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!

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’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!

  ** THIS ITEM HAS SOLD!  **  From time to time, we have items here at the store that we are ready to turn over — display items, or merchandise that hasn’t moved.  We have just posted on Craigslist a wrought iron garden arbor that has been a display here for a couple of years.  It is about 9-10 feet square and similarly tall.   It is in good condition, and disassembles for easy transport.

This is the arbor we had hops growing over last year, and was it beautiful!   A great place to install a small bistro table and a couple of chairs, for morning coffee or evening glass of wine!

This item retailed for $2000 when new – we have it marked at $599.  Such. A. Deal.

Call if you’re interested!  This won’t last long.

Remember this handful of tips when you start your seeds indoors, and you will sprout success!

• Light:  Normal household or window light is not adequate for starting seedlings indoors.  Fluorescent tubes work great – use a double tube set-up, preferably with one being a cool-white and one a warm white.  Keep tubes no more than 3 inches away from the seedlings.  Seedlings should receive 16 hours of light per day, with the remainder of the day in darkness (that is important).  If you’ve grown tall, skinny seedlings in the past, then you are not giving them enough light.
• Moisture: Keep seedlings moist but NOT soggy.  If they dry out just once, seedlings will die.  Too much moisture can cause fungal diseases to take hold.
• Soil:  Use only seedling mix with its finer texture; it has great aeration and moisture retention.  We recommend Black Gold seedling mix.
• Containers:  Almost any container can be used to start seeds, including old milk containers or egg cartons.  Just be sure to have good drainage.  We have a good assortment of peat pots; the advantage with these: they can be directly transplanted out - peat pot and all - which minimizes stress on the plants.
• Hardening off:  Your seedlings have been raised in the cushy home environment.  Before you plant them outside, you will need to ‘harden them off’ for about a week, so that they gradually toughen up to the outdoor environment.  Take the containers outside and place in a filtered sun/shade location away from harsh winds during the day.  Gradually increase time outdoors.

Just a reminder about next Saturday’s pruning class (11 am).  This can be a challenging issue for homeowners – where to cut, when to cut, how to cut, and WHY?  Lyle Feilmeier from Collier Arbor Care will be here to answer all your questions.  Space is still available, so let us know if you’d like to register for this free class.  (503-649-4568, or email at events@farmingtongardens.com).

As an added bonus, and to get you all ready for the season ahead, we’ll have a professional tool sharpener here to bring your tools up to speed (he’ll be here from 10:30 till he’s finished).  The first 50 customers will get one pruner sharpened free of charge.  These are the prices Harold has given me for most items; these may vary depending on the condition and size of the item.  Checks and cash only, please; no credit cards for sharpening services.

• pruner ~ $4
• lopers ~ $6
• mower blades (removed) ~ $6 each (he is not able to do the old-fashioned push mower types)
• shovels ~ $3
• hoes ~ $2
• scissors ~ $4
• knives ~ $4
• hand trowel ~ $1

I don’t know about you, but I can hardly wait to get all my tools sharpened – such an opportunity!