I decided to say “Howdy” with this post because I am choosing to be optimistic that a buyer will still be found for the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. And of course, I am hopeful that the new owner will continue the blog as it has been an incredible resource for so many people.

If not however, this will be my last post.

I’m sure that I will turn up in the gardening industry somewhere. Gardening is ingrained in me, as you know. Even so, I will miss this opportunity for now to connect with you and hope that you continue to garden with that passion in your heart.

I want to say thank you to my direct bosses (whom I can’t name here) for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful show as the blogger. I also want to thank Duane Kelly, Erina, Janet, Cyle and the whole team at the show that has worked so hard to bring us wonderful flower and garden shows. You all totally rock!

Thanks to the many artists, vendors, designers and speakers who make the flower and garden show what it is every year.  Your continued patronage and support of the show means so much! Without you, there of course would not have been a show.

Thank you to those who attend the show, enjoy the seminars and gaze in awe at the show gardens. Your purchases from the vendors is also appreciated.

Thank you most of all to my awesome readers! It has been a joy spending so much time with you. Thanks for the comments, encouragement and muse. You guys are the best!

As always, I am off to my garden! See you soon!

Flora

For those wondering (or for those in my generation), the concept of Victory Gardens/War Gardens started in war time. The idea was that if every family planted their needed veggies, fruit and herbs, they would be more self-reliant and less dependent on a food system. According to Wikipedia, it reduced the pressure on the public food supply. The gardens were also a morale booster as people reaped the benefits of growth.

I’m wondering if it even had a mental health component. Many of us receive reprieve, relaxation and satisfaction from working in our gardens. It is the first place I hit on a sunny afternoon and I know that many of you do as well. I wonder if families keeping busy working in Victory Gardens reduced the depression that can come with war times? I know for sure that it kept people busy-which is always good medicine-and taught the children valuable lessons in growing and storing their own food. That doesn’t even count the amazing work ethic they likely developed by working hard on their land.

First-hand accounts of Victory Gardens include memories of using the wares to trade for other necessities. In addition, families stored the goods via canning and as a result were able to reap the benefits year-round.

Although I have always encouraged families to grow, I would argue that there is no better time than now to start a Victory Garden. My friend Joe Lamp’l started a challenge that I am also starting this week. His goal is to grow enough food this summer for his family of four on only $25.00. He is not using any of his current gardening supply, including compost. He is using materials he can find for free through Freecycle, etc and even recycling some odd-ball items including TP cardboard rolls and plastic cake containers. He’s been quite clever so far-I only hope that I can be as clever. See Joe’s progress.

Yes, I do grow food every year as you know. But I have never, ever in my life used less than $25.00 and I depend greatly on my current gardening supplies. So this will be a challenge to me. (especially with two teens with bottomless pits for stomachs in the house)

Won’t you join us?

Mother Earth News had a great article in the April/May issue. It lists year-round top crop performers for the Pacific Northwest. It is SO nice to have a list! The top ten (details after each are mine) are:

1. Pole Snap Bean- I love pole snap beans. They are easy to grow and are quick. They withstand our sometimes windy and rainy spring weather as the leaves and stems are pretty hardy. They require little care.
2. Snow/Snap Peas- We eat these year around and they are wonderful to curb a sweet tooth. We mostly eat them raw but they are good in stir fry as well.
3. Potato- Need I say more? They grow underground of course so are safe from all of the elements. They are tasty, filling and work well with a large variety of toppings. And of course, you can fry, bake, microwave or whatever.
4. Garlic- A needed spice on the best of dishes.
5. Cherry tomato- MMMM. Sweet tasty cherry tomatoes. There is nothing like them!
6. Summer squash- Yes, these are on the list of growing well year-round. I am not sure how when we get so cold here but perhaps “summer” doesn’t necessarily mean that they need “very warm”?
7. Chard- A perfect side item or mix-in-with-the-greens item.
8. Lettuce- A necessity, of course, and not just for salad.
9. Onion- Again a basic for most any dish. And always best from the garden.
10. Carrot- These little things are sweet and delicious, making the perfect snack, side item or combined with something else to make a main dish.

There is also a list of other highly-rated crops in the cabbage, cucumber, leafy greens, legumes, root crops, tomato and miscellaneous families.  There are several listed in each category so buy a copy of the April/May issue if you want to learn more.

Did you know that most everything our bodies need are already found in wonderful vegetables? It is true. They have the vitamins and minerals that our bodies crave, fiber and even some protein. Scientists have discovered, in fact, that vegetables picked at the peak of ripeness (and then NOT shipped and processed all over the place) have properties that heal cells in our bodies.

I have never been a vegetarian. But I have always kind of wondered how vegetarians can DO it? How can they not eat meat and not starve? Veggies never, ever filled me up!

We have food restrictions in my family and I have spent the last few years being downright frustrated because getting rid of both dairy and gluten led to very few choices on the dinner table. Pre-packaged fillers are expensive (quinoa noodles, pancake mixes, gluten-free bread mixes etc) and when the bad economy hit and I had to reduce our grocery budget, it make it even more difficult.

I read that some people are dealing with the economic changes with lessening the meat in their diets. This makes sense because I can’t believe the price of meat these days. And it made me wonder more about how it is accomplished in vegetarian homes.

So we have been concentrating more on veggies here now and I feel so much better physically without the carbohydrate overload it is so easy to get on. Yes, we are still eating some meat. But I have lost a few pounds, feel better physically and I also feel those healing properties. Next step-incorporating it more into the kid’s diets.

As a result of this change, I am discovering there ARE veggies that can be used as fillers and actually fill me up! I tried avocados the other day and I bought more today. And tonight I took a big step by buying an eggplant and am researching how to cook it. Maybe someday I can grow my own.

How about you? Do you rely more on veggies these days to fill your plates?

For those that don’t know, I have the wonderful and amazing opportunity to share with you that the San Francisco Flower & Garden show has received a letter of intent for show purchase. So exciting! And although the Seattle show has not yet sold, we are all hopeful that this will happen soon.

My blog partner, Jasmine, attended the press meeting that Duane Kelly held at the San Francisco show. She says, “The buyer is actually buyers with backgrounds in the trade show industry. To provide flower-specific guidance, a group of garden gurus will be acting as a steering committee of sorts.”

And then she says, “Kelly also mentioned that negotiations are ongoing with two different parties in Seattle who are very interested in purchasing the Northwest Flower & Garden Show.”

From the official press release: “The partnership, San Francisco Garden Show LLC, is led by a steering committee comprised of well-known landscape gardeners and growers including Chairman Tim O’Shea of Greenworks Design as well as Davis Dalbok of Living Green, Mike Boss of Rock & Rose Landscapes (all of San Francisco) and Robin Stockwell of Succulent Gardens in Castroville. This group has a long history of participating in and supporting the flower show.”

Kelly says he is pleased with the letter of intent and convinced that the high quality of the flower show is secure with this group of top-notch professionals.

I saw very few (if any) edibles this year in the Show Gardens at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. Last year, many gardens had a small patch of edibles and some even had chickens.

As you know, last year I ranted and raved about the edibles I saw. I grow them, as you know, and I was excited to see them implemented last year. I was hoping it would be trend that would continue this year, especially with the state of the economy and more people growing and wanting to grow some of their own food. Why not combine some edibles with ornaments and make them part of your décor? I think if I was in garden design, I would definitely encourage garden growers to add edibles.

Planned edibles can enhance your design. Colors abound, as do heights of plants. Here are some colors that you can use to your advantage.

• Edible flowers come in all ranges of colors, including purple and yellow.
• Sugar Snap Peas produce white blossoms before developing their pods.
• The tops of carrots are a feather-like, soft green color.
• Leafy Lettuce can vary from light to darker greens.
• Cucumbers climb trellises and can add vertical depth. Their blossoms add yellow.
• Strawberries add both a touch of white (blossoms) and red (berries).
• Tomatoes can add yellow, oranges and reds.
• Peppers will add an entire range of colors and also add height.

If you plan edibles with your ornaments, keep growing season length, ripening schedule and sun needs in mind as you. Most vegetables need about six hours of sun each day. And pull them out when they are done to keep your beds looking nice.

I found myself wondering about avocado’s this week. They were in the store on sale, with bright orange “ripe” stickers on them. My sister in law LOVES them and eats them direct from the shell, so to speak. Me? I like some guacamole here and there but plain avocados? Not sure about that. They are squishy and that olive green color I just can’t bring myself to like.

But I bought a couple (that announced themselves to be “ripe”) and brought them home. I did try and eat on out of the shell like my sis-in-law does. I added salt. It was OK but I didn’t make it through.

Is avocado an acquired taste?

I finally grabbed the potato chips and scooped the rest out with those.

According to avocado.org:

1. Avocados contain 81 micrograms of the carotenoid lutein, which some studies suggest may help maintain healthy eyes.
2. Avocados are included in Fruits & Veggies-More Matters™ consumer educational program to promote increased consumption of fruits and vegetables for good health.
3. Avocados contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds that can contribute to the nutrient quality of your diet.
4. Avocados, due to their mono and polyunsaturated fat content, are a healthy substitution for foods rich in saturated fat.
5. One-fifth of a medium avocado (1 oz) has 50 calories and contributes nearly 20 vitamins and minerals making it a good nutrient choice.
6. Avocados contain 76 milligrams beta-sitosterol in a 3-oz serving of avocado. Beta-sitosterol is a natural plant sterol which may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

Check out avocado.org when you can. Lots of helpful info there. Hmmm. Think I’ll try and eat that second one anyway.

For help with these questions, I went to Judith Jones of Fancy Fronds Nursery in Gold Bar, WA. She is an expert in ferns. Thanks for the help Judith!

Dear Flora:

Why should I grow ferns? And what recommendations do you have for fern growers?

Northwest Greens

Dear Northwest Greens:

Here is the answer from Judith.

“They will do the same thing for you that listening to Baroque-Roccoco music does.  It is a matter of attraction to begin with I suppose but beyond that after nearly thirty years of growing I can cite several practical reasons for using ferns in the landscape.

• They come in a diverse range of forms, from simple to highly divided.
• They range in size from a couple of inches tall to several feet tall.
• They occupy environmental niches from wetlands to deserts.
• They quietly add substance to any garden and set off flowering perennials and shrubs to
  great advantage.
• They are very long-lived when properly placed.
• They are relatively pest free.

Many of my customers come up to tell me, after a harsh winter such as this, that all their ferns have survived but they are going to replace the other plants that succumbed.
As far as recommendations, be more adventurous in your choices. However, question redundant-named variations of a species or cultivar, i.e. Japanese painted fern
cultivars, that appear similar. The commercial nursery industry cares little about correct identification and labeling. Buy what you like based on its appearance after determining if it indeed will grow where you intend to plant it and buy from reputable growers who know their plants. Real growers will help you choose the correct ferns for your zone and garden conditions. I have talked many a customer out of buying an unsuitable fern choice and sent them off to another grower who has the fern that I feel would do well for them.”

Flora

Are you aware that your community likely has a CSA program? Community Supported Agriculture offers an excellent option for you to round out your veggies from your garden. Sometimes the programs even offer natural meats and locally-made goodies.

With a CSA, you participate by paying a membership fee, and then you receive fresh veggies all season. We had one that just started here and delivers a grocery bag of fresh veggies once a week, June-October. In addition, they will soon be offering online shopping of natural meats, locally-made pies etc that they also will deliver with the fresh produce.

Program are often limited in the number of households that they can serve so now is the time to search out the CSA in your community and reserve your spot. If you can’t find a program local to you via the search engines, I suggest you contact your local farmer’s market or even a small grocer. You can also call your local colleges that have a horticultural program as they often have information.

Some benefits to participating in a CSA include:

• Produce is usually organic.
• When calculated per pound, it is often cheaper and will save you a ton of bucks.
• You don’t have to worry so much when a particular veggie refuses to grow in your garden.
• You support your local farmers.
• You help the environment because emissions from transportation are saved.
• Your goods are fresher because they are picked that day usually and don’t have to travel far to get to you.
• You tend to try more new things because they come to you as part of your program.
• We all like vegetables better when freshly picked (fresh-from-the-garden carrots are SO much better tasting than store-bought). Even your picky kids might eat them.