February 2025
The Garden Journal
February 2025
“February is the border between Winter and Spring."
Terri Guillemets, "Outlines of Joy”
February
I truly start counting down the days to when winter will end…in February. February always feels a bit bleak, and kind of stuck in between January with all its fresh start feelings; and March, when Spring is close at hand. Do you suppose Valentine’s Day was stuck smack-dab in the middle for a reason? Isn’t it nice that the coldest month of the year is also the shortest? Thoughtful planning, or just perception? You decide. And like the shortest month of the year, so too will this newsletter be, as promised, for my over-exuberance in January’s edition, I’m scaling back to match the tone of this calendar month, as well as focusing on the Garden tasks at hand: Sowing Seeds, and all things Love. Why shouldn’t we have a month where we truly celebrate Love? We celebrate all kinds of other things, and so in the spirit of spreading Love, my additional articles this month will focus on amplifying Black History Month, and in specific, members of the Horticulture community that often go, or have gone, unrecognized or unnamed. It’s high time we recognize the incredible achievements of folks that made, and continue to make, strides and discoveries in Horticulture, big and small.
I’d encourage you to start signing up for things when you see them here, and not saving that task for another day. I’m seeing 2 trends emerge, one is waiting until the last minute, which is high anxiety for me, as I start to wonder if anyone is seeing what I’m tossing out on the wind and get worried that people will miss out, and the other is that some events are selling out quite quickly. In either of these cases, the early bird certainly always gets the worm, the workshop, the walk, or whatever it is.
Lastly, if you enjoy getting and reading our newsletter, I’d love to have you share with a friend or two. Encourage them to sign up to get our newsletter delivered straight to them. We rely on word of mouth to help our business grow, and the more we grow, the more we can do. We so appreciate you!
In this Newsletter
- Seed Starting in Earnest
- Potting Soils
- Winter Weeding: Soil Seedbank
- Plant of the Month: Hardy Geranium
- Articles of Interest: Black History Month
- Garden Walks with Amy
- From the Heart
- The Garden Shop: Delphiniums & Onions arriving
- February Garden Tasks
Seed Starting in Earnest
I use the Farmer’s Almanac to predict frost dates, as a starting point for planning my seed starting schedule. In general, these dates are reliable as a general timeframe, so useful in guiding my seed starting practice.
This year, for the area of the PNW I’m in (simply type your city name and “last frost date” in a search engine bar, and you should see the The Old Farmer’s Almanac result at or near the top. Click on the heading, and it will take you to a page that has the nearest climate station. For us, that is Buckley, and the date this year is April 15. So, February marks the 8-10 weeks out until last Frost, which are important dates for getting some things started indoors to have them ready for transplant on/around April 15th.
For example, February 4th is 10 weeks out, and my seed starting list includes Arugula, Artichoke, Broccoli and Cabbage for the veg side, and on the flower side, Ornamental Grasses, Snapdragons and Rudbeckia.
8 weeks to last Frost is February 18th, and this is a fairly long list, so will be a busy week in my Greenhouse. I’m starting plants like Coleus, Celosia, some vining plants, Eggplant and Peppers, to name a few.
These checklists keep my organized, and sane during a very busy and chaotic time. The Greenhouse gets it’s use and earns its spot on the Farm February - April, and I’ve got set systems in place to keep it all moving in the right direction: out the door and into the Gardens. Happy Seeding!
Potting Soils
I get asked this question all the time. To not further complicate the myriad of solutions available to Gardeners in the Potting Soil world, I’ll keep this short and sweet: Your Garden, Your Choice.
In my Gardens, when sourcing potting mix, specifically for our Greenhouse and container use, we strictly use Sungro Black Gold Seedling Mix for sowing seeds, and either a bulk Organic potting mix we bring in wholesale, or G&B Potting Soil. I never use Miracle-Gro products, for a variety of reasons, and try to source certified-Organic whenever possible. We do carry the larger bags of Black Gold Seedling Mix in our Garden Shop.
I understand that some of the products are higher priced than others, and this is why it’s important for you to source what is accessible and affordable. No one wants Gardening to become an exclusive hobby. I’d encourage you to do your own research, as there is a lot of information out there about available on the market potting mixes, and know that there are a lot of opinion-based articles, so it’s always important to consider the source.
We have also started carrying some specialty mixes for things like Aroids, Orchids, and Succulents/Cactus, as it can be tough to find a good-quality that is specific for plants with different substrate and nutrition needs. This includes water filtration, which is important for these plants, so most potting soil mixes won’t work, as they retain too much water to be long-term healthful for these plants. I stand behind what we carry, and use it myself, for both my own personal plants, as well as plants we carry in The Garden Shop.
Winter Weeding
Soil Seedbank
You’ve likely noticed the same cast of characters showing up in the Winter Garden.
Weeds are like the Ghost of Christmas Past - they always come back to haunt you. Weed seed, along with tubers, bulbs, rhizomes and other vegetative structures, gets buried in soils, and practices like tilling, digging, hoeing, stepping on, disturbing, and even weeding (oh, the injustice) can stir up weeds from underneath the soil. The soil seedbank is made up of new seeds most recently shed, as well as older seeds that have persisted in the soil for years, and seeds that have migrated into the area. So why do these actions cause rampant growth? Easy: most weed seed is tiny and so needs light to germinate. Plants will disperse their seed, and most is lightly scattered on the soil surface, through wind, animal or mechanical disturbance. Once the viable seed is touching soil, and all conditions are met, you have germination. When seed gets embedded more deeply into soil systems, and does not have the light it needs to germinate, it will lie dormant where it can remain waiting, for years, decades, and even centuries. There are a number of factors that influence the length of time, but leaving your weeds to go to seed is a risky practice for future you. This is not a bank you want to make repeat investments in.
Here are some fun facts about weed seeds:
🌱Pigweed can produce over 10,000 seeds per plant
🌱Lambsquarters can produced tens of thousands of seeds per plant
🌱Dandelion produces thousands of wind-dispersed seeds per flower
🌱Soil seedbank is a buffer against environmental pressure. Think of it as nature’s insurance plan. Seed dormancy insures that not all seeds germinate at once, in the event of catastrophic events (late Frost, etc.) Even Mother Nature prepares.
🌱Each soil seedbank is primarily made up of a few species - these are those adapted to the current system. Any other weeds present, no matter how many, are insignificant in number to the primary species.
🌱You can significantly reduce your weed seedbank by not allowing weeds to go to seed. A study over 5-years showed reduction to 5% of original density. In just one year of not controlling the weed population, that returned to 90% of original density. A good case for getting to those weeds stat!
🌱The more you let plants go to seed, the more you are contributing to genetic diversity, and this alone makes weed plants more resilient. Resilient weeds are more difficult to manage, ergo make gardening less fun.
🌱Fate of seeds after shedding:
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- A few germinate, emerge, grow & reproduce
- A large quantity will germinate and die
- Some will decay in the soil
- Some become a source of food for insects, birds, and mammals
- Some remain dormant, and will not germinate over a wider set of environmental conditions. This can be a large or small number, and dormancy periods will range in time.
(Citation: Lecture, Biology Seedbank, Weed ID: OSU)
Plant of the Month
Hardy Geranium
I find that, in terms of plant palettes, you really have to know some folks who are watching far and wide in the Gardening and Horticulture community to learn about things that exist beyond your local nursery industry or garden friend group. It’s so easy to have tunnel vision when we hit our favorite nursery for plants, and be swayed by the exuberant displays set up to entice us. Are you in a plant rut, relying on tried and true favorites year after year, and never venturing into the wide, wonderful world of Perennials that don’t get much, if any, play time on the plant benches? Or do you lean heavily on social media trends, buying only what is popular in trending posts?
I was delighted this past year, to finally see more varietal options in the Perennial world, including some of my favorite, and often hard to find, Hardy Geraniums. Again, I’m talking about true Geraniums, not the Pelargoniums so often confused, or misnamed as Geranium. They belong to the same family, Geraniaceae, yes. That is all they have in common, really.
Great local source for hardy geranium:
Best online source for the broadest selection:
Geranium himalayense aka Himalayan or lilac cranesbill
Hardy herbaceous perennial that tolerates full shade but does best in full sun or part shade
Native habitat: The Himalayan regions of Central and South Asia
Plant: Good border plant, use in beds, cottage gardens or underplant with roses and shrubs
Geranium maculatum aka wild, wood, or spotted geranium
Herbaceous perennial that will grow zones 3-8
Native habitat: deciduous woodlands of eastern North America
Plant: deciduous woodlands, upland forests, woodland edges, dappled meadows
Geranium phaeum aka dusky crane’s bill
Herbaceous perennial that tolerates full sun to shade
Native habitat: central, southern and western Europe.
Plant: Woodland, Hedgerow, Moist Alpine Meadows
Geranium sanguineum aka bloody cranesbill
Perennial that will grow in temperate and sub-arctic regions
Native habitat: Europe and western Asia
Plant: Meadow & fields, roadsides, man-made or disturb areas
The Hybrids
Blooming all summer, and able to withstand hot, dry summers, these tough plants are ideal for sunny borders in the Garden.
Interesting facts about Hardy Geraniums:
- Common name of Cranesbill comes from the seed pod which is said to resemble the beak of a crane. In fact, ‘geranos’ is Latin for “crane”
- Easy to care for, as low-maintenance plants that handle a wide variety of conditions.
- Resistant to pests, including slugs, snails, deer and rabbits.
- Use as ground-cover and filler in the Garden
- Grow easily in containers, rock wall plantings, and garden beds, and will happily fill in areas under and around other plants with no issue.
- Come in many colors, which includes white, blue, pink, purple, lavender/lilac, magenta and red.
- Attractive to pollinators: bees, butterflies and other pollinators love them!
- Some have aromatic foliage, which is described as minty, medicinal or malodorous (ever had to pull Stinky Bob?)
- Geraniums are considered radially symmetrical (actinomorphy) with five very similar petals. This differs from Pelargonium, which have 2 upper petals different from the 3 lower petals, which is called zygomorphic.
- Hardy geraniums symbolize love, peace, joy, health, fertility, and spirituality.
- Hardy geraniums are NOT edible, whereas Pelargonium have edible flowers and leaves. This includes the scented geranium, which are actually Pelargonium. Do not mix these up if using on cakes, desserts, salads, etc.!
- Geraniums are said to repel mosquitos, slugs, snails, cabbage worms, and Japanese beetles - something to experiment with in companion planting!
- Happily, Geraniums are easily divided, and shared with your empty garden beds and friends.
- Lastly, Geraniums are hardy, Pelargoniums are not.
Articles of Interest
The King of Camellias - Sidney Frazier
Conquering the Soil with Abra Lee
The Poetic Garden Legacy of the Harlem Renaissance
How a 12-year old boy made vanilla a global spice
Ice Cream Social with the 'Chocolate Botanist'
5 Historical Black Figures in Horticulture You Should Know
The Legacy of Dr. George Washington Carver
Anne Spencer House & Garden Museum
Uncovering Black Garden History with Abra Lee
Celebrating Black History Month in Horticulture
Woman of Firsts: Marie Clark Taylor
You Can Thank Black Horticulturist Booker T. Whately for your CSA
Garden Walks with Amy
Come Walk with me!
Starting in May, and going through September, October TBD*, I will lead a one-hour Garden Walk through our property, highlighting what is in bloom, about to bloom, and include any projects, and jobs in the works. This will be a great opportunity to have one-on-one time in a tangible, and beautiful setting, to ask Gardening questions in person, get plant names (make sure you write them down!) and pick Amy’s brain.
While the Garden Walk itself is limited to 1-hour, you may spend additional time in the Gardens at your leisure after the Walk is over, with the exception of any Garden sections that may be closed for projects and plant protection.
I prefer to keep groups like this on the smaller size, so that everyone feels included, and it’s easier to hear and stay together, to get as much out of our time together. With that in mind, when you sign-up, your fee is non-refundable as that enrollment is holding your space. You may transfer your spot in the event you are unable to make it, but we do not issue refunds for our events. In the event we have to cancel for unforeseen reasons, we will issue refunds or offer another, equally valuable opportunity. Garden walks will be held regardless of weather, so attendees should dress appropriately for being outside, rain or shine.
From the Heart
I’m a huge proponent for nutrient-dense, antioxidant packed meals, that are full of flavor. Bonus points when they are nice to look at! For Valentine’s Day, how about dishing up a beautiful bowl of homemade Borscht, made with in-season Beets, and great for heart health? Celebrating Holidays with loved ones needn’t be fussy, but it can always be fun, and with a tiny bit of planning, elevate the simply ordinary into extra-special.
This Borscht is vegetarian, but if you prefer a homemade bone broth, that’s an easy substitution, and can go vegan with a plant-based sour cream. I love it’s versatility, and how colorful the dish is. Served with a fresh green salad, throw in some sliced radishes, a nice loaf of crusty bread and voila! Dinner is served.
For the table, try one of these Hester & Cook paper table runners, which come in a variety of colors and patterns, and are a fun and easy way to quickly dress up a table for guests, or for yourself.
Fold up some inexpensive cloth napkins into either hearts or roses (or do both!) to dress up. I promise this doesn’t take an insurmountable amount of time, it’s so much fun,
and everyone will gasp with delight! If you’re new to napkin folding, type “Napkin folding Valentine’s Day” into the search bar in YouTube, and you will see loads of ideas. Here’s a few to get started:
If you’re looking for some seasonal blooms, that didn’t require a jumbo jet to fly from one part of the world to another, how about Amaryllis? Easily forced from bulbs, we’ve still got several blooming in the Greenhouse, and they make excellent, and beautiful cut flowers. Better yet, “shop” from your Garden and you’ll be amazed at what’s in bloom in winter.
November Edition: Forcing Amaryllis Bulbs
For dessert, try making a box of raspberry or strawberry jello with wine, and heavy whipping cream, then allowing to set in a mold. The cream layer will separate from the jello, and create this stunning 2-tone dessert. Or, you can simply make your favorite brownie recipe, from a box if you like, and once in the pan swirl in raspberry jam and bake to instructions. I’m planning to do this, and use heart shaped cookie cutters once the brownies are baked, then lightly dusting with powdered sugar, in the shape of a smaller heart if you fancy.
The Garden Shop
Upcoming Garden Shop Dates/Hours
At this point, I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of Highlander Delphiniums, Ailsa Craig Onions, and several other goodies I ordered, which will be made available to you once in hand. This includes Callicarpa, Ilex verticillata, Achillea and stunning Pansies. It looks like they will all be landing late February through March. As stated previously, the very popular and beautiful Highlander Delphiniums will be made available first to our Guests who shopped Bulbs with us, as a Thank You to your support for our little Garden Shop.
The Garden Shop is still Closed for the Season - we will reopen again in the Spring, when we have Tulips and other Blooms available. At this time, our scheduled opening will be Saturday, April 5th. We will open the Garden Shop from 10am - 2pm, and plan to open each Saturday in April, and the first 2 Saturday’s in May, the same hours. We will be closed the last 2 weeks of May for personal matters, and will reopen again end of May - June for our annual Peony Events. We will open the Shop during our Wreath making class on February 1st, for those who want to swing by, from 10-2.
As always, our online Shop is year-round, so if you are looking for the perfect Host/Hostess Gift, Holiday gifts, or just something for yourself, please check out our online Shop: Laughing Goat Online Shop
February Garden Tasks
- February 1: Paper Heart Wreath Craft
- February 3: Feed the Birds Day
- February 4: Stuffed Mushroom Day
- February 7: Send a Card to a Friend Day
- February 9: National Pizza Day
- February 14: Valentine’s Day
- February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day
- February 20: Love your Pets Day
- February 21: Mardi Gras
- February 28: Floral Design Day
- Prune Hellebore foliage out of your plants, leave emerging buds and flowering stems
- Late Feb-Mar is time to plant onions, we have Ailsa Craig starts arriving soon. I typically aim for March 1st, so start getting your onion bed(s) ready by weeding, then amending with compost and chicken manure.
- We start pulling Dahlia tubers from the Cooler, to wake up. It typically takes them a couple weeks, some longer, to “eye up” which is when the growth point starts to swell and become visible. Because we plant our tubers in tunnels, where they are protected from winter rains, we may do this a bit sooner than you feel comfortable, so do this when it makes the most sense for you.
- Prepare Garden Beds by weeding and amending with compost.
- Make your Vegetable and Fruit Garden Lists
- Organize seeds you are starting, by planting dates.
- Check all tools and equipment to make sure everything is sharp, clean, and working.
- Dig out perennial weeds, and make sure you get all the root bits out.
- Prune Wisteria, cutting back summer side shoots to 2-3 buds.
- Take notice of climbers that may need pruning before the end of the month, such as Group 2 Clematis.
- Cut back shrubs like Cornus and Salix, down to bases for new growth.
- Prune overwintered fuchsias back to 1-2 buds on each shoot.
- Prune winter-flowering Jasmine after flowering to encourage new growth for next year’s blooms.
- Trim winter-flowering heathers, to prevent leggy plants.
- Prune winter-flowering shrubs once colorful display is finished.
- Lift and divide snowdrops while still “in the green” in you want to move them or create more plants.
- Move any deciduous trees or shrubs that require repositioning, as long as soils are not frozen or waterlogged.
- Past Newsletter Access Here: Laughing Goat Garden Journal