Summer Carnations

Garden Anywhere

To grow your own produce is very rewarding. A patio, deck, porch or a full scale backyard garden can help us achieve better health in many ways. The exercise is great for our staying in shape and eating foods that are free from chemicals. So many benefits! Grow your own, eat better!, live longer.

Farmers Markets

In the Pacific Northwest we have many wonderful farmers markets during the week and on weekends. Saturday is the busiest I've noticed. I shop for organic produce and fresh flowers. They are usually of the best quality, very fresh and a great price. Usually below the competitors! You can find complete listings online for your specific area. Saturday local markets on Proctor in Tacoma, and Belfair on Hood Canal are two quaint and always good places to shop. In Belfair, plants and lovely flowers are in large demand, so be there early. Happy organic shopping!

Design

My wonderful and talented daughter helped design this page. She is so good with all the computer devices. She has an eye for color design also... Thank you!

First Day of Summer!

Today is the official "first day of summer." On this day we can dream that the sunshine will return to bless our gardens with multitude of fresh produce! We have done our job, now the sun will have to do the rest. Lots of rain makes our gardens grow, but without the sun it is slow growing. We are ready for the return... we need to put our garden boots away and instead get our sun hats ready. Happy first day of summer to our gardens! Grow, grow, grow! Keep gardening always!

Gardening Northwest Style

In the Pacific Northwest we have a moderate climate for growing just about any type of plant, shrub or tree. The recent abundance of rain has made the plants a most vibrant shade of green. Just like living in a jungle! The lush velvet new growth on all the plants makes a good backdrop for a spectacular garden. However, many fruits, such a strawberries, are actually molding on the vine this year, which will eventually make the fruit much more expensive. We need the sunshine to come back! Hopefully this will be the week for its return. Day by day we will return to a typical northwest weather pattern that will bring an amazing growing season again. Looking forward to tomatoes, corn, raspberries, apples, and carrots from our home gardens. Large or small. Happy northwest gardening!

Fragrant Cloud Rose

My very favorite Rose for all of my adult life has been a very popular coral to red lovely blossom called "Fragrant Cloud." It was bred by TanTau in 1967 in Germany, also known as "Duftwolke." It is a modern Hybrid tea rose bush. It has large, highly fragrant blooms that last on the bush or as a cut flower in a vase for many days.

The scent is strong, rich and luxurious.The color is sharp and full-bodied. Well shaped double petals, and lovely dark green foliage. They bloom in late spring and continue all summer in most regions. The Pacific Northwest provides an ideal climate for this fabulous tea bush rose. My mother's starts the bloom cycle in May, and weather permitting, through sometime in mid-November. When you bring the blooms indoors, the fragrance will fill the house with the luscious scent. A true joy for that lucky person who has this great tea rose in their garden. Everyone should have at least one of these in their garden... more if possible. Enjoy your "fragrant cloud rose!"