August has arrived, bringing on the grand finale of natures summer blooms. The air is heavy with heat, and the sun is golden. It is the peak of the season, a time when the garden is full in it’s glory and we naturally seek out the cool sanctuary of shade. This month invites us to slow down, rest, and simply savor these long, sun-drenched afternoons. Under the canopy, the pace slows, letting us fully immerse in the quiet, steady rhythm of late summers end.

• Drip irrigation repair, improvement, and additions
• Trim shrubs and trees of excess growth
• Feed plants
• Pest management - aphids, mildews, etc. 
• Pull weeds from flower beds
• Mulching 
• String trim and lawn mowing
• Deadheading to encourage new flowering
• Divide perennials
• Separate crowded tubers and bulbs
• Cut back herbs

text/call (971) 236-3976 or email [email protected]

Sedum
Crassulaceae or stonecrop

• Low water needs
• Full sun
• Pollinator friendly
• Easy to grow
• Deer and rabbit resistant
• Green, pink, red, variegated, white, and yellow
• Zones 3-11
  

             Meet sedums! A plant that’s practically unkillable and stunning! These fleshy, succulents store their own water and originate mostly from the Northern Hemisphere, though you can find a few varieties in Africa and South America.

            They come in all kinds of shapes, colors, and sizes ranging from tiny groundcovers that blanket the dirt to impressive 3-foot showstoppers butterflies and bees love. They’re super happy to grow in patio containers as well as your garden beds, usually putting on their big floral show in late summer and fall.
            Taking care of sedums is mostly a plant-it-and-forget-it kind of experience. Just give brand-new plants regular water for their first couple of months so they can get rooted. Come early spring, give the taller varieties a pinch back to keep them looking full instead of floppy. When winter rolls around, resist the urge to cut them back. Leaving those dried, faded flowers intact treats local birds to a cold-weather snack. Best of all, if you ever want to spread the sedum love, you can dig up and divide these guys almost anytime to turn one plant into many!

Plum Sorbet
             The temperatures are rising and nothing cools the spirit like a good sorbet. Stone fruit is dropping off the trees faster than it can be picked. If you’ve got a plum tree in your garden, the following recipe ios a quick and easy way to use up a bunch of your ripe fruit and beat the heat at the same time. Not to mention the wow factor of creating a sorbet for friends and family to share when the evenings start to warm up and dinner is served in the garden.

• 2 pounds plums (about 2 1/4 pounds whole), pitted and quartered (about 4 cups)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• Lemon juice, if needed, to taste

1. Purée plums in a blender or food processor until smooth. Once pitted, 2 pounds of plums should yield 1 quart of purée. Add sugar and corn syrup and blend for 30 seconds. Add salt, blend to incorporate, and adjust to taste. If plums are very sweet, add lemon juice to taste, starting with 1/4 teaspoon.
2. Strain purée and transfer to refrigerator; chill for 2 to 3 hours until very cold. Churn sorbet in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer sorbet to freezer to firm up for 2 to 3 hours before serving.
   
   Find out more about this recipe at Serious Eats by clicking the link below.

https://www.seriouseats.com/plum-sorbet-recipe

Western Washington and Oregon in Bloom
by Ellen Kuhlmann and Mark Turner

             We are officially halfway through summer and the weather couldn't be more beautiful for getting out and about. If you want to add a little discovery to your next hike or camping trip, check out the In Bloom series from Timber Press.
             Specifically designed for Western Washington and Oregon, this easy to use pocket-sized guide is perfect for everyone; flower lovers, foragers, and weekend wanderers alike.
             This book helps you easily identify the most prominent plants you’ll see when you are out adventuring. Track down vibrant, showy blooms or satisfy your curiosity about the more bizarre local species, this easy-to-use guide brings them all to life with vivid text and photographs.

Share the Love this summer!

             Is there a plant, tree, or shrub in your garden that you are absolutely head-over-heels in love with? Show it off!
             Send us a picture of your favorite plant, stunning blossom, or prized veggie, and we’ll feature your garden bragging rights in our upcoming newsletters or on social media.
Send to [email protected] or text your pic to 971-236-3976.  

We are expanding our services!

          The landscaping and gardening scuttlebutt on the street is that it’s been difficult for folks to get smaller scale drip irrigation systems installed by lager scale companies, and we are ready to fill in the gap!
We can can install, repair, improve and expand drip systems for your garden. Starting at $80 and hour. Let us know if we can help you get your system set up or working right!

Schedule Drip Irrigation