Garden Editor Mike Irvine Sunset Magazine....
 

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Slather pine-cones with peanut butter, roll them in birdseed, and hang them in shrubs and trees or from hooks on a patio/terrace to provide wildlife with a tasty winter treat!

Go wild and use your imagination!

It depends on all how well you follow the helpful hints mentioned above. A quality plant in the right location that is well-cared for can stay in bloom for up to six months. But that is unusual. Most poinsettias will last for 4 to 6 weeks before the flowers begin to fall off.

If you don't have a garden space for this, I think it would look nice hanging on from your balcony/porch.

Order your seeds early......
 

Colin McCrate Pacific Northwest Magazine....

It is a long standing tradition among serious gardeners to sit around the kitchen table during the dark days of winter dreaming of the season to arrive.

Order early; taking action now will ensure that your favorite varieties don't sell out. The procrastinating gardener will find that by February or March many companies have extinguished the stock of popular varieties.

Sunset Magazine, humans are the only ones who enjoy a shower...........
 

Show your houseplants some TLC by rinising dust off the foliage in a lukewarm shower. After leaves dry, check for insects and treat if necessay.

Things we're learning about gardening...
 

A garden full of dazzling color in spring takes planning or so we are learning.

In late fall we picked up an assortment of bulbs. These are for spring-flowering plants that we were told required the cool season to put down roots.These have now been planted.

So far so good..........:wateringgarden:

Some of the best advice we've received so far........"If you are new to gardening, don't be too ambitious".

We were informed about seed storage viability and how seeds differ greatly by species, but because this will be such a small garden patch we'll only be purchasing a limited amount to begin with.

If anyone else out there is attempting a garden, hopefully by sharing these tips they will benefit you as well!

http://www.communitecture.net/upload...front_orig.jpg

Pistils Nursery 3811 N. Mississippi Ave Portland, Oregon

I have not been here personally, but they came highly recommended by our next door neighbor who has the most beautiful garden imaginable!
She spoke highly of their knowledgeable staff and having spoken to several of them I concur.

We have two areas, one to the right and the other to the left, off our patio where we hope to plant flowers on one and a small vegetable patch on the other come spring.

I had originally posted this in another thread but hopefully it'll be useful here too!

Tips to start vegetable seeds indoors....
 

Some vegetables, like tomatoes , eggplants and peppers , require a long growing season so most gardeners start seeds indoors in spring or purchase seedlings (transplants). Starting your own seeds is not only less expensive, it's also a fun, rewarding and a great way to get a jump start.

You can use recycled pots — yogurt containers, for example, but be sure to poke holes in the bottom. Plastic six-packs and flats are good choices and can be reused year after year. Biodegradable pots are fine, too. After sowing, set the containers in a warm location. On top of the refrigerator or near a radiator are usually good spots. Check pots every day.

As soon as seedlings emerge, place pots in a bright location.
A sunny window will do but supplemental fluorescent lights will give you the best results.

No doubt most seasoned gardeners know these tips, my tips are for novice like myself just starting out!

I failed to mention they had a wonderful website!

Climate suitability and compatibility for vegetables....
 

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The Pacific Northwest has a unique climate. The long cool growing season here makes many seed varieties unsuitable for this region.

I'll have to do some research to see what crops are best in this region.

Pest & disease resistance..............
 

One of the Pacific Northwest pervasive issues here is powdery mildew I've learned. This fungus loves the conditions of summer weather here and wreaks havoc on squash, peas, cucumbers and a number of other crops so I'll have to keep that in mind when making the final selections for the garden patch.

Many seed companies however will list crops with powdery-mildew with the acronym PM.

Tips on buying seeds etc etc............
 

Ask gardeners you trust to find out what companies they like and have had success with. A good source is your county extension office. Ask to speak with a Master Garden.

When we decided to try our hand at gardening we chatted up our next door neighbor who has quite the green thumb! She's given us so much information that being novice we wouldn't have a clue about.

If you're just starting out, may we suggest you do the same.

We tried this and the results were amazing! We hung the pine-cones near our carport and garage.

You will want to hang these up high enough that they don't attract rodents!

Tips I just got regarding transplanting vegetable seedlings..
 

Dig Holes First -- Your plants will thank you if you have their new home set up and ready to go before you pull them out of their containers. This allows for minimal transplant shock because the roots aren't over exposed to elements like the sun or wind.

Get 'Em Ready -- A few days before the big event give a boost of energy with some organic liquid fertilizer to help with any shock during transplanting. Give them a drink of water several hours before planting them into their permanent home.

Perfect Weather -- Perfect transplanting weather may not look like that you think it should; drizzly or overcast weather is the idea situation. If you don't see any in the forecast, plant them in the early morning when there's the least amount of sun for them to contend with.

Again, most veteran gardeners no doubt know all this, but for a novice like me they will come in very handy!

I know it's been a while since you asked about this, but if I come across any information while doing research I'll be happy to share.......:hangloose: