Seattle Plant Exchange

Snoqualmie Valley Farms

There is nothing quite like visiting a farm for inspiration (and delicious, fresh produce!).  I particularly enjoy trekking out to Snoqualmie Valley, and found this handy list of farms that are open to the public:

http://www.snoqualmievalleytourism.com/images/Snoq%20Valley%20Farms%20Open%20to%20Public.pdf

I called the recording at Bybee Nims Farms yesterday, and they said the blueberry harvest will begin at the end of July this year. Can't wait!

Now on twitter

Seattle Plant Exchange is now on Twitter. If you have plants to exchange, you can always post info in the message boards (click to join)...or...now you can email me and I will "tweet" (is that the correct lingo?) to others.

http://twitter.com/spxtwit

Christina Asks for Assistance

I received an email from Christina today, who has two mystery plants to post for identification. Both are "volunteers" that came up in her garden.

 She explains, "Plant #1 has a VERY distinctive growing habit, and a tiny purple flower that closes in the evening:"

 

I am fairly certain Plant # 1 is spiderwort (Tradescantia bracteata).

Here are some additional spiderwort images via Google.

I found an informative article by Arthur Lee Jacobson, a lifelong Seattle resident and avid gardener/consultant/photographer about spiderwort (click to read).

I love spiderwort, and saw some white blooms in Ballard last weekend. I want to include some in my garden here (I had some on the East Coast - it thrived in a moist, shady space).

...

And now for Plant #2:

This resembles Queen Anne's lace (about which Arthur Lee Jacobson authored another well-researched, informative article).  Thoughts from others?

Here are some images via Google, too.

Do you have plants to trade?

If you're in or around Seattle, please feel free to email me photos and/or a description of the plants you have available (and a list of plants you're willing to exchange).

I can post photos for you, link to your public Picasa or Flickr albums...whatever.

We also use Meetup.com to help facilitate exchanges through an events calendar and message board. Joining is free -- click here to become a member.

The group consists of gardeners of ALL levels of experience.

Unlikely Garden Pest

Cucumber beetles and slugs have caused me headaches in the past (though I now know how to control both), and I anticipated encounters with some new garden pests here in Seattle. I didn't anticipate problems with the domesticated canine variety, however.

Yesterday, my neighbor released a surprise chuckle when she overheard me scolding Yuki, our white Alaskan malamute, for plucking ripe raspberries with his teeth.  I was particularly irritated he discovered them. Last year he reserved his ripe berry honing skills for the blackberry bushes.

Today, he discovered the sugar snap peas:
 

I think the picture says enough.  I just hope to recover a few pods for the humans in our household, and will add "dog-proofing peas" to my planning checklist for next year.

Oy!

Rock Garden Perennial

This lovely little plant is growing in relative abundance amidst the rock wall on the side of my house.  Can anyone identify this beautiful specimin?

NY Times Article: Urban Farming, a Bit Closer to the Sun

A friend and co-author of the Sustainable Seafood Blog sent me the following article:

Urban Farming, a Bit Closer to the Sun

From rooftop to rooftop, in DC, NYC and beyond, restaurants, schools, and other organizations are "greening" their urban outdoor spaces.  Reasons include agriculture, tax breaks, and drainage, to name a few.

Seattle is unique, in my opinion, because it seems comparatively progressive in urban farming practices. I've spotted chickens roaming under porches, goats grooming plants, and yards transformed to sustainable spaces. While I've noticed gorgeous city gardens - vegetable and ornamental - on the East Coast, I can't recall seeing a bee hive, chicken coop, or goat in any Philly, DC, NYC, Boston, or Baltimore back yards (which I'm sure ordinances prevent there). I am eager to participate in the Seattle Tilth Chicken Coop Tour next month, to learn more about urban farming practices in Seattle.

Also...if you know of some downtown Seattle examples of urban farming, please let me know. I'd love to feature some skyscraper stories here.

Name That Plant

I've enjoyed perusing Name That Plant, a blog by a landscape designer who resides here in the Pacific Northwest.

The blog has already helped me to identify a few plants, including the beautiful and fragrant anemone clematis (also Clematis montana).

When Tom & Cristine visited for the first Seattle Plant Exchange event, we all marveled at the climbing plant (which was chosen by the former homeowners to cover their handcrafted trellis), but didn't know what it was called.

I'm hoping cuttings will root well, as I'd be happy to share this beauty with others.  I'll be experimenting soon...

HIP Feeding The Soul

I received an email from John, a HIP team member, regarding an event this weekend.

Details are as follows:

The Hunger Intervention Program (HIP) is a non-profit serving Seattle's homeless community. HIP is hosting a garden tour of the Grand Prize winning garden in this year’s Pacific Northwest Gardens Competition. Ciscoe Morris is speaking, and there will be raffle prizes.

Saturday, July 18, 2009 • 4 – 7 p.m.
Advance sales $75 • $90 at the door
Proceeds Benefit Hunger Intervention Program (HIP)
Enchanting Woodway (Edmonds) estate
Northwest delicacies from Chef Maxime Bilet • Washington wines • Live music

Tickets can be purchased at www.hipfeedingthesoul.com.

Euphorbia?

Is this a type of Euphorbia?  This photo was taken a few weeks ago, but there are now beautiful yellow flowers adorning the top of burgundy stalks.