POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY
GARDENING

Did you know that one out of every three foods we eat rely on pollinators? Pollinators fertilize flowers, which then produce seeds, which you can find buried in that apple you eat or on the outside of the strawberry that you pick. In the non-edible world, pollinators help maintain a thriving ecosystem by continuing plant species and adding biodiversity.

As you garden, think about what you are doing in your garden to encourage bees, birds, and butterflies. And also to ensure that we aren't doing to anything detrimental to our flying and buzzing friends.

• Create a pollinator-friendly environment in your backyard. Plant flowers that encourage bees and birds, like asters, coneflowers, lavender, sunflowers, yarrow, etc. Have water dishes in a safe place for pollinators to get a drink.
• Check the labels of any insecticide, herbicide, or fungicide that you use. Be aware of spraying where the bees are and minimizing spray drift.
• Take care of the environment. Climate change not only affects humans.
• Come on in to pick up our list of pollinator friendly plants.

THANK YOU MOM!
 

Mother's Day is Sunday, May 10th. Are you stuck for ideas for your mom? Here is a short of list that might help you decide what to do. And, by the way, these are also ideas for your home and garden.

Oh and by the way, we are doing free deliveries on Bainbridge Island from May 8-10, so pick a gift and we'll get it to your mom!

• Gift a basket of color. (Yes, grocery stores have hanging baskets, but not as many or as beautiful as the ones we have! ☺ Or create your own basket, we have lots of flowers to compose a basket or container garden in your mom's favorite colors! Create your own or ask to create one for you. Give us your custom order before this Saturday at noon.
• Gift a basket of tomatoes, herbs, or veggies. For the practical mom, a collection of tomatoes and herbs is both pretty and delicious.
• Many of the rhododendrons on the property are in bloom right now and there's color all around.
• Indoors, there's a large selection of houseplants as well as a large selection of pots.
• Donna, of course, has great selection of unique Mother's Day cards.
• Candles always make a good gift. There's a nice selection of funky and fun candles!
• Entertaining outdoors? There's outdoor furniture, rain chains (because they're practical and look cool), and nice garden art.
• And take your mom out to dinner. We can't help with that, but just sayin'.

*One other note: That photo of Jenni and her son is pretty old now. We would use a newer photo but it's unlikely that Jenni would be able to lift her child at this point, and even less likely that she would while doing it...

THE NURSERY IS
FILLING WITH COLOR

This is probably a good time to drop by. April through June are peak times if you like color. Hanging baskets everywhere, shipments of flowers several times a week, a greenhouse full of tomatoes, veggies, herbs...you get the picture.

This is also a good time to shop for flowering trees and shrubs. Some of them are flowering or about flower. And, well, we like asymetrical branching, varigated leaves, and lush green evergreens, as much as a pot of geraniums.

Anyway, there's a lot of stuff coming in, and you should get it while you can. Some plants like Perfecto Mundo double reblooming azaleas are flying out of the nursery (we might be out of stock). It took a long time for Spring to get here, but now it's here!

Here are some other plants have a come in (and maybe left) lately:

• Clematis 'Snowdrift'
• Abelia 'Kaleidoscope'
• 'Magic Carpet' Spiraea
• Rockrose
• Dwarf hydrangeas, such as Seaside Serenade Crystal Cove
• Red and White Mandevillas
• Camass lilies
• Seaview Sunset Rhododendrons
• Autumn Moon Full Moon Japanese Maples

And so much more!