I took advantage of the rain we got yesterday to pull weeds today! Hurray! It sure beats chipping them out with a chisel.  I actually enjoyed the exercise for a change. Kept at it for too long, of course.

The deer went at the tomato plants while we were in Seattle.  Bob sprayed them again with Deer Stopper.  And after the rains quit, we’ll have to spray again.  The broccoli and cauliflower look great, and the brussels sprouts are starting to make little sprouts!

Written by Lynn on the slope of Teasel Hill, where the weather is warm and drizzly.

Whew! We are back from the ANLA (American Nursery and Landscape Association) tour of garden centers in the Seattle, Washington area.  We toured some of the largest and best garden centers, to gather ideas for products and displays, and to offer them our ideas for how to improve their facilities. 

I had never been to the Pacific Northwest.  What beautiful country!  It is usually a little drizzly, but we lucked out and had sun for most of the trip.  Plants just grow so well out there.  The hot, humid summers that we have stress our plants (and the gardeners who care for them).  Not so in Washington.  The seasons are longer and more moderate, and they are in a warmer zone than we are, so they can grow some interesting and unusual plants there that wouldn’t survive our winters.

We went a day early so that we could play tourist, but after that it was a three day whirlwind of activity, from early morning to late in the evening.  We are all dragging a little bit.  But we’re glad to be back in the Ohio Valley. 

Written by Lynn on the slope of Teasel Hill where it is warm and mild, and the sky looks like rain.

If only I would believe myself when I look at the row of leaf lettuce I am planting in the spring.  I say to myself, “That’s enough.  Just do a short row and then plant again in a month or so.”  But I don’t believe myself, and I plant enough for us and four other families.  You can only eat so many salads, you know, no matter how much you like them.

So far the deer are leaving the tomatoes alone.  I sprayed with Deer Stopper after it rained, and I’ll spray again this weekend.  Kohlrabi is ready to harvest, and peppers are beginning to form.  So far, so good…

We’ve had some showers, have you?  I think I’ll be able to go out and pull some weeds this week.  I haven’t been choosing any plants to add to my gardens lately, because it has been so dry, but now I am looking.  We’ve got a beautiful two-toned hosta called “Stained Glass” that I have to add to my hosta garden, along with a heavily ribbed one called “Big Daddy.”  I have lots of hostas in the front garden, but I don’t think I have nearly enough. 

The deer have left my tomatoes alone so far (I hope I didn’t just jinx it!) since I sprayed them with Deer Stopper as soon as I planted them.  The rain may have washed some of it off, though, so I’ll need to spray them again.

We’ve got some of the trees and shrubs on an overstock sale.  Come in this week and check them out!

The weather reports this weekend have been right on the money.  Now I truly know the meaning of “widely scattered thunderstorms.”  A decent shower in Harrisville, sprinkles in Adena.  A brief shower in St Clairsville, nothing in Maynard or Fairpoint.  And at the Garden Center we just water-water-water.  But the showers we have had in the past couple of days have helped to soften the ground some for weeding.  Weeding is a job I actually get some satisfaction from, but not when I need to dig the weeds with a chisel. 

The Perennial of the Week program has started– this week’s perennial choice is IRISES.  All of them are on sale through 6/7/07, when we’ll choose another group for the next week. 

The landscape department is working steadily through the heat, and many of our customers are the proud owners of newly landscaped areas.  Dawn is still booking appointments and doing designs for installation later this month.  Call now to get on the list!

Written by Lynn on the slope of Teasel Hill where the day is overcast and humid.