As we settle in at the table of summer’s harvest, savvy gardeners pause long enough to consider the coming season. “Most folks are familiar with and love summer vegetables, but if you want to maximize your food and nutrition, then growing fall crops is a great strategy,” said Weston Miller, a horticulturist with Oregon State
Along with hydrangeas, sweet peas and roses, peonies pack a wallop of nostalgia, bringing to mind romantic gardens of old. It’s no wonder their popularity continues to grow. Joyce Heinke was bitten by the peony bug 40 years ago and now has 58 plants on 1 acre and more coming along all the time. “I
Growing vegetables without irrigation may sound farfetched, but two Willamette Valley trials proved crops can be grown in home gardens without a drop of irrigation. At demonstration gardens in Benton and Marion counties, Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardeners successfully grew tomatoes and other vegetables without irrigation except on the day they put them
A well-planned garden design provides something for each family member to enjoy. During warm weather, many of us spend as much, if not more time outdoors than inside. We like relaxing with friends and family, playing games, enjoying a good book, or even preparing and eating our meals outside. Creating an outdoor space that is
June 29 | 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Spencer City Park, 199 Bridge St, Vernonia, OR 97064 vernoniagardentour.webflow.io Vernonia Improvement Project is hosting a garden tour to benefit the Vernonia City Parks. 8-10 local gardens will be on display from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with educators on site to answer your questions. Free classes will be provided
Drawing a line around the house with fire-resistant landscapes can mean the difference between a home consumed by flames and one left standing. “Fire specialists often show pictures of houses where people took adequate precautions,” said Brad Withrow-Robinson, forester with Oregon State University’s Extension Service. “I’ve seen lots of photos of land charred all around
Whether dipped in chocolate, tossed in a fruit salad or eaten naked, strawberries say summer in a big way. But they aren’t always cheap or sweet when bought at the store, so save money and get the freshest by growing your own. The first thing you need to know is what type of strawberry you
When it comes to sharing space, humans and wildlife don’t see eye to eye. “Our homes and gardens often overlap with spaces and resources used by wild animals, both native and non-native,” said Dana Sanchez, Oregon State University Extension Service wildlife specialist. “A ‘shared habitat’ situation can pose some challenges when the animals’ day-to-day activities
A complete garden center on a beautiful old farmstead, offering perennials, herbs, edible plants, grasses, shade trees, shrubs and annuals, plus farm grown produce and locally sourced grocery items and feeds. 35105 N.W. Zion Church Road, Cornelius, Oregon 97113 Open seasonally from March to December from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. daily, plus longer hours in season.
As the gardening season gets started in earnest, you may want to think about how you can be kinder on the environment – and your wallet, too. “Everyone can be sustainable,” said Ross Penhallegon, a horticulturist for Oregon State University Extension Service. “If you use drip irrigation, you’re doing your part to save this resource.
As you celebrate spring, get your hands in the soil and start buying plants to decorate your garden, consider the benefits of natives. “There’s a new aesthetic,” said Weston Miller, horticulturist with Oregon State University’s Extension Service. “Gardeners want to connect to nature and the heritage of plants that grow in the Pacific Northwest.” Part
Wet weather, which is bound to come in the weeks ahead, builds potential for apple scab, a fungal disease of apples. The apple scab disease fungus overwinters on dead apple leaves and fruit left on the ground, explained Ross Penhallegon, horticulturist for the Oregon State University Extension Service. During spring moisture, scab spores are forcibly