If gardening was a competitive sport, I am pretty sure that tomato growing would be one of the main events.  It seems like every year customers become obsessed on being the first in their neighborhood to harvest a ripe tomato.  They will go through all sorts of shenanigans to achieve this goal and so in the spirit of enablement and codependence, I offer the following tricks of the trade.

There is always so much happening in the month of May that I am never sure what to focus on for this column.  As I looked around the nursery, two items came to mind that I think you will find interesting.  One is a new vegetable from Bolivia called Yacon, while the other is a very effective fertilizer for flowers and veggies that combines the best of synthetic and natural ingredients for a complete plant food.  Here goes nothing!

Here we are in high gear with the “petal to the metal”, so to speak.  All of us are trying to cram a year’s worth of gardening into one month and it doesn’t seem to work very well, does it?  It’s important to remember that gardening is more of a marathon than a sprint and we will enjoy it a whole lot more if we spread out the work over the entire year.  Here are some things to consider this month.  

Indeed, spring has sprung about two weeks (or more) earlier than most of us are accustomed to.  Dogwoods are in full bloom, something that usually doesn’t happen until Mother’s Day.  Our roses have set buds and could be blooming as early as the first or second week of May, a full 2 to 3 weeks ahead of schedule.  I suspect the good folks at the Skagit Tulip Festival are lamenting this hot weather, which causes tulips to splay open and not be nearly as attractive (and not last as long either).  Taurus rhodies (big bright red trusses) have already finished their bloom cycle, along with flowering cherries and flowering crabapples too.  I think you get the picture.  Spring has arrived fast and furious.

For anyone who has travelled around the temperate part of the world in spring, one of the most impressive horticultural sights is... 

One would think that having an attractive garden in the months of April and May would be a piece of cake.  It is!  We have a gazillion options for adding interest across the whole gamut of plant types, from annuals and perennials to shrubs and trees.  I often joke with customers, telling them to “just plant one of everything”, knowing full well that this philosophy would result in horticultural chaos.  But if your garden is not absolutely drop-dead gorgeous in these spring months, you probably need to spend more time at the garden center.  Perhaps the following plant information will stimulate you to do so!

Continuing on with my automotive analogy from previous to-do lists, April is going to put us into 4th gear, which is almost top speed.  We will save overdrive for May.  Here are some thoughts to consider...

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to drive around town looking for a neglected lawn, or abandoned lot, that has become a veritable sea of dandelions.  On a typical dark, gloomy northwest spring day, the sight of a thousand bright golden flowers makes my spirit soar.  It is every bit as enthralling as a trip to the daffodil fields of Skagit County, without the distraction of a gaggle of tourist.  For two short weeks, this vacant lot is my source of inspiration.  It is my reminder that despite endless showers, the sun is coming and it will soon be spring again.  For me, all of these positive vibes come from a plant that most of us see only as an annoying weed.

Let’s face it.  Gardening in the shade can be challenging.  It’s not only dark but often dry as well and if it isn’t dry, it is probably damp and full of slugs.  While there are many shades of green that we can work into a shade garden, getting other brighter colors proves to be a little more difficult.  Here are two sure bets that I have worked into my shade beds that you should consider for yours.  As a bonus, they are also blooming now!

I don’t know how you feel about this “daylight saving time” stuff, but for me it’s a nightmare that goes on for months.  I’m forced to leave my warm little cocoon a whole hour earlier than my body says I should be.  To add insult to injury, not only will I be physically suffering from this artificial jet lag, I will also be in a constant state of mental confusion as my mind keeps having an ongoing conversation: “What time is it REALLY?  The clock says 10:30 pm but my body says 9:30 pm and I’m not sleepy.  Or the clock says 6:30 am and I need to get up, but my body says 5:30 am and that I should keep sleeping.”