It is officially Spring. Huzzah! The sun is finally making a consistent appearance and we are here for it. Nothing beats those first few bright days to get us excited about the season. April is the time for a fresh start. It’s the perfect moment to shake off the winter blues and step back into our outdoor spaces. We hope you feel as energized as we do. Our gardens are waking up, the days are getting longer, and we are so ready to help you get your patch of Portland looking its best. Let’s get to work!

Even with a lighter rainy season, a PNW winter still leaves its mark. Our patios and walkways are hidden under layers of moss and seasonal debris, and now that the sun is finally making an appearance, it’s time to help them shine again.
     Spring is the perfect window to blast away the winter buildup. A good professional rinse not only clears off the moss and leaf mold, but it also brightens your hardscapes, making your outdoor living space feel clean, open, and ready for embracing our porches and patios!.Ben is carving out a few dedicated days just for pressure washing! We have three slots available per day. If you want to reclaim your surfaces from the winter "dreary," reach out and we’ll get you scheduled.

Schedule a Pressure Wash

In the garden, April is a good time to :  

• Plant perennials, trees and shrubs, 
• Add color with spring annuals
• Plant veggies like leafy greens, beets, radishes, peas, potatoes, onion sets and asparagus. Prep your soil for optimal health of all your plants, and
• Mulch and compost 
• Move bulbs and separate rhizomes 
• Set up your structures for veggies or climbing plants      
• Deadhead flowering plants to make those Spring blooms last
• Treat for spring pests 
  
• And as always, weeding!

     Geum, commonly called Avens, is a rugged yet beautiful rhizomatous perennial perfect for rock gardens, containers, or classic cottage borders. Blooming throughout May and June, these plants offer a vibrant palette of red, orange, pink, fuchsia, and yellow flowers ranging from simple, elegant petals to fluffy blooms. They love to be planted en masse, so they look full and beautiful. Once their blooms are done and cut back, they can create quite a nice groundcover.
     There are over 50 species originating from Asia, Africa, Europe, and North and South America. Incredibly versatile, they prefer a cooler climate, but can thrive in most conditions and adapt well to either full sun or partial shade. While they are "drought-tolerant-ish," they strictly dislike waterlogged ground, which can lead to root issues. For the best display of their cheerful blooms, deadhead spent flowers to encourage repeat blooming.

Geum 

• Rosaceae family
• 12” - 24” tall
• Long blooming flowers
• Pollinator friendly
• Good for many gardens
• Perennial
• Frost hardy
• Well drained soil
• Divide in early spring

Orange Rhubarb Muffins

• Whole wheat pastry flour
  
• Whole rolled oats
• Brown sugar
• Baking powder, baking soda and salt
• Egg
• Butter or coconut oil
• Orange juice – about 2 oranges
  
• Zest of 1 orange
  
• Diced rhubarb
  
• Cinnamon
  
• Powdered sugar
  

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees and line or grease 12 muffin cups.
2. Stir the dry muffin ingredients to a bowl.
3. Whisk the wet muffin ingredients in a smaller bowl and then add to the dry ingredients, mixing just until moist (don’t over mix).
4. Fold in the diced rhubarb.
5. Mix up the topping ingredients and spoon it evenly over the muffin tops.
6. Fill muffin cups evenly – about 3/4 full and bake about 20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan and then turn the muffins gently out onto a rack.
8. Whisk together the glaze ingredients, if using, and drizzle over the tops of the muffins while cooling on the rack.

To discover more about this recipe, follow the link below.
https://anoregoncottage.com/glazed-orange-rhubarb-muffins/

The Royal Wulff Murders
by Keith McCafferty

     Who is ready for a new series? If you love the outdoors, and we know you do because you love your gardens, we have the perfect mystery for your downtime. Think murder, mayhem, and mountain rivers. Oh my!
Meet Sean Stranahan. He is a has-been detective who traded his badge for a paintbrush and a fly rod. After a messy divorce and a stalled career, he headed to Montana to live in an art studio filled with fly-tying feathers and mouse droppings. Classy, right?
     Stranahan wades knee-deep into a case for a singer whose brother has gone missing, but things get complicated when his investigation collides with the local sheriff, Martha Ettinger. There is something suspicious happening in the state’s lucrative fly-fishing industry, and you will want to be there for every twist. Grab a copy and get ready to get lost in the mystery and murder against the backdrop of Montana rivers.