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GARDENING News & Tips
Amphibians
April 14, 2021
It's Spring!!
How do I know? The sound of frogs!
For several years I have worked with the Skagit Land Trust in Skagit County Washington, doing surveys for frog eggs in the early spring. We monitor the same wetlands every year to see the changes in the native and invasive species, both plant and animal. This has greatly increased my awareness of our Northwest environment, and has helped me in my work and passion of helping to create the places where we ALL love to live! If you want to be part of the solution, contact me here to see how you can create your own beautiful habitat where you LOVE TO LIVE!
It's Spring!!
How do I know? The sound of frogs!
For several years I have worked with the Skagit Land Trust in Skagit County Washington, doing surveys for frog eggs in the early spring. We monitor the same wetlands every year to see the changes in the native and invasive species, both plant and animal. This has greatly increased my awareness of our Northwest environment, and has helped me in my work and passion of helping to create the places where we ALL love to live! If you want to be part of the solution, contact me here to see how you can create your own beautiful habitat where you LOVE TO LIVE!
Frog eggs and how to ID them ~ quick overview
Raspberries **Red & Gold**
March 25, 2021
This post is all about Raspberries. So, if you got some from me, you want to grow them, or if you’re growing them and they seem unproductive or “out of hand,” this information could be for you. Otherwise, probably not. These are Caroline Everbearing Red Raspberries. They produce in mid-summer, then again in the early fall and continue at least until it freezes, sometimes through November. They grow abundantly and have a wildly robust and slightly tangy flavor. They adapt to varied soil conditions and are resistant to pests and rust. The first year the canes are small, and may produce a few berries in the late part of the season. The 2nd year canes produce in mid-summer and then again abundantly in the fall. Do NOT prune the 1st year canes, or they will only produce once the following year. The 3rd year canes are dying or dead and will not usually produce. However, I never snip off the dead canes until the following spring when the plants start leafing out, just to be sure. I neither prune nor trellis, but these are options depending on how much time you have! New shoots come up from the expansive roots of the original plant. This is where PLANNING IS NECESSARY. If you grow raspberries along a fence line, be prepared for them to creep into your neighbor’s yard, which they may not want. I plant mine along a garage or some other building, where they can get sun AND shade, as they will grow better with both. Water if the weather is dry, or if they are too sheltered from the rain. Thin every couple of years to keep the foliage low and the fruiting high!! I don’t use any kind of fertilizer, but a nice compost or mulch would be acceptable. Chemical fertilizer is not necessary or acceptable – in my opinion. Locally we also grow yellow raspberries. The cane variety seems to grow much, much slower than the reds, but the fruit is divine! I will be selling these next year!! There is also an evergreen ground cover raspberry bramble that is wonderfully producing, but DO be careful where you plant it if you want to eat those berries! Watch my planting process in this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/xAcZiB3cdkI As always, call or message me if you have questions, I’m happy to help! Happy Spring & I’ll talk to you soon!! Kathy |
January 2021 *Re-Introduction & Plant Sale*
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January 8, 2021
Hello, You’re getting this note because we’ve spoken, at least once; and I said I would be in touch with you. We may have spoken about rain gardens or other landscaping, or you may have bought some of my raspberry plants or food LEATHER. Anyway, that’s where I got your name and/or email address, so I’m including you here so I don’t forget about you. You can see me at my website below. Honestly, 2020 was a great year for gardening. But we can talk about that later. What’s prompted my “initial contact” with you now is PLANTS!! It’s time to pick plants!! Every year the Snohomish Conservation District has a HUGE plant sale where you can purchase Washington native plants at incredible savings! The sale just opened…..and I DON’T WANT YOU TO MISS IT!!! Last year the online sales only lasted 1 ½ weeks – so hurry!!! Here’s the event info & Plant List! https://www.theplantsale.org/booklet/?utm_term=0_3bb0ae87fa-bf14ad7b62-1214338257 https://www.theplantsale.org/shop Thanks for reading and I’ll catch up with you soon! Stay warm 😊 kathy |
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