| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2009 10:51 pm |
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Earlier this year, a friend Laura, my husband and I got a bee in our collective bonnet, so to speak. We decided we should become beekeepers. So we took a class. And we learned a lot. And we ordered some bees. And then we put them in the hive. We were thoroughly enamored with our small friends and for quite awhile they seemed to be happy. They seemed to doing everything exactly as they should be. They were growing cheerfully, we kept finding more eggs and larvae and honey. Everything looked like it should. So we gave them some more room. And then we gave them a honey super (a handy little box, smaller than the others, where bees can store honey, and beekeepers can later harvest it). I have to say at that point, I could almost taste the honey. Sometime around that time, our hive swarmed. We didn't see the swarm, and we didn't realize it had happened until we took a peek in the hive. And it looked suspiciously empty. Laura wrote about that here and she has some excellent photos of the bees. After a lot of discussion, and a lot of help from Jim at Beez Neez we decided out best course of action was to split up the hive. Our original hive had no queen that we could find, but it did have plenty of queen cells. So we knew that our hive was trying to raise a new queen. That, however, can be a tricky business, and it's not always successful in the coolish temperatures of Washington. So, we picked up a new queen, of the delightfully-named Old Soul variety. And then the weather refused to cooperate. It was windy. It was cold. Our very special bug lived for several days in Laura's pantry. In the meantime, the newbie beekeepers worried and wondered if we'd ever get her in the hive. Finally, on Friday, the weather behaved and we split our hives. We gave the queen her own box and left the original hive with their own box, and some queen cells. Maybe they would end up with a real queen, maybe they wouldn't. If they did, great, we'd get two hives. If not, no problem, we had our Old Soul queen to get things going. We congratulated ourselves on a successful operation and hoped for the best. And then Laura called me on Monday. The original hive had swarmed again. Bother. Laura fearlessly went out and collected the swarm. (I was at home sick, and am kinda bummed I missed seeing the swarm.) People speak of bees swarms with fear, but in fact a swarm of honey bees is really mellow. Laura assured me that all we heard about mellow swarms was actually true. They have nothing to defend, so placing them in a nice cozy box wasn't too complicated. For those of you who are counting, that means we had three hives. A lot for some newbie beekeepers. And then the hive swarmed again. And again. And again. All in one day. Laura caught three small swarms on Tuesday. She had to be rather resourceful and creative to make temporary home for all the bees. Jim at Beez Neez was really awesome, and helped us get the equipment we needed on very short notice. He even lent us some stuff to get us through. Ultimately, one of those swarms either flew off, or joined with another. Now, for those of you who are counting, that leaves us with five hives. So. That's were the bee saga is now. We will watch for the Old Soul or our original hive to have new eggs or larvae. And then we will probably combine some of the hives. The swarms are too small to make it on their own through a winter, so combining them should hopefully help our bees build a strong hive. Stand by. There will certainly be more stories to come as the bees constantly teach us new things. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!
Big show producer buys Northwest Flower & Garden Show Duane Kelly, the owner of the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, released this press release to The Herald. Watch Heraldnet.com for more details in the next 24 hours. After 21 Year Run, Founder Sells Nation’s Second-Largest Flower Show SEATTLE – Duane Kelly, founder of the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, announced today that he has reached an agreement to sell the show to Portland-based O’Loughlin Trade Shows, Inc. The family-owned company is the West’s largest producer of consumer trade shows, including the Portland Home and Garden Show and the Tacoma Home and Garden Show. “Gardeners in the Pacific Northwest are now assured that their flower show will continue to bloom,” said Kelly. The 2010 Northwest Flower & Garden Show is scheduled for February 3-7 at the Washington State Convention Center. Kelly said that he received several offers to purchase the Northwest Flower & Garden Show and selected the O’Loughlin offer because of their 60 years of show production experience, financial stability and commitment to the show’s high quality. “My brothers and our staff are proud to be acquiring the nation’s second largest flower show and continuing its high quality and world-class reputation,” said Bill O’Loughlin, president of O’Loughlin Trade Shows, a fourth generation family business with offices in Portland and Tacoma. “We are excited to add the Northwest Flower & Garden Show to our line-up of shows, including the region’s largest fall and spring home and garden events.” O’Loughlin Trade Shows veteran Jeff Swenson has been named show manager for the event. Two of the flower show’s key long-time employees, Garden and Feature Manager Cyle Eldred and Exhibits Manager Linda Knudsen, will be retained in the transition. Kelly will remain involved as a consultant. Kelly owned and produced both the Northwest and San Francisco Flower & Garden Shows. His shows earned an international reputation for the quality of the display gardens, seminars and commercial exhibits. In June Kelly sold the San Francisco show to a group of Bay Area businessmen. Terms of the sales of both shows were not disclosed. For more information on O’Loughlin Trade Shows, please visit www.otshows.com. What do you think of the news? Comment below or, to be included in a story about the sale, contact Sarah Jackson at sjackson@heraldnet.com or 425-339-3037. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!
Well, it doesn’t get much better than this: Sam, my 1-year-old kid, has fallen in love with sugar snap peas. His new favorite thing is to grab them off the vines and crunch them with his two bottom teeth. He also loves to eat the shelled peas. I can’t believe I was worried he’d be a junk food addict. Next year, I’m going to plant 1,000 peas. Of course, by then he’ll have found something else, right? Would you like to share some kids-in-the-garden photos? Send them to me here along with some information about what's going on in them, and I’ll post them. Also, here’s a cool blurb about a book on veggie gardening with kids and best crops to choose for fast results. Happy gardening, Parents! ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!
Jam packed gardening weekend Here some ideas to help you plan a great gardening weekend. I can't, however, help you choose between them. Everett Gardens of Merit Tour. This is a great gardening event, featuring six private gardens. It goes without saying all the gardens are cool. The self-guided tour is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. There is an associated plant sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the arboretum at 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett. Tickets are $10 and are available at J. Matheson and Pacific Stone Co. in Everett; Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville; Emery's Garden in Lynnwood; and at the arboretum on the day of the tour. For more information, call the arboretum's message line at 425-257-8597 with questions or visit the Web site. You can also read Sarah's story and get a sneak peak of one of the gardens. Camano Island Backyard Wildlife Habitat Garden Tour. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on Camano Island. The tour is free. Pick up maps at the Camano Multipurpose Center, 141 E. Camano Drive. For info call 360-387-1615. You can also read The Herald's story about the event. Whidbey Island Garden Tour. Yet another chance to get some inspiration from other gardeners' work, while enjoying the beauty of Whidbey Island. The tour is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children. Learn more about it at their Web site. Edible Ballard Garden Tour. A self-guided tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Ballard. Tickets are $10 per person or $20 for a carload. You can get tickets here or read more about it here. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!
Step 1: Find something in your garden that needs a lot of work. In my case, that was the used-to-be-white picket fence. Also, a garage with rotten siding clearly needed some attention. Step 2: Make some good friends. Invite them to come help you. Bribe them with food, drink and your eternal gratitude. Important: it helps a lot if you promise to come and do work at their house, too. Step 3: Assemble the needed tools. Paint brushes, paint, iPod player and lots of water for the fence painting. Power tools and various hammer-like devices for the garage. Step 4: Work hard all day. Be sure to include lots of chatting, gossiping, laughing and such while you work. Step 5: Finish the day with a meal. If your project took a lot of work, you probably want to include a really good meal. We decided this counted as really good. Step 6: Step back and admire your work. Wonder if you will ever get the paint off of your hands. (Answer: Not for several days.) E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!
I have a good problem in my garden. My scarlet runner beans are doing much better than I expected. My mother-in-law saved these seeds for me last year. I'd never actually seen them growing, so I had no idea how well they would do. When I first put them in the ground, it took ages for them to sprout. When they finally did, they were sluggish to grow. So I gave them a small trellis and figured it'd be good enough. Nope. Like some imitation of "Jack and the Beanstalk" my beans seemed to grow several feet overnight. Then I had a problem. My beans were firmly wrapped around the trellis. Yet it was clearly not enough room for them. The poor things were putting out long, wistful arms in search of some more support. I started brain storming ideas for how to add to my trellis. My problems were solved, though, at Sorticulture. I bought a set of Twisters, which I think are a brilliant idea. They were $25 for a box of three, complete with anchors to hold them in the soil. You have to supply some sort of pole for support. I used a pole meant for a hanging basket or birdfeeder. Before you put them up, they simply look like this. Now that they are up, my beans are happier and can resume climbing and growing. I can't wait to actually eat them. (I'm also glad that the Twisters collapse flat. It will make storage easier this winter.) While I'm waiting for beans, I'll enjoy the pretty flowers. If you want a set of your own Twister, keep an eye out nurseries, garden shows and festivals. Or you can order them online for about $25, plus shipping. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!
Backyard chickens video I'm seeing a trend among the chicken owners I know. Chicken keepers are almost always also gardeners. It's a logical connection for many reasons. Chicken manure makes great compost. People who like to grow their own food also probably enjoy fresh eggs from straight from the yard. Less obviously, chickens make excellent gardening companions. I get out into our garden more often because we have the ladies. Of course, I have to go out to give them feed and water. I usually take that time to give the garden a quick look. More importantly, though, the chickens are entertainment while I'm weeding, thinning or otherwise working. I love to toss weeds to them. The don't always eat the weeds, but they always come running to take a look. They will always eat the seedling lettuce, though. I planted it too thick this year, and they happily gobbled up the extras I tossed to them. The chickens are also fans of treats such as bagels. My coworker and housemate, Mark Mulligan, took this video of the girls. I like watching the girls from down on their level. If you turn on the sound, you can also hear their amusing little noises. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!
Don't forget about Sorticulture Sorticulture begins Friday, and runs through the weekend. Sorticulture is Everett's yearly festival celebrating the collision of gardening and art. It features artwork, gardening talks, live music and even a wine garden. Here's the basics you need to know: Legion Memorial Park 145 Alverson Blvd. at West Marine View Dr. Everett, Washington 98201 Friday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Parking is limited, so you'll probably want to park at Everett Community College and take the bus. If you buy too much to carry, you can come back with a car to pick up your treasures at the loading zone. Sarah Jackson wrote about one exhibitor, an Everett couple that makes some really cool pots. I'll be visiting Friday, and trying to practice some constraint. It's probably a good thing I have a small yard, it may keep me from going overboard. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment NEW! Flower show sold! The Northwest Flower & Garden Show, a 21-year-old tradition once thought dead for a lack of a buyer, has sold. Seattle-based show owner Duane Kelly said he received two serious offers, including one from a nonprofit horticultural organization and the other from an experienced show producer. “I chose the latter,” he said. “I have accepted a firm offer and the buyer is in the due diligence phase.” Kelly, who is leaving the garden show business to pursue his career as a playwright, said he will not publicly identify the buyer until the sale closes later this month. Though Kelly had long ago booked space at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center for the show from Feb. 3 to 7, 2010, nursery owners and regular show participants have been anxiously awaiting news of a sale for months. Planning of the 25 or more large-scale display gardens at the annual event is a process that typically starts in March, almost immediately after the February show. John Christianson of Christianson’s Nursery in Mount Vernon said his business had hoped to do a display garden in 2010 and still wants to do so, despite the time crunch. “I would be thrilled if there was a flower and garden show in 2010,” he said. “We’re still interested in doing a garden, but, boy, we’d certainly need lots of encouragement and information.” Christianson said Kelly and his staff’s support of the display garden creators is part of what made the show, which also includes about 300 retail vendors, exceptional. “They recognized that gardens were the show,” Christianson said. He hopes the new owners will do the same. Quickly. Kelly put his Seattle company, Salmon Bay Events, which also runs the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show, up for sale in October 2008. In February 2009, when a sale wasn’t forthcoming, he said both the company’s shows would wither and die if buyers did not come forward. He said then that the asking price for both shows, if sold as a package, would be between $1 million and $2 million. The sale of the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show closed in late May with San Francisco Garden Show LLC, a group that formed to purchase the event. Kelly did not disclose the sale price of that show or the Seattle-based show, but said the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, the larger of the two, is worth more. Salmon Bay Events’ garden shows are the second- and third-largest in the country, following only the Philadelphia Flower Show. Watch the show’s official Web site for updates. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!
I may be anthropomorphizing here, but I think our bees are happy. At the very least, they have a lot of babies, are making honey and are storing a lot of fascinating pollen. Laura, my husband and I did a hive check this weekend. All the signs looked good. We found eggs and larva, so our queen is obviously laying eggs. We found honey and pollen, so the workers are clearly doing their job. The bee population has grown enough that we added on a honey super, another layer of hive. Eventually, if all keeps going well, we will harvest the honey from this super. One of the highlights of the day was watching a brand new bee emerge. We actually saw her chewing her way out of her little cell. It was fascinating to see. After we finished with the hive, we sat for a bit, watching the bees come and go. Most of them came back so heavy with pollen they looked a little clumsy. Some bees were so coated they looked like they'd been rolling around in a bag of Dorritos. Or a rhododendron flower. I loved watching the bees, and it's satisfying to think of all the pollination they are doing while they're out and about. Gardeners owe a lot of thanks to bees. Good work, ladies, keep it up. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment NEW!
Snohomish County garden tours on Saturday and Sunday The weather looks like it's going to be perfect this weekend. If you'd like some time in the sun, here are some nice gardening events for you to enjoy. Cats ‘N Garden tour and plant sale This tour is a benefit for Purrfect Pals Cat Shelter. The plant sale is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the shelter. Purrfect Pals is at 230 McRae Road in Arlington. The garden tour and a leaf casting demonstration is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour tickets are $10. The garden tours are at Kayak Point Estates and Tulalip Shores. Tickets are $10. Go to their Web site for more information. 2009 Snohomish County Master Gardener garden tours These self-guided tours stretch throughout the summer on various Saturday. Each tour is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sustainable gardening is the emphasis this year. "Tours will include special emphasis on food production in the landscape, rain gardens, drought tolerant plantings, and other effective uses of plants to enhance and protect the environment," according to the Web site for the tours. If you would like to visit the gardens this weekend, you will need to have already purchased a ticket. If you haven't, the next tour will be on June 13. The tour booklets are $25 and can be purchased at the master gardener desk, WSU Extension Office, McCollum Park, 600 128th St. SE, Everett, or include a check for $25 plus three postage stamps and request by mail to SCMGF 2009 Tours, 18412 67th Ave. SE, Snohomish, WA 98296-8339; 425-338-2400. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment NEW! Sometimes, I'm not very smart. Example. When this warm weather hit, I started to resent the time spent watering the garden. I'd stand outside watering and complaining about "stupid wastes of time, mutter, mutter." At the same time, I'd lament the water running off where I didn't need it. I'll go ahead and assume you are a smarter gardener than me. The solution is obvious, right? Well, I can be slow, it took a few days to get my brain in order. I blame the sun. I now have a labor-saving soaker hose in my raised beds. It took a good amount of time in the sun (and a sunburn -- it's hard to put sunscreen on your own back) but it's all nicely laid out now. Now my plants -- and not the surrounding dirt -- are getting watered with minimal effort from me. Assuming, of course, I can remember to turn the water on and off. I have some problems. The soaker hose is not working as well in my front yard, where I have a few plants on a slope at the edge of my yard. I have to keep the hose very low, and leave it for a long time or else all of the water just runs off. Next year, I'll do something different with this space. I think I'll either build it up and level it off, or just plant some drought tolerant decorative plants there. A few tips I discovered while putting out my soaker hose:
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