feel very much a part of a vibrant community. We are extending no-touch, social-distance-compliant offers to help you get your garden on!

PLACE ORDERS FOR CURBSIDE PICKUP
You can find our current availability of edible plants herbs and seed is here
Place orders and requests via email info@sparhawkgardendesign.com. As we are short staffed Mondays are generally the day we have time to get back to folks – thank you for your patience.

WINDOW SHOPPING
At this time we are not offering in person visits to thicket – we need to be able to control exposure and keep the shop safe for our team and our community.
We will keep displays of great plants up front – please feel free to wander by and email us your wish list.

GARDEN CONSULTATION + DESIGN SERVICES + INSTALLATION
We offer simple garden consultations or full on Garden design services with delivery and/or installation. Email us for details and to schedule an appointment.

ADVICE
You can also call us or email for garden advice or suggestions on great plants picks.

LOCATION: 4933 NE 23rd Ave Portland, OR 97211
CONTACT: info@sparhawkgardendesign.com
CALL: 503-926-3817

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THICKET HOURS


We value the health and well being of our team and our customers more than anything! In response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus we have decided to close the retail shop until April.

In light of Governor Brown’s plea to AVOID ALL NON ESSENTIAL TRAVEL we are suspending our delivery and pick up services at this point. We hope to have a more organized online ordering and curbside pick up system in place in APRIL once our employees rejoin our team and we have a better idea of which of our suppliers will continue delivering to the city.

We apologize for any inconvenience and encourage you to PLANT FOOD this season!

VEGETABLE STARTS
You can source vegetable starts from your local coop or natural health store as they will be able to continue receiving product even with a shelter in place order.

SEEDS
Coops often carry seeds. You can also order on-line Territorial seeds, Uprising seeds, Adaptive seeds, Johnny’s, Annie’s Annuals and Botanical Interests are some of our favorites.

SOIL AND COMPOST
Grocery stores often carry small bags if you need more that 3SF we would suggest ordering a yard of compost or soil and asking neighbors to share with you. Wood waste management and Mt Scott Fuel are great sources. If you can’t locate compost you can plant without it and amend around your plants later on.

ADVISE
We are still here to help. Please call or email with your gardening questions and we would be happy to assist. We will also be loading tips and suggestions to Facebook and Instagram, you can read month by month garden advise on the SEASONAL TIPS page of our website. We are also still scheduling GARDEN DESIGN SERVICES

THANK YOU!

We cannot express how grateful we are for our dedicated thicket family – we do not want to disappoint folks but feel this is the best course of action for our small team and the larger community at this time.

 

HAPPY SPRING!

We are finally open for the season with lots of blooming beauties and rare finds. We are excited to be working with some great new growers this year who are bring in some fabulous and hard to find babes. We are also growing a great selection of flowers, medicinal herbs, unusual edibles and dye plants this year from seed in our very own greenhouse. Come say hi, smell the flowers and get your SPRING on!

Happy Holidays

We want to wish you all a Happy Holiday Season – full of warmth and celebration with friends and family.

We have been so fortunate to be a part of our communities Holiday festivities and traditions and we are very sorry to disappoint folks this year but for a host of reasons we will not be offering Christmas tree sales this year.

If you need to get your thicket fix this season stay tuned for events and workshops. And don’t worry – we’ll be back in February!

Holiday wreath workshops

The holiday season is upon us and we want to show our gratitude for Y-O-U! This small business wouldn’t be what it is without our community which is why we’ve organized a series of events to make your season merry and bright.

DIY HOLIDAY WREATH

Our holiday wreath workshop is back by popular demand! Join us at Porch Light on December 9th or 10th from 6:30pm – 8:30pm to create your own wreath adorned with greens, seedpods, dried flowers and other natural foliage. That’s right, you’ve got two nights to chose from!

We will lead you through the process, offer creative direction and provide all the materials needed to bring your holiday decor to life. No prior experience necessary.

We’ll also serve complimentary wine, tea, hot cider and treats, so grab a friend and sign up, as space is limited. And extended hours hours for personal shopping at Porch Light to help you check your loved ones off the list.

When you use your dollar to shop local this season you vote to support local makers and craftspeople; you vote to stimulate the local economy and keep responsibly-made products on the shelves; finally, you vote for our small shop team of five that couldn’t do this without Y-O-U!⁠

Sign up here:

Yoga in the Garden

Garden Yoga @ Thicket


Come enjoy an all-levels yoga practice amidst Thicket’s flora with gardener, educator and certified yoga instructor, Stefanie Goldbloom. Whether you are a gardener needing some love for your hips, back, neck and shoulders, or just want to celebrate summer sunshine, yoga in the garden will be a time to ground down, delight in the morning, and happily kick-start your day with some deep, gentle stretches. Please note: Thicket’s ground is bumpy gravel, so please bring a blanket to throw down along with your yoga mat for extra padding.

Sunday August 18th 9:30-10:30 a.m
$10.00 suggested fee, sliding scale-pay what you are able
pre-registration required

Stefanie Goldbloom is a public high school teacher, certified yoga instructor, avid gardener and nature lover. She strives to create a more just, equitable and compassionate world.

Pre-registration required: Register online, call or come into thicket.

Tree tour

Wind storms and tree canopy!
We are hosting a walking tour to learn about the importance of our diminishing urban tree canopy

Trees – so many options! How do I select one? What’s the right place to plant?  Which types of trees thrive in our region and climate? Plus, a few beginner basics on tree planting, establishment, and maintenance. Join former Thicket staff member and local tree expert Julie Fukuda for a workshop. We’ll look at some street trees up close, and peek at some front yard specimens as we walk the neighborhood.

Sunday July 28th
5:00PM to 6:30PM
$12 per person (Sliding scale available- just ask) pre-registration is required. You can sign up on the website or just give us a call. Please arrive dressed for the weather – rain or shine – and wear comfortable walking shoes. Aprox 1 mile round trip.

FLOWER SALE!

 

 

Spring is here!

Spring is here, the sun is shining and we are open for the season! Come say hi, smell the flowers and see all the great new plants, seeds and special events we have planned for the season!

 

Winter hours

We are now closed for the Winter.

We will reopen March 1st with regular hours.

The shop is open by appointment and are still available for garden consultation and design.

 

Wreath workshop

We may be closed for the season but you can still come have fun with plants – join us for a wreath workshop!

We have added 2 new wreath workshops. Join us on Thursday, Nov 29th or Wednesday, Dec 5th from 6:30pm–8:30pm to create your own wreath adorned with greens, seedpods, dried flowers & other natural foliage. The workshop is open to everyone and no prior experience is necessary. We’ll provide a little creative direction, all the tools and supplies that are needed as well as a little wine and tea. The workshop will be held at Porch Light, one of our most favorite shops in Portland – Sign up here:

https://porchlightshop.com/product/wreath-making-workshop/

Cost is $50 per person.

holiday wreath workshop

Fall hours

No one likes to shop in the rain – we can’t blame you really. But since business has slowed to a trickle we are entering our annual off season hours at the shop; We’re closed, except for Holiday hours until Feb 15th. We are often here working away transplanting and propagating new plants for next season. So, if we are at the shop we are happy to assist you but please call or email first.

Holiday hours begin Saturday November 24th
We will be open on the weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas with trees, wreaths and Holiday cheer.

In the mean time stay tuned via social media and our email for upcoming Winter workshops and garden tips!

Enjoy the season!

Love gardening?

If you don’t get Garden Design magazine yet, the Summer 2018 issue is a great one to start off with! Friends of Thicket get their first issue free when they subscribe! Go online to https://www.gardendesign.com/thicket or call Garden Design at (855) 624-5110 (Monday–Friday, 8–5 PST) and mention this offer.

GARDEN DESIGN MAGAZINE

If you don’t get Garden Design yet, the Summer 2018 issue is a great one to start off with. Get your first issue free when you subscribe, courtesy of Thicket! Go online to https://www.gardendesign.com/thicket or call (855) 624-5110 Monday – Friday, 8 – 5 PST and mention this offer.

Vinaigrette from the Garden

Join us for a workshop on culinary herbs. We will cover the basics of infused oils, vinegars & dressings. You will take home 3 bottles of your own making plus seeds & starts for your own garden.

May 17 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm $65

Register at our events page

 

Celebrate Earth Day!

Please come help celebrate earth day and clean up the neighborhood! The clean up is organized by our beloved local Alberta Main Street who’s mission is to advances efforts to develop Alberta Street as a vibrant, creative, equitable and sustainable commercial district serving residents and visitors to our community. You can register here: http://albertamainst.org/whats-ha…/earth-day/volunteer-sign/

Wreath Making Workshop

We are excited to be hosting our first wreath making workshop of the season. Join us on Thursday November 30th from 6pm-8pm to create your own wreath adorned with greens, seedpods, dried flowers & other natural foliage.

The workshop will be held at Porch Light, an Eclectic shop with old & new furniture, jewelry, curios & other decor items plus apothecary goods, perfect for a little Holiday shopping – 225 NW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97209

The workshop is open to everyone and no prior experience is necessary, We’ll provide a little creative direction, all the tools and supplies that are needed as well as a little wine and tea. Cost $50 per person. If you sign up for a friend too please let us know their name and email address for confirmation.

Sign up soon as space is limited:
https://porchlightshop.com/product/wreath-making-workshop/

Our seasonal hours have begun

We will be open Friday’s Saturday’s and Sunday’s November 24th to December 23rd
With Christmas trees, wreaths, winter blooming perennials and Holiday Cheer!

Until then we will be at the shop potting up plants and getting ready for next season so don’t hesitate to call or email with questions and requests, we just won’t be keeping regular hours during the rainy season.

Enjoy the quiet months in the garden!

Houseplant Sale

Were having a houseplant sale this weekend.

All houseplants, air-plants, cacti and succulents are 30% off. Come and get em!

FALL SALE 30% OFF select perennials

We have some great fall selections and since Autumn is the best time to plant were having a sale! Come and get em while they last!

SIDEWALK SALE

Please join us at the 6th Annual Alberta Street Sidewalk Sale September 9-10, 2017. Your favorite Alberta businesses will have deals you can’t resist!

Participating businesses:
Alberta Main Street | 1722 NE Alberta St (Saturday only)
Alberta Eye Care | 2021 NE Alberta St
Always Wanted It | 2314 NE Alberta St Ste B
Amelia | 2230 NE Alberta St
collage | 1639 NE Alberta St
collage annex | 1607 NE Alberta St
Darling Distraction | 1524 NE Alberta St
EcoVibe Apparel | 1408 NE Alberta St
Frock | 1439 NE Alberta St
Grasshopper | 1816 NE Alberta St
Grayling Jewelry | 1609 NE Alberta St
Green Bean Books | 1600 NE Alberta St
Habromania | 2303 NE Alberta St
Imelda’s Shoes and Louie’s Shoes for Men | 1416 NE Alberta St
Local Discoveries | 1627 NE Alberta St
Mimosa Studios | 1718 NE Alberta St
PDX Gold Dust | 1476 NE Alberta St
pedX Shoe Shangri-La | 2005 NE Alberta St
Pie Footwear | 2916 NE Alberta St
Roar | 3012 NE Alberta St
Suite 6 Boutique | 2641 NE Alberta St
The Pencil Test | 2407 NE Alberta St
thicket | 4933 NE 23rd Ave
Townshend’s Tea Company | 2223 NE Alberta St
Tumbleweed | 1812 NE Alberta St
Una Pluma | 2929 NE Alberta St
vitrifiedstudio : collection | 5001 NE 30th Ave

Summer hours

Our Summer hours are kicking in – we will now ne open

Monday 11 – 6

Tuesday – Closed

Wednesday – Closed

Thursday 11 to 6

Friday 11 to 6

Saturday 9 – 6

Sunday 9 – 6

It’s hot out there!

This heat wave it to much!

We will be open Saturday for normal business hours but if temperatures rise again Sunday we’ll have to close up.

Stay hydrated folks and while keeping cool indoors write your elected officials about the need to address climate change!

Bonsai presentation

This Saturday the 29th come by thicket for a Bonsai demonstration with Larry Shapiro – Bonsai for beginners – or as Larry calls it “How not to kill your Bonsai. Saturday April 29 11 AM Please RSVP info@sparhawkgardendesign.com or call (503) 926-3817Screen Shot 2016-06-06 at 4.25.46 PM

Order fruit trees now!

fruit treesWe are doing our Spring order for fruit trees. These are beautiful, large healthy trees that will produce this season so you don’t have to wait. We will only be bringing in trees that are pre-ordered so call us today and reserve your new fruit tree!

Apples
In 5 gallon pots $46 each

Arkansas Black
Braeburn Apple
Cortland Apple
Fuji Apple
Gala Apple
Granny Smith Apple
Jonagold Apple
Liberty Apple
Mountain Rose Apple
Pink Apple Lady Apple
Prairie Sky Apple
Red Delicious Apple
Red Jonathan Apple
Red McIntosh Apple
Red Rome Apple
Wealthy Apple
Winesap Apple
Yellow Delicious Apple
Yellow Newton Apple

Columnar apple
In 5 gallon pots $42
Golden Sentinel Apple
Scarlet Sentinel Apple

FIG,
In 5 gallon pot  $56
Violette de Bordeaux

APRICOT,
In 5 gallon pot $46 each
Blenheim Apricot
Morman Apricot
Puget Gold Apricot
Wenatchee Apricot

NECTARINE,
In 5 gallon pot $46 each
Flavortop Nectarine
Hardired Nectarine

PEACH,
In 5 gallon pot $46
Babcock Peach
Early Elberta Peach
Elberta Peach
Fay Late Elberta Peach
Frost Peach
Hale Haven Peach
Polly White Peach
Red Haven Peach
Suncrest Peach
Crimson Rocket

PLUM/PRUNE,
In 5 gallon pot $46
Blue Damson Plum
Burbank Plum
Hollywood Plum
Italian Prune
Mt. Royal Plum
Santa Rosa  Plum
Satsuma  Plum
Shiro Plum
Stanley Prune
Superior Plum
Toka Plum

CHERRY,
In 5 gallon pot $46
Black Tartarian
Kristin Cherry
Lambert Cherry
Lapin Cherry
Montmorency Cherry
North Star Cherry
Stella Cherry
Sweetheart Cherry
Van Cherry

PEAR,
In 5 gallon pot for $46
Anjou Pear
Bartlett Pear
Flemish Beauty Pear
Luscious Pear
Moonglow Pear
Red Bartlett Pear
Seckel Pear
Warren Pear
Chojuro Asian Pear
Hosui Asian Pear
20th Century Asian Pear
Shinseiki Asian Pear

NUTS
In 5 gallon pots $42
Hall’s Hardy Almond, (Prunus dulchis)
Nonparial Almond, (Prunus dulchis)
Colossal Chestnut
Walnut, Manregion

COMBINATION FRUIT
2 in 1 Combination Apple, (Maulus spp.)
In 5 gallon pot $48

3 in 1 Combination Apple
In 5 gallon pot $52

4 in 1 Combination Asian Pear
In 5 gallon pot $56

3 in 1 Combination Pear
In 5 gallon pot $48

Opening February 4th

The days are warming! Bulbs are breaking ground, buds swelling and color just beginning to show on the earliest blooms. It is time to begin this seasons garden. Thicket is ready! We will open Saturday February 4th for the season.

Come visit!

Our hours:

9:00 to 6:00 on Fridays and Saturdays

11:00 to 6 :00on weekdays

daphne

RESIST

Thicket is a small neighborhood garden shop many of you know and love as place to find great plants and the tools and advise to help them grow.

But we do not show up every day in rain, sleet, snow or ice just to peddle plants.
Our goal is to inspire a love and respect of the natural world, one garden at a time.

Today we inaugurate a man who denies the deepest challenge our world faces – climate change. He denies our need for an environmental protection agency. He denies our commitment to adopt sustainable energy. He even denies our will to live together in mutual respect no matter our race, gender identification, religion or ability. In short he denies everything that we at thicket stand for.

Thicket is a business and not a political organization but today we need to be both because our future depends on it. Today we stand with the Millions of people who are pouring into the streets to protest Donald Trump. Please join us!

Opening Feb 4th

We are closed up for the Winter but busy getting ready for next season. We officially open February fourth but you can catch us at thicket (by appointment) as we’re busy making plant divisions, pouring through growers lists and drooling over seed catalogs.

This season we have so many new and unusual plants coming in. I collected some amazing Tulips, Fritillarias and Jonquils in The Netherlands last Spring, they are potted up and waiting for warmer weather to emerge. We have also sourced some great new houseplants. My obsession with strange and lovely ferns was cemented in Florence last Summer when I visited the Hortus botanicus and their collection of over 250 varieties. It has taken some sleuthing, as well as a little cajoling and even a little pleading but we have some very cool ferns coming in this March.

The days are getting longer and Spring is on it’s way!

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Save

SEED: The Untold Story

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Join us for an amazing movie at The Hollywood Theatre in Portland!

SEED: The Untold Story is an award winning environmental documentary about the dramatic loss of seed diversity and the future of our food, from the filmmakers behind The Real Dirt on Farmer John and Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees Telling Us?

The film features seed heroes Dr. Jane Goodall, Vandana Shiva, Winona LaDuke, and Andrew Kimbrell.

SEED is showing on 10/23 at 9:15pm; 10/30 at 2:00pm; 11/2 at 7:00pm; and 11/6 at 7:00pm!

Tickets available now. https://www.facebook.com/events/504869109717934/ #SEEDTheUntoldStory

SEED Facebook: Facebook.com/SeedTheUntoldStory

Houseplant Sale

photoThe season is coming to a close – so all our houseplants are 20% off! Come in today and stock up on plants to bring the outside in this winter!

October in the garden

Acer "Burgundy Lace"

Acer “Burgundy Lace”

It’s beginning to feel like Fall out here – what a wonderful time to enjoy the garden.

As our gardens begin to show the effects of the summer heat and the cooler night temperatures, plants turn from lush greens to the colors of Fall – gorgeous umber and sepia tones, goldenrod and red. Petals drop and leaves fade away to reveal the graceful lines of plant structure. The pattern of branch formations are finally visible and the striking textures of various bark that was hidden all Summer is now on display.

Weather can be highly variable this month. We can expect our first night frosts but we sometimes get a few more weeks of Indian summer with days in the 60’s. We could also get our first real rains where several inches fall in one day. Look for a pick tinge in the morning sky as this often means rain is on it’s way.

But October generally has mild days that may be wet but are not yet freezing so we can put on our raincoats and keep on gardening.

Here are some tips on gardening in October:

Pick a bouquet of branches and spent grasses, dried seedpods or evergreens to bring indoors.
Harvest late apples, pears, pumpkins or quince. Once the frosts come they will be damaged. Gather walnuts as well and store in a warm dry spot until heady to crack.
One last round of weeding will go a long way toward easing Spring clean up.
This is a great time of year to mulch with a compost, manure or composted bark. Mulching adds protection to tender plants, as well as builds soil and nutrient plus spreading a nice new layer will clean up beds and help to keep down weeds over the winter.
Continue planting bulbs for spring and summer blooms.
Start ground covers so they can spread out over the winter and come up full and fresh in the spring.
Cut back non shrub roses to protect from winter winds.
Move potted containers to a protected location where they will not fill with water and crack.
There is still time to seed some cover crops if planted early in the month. Cover crops in veggie patches help to keep soil in beds, they fix nitrogen, keep down weeds and gives you something to look at besides bare dirt all winter long.
Pot up bulbs like narcissus and amaryllis to force for the holidays.
Bring in tender house plants that have spent the summer on the patio. Check for pests hitchiking indoors and give them a nice warm shower to clean leaves before the move inside.
Fall is the perfect time to plant perennials! Since the rains are coming it will be much less work for you to keep newly planted gardens hydrated and plants that have had a winter o rooting out will be much stronger and able to withstand the heat of next summer making it much easier to care for them next season!

Fall Sale 20% off

Screen shot 2012-09-17 at 11.16.43 AMIt is beginning to feel like fall out there! And that means it is time for our Annual fall sale. This week all our Houseplants and select perennials are on sale for 20% off. Come and get em while we have em!

Fall is the best time of year to make additions to your garden. Perennials put in the ground now will mean less work for you! The rains are on their way so there is little need for irrigation. There are fewer weeds to compete with your new plantings. And additions you make now in the garden will have the advantage of rooting out over the Winter and early Spring so they will be established and ready for the heat of next Summer.

As we go into the chilly months you can still garden indoors! We have so many beautiful houseplants, air plants, wall mounted staghorn ferns, succulents and cacti, everything you need to bring the outdoors in for the Winter.

Come visit the garden!

Winter CSA at thicket

fpf-logo fpf-share1-2013-blog-2 celeriac-brussels-leeksWe are so happy to announce our collaboration with Full Plate Farm this Winter.

Full Plate Farm is located on a gentle slope among oaks and firs in Ridgefield, Washington, 18 miles North of Portland. They specialize in growing vegetables for the winter season, so you can continue to eat local, nutritious food throughout the year. By subscribing to their CSA you receive freshly harvested vegetables every two weeks, to be picked up at Thicket. To learn more visit the CSA page. Check out field notes if you want to see us them action. Eat well. Be well.

To reserve a spot in this winter’s CSA sign up online. A half share costs $430 and a whole share is $775. You’ll pick up your share of the harvest every other week starting the first week of November and finishing the last week of March on Thursday’s from 5:00 to 7:00 PM November through March.
In addition to fresh veggies you can also get eggs!  Birds raised on pasture and feed organic feed.  These ladies are happy and their eggs are tasty!

Save

Growing air-plants

Airplants

Airplants

An Air-plant or Tillandsia is part of the Bromeliad family. Air-plants are native to the Americas and have an amazing range from the southern US all the way down to south America. There is an astonishing variety of air-plants that have developed out of their diverse habitats. Tillandsias like many bromeliads get their nutrients and water primarily through their leaves and therefore do not need soil to survive.

Watering
It is practically impossible to overwater an air plant since they only absorb the moisture they need. They want to be moist but not soggy so drying a bit between waterings is ideal and they should never be left in a position so that water accumulates in the center of the plant as this will cause rot.

Frequent misting works just fine for air-plants but they really love at least a weekly soak in lukewarm water and can even occasionally soak over night. Be sure to shake out excess water after each soak. Watch the plants closely to determine how often you should be watering as different homes and even parts of the home will vary in humidity.

Signs that your air-plant is under watered.
Tips of the leaves may turn brown.
The natural curvation of the leaves will increase.
Leaves will feel stiff

Air-plants do not like to dry completely and prefer a humid environment. If it seems under watered they can be revived with a good soak. When moved to a new environment even from one room to another they will often shed their bottom leaves – don’t despair as this is just part of their acclimation process and they will often recover.

Fertilizing
Tillandsias like a little fertilizer once a month or so. You can use a bromeliad or orchid fertilizer look for foliar feeds and follow the instructions on the bottle for dosage.

Location and light
Air-plants seem to do best when paired with other plants after all they are epiphytes. I tuck them in and amongst my other plantings but am sure to not place them directly in the soil where they might set in water for to long and get soggy.

There are many species of air-plants and some require more light than others. Like most houseplants they enjoy a nice bright but diffused light. Of course here in the northwest light in the winter is a premium so they may need to be moved to a sunnier location during winter months.

Many people like to keep their air-plants in the bathroom so they can take advantage of the extra moisture. And while this is true you will still need to water the plants. Unless you live in a gym with people showering around the clock most bathrooms do not retain enough moisture to keep air-plants happy. Another consideration is light, many bathrooms have very little light so unless you have a nice big window the bathroom may not be the best spot for your tillandsias. One last consideration is heat. Bathrooms in older homes tend to be a bit chilly and air-plants enjoy consistently warm environments.

Containers
You can mount air-plants onto wooden boards, natural logs or driftwood.They also work well on ceramic or brick mediums. When attaching an air-plant avoid copper wire or superglue as they can poison the plant. Also consider air flow when choosing a container or mounting medium, stagnant air can hold to much moisture and breed disease. A moss surface can be great as it will hold moisture but use caution so that your air-plant doesn’t stay soggy.

Propagation
Tillandsias produce offshoots called pups. They shouldn’t be removed until they are about 1/3 of the size of the parent plant. You can leave them together to form a nice clump or if you decide to divide them gently pull in a twisting motion.

Life cycle
Air-plants are a joy to grow but like all plants they have a lifespan. Some can grow for years, some just have a shorter span. Not all varieties die immediately after blooming but some will as a natural part of their life cycle, these varieties usually put out pups at the same time so while the main plant will die you will have a bunch of babies.

Chickens in the garden

Chickens are a great addition to a garden but they pose some very real problems as well. If you currently have chickens you know that they can devour an astonishing amount of plants and can be very destructive in the garden digging and scratching for grubs and worms.

I’ve been advocating to growers to add a chicken safe symbol to plant tags similar to the one for deer but until that dream comes to fruition we have been compiling lists of plants that can both withstand the ravages of our tiny backyard dinosaurs as well as the ones that should be avoided as they can be toxic to our featured friends.

People frequently ask us about poisonous plants that might affect their chickens and while there are many common poisonous plants out there for both humans and chickens it is important to remember that there are relatively few cases of poisoned chickens in Portland. Some gardeners have reported to us that the supposed toxic plants are the ones that chickens avoid in the garden and so would seem like ideal additions.

An important detail to consider is that a confined chicken with fewer sources of forage will be more likely to nibble toxic plants where a free range chicken with many options are more likely to avoid the bad ones. Chickens also seems to have individual preferences so where one might like to eat the roses the next might avoid them.

Chickens will also sometimes destroy plants while searching for bugs. It looks as if they were eating the plants but they were really just eating aphids and insects on the undersides of leaves and rooting around in the soil underneath for grubs.

No one knows your chickens like you do, careful observation of chicken habits is the best way to make for a heathy flock and a thriving garden.

Common plants toxic to chickens

Amanita mushrooms
Asclepsias
Castor Bean
Death Camas (this one is sort of a no brainer)
Jimsonweed
Pokeweed
Milkweed
Monkshood
Mother of Millions
Oleander
Poppies (Mexican especially)
Tobacco

Plants that are resistant to Chickens
(note some of these plants are on some toxic lists as well)

Herbs
Catmint
Chives
Lemon balm
Margoram
Mint
Oregano
Rosemary
Sage

Perennials
Agapanthus
Alchemelia
Anemone
Calla lily
Columbine
Crocosmia
Daylily
Daffodil
Echinacea
Feverfew
Fritillaria
Fuchsia
Geum
Goldenrod
Geranium
Hellebore
Iris
Monarda
Muscari
Phlox
Peony
Russian sage
Rudbekia
Sedum
Shasta daisy
Yarrow

Groundcovers
Epimedium
Carex
Cotonaster
Juniper
Korean rasberry
Lambs ear
Liriope
Plumbago
Sedum
St Johns wort
Sweet woodruff

Shrubs
Azelea
Barberry
Ceanothus
Choisya
Euonymus
Fatsia
Forsythia
Hebes
Honeysuckle (sometimes listed as toxic)
Hydrangea (sometimes listed as toxic)
Lavender
Lilac
Mahonia
Nandina
Osmanthus
Pine
Pittosporum
Rose (we have heard of chickens ravaging these)
Santolina
Salal
Spirea
Spurge
Viburnum
Weigela

The moon garden

IMG_0866As the days become hot the garden becomes a welcome respite in the cool of evening. There are many plants that lend themselves to the purposes of the night garden, flowers that bloom only in the evening or blooms who’s fragrance becomes most intense after nightfall, white blooms and silver foliage reflect moonlight and all conspire to create a soft magical atmosphere perfect for a cool drink after a hot day.

We’ve listed a few of of favorite plants for creating your own moon garden.

Evening primrose – Oenothera sp.
Night active insects are attracted to this beauty with soft yellow and sweetly fragrant blooms that open after dusk. Biennis, Pallida or Caespitosa are the native varieties. They grow well in dry areas of the garden and self sow beautifully.

Flowering tobacco – Nicotiana sp.
There are many options but our favorites are the sylvestris varieties as they often grow to 5 feet tall. The striking white blooms attract Butterflies and Hummingbirds during the day and moths in the evening. Flowers are lovely all day but as the sun falls the intently fragrant blooms are intoxicating and they grow in sun or shade so you have many options on where to plant them.

Jasmine – Jasminum officinale or ‘Poets Jasmine’
Another moth-friendly plant this lovely vineing shrub has pale delicate leaves and a gorgeous scent that is strongest in the evening hours. Jasmine prefer a bright spot sheltered from the cold. Star jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides while not a true jasmine is quite hardy in the Northwest and also has gorgeously scented blooms that sporadically appear almost all summer long. Night Blooming Jasmine Cestrum nocturnal is not hardy here but can be grown as houseplant and brought outdoors for the summer months.

Eryngium giganteum ‘Silver Ghost’
Interesting blooms and foliage adds great texture to the night garden. The prickly little blooms may not seem the most attractive to pollinators but they are beloved by bees and moths alike. Full sun is required for these beauties and although they are often listed as drought tolerant they seem to do better with average water.

Honeysuckle – Lonicera ‘Graham Thomas’
This long season lonicera becomes a great option for the night garden as they quickly cover arbors and trellis, imagine sitting under a canopy of glowing fragrant blooms. Moths loves them as well. This vine will do best in partial shade and average water.

Hebe ‘Great Orme’
Moth-attracting shrub – are you noticing a theme here? If moths love them there is a very good chance they are perfect for the moon garden. The fragrance is subtle
but these drought tolerant evergreen shrubs have clusters of small pink to white flowers and are super easy to grow in poor soil in sun to part shade.

Phlox paniculata ‘David’
Two to three foot stems produce an abundance of white blooms all summer long. Clumps eventually develop into lovely naturalized drifts. These plants attract hummingbirds by day and moths by night. While not most fragrant at night the prolific blooms reflect light and create atmosphere. Zalusianskya ovata or night phlox can be added for more fragrance.

Magnolia virginiana ‘Moonglow’
Silver green undersides to leaves add to the appeal of this gorgeous tree. The lemon scented blooms are breathtaking and attractive to butterflies, beetles and bees. The seeds are enjoyed by many bird species. Full to part sun, some people report drought tolerance but they are also wet tolerant.

Black snakeroot or bugbane – Cimicifuga simplex ‘Brunette’
These striking plants have almost black foliage with spires of honey scented white blooms. While most fragrant during the day they are a beautiful addition to a white themed garden as the dark foliage is a beautiful accent. Prefers a shaded spot.

Additional plantings of white to silver foliage completes the night garden
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’
Japanese forest grass – Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’
Lamb’s ears – Stachys byzantina
Hydrangea ‘Limelight’
Artemisia “Silver brocade” or ‘Powis Castle’
Mexican feather grass – Nassella tenuissima
Painted fern – Athyrium ‘Ghost’
Cleome hassleriana ‘White Queen’
Convolvulus cneorum
Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’
Helleborus “Silver dollar” or “silvertooth”

Adding a fountain to your plan not only brings in the element of sound to your evening experience, it also provides much needed source of water for the birds, bees, butterflies, moths and bats that will hopefully inhabit your garden.

Alberta Street Fair Needs Volunteers!

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Alberta Street Fair 2016

Volunteer Sign Up

Thank you for your willingness to help make The 19th Annual Alberta Street Fair, presented by Legacy – GoHealth Urgent Care, the best ever! We couldn’t do it without you. There are many volunteer opportunities, one is sure to be a perfect fit!

In addition to knowing you are helping put on a great community event, you will get an awesome t-shirt and a ticket for a free beer in the beer garden. Additionally, you will be invited to our volunteer appreciation party after the event!

Most volunteer shifts are 3 hours long (with some exceptions). All volunteers should check in at the information booth located in front of 1722 NE Alberta Street unless otherwise noted.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090c48a4a623aa8-alberta

Botanical illustration class

Screen Shot 2016-07-08 at 1.15.43 PMPlease preregister via phone, email or drop into thicket anytime – Cost is just $40 Supplies will be provided but feel free to bring your own favorites.

See you in the garden!

Summer cocktail Party

Screen Shot 2016-07-08 at 11.55.08 AMHerbs, herbs, herbs.  Attendees will enjoy a specialty cocktail infused by the folks at Roots & Crowns https://www.etsy.com/shop/RootsandCrownsPDX

JJ Pursell from Fettle Botanic and Supply will be here with her new book The Herbal Apothecary https://fettlebotanic.com/ We will also have demonstrations on how to use herbs and plants from your gardens to make infusions, salves and remedies at home.

Plus we’re having a sale on all herbs and plants useful for remedies and infusions.

This event is for Hardy Plant Society Members only but please consider joining this great garden organization today Register now.

SUCCULENT SALE!

Screen Shot 2016-06-12 at 11.50.06 AMThat’s right folks – we have too many succulents so we are having a succulent sale! This Saturday and Sunday all our succulents are buy three get one free. We have tons of the bitties for $2.25 and a whole new shipment of 4 inch varieties for only $4.50. Come on down and pick up some lovelies before they all get snatched up!

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