Dig IT Vera Johnson

Ciscoe Morris visits Village Green Perennial Nursery

2012-01-22T15:04:00.000-08:00

April 15th 1-2pm
Village Green Perennial Nursery
10223 26th Ave SW Seattle 98146

Oooh la la!
Join us for some springtime garden talk and plenty of laughter!

Spring flowering perennials...such as
Trillium
Hellebores
Anemone blanda
bleeding hearts
groundcover dogwood
hardy geraniums
and so much more!
plus soil amendments and fertilizers
Hendrickus organics
Yelm worm castings

Put this on your Calender now!
Street parking ONLY. This will be a full house!

Art camp, summer garden day camp

2012-01-22T14:42:00.000-08:00

Experience a whole new kind of Summer Art Camp! Not only will your children return home with beautiful handcrafted clay sculptures, miniature gardens, paintings and collages, they'll always remember spending three days in nature surrounded by trees, songbirds, chickens and flowers.

Our Garden Art Activities Include: Drawing, Painting with Watercolors, Sculpting with Clay, Collage, Sun-print, Wire Garden Ornament Sculpture, and Planting Miniature Gardens.

Get inspired by the colors, textures and sounds of Village Green!

Art and Gardening materials included.
Please pack a lunch and plan for the weather.
Ages 8 - 12
Wednesday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Session 1: July 11 - 13
Session 2: July 18 - 20
$250 per session, per child

Registration...
http://www.sarahbrowning.com/uploads/Garden_Art_Summer_Day_Camp_Registration_2012.pdf

Sheet mulching...it's easy!

2012-01-18T14:27:00.000-08:00

first season, a few shrubs

first year, no color on the house yet!

3rd year, good soil and worm poo!

This garden is south/east facing and is situated between 2 driveways. It's hot and dry.

I planted as many drough tolerant easy care plants as possible, and keep them mulched well.

Hellebores, winter's lovely gift

2012-01-17T18:17:00.000-08:00

I love Hellebores. I just love them!
I love the dark thick foliage that reminds me of a giant hand spread out, ready to point you in the direction of the hosta's and Trillium that are sleeping alongside somewhere, under the leaf littered loamy soil.

The flowers that emerge in January are tightly curled and look like small roses, with a giant star setting off the flower bud.
The colors range from cool lime greens to, dark, moody aubergines that fade to dusky antique shades, and everything in between.

A feast of tarts! Homeschool mom's dream!

2012-01-07T00:52:00.000-08:00

Here we are, back home in Seattle after the most amazing trip of my life. (the kids agree-theirs, too!)
Ok, let's get just to the point, the FOOD in France was beyond delicious.
We ate croissant every day- I mean- when in France do as they do! I'm not referring to the croissant we are used to here in Seattle, I'm talking about the light, flaky, buttery yumminess of a croissant. A slight hint of salt, as well as light mellow sweetness. Are you salivating yet?
I am. It's just not the same here. I am on the hunt for croissant and baguettes that even fall in the realm of 'good' here. I'm now officially a snob of some foods and beverages. I admit.
Espresso... being from Seattle, you'd think we would be a shoe in for a good shot of espresso. The rich creamy texture, somewhat frothy on the top. Low acid, full flavor. I'm now much more of a snob when it comes to a good shot of espresso. I have had some good coffee here...but it's harder to find.

I now share the satisfaction of a good cup of coffee with my teenage daughter. She quickly adapted to the rich creamy shots of espresso, having never been a coffee drinker. She found enjoyment in what she always thought was horribly bitter. She started with espresso, and now, at home, can't find the 'right flavor'....I understand her dilemma. We commiserate together, and search for that simple pleasure.

As we try to accept that we are home now, and things are the way they are here, we try to re-create the flavors at home. We want to continue to eat the foods we so enjoyed while we were in France.
We don't want to let the trip slip away, only hazy memories. Food really can capture a moment in time and inspire memories. So we cook, or more accurately... she bakes.
Baguettes are definitely in a category all alone. She keeps trying. Although the loaf is good, it has not achieved baguette status, but will make great sandwiches. She tries again. I love that she can just keep trying, and not get discouraged.
The entire inspiration for the trip was a 4 day cooking class in Agen, with Kate Hill and Kate McDermott (Art of the pie-Seattle). It was like being in the presence of not just one Julia Child, but 2 Julia's. Just like we've been told, it is true....the food was prepared as food should be... With love and BUTTER.
The essence of food. Slow food. Real food. Farm to table. The traditions and direct relationship of people with the land are things I knew in my heart, but somehow I have a much deeper understanding now, thanks to the Kate's.
We learned all manner of kitchen wisdom from the Kate's....salted butters, lard, cream, cheeses, foie gras, flour... all the way to butchery. The hot water and cold water crust recipes, as well as the tart recipe have proven to be the most used recipes in our repertoire right now, and I could not be more delighted! Sweet and savory options....Fear not the crusts, and go forward.
Johanna has been experimenting with her new love...Baking. Every mom's dream, a child who makes entire meals and dessert. To feed the whole family.
To perfect the tart was the first goal. And try as many times as we need to get it right. Scrumptious!!!

How lovely to open the fridge and see creme fraiche on the shelves, drawers full of Swiss chard in bright rainbow colors, red onions in piles in a bowl waiting for their turn to be caramelized. Pine nuts, kalamata olives....these are not foods I tire of easily. I feel great comfort and satisfaction in having them around, knowing we will combine them to create a savory feast.
It is true, once you taste something so good, there is no turning back.

This is a common thread in my life. I am living a life that is full, joyous and abundant. I have faced fears and am gaining my strength and courage in myself, there is no going back. I will continue to seek balance. We are meant to enjoy life, there is but one loaned to us for such a short time. Eat well.

Sheet mulching/deep mulch

2012-01-07T00:36:00.000-08:00

New Garden beds over existing lawn. Skill level...Easy.

Have you been wanting to start a garden in an area of your yard, but it feels too overwhelming and have no idea where to begin? Do you have too much lawn to mow? Want to get rid of some of it? Do you want to grow food and flowers? Growing perennial flowers is essential to healthy vegetable gardening, as the bees rely on the food source and the wasps that are attracted to the plants are a predator to many of the bugs that attack vegetable starts....more on that later! It's really quite easy, but it does take some effort. Are you in? Willing? Then let's go!!

Gather materials...this can take time, and that's ok.

Look around and see what you have to work with...rocks, concrete chunks from an old sidewalk or patio, wood rounds (preferably small diameter)
Cardboard with tape and staples removed
newspaper...no shiny pages, the chemicals in the inks are not what we want for the gardens.
Fallen leaves-there should be plenty in the neighborhood, ask your neighbors-leaves (not all leaves are equal-see below) are a treasure trove of nutrients. You can also get free
Wood chips from a tree service, call ahead and have a place ready where they can dump and you will get all the free mulch you can handle.
*fertilizers (organic) with high nitrogen, blood meal is great, bat guano, or fresh
chicken manure if you have chickens-we're not planting right away, so there's no risk of burning the plant roots.
I also LOVE to use KELP in this procedure, the soil benefits are spectacular.

1. Choose your location (think big, don't limit yourself!) I like to use a garden hose to determine the border and have a visual aid for what the garden will look like.

2. Mow or weed whack the area you've chosen (very, very short...leave the clippings for extra nitrogen)

3. lay a heavy dose of nitrogen (fertilizer and or manures) over the entire area you are planning to use as a garden, this will heat up under the layers we are about to put on the new garden and be ready in spring...patience.

4. On the chosen area for the new gardens, lay out cardboard so that it overlaps, or newspaper in thick layers, also overlapping, to prevent weeds from pushing up through. You are laying the paper or cardboard over the existing mowed lawn, and over the fertilizers.

5. Water the paper or cardboard to keep it from flying away. This is the stage where you can start heaping on the raked leaves. Birch, maple, oak, alder are the best leaves for this project.
You can also pile on any small branches and wood chips,( not bark a mulch....which is not a useful garden product, as it repels water....don't get me started) You want the top layer to be at least 6 inches deep, more if possible. This will get the underground soil food web something to work on over the winter.
Come spring, you will be amazed at how loose and workable the ground is. You can expect to be able to stick the shovel in, right into the paper/cardboard dig a hole, add fertilizer, soil amendment and plant whatever you were planning to put in the garden.

France...2011, more than a "vacation"

2011-11-24T02:09:00.000-08:00

This trip to France is far more than a vacation, this is a metaphorical 'smudging', removing all negative energy that I've been harnessed with, due to many emotional obstacles I've been blessed with, and have worked very hard to overcome.
Life is meant to be lived, so I'm rebirthing myself into the life I want.

The opportunity to travel to France, came up in May, and with zero chance of that happening (or so I had thought) I declined and with my Taurean bull like attitude, persued the fight with the Bank (Bank of America) to keep my house (as you may know was at risk of foresclosure) and buckled down to address the difficult, full time, stressful job of keeping my home and my business.

In 2010 my aunt Vera died at 98, my namesake, leaving a small inheritance to my mother, who had preceeded her in death, in 2009, which meant the money would go to her kids, me being one of three kids.
I made the decision NOT to use that small inheritance on my house. That would be completely insane! I choose to live my life to enjoy it and not be a slave to it.
After a difficult divorce and simultaniously losing my mom to cancer (3 wks from diagnosis to her death) then nearly losing my house, I figured my Aunt Vera was giving me a chance to experience something I had only ever dreamt of, so I took that chance, and guess what- I could not be happier about my decision.

So, here I am, sitting in a very small apartment in Montmarte, Paris, sipping coffee, baguette in hand and writing this blog post...and learning so much.

These last few years have given me many opportunities to learn about myself, my values, dreams, and perspective as to how we as Americans extend ourselves way beyond human ability, and put value on things that aren't as important as living happy, healthy lives, within a system that supports that. We are getting pretty loud about that now though, the voices are crying out saying NO MORE.

Anyway....more on that later....France.

Nice, Old town...
We arrive from the ariport by bus, dropped off in the neighborhood we were instructed to land...it's much later than we had planned, about 6pm. I have no phone and need to call Julienne to get the keys to our apt...ummmmm...what do I do?
We amble around, the streets are full of people all are speaking French and Nicoise, not English. We find a phone booth. Great it doesn't take coins, and the instructions are in French AND my phone card from the USA doesn't work. OK, think, and figure out something!!! I ask someone about a phone and am instructed to go to the phone shop, where I plan to get a sim card....ok, off we go, and the sim card is looking to cost about 50 euros....WOWSA!! The language barrier is enormously obvious now, and the clerk and I are not able to understand each other...fortunately a young man comes in (who wants to use the computer in this store, which is approximately 5 feet by 20 feet, houses phones in private stalls, computers and phone cards, not much more that I can tell) and is able to help me to decide to just use the phone in the phone stall. Skip the sim card and spend ,90 to make the call. WHEW, saved a bunch of money!!!

Unbelievably narrow streets loaded with cafes, charcuteries, fromageries, patisseries, boulangeries, and so many shops. Cars and scooters wizzing by...dodging pedestrians and bikes, narrowly missing them by not more than a half meter, apparently that's enough. This takes a bit of getting used to and feels completely foreign to our way of pedestrian right of way/street rules...it's a whole different game over here- Driving- but more on that later.
Gorgeous. We never left Old Nice (to visit other parts of Nice, anyway)
The buildings are colorful, each having it's own style of ironwork. All of the carvings above the doorways are charming, with giant archways, seemingly ancient wooden doors. Each window above with clean laundry hanging out to dry on retractable clothes lines.
The cobblestone streets that wind down through the buildings are tightly packed with hundreds of bakeries selling fresh baguettes, croisant, paninis, and the kinds of sweets that I've only ever seen in magazines.
The food is glorious.
We are offered help each time we look lost, which is often, since we stand in the streets looking at maps, we are often the confused Americans in need of direction...People are very friendly and helpful, we are grateful.
The apt we rented for CHEAP on Airbnb.com is very small, and super efficient. Julienne, the owner, was enormously helpful in helping us get our bearings on the area.

Fall is, fall back, falling

2011-11-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

Fall

lovely colors with the turning of the leaves as they make the decent towards the ground, only to be remade into useful soil, food for the soil to be fed to the plants.

Beautiful sunsets over the mountains, truly breathtaking at times... to remind us of just one of the many reasons we choose to live here.

Cooler temperatures.

we are lucky to have long growing seasons here in the Northwest...we can plant food to eat here year round

Harvest time for many fruits and root vegetables

Fall is actually the best time to get out in the garden and make it what you really want.

The trees are changing color as are some perennials, which creates an entirely new opportunity to "paint your picture"

Dig and divide spring blooming perennials

plant shrubs, trees and perennials

I am not a tidy gardener, so leaves do not get raked up in my yard, instead they get raked into the beds of my garden to be eaten by the creatures who live in and feed my soil, the soil food web...worms, mycorhizzae, beneficial organisms that enrich my soil, think of the woods and all the loose, loamy soil that exists there....no one rakes it up, it breaks down and refeeds itself.

I love the way the garden looks and feels at this time of year. I like to walk through and notice the many ways my garden is changing, in color and in form, with spring plants that have gone dormant to make way for the thugs of summer, the toughies who can take the little water I will allow them, but please me with all the beauty and color they are meant to display, as if to say...it's my job, I must do this, Enjoy!

The bird activity is at a level of excitement that can only be explained by the amount of food and berries available. The sunny days we are blessed with bring generous amounts of song birds out to serenade even the surliest of gardeners.

I am stopped in my tracks of hurry and flurry in the garden to get to the tasks at hand....'what is that song bird, who sings of such joy and relaxed delight?' The flittering little one whom I still have yet to see, hides and sings, to bring me to my own place of peace and joy in the garden of my own life.

So, what to be doing in the garden?

Prune out dead wood on old fashioned roses...these are different than modern roses, old Rose does not mean it's been in the ground a long time...it means it's OLD, as in from 1864 or prior. These old roses are the ones that blooms in abandoned lots, take no real care whatsoever, aside from proper planting, and summer water, if you please???...then you can essentially leave them be.

Prune out dead wood on shrubs and trees

Divide spring flowering herbacious perennials, replant or pot up

Dig out unwanted thugs in the garden, and weed

Move bigger shrubs if desired, by root pruning and lifting to deposit in the prepared new location.

Create new gardens for next year

Mulch exposed soils with homemade compost, wood chips, manures, leaves, straw or in vegetable gardens, sow cover crops. Having read Ruth Stout, I am addicted to mulch, period.

Rake leaves from deciduous trees into a pile to make leaf compost or into gardens to break down...maple, alder and birch are the best for this type of practice....

Look for edible mushrooms in the gardens...shaggy manes, Boletus and more (know what you are looking for!! Do not eat if you are not sure.)

More garden talk to come next week...

to be continued....

Day of the dead Sand sculpting

2011-10-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

        Carlos Espinoza will be creating a 3 dimensional sand sculpture in the lower dirveway at
            Village Green Perennial Nursery on Sat October 29th. Join us in this celebration.
              Sunday will be dedicated to offerings and celebration of those who have passed.

New email address

2011-09-28T12:46:00.000-07:00

I'm in the middle of a huge revamp, email, website and more....
My new permanent email address will be available soon... please use
vjvillagegreen7@gmail.com in the meantime
Thank you!

sorry for any and all confusion-this is a huge makeover.

Wine tasting

2011-09-25T09:55:00.000-07:00

We are 'branching out...'
Check it out!!!
Sodovino... local Award winning winery will be hosting a Wine tasting here at Village Green

http://sodovino.com/Press.aspx

Join us for a tasting on the 1st at 3pm.

Live music:
Harpist: Johanna
Trained in classical and Scottish Irish traditional music.
She plays weddings....just saying.

Hours

Weds-Friday 11-6

Sat/Sunday 10-4:30

FACEBOOK

check out our Blog

Village Green Perennial Nursery
10223 26th Ave SW Seattle Wa. 98146

206-767-7735

Southwest community center is at risk of closing!!!

2011-09-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

Homeschoolers!!! community members!!!

The time to act is NOW if we want to save SWCC!!

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Take 5 minutes of your time TODAY and:
*Write to the members of the CityCouncil: http://www.seattle.gov/council/guide.htm

Before September 26th, have each member of your family (including your kids) write a letter or email. Let's flood city council members' offices with stories of how SWCC has positively impacted the lives of people and families in our community.

*Contact the Mayor: http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/contact.htm

*Join us on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Southwest-Community-Center/126477817454076?sk=wall

Create a stronger impact and:

* Attend a City Council Meeting and let yourvoice be heard
There will be a public hearing this Thursday, September 22nd at 9am. It will be held at City Hall (600 4th Ave.) Plan to attend if at all possible. This will be our best opportunity to make our case before the council prior to the Mayor's budget presentation. Consider attending with signs and/or speaking for three minutes.

*Attend the Brainstorming Meeting for our Family Learning Program
We are organizing a brainstorming meeting to map out our plans for the future of our homeschooling program on the morning of October 30th. Details will follow once confirmed.

*Ask everyone you know to join, share and spread the news. We hope to rapidly spread awareness of these proposed changes so we can fight in numbers. Tell all your friends (even those who may have never used SWCC) what an asset the center is to our community.

Just think of what a fantastic civics lesson this could all be for all our kids! Let's show them that we CAN make a difference.

Japanese Maples

2011-09-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

Fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs...
We have a diverse collection of Japanes maple trees to choose from
The vibrant fall color helps in choosong the Japanes Maple that would make a nice complement to you yard and garden.

Shop early for best selection
Dwarf varieties and named cultivars available

Hours

Weds-Friday 11-6

Sat/Sunday 10-4:30

FACEBOOK

Village Green Perennial Nursery

10223 26th Ave SW Seattle Wa. 98146

206-767-7735

Garden clubs Welcome!

2011-09-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

We are happy to welcome Garden clubs and Tour groups.
Walk through 2 acres of gardens, with many collectors plants, ancient Rodedenrons, mature Paper Birch trees, old roses and much more.
We are happy to work with your group.

Please call for an appointement.
206-767-7735
ask for Vera

Soil soup/soil building

2011-09-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

Why use it?
Beneficial bacteria are grown in Soil Soup by providing air while the tea brews. The billions of bacteria that live in the aerobic compost tea will live on leaf surfaces and eat detrimental fungi that cause disease.They will also thrive in the top 4"-6" of soil (where the air is!) and break down solid organic matter into components that the plants can use. Soil Soup is AWESOME! It is the fastest way to improve soil tilth that I have ever experienced, and I am completely biased. :) I appreciate success!

SoilSoup greatly improves the tilth of the soil by infusing it with billions of microbes to help meet the carbon needs of your garden.
Why are microbes so important?
• They form a complex symbiotic relationship with roots
• Microbes trap nitrogen and make it plant available
• They convert rocks and clay into plant available fertilizer
• They make hormones and other chemical agents required for growth
• They degrade harmful manmade chemicals left in the soil
• They produce glue like material that improves soil structure and increases water retention.

Fruit trees/berries

2011-09-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

Columnar apple
Asian pear
Fig trees (dwarf- can be grown in a container)
Blueberries
Aronia Berry
Elderberries
Huckleberries- red
Evergreen hucks- blue
Gooseberries

Herbs...
Sage
Lovage
Valerian
Pineapple
Thyme
Oregano
Hyssop
Angelica

Fall vegetables plant now for fall/winter harvest....
kale
lettuce
onions
leeks
cabbage

Hendrikus organic fertilizers

2011-09-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

Hendrikus organic fertilizers

StartRight Organic Plant Starter

StartRight is a balanced combination of endo-ecto mycorrhizae in a bio-stimulant nutrient base to assist new plants and transplants in their development of root systems and new hair roots. The name "Mycorrhizae" is Greek for fungus roots and it describes the mutually beneficial symbioses between these soil fungi and plant roots. A teaspoon of healthy soil can contain several miles of mycorrhizal filaments that play a fundamental role in establishing and extending root systems, improving plant nutrient and water uptake, disease resistance and plant growth, while reducing transplant shock and drought stress. StartRight re-establishes these essential soil fungi for healthy plant development.

Organic fertilizers

2011-09-15T09:44:00.000-07:00

Hendrikus fertilizers...
Organibloom....medicinal herbs LOVE this stuff!!!
Also...
HuMagic is a rich, dark, natural humate, mined from a sole organic deposit of carbon-rich humate from both vegetative & marine compounds. This sole mine produces one of the finest humates on the market, rich in active, available humic and fulvic acids, organic carbon & natural trace elements. Used regularly HuMagic decreases your need for fertilizers as it enhances your soil's beneficial biology and ability to uptake nutrients.

Humic substances are the backbone of organic matter in soils and play an important role in soil fertility.
Physically: they function to improve soil structure, workability, porosity, water holding capacity, cation and anion exchange.
Biologically: they enhance the activities of beneficial micro-organisms, stimulating their growth and proliferation; increase plant cell energy and accelerate cell division; stimulate plant enzymes; increase root system development; and aid in photosynthesis.
Chemically: they chelate beneficial inorganic plant nutrients, especially iron and phosphorus into a stable soluble form available to plants; protect plants from harmful elements by making them insoluble.
Nutritionally: they improve water uptake by plants; enhance uptake of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur, benefitting micro-organisms that in turn benefit the plants. They act as catalysts for fertilizer to increase nutrition in plant tissues.

Time to fertilize for fall...
Organic vegetable starts are here!

Dig IT Vera Johnson: Fall gardening

2011-09-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

Dig IT Vera Johnson: Fall gardening

Fall gardening

2011-09-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

Hellebores,

Evergreen huckleberriess,

Red huckleberries,

madronas,

cattails,

Red flowering currant

Bunchberry

Wintergreen

plus- fall veggies and more...on the way

Fall Vegetables

2011-09-10T22:56:00.000-07:00

Organic fall veggies on the way
leeks
broccoli
cabbage
cauliflower
beets
swiss chard
lettuce- a few varieties
onions

Hendrikus Organic Fertilizer

2011-08-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

Hendrikus organic fertilizers
this is the only fertilizer we carry, as recommended by Ciscoe Morris himself!
specially formulated blends for specific applications- I use it in all my transplnts...so you are taking some home with each plant grown here!

Soil Soup

2011-08-26T20:16:00.000-07:00

We will have soil soup tea for sale on Sunday the 28th
$10 a gallon

Beneficial bacteria are grown in Soil Soup by providing air while the tea brews. The billions of bacteria that live in the aerobic compost tea will live on leaf surfaces and eat detrimental fungi that cause disease.They will also thrive i...n the top 4"-6" of soil (where the air is!) and break down solid organic matter into components that the plants can use. Soil Soup is AWESOME!

It is the fastest way to improve soil tilth that I have ever experienced, and I am completely biased. :) I appreciate success!

Harvest your garlic, eat your beans

2011-08-26T11:27:00.000-07:00

if the tops of your garlic are turning brown and dying back...
they are ready to harvest

beets and root vegetables are ready to start harvesting, small harvests...unless you are canning/storing
beans are ready and delicious steamed or stir fried
potatoes, dig only what you need, leave them in the ground...
they taste oh so buttery and delicious!

now is the time to keep things well watered-

if you have lots of green tomatoes-the larger varieties(not cherries) hold off on water to encourage them to start changing color...

you can sow seeds of root veggies for fall crops, and lettuces, kale and spinach

We are getting lettuce and kale starts going, they will be ready in a few weeks!

Also, best time to prune old rose varieties...old rose varieties predate 1864...very different from 'in the ground for 20 years'
Please ask questions!

Black leaved plants

2011-08-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

Albizia Summer chocolate-ooooweee!!

That is a gorgeous tree!

geranium cheryl's shadow

Donations - call it what you like

2011-08-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

Hi all,
This is not any easy thing to do...see, I'm used to being the one to offer help to others, not the other way around, it's not my style to ask for help...
it's being brought to my attention in a rather unappealing way, that I better shift my ability to ask for and accept help.

Yes, I put a 'Donation' button on my Blog...
What's wrong with wanting to keep my house, business and community

space…
I want to continue to gather people together in a beautiful environment,
share this beautiful piece of property with those who can appreciate it,
continue to offer garden advice/plant suggestions, yet encourage budding gardeners to empower themselves with information and not be afraid to try/trust and learn, AND encourage sustainability -remember if we forget to support local and independent, we lose them to the big boxes!
offer organic plants, soil conditioners, educate about soils, and fertilizers,
encourage earth friendly garden practices,
host classes of many kids, garden, herbal, food and Art
offer a space for local creatives to launch their talents?
And let's not forget- this is a natural choice for Weddings.
Weddings are something I've wanted to host here since the day I bought this beautiful land and began renovating it…
adding more gardens, outbuildings, removing invasive plants and committing myself to this community,
We participate in White Center beautification projects, donate to local schools for fundraisers, donate to the local food banks, attend community events, and all manner of support for a community I've chosen to call my home.
I'm not one to ever toot my own horn, however, this particular event in my life is certainly challenging me to actually stop and look at my own cause. I need the support of my community to stay here.
I will leave here if that is what it comes down to, and feel certain I will have no problem finding a place for myself outside of White Center and Village Green, but I do not want to leave.
I can't even stand the thought of this property becoming 64 condominiums.

So, I am reaching out to the community, asking for donations, possible investors or any other sort of financial help that anyone can possibly offer.
I am up against Dragons and am not sure I have a large enough sword. I have felt the support from the community and will continue to bring light to this foreclosure issue for it is destroying the lives of so many!

We all know we are in an economic crises- I'm obviously not the only one, but the banks are not even giving these so called modifications, people are suffering emotionally and financially, which puts way too much strain on healthy living of any real kind.

Wedding venue West Seattle

2011-08-20T12:17:00.001-07:00

"On site Professional Harpist" $300 for prelude, ceremony and postlude
wedding march, vows, Postlude is 20 minutes or so after recessional as people get up and move around

Wedding Rental

Wedding party may choose caterer of choice.
Wedding party provides tables, chairs, tents and linens.
Wedding party is responsible for set up before, and clean up after the event.
We will have limited garbage containers/bags available.
Village Green does have basic indoor facilities-bathroom and sink. There is a small area for dressing.
We can accommodate 100-150 guests

3 hour rate is $1500 Saturday/Sunday 10am-1pm, 2-5pm, 6-9pm
6 hour rate is $2400 Saturday/Sunday Rental from 10am-3 or 4-9pm
$100 each additional hour can be arranged
This time includes set up and take down.
Reception fees vary.

$1500.00 deposit- upon removal and clean up of all wedding party items.
This acts as a damage deposit, as well.
Flowers and catering available upon request.
'Corkage fee' if providing your own flowers and catering.

Photos only.$75 hour for use fee

Fruit trees

2011-08-20T12:15:00.000-07:00

All fruit trees and shrubs 50% off this weekend!

apples
pears
blueberries
Aronia berries
Gooseberries...
I ate the BEST gooseberry pie made by Kate McDermott -"Art of the Pie"
Seriously...she is someone I want in my life, forever!
Kate's pies are truly edible art!

Seattle times article

2011-07-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

Nicole Brodeur

Alone in a battle over her loan

Vera Johnson, 42, the owner of the Village Green Perennial Nursery in West Seattle, is on the brink of losing her home and her business.

Nicole Brodeur

Seattle Times staff columnist

Vera Johnson answered the door and grimaced.
Nothing personal, she told me. Huge migraine.
"I think it's the stress," Johnson said, sitting back down on the couch to tell me her story. It's a private thing, an individual drama, but one I have heard time and again over the past few years.
Johnson, 42, the owner of the Village Green Perennial Nursery in West Seattle, is on the brink of losing her home and her business.
That means this two-acre oasis of dirt and green and blooms and bees, of Northwest natives and old-fashioned roses that have inspired a Full Tilt ice-cream flavor, could become a casualty.
It's not just a retail operation, but Johnson's home, and the home base for a near-decade of good deeds: donated veggie starts to the White Center Food Bank, school fundraisers, free gardening classes for children and adults, and music on the stage in the back yard.
"It's such a nightmare," Johnson said, and then did her best to give me the short version.
Her mother died. Her marriage fell apart. Her household income went down by $140,000 a year, and then her support payments were reduced by two-thirds.
Johnson decided to seek a loan modification on her Bank of America mortgage.
That was in March 2010.
The 16 months since, Johnson has searched and scrambled and sat on hold. She has explained her situation to one loan officer, then another who was sitting in the same office, but may as well have been in another country. She has faxed and FedExed documents once, twice, three times, had partial payments rejected and even watched a loan officer at her own Bank of America branch sit on hold for an hour and get nowhere.
Apparently, Johnson has to be in deeper trouble before the bank will toss her a rope. She wonders, though, if they are just setting her up to lose the place.
Last Monday, Johnson received a "Notice of intent to accelerate" from Bank of America. The bottom line: She would lose her house if she didn't come up with $14,888.99 by Aug. 6.
"I don't think they're really looking at what's happening in the economy," she said. "And I don't think that one more house in foreclosure is going to help."
She's probably right: The Treasury Department estimates there will be between 8 million and 13 million foreclosures by 2012.
I called Bank of America, told them what Johnson had told me. Within 20 minutes of my call, I received three emails from the bank, confirming Johnson's address and telling me they would be researching her case. By noon the next day, another email saying that Johnson is not in foreclosure, that the bank has attempted "several times" to help her with a modification, but that the "very specific" documentation has not been completed — including a quitclaim deed removing Johnson's ex-husband from the loan.
Johnson disputed this, saying she faxed the necessary documents at the end of June.
Four hours later, I talked to the bank's local spokeswoman, Britney Sheehan. The bank had the quitclaim deed they said Johnson hadn't sent.
Now do you get what people are going through? I asked.
"Yeah, I do understand," Sheehan said. "That's why we're leading with an apology."
The bank said it would have an associate from its new customer-assistance center in Seattle contact Johnson to "meet face to face" and walk her through the process. One single, local rep.
Other Bank of America customers may do the same, Sheehan said, whether it's for a mortgage, a credit card or a car loan. The center can be reached at 206-358-4338. (I tried it; they answered on the first ring.)
When this story first broke in the West Seattle Blog, one commenter called Johnson "the George Bailey of West Seattle," referring to the protagonist of "It's a Wonderful Life." Johnson watched the movie again to see the scene where people pour in from all over to fill up a basket of cash to help Bailey save his savings and loan.
"That would momentarily please the Bank of America," Johnson said, if she was so lucky. "But I don't see how paying them is going to encourage them to give me a loan modification. It will just continue."
In the meantime — and as is her way — Johnson is reaching out. At 4 p.m. on Sunday, she will host the first meeting of Homeowners Facing Foreclosure, a support group for others caught in the mortgage morass. It's at the nursery, 10223 26th Ave. S.W., and anyone can attend.
"I have no idea what it's going to look like, no answers for anyone," Johnson said. "It's just a way for people to get together and share resources and our stories and hopefully, move toward a solution.
"It takes people working together, rather than alone."
Nicole Brodeur's column appears Tuesday and Friday. Reach her at 206-464-2334 or nbrodeur@seattletimes.com.
Let's see how it goes.

Seattle Magazine, Urban Safari?

2011-07-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

We made the cut.

White Center got an honorable mention!

Seattle magazine

Urban Safari: White Center

Once a mishmash of constantly revolving storefronts, White Center, in West Seattle now teems with an eclectic mix of cultures and family-owned businesses.

By: Megan Phillips | August 2011 | FROM THE PRINT EDITION

Old-school charm on the streets of White Center

Image Credit: Hayley Young

EAT + DRINK
For a pint and a small plate, head to newcomer Company Bar, pictured right, (9608 16th Ave. SW; 206.257.1162) for nibbles crafted by co-owner Jesse Lovell, including salt cod fritters ($6) and chickpea fries ($5).
Or, try Stefanie and Mike Albaeck’s Proletariat Pizza (9622 16th Ave. SW; 206.432.9765; proletariatpizza.com) for their organic, 18-inch thin-crust creations.
Unleash your inner caveman with finger-lickin’ good ribs, brisket and links at Uncle Mike's Superlicious Barbecue (9640 16th Ave. SW; 206.588.2713; unclemikesbbq.com).
Visit Full Tilt Ice Cream (9629 16th Ave. SW; 206.767.4811; fulltilticecream.com) and choose from creative flavors like the new “antique rose,” crafted with rose petals from nearby Village Green Nursery.
3.14 Bakery (9602 16th Ave. SW; 206.420.4784; 314bakery.blogspot.com) offers home-style baked goods with a twist (cake balls, anyone?).
A stone’s throw away is Salvadorean Bakery (1719 SW Roxbury St.; 206.762.4064; thesalvadoreanbakery.com), where the authentic pupusas are locally renowned.
For your next big party, rent a keg full of locally brewed beer from Big Al Brewery (9832 14th Ave. SW; 206.453.4487; bigalbrewing.com).

GLIDE + GARDEN
Family skate spot Southgate Roller rink (9646 17th Ave. SW; 206.707.6949; southgaterollerrink.com) has been revamped and restored by local Josh Rhoads and his family. (The rink, which was built in 1937, closed in 2005 due to fire damage.) Attend one of the beginning skate classes and you’ll be rollin’ like a Rat City Roller Girl in no time.
Quaint, family-owned Village Green Perennial Nursery, pictured above, (10223 26th Ave. SW; 206.767.7735; villagegreenperennialnursery.com) is a garden oasis specializing in herbaceous perennials.

SIP + SHOP
Locals congregate at Dubsea Coffee (9910 Eighth Ave. SW; 206.708.6806; dubseacoffee.com) to sip Sibelle Nguyen’s fresh Stumptown joe.
Stock up on specialty goods at family-owned bodegas: Lee's Produce(9435 Delridge Way SW; 206.762.5220) carries a killer house-made kimchi; Hispanic grocery Carniceria El Paisano (9629 15th Ave. SW; 206.767.5526) sells delicious jalapeño-laden tamales for only a buck each.Seattle Magazine

Ice cream in the Garden

2011-07-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

Full Tilt is coming to the garden again!
Come and celebrate our 8th year!
What flavor will it be?
This is lways a fun time for the whole family.
A community event, everyone welcome.

We will be hosting live music again...will let you know soon who will be tickling our fancy with toe tapping rhythms.

When August 13th 1pm
Village Green Perennial Nursery
10223 26th Ave SW
Seattle Wa 98146
donations accepted

Bank of America- stop foreclosure

2011-07-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

Bank of America- stop foreclosure

sign this petition!

http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-foreclosure-2

I have been trying for 17 months to get a loan modification with Bank of America, providing endless copies and resubmitting paperwork repeatedly.

They even went so far as to 'block' my account to prevent any payments to make sure my account went into late payment so as to 'help jump start the load mod action' as they put it! Is that legal?

As a business owner and well respected member of the community, I am ready to make this issue public.

thank you!

Vera

West Seattle In Motion program

2011-07-07T12:01:00.001-07:00

West Seattle feels like a small town in many ways. This summer, neighbors can get to know more about their West Seattle town by getting out of their cars a little more often. King County Metro and local partners invite you to participate in West Seattle In Motion.

Join your neighbors and try parking your car and getting In Motion!

Pledge to walk, cycle, take transit or share a ride for at least two trips a week this summer (trust us- you’ll get addicted). You’ll receive West Seattle In Motion membership card that you can flash at local shops and restaurants to get great deals and free ride tickets to help you get moving.

After you pledge, report your progress each week. Every week you meet your pledge, you will earn one chance to WIN the ULTIMATE STAYCATION plus additional Free-Ride tickets to help you stay mobile.

Come visit our booth at the corner of California and Alaska our big kickoff at the West Seattle Fest on July 8-10th or sign up athttp://www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot/MetroTransit/InMotion/WestSeattle.aspx

Del Rey plays a house concert at Village Green

2011-07-07T11:41:00.000-07:00

$10 Pre-pay, limited tickets, will sell out FAST!
no online tix sales- pease send a check or come in and pay cash.

When: Sunday August 28th 2pm

Where: Village Green Perennial Nursery

Del Rey started playing classical guitar when she was four. As a teenager, she met bluesman Sam Chatmon who inspired her to become a blues queen. Her guitar playing combines country blues, stride piano, classic jazz and hillbilly boogie through the sensibility of an autodidact trailor-park esthete. Her live show is full of complex guitar grooves and sly humor.

Del Rey plays concerts world wide and also presents a concert/lecture on women musicians called Women in American Music.

read more... http://hobemianrecords.com /Del_press.html

http://hobemianrecords.com /quotes.html

LISTEN...

http://www.hobemianrecords.com/FatbackLouisiana.mp3

LIVE VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxk3N7GOgX4&feature=player_embedded

ht4FWAxio&feature=player_embeddedbio

BICYCLE BLUES VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4EjetohpOI

“Rey is one of the greatest modern players of the metal-bodied resonator guitar.”

Acoustic Guitar Magazine

"Del Rey is one of the most sublime modern guitarists " La Hora del Blues

“To listen to Rey is to abandon all hope of ever viewing the world in the same

comfortable way.” Dirty Linen Magazine

Summer Sale! 25-50% off

2011-07-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

Midwinter fire dogwood shrubs 25% off
Nw Native dogwoods 25% off
Euphorbia 25% off
Birch trees 50% off
Select roses $5.00
Many herbs and veggies 4/$5.00

Garden install before and after photos

2011-07-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

Village Green Perennial Nursery patio and bermed gardens for a happy West Seattle client.

Food should be prepared with butter and love- cooking demo

2011-07-01T08:28:00.000-07:00

Cinnamon Berg is a classically trained chef with a passion for food who loves to share that passion with others. In her career she has worked in many local restaurants and has traveled far and wide for catering events. Her love of grilling, utilizing seasonal ingredients and spontaneity are knowledge and skills gained through these years of experience as a cook.
Although most of her life has been in and around Seattle she spent some time in Hollywood working with a former sous chef of Spago and the originator of California Pizza Kitchen. The importance of local, organic ingredients and our role as leaders in this movement toward sustainability were some of the many lessons she learned and value most. Her interest in teaching came about through these experiences and having children. She has taught kids of every age in schools and the Youngstown Cultural Art’s Center how simple it can be to create fresh nutritious meals. From the importance of knife skills to the subtle art of bread making and how making food can be a truly sense stirring experience she has classes for everyone.

Cinnamon has been married for 15 years and has two spirited and beautiful daughters. She has a variety of other interests, including organic gardening, creating all natural lip balms and body products and organizing events and working for her local p-patch.

Ice cream social with Full Tilt Ice Cream

2011-06-27T09:37:00.000-07:00

We harvested old rose petals from our extensive collection of Antique roses - Justin worked his magic, and made rose ice cream again. Thank you Justin!
Squirrel Butter played some fun tunes and showed us a foot stomping good time! Tex-our rooster- was not to be outdone by the singing, so he chimed in on occasion!

In September we plan to have another Ice Cream social!

Life at the Village

2011-06-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

Garden tours are coming up!
We are sponsoring the West Seattle Garden tour and selling tickets to the tour.
It' the 17th annual on July 17th.

White Center Garden tour, a FREE tour is also coming up on July 9th.
This is a community event, sponsored by many local business's and residents, including Village Green Perennial Nursery.
The Jubilee days are going to be amazing this year-the music line up is fantastic!
This is a Seafair sanctioned event.

Fairy Miniatures and Garden Monsters

2011-06-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

Enter an enchanted world of magical monsters and miniature fairy gardens! Your imagination will open possibilities, sculpting garden monsters and tiny furniture with wet clay. One week later, we'll glaze the fired sculptures and assemble a miniature garden with plants and fairy decor. Sculptures can be picked up after the glaze firing, one week after our second class.

Small class size; pair up and reserve your spot today!

Who: Parent/Child teams, ages 5+
When: Saturday July 9th, 10:30 am - Noon & Saturday July 16th, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Where: Village Green Perennial Nursery
How: $140 per parent/child team

Print, fill out and turn in today!

Classes fill up quickly

Expanded hours!

2011-06-08T14:10:00.000-07:00

We will be open on Wedsnesday's!!!
New crop Flowering Perennials!

Papaver nudicaule

Salvia lemonii

Heuchera Berry smoothie-
holds it's color well and makes a colorful splash in the garden and in containers!

Oregano Hopley's

Sunflowers!!!

HERBS
Lemon Verbena
-makes the most amazing tea!
Roman Chamomile
Basil
Chives

on the way...
baby's breath
Campanula Rotundifolia

Lupines

and so much more!

Copper River Salmon with herbs

2011-06-08T12:42:00.000-07:00

Copper River Salmon

mix together...
2 tbsp. olive oil,
3 lovage leaves,
1tbsp fresh hyssop,
basil,
1/2 tbsp fresh curley parsley
dash of salt pepper,
1/2 fresh squeezed lemon
marinate the fillet for 15mins

preheat over to 350
place the Salmon in a lighlty oiled glass baking dish and pour on the marinade
cover with a lid or tin foil and bake fro 20 mins
remove cover and bake a few more-until flaky and almost done.

Side dishes....
steamed garlic tops/spears
drizzled with butter and pinch of salt

Sauteed radishes
1tbsp olive oil or butter
add any wild greens of your liking...
red veined dock,
kale,
parsley,
radish greens
purple mustard
sautee until crisp

Enjoy!

Garden Art Summer Day Camp

2011-06-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

Print and mail with your check enclosed or choose paypal and the session

Flowers and pretties!

2011-06-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

Birdwatching in the yard....

2011-06-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

Western tanagers are here!
We've been watching them for a few weeks. This is a great yard for birdwatching.
The diversity of plants/trees and shrubs really brings them in!
Towhee's are a regular here as well as Varied Thrush (year-round here)

I was taken by surprise by an Anna's hummingbird-it literally scared me to a screeching, ducking bird fearing human! Almost took my eyes out...
but then once I realized I was not the target and the fuchsia basket next to my head was...I was restored to a peaceful, calm gardener....whew!
Rapture?

Northwest Native plants on Sale

2011-06-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

This weekend only! June 3-6th

All Northwest Native plants 25% off

We have a huge selection to choose from...too many to list them all...
Dogwoods,
camas,
salal,
mahonia-oregon grape,
pacific waterleaf,
vancouveria hexandra,
fringeflowe,r
gooseberry,

mention this ad!

Salad and more salad

2011-06-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

I wandered through the garden thinking I must simply look at the colorful leaves emerging, the beautiful textures, the heavenly sweet scent of so many different flowers and shrubs in bloom here, at my little slice of heaven here on earth...
Much to my surprise, my spinach leaves were resembling giant hosta leaves-the size of dinner plate!
Tthat proves it's been a few days since I'd visited this part of the yard! I grabbed a harvest basket and set to work gathering my soon to be lunch...

spinach
red-veined dock- a perennial leafy green
lettuce in every color
kale
parsley
purple wave GIANT mustard leaves- a beautiful plant!!!
mints in every flavor...
arugula
cilantro
viola flowers in bright jewel tones
hyssop
lovage
pineapple sage

I personally love to blend these flavors...it makes for an exciting salad-someof the flavors make you wake up and take notice!

I had a huge overflowing abundance of beautiful green goodness to eat-and share!

My strawberries and raspberries not being ripe yet...I purchased some organic ones...so in they went with the greens along with feta cheese, almons and raspberry vinagrette- delicious!

And there is plenty left for today!

Let me just say-the slad was stunningly beautiful!

I paired this salad with another salad...
Avacado and mango tossed with lime, olive oil and cilantro
Delicious!

See you in the garden!

Tomatoes! Basil! Beans!

2011-05-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

sweet millions
black truffels -OMG! these are good!
sungold- you've been waiting for these!
yellow pear
moskovitch
green zebra

Eggplant
peppers
artichokes
beans
kale
romanesca-so pretty!
cabbage
ALL ORGANIC, RENT'S DUE RANCH- they are row crop farmers in Stanwood-they GROW produce for PCC. The varieties the sell/grow for starts are the ones they grow for food production.

What is that sweet scent? What is that pretty flower?

2011-05-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

The journey begins with the nose...
with so many blooming shrubs and flowers, most potted in containers, some planted in the ground- heck- they are everywhere-howvere...finding the one whose bewitching fragrance is luring you further in- that is more like a treasure hunt, and you may find yourself completely forgetting what you're even looking for!
I know I do!

*Rhodedendron occidental- FRAGRANT! NW native variety
*Abelia mosanensis- FRAGRANT!
*Lilac- dark purple- sweet yummy old fashioned fragrance
*sweet woodruff-fragrant
*Rosa-Old Blush-fragrant
*Scented geraniums-mmm, sweet-makes a nice addition to cold drinks, smoothies, jams and jellies, syrups
*Wall flowers- FRAGRANT!

Pretty flowering shrubs and perennials that attract hummingbrids, songbirds and wildlife-as well as some very important predatory bugs- balance.

*Red flowering currant- hummingbirds!
*Twinberry-NW native-very pretty yellow twin blooms, then twin berries-think hummingbirds and songbirds!
*Dogwoods
*Evergreen huckleberry- delicious, hardy, adaptable fruiting shrub. NW native
*Kerria Japonica- japanese rose- a suckering shrub with yellow pom pom flowers-cute-combine it with
lilacs for a colorful display!

Cut flowers
Columbines- Black, pink, white, red, purple...
Geum rivale- a very sweet old fashioned flower- great cut flower. NW native
Geum- reds, oranges
Fringecups- cute cute cute! hummingbirds!!
Heucheras- all leaf colors, ground covers
Geraniums- hardy, woodland and full sun varieties -so many to choose from-nice cut flowers!
Veronica gentianoides- an old fashioned grouncover, light blue flowers-rare in the trade.

Done blooming (pollinated by our mason bees and honeybees) and setting fruit...
Honeyberry
Blueberry
Indian plum
saskatoon

Unusual NW natives-just because we can...
Devil's club
currant- a few varieties
piggy back plant
Camas
blue eyed grass
penstemon serraulatis
petasites

Family activities-check this out!

2011-05-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

West Seattle Macaroni Kids

Macaroni Kid and its family of Publisher Moms who are dedicated to delivering the scoop on all the family-friendly events and activities happening in their communities each week. Check out Macaroni Kid’s list of communities and sign up to receive your free weekly newsletter.
It all started with two old friends sharing a good meal and a great bottle of wine. From that conversation, Macaroni Kid was born and Joyce and Nicki started publishing a weekly newsletter giving moms and dads the scoop on all the weekly events in their community. From there it’s grown to dozens of other communities across the Country.
We hope you enjoy it.

Native Plant Appreciation Week

2011-05-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

Governor Gregoire has proclaimed April 29 through May 5, 2007 as Native Plant Appreciation Week in Washington.

Native Plant Appreciation Week is a celebration of the amazing diversity of Washington’s over 3000 native plant species that inhabit deserts, rain forests, high alpine environments, river valleys, and even backyard landscapes. This event is sponsored by the Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS).

WNPS will maintain a Native Plant Appreciation Week Web site to highlight programs and activities by WNPS and its partners, which will be live starting in March.

More info can be found at the WNPS website

"Gardening with Native Plants for Wildife

Native plants provide the food, shelter, and nesting habitat favored by our local wildlife. Make your garden a sanctuary for songbirds, hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and other wildlife using native plants.

Did you Know?

Native plants are adapted to our climate of wet winters and dry summers.
Require less water than most non-natives once they are established.
Resist native pests and diseases better.
Improve water quality by needing less fertilizer and no pesticides.
Save resources and encourage a sense of Stewardship.

Native plants will need a little care in their infancy in order to develop a healthy root system so provide them with supplemental water the first couple of years, but after that most natives planted in a favorable site require little additional attention."

BBQ ashes

2011-05-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

BBQ season is upon us- I promise!!! READ BEFORE you apply BBQ ashes to the garden!

BBq ashes

2011-04-29T12:32:00.000-07:00

Whats New?

Shrubs

Red flowering Currant- this one with chartreuse leaves! Read Paghat's garden
for more info... needs more shade- but beautiful foliage!!!!

Podocarpus alpinus 'Country park fire'- A low spreading evergreen shrub with bright red berries in fall, clinging to the bronze winter foliage, in spring the new shoots emerge creamy and quickly turn salmon pink then reddish and finally deep green. Low water needs

Podocarpus 'orangeade' The dramatic orange new spring growth on this upright shrubby conifer becomes green in summer and a deep-bronzy-purple in winter.

Bald cypress- Peve Minaret A unique dwarf Bald Cypress is a beautiful majestic pyramidal tree with very delicate, feathery foliage. Prefers moist soil, but will tolerate most conditions. Rare, new and great !

Katsura tree- A beautiful landscape tree, Katsura tree has many desirable characteristics including a range of colors over the entire year that is second to none. The leaves of this tree emerge, not green, but a beautiful reddish purple. Then as the season progresses the leaves turn dark bluish green. In the fall things get exciting. The fall color of this tree varies from an intense yellow. In some cases, however, they turn a gorgeous apricot orange that is quite memorable. To add to the autumn pizzazz, as the leaves fall they give off a modestly spicy odor making you think of cotton candy. But the performance is not over. Once bereft of leaves, Katsuratree bark takes over the show with a beautiful pattern of slight exfoliation and medium gray color that is generally very handsome.

Elderberry -Intensely flavored fruit with a rich aroma. Bountiful harvest ripens in August. Extremely hardy, tall shrub grows 12-14 ft. Plant two varieties for improved pollination, extended harvest period and top yields. York—Quickest to bear, often in its second year. Ripens late August. Nova—Great for pies, jelly and wine. Ripens two weeks before York.

Honeyberry A delicious berry!

Gold leaved Barberry- columnar and shrub

Honeybees arrive and in they go!

2011-04-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

Happy bee keeper! I am trying Carniolan bee's this year. I have not had good luck with Italian bees.
By the way-we have Local honey for sale

This is how they arrive- in a crate with the queen in her own small crate inside-so they can adapt to her pheromone, and feed her.

Literally 'shaking' the bees into the hive

Watching all the bees load into the hive (see the box tilted)

Checking to see if the Queen went down into the box-Success!!! She did!
The blanket is to keep her from flying up and away -if we lose the queen-the whole colony will leave.

Eating the Arugula

2011-04-28T00:21:00.000-07:00

We were lucky and got our cilantro, arugula, peas and lettuces planted weeks ago.
We are eating the leafy greens daily.
I love the nutty flavor of arugula- and I tend to just pick it and eat it when I'm walking past. A very generous leafy green- it bolts in warm weather- I'm trying to be ok with the cold!!!

A perennial leafy green that I often suggest to gardeners is the Rumex or Bloody dock -just cut the flowers off-it will seed. This plant is very pretty, adds depth to wild greens salad, can be stir fried...use like chard.

Our peas are slower. BRRRR....I will be sowing a new crop soon to prolong the harvest.
Here in our climate we can plant peas until mid-June for long season harvests. My personal favorite's are the snow pea, but we all love peas!

If you haven't planted onions or garlic, do so now. For the garlic- I suggest starts at this point.

The soil conditions and the fertilizers are 90% of the success for high yield gardens. If you are starting your garden this year (or last) with new soil- you are ahead of the game.
However, don't forget to amend the soil AGAIN.
Every time you plant, I strongly suggest you add homemade compost, worm castings, organic fertilizer
or water with compost tea- you will be amazed at the difference.

It is way too cold to even set out any tomato plants! If you've bought them somewhere, keep them indoors until the soil temps are at least 55-60 degrees.

Baby chicks

2011-04-27T00:28:00.000-07:00

Americauna

We've had chickens for 7 years, and raised them form 2 days old...
so I'm no beginner,
HOWEVER... the current collection of baby chicks we are raising are so cute they make me squeel!
Our chicken population has declined over the years...
old age, natural causes, very few predator problems...so we needed a new clutch to up the egg production. Have you ever tasted FRESH EGGS?
Seriously- there is no way to know until you KNOW the difference.
We plan to keep 14 of the chicks. A mix, including Americaunas, Gold laced Wyandotte, Silver laced Wyandotte, Australorp, Barred Rock, Rhode Island red and Buff Orpington.

For me, keeping chickens has been a natural addition to the garden. Whenever we weed the garden or nursery, practically all the weeds go to the chickens. They get so excited to see us walking towards the run. They know we have some exciting new treat for them to peck and scratch at- they are a busy bunch- they need fresh material.
During the spring growing season I do not let them roam free-No No No! they will scratch up all my plants, eat the seedlings, and make a mess of things. I allow them to free range during the fall and winter and forage to their hearts content, but come spring...sorry gals, weeds and scraps for you till things are growing and well established...UNLESS I plan to watch them close, and then I let them out only for the last hour of sunlight. They will naturally go back to the coop to roost.
Chickens are so amusing to watch. They have the funniest personalities, and can truly become a family pet. They will follow you if you around like a dog -we start them young, calling out to them when we approach them in the coop (I use the same sing song voice and repeat a phrase- like 'Hi Girls'), feeding them favorite treats, and sitting with them in the yard, resting.
Isabella was one of those chickens- she was like a puppy. She follwed me everywhere-especially if i had food, or was digging in the soil-WORMS!

Isabella- family pet

We have 16 chicks to sell as pullets (3-6 month old chicks). Mixed breeds, as well as small moveable Coops and runs that house 5 hens, including laying boxes.

Stop in an ask us about chicken care- we are happy to share the knowledge.

Dandelion pesto

2011-04-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

Look at it this way...make friends -not enemies out of the free greens

Last weekend we collected and ate an entire salad out of wild harvested greens.

Greens collected...

dandelion

indian plum

oxalis

wash and toss is all together

I like to add feta, slivered almonds and cranberries (my favorite is fresh strawberries)

my favorite salad dressing for this one is

balsamic vinegar and honey mixed to taste, with thyme, oregano and sage mixed in...

enjoy!

We also made pesto out of the dandelion greens

Dandelion greens,

olive oil,

parmesan cheese

garlic
lemon juice

pine nuts

blend it all up in a food processor

I don't measure, I just go by taste and consistency

EASY!!

Eat it on pasta

with crackers and red peppers

use as sandwich spread

or any way you want!

1st Annual Mothers Day Homemade Pie Social

2011-04-19T16:13:00.000-07:00

Vera Johnson and Kate McDermott present

The 1st Annual Mother's Day Homemade Pie Social

Bring a freshly baked Homemade Pie… Eat Pie and Honor Mom!

"Pie is a symbol of something bigger than Mom and her way with desserts." -- Pasquale Le Draqulec

When: Sunday May 8, 1-4pm

Where: Village Green Perennial Nursery, Seattle

Cost: $5 admission per person--will benefit The White Center Food Bank

Who's Invited: All moms and all who have had a mother in their life.

(That about covers us all!)

RSVP: By May 6 please.

PLEASE! Homemade Pies ONLY!

We will provide plates, napkins, forks, coffee and tea. Please bring a small card to place with your pie, showing the name of the pie, ingredients (needed for those who have allergies) and the name of the piemaker.

All who bring a pie will receive a blue ribbon.

Village Green Perennial Nursery is a family-owned nursery in White Center-Seattle growing herbaceous perennials and Old Roses using organic and natural gardening practices. Kate McDermott is an award winning pie-maker, teacher, writer and practitioner of kindness.

Biochar farm stove workshop

2011-04-13T22:45:00.000-07:00

Biochar farm stove workshop

Join SeaChar and the staff at West Seattle's Village Green Perennial Nursery for a very special event. Sat. May 21st, 10am -6pm, at the Village Green Perennial Nursery
10223 26th Ave SW
Seattle Wa. 98146
Biochar is charcoal created from dry organic waste materials. Amended to our soils it gives all of us a way to combat climate change by storing long lasting fixed carbon in our gardens or yards. Learn how to make your garden carbon negative and climate friendly, while building healthy soil.

* For a $45 donation build and take home a five gallon "GARDEN MASTER Stove". This gardener's version of our "ESTUFA FINCA" Central America cook-stove, makes clean heat and soil building biochar from your garden and yard wastes. All tools and materials for building this stove will be provided.

* Along with building stoves, we will be learning about how biochar works and how to use biochar in the garden.

* This will also be fund raiser for the "Farm Stove Project" . Learn how this clean burning, biochar-making technology can build opportunities for woman, fight climate change and save lives and trees in the developing world.

* Bring a lunch, a pair of gloves and if possible a pair of safety glasses

* This will be a full day workshop. Everyone will have fun and everyone will be going home with a tested stove and an expanded understanding of biochar. We will end the day by testing our new creations.We are requesting a $25 materials deposit from those who wish to build a 5-gallon "GARDEN MASTER Stove" You can use our the PayPal button at our SeaChar.Org website: http://seachar.org/wordpress/?page_id=96

or mail checks to SeaChar.Org @ 603 Stewart Street, Suite 906 Seattle, Wa. 98101
Please RSVP! To: info@seachar.org or contact art.donnelly@seachar.org for more information and directions.

Come reinvent fire with us,

Art Donnelly206-612-3018
President SeaChar.Org
US Project Director, The Farm Stove Project

"SeaChar.Org...positive tools for carbon negative living"

Rain Gardens 101

2011-04-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

Sat. April 30th, 10AM - 12:30PM

Rain Gardens 101

Join Kimberly Leeper, owner of Mariposa Naturescapes (FB page), to learn what rain gardens are, why they're important for the health of Puget Sound, and steps to creating a successful one. They'll be a hands-on component where class participants determine if a rain garden will work on Village Green site. $30 person

Permaculture

2011-04-13T22:38:00.000-07:00

Sat April 23rd 1pm

Permaculture

Join Laura Sweany here at Village Green as she discusses ways for home gardeners to easily implement Permaculture design to your yard and garden!

The word Permaculture comes from permanent agriculture, and is a form of no-dig, no-till gardening or farming. Permaculture gardening replenishes the soil as nature does in forests and lands not used by man... decomposing (rotting) organic substances. This creates new soil and feeds the old stuff. It builds a new layer each year as last years weeds, manure, mulch all rot down and become rich new soil.

$35 for this information packed class

Leave with lots of inspiration and ideas! Be here 15 mins. early to get familiar, and look around.

Apple trees, figs, blueberries, raspberries, huckleberries and more to choose from. Plus a huge selection of Organic vegetable starts!

Garden Art Summer Day Camp

2011-04-13T15:08:00.000-07:00

Click on the form to print and mail with your check

Experience a whole new kind of Summer Art Camp! Not only will your children return home with beautiful handcrafted clay sculptures, miniature gardens, watercolor paintings, collages and sun-prints, they'll always remember spending three days in nature surrounded by trees, songbirds, chickens and flowers, inspired by the many colors, textures and sounds of Village Green.

Art and Gardening materials included. Please pack a lunch and plan for the weather.

Ages 8 - 12
Wednesday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Session 1: August 3 - 5
Session 2: August 17 - 19
$250

Bio for Sarah

Teaching Artist Sarah Browning delights in painting and mixed media. Art teacher for Alki Community Center Pre-School, she has also taught art for the Alki Bathhouse Art Studio and the Children's Museum of Seattle. She graduated with a BA in Visual Arts from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1998. When not making or teaching art, Sarah might be found at the library or walking in the park. Originally from Northern New Mexico, she lives in West Seattle with her husband, their daughter, and their pet rabbit. Visit her online at www.sarahbrowning.com.

Flexible Plan

Open with song, stretching, circle, demo. Lunch - includes some play time!
Day 1: Tour of grounds & studio. Wet clay sculpting - animal or fantasy sculpture. Collage and mixed media.
Day 2: Stain & Oxides on leathery sculptures. Painting with watercolor and/or mixed media.
Day 3: Wire Ornaments sculpting. Sun Prints. Assemble potted plant gardens. Give directions for ceramic sculpture pick-up.

This is a PRE-REGISTER camp
must pay 50% deposit to hold spot.
Cash or check. please make arrangements for payment by calling
206-767-7735

Sustainable living

2011-04-10T00:22:00.000-07:00

Visiting us is like going to the San Juan Islands, but staying in the city. When you reach Village Green it's as if the hustle and bustle have all faded into the distant past. Here you will find a wooded setting with pathways leading through display gardens sure to inspire a solution to many gardening questions.

No longer will the kids complain when you tell them you are going to the nursery...we have something for all ages.

A sand box for the young ones, chickens to feed, honeybees to watch as they return from foraging on the many trees and flowers. A hammock for a rest and some thinking...

You will truly forget about time and find peace and inspiration here. A very refreshing change from the traditional nursery settings.

Our goal is to educate people about ways to build and enrich the soil, care for plants and build community by working together. We strive to offer plants that invite natural pest control into your yard and offer safe suggestions of how to handle weed control as naturally as possible....

We believe in using organic and natural gardening practices. We compost as much as we can on site.
We keep honeybees, mason bees and chickens.

We are growers of many herbaceous perennials, including many extremely hardy and reliable Daylily varieties, Herbs, Asters, Primroses, Solomon’s Seal, the largest collection of Hostas, and many more.

We have THE LARGEST collection of Northwest Native plant varieties-including Trillium Ovatum.

Did you know?

Most of the plants that we do buy come from local growers. Many from within 50 miles.

We do this to support these growers and to help keep our local economy thriving.

This choice also ensures that we are buying plants that are hardy in the Northwest.

In addition to perennials, we also propagate Old Roses from cuttings, growing them on their own roots for two years before offering them for sale.

We also use very good soils to grow our plant material in, including Worm Castings and Certified Organic fertilizers, When you take a plant home with you, you can be confident it is potted up in good soil, ready to go into your garden. You are taking home Good Soil. Successful gardening starts with the soil.

Mason bees are hatching!

2011-04-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday as I puttered around the garden, pottting, trimming, planting and grumbling about the weather- Rain AGAIN??
I became keenly aware of an inordinate amount of bugs buzzing about...what is this all about????
Seeing how I've only recently aquired a large quantity of Mason Bee houses and have placed them in varying groupings around the nursery, I am not accustomed to the vast amounts of happy pollinators that were Extremely happy to hatch aas soon as the SUN came out for a few hours!!!
My heart was singing with joy- the SUN came out and warmed me- ahhhhh.... AND there were 100's of happy fuzzy bees (they DO NOT sting) all around!
Spring! Spring! Spring!
Now let me say- they remind me of cute little fuzzy bunnies - however they will not eat my veggies nor my fruit- they will pollinate them! BLISS!
Perfection!

If you plan to have fruit trees, berries or any kind of flowers or edibles- you really should keep mason bees.
They are so simple, so cute and they are fascinating to watch.
I must repeat- they DO NOT STING!

Spring flowers- Northwest Native Trillium

2011-03-26T20:38:00.000-07:00

NW native Columbine in my front yard

Double flowering Hellebore

NW Native Ginger

What is spring without these

NW native Trillium Ovatum

NW Native Trillium Ovatum

early flowers that bring in the hummingbirds.
I wake up from my winter slumber! Come out and play!

Black barlow columbine

Fairy hideaway

Toadstools for sale (high fired clay)

Organic veggie starts

2011-03-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

Open- Seasonal hours
Thursday/Friday 12-7
Sat/Sunday 10-4:30

5 varieties of garlic
onions
chives
Lettuce of many varieties
spinach
arugula

chard
alpine strawberries
Everbearing strawberries
tarragon
parsley
sage
rosemary and thyme
Valerian
mint
mint basil
dill
hot and spicy oregano
chamomile
peas peas peas

BLUBERRIES are here! Dwarf self-pollinating Top Hat (great for balcony/ containers) and Polaris (needs friends to produce)

Evergreen huckleberries just in...Fruit trees on the way...late March

Driftwood obelisks made by David Taber, Camano Island Artist. these are so cool! Grow your peas/roses/clematis on a beautiful handcrafted trellis.

Yelm Worm Castings are here- Bagged of course! Test it yourself!

Seeds available...$2 pack

peas (Oregon giant and Sugar pod),
tall marigold
columbine
bread seed poppies (a.k.a. opium)
fragrant sweet peas
purple coneflower
calendula...and more

Don't forget to check out the upcoming classes!
We have some really great Spring events lined up!

Organic Vegetable Starts in White Center

2011-03-16T00:23:00.000-07:00

Open Regular
Thursday/Friday 12-7
Sat/Sunday 10-4:30

We have many varieties of vegetable starts in-

5 varieties of garlic
onions
chives
Lettuce of many varieties
spinach
arugula
alpine strawberries
Everbearing strawberries
tarragon
parsley
sage
rosemary and thyme
peas
Valerian
mint
mint basil
dill
hot and spicy oregano
chamomile
peas and more peas

BLUBERRIES are here! Dwarf self-pollinating Top Hat (great for balcony/ containers) and Polaris (needs friends to produce)

Evergreen huckleberries just in...Fruit trees on the way...late March

Driftwood obelisks made by David Taber, Camano Island Artist. these are so cool! Grow your peas/roses/clematis on a beautiful handcrafted trellis.

Yelm Worm Castings are here- Bagged of course! Test it yourself!

Seeds available...$2 pack
peas (Oregon giant and Sugar pod),
tall marigold
columbine
bread seed poppies (a.k.a. opium)
fragrant sweet peas
purple coneflower
calendula...and more

Don't forget to check out the upcoming classes!
We have some really great Spring events lined up!

Herbal medicine chest

2011-03-10T23:41:00.000-08:00

Making Your Own Medicine: Tinctures

Saturday April 9th 2:30-4 p.m.. $35 includes materials fee.

Tinctures demystified!

Come learn how to make your own tinctures safely and effectively. We
will discuss the role of tinctures in your herbal medicine chest, the
difference between the folk and scientific methods of tincturing, the
solubility of various plant constituents, specific properties of our
focus plant, and dosage guidelines. In the hands-on section we will
gather and
tincture our focus plant, Western redcedar. You will go home with a
small bottle of cedar tincture.

About J.T.:

   J.T. enjoys translating her many years of practical herbal
   experience into hands-on classes. She graduated from local
   herbal and ethnobotanical apprenticeships with both Ravencroft
Garden and Earthwalk Northwest.

   J.T. wrote the "Slow Medicine" column for Ravencroft Garden and
   currently writes the popular "Mystery Plant" series for students
   of all ages. She leads wildcrafting walks and is the creator and
   teacher of the "Making Your Own Medicine" series. J.T. lives
   with her husband and children in Seattle.

Please pre-pay to hold your spot, class is limited to 10.
These classes fill up fast and have a waiting list.
Cash or check

Village Green Perennial Nursery
10223 26th Ave SW
Seattle Wa. 98146
206-767-7735
www.villagegreenperennialnursery.com
Facebook page

Considering Democracy: A Documentary

2010-12-30T15:12:00.000-08:00

Considering Democracy: A Documentary

Unifier of Opposites The Color Green

2010-12-13T18:55:00.000-08:00

December 13, 2010
Unifier of Opposites
The Color Green The color green balances our energy so that in looking at it we feel confident that growth is inevitable.

Green is a combination of the colors yellow and blue, each of which brings its own unique energy to the overall feeling of the color green. Blue exudes calm and peace, while yellow radiates liveliness and high levels of energy. As a marriage between these two very different colors, green is a unifier of opposites, offering both the excitement of yellow and the tranquility of blue. It energizes blues passivity and soothes yellows intensity, inspiring us to be both active and peaceful at the same time. It is a mainstay of the seasons of spring and summer, thus symbolizing birth and growth.

Green is one of the reasons that spring instigates so much excitement and activity. As a visual harbinger of the end of winter, green stems and leaves shoot up and out from the dark branches of trees and the muddy ground, letting us know that it's safe for us to come out, too. In this way, green invites us to shed our layers and open ourselves to the outside world, not in a frantic way but with an easygoing excitement that draws us outside just to sniff the spring air. Unlike almost any other color, green seems to have its own smell, an intoxicating combination of sun and sky earthy, bright, and clean. In the best-case scenario, it stops us in our tracks and reminds us to appreciate the great experience of simply being alive.

Green balances our energy so that in looking at it we feel confident that growth is inevitable. It also gives us the energy to contribute to the process of growth, to nurture ourselves appropriately, without becoming overly attached to our part in the process. Green reminds us to let go and let nature do her work, while at the same time giving us the energy to do our own.

'Village Green Perennial Nursery' Holiday Gift Sale

2010-11-27T17:47:00.000-08:00

Holiday Gift Sale at the Cove Normandy Park

Saturday 12/04/2010
Sat 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The COVE
1500 SW Shorebrook Drive
Normandy Park WA 98166

Directions
Contact Cove office at 206-242-3778 for additional information

Come do your holiday shopping the fun and easy way. Peruse the high-quality handcrafted gift and decor items presented by 40 original artists. Doors open at 9 a.m., with refreshments available - come early to get your fresh wreath, as they do sell out!

I'm a mom

2010-11-27T17:35:00.000-08:00

I'm A MOM

A woman named Emily renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's
office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She
hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is,"explained the
recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a .....?

"Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a Mom."

"We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation... 'housewife' covers it," said the
recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same
situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career
woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title
like,"Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."

"What is your occupation?" she probed.

What made me say it, I do not know... The words simply popped out, "I'm a
Research Associate in the field of Child development and Human Relations."

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though
she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most
significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written
in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your
field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I
have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't), in the
laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out).
I'm working for my Masters, (the whole darned family), and already have four
credits, (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in
the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a
day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most
run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather
than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she
completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door. As I
drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted
by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new
experimental model, (a 6 month old baby), in the child-development program,
testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and
indispensable to mankind than "just another Mom."

Motherhood.....What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on
the door.

Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research Associates in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations" and great-grandmothers "Executive
Senior Research Associates"? I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts
"Associate Research Assistants".

The season of change...

2010-10-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

It's time...

Get out there! Get dirty. Get in the Garden!

Every time I work in the soil I try to remember to give thanks.

How fortunate...how blessed...how lucky I am...

to spend time so close to the Great Mother herself!

Trim back dead wood on trees and shrubs

build new beds

Dig and divide spring blooming perennials

Clean up evergreen foliage by trimming or combing away the dead leaves.
Old roses (pre-1849) remove dead wood and cut back lightly-remember they bloom on year old canes- so do not hard prune them.

Modern roses- trim back by 1/3- do not prune back hard-any new canes will not be hardened off properly before it gets cold

If you are one

to clean up leaf debris (I am not) this is a good time to start a leaf compost pile or rake all debris and sheet mulch an area to be planted in spring.

I rake the leaves off of the lawn and into garden beds to let the worms do their work.

If you are growing Evergreen Huckleberries-the harvest season is here!

And a yummy recipe I tasted at my friends house yesterday.

A tasty topping for fresh baked bread...

Huckleberries 1/2 cup
garlic 1tsp
olive oil 1/2 cup
salt to taste
chopped curly parsley 1/4 cup

See ya around!

Fall + Permaculture = Bounty!

2010-09-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

Why is Fall the perfect time to use Permaculture in your home garden?
Come and find out!
Join Laura Sweany from Terra Flora Farm (http://www.terraflorafarm.com/) as she discusses aspects of Permaculture that are uniquely suited to fall implementation. What are the benefits of our climate in Fall? Can you start a garden in Fall? All this and more from 1 - 3PM for only $35.00
We have great stock to choose from, for those wanting to purchase plants and dive right in.

When:September 25 · 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Evergreen huckleberries
Black Elderberry
Blueberries
plus many other edibles and medicinals
Not to mention plants to attract wildlife!

Call 206-767-7735
to register

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter

2010-09-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

Groupon!

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter

Best of Western Washington

2010-09-02T22:31:00.000-07:00

Help us win!
Fee mums for voters!

http://ctvr.us/villagegreen1

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter archive

2010-08-27T09:02:00.000-07:00

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter archive

Family fun- ice cream and music!
Full tilt and music of Squirrel Butter!

Making Your Own Medicine: Oils and Salves

2010-08-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

1 Day workshop
Making Your Own Medicine: Oils and Salves

Taught by J.T., Community-Centered Herbalist

Sunday September 26, 2010. 2-4 p.m..

Class cost: $35. Materials fee $7.
Pre-register, class space is limited

Description:

Come learn how to make your own healing oils and salves with local
Northwest plants. In class we will make an herbal salve effective for
cuts and scrapes, burns, diaper rash, eczema, and much more. Experience
the medicine-making process from gathering the herbs to infusing the oil
to storing the finished salve.

If you would like to take home some infused oil for later salve making,
please bring with you a small (no bigger than 1/2 pint) glass jar and
enough olive oil to fill your jar.

About J.T.:

J.T. has many years of practical experience gathering and making her own
medicine. She graduated from local herbal and ethnobotanical
apprenticeships with both Ravencroft Garden and Earthwalk Northwest.
J.T. wrote the "Slow Medicine" column for Ravencroft Garden and
currently writes the popular "Mystery Plant" series for the Seattle
Homeschool Group. She leads all-ages wildcrafting walks in the Seattle
area and teaches the "Making Your Own Medicine" series. J.T. lives with
her husband and children in Seattle.

To Register for class ....call or come in
Village Green Perennial Nursery www.villagegreenperennialnursery.com
Facebook page
10223 26th Ave SW Seattle Wa. 98146      206-767-7735

Natural Bee collection

2010-08-18T11:57:00.001-07:00

Chemical-free collection of hornets.
The venom is used for allergy testing and homeopathy.

Honey collection

2010-08-18T11:36:00.001-07:00

On a HOT, hot day
AND during the Sonic Boom of 2010...
we collected 2 gallons of honey....
While working the hives, we heard the huge KABOOM 2 times...
I was just thinking- ok-if this is it...I have some honey to eat before I go!

Best of White Center

2010-08-05T12:20:00.000-07:00

Organic plants
Seattle Metropolitan magazine article...

Best of White Center

Organic Plants

Serious gardeners flock to the Village Green Perennial Nursery—nearly two acres of eye-popping perennials planted behind owner Vera Johnson’s lime-green home—to find collector’s roses or native ground covers, while small-scale growers snatch up pansies and pretty plant pots. Village Green Perennial Nursery, 10223 26th Ave SW, White Center, 206-767-7735;www.villagegreenperennialnursery.com

Ice cream and Squirrel Butter...spread the word via @constantcontact

2010-08-05T12:04:00.000-07:00

Ice cream and Squirrel Butter...spread the word via @constantcontact

Village Green Perennial Nursery in Seattle, WA 98146 | Parents Connect Local

2010-08-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

Village Green Perennial Nursery in Seattle, WA 98146 | Parents Connect Local

Huge Summer savings! via @constantcontact

2010-08-03T18:45:00.000-07:00

Huge Summer savings! via @constantcontact

2010-07-28T12:30:00.000-07:00

A small reminder...brings me back to the place of love whenever I see this in the garden

Ice Cream Social- August 29th -2pm

2010-07-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

Join us here at the nursery!
music with 'Squirrel Butter',
Ice Cream from 'Full Tilt' and fun!
Drawing for a t-shirt
kids activity
Special discounts

http://www.villagegreenperennialnursery.com/index.shtml

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter archive

2010-07-10T10:04:00.000-07:00

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter archive

Black leaved plants

2010-06-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

Add drama...
Black plants offer foliage color, texture and depth to your garden

Perennials
(Eupatorium rugosum) 'Chocolate' hemp agrimony
(Euphorbia amygdaloides) 'Purpurea' wood spurge
(Heuchera) 'Chocolate Veil', 'Obsidian' and 'Plum Pudding' coral bells
(x Heucherella) 'Burnished Bronze' heucherella
(Ligularia dentate) 'Britt-Marie and 'Crawford' black groundsel
(Ophiopogon planiscapus) 'Nigrescens' black mondo grass
(Sedum)' x Bertram Anderson', 'Purple Emperor', and 'Vera Jameson'
(Hemeracallis) Jungle beauty

Shrubs/foliage
Physocarpus opulifolius) 'Diabolo' ninebark
(Cotinus coggygria) 'Royal Purple' smoke bush
(Clematis recta) Purpurea
(Sambucus )'Black Beauty'
(Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’
(Actaea simplex) ‘Brunette
(Coleus) Dark Star

http://www.timberpress.com/books/black_plants/bonine/9780881929812

http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s1-5-18-943,00.html

we have many varieties of black plants to choose from!

http://www.villagegreenperennialnursery.com/index.shtml

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter archive

2010-06-22T18:50:00.000-07:00

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter archive

Vietnamese pottery

2010-06-22T01:15:00.001-07:00

workshop 'mosaic flower pots'

2010-06-22T00:46:00.000-07:00

Join us on July 17th and 18th
Turn an ordinary flower pot into a colorfully decorated pot covered with mosaic tile.
fee $25
includes all materials
2 day workshop
11:30 am-1pm

pre-register and pre-pay
206-767-7735

Solstice weekend sale!!!

2010-06-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

Village Green Perennial Nursery Special this weekend! Solstice weekend sale!!! 15% off all regular priced perennials, trees and shrubs! 10% off all garden art, 25% off all Vietnamese pottery.
Color spot Annuals are 2/$5.00, veggie starts now 4/$5.00
Tomatoes now 3/$5.00

http://www.villagegreenperennialnursery.com/index.shtml

FLOWERS at Village Green Perennial Nursery

2010-06-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=61707&id=1553210762&l=bd0228d712

Beautiful spring FLOWERS at Village Green Perennial Nursery
http://www.villagegreenperennialnursery.com/index.shtml

Wedding/Receptions/Rentals

2010-06-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

Village Green Nursery is a beautiful urban garden on a 2 acre woodland setting, with tall trees, giant Rhododendrons, ancient rose bushes, bubbling pond, and winding trails leading you through the garden. The front garden is a beautiful place to have a wedding ceremony or for pictures.

Wedding Rental

Wedding party may choose caterer of choice.
Wedding party provides tables, chairs, tents and linens.
Wedding party is responsible for set up before, and clean up after the event.
We will have limited garbage containers/bags available.
Village Green does have basic indoor facilities-bathroom and sink. There is a small area for dressing.
We can accommodate 100-150 guests

3 hour rate is $1500 Saturday/Sunday 10am-1pm, 2-5pm, 6-9pm
6 hour rate is $2400 Saturday/Sunday Rental from 10am-3 or 4-9pm
$100 each additional hour can be arranged
This time includes set up and take down.
Reception fees vary.

$1500.00 deposit- upon removal and clean up of all wedding party items.
This acts as a damage deposit, as well.
Flowers and catering available upon request.
'Corkage fee' if providing your own flowers and catering.

Photos only.
$75 hour for use fee

Garden patio installation

2010-06-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

Some of our handy work…

Challenge: transform a drab front lawn into a cozy patio sitting area surrounded by a lush garden setting with lots of edible plants.
We achieved this by berming the garden beds on three sides to create a sense of privacy and installing an organic kidney-shaped stone patio with gravel paths. The mounded beds were planted with blueberries, rhubarb, antique roses, artichokes, lettuce, peas, red veined dock, oxalis, strawberries, kale, spinach, bee balm, rosemary, sage, tarragon, Evergreen huckleberries, raspberries & elderberries.
We also planted some ornamentals for fun like fragrant Viburnums, variegated dogwood, geums (for cut flowers), Karl Forrester grass (for some structure and privacy), Hellebore, Black bamboo, giant hostas and more.
Along the sidewalk edge, the owner installed rusted metal screens – planted with a variety of climbing roses & akebia – to further define the area.
Mounded vegetable gardens were added along the entry walkway and south-facing porch and provide a bounty of fresh produce right out their front door.
The clients still marvel at the transformation & receive many compliments from passers-by as they sit in their Adirondack chairs enjoying their glass of wine!
Before… hard packed lawn

After- ‘Cowboy coffee’ flagstone patio with mounded garden beds for privacy

Row of trees removed to make room for raspberries

Raspberries are planted in galvanized tubs along the side fence

Mounded vegetable gardens provide plenty of fresh greens

Add some colorful foliage and a beautiful container for a dramatic effect

Village Green Perennial Nursery on YELP!

2010-06-02T11:51:00.000-07:00

Hey- check us out and write a review!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/village-green-perennials-seattle

2010-05-30T00:27:00.000-07:00

Garden Consultation

Having trouble deciding what to do in your yard? Let us help. We can give you suggestions for plants, placement and design ideas. We can help you get set up to do it yourself, or we can do it for you.
On-site consultation $50/hour. $35 hr for garden clean up and installation.

Is this the year you finally make the garden look the way you want it to? Call for an appointment and we will have our design professional contact you. 206-767-7735.

http://www.villagegreenperennialnursery.com/index.shtml

Home schooling-the journey

2010-05-29T23:40:00.000-07:00

My amazing and creative children....
Home schooling is not for every family...that is for certain.
As I write this I've been home schooling for 5 years- quite happily!

For me- it was not even a question- I knew right away that was what I wanted...but was it what they would want?
My oldest (now 13) went to school for 4 years- a small private Montessori preschool.
She had fun-mostly.... art was her favorite part... creating complex intricate designs of push pins in a powdered sugar lid, creating geometric shapes out of paper and cardboard...puzzles, block designs, drawing, doodling, and story time....but as the years passed and she was pushed to do more 'work' she was less and less interested. She did not want to be 'taught' how to think and 'shown' what to create.
This kid was walking at 10 months...now you want to 'show her how' to do- what?
Reading was the biggest obstacle we had with the teacher....after all- she had 25yrs of teaching experience- who was I to ask her to try a different approach?
ok- I'd read plenty of Rudolph Steiner to make my decision to wait till she's ready to read....but was the teacher ready for us?
I talked to her and 'persuaded her' to wait till my daughter was 6 to 'teach' her to read- my plan was to keep holding her off...the teacher was 'wary to say the least' so we waited....
time went on....my daughter played- but as the kids in class got older- the academics crept into the classroom....now she was playing while the other kids were 'working' on papers.
She worked on math manipulatives, counting, puzzles, or building elaborate scenes with cloth and toy animals.
Then, one day, she decided she was ready to read. So we talked about a way of working with her on reading. She had just turned 6.
Now let me say this....I had been reading to this girl since day one...she had memorized entire books by the time she was 1. Not simple 5 word books....entire DR Suess rymes- Mr Brown can moo-can you?
Her language skill were unbelievable- yes- we had spoken through sign language when she was very young, but this kid was talking at 7 months. Clearly. Not baby garble.
ok- anyway... we continued to read to her, stacks of books....and she worked on reading the books at school- an old series the teacher had used for years...can't remember the series- but very good phonics books.
Within 2 months she was reading. Within 6 months of reading she was devouring books.
The teacher was astonished. Never in her 25yrs had she ever had a student learn to read so well, so fast.
hmmmmm? Readiness perhaps?
At that point it was confirmed that I could take it from there. I trusted my child to know what she could handle- I stood by her and let her decide.
I have not looked back.

Today she reads at college level. For fun she carries a 2 bajillion page dictionary in her backpack- for pirate scrabble or whatever....
more later.....

Village Green photos

2010-05-29T23:39:00.000-07:00

These photos are beautiful…please have a look and enjoy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8721103@N02/sets/72157615193316482/

These photos we taken by an Kamala-Dolphin Kingsley

http://kamaladolphinkingsley.com/index.html

please take time to appreciate her amazing work!

Northwest Native Columbine

2010-05-29T23:31:00.001-07:00

I have these growing right by my front door- the hummingbirds greet me every morning as I sit on the stoop drinking my morning coffee.
http://www.villagegreenperennialnursery.com/index.shtml