2024 is going to be a great year for roses at Venture Out! I am really excited about ALL the cultivars I’ve chosen for this year. I did a bit of next-level research to make sure that they all have top ratings, not just for disease resistance and performance in our region, but also for fragrance, rebloom, […]
Top 10 Roses for disease-resistance, fragrance, and repeat blooming I am crazy about roses – but only the GOOD ones! That means cultivars that score high for disease-resistance, fragrance, and repeat flowering. I exclude any variety with low scores in those categories. I also favor roses that are good for cut flowers. For this reason, […]
We kick off spring with a big batch of bare-root small fruits and edibles. Stop in soon to embellish your food garden! Crimson Night Everbearing Raspberry This variety offers prolific, flavorful dark red-purple berries and great disease resistance. Introduced by Cornell University in 2012, Crimson Night is very ornamental, with dark purple canes – try it […]
Nuts are an investment in the long term. Trees need time to mature before they will reliably produce mature fruit. It is important to protect the harvest from squirrels and birds. Hazelnuts (Corylus): Plant in very moist, fertile, well-drained soil for best results. A full-sun to part-shade site should be chosen for optimal results. Choose […]
Late fall and winter bring an excellent opportunity for us to examine our gardens with fresh eyes. Without the distraction of spring and summer flowers, we can clearly see if our plantings provide enough color and interest in the “naked” season. We can also evaluate where we might need more structure. If you find your […]
Top 10 Roses for disease-resistance, fragrance, and repeat blooming Even though I am nuts about Roses, I am also discerning. When choosing which cultivars we carry, I select based on disease-resistance, fragrance, and repeat flowering. I exclude any variety with low scores in those categories. I also favor Roses that are good for cut flowers. We […]
Gardening on Whidbey Island can sometimes be tricky! We are not without our host of challenges: wind, deer, rabbits, and poor soil are just a few of the obstacles many gardeners face. Tough conditions require tough plants, and frequently a Conifer is the answer! Conifers are cone-bearing plants. They are typically (but not always!) evergreen. […]
Is my sunburned plant dead? The recent heat wave fried a lot of gardeners and a lot of plants too! Just because a plant’s leaves are scorched does not mean the plant is dead. There are two ways plants can be damaged by the intense heat and strong sun. To understand what happens to plants […]
Summer is peak season in our landscapes! Gardeners and plants alike are working hard. Get the most from your efforts and help your perennials, shrubs and trees do their best. Follow these tips for a lush, healthy, productive landscape through the summer and beyond. Watering Appropriate watering is critical to keeping plants growing and healthy. […]
Horticulturist Tobey Nelson walks us through how to prune a shrub rose in winter. Late winter is the best time of year to prune a shrub rose. Follow these basic steps for success! Remove dead wood. Remove any canes that come from below the graft. Remove any branches that grow toward the interior. Remove weak and […]