The festival runs April 1-30 of any given year and a quick look at the bloom map will tell you which of the fields are in full glory.  Bloom times are always subject to Mother Nature’s schedule, but you can usually find a couple fields of tulips in bloom in the middle of the month, but you best be quick because the blooms don’t last more than 2 weeks before they are cut, bulbs removed, and soil turned for another year.

I have many tulips blooming in my garden right now so I planned to write about them as the April Feature Plant for Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day.  But as I took photos I remembered sensory delights from the Tulip Festival not far from here and decided that those are the photos I’ll share.  How could I not?  Wow. Look at those gorgeous flowers.

How to Grow Tulips

• Tulip bulbs are planted in the fall: in early October before the first frost. Never fear, if you missed planting last fall you can buy potted tulips that are blooming.  Enjoy them in the pot and transplant into the garden when the leaves begin to yellow.
• Most tulips grow best in full sun in loose, rich soil with good drainage.  Make sure to plant bulbs where you have room for them to grow (i.e.:  enough height and space between other plantings).
• Plant bulbs in groups of 5 to 9.  Odd-numbered plantings in groups (as opposed to lines) present a more pleasing and natural display.
• Plant bulbs approximately 6” deep, with the pointy end facing up and the roots down.  Mark the area where you have planted, and cover with a layer of mulch such as leaves, peat moss, or pine needles to protect over winter.

To see the tulips head to the Skagit Valley in Washington state, 60 miles north of Seattle and 70 miles south of Vancouver, BC, Canada. Print off this map of as the fields don’t have addresses.  The location changes every year so this map is your best tool.  If you happen to miss the tulip fields in full bloom, you can also check out the tulip demonstration gardens at Tulip Town.

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I recently attended the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show that took place on March 21-25, 2012 at the San Mateo California event center.  With over 200 green exhibitors, garden displays, design seminars and cooking demonstrations, this event is one I will remember for years to come.  It was that spectacular!

Considering this was my first garden and flower show I’ve ever attended I had no idea what to expect.  As I stepped into the show entrance I was immediately overwhelmed with beauty, color and serenity, not only in the garden displays, but in the attendees faces. The mood of the show was calm, the lighting was perfect and the setting was relaxing.  One attendee described having a horticultural hangover after a day strolling through all the exhibits and I agree.

Thankfully I brought my camera and out of the hundreds of photos I took I’d like to show you some of my favorite parts of the show.  Enjoy!

Can’t you just picture yourself here enjoying a glass of wine?  I love the use of old windows in this cozy setting.

It’s not a fantasy…any garden can be green.  Do you have some rusty shovels or garden tools?  Hang them on a garden shed as shown here at the Hillbilly Hilton garden display…

I love the use of materials and design of this stacked stone wall.  Gorgeous.

How amazing is this vertical succulent garden?! This display was so popular I had to wait in line to snap a photo.

I had a blast and made some fun purchases at the NW Glass Gardens Booths. It was a complete joy to meet the fabulous owner and artist, Barbara Sanderson.  Here’s some of her work.

I love this concrete path filled with pebbles and the raised planter.

For more show information and inspiration check out North Coast Gardening.  Genevieve Schmidt has a wonderful blog post on Stone Work at the 2012 San Francisco Flower & Garden Show and she also lists several links to other blogs and articles that feature highlights and photos from the show.

Next year if you have the chance to attend The San Francisco Flower & Garden show it is scheduled to take place March 20-24, 2013.  Maybe I’ll get to see you there!

~ Nicky from Dirt and Martinis

Micro greens are different than sprouts because are grown in a soil or soil-like medium.  This is a time lapse photo journal of about 2 weeks growing time for my sunflower micro greens.

For more information on how to grow them check out this post on growing micro greens in a chicken dome.  For information on sprouting check out this post on sprouting mung beans and green peas in a mason jar or this post on my Fresh Life Automatic Sprouter.

Day 1

Day 5

Day 7

Day 15

Day 17

Hellebore blooms come in variety of colours including green, white, yellow, red, black, and many variations of pink and purple.  Double blooms or single, spotted or freckle-free, the best way to show off the flowers is to float them in a bowl of water.

In the garden the flower heads hang upside-down where their true beauty cannot be completely appreciated.

To propagate, divide the clumps after flowering, in early spring or late summer.  Hellebores can be grown from seed and will self-seed but do not come true to type.  With so much variety out there it’s quite fun to grow your own seedlings be surprised at what will pop up.

More information on Hellebores can be found at Hellebores.org.

For 2012 I will be featuring a different plant of the 15th of each month for Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day.  I have done more than a year of posting for #GBBD and as it’s not greatly different than in previous year’s at the same time it will allow me to show off some great blooms and favourite plants.

These magnificent birds are a beautiful sight to see, yet there are many warnings around that caution visitors so that the owls are protected.   Please, if you do go to see the owls, maintain a respectful distance from them.  If they start flying away, you have gone too close.  To ensure they are not disturbed view them only from the dyke (do not enter the marsh area), keep quiet, and don’t go as a large group or bring children or pets.  Stressing the owls will not only drive them away, but also threatens their survival.

That being said, seeing Snowy Owls and their habitat is a rare treat that anyone interested should get out and enjoy.  Bring binoculars, a telephoto lens and/or a spotting scope so you can get a good look at them from a distance.  For more information on the Snowies and where to find them, please check the updates at the end of this post.

For more information on Snowy Owls at Boundary Bay, please check out Anne Murray’s Nature Guides B.C. Blog.

According to Birding BC here is where the Snowies have been seen:

This has become a major SNOWY OWL flight year, with reports of up to 29
birds near the foot of 72nd Street on Boundary Bay, plus 5 or 6 more in the
Brunswick Point area of Delta. Birders and photographers are asked to
observe SNOWY OWL from a respectful distance, to make an effort not to
flush or frighten off the owls, and to speak to anyone who appears to be
crowding an owl too much.

News:

Global TV Report here.

CBC News Report here.

Update January 3, 2011

Reports are that there are still Snowy Owls in Boundary Bay, although numbers vary day by day.

Every year we like to hang a different wreath on our front door during the holidays.  We’ve amassed a collection of wreaths to match the holiday season trends of sparkly red berries, Christmas ornaments, peacock feathers, and square-shaped boxwood but my favorites are most certainly natural, fresh wreaths.

A fresh wreath makes for an individual work of art that smells as good as it looks.  Florists and garden centers are wonderful places to find one to suit any style but if you are feeling adventurous, a homemade wreath made with garden clippings or purchased greens, can be most gratifying.

Given the current popularity of lateral space gardening, there are supplies available for all sorts of wreath plantings. Evergreen, succulent, moss, and flower wreaths are beautiful micro gardens that will suit most any style or climate.  Care will vary depending on what type of planting you decide on, but many will last for months, if not years, with a couple weekly squirts of a spray bottle.

Here’s how to make one:

Materials:

• evergreen foliage
• grapevine wreath
• pruners
• gloves
• twine
• berries, twigs, pinecones, ribbons (optional)

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A special thanks to the wonderful neighbourhood gals who provided all the foliage, wine, and treats that go along with the annual wreath-making afternoon.

There are some really fascinating winter blooming plants that I have seen, like witch hazel ‘Diane‘ and white forsythia, but I wasn’t familiar with this one.  Turns out these aren’t the blooms at all but the fruit that has set seed. Regardless, the show was splendid and completely stood out in a sea of holiday green and red.

Here is some more info on it from Wikipedia:

“Euonymus europaeus grows to 3 to 6 m tall, rarely up to 10 m, with a stem up to 20 cm diameter. The leaves are opposite, and are lanceolate to elliptical, 3 to 8 cm long and 1-3 cm broad, with a finely serrated edge. In autumn they often show a beautiful bright red colour.

The hermaphrodite flowers are produced in late spring and are insect-pollinated; they are rather inconspicuous, small, yellowish green and grow in cymes of 3-8 together. The capsular fruit ripens in autumn, and is red to purple or pink in colour and approximately 1 to 1.5 cm wide. When ripe, the four lobes split open to reveal the orange seeds.

The fruit is poisonous, containing amongst other substances, the alkaloids theobromine and caffeine, as well as an extremely bitter terpene. Poisonings are more common in young children, who are enticed by the brightly-coloured fruits. Ingestion can result in liver and kidney damage and even death.”

But a harvest?  Why, yes!  Flowers were grown in our home garden, photographed in studio, then enlarged to mammoth proportions in order to showcase the magnificent details of each individual flower.  The photographs were digitally designed to be giclee printed on a beautiful linen-cotton canvas and sewn to perfection.  Little details like expensive hidden zipper closures and feather/down inserts were taking into account.  Then each one was hand washed, dried, and ironed, ready to go to it’s new home.

Was it easy?  Um, well, no.  There were months of prints and reprints to get just the right detail to each inch of fabric.  There was wash testing.  There was cuddle testing (that was a particularly tough one).  In the end, it was so worth it.  We think these soft but durable pillows are the perfect art for the home.  We hope that you agree!

Please visit the Garden Therapy Handmade store to check out all the designs, 9 in total.  Favoriting, liking, tweeting, or any other social media sharing would be greatly, greatly appreciated and happily returned in kind.  And thank you for your support.

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It’s now the season for picking wild mushrooms in the woods. Even though there are pros who make their living finding delicacies deep in the forest, beginners can grab some great hiking boots and a camera and go looking for interesting finds.

• If you are not absolutely certain that a mushroom is edible, don’t eat it.  Seriously.  There are many mushrooms that are deadly poisonous and it’s just not worth the risk.  Other may make you sick so it’s best to handle with caution.  It not even a good idea to touch mushrooms if you don’t know anything about them.
• Grab yourself a mushroom guide (we like National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms (National Audubon Society Field Guides) for our region) and/or a local human guide if you are lucky enough to find one.
• If you plan to pick edible mushrooms, check that it is allowed in your area.  Then practice good mushroom etiquette: Disturb as little as possible, carry mushrooms in a basket (not a plastic bag) to allow the spores to drop and repopulate, and gently cut the mushroom at the base as opposed to up-rooting the whole thing.  There are some mushrooms that you remove the full root so it’s best to read up before you head out.

Once you get out in the woods there a good chance you’ll get addicted to the fresh air, relaxing sounds, and visual delights.  Happy mushrooming!