Gardening

A Wallingford Gem

Picture a small bungalow in Wallingford, shaded by 80+-year old cedars, sheltering a collector’s garden that has evolved over the last 28 years. Add to this a selection of potted nursery stock: native plants from the Fraser River to California. That’s the outside. Inside is a fantastic selection of “hard to find new or out-of-print books dealing with any (!) of the life sciences”. Meet David Hutchinson and Martha Ferguson. David and Martha are partners in life, horticulture, and books. Martha’s…

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Spring – Season for Pests

And I don't mean the annoying neighbors partying into the wee hours. Nancy writes that there are some recent Wallyhood Forum questions about aphids. Upon reading the various comments, it appears that aphids, whiteflies, midges, flies, or other winged creatures may be causing consternation among gardeners and homeowners alike. The key to putting one's mind at ease regarding creatures is Make sure you get a good i.d. This is THE most important thing to do. Without a proper identification, you can't…

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Groundcover in Tangletown

Have you taken walks around the neighborhood and admired other neighbors' vibrant, colorful groundcovers? Garden blogger Paige Embry has a post on her blog, A Year in Seattle's Gardens, that explores some of the groundcover in Tangletown through description and photography. Paige explains her gardening know-how and the reason behind the blog: I used to run a garden design/coaching business and have just set up a blog, www.ayearinseattlegardens.com. The focus of the blog is pretty obvious from the name. It looks at…

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JSIS Plant Sale tomorrow

The first graders at John Stanford International School are hosting their annual plant sale to raise money for their sister school Juan de la Barrera in Puerta Vallarta. The sale will be on the playground (on 4th Ave. NE, above 40th St. NE) near the basketball court on Saturday, May 12 from 10-1 pm.  We're told there will be lots of heirloom vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Perfect timing for Mother's Day! The first graders have been planting and tending seedlings for…

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Seattle Tilth Edible Plant Sale this weekend

Pull your wagon out of the garden shed and head over to Meridian Park (4649 Sunnyside Avenue North) this Saturday and Sunday (May 5 & 6) for Seattle Tilth's May Edible Plant Sale, from 9:00AM - 3:00PM. The sale will include over 50 varieties of organic tomatoes and 20 types of peppers to choose from, many of which are heirloom varieties. Plus, you'll find herbs, flowers, and lots of warm season plants like squash, corn, and drought-resistant perennials. Most veggies are $3…

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Moles – do we love them or hate them?

The signs are familiar: mounds of fresh crumbly soil, raised shallow ridges of earth, or a lumpy area in the garden that collapses when you flatten it down; moles are busy. Some people have especially sharp reactions to moles - or mole-signs more precisely. Those of a tidy nature tend to think that mole hills and tunnels ruin the perfect greensward of a lawn. There is often a suspicion of plant damage. I am happy to accept the little guys as…

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Wallingford Weed

 Noxious weeds are non-native plants that, once established, are highly destructive, competitive and difficult to control. They have economic and ecological impacts and are very difficult to manage once they get established. Some are toxic or a public health threat to humans and animals, others destroy native and beneficial plant communities. --King County Noxious Weed Control Program I frequently try to persuade people not to kill things just because they are inconvenient (animals, insects, you may remember my moss post). I…

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