Wishes Do Come True

It is obvious we need to be careful what we wish for.  The temperature two days before I wrote the Forcing Branches article for the Bulletin was 61 degrees F.  Many gardeners were worried about the lack of snow cover and plant desiccation.  We certainly don't have to worry about that anymore.

The concern now is the accumulation of snow on the tree branches.  If I could get to the blue spruce and some of the heavily laden juniper branches I would knock off the snow with a broom handle or gently raise and lower the branches with the back of the snow shovel.  A bit of advice, don't stand under the branch, who knows if the branch has been weakened to the point of breaking.


I read a snow shovel hint from a 1956 garden book written by a Minneapolis garden writer.  The hint was to "heat your snow shovel and polish it with floor wax or paraffin.  The snow will not stick to the shovel and your labor will be greatly reduced."

In this age of snow blowers-big and bigger, mini snow plows and ergonomically designed shovels made from high tech plastics, the information isn't as relevant as it once was.  Where was that hint when I was young and sent out to shovel the sidewalk?  I have a feeling I know what the response would have been to the suggestion--"don't be ridiculous".

Once the snow and ice melt we may have some pruning ahead due to winter damage.  Master Gardener Training concludes on Friday April 5 with a class on Pruning with Amy Jo Detweiler.  The class is offered for Advanced Master Gardner training credit.  If you think you need some pruning brush-up you should plan on attending.
 
We all wonder when we will round the corner of winter surprises and be able to focus on planning a garden.  Planning and day dreaming is always good therapy--it forces us to look beyond what we see out the window.  Bring on some color should be our mantra.

Pantone, a U.S. corporation often sets the color trends through many different industries, has declared the 2019 Color of the Year--Living Coral.  You will see that color in many aspects of your daily life -clothing, paper goods, nail lacquer, kitchen appliances, even candles.

If  you want to be trendy, you need to challenge your color sense and add that color to your existing landscape.

I found some landscape color combinations on Pantone's website that were impressive.

Various shades of green foliage combines well with light coral flowers.  A rich dark coral (think a reddish orange) combined with bright yellow sunflowers or bright yellow coreopsis.  The combination that really can pop is a suggestion of light coral, amethyst, and warm shades of purple.

I'm not sure how many Central Oregon Gardeners will follow color trends but if it opens our eyes to something new it is worth taking a challenge.

Old seed germination update--the 2010 Tutti Fruitti Lupine 100% gemination in 10 days.

New trials:  2008 Zinnias, 2009 Monarda, 2015 Petite Marigolds, 2016 Blue Asters.