Strolling around the store this afternoon, I am reminded how lucky we are to live in such an ideal gardening climate.  What an exciting time of year here at the garden center, as perennials start awakening from their winter rest, and fresh, perky annuals arrive almost daily!  Tender green shoots pushing through the soil are so fun to watch, as are the buds on trees as they swell and unfurl.

 It is times like this that I wish we had a Scratch-and-Sniff blog, so you could fully appreciate the collection we have here today.  I hope you can stop by this weekend just to take a gander.

When problems arise in the garden, it can be difficult for a beginner to determine the cause.  Is it a pest?  Disease?  Winter damage?  Sun scald?  Chemical drift?  Does it need fertilizer – and if so, which nutrients are deficient?  Is it needing more or less water?  Or is it just not in the right place?   How do you know? 

This is a great class for beginning gardeners!  It will give you tools for assessing what is going on in your garden, so that you will have the confidence you need to deal with the occasional problems that can crop up.  Beth will discuss her methods for problem-solving in the garden, and preventive measures you can take to have a healthy, vibrant garden this season.

Please remember that we ask you to register for classes you are interested in attending!  Our classroom space is limited; of course drop-ins are welcome as space is available.  Call us at 503-649-4568, or email events@farmingtongardens.com, with your name, phone number, and the number attending.

We love it when we can pass along a great deal to our customers!  We’ve got a new shipment of Black Gold All Purpose potting soil, regularly $11.99, which we are offering now for $8.99.

Black Gold All Purpose Potting Soil with Controlled Release Fertilizer is a multi-purpose, nutrient-rich mix that’s ideal for all plants, including house plants, patio containers, and hanging baskets.  It is also great for living wreaths and hypertufa planters.  Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss is blended with earthworm castings, forest humus, compost and pumice. Specially formulated to feed up to six months and provide both moisture retention and good drainage.

If you love container gardening, then you know how important it is to start with fresh potting soil – it makes all the difference.  Stock up now while the savings are here – your plants will thank you for such good soil to sink their roots into!

Whenever we think about how to make our gardening more ‘green’ and ’sustainable’, we naturally think about how to welcome birds into our landscape.  Birds are a vital part of a balanced ecosystem, as well as being fascinating entertainment for the whole family.

Tom Combs is returning for another class (he spoke to a packed house earlier this month about dormant sprays) – this time to talk about the easy steps you can take to encourage birds to visit your backyard.  Their needs are so basic:  just food, water, and shelter and they are happy. With a little planning, you will be able to experience the delight we have at our house – we take our morning coffee (or our evening glass of wine!) outside and watch goldfinches, nuthatches, chickadees, woodpeckers, and others as they stop by our feeders.  It adds another component to our garden that we treasure every day!

We’ve just received this special shipment!  These locally handmade baskets make a fantastic statement on a front porch or back deck.  Each one is comprised of a variety of lichen-covered twigs and branches, all entwined into an artful basket.  The basket itself is lined with moss, ready for small pots of spring bulbs, ferns, primroses,  pansies, or whatever suits your fancy.  These little pots can be changed out over the course of the season, for an ever-changing palette of colors and textures.

Even the Easter Bunny would have fun with these!

Just a reminder from your friends at Farmington Gardens – when you are planning to plant trees and shrubs in your landscaping, please do it safely and with clear knowledge of where your underground utilities are located. 

With one phone call (1-800-332-2344), you can arrange for all of your underground utilities to be marked in a color-coded fashion.  With this free service, you can not only prevent injury, but also prevent possible utility interruptions and damage to underground facilities.

Not only is it the law, it also makes good common sense!

Ann Nickerson, a local landscape designer, will be here to talk about designing a great front yard.  Whether you are interested in improving your street appeal; making it friendlier and safer; or just reflecting more of your own unique personality – Ann will have lots of suggestions for making your front yard functional and beautiful.

This is a free class and space is limited.  We are having a tremendous response to our classes this year and ask that you register!  Drop-ins are welcome, but cannot be assured seating.  Either call us at 503-649-4568, or email events@farmingtongardens.com. 

What is it about growing some of your family’s food that is so satisfying?  That sense of self-sufficiency - as well as confidence in the quality and healthfulness - just can’t be beat.  It is reassuring to know that you won’t be hit with an E-coli scare with the spinach you are serving your kids, and also comforting to know what has (or has NOT) been sprayed on your blueberries….. in a world full of worries, it’s just nice to take a few things off the list.

Which brings me to the happy news that edibles are starting to arrive here!  Time to set out starts of spinach, onions, leeks, arugula, peas, potatoes, and garlic.  We’ve got the favorite perennials as well: artichoke, rhubarb, bareroot asparagus and horseradish.

And we’ve also received 11 varieties of fresh bareroot strawberry starts – 25 for $7.99.  Such a deal: not only will they produce for several years, but they continue to multiply.  How much is a flat of strawberries at the farmer’s market?  $25?  ‘Nuf said!

As you make your plans for your garden this year, remember that we have lots of resources available for you on our website.  Interested in fruit trees, but don’t know the first thing about growing them?  Or strawberries?  Blueberries?  Tomatoes?  Asparagus?  We’ve got just the help you need to be successful right out of the gate.  These handy reference sheets are available for you to download and print out as you’d like – go to http://www.farmingtongardens.com/reference.html

We have some lovely pots that have been slapped with a 50% off sticker – bargain time if you are in need of a great container!  I took a few pics, but there’s likely to be more.  Come check them out!

Check your mailboxes in the next few days ~ the Garden Rewards rebates are on their way!

If you are not already a rewards member, might I urge to to become one?  The benefits are great, especially at this “rebate time of year”.  You will receive our monthly e-newsletter, which is full of timely information you will appreciate, as well as coupons to use that month.  What’s not to love about that?!

Sign up the next time you are at Farmington Gardens, or do it now at the news page of our website: http://www.farmingtongardens.com/news.html

Wow – all of a sudden it’s looking like spring!  And the fragrance in the air makes me positively giddy.  Come on out for a spring-time hit.

Today saw some progress on our new greenhouse – the trusses are going up!  Come check it out when you are in the neighborhood.

And wow - that clear blue sky – makes me want to get out in my garden!