Seasonal

A Brief History of the Christmas Tree

The history behind the Christmas tree can be traced back to the

 ancient Romans and the festival of Saturnalia, in which homes and

temples were adorned with evergreen boughs to honor the god of

 agriculture. Much later, during the 16th century, the Germans began

 placing trees in their homes and decorating them with candles, inspired by the

  sight of stars twinkling through the evergreen boughs in a forest. This tradition

 was slow to spread through Europe until the German wife of King George III,

 Queen Charlotte, introduced the concept to the British Royal Court in 1800.

 This custom was later embraced and celebrated by Queen Victoria and her husband,

 Prince Albert. In the 1830s, German immigrants brought this tradition to communities

 in Pennsylvania. By the 1850s, commercial Christmas tree sales began, and the tradition

 of the Christmas tree in the United States was born. Today, the Christmas tree is an

 important part of Christmas celebrations all over the world. We currently have a fine

 selection of living and cut Christmas trees here at the nursery, so come on down

 and speak with our staff about finding that perfect tree to celebrate the holiday season.

Healthy Soils Healthy Gardens



Healthy soil yields a healthy garden; it is grown from the ground up.

Understanding the garden soil that you grow in is essential to creating the

best conditions for your plant life. Soil is evaluated by its texture, structure, and

 fertility. Knowing what is in the native soil is important so you can determine

what type of soil amendments to employ, you can make enhancements or

change the plants we grow in our garden spaces. Typically, in Western Washington,

we generally have three to four soil types: heavy clay, silty loam, sandy loam,

or glacial till. The good news is that they can all benefit by adding organic

matter. For heavier clay and silty soils, adding Garden & Bloome Soil Conditioner

will help break up the denseness and lighten the soil, and aid drainage. For

rocky soils like glacial till, adding a professional topsoil and removing bigger rocks in

addition to adding Garden & Bloome Purely Compost, will give the glacial till more

body and help it to retain moisture during times of drought, thus aiding the plant

life by having more moisture and nutrients available to their root systems. Compost

and a topsoil mixture is also an excellent way to build up and add body to sandy

soils as well. Our line of Garden & Bloome soil amendments contains all organic

ingredients and beneficial microbes that will make your garden and landscape thrive.

Come on down to the farm and speak to our friendly associates about the benefits

of using these truly unique soil amendments.

Heavenly Hellebore

Often called the Lenten Rose or Christmas Rose, Hellebores by any name

are a jewel in the winter landscape. These evergreen perennials are available

in many forms, cultivars, and colors. The leathery foliage found on these

stalwart beauties vary from a deep, rich green to marbled and variegated

patterns. While the flowers have a delicate appearance, they are in fact a

remarkably hardy perennial that blooms through winter's chill and in a blanket

of snow. With varieties that bloom in the fall, while others bloom in winter

through early spring. Their form and flower have an understated elegance that

makes them an excellent choice for shady woodland gardens, a Northwest

 theme, or a container arrangement. This lovely low-maintenance perennial

 features blossoms that are borne in nodding or outward-facing clusters. From

 fair, freckled-faced flowers to deep, rich, almost black blooms. With a range of

flower and foliage styles, there is sure to be one that will catch your eye and

 capture your heart. Currently, we have our annual collection of these garden

favorites in stock now. Varieties include the Ice N' Roses series, Wedding Party

series, Honeymoon series, and more.

The Benefits of Live Christmas Trees



Live Christmas trees are a renewable resource. These trees were grown

on farms, such as corn and other crops. The tree that was harvested this

for you to enjoy in your home will be replaced next spring with another

seedling to continue the cycle. Fields of live trees provide habitat for wildlife

while absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. Celebrate the holidays

with a live Christmas tree, and when the season ends, you can plant the tree 

your garden preserves your wonderful memory as well as providing a living

investment in the landscape of your home. Choose from Noble fir, Serbian

Spruce, Baby Blue Colorado Spruce, Bosnian pine, and more.

Defining With Hedges

Hedging is used to mark a boundary formally and is most commonly

used to create privacy.  Whether trimmed into tidy geometric shapes

or left to grow in their natural form, hedges are useful in all types of

gardens.  While they have been used traditionally in formal gardens, they

also have a place in modern design, edible gardens, and informal suburban

landscapes.  There are hedge plant options that are evergreen or deciduous

and selections for shade to full sun exposure.  In the Pacific Northwest, we

 are fortunate to have many options, ranging from Boxwood, Yews, Laurels

Arborvitae and so much more.  Come on down and speak with our friendly

 staff about incorporating a hedge or privacy screen into your landscape.

December Garden Tasks 

Consider using frost cloth or burlap to protect

your tender plants from winter's chill.

Remove snow loads from trees and shrubs

to prevent damage.

Plant trees and shrubs during the cool, wet months

of winter. The conditions are ideal for getting new

trees and shrubs off to a good start.

Stay on top of weeding to reduce their impact

in your garden when spring arrives.

Plant for winter interest. We have a beautiful selection of plants

from conifers to winter flowering shrubs and perennials

to brighten the winter months and enhance your

container arrangements.

Clean and refill bird feeders. Our feathered friends appreciate

our support now more than ever. A clean and refreshed

bird feeder promotes good health for our local visitors.

Make your spring garden plans. This is a good time of 

year to plan revisions, add creations, and dream of 

spring.

Water your planters and dry beds that are under the 

eaves or on covered porches.