The Garden Journal
February 2024
February:
"One of the greatest virtues of gardening is this perpetual renewal of Youth and Spring, of promise of Flower and Fruit that can always be read in the Open Book of the Garden, by those with an eye to see, and a mind to understand."
- Edward Augustus Bowles
The Story of our Gardens…
Steve and I met dancing. It all started with the Foxtrot, Tango, and Waltz. Or, as he called them, "those fuddy-duddy dances". I was a professional dance instructor, and was assigned to teach him his very first dance lesson. Neither one of us would have predicted the trajectory of that meeting…
Fast forward, after 10 years of teaching, traveling the world to compete together, always friends and huge amounts of respect for each other, national titles, and completely separate personal lives that involved other people, Steve made his move. My initial thought was "No, he's my student. This goes against everything I stand for as a professional." He knew I was going to be strongly against considering him for that reason, and he worked hard to make a strong case. A girlfriend suggested to me that if I would consider him if he wasn't my student, shouldn't I consider him now? And that was the shift.
We were married in 2012, and I sold that dance business in October 2013. That sale freed up my time immensely, for us to travel, and explore other interests. People ask me all the time if I miss dancing, and while I miss the beautiful and exhilarating parts about it, I don't miss the business, long hours and erratic, time-consuming schedule. To be great at one thing takes a singular focus which leaves little time and energy for other things. I needed a change in my life after doing that alone for 15+ years.
The other part that's lovely about what we are creating at Laughing Goat Botanical Gardens, is that we are equal partners in all things here, and while I may know more about plants and botanical names, Steve is skilled in so many other areas, we complement each other, and most importantly, respect each other, and work well together. It's a great way to spend our time, and I'm so proud of what we have accomplished so far, and looking forward to continuing to grow along side him.
Nature Series: Slugs
I took a Continued Learning Education (CLE) course on Slugs and Snails, and while I hate them in the garden, I do find them to be fascinating. Understanding a bit about these terrestrial mollusks, related to mussels and octopus, may lead to some insight on how best to manage them in your gardens.
First, slugs are agile. They can climb trees, buckets, plants, fences, whatever. They can hide in tiny cracks in asphalt, rock piles, or bricks. They will tuck into the crowns of plants, under leaves, or even into the hearts of cabbage, for food, and protection from heat and desiccation. Therefore, putting out bucket traps filled with beer or other liquid substances is not only not a guaranteed death, you will end up harming or killing other beneficial insects in your garden, including predatory beetles which are your allies in slug control. (So are toads, snakes, turtles, ducks, starlings, other birds, and possums.)
Sanitation in and around your growing areas is important. Slugs will find weeds or weed piles to shelter from the heat of day. If you use slug bait like we do (Sluggo, not Sluggo Plus) do not pile the slug bait, they will ignore it. Sprinkle bait around, in a scattered way. Pay close attention to areas where slugs will shelter in the heat of day, under shrubs, etc. and sprinkle bait around there. We actually scatter slug bait around the perimeter of beds growing choice crops, and find that is more effective than all over the actual crops.
Slugs are most active in spring and fall, when they get both warm and moist conditions. I've heard baiting in the months starting with an "A" is best, as that is active, and egg-laying time. So, April and August.
For more information about slug management, here is an article from Oregon State University:
Roses - The Only Flower for Valentine's Day?
I love the idea of unconventional flowers getting to upstage more traditional offerings.
I am passionate about garden roses, fluffy, many-petaled, and full of intoxicating and unique scents. However, I'm not super jazzed about hothouse roses. Varietals grown in massive heated structures to be shipped all over the world en masse in jumbo jets. It is estimated that 250 million stems of flowers are sold on Valentine's Day, and at least 1/3 of those are roses, all shipped in from South America.
"The Flower Confidential" was written by Amy Stewart, and published in 2007.
This paperback book took the flowering world by storm, as it consolidated all of the dirt on delivering flowers from one side of the world to the other.
The ugly reality is that florals are big business, and involve laboratories, patents, factories and jumbo jets to ship from areas of cheap land and even cheaper labor to make conglomerate owners big money. And to deliver "cheap" flowers.
Since flowers were "farmed" out to South America in hopes of mitigating the drug trade (news flash: it funneled money and sales channels into the wrong hands and exploded the international drug market) it essentially decapitated the American floral growers from being able to compete with our own government, who subsidized foreign commodities. Large-scale growing operations collapsed. Over 80% of the roses bought on Valentine's Day are from South America. That was as of 2011. It could be more now, it's hard to find recent data.
So, for both a unique, and more sustainable selection, here are some flowers that also stand for L.O.V.E. and perhaps a non-traditional gift of a lovely plant in a pot, vs. flowers in a vase. Whatever plant, or flower you choose, I'm certain the recipient will be overjoyed to be thought of, no matter what time of year you choose.
Camellias: flowering from January to April, a perfect choice for the sweetie in your life. A Camellia plant is evergreen, with dark, green glossy leaves, and comes in a variety of flower colors. White represents perfect loveliness, pink longing, and red tells your recipient they set your heart on fire.
Clematis: flowering from May to July, these climbing vines in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) are garden treasures. This flower (plant) is perfect to tell someone you admire their inner beauty just as much as outward appearance, and tells someone you want to be a constant part of their life.
Dahlias: flowering from July to October. Flashy, attention-seekers that come in so many forms, sizes and colors, you can't go wrong. Dahlias are given to partners to show eternal love and as a symbol of keeping that love alight. Dahlia tuber sales are going on now, and will be the gift that keeps on giving, long past a rose in a vase will last.
Hellebores: flowering from November to April, and widely available in nurseries and plant places now. Long-lived plants that bring much needed color and light to winter gardens, Hellebores are the ideal token of long-lasting friendship and love.
Hydrangea: flowering from June to September, in a wide array of colors, sizes and 2 major forms: mop head and paniculata. Traditional symbol of both devotion and appreciation, a great gift for someone you value and want to have on your team.
Pansies: flowering from May to October, the French word "pensée" translates as 'thought' which reinforces the idea of being kept in your cherished one's mind. In Victorian times, this flower held the virtues of concern, friendship, and compassion. A great token for a friend then, and now.
Tulips: flowering March to May, though today's growers have methods of forcing bulbs to have them year-round. Since tulips were so precious in Holland in the 17th Century (see movie: Tulip Fever) to give something so precious to another is true love indeed.
Roses: flowering June to October. Give a rose if you must, but make it a plant. Bare root roses will start shipping mid- to late-winter depending on your zone, and I can't imagine anything lovelier than a shrub rose that generously provides your cherished with blooms over and over again.
Wallflower (Erysimum): flowering March to April, another plant available to purchase now for blooms to come. The name refers to where it grows, not its demeanor. This bloom stands for fidelity, faithfulness and lasting beauty. Perfect gesture of companionship in any form.
Weed Management
Preparing for the Change of Season
Let's face it: February is not the most motivating time to be outdoors working in the garden. I find February to be the longest month, ironic as that may sound, as it is usually when I'm just ready for winter to be over, ready to see some green, I'm tired of being cold and wet, and I want to get into the good stuff of gardening.
However, the weeds wait for no one, and March-June is the busiest time in the garden for planting all annuals and summer crops. It's getting close to a time when having weed-free beds is critical, and time is a premium.
So, let's don our rain gear (outer protective covering that keeps you dry) layers, and get outside and get the weeds out! Focus first on the areas you will be planting up first, so they are ready. It will make your job so much easier when it comes time to putting the plants into the ground, to have a clean bed prepped. This is a great time to put fresh compost on the bed as well. Anytime is a good time to put fresh compost into your growing beds, the only bad time is on a super hot summer day with tender plants, otherwise, compost is always a great idea.
Planning your Garden: Seeds and Starts to Success
Class is Full, Thank You!
Class Date: Saturday, February 10, 2024
Class Time: 10:00am
Easter Centerpiece Workshop
We are planning to host an Easter table Centerpiece workshop, and are gathering details for supplies and working behind the scenes to get our new Workshop space ready! Since we don't have everything quite ready yet, please stay tuned. Easter Sunday is March 31, 2024, so classes will be held March 30, 2024 in order to have fresh lovelies to share with family and friends on your tables.
Class Date: Saturday, March 30, 2024
Class Time: 10:00am
Class Cost: TBD
The Floral Club
Class is Full, Thank You!
Let's Talk about Valentine's Day…
I remember thinking Valentine's Day was kind of cheesy. A Hallmark holiday trumped up to for vendors to sell tons of flowers, balloons and chocolates. Valentine's Day is the #1 profit day for Florists, where they make the majority of their sales for the year. How crazy is that? (Read my article above on roses) I'd prefer fresh flowers year-round, I did start a flower farm after all. I despise balloons, hideous, tacky plastic orbs that will become trash, and in some cases, the demise of an unlucky animal. And chocolate? I could buy it when I wanted it. These trinkets didn't seem like the ultimate gesture of love.
But I think Love comes in all forms, and I'm not talking about romantic love, which is nice, but other forms of love that deserve to be highlighted and celebrated: Self-Love…Friend Love…Sister Love…Parental Love…Love of Life…Garden Love…
Whatever kind of Love you are celebrating this season: be kind to yourself, and to others. Everyone is in a different season in their life. Spend a day antiquing with a friend who just lost someone important in their life and needs an escape day. Make a pot of soup and share with a single person who doesn't always feel like cooking for 1. Pot up a houseplant in a special container and gift to a friend who could use a little cheer this time of year. Buy the flowers for yourself, and put them where you will see them constantly. And if you need a sweet spot to visit, I can always open the Garden Shop for you to swing by and see a Friend. I may even have flowers. 😉
Recipe of the Month
Asparagus is known to be an aphrodisiac, high in Vitamin E and potassium, it increases blood and oxygen flow in the body, which is great for giving energy. Aspartic acid in Asparagus helps neutralize excess ammonia, which leads to fatigue. Plus, Asparagus is delicious! I love eating Asparagus in the Spring when it is in season locally, but we'll make an exception for the month of Love.
Asparagus, Goat Cheese & Tarragon Tart (from NY Times)
Yields 6-8 servings
- 1cup soft goat cheese, at room temperature (4 ounces)
- 1large egg, lightly beaten, at room temperature
- 1large garlic clove, finely grated or minced
- 1½tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon leaves, plus more for serving
- ½tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
- ½teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more for sprinkling
- Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
- 1cup crème fraîche, at room temperature (8 ounces)
- All-purpose flour, for dusting the work surface
- 1sheet or square all-butter puff pastry, thawed if frozen (about 9 to 14 ounces; brands vary)
- 8ounces thin asparagus, woody ends trimmed
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 2tablespoons grated Parmesan
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Red-pepper flakes (optional)
- 1½ounces Parmesan, shaved with a vegetable peeler (about ½ cup)
Step 1
Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a medium bowl, use a fork or a wooden spoon to mash together the goat cheese, egg, garlic, tarragon, lemon zest, salt and nutmeg until smooth. Switch to a whisk and beat in the crème fraîche until smooth.
Step 2
On a lightly floured surface, roll out puff pastry into a 13-by-11-inch rectangle about ⅛-inch thick. Transfer the dough to a parchment-lined cookie sheet. With a sharp knife, lightly score a ½-inch border around the edges of the puff pastry.
Step 3
Spread the crème fraîche mixture evenly inside the scored border. Line up the asparagus spears on top, and brush them with olive oil. Sprinkle some salt and the grated Parmesan over the asparagus.
Step 4
Bake until the pastry is puffed and golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Let it cool on the cookie sheet for at least 15 minutes or up to 4 hours before serving. Then sprinkle black pepper, red-pepper flakes (if using), the shaved Parmesan and tarragon leaves. Drizzle a little oil on top.
TIP: You can assemble the tart 1 day in advance; but reserve the sprinkling of salt and grated Parmesan until right before baking. Loosely cover the tart and store it in the refrigerator until it's time to bake.
The Garden Shop
Please kindly remember that when our Garden Shop is open, a ticket is always required to enter our Gardens. Our gardens are currently closed for renovations, and we thank each visitor kindly for respecting our spaces by keeping to open areas exclusively.
Upcoming Garden Shop Dates/Hours
We are planning to be open for Spring and Easter on March 29th and March 30th. We will announce times in an upcoming March newsletter.
Garden Tasks
- Keep on Weeding! Small weeds are easier to pull than big ones, and weeds grow year round. There are some cool annual weeds, like shot weed to keep an eye out for, and make sure you get dandelions out of growing areas so they don't crowd out other plants. Creeping buttercup is starting to creep around, so pull those claw-like roots out!
- Garden Planning! Pull out your books, magazines, etc. to get inspiration from articles, photos and start planning out your beds and plan for the next season. January is perfect, as February is typically seed-starting time in the PNW.
- Draw up a simple plan for your vegetable garden. Consider crop rotation to help with pest control. For instance: Solanaceae is the nightshade family, in which tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and potatoes are all members of. If you had tomatoes in a bed, put something from a different family in the same spot this year. A diagram or spreadsheet makes this an easy thing to keep track of year to year.
- Order Seeds!
- ORDER TOMATO PLANTS! (See below)
- Try sprouting seeds indoors, which can be used a multitude of ways, and fill in the gap with freshness and nutrition.
- Start planting Perennial seeds, such as Monad, Yarrow, Viola, and Dianthus.
- Take evergreen and hardwood cuttings to propagate.
- Monitor trees and shrubs for winter damage and disease. Remove any dead, diseased or dying/crossing branches.
- Apply mulch. 2-3" is best.
- Take cuttings to layer or root in coleus, begonias, cactus and succulents, for containers, etc.
- Continue forcing bulbs indoors, such as amaryllis and paper whites.
- Prune dormant deciduous trees, including fruit trees.
- Recycle your Christmas tree - we take any tree that isn't artificial or flocked/sprayed. The goats love them!
- Continue caring for houseplants.
- Maintain garden tools.
- Past Newsletter Access Here: https://laughinggoatfarm.com/blog/
- Sign up for Laughing Goat classes!
Upcoming Events
BOLD ITEMS are ON-SITE Events
-
- National Dark Chocolate Day - Feb. 1 🍫
- Groundhog Day - Feb. 2
- Feed the Birds Day - Feb. 3 🦆
- National Homemade Soup Day - Feb. 4 🍲
- Pay a Compliment Day - Feb. 6 🗣️
- National Send a Card to a Friend Day - Feb. 7 💌
- Read in the Bathtub Day - Feb. 9 🛀🏻
- Planning Your Garden Workshop - Feb. 10
- Int'l Day of Women & Girls in Science - Feb. 11 👩🏻🔬🧬🔬
- Galentine's Day - Feb. 13 👯♀️
- Valentine's Day - Feb. 14 🌹
- NW Flower & Garden Show "I ❤️Spring" - Feb. 14-18 at the Seattle Convention Center https://www.gardenshow.com/tickets
- National Almond Day - Feb. 16
- Random Act of Kindness Day - Feb. 17
- National Drink Wine Day - Feb. 18 🍷
- National Love Your Pet Day - Feb. 20 🐱
- Cook a Sweet Potato Day - Feb. 22 🍠
- National Walking the Dog Day - Feb. 22 🦮
- Nat'l Banana Bread/Chili Day - Feb. 23
- Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day - Feb. 25 👷🏽♀️
- Tell a Fairy Tale Day - Feb. 26 🧌
- Int'l Polar Bear Day - Feb. 27 🐻❄️
- Floral Design Day - Feb. 28 💐
- LEAP YEAR! - Feb. 29 🗓️
- ALL MONTH: Order Tomato plants from Laughing Goat Botanical Gardens! Order deadline is March 1, 2024
Thanks for all the good info (especially on slugs)!
Wonderful newsletter Amy!! Can you add me to your email list. Hope to come out to your farm this spring with my sister in law, Gabby White. Thanks Amy. Happy travels! Laure Nichols
Really great content Amy! Thank you for all the tips and tricks. Any advice for amature greenhouse owners?
Wonderful newsletter Amy!! Can you add me to your email list