Garden of Perpetuity

Travel the world at this year's Yard, Garden & Patio Show, presented by Dennis’ 7 Dees Landscaping & Garden Centers. The seven Showcase Gardens are influenced by gardens from around the world. Expect these garden styles: French, Japanese, English, Portuguese, Grecian, Persian and Chinese. Each will offer ideas to use in your own gardens. The garden creators—designers and contractors—will be on hand to answer your questions and as resources for your future landscaping plans.

Just reading the description of the Chinese Garden brings a sense of calm and timelessness:

Transcend time with a visit to a garden of perpetuity. Like the familiar bamboo, which symbolizes past and future, Dennis' 7 Dees Landscaping unites over 3,000 years of traditional Chinese garden design with modern resources and local Northwest materials to create a space that honors tradition through innovation.

Your personal journey begins with an alluring first glimpse of "nature in miniature" through leak windows. As you enter this hidden space, soothing reflections of shimmering water beckon you into a timeless retreat, where the traditional five elements speak to all your senses in harmony of Qi, the balance of energy in all things.

Feel strength in the rockeries. Experience softness at the water pond. Appreciate integrity and courage in the resilience of plants. Integrate with nature as you sit under a pergola enjoying refinement and reflection in classic Chinese poetic inscriptions.

Where will timeless inspiration take you?

Ahhhh. I’m still amazed that “gardens of perpetuity” can be created in just four days for those willing to step through the doors of the Yard, Garden & Patio Show (check out the time lapse video from last year; we’ll be doing another time lapse video this year, too). Somehow—with lots of muscle, imagination, bark dust and probably a bit of fairy dust—they manage it every year! I hope you’ll join us to see how elements from the world’s iconic garden styles can be embraced and incorporated into our own Northwest gardens.

Do you have a favorite world garden style?

Flower Power

Greengable Farms Co.

In the February issue of Better Homes & Gardens, the magazine cited a recent study that found that women--I assume this applies to men, too--who wake up to the sight of fresh blooms enjoyed a rise in happiness, optimism, and energy that lasted the entire day. That tells me that enjoying beautiful flowers in our homes shouldn’t be limited to special occasions—though this might serve as a good reminder that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.



Flora Pacifica

Oregon is known for its ornamental nursery industry, but we also have cut flower growers in our midst. If you want to buy local, check out these online floral retailers. They might be your ticket to happiness.

Greengable Farms Co.
Flora Pacific
Lambs Tales Farm

Of course, you can always grow your own!

Garden Events & Classes

EVENTS

February 5, 1-3pm – Spring Garden Book Soiree, Garden Fever! – For the 8th year, Garden Fever! is gathering inspiring people and books together for an afternoon of garden merriment, including (1pm) Tom Fischer, Timber Press Editor in Chief; (1:30pm) Patty Cassidy, author and horticultural therapist; and (1:45pm) Willi Galloway, author, radio commentator and blogger. After the speakers, meet more local authors for book signings.

February 8-12 – Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Seattle, Wash.

February 17-19, the 2012 Yard, Garden & Patio Show! – Showcase gardens, plant sales, educational displays, free seminars, garden art, wine and beer, live music, kid's activities, and you'll find every imaginable supplier of garden goodness at the Oregon Convention Center, Friday and Saturday, 10am-7:30pm and Sunday, 10am-5pm.

CLASSES (unless noted, classes are free)

January 21
10am (Woodburn) & 1pm (Sherwood) – All About Fruit Trees, Al's Garden Center—Have you always wanted to grow your own fruit? Learn how to plant, fertilize and care for a variety of fruit trees.

11am (Lake Oswego) & 2pm (SE Powell) – Fairy Gardens, Mini Gardens & Mini-scapes, Dennis' 7 Dees—Class includes selection of containers, appropriate small plants to use (indoors or out), design ideas as well as care and maintenance for your creations. Cost: $25 fee for class will be used toward your purchases for your project or to purchase a finished garden. Register Now.

11am - Houseplants 101, Portland Nursery (Division Street location)—Learn the basics and leave confident in how to keep your indoor plants happy and thriving! Class will cover lighting conditions, watering and fertilizing methods, correct soils to use, humidity issues, and common pests as well as
some popular houseplant varieties and helpful troubleshooting tips. Click here to register for this class.

1pm – Indoor Gardening, Bauman Farms (Gervais)

1pm – How to Build a Terrarium, Portland Nursery (Division Street location)—Genevieve Layman will demonstrate the basics of creating a little ecosystem in a glass container! She will discuss terrarium "ingredients", lighting and moisture requirements, and choosing the right plant combinations for a healthy, thriving terrarium. She will also give great tips for how to use different container styles and decorative additions to spice up your little green scene. Click here to register for this class.

1pm – Orchids 101 with Michael Jenne of the Oregon Orchid Society, Portland Nursery (Stark Street location)—What's the number one secret of keeping your orchids happy? Knowing what orchid you have and where they're from. Orchids are marvelously diverse, and beautifully adapted to very specific habitats. Michael can help you understand what sort of surroundings (humidity, temperature, light, potting medium) will best simulate the orchid's happy place. Click here to register for this class.

January 22, 1pm – Build Your Own Terrarium with Genevieve Layman, Portland Nursery (Stark Street location)—Learn to create a little ecosystem in a glass case and how to keep it healthy. Genevieve will talk about materials, lighting, moisture, and choosing the right plants for the magical little green scene you'll make and take home. Hands on class; space is limited. Cost: $30 materials fee. Click here to register for this class.

January 28
10am-noon – Beginning Bonsai, Terra Gardens Nursery & Bark (Salem)—Sign up for a fun and interesting journey into the world of Bonsai. Class includes instruction, Bonsai starter tree, a pot, a book, and the tools and supplies needed to get the tree started. $40 pre-registered; $45 at the door. All tools and materials supplied. Call 503.581.0441 to register.

10am (Woodburn) & 1pm (Sherwood) – Growing Small Fruits and Berries, Al's Garden Center—Bradley Weeks, Weeks Berry Nursery, will help you be a successful small fruit and berry gardener. Learn how to plant, grow and care for a variety of fruit.

11am – Sow Your Garden Now - Reap the Rewards Later, Dennis' 7 Dees (Seaside location)—Late winter is the perfect time to prepare for a productive spring garden. Learn how to identify what type of soil you have in your garden and how to amend it before the gardening season begins. A quick start guide, garden shed essentials check list and helpful garden habits that you can start now to save time and money later will be discussed. Cost: $20 fee for the class to reserve your spot, which will be given back to you in the form of a gift card to be used on your gardening needs. Space is limited. Register Now.

3pm – Pruning & Dormant Spraying of Your Fruit Trees, Tsugawa Nursery (Woodland, Wash.)—Learn fruit tree pruning techniques that are employed by gardeners to control growth, remove dead or diseased wood or stimulate the formation of flowers and fruit buds. Learn the proper use of dormant spray for fruit trees and deciduous shrubs to prevent the spread of fungal diseases and control harmful insects. Register on-line.

11am-12:30pm – Early Spring Seed Starting: Indoors & Out, Portland Nursery (Division Street location)— Tim Lanfri, Community Garden Creators, will share tips and techniques for starting your garden from seed, raising your own transplants for early spring plantings and much more! Click here to register for this class.

11am (Lake Oswego) & 2pm (Cedar Hills) – Terrarium Making, Dennis' 7 Dees—Create a unique, customized terrarium that you can enjoy all year. Learn how to create these mini ecosystems and how to care for them. You will select from a variety of glass containers, choose appropriate small plants, recieve design ideas as well as care and maintenance information for your creation. Cost: $25 fee for class will be used toward purchases for your project. Register now.

3pm – Pruning & Dormant Spraying of Your Fruit Trees, Tsugawa Nursery (Woodland, Wash.)—Learn fruit tree pruning techniques that are employed by gardeners to control growth, remove dead or diseased wood or stimulate the formation of flowers and fruit buds. Learn the proper use of dormant spray for fruit trees and deciduous shrubs to prevent the spread of fungal diseases and control harmful insects. Register on-line.

Winter Dinner at the Oregon Olive Mill, Red Ridge Farms (Dayton)—Enjoy a four course dinner in wine country. For more details about the dinner, click here. Seating is limited and reservations are required. $75/ person. Wine and Gratuity included. Please call 503.864.8502 for reservations.


January 29
11am – Let the Worms Do the Work: Vermiculture 101, Portland Nursery (Division Street location)—Learn how to turn your kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich compost with help of worms! Katie Gwynn will talk about various styles of worm bins, necessary materials to make your worm friends happy, the benefits of worm castings, and the incredible work that worms do. Click here to register for this class.

1pm – Introduction to Mason Bees, Portland Nursery (Stark Street location)—Mason bees are non-aggressive North American bees that emerge in the spring and do a great job of pollinating early spring flowers – like those on your fruit trees. Learn about the supplies and techniques you can use to attract and make them at home in your yard. Click here to register for this class.

February 4
11am (SE Powell store) and 2pm (Cedar Hills store) - Learn to Prune Like the Pros, Dennis' 7 Dees—Learn the ins and outs of pruning. From dormant pruning perennials in the winter to opening up Japanese maples that turn them from ordinary to priceless. Bad pruning practices and how to retrain plants that have been mispruned will also be discussed. Participants who register will receive a special offer of 25% OFF Felco pruners. Register here.

11am – Maximizing Your Veggie Garden Space, Dennis' 7 Dees (Lake Oswego store)—Does your garden space always seem too small for your appetite for fresh produce? Tim Lanfri, of Community Garden Creators, will share great space saving tips, season extenders, and vertical growing methods to maximize the harvest from any size garden. Learn the "tricks" for producing more vegetables from any garden space. Registration is encouraged.

February 5
Noon – What to do in the Garden Now, Garland Nursery (Corvallis)—Spring is just around the corner. We all have an itch to get our gardens going but what should we start off with? Is it too early to start our seeds? Should we start pruning? Garland Nursery experts explain just what you can get your hands dirty with this month to get the most out of your garden in spring.

1pm – Get Ready for Veggies, Portland Nursery (Stark Street store)—It's chilly and wet out, but it's finally time to start planning for your veggie garden! Corina will walk you through deciding what will work in your space, picking varieties, scheduling rotations and prepping your beds so you can have a productive season. Click here to register for this class.

1-2:30pm – Maximizing Your Veggie Garden, Portland Nursery (Division store)—You don't need a huge yard to produce massive amounts of vegetables! Tim Lanfri, of Community Garden Creators, will share great space saving tips, discuss plant spacing and vertical growing methods, and illustrate how to interplant your crops to maximize harvests. He will also talk about how container gardening can improve your yields of certain crops. Click here to register for this class.


February 11, 1pm – Custom Hanging Baskets, Bauman Farms

Herban Gardening

I just saw the term “herban gardening” in a trade publication. It’s perfect for reflecting two trends: gardening in the urban environment and a surge in the interest in herbs. Edibles are no longer considered just a trend, but rather a lifestyle. Herbs are a way to enrich the flavor of your food and to garden on a very small scale. As I’ve mentioned before in Random Acts of Gardening blogs, I’m new to the food growing world. This will be my third year as an urban “farmer.” I’m better at it than I was three years ago, but still I have so much to learn.

The Yard, Garden & Patio Show seminars, February 17-19 at the Oregon Convention Center, are designed to help you find inspiration and instruction on how to garden successfully. There’s a robust selection of educational offerings devoted to growing food and herbs (and don’t forget to mix your edibles with your ornamental plants). Two seminars are at the top of my list. On Friday, Feb. 17, Karen Wolfgang, Independence Gardens, talks about “Planning the Vegetable Garden.” Willi Galloway, author of the hot-off-the-press book Grow Cook Eat and former west coast editor of Organic Gardening magazine, discusses on Sunday, Feb. 19, “Succession Planting 101: Getting the Most Food from Your Garden.”

There are plenty of other food-to-table seminars being offered…and don’t forget to stop by the incredible edible “Garden-to-Table” garden inspired by French potagers. The garden will host short educational talks throughout the show and have experts on hand to answer your garden
questions.

Friday, Feb. 17:
• Rose Marie Nichols McGee – “First the Seed: Sowing Your Garden”
• Karen Wolfgang – “Planning the Vegetable Garden”
• Bill Thorness – “10 Steps to Your Best Tomato Year Yet”

Saturday, Feb. 18:
• Jim Gilbert – “Grow Your Own Fruit

Sunday, Feb. 19:
• Vegetable Gardening Panel featuring Glen Andresen, Lori Vollmer, and Willi Galloway
• Willi Galloway – “Succession Planting 101: Getting the Most Food from Your Garden”

Bulbs are starting to peek out of the ground. Any minute I’m expecting to smell the wafting fragrance of Sarcococca. The silvery buds on my Edgeworthia are plumping. All are sure signs of spring!

Over-the-Top Hanging Basket

What is 20 feet wide by 10 feet tall, weighs half a ton, contains 100 different varieties of plants and flowers, and took a team of people over three weeks to create? Why the world’s largest hanging basket, of course! I thought this might provide you with some much needed spring inspiration. The hotel plans to change plants in the basket to keep it fresh and seasonally appropriate. For more pictures and a video of its installation, click here.

Photo by Ken Lennox

A Portuguese Garden: Praça Ibérica!

Bem-vindo! In the 15^th and 16^th century, Portugal, a small country located south and west of Spain on the Iberian Peninsula, was a global power. Its influence didn’t reach as far as the northwest during its heyday, but you can discover a little bit of Portugal in Portland this year at the Yard, Garden & Patio Show.

Garden designer Izzy Baptista, Lapis Lazuli Tile & Garden Design, and Professional Grounds Management, Inc. will give you a flavor of Portugal with a garden inspired by courtyards often found in small towns and villages. These courtyards are rooted in the Moorish culture where tile and water are traditional elements.

An open rustic arch and gate will welcome you and the garden’s rooms will be revealed in due time. Herbs, stone, inviting seating spaces and water work together to create intimate spaces for entertaining and enjoying friends and family. Hand-painted blue and white Portuguese tiles abound. After a visit to this garden, you may feel that you’ve been transported to another world.

Veggie Tales

“It’s not graceful, and it makes one hot,” wrote Elizabeth Countess von Arnim, busily planting her German garden in the 1890s, “but it is a blessed sort of work, and if Eve had had a spade and known what to do with it, we should not have had all that sad business of the apple.”

This is a quote from the introduction of How Carrots Won the Trojan War: Curious (but true) stories of common vegetables, a book I am reading by Rebecca Rupp. Recommended to me by both garden designer Lucy Hardiman and Maurice Horn, co-owner of Joy Creek Nursery, how could I resist with a title like that!

I thought it might be fun to start a Random Acts of Gardening conversation about the book, sort of an online gardening book club. What do you think?

“Asparagus Seduces the King of France” is the title of the first chapter. The ancestral heritage of asparagus is in question, but is likely a native of the eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor. Two years ago, at the Yard, Garden & Patio Show, I bought a few asparagus plants then read—belatedly—that a trench is required and it takes three years before edible stalks are produced, both of which prompted me to give them away to a more hardy and willing gardener. Today, I might be up for giving it a try.

Do you ever think about how the food you put in your mouth came to be in its modern form? I didn’t, but I’ll be more apt to now. The history is fascinating.

Here are a few things that I didn’t know about asparagus. If you read the book, tell us what you found fascinating (please!).

• The ferny foliage looks leafy but, strictly speaking, isn’t; the narrow fronds are modified photosynthetic stems called cladodes or cladophylls.
• The flowers of asparagus are gender-specific; male and female flowers are borne on separate plants.
• Male asparagus is generally bigger, tastier and several times more productive than female plants.
• Historically, asparagus was considered to have aphrodisiacal properties (not too surprising I suppose given its shape).
• Peru is the world’s asparagus capital.

Next up is a chapter about “Beans Beat Back the Dark Ages.”

Garden Events & Classes

EVENTS

February 5, 1-3pm – Spring Garden Book Soiree, Garden Fever! – For the 8th year, Garden Fever! is gathering inspiring people and books together for an afternoon of garden merriment, including (1pm) Tom Fischer, Timber Press Editor in Chief; (1:30pm) Patty Cassidy, author and horticultural therapist; and (1:45pm) Willi Galloway, author, radio commentator and blogger. After the speakers, meet more local authors for book signings.

February 8-12 – Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Seattle, Wash.

February 17-19, the 2012 Yard, Garden & Patio Show! – Showcase gardens, plant sales, educational displays, free seminars, garden art, wine and beer, live music, kid's activities, and you'll find every imaginable supplier of garden goodness at the Oregon Convention Center, Friday and Saturday, 10am-7:30pm and Sunday, 10am-5pm.

CLASSES (unless noted, classes are free)

January 7
• 10am (Sherwood) and 1pm (Woodburn) – What to do in the Garden in January, Al's Garden Center—Learn what to do in the garden this month. There are a few things that you can do now to give your yard and garden a headstart.

• 1pm – Rainwater Harvesting, Portland Nursery (Stark Street location)—Portlanders get rainwater aplenty through the winter; collecting it is one way to turn that bounty from a liability to an asset. Learn about how to plan and assemble the appropriate rainwater harvesting system for your needs. Click here to register for this class.

January 8
• 11am – Mason Bees: Fruit's Best Friend, Portland Nursery (Division Street location)—Discover how these non-aggressive, hard-working mason bees pollinate apple, cherry and other fruit trees and increase your harvest, even in the cold and wet of early spring! Brenda Calvert, of Halfmoon Farms, will walk you through setting up nesting boxes and blocks, the benefits to your garden or home orchard, and the minimal yearly maintenance and supplies involved in keeping mason bees. Click here to register for this class.

• 1pm – Intro to Backyard Beekeeping, Portland Nursery (Division Street location)—Learn how to make honey in your own backyard! Brenda Calvert, of Halfmoon Farms, will cover the basics of backyard beekeeping and bring her own honey for tasting. She will discuss the different styles and supplies needed to start your own colony, organic techniques, and how to get the most out of your honey production. Click here to register for this class.

• 1pm – Indoor Herb Gardening, Portland Nursery (Stark Street location)—Don't have much room outside? Dream of having fresh herbs at your fingertips in the kitchen? This class will highlight which herbs are easiest indoors and what supplies you will need to be successful. Click here to register for this class.

January 14
• 10am (Woodburn) & 1pm (Sherwood) – Growing from Seed, Al's Garden Center—Growing from seed can be economical and rewarding. Learn how to start your garden from seeds.

• 11am – Basics of Indoor Gardening and Seed Starting, Tsugawa Nursery (Woodland, Wash.)—In the dark cold months of January and February it's hard to not start dreaming of the coming sunny days of spring. This is a great time to start planning what you want to plant in your garden. Get a jump start on the planting season. We will show you how to get the herbs and vegetable that you have been craving started right in your home. Register on-line.

• 11am (Cedar Hills) & 2pm (Lake Oswego) – Houseplants as a Winter Hobby, Dennis'7 Dees—Learn the ins and outs of houseplants and pick the perfect one for any setting in your house. Bring your questions and even a photo or two of spaces you are looking to fill with a houseplant. You'll go home with a beautiful solution and the knowledge to keep your houseplants happy and healthy! Cost: $20, which will be given back to you in the form of a gift card to be used on your houseplant purchases. Register here.

• 11am – Growing Citrus in the Pacific NW, Portland Nursery (Division Street location)—Join Jim Gilbert of One Green World Nursery and learn how to successfully grow citrus in containers in the Pacific Northwest. He will discuss winter and summer care, lighting requirements, fertilizing and pruning tips. Jim's talk can help bring your citrus into full production! Click here to register for this class.

• 1pm – Common Garden Plants for Common Illnesses, Portland Nursery (Division Street location)— Gradey Proctor, Arctos School of Herbal and Botanical Studies, will discuss common plants that are available in the winter garden and various remedies and sample teas for such common ailments as sore throats, colds, fevers and stress. Click here to register for this class.

January 15
• 11am-12:30pm – Planning Your Year of Vegetables, Portland Nursery (Division Street location)—Get the most out of your vegetable garden with a planting plan! Learn about cool vs. warm weather crops, keeping a garden journal, the basics of succession planting and crop rotation, and other great tips for growing a well-planned garden. Click here to register for this class.

• 1pm (Woodburn & Sherwood locations) – Terrarium Workshop, Al's Garden Center—Plant up a selection of houseplants and learn tips to keep your terrarium growing. Registration is required; space is limited. Cost: $25.00 per kit, which includes a glass container, 3 small houseplants, soil and decorative stones. To register call the appropriate store (Woodburn at 503-981-1245, or Sherwood at 503-726-1162).

• 1pm – Vermiculture: the Art of Working with Worms, Portland Nursery (Stark Street location)—If your main source of compostable materials is the kitchen, there's a great alternative to outdoor compost bins: a worm bin! Learn how to get a worm bin running right and keep the little workers happy. Worm castings make great fertilizer, and the worms themselves are intriguing to children and adults alike. Click here to register for this class.

January 21
• 10am (Woodburn) & 1pm (Sherwood) – All About Fruit Trees, Al's Garden Center—Have you always wanted to grow your own fruit? Learn how to plant, fertilize and care for a variety of fruit trees.

• 11am (Lake Oswego) & 2pm (SE Powell) – Fairy Gardens, Mini Gardens & Mini-scapes, Dennis' 7 Dees—Class includes selection of containers, appropriate small plants to use (indoors or out), design ideas as well as care and maintenance for your creations. Cost: $25 fee for class will be used toward your purchases for your project or to purchase a finished garden. Register now.

• 11am - Houseplants 101, Portland Nursery (Division Street location)—Learn the basics and leave confident in how to keep your indoor plants happy and thriving! Class will cover lighting conditions, watering and fertilizing methods, correct soils to use, humidity issues, and common pests as well as some popular houseplant varieties and helpful troubleshooting tips. Click here to register for this class.

• 1pm – How to Build a Terrarium, Portland Nursery (Division Street location)—Genevieve Layman will demonstrate the basics of creating a little ecosystem in a glass container! She will discuss terrarium "ingredients", lighting and moisture requirements, and choosing the right plant combinations for a healthy, thriving terrarium. She will also give great tips for how to use different container styles and decorative additions to spice up your little green scene. Click here to register for this class.

• 1pm – Orchids 101 with Michael Jenne of the Oregon Orchid Society, Portland Nursery (Stark Street location)—What's the number one secret of keeping your orchids happy? Knowing what orchid you have and where they're from. Orchids are marvelously diverse, and beautifully adapted to very specific habitats. Michael can help you understand what sort of surroundings (humidity, temperature, light, potting medium) will best simulate the orchid's happy place. Click here to register for this class.

January 22, 1pm – Build Your Own Terrarium with Genevieve Layman, Portland Nursery (Stark Street location)—Learn to create a little ecosystem in a glass case and how to keep it healthy. Genevieve will talk about materials, lighting, moisture, and choosing the right plants for the magical little green scene you'll make and take home. Hands on class; space is limited. Cost: $30 materials fee. Click here to register for this class.

January 28
• 10am (Woodburn) & 1pm (Sherwood) – Growing Small Fruits and Berries, Al's Garden Center—Bradley Weeks, Weeks Berry Nursery, will help you be a successful small fruit and berry gardener. Learn how to plant, grow and care for a variety of fruit.

• 11am – Sow Your Garden Now - Reap the Rewards Later, Dennis' 7 Dees (Seaside location)—Late winter is the perfect time to prepare for a productive spring garden. Learn how to identify what type of soil you have in your garden and how to amend it before the gardening season begins. A quick start guide, garden shed essentials check list and helpful garden habits that you can start now to save time and money later will be discussed. Cost: $20 fee for the class to reserve your spot, which will be given back to you in the form of a gift card to be used on your gardening needs. Space is limited. Register Now.

• 11am – Pruning & Dormant Spraying of Your Fruit Trees, Tsugawa Nursery (Woodland, Wash.)—Learn fruit tree pruning techniques that are employed by gardeners to control growth, remove dead or diseased wood or stimulate the formation of flowers and fruit buds. Learn the proper use of dormant spray for fruit trees and deciduous shrubs to prevent the spread of fungal diseases and control harmful insects. Register on-line.

• 11am-12:30pm – Early Spring Seed Starting: Indoors & Out, Portland Nursery (Division Street location)— Tim Lanfri, Community Garden Creators, will share tips and techniques for starting your garden from seed, raising your own transplants for early spring plantings and much more! Click here to register for this class.

• 11am (Lake Oswego) & 2pm (Cedar Hills) – Terrarium Making, Dennis' 7 Dees—Create a unique, customized terrarium that you can enjoy all year. Learn how to create these mini ecosystems and how to care for them. You will select from a variety of glass containers, choose appropriate small plants, recieve design ideas as well as care and maintenance information for your creation. Cost: $25 fee for class will be used toward purchases for your project. Register now.

January29
• 11am – Let the Worms Do the Work: Vermiculture 101, Portland Nursery (Division Street location)—Learn how to turn your kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich compost with help of worms! Katie Gwynn will talk about various styles of worm bins, necessary materials to make your worm friends happy, the benefits of worm castings, and the incredible work that worms do. Click here to register for this class.

• 1pm – Introduction to Mason Bees, Portland Nursery (Stark Street location)—Mason bees are non-aggressive North American bees that emerge in the spring and do a great job of pollinating early spring flowers – like those on your fruit trees. Learn about the supplies and techniques you can use to attract and make them at home in your yard. Click here to register for this class.

Hedging Your Bets

My neighbors cut down their huge laurel hedge. Generally, I’m not a fan of overgrown laurel and I can’t blame them for wanting to reclaim a significant portion of their yard, but...it did hide their garden shed and screened the view of their and their neighbor’s home from my living room picture window. Conifers have been planted on my side and their side of the fence; however, it’s going to take some time before they are of sufficient size to act as meaningful screening devices.

Marty Wingate, a Seattle-based garden writer and speaker, might have some ideas to enhance my recently diminished privacy. Her newest book, Landscaping for Privacy: Innovative Ways to Turn Your Outdoor Space into a Peaceful Retreat, was released just this past December. An entertaining lecturer, she’ll be sharing some of her insights with a Yard, Garden & Patio Show audience on Friday, February 17, as part of the show’s free seminar series. (PS: Marty will be helping judge the showcase gardens.)

Other design-oriented seminars include Lucy Hardiman’s “Editing Your Garden: Time marches on in the garden” and Eamonn Hughes’ “Bring the Tranquility of a Water Feature into Your Garden, both on Friday, Feb. 17. Saturday’s design seminars feature Sadafumi Uchiyama, the Garden Curator of the Portland Japanese Garden, talking about “Japanese Garden Elements for the Home Garden.” Selecting small conifers for the garden (Dave Leckey and Anne Marsh) and building or revitalizing a mixed border (Jolly Butler) are options as well. On Sunday you’ll be inspired to make the most of your garden space from sidewalk to treetop (Lucy Hardiman).

Zen-Inspired Contemporary Tea House Garden

Wikipedia: The underlying structure of a Japanese garden is determined by the architecture; that is, the framework of enduring elements such as buildings, verandas and terraces, paths, tsukiyama (artificial hills), and stone compositions.



Photo courtesy of http://www.zen.thetao.info/

 This year’s Yard,Garden & Patio Show offers seven gardens of the world plus other landscaped areas around the show floor such as the Garden-to-Table educational garden. Le Confort Française was the first stop on our Random Acts of Gardening world garden tour. Japan is today's stop.

In the Tea House Garden, you’ll experience a modern interpretation of an authentic Japanese garden. The garden will be created by Iftikhar Ahmed, Treeline Designz, and Baseline Landscapes LLC. Tradition will be interpreted with a contemporary flare. Many elements are hand made by local artisans using locally-sourced material, such as the hand-crafted bonsai gate where you’ll be warmly greeted.

Each step reveals a world of healing, relaxing and therapeutic elements. Linger on the circular path; the stones and green moss will bring your senses to life. Every view and perspective will transport you into a world of ancient comfort with a contemporary touch. Take in your peaceful surroundings as you pass by stone, water elements, raked sand, bamboo foliage and Buddha’s statue on your journey to the tea house and the authentic tea ceremony inside. Caution: the intoxicating effects of this Zen-like garden may cause you to linger and lose track of time.

Stay tuned for the next Random Acts of Gardening for a peek at a Portuguese courtyard garden.

Finding Enjoyment in Gardening

Barney, my adorable golden retriever, loves to help me in the garden. When I am digging a hole or examining a plant close-up, he’s right there with that big nose of his wondering what I’m doing. He’s also been known to pull up what looks to him to be a twig but in reality is a dormant deciduous plant I just put in the ground. And he loves to pick apples off the two columnar trees (he picked 10 or more while I got to pick the one remaining one…next year the trees will get some protection). He also likes to nibble strawberries, shred the old nylons I’ve used as plant ties and he breaks or pulls out of the ground any wooden plant stakes to gnaw on them. But other than that, he’s perfect and his antics add a joyous dimension to gardening.

Often there are many chores that need to be done to keep a garden healthy and behaving well. But as Barney demonstrates in the video, if we learn to enjoy the simplest aspects of being in the garden, we’ll love gardening even more.

You’ll find much to enjoy at the Yard, Garden & Patio Show, presented by Dennis 7 Dees Landscaping and Garden Centers. There will be knowledgeable experts, plants, tools, art, garden designers and contractors, and so much more to help make your gardening experience a joyous one. Please join us February 17-19 at the Oregon Convention Center to kick off spring surrounded by the goodness of gardening.

Tree Structures

Have you heard this before?

Q: When is the best time to plant a tree?
A: Twenty years ago. The next best time is today!

A new project in Milan, Italy, envisions creating a two story structure out of 10 flowering cherry trees…and it will take 60 years to “build!” Probably not something most of us would be willing to attempt in our own gardens, but what fun it would be to watch people interact with it as it grows in girth, presence and function. An allée of espaliered apple trees, a secret garden teepee made from trellised vining vegetables for kids, or gothic beech arches are possibilities within reach for the urban yard. Be imaginative. Plants are very often willing to play along.

Courtesy of Al’s Garden Center.
For how-to instructions, click here.

 

Garden Events and Classes

EVENTS

December 9 (Lake Oswego) and 10 (Cedar Hills), 10am-5pm - Reindeer Magic, Dennis' 7 Dees—Santa's reindeer help kick off the holiday season. Enjoy apple cider, cookies, holiday music and wine tasting from Hip Chicks Do Wine while visiting the live reindeer. Frosty will bring his pal and children can have a free picture taken with the reindeer.

December 10 - The Taste of the Holidays, Garland Nursery (Corvallis)—Sample foods perfect to share with your guests this holiday season while sipping wine and shopping for holiday décor to light up your season. Mia Sonatina wine and fudge pairing (noon-4pm, $1/taste); sample The Bag lady dips and cheeses (10am-2pm); music noon-2pm; and more.

CLASSES (unless noted, classes are free)

December 10, 11, 17 & 18 at 1pm – Make Your Own Holiday Wreath, Portland Nursery (Start Street)—Take advantage of their lovely selection of greens to make a unique and eye-catching wreath for your door. Portland Nursery staff will supply the technical know-how; you bring your own special style, gloves and pruners. You'll make a 12-inch wreath with fresh greens and other decoration. Dress warmly. Cost: $25. Class is limited to 10. Register here.

December 10
• 9am-1pm – Holiday Garden Bootcamp, Rosemound Farm (Hillsboro)—Whether you are a novice to the wonderful world of horticulture or a gardening guru, Jenna Bayer's Garden Bootcamp is a fun and interactive way to help you create the garden of your dreams. Learn the basics of maintaining plant health; soil structure and chemistry; how mulch can be your best friend; design and layout; plant selection; and how to deal with pests and pathogens. The class is held at the 30-acres Rosemound Farm (13395 SW River Road, Hillsboro). Cost $140. Refreshments are served. Call 503.468.2103 or register here.
• 1pm – Wreath-Making, Bauman Farms (Gervais)—Cost $25.
• 1pm – Decorating Centerpieces & Wreaths for the Holidays, Al's Garden Center (Gresham and Woodburn)— Learn how to add ornaments, ribbons and candles to fresh cut wreaths and centerpieces to create your own unique holiday décor.

December 11
• 1pm - Festive Christmas Wreaths, The Garden Corner (Tualatin)—Floral designer Francoise Weeks will demonstrate how to create a festive Christmas wreath to display during the holidays. You will leave with a creation that is sure to deck your doors with falalala fabulous fun! Cost: $45 to cover materials. To register call 503-885-1934.
• Noon-5pm – Holiday Open House, Dennis' 7 Dees (Lake Oswego)—Cookies and hot drinks will be provided as you browse their newly decorated trees and exclusive European ornaments and décor by calling 503.636.4660.
• 1pm – Holiday Kissing Balls, Portland Nursery (Division Street)—Spice things up with kissing balls, a refreshing addition to any holiday environment. You'll create your very own kissing ball using a variety of seasonal cut floral and decorations. Cost: $20. All materials included. Please bring gloves and hand pruners if you have them. Click here to register for this class.

December 15
• 6-8pm – Tiny Gardens for Fairies, Frogs and Ferns, Garden Fever! (Portland)—Nancy Goldman has been creating tiny gardens for years. Some in shoes, some in extra cabinet drawers, most in recycled or re-purposed stuff she finds inspiring. There are many ways to express yourself as a gardener. This is a hands-on class. Cost: $30; fee includes container and materials to make a tiny garden. Registration required by calling 503.287.3200.
• 6-8pm – Create your own gift, Garden Fever! (Portland)—Some folks like to make their own gifts, some like to shop. On 15th, Garden Fever! will have workshop areas set up to guide you in creating your own holiday gift. Make a terrarium, a pot-o-greens, perfect for a hostess gift, or customize a garden poetry box.

December 17
• 10am-3pm – Holiday Classes, Bauman Farms (Gervais)—Enjoy an hour or the day getting in the holiday spirit. 10am, Bow making; 11am, Kids Cookie Decorating; 1pm, Centerpiece-making; and 3pm, cooking demonstration.
• 11am – Beginning Bonsai, Tsugawa Nursery (Woodland, Wash)—If you've been intimidated by the art of bonsai and no quite sure where to start or what to ask, this class is for you. Tsugawa's experts will show you where to begin, what plants, pots, soils and tools are needed. Register online.
• 1pm – Bonsai Group, Tsugawa Nursery (Woodland, Wash)—All skill levels welcome. Learn tips and techniques from experienced bonsai enthusiasts. Meetings are free and open to everyone interested in the art of bonsai. Register online.

December 18
• 10am-noon – Make Your Own Outdoor Bonsai, Portland Nursery (Division Street)—Learn the basics and start your own outdoor bonsai. Store manager George Bowman will walk you through plant selection, reporting, trimming and training. Cost: $30. All materials included. Please bring hand pruners if you have them. Class size is limited to 10. Click here to register for this class.
• 1pm – Terrarium Building Workshop, Portland Nursery (Division Street)—Build a one-of-a-kind terrarium with Heidi Brinnich of October Hill. The class will provide all material and instruction for a living miniature garden encased in glass. You can build your very own Fairy or Gnome garden, or little greenhouse accented with mini garden accessories, insects or birds. Cost: $40 (payable to instructor). Click here to register for this class.

Garden to Table

Imagine strolling down a cypress-lined French country road that leads your gaze to rolling hills of pasture, fragrant fields of lavender, and your destination: a rustic estate. Your footsteps echo on cobbles as you meander behind an aging chateau. Chickens clucking in the distance accompany you as you enter a rustic potager, the lifeblood of the French country kitchen. An arching allée offers respite from the sun-drenched sky. Berries and espaliered apples tempt you to sample their fruit. And the savory aroma of sage and rosemary awaken your appetite. The scene before you is a feast for the mind, body and soul. Picture yourself at our table filling your plate with the garden’s bountiful harvest.


Photo from agefotostock.com

You are in for a very special treat. The Incredible Edible Garden at the 2012 Yard, Garden & Patio Show is being transformed by garden designers Karen Schwartz and Carol Senna into a lovely French jardin potager. The goal of the potager, an ornamental vegetable or kitchen garden, is to make the function of providing food aesthetically pleasing. Plants and garden structures are chosen as much for their functionality as for their color and form to offer year round interest.

Raised beds, charming wattle fencing, tucked away dining spaces and creative, edible screening options will be on display. We hope you’ll be enticed into the growing garden-to-table movement. Experts will be on hand to provide bed preparation, planting, plant selection, preserving and other food and gardening-related tips and information. Even if food gardening isn’t in your future, you’ll be inspired by the design elements the garden offers. We’re very excited for you to see it so save the date: February 17-19.

Bon appétit!

The Flower of Christmas

Adapted from information provided by http://www.poinsettiaday.com/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_pulcherrima

Celebrate the best selling potted plant in the U.S. and Canada on Poinsettia Day, December 12. The date marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett, an American botanist, physician and Minister to Mexico who in 1828 sent cuttings of the plant he'd discovered in Southern Mexico to his home in Charleston, South Carolina. Botanically, the plant is known as Euphorbia pulcherrima.

Photo courtesy of Al’s Garden Center
greenhouses, Hubbard, Ore.



In Mexico the plant is called La Flor de la Nochebuena, or Flower of the Holy Night, and is displayed in celebration of the December 12th Dia de la Virgen. Use of the plant to celebrate Christmas in Mexico dates back to the 17th century. The flower connects to the legend of a young girl, distraught about not having anything with which to honor the Baby Jesus in a Christmas Procession. An angel tells her that any gift given with love is a wonderful gift. Later the weeds she gathers by the roadside to place around the manger miraculously transform into the beautiful red star flower we think of as Poinsettia. But Mexico's relationship to the plant goes back even further. The Aztecs called the plant Cuitlaxochitl meaning "star flower" and used it to produce a red dye. The sap was also used to control fevers. Montezuma, last of the Aztec kings, had Poinsettias delivered to him by caravan to what is now Mexico City. (For a more detailed history of the Poinsettia, click here.)

In July of 2002, the U.S. House of Representatives created Poinsettia Day, passing a Resolution to honor Paul Ecke, Jr., who is considered the father of the poinsettia industry. Until the 1990s, the Ecke family of Encinitas, Calif., had a virtual monopoly on poinsettias owing to a technological secret. The Ecke family's key to producing more desirable poinsettias was to create a fuller, more compact plant by grafting two varieties of poinsettia together. A poinsettia left to grow on its own will naturally take an open shrub form. The Eckes' technique made it possible to get every seedling to branch, resulting in a bushier plant. Poinsettias contribute upwards of $250,000,000 to the U.S. economy at the wholesale level.

There is a common misconception that the poinsettia is highly toxic. People sensitive to latex, the milky fluid found in cut poinsettias and other plants, may experience irritation in the form of a rash if they come in contact with the sap. POISINDEX, a major source for poison control centers, says it would take 500 bracts for a 50-pound child to eat an amount found to be toxic in experiments. An Ohio State University study showed no problems even with extremely large doses.

It's the leaves, or bracts, that give the plant its color. Because the flowers are unassuming and do not attract pollinators, brightly colored leaves—aka bracts—developed. (The poinsettia's flowers are the brightly colored buds in the middle of the bracts.) The colors come from photoperiodism, meaning that they require compete darkness for 12 hours at a time for at least 5 days in a row to change color. At the same time, the plants need a lot of light during the day for the brightest color.

The species is native to Mexico in deciduous tropical forest at moderate elevations from southern Sinaloa down the entire Pacific coast of Mexico to Chiapas and Guatemala. It is also found in the interior in the hot, seasonally dry forests of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. There are more than 100 cultivated varieties of poinsettia available, (not including the blue-tinted glittery ones now found for sale at your local retailer!).

Naturally-Shaped Christmas Trees

Larry Arendt, owner of Arendt’s Christmas Tree Farm, planted Noble and Frasier firs a few years back as part of his retirement strategy. He decided he wanted to let the trees grow in their natural shape; no trimming allows the naturally wide-spaced branching to show off all those beautiful ornaments you are collecting. He also decided not to spray his field of trees. Benefits of this practice include grass growing between the rows to minimize mud on the trees (and your shoes and knees). Most all the trees are beautifully shaped just as nature intended. For the past three years, I found the perfect tree in minutes instead of the typical longer-than-a-few-minutes traipsing around a u-cut field because I’m picky about my Christmas trees.

Arendt’s Christmas Tree Farm is easy to find. Exit off I-5 at the Aurora exit (#278) and turn west (right if you are coming from Portland; left under the overpass if you’re coming from Salem). Turn left on Case Rd.; the tree farm will be on your right. Address is 20757 Case Rd., Aurora, Ore. Cell phone is 503.318.7977. Cost is $25 a tree regardless of size. Larry says “they’re looking great!” They have saws you can borrow, too.

More colorful, or just my imagination?

This year in Portland, Ore., the official first frost occurred on October 25. Leaf color depends on weather, so were conditions this year better than many for producing the stunning fall color I’ve seen around my neighborhood? Barney, my adorable golden retriever, was very patient with me while I snapped photo after photo in the past few weeks of the brilliant color of the maples and oaks.

Interestingly, one website suggests that fall color is an exception to the rule that most things in nature are the way they are for a purpose. Brilliant fall leaf color, on the other hand, doesn’t help a plant to survive; it’s merely “part of an orderly shutting-down of plants for the winter. The compounds that remain in leaves and create the attractive colours are the ‘left-overs’ that the plant could not resorb or recycle. Unlike the familiar animal signs of autumn, such as squirrels burying nuts or flocks of geese heading south, which are clearly beneficial to [the survival of] those species, the spectacular scenery afforded by the death of leaves appears not to have any benefit to the plants. The answer to the question of why fall colours are so beautiful lies more in the eyes of the beholders, us, than in some grand scheme of nature. Fall colours are a wondrous coincidence!”

While I adore and appreciate the color, I often forget the fascinating science behind it. Read on for the scientific version of fall color (thanks to information found on www.naturenorth.com):

Deciduous plants, those that drop their leaves for winter, allow their leaves to die in an orderly fashion, a process called ‘leaf senescence’. These photosynthetic factories are shut down and much of the water and nutrients within are reclaimed by the plant, and transported to the root system for storage.

It is during leaf senescence, the shutting-down and recycling of the leaf's contents, that we witness fall colours. One of the first events in senescence is that production of photosynthetic pigments stops. As the existing chlorophyll in the leaf breaks down, it is not replaced. As a result, the green colouring begins to fade. The always-present carotenoid pigments, which break down more slowly, are now revealed. The green of chlorophyll gives way to the yellow of carotenoids. For plants whose leaves turn yellow in the fall, the explanation of fall colours is just that simple.

For plants that produce darker orange, reddish or purplish colours the story is more complex. During senescence these plants are producing anthocyanins, a red pigment, inside the leaves. Sugars, which continue to be produced until all the chlorophyll breaks down, can become trapped in the leaves as the transport system that would normally move them out of the leaves shuts down. In the presence of sugars a group of already-present, colourless compounds called flavonols are converted to anthocyanins by the action of sunlight. Leaves which contain roughly equal amounts of yellow carotenoids and red anthocyanins can appear bright orange. If the anthocyanins predominate the leaf will appear bright red. Because sunlight must hit a leaf in order to produce anthocyanins and there is little movement of this pigment within the leaf, shaded or partially shaded leaves may develop unique patterns.

As senescence progresses further even the carotenoids and anthocyanins decay and their colour fades. By the time the leaf falls, or shortly thereafter, the once vibrant colours will have faded to a dull tan or light brown. As with the other colours there are various compounds in leaves that act as brown pigments. One of the most common is tannin. Tannin and other such compounds are among the slowest to decay, giving colour to leaves even after they have fallen. Plants whose leaves turn brown before they fall often contain large concentrations of such compounds.

Cool nights with sunny days in early autumn makes for good anthocyanin production. Low, but not freezing temperatures, help slow the movement of sugars out of the leaves at night. Sunny days help produce sugars initially, then drive the process that converts sugars and flavonols into anthocyanins. A cloudy autumn with warm nights will not produce good fall colours, at least not for plants that develop red colouring.

Weather can affect fall colours in other ways, too. An early frost can help to break down chlorophyll more rapidly and bring about a more coordinated fall colour display. If the frost affects all the plants in a given region they will tend to become more synchronized in the development of their colours.

Spirea japonica 'Shirobana'

Ashley Gangle, Pleasant Hill Nursery

Photo courtesy of Pleasant Hill Nursery

'Shirobana' spirea is most often recognized for its flower color. Well, I should say flower "colors," as this plant produces different colored flower clusters on the same plant. Some are deep pink and some are white. However, after seeing this plant in the fall, it's clear that its contribution to the landscape doesn't end with the summer blooms. Bright red, orange, and burgundy foliage stands out in the fall landscape. In the spring, you will notice nice green foliage tinged with burgundy.

Photo courtesy of Pleasant Hill Nursery

'Shirobana' grows best in full sun, but it will tolerate light shade. It is a tough and carefree plant, tolerating less than ideal soil conditions: 'Shirobana' and other Spirea japonica like heavy clay soils. When planted together, they make a nice, informal hedge that has quite an impact when in bloom. 'Shirobana' grows to 3 feet high and wide. If you'd like it to stay smaller or to revitalize an older shrub, cut it to the ground after it is done blooming.

Located in Pleasant Hill near Eugene, Pleasant Hill Nursery is a wholesale nursery that also sells retail. They offer 'Shirobana' in #3 pots. Find them on the OAN's online Retail Nursery Guide, at http://www.pleasanthillnursery.com/ or by calling 1-888-373-0318.

Garden Events and Classes

EVENTS

November 13, 1-4pm - Pre-Holiday Taste Fest, Red Ridge Farms (Dayton)—This is a first-ever chance to sample a delicious assortment of appetizers featuring our gourmet food products, while sipping Durant Vineyard wines. Mingle and munch through themed food tables showcasing tastes from sweet to savory. Cost: $10/person; includes a flight of three Durant Vineyard wines, abundant appetizers, recipes and 10% off all additional purchases made the day of event.

November 18-20 - Olio Nuovo Festa (New Olive Oil Festival), Red Ridge Farms (Dayton)—The weekend events at the Oregon Olive Mill focus on the newly pressed olive oil and give guests a chance to see first-hand how olive oil is made on the imported Italian olive press. Guests will also enjoy tastes of a variety of freshly-pressed olive oils.

November 19, 8am-5pm – Holiday Greens & Wreath Workshop and Fundraiser, Rosemound Farm (Hillsboro)—Have fun and shop for wreaths and garlands, participate in a wreath-making class ($30 fee), or take part in Garden Bootcamp and learn about winterizing your perennials, plant divisions, and cutting holiday foliage from your garden ($65 fee). The barn will be festive, refreshments will be served and 10% of sales will be donated to “Heat for the Holiday,” providing PGE gift cards to local families in need of heat this winter. For more information contact Jenna Bayer at 503.468.2103 at Rosemound Farm, 13395 SW River Rd., Hillsboro, Ore. Register online.

November 19, 11am-3pm – Holiday Open House, Tsugawa's Nursery (Woodland, Wash.)—Come in to see holiday decorations, poinsettia, wreaths, centerpieces, greens, and workshops that will give you lots of great ideas for holiday gift giving: Tabletop Fountains (11am), Wreaths & Centerpieces (1pm, Cost: $25, includes materials), Bonsai Workshop (3pm, Cost: $35, includes materials). At Tsugawa Nursery, they love the holidays and enjoy bringing a season filled with natural beauty to you. Register online.

December 3 – Ladies Day Out, Garland Nursery (Corvallis)—Grab a girlfriend and escape the holiday chaos for a day filled with girly delights including wine sipping, wreath decorating demonstration, centerpiece making ($20/centerpiece), lunch ($12, reservations required by Nov. 28), fashion show and special savings! 10% of sales (excluding wine and food) go to benefit Samaritan Cancer Resource Center to provide bras for cancer patients.

December 3 (Eastside location), Dec. 9 (Lake Oswego), and Dec. 10 (Cedar Hills), 10am-5pm - Reindeer Magic, Dennis' 7 Dees—Santa's reindeer help kick off the holiday season. Enjoy apple cider, cookies, holiday music and wine tasting from Hip Chicks Do Wine while visiting the live reindeer. Frosty will bring his pal and children can have a free picture taken with the reindeer.

CLASSES (unless noted, classes are free)

November 12, 1-2:30pm - Fruit Trees: Natural Insect & Disease Prevention, Portland Nursery (Division Street)—Hoping for a more bountiful fruit harvest next year? Winter is the time to give your fruit trees some love! Join John Lott of Fruitful Labor to learn how dormant season prevention of common insects and diseases can increase the health and vigor of your trees. John will discuss basic winter maintenance, various natural and non-toxic treatments, and introduce you to some of the fruit trees' biggest foes. Register online.

November 13, 1pm – Winterizing Your Garden, Portland Nursery (Stark Street)—Before you go inside to hibernate, it's time to do a few last autumn and winter projects to put your garden to bed so it wakes up happy and healthy in spring. Learn about pruning, mulching, spraying and other year-end maintenance tasks that can make spring 2012 brighter and more fun! Register online.

November 19, 1-3pm – Winter Container Arrangements, Garden Fever!—Enjoy a hands-on class with Linda Beutler as she shares tips from her most recent book Garden To Vase. She'll show you the steps to create a winter container arrangement with trimmings from the garden. Linda's techniques are easy, inspirational and your arrangement will last all season long. Cost: $40/person, includes container and materials. Registration required by calling 503-287-3200.

November 19, 2-4pm – Ikebana Class, Dennis' 7 Dees (Eastside location)— This is a "make 'n take" class in which you will make a beautiful fall arrangement. Ikebana is an Asian style of floral arranging that emphasizes all areas of the plant, such as stems and leaves, as well as the bloom. It draws emphasis toward shape, lines and form. Cost: $20 covers all the supplies (vessel, pin frog, and fresh flowers). Space available; contact Linda Harrison to reserve your spot in the class at 503.297.1058.

November 20
• 10-11:30am – Bonsai Forests 101, Portland Nursery (Division Street)—Learn how to create a miniature forest throught the art of bonsai. George Bowman will discuss deciduous, conifer, evergreen and mixed forest styles, and demonstrate how to make a bonsai forest. He will also cover the basics of plant selection, placement, and general bonsai care, giving you the tools and knowledge you need to create your own. Register online.
• 1pm - Thanksgiving Centerpieces with Francoise Weeks, The Garden Corner (Tualatin)—Looking for something unusual to highlight your Thanksgiving table? Spend the afternoon with Francoise Weeks, an amazing European floral designer, creating a unique and unusual arrangement that will have your guests oohing and ahhing. Cost: $45, includes materials. To register call 503-885-1934.
• 1pm – Medicinal Herbs for Winter Health, Portland Nursery (Division Street)—There are lots of plants in your garden and your kitchen that can be used to boost immunity or ward off the sniffles as the seasons shift. Join Missy Rohs, a community herbalist and avid gardener, as she walks you through how to use some of your favorite plants, including rosemary, sage, garlic and more as home remedies. Register online.

November 26
• 11am – Winter Birding, Tsugawa's Nursery (Woodland, Wash.)—Feeding the birds is a rewarding and enjoyable hobby in the midst of chillywinter weather. Join Dale Combs for some easy winter bird feeding tips that can help both novice and experienced backyard birders make the most of their feeders during the coldest months of the year. Register online.
• 11am – Kids' Craft: Making Pine Cone Bird Feeders, Portland Nursery (Stark Street)— This fun and easy project for kids will lead to more enjoyment later in the season as the winter birds flock to your backyard. Limit 10 children, must be accompanied by an adult. Register online.

November 27, 1pm – Make Your Own Holiday Wreath, Portland Nursery (Division Street)—Create your own fresh and beautiful wreath for the holidays. You will be guided through the process of making a wreath that is unique to you and guaranteed to bring holiday cheer into your home! Feel free to bring your own special decorative elements to add to your wreath. Cost: $30 (pay at register on day of class). All materials included. Please bring gloves and hand pruners, if you have them. Class limited to 12. Register online.

December 3 & 4, starts at 10am – Winter Wreath Creations, Dancing Oaks (Monmouth)—Create your own holiday wreaths from the bountiful selection of evergreens and unusual selection of berries and twigs at Dancing Oaks. You will be able to create as much as you want from our amazing array of materials. The price for two wreaths is $45 with all materials provided. Tea and treats provided. Registration required by calling 503-838-6058; class size is limited to 12.

December 3
• 1pm – Wonderful Winter Plants, Al's Garden Centers (Woodburn store)—Learn about some great plants for winter that will add color, structure or texture in your yard during the winter months.
• 1pm – Build a Holiday Centerpiece Workshop, Al's Garden Centers (Sherwood)—You'll learn how to strip fresh greens, preserve them and create a holiday centerpiece. Step by step instructions on how to add ornaments and candles to create a customized centerpiece perfect for your holiday table. Registration is required. Cost: Small centerpiece, $20.00; large centerpiece, $30.00; includes materials to make one centerpiece. Registration is required by calling 503-726-1162; space is limited to 25 people.
• 1pm – Winter Containers, Tsugawa's Nursery (Woodland, Wash.)—During the cold months of winter, when the setting is bleak and the sky is gray, winter containers can cheer up the soul and provide a dash of color to the landscape. Many gardeners give up on their potted containers in the fall and winter, but that is such a waste because winter is when color, texture and form are at their most vital. Come learn to create vibrant winter containers for your landscapes. Register online.

December 11, 1pm - Festive Christmas Wreaths, The Garden Corner (Tualatin)—Floral designer Francoise Weeks will demonstrate how to create a festive Christmas wreath to display during the holidays. You will leave with a creation that is sure to deck your doors with falalala fabulous fun! Cost: $45 to cover materials. To register call 503-885-1934.

Think Global. Garden Local.

Café Terrace at Night by
Vincent Van Gogh

Garden styles from around the world will be interpreted in the showcase gardens at Yard, Garden & Patio Show presented by Dennis' 7 Dees Landscaping & Garden Centers. Show dates are Feb. 17-19, 2012 at the Oregon Convention Center. We'll tease you with descriptions in the coming months, starting with Le Confort Francaise (French Comfort), by L Meyer Design and JP Stone Contractors.

Luminescent foliage sparkling with lights creates a quaintly European courtyard complete with a rustic yet up-to-date outdoor eating/cooking area reminiscent of the café in Arles, the inspiration for Van Gogh's 'Café Terrace at Night.' Deeply saturated colors accent a purely sensual garden. This garden will exhibit a bit of French flavor mingled with Pacific Northwest plants and materials. A cobblestone patio replicates the streets of France and an old world-styled kitchen will make you believe you're enjoying the aromas of a French patisserie.

Join us, won't you?