Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
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Mason County WSU Master Gardeners are offering hands-on gardening workshops every second Saturday from April through November. The classes are from 10 a.m. to noon at the Master Gardener’s demonstration garden, Catalyst Park, at 799 W. Harvard Ave. in Shelton, and are led by Master Gardeners or other local gardening experts. Ergonomic Tools and Companion Planting are the topics for May 10 and, since the class runs from 10 a.m. to noon, you’ll have time to stop at the Master Gardener Plant Sale a...
Are you interested in adding plants to your landscape without adding additional costs to your budget? Learning to propagate plants can help you achieve that goal. Different propagation techniques are suited for different times of the year. Hardwood stem cuttings are ideal for this time of year because deciduous plants have dropped their leaves and the wood has entered dormancy. During this phase, the plant’s energy is focused on root development. Red-osier dogwood, ocean spray, osoberry, mock-orange, salmonberry and elderberries are examples o...
What is a weed? Plants such as dandelion, horsetail, cat’s ear, fireweed, Scotch broom and Himalayan blackberry all come to mind. Some of these, like dandelion, horsetail, cat’s ear and fireweed, are just “a plant out of place.” They are growing where we don’t want them, but they often aren’t causing harm. Some of the others listed, however, are plants that Washington has deemed noxious weeds because they are invasive, nonnative plants that threaten agricultural crops, local ecosystems,...
Only two flowers really represent Christmas: poinsettias and amaryllis. We can't grow these plants outside in our climate, but we can regrow them indoors. Instead of relegating these flowers to the compost heap when they finish blooming, save them for an encore appearance next year. Follow the following instructions to ensure your success. Amaryllis In my experience, amaryllis is easy to carry over into the next holiday season. After the flowers have faded, continue to grow the plant as you...
Most of the artichokes you find in grocery stores are grown in the central coastal valleys of California. The town of Castroville in Monterey County calls itself the "The Artichoke Capital of the World" and hosts a huge artichoke festival in June. But did you know you can grow artichokes successfully in Mason County? Growing them is relatively simple by following a few guidelines. They are perennials so it is important to grow them in a spot in your garden that has good drainage, loamy soil and...
Imagine taking home fresh tomatoes, lettuce, beets, peas and carrots that you grew yourself. If you are new to growing, lack garden space or have not gardened in a while, consider joining a community garden. It is amazing what you can learn to grow. A community garden is a place people gather to grow food. People can grow fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers. The community garden can be one plot or several individual plots. The land can be flat or have raised beds. Community gardens are in rural, suburban and urban areas. These sites can be at...
