The INDEPENDENT, January 15, 2004
Page 7
Can You Dig It?
By Schann Nelson
This is amazing weather, ain’t it? (Yes, I
realize that particular phrase is incorrect but
it seems somehow appropriate as we are all
reduced to a simpler lifestyle with limited
transportation and lack of electricity.) My
Dad says that the only snowstorm he re-
members lasting this long was in 1936, be-
fore I was born. I certainly don’t remember
snow on the ground.
Since nobody can get outside to do any-
thing, this is a great time to plan, repair and tune-up tools, and re-
search. I’ve been doing a couple of things (besides books, puz-
zles and videos). First, though I am most emphatically NOT a
good Internet researcher, I did a simple Yahoo search for “garden-
ing in the Pacific Northwest” which yielded
almost 1500 entries. Needless to
say, I did not look at them
all, but a couple that I
looked at stand out, were
easy to use, and fun,
even with my slow dial-
up connection.
I LOVE the
name of the first
site I looked at
<slugsand salal.com>.
Though a commercial
site, it had lots of infor-
mation, including a To
Do List, chat groups, lists
of events and clubs. I didn’t
like a second commercial site that I checked because it immedi-
ately had at least two associated pop-ups. All of the catalogue
companies mentioned later in this column have websites; some
offer a discount for ordering online. If you don’t have Internet serv-
ice or a computer, both are available for use in the library free of
charge.
The other site I really liked is <gardenweb.com>. Beside being
chock full of information, forums on every imaginable garden
plant, type, region and topic, this site includes a botanical glos-
sary, a directory of non-profit organizations, and a plant database
with links to sources. The site also includes an extensive “Bazaar”
where you can request catalogues on-line or link directly to a cat-
alogue or product site. For a small fee, you can also become a
member and post your own page, telling others about yourself and
your garden, and offering plants and seeds for exchange. Though
it’s too late for Christmas, there is an easy set-up for giving this
membership as a gift to your favorite gardener. There is even a
“Mystery Plant” contest monthly!
I also looked at a very tempting piece of garden software that
purportedly is able to keep track of everything a gardener might
need or want to remember – planting, cultural and harvest info,
designs, want lists, reference material, make you own plant la-
bels, and on and on. Is anybody using garden software that you
like? It would be nice to be able to compare several products be-
fore spending the bucks.
And, of course, the catalogues are arriving! Many of these are
basically free gardening texts, even if you never place an order.
Two brief notes: Seeds by mail are generally, though not always,
better quality than seeds from the grocery store; also, be sure you
are ordering something that will grow in our climate.
Here is a brief review of what I’ve kept:
❀ Park’s Seeds (800-845-3369) – Interesting collections and
seed mats and tapes.
❀ Select Seeds (800-684-0395) – “Heirloom treasures for mod-
ern gardens, seeds and plants including a fragrant moon garden
featured in Country Living Gardener.”
❀ Gardener’s Supply Company (800-427-3363) – Cool tools,
watering aids and toys.
❀ The Cook’s Garden (800-457-9703) – Interesting seed vari- Garden To-Do List
eties for the gourmet cook and the best illustrations (Mary Azari-
There actually are things
an woodcuts) and recipes.
you can DO this month, even
❀ Seeds of Change (888-762-7333) – Organic, heirloom vari- with that insulating layer of
eties, good website, good books that include the spiritual and cul- snow on the ground.
tural impact of gardens and gardening, but their research farm is
• Inventory seeds before or-
in New Mexico so I’ve never ordered seeds from them.
dering more. I think I finally
❀ Territorial Seed Company (541-942-9547) – Pacific north- planted the last of the spinach
west standard for plants, seeds that grow here and cultural infor- and radish seeds that I accu-
mation and tools for both the home and market gardener.
mulated because I didn’t inven-
❀ White Flower Farm (800-503-9624) – Very expensive plants, tory first.
often rare and/or patented, but great perennial cultural information
• Watch for warm dry
and awesome photos to inspire plant combinations.
weather so you can apply dor-
❀ Raintree Nursery (360-496-6400) – Another northwest fa- mant sulpher spray to fruit
vorite for fruit trees and ornamentals with lots of good info. It’s trees and ornamentals.
• Check that the soil under
worth a trip to Morton, Wash., for a spring class and a visit to the
the eaves is damp and that
nursery. You can get discounted trees and plants in Morton!
❀ Jackson & Perkins (800-292-4769) – Bulbs and perennials, stored fuchsias have not dried
out or become home to pests.
spendy but best quality.
• Start lettuce and other
❀ American Meadows (802-951-5812) – Wildflowers in bulk!
Grow your own meadow with a mix, or order any one of 70 vari- greens to set out under cover
next month.
eties of seed by the pound
These last three I’m ordering from because they offer $20 gift
certificates for early orders. I’ve ordered a little more than the min-
imum in order to maximize the shipping charges.
❀ Henry Field’s Seed & Nursery Co. (513-354-1494) – $40
minimum order to get the $20 off. I’m ordering a collection of ferns
(12 plants of 4 varieties) and 5 soapwort plants for less than $30
or just over $1.75 per plant. I’ve never ordered from this company
so this will be a new experience.
❀ Gurney’s Seed & Nursery Co. (513-354-1491) – Big cata-
logue full of all kinds of seeds and plants. Almost no cultural infor-
mation, particularly about region-specific flowers and veggies
BUT a no minimum $20 gift certificate before 2/18. I’m ordering a
new-to-me slug-killing product, peat pellet pots, a hosta I’ve want-
ed for a while and a large red lobelia for $1 more than the price of
the Escar-Go alone.
❀ Gardens Alive (513-354-1482) – This is a keeper because of
I’ve been asked about prun-
the “20-page illustrated guide to insects, diseases and nutrient de-
ing
fruit trees with the snow on
ficiencies in the garden and orchard.” I often don’t use the prod-
the
ground and I don’t know
ucts they recommend (expensive, though they are organic) but
(yet)
whether this is a good
the guide has proved useful. Again, no minimum order, so I’m go-
idea
or
not. Personally, I don’t
ing to try a new product called Green Guard that they say will stim-
want
to
stomp around in the
ulate plants growth and self-defense response and increase plant
stuff
so
I’m
waiting for a melt.
health, yielding improved quality, increased harvest and better
ability to stay fresh after harvest.
I’m also ordering an organic
moss-removing product that I
have used before, for the roof,
that worked really well, and will
add nutrients to the soil, and
some wood labels. The gift cer-
tificate will make the new Green
Guard free.
I am also requesting a cata-
logue from Trees of Antiquity
(805-467-2509) to look at their
heirloom fruit trees.
Spring will come. The snow
is melting now, thankfully, slow-
ly. For the first year in a long
time I’m looking forward to the
Many Amenities Offered • Come Visit Us
wonderful new greens of spring.
It’s amazing how absence
makes the heart grow fonder. I
won’t be complaining about the
Sea of Green this year after its
355 Bel Air Drive • Clatskanie, Oregon
complete disappearance under
the snow. Stay warm, dry and
toasty while you dream.
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