Sunday, April 10, 2011

Sustainable living

 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.



Friday, April 8, 2011

Mason bees are hatching!

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!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Spring flowers- Northwest Native Trillium

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

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!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Organic Vegetable Starts in White Center

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!

    Thursday, March 10, 2011

    Herbal medicine chest

    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
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