August already? Really?

I am sure I'm not alone in being somewhat surprised at how fast the season is progressing or has blown by. The first summer drencher after a long drought is a reality check for all gardeners allowing us to stop and reflect on the garden frenzy we just experienced.Put down the hose and delay an impending project and give yourselves a well deserved gift of time, chances are some of that time will be spent admiring the mid summer gardens that are in all their glory. this is the most amazing Hydrangea year with so many outrageous displays almost everywhere.These are some of my favorites; Hydrangea Annabelle,Hydrangea paniculata in all of its forms,and the classic Hydrangea macrophylla.Mostly is shades of white, blue and purple they contrast beautifully with the warm tones of Achillea filipendula ,Rudbeckias and Heleniums. While your admiring all your hard work make practical assessments and take mental notes of the garden projects soon before you. Enjoy the summer and all it has to offer.....I'm off to the pea patch to pick dinner.When will it all end?

Summer is here and the time is right...

     Summer is almost here and the time is right for all things related to gardening. After the initial rush of spring planting comes the taming and pruning of all the trees, shrubs, and perennials. Pay special attention to pruning; those shrubs like Camellias and Azaleas need major work after bloom to control size and shape and to ensure next years bloom. Lilac , Philadelphus, Rhodies all appreciate extra attention now. Then there are the perennials that need feeding, staking ,grooming and slug and snail baiting to ensure a strong showing this season. Annual color plantings should be almost wrapped up and kept well tended to cope with weather extremes that summer brings. Vegetable gardens fill up the chore list with harvesting, watering, fertilizing and replanting the heat lovers..Don't panic....there is time to get it all done. As your dining on the freshest of organic produce   and other locavore treasures and all the vases are filled with flowers life is essentially good. Your hands are dirty but your mind is clear knowing you have participated in another gardening season. Reward yourself by sharing flowers and vegetables with friends and neighbors , beaming with pride with what you have accomplished.

Compose and center yourselves in a wet Spring

  This Spring has been especially hard on gardeners and landscapers anxious to get their gardens prepared and planted. The incessant rains have been more generous than normal and many of our projects have been put on hold until the ground regains its tilth and gives up the current state of liquefaction. Be patient and glean composure from what is right with your garden or at least looking and doing well. Make the time to observe the spring that is unfurling rapidly and begging to be noticed. Imagine your next steps to garden development as you enjoy the sweet delights this season has to offer. Re-set or compose your thinking this year into a more accepting position allowing natures rhythm to dictate your gardening endeavors. Get charged up and inspired because a major planting season is just about here. 

It is time to get serious ...Spring is here!

    Now that the worst of the weather has hopefully passed the time has come to get going on our gardens and more importantly on our moods. Look for little encouraging signs like the blooming of the Cherries and Thundercloud Plums, trilliums bursting out of the ground with their white buds taunting us, and increased availability of half hardy veggies and flowers. Daffodils peaking means Spring is here and excuses are few and ill advised. I know final bedding plants are only safe after Mothers Day,.even here in western Washington but there is so much to do now!  Besides planning  the warm season garden, busy your selves with the obvious chores at hand; remaining clean-ups, moving plants, dividing perennials that are exhausted, slug and snail control and above all resetting your gardening clock. Any day now you too will be in the mid-spring frenzy of catching up and moving forward best one can.  My advise is to do what you can now and save yourself from over exertion soon to be the seasonal mantra.Regard the persistent spring rains as help rather than hinderence for soon enough we will be at the mercy of the hose and water supplies. Cheer yourselves up with some meaningful project crossed off the list and the thought of real Spring and Summer on the horizon.

March is a busy time for gardeners.

   March is one of the busiest times for gardeners in Western Washington.  Besides the leftover chores of pruning and winter cleanups now is the time to divide many perennials.  Many perennials like to be divided on a regular basis such as most Irises, Asters, and Daylilies.  Notice a decline in flowering and plant vigor and it is time.  The rule of thumb is to divide summer and fall bloomers now and spring performers in the Fall.  Phlox, Heleniums, Rudbeckias, Hostas and Campanulas can be rejuvenated now and propagated ; easy to do when the young shoots are visible.  Early bloomers like Bleeding Hearts, Columbine, and Primroses should wait until Fall.  Having said that most real gardeners are more independent and rely on past experience and intuition to guide their efforts.In any case the time you put into the garden now is well rewarded by the ease of gliding into spring and summer.  Also this month is great time to fertilize the newly emerging plants; my favorite brand is Hendrikus Organics coming in several formulas and easy to apply.  Do not forget to put out pet safe iron phosphate such as Sluggo around Hostas, Ligularias and most everything else.  My best advice to all you itchy gardeners is to persevere and Spring will arrive shortly.

Breaking out of garden funk mode

   The flower and garden show has concluded with a spectacular finish and a gold medal too.  It's sort of like coming home from vacation and back to the grind.  The whole process is exhilarating and exhausting simultaneously.  The barking of your wares, services and special talents with creative explanations about your garden creation are nightmares of the recent past.  The time of reflection is nearly over as the glitz of the show fades.

   Hopefully Spring is on it's way and the landscape business will return to a more normal pace.  Most of us are itchy to get gardening as we are encouraged by early bulbs, swelling buds, fragrant sarcococca and daphne, and early flowering trees.  Weather permitting hurry up with your late winter cleanups and pruning (projects that become difficult once things start to leaf out) and start planning the spring and summer garden.  Contact your landscaper to help you snap out of garden funk mode and get busy creating this seasons landscape wish list.

News from this years flower show

   Seattles 2013 Northwest Flower and Garden Show is now in full swing through this Sunday.If you need inspiration for your garden,mind or soul the flower show has it all.Twenty Hollywood Themed display gardens are ready to inspect,critique or fall in love with;meet the garden creators and helpers and have them explain their display and the plant choices used to accomplish their creative theme.  The garden I'm associated with is the WALP collaborative effort depicting three movie genres;western,romantic and black and white.  The skillful direction of this years designers (Jefferson Landscaping and Looking Glass Design) and all the helpers from WALP have created a Gold Medal award worthy entry not to be missed.

   Come to the show and experience all it has to offer.....a useful tool in surviving Seattles long and dreary winter.I'll see you all there while staffing the display several times during the event.
Hasta la Vista, Jon L Shepodd