5 Different Varieties of Hardy Bamboo!

In 5 Gallon Pots.

On Sale for Just $39.99 Each.

Saturday, June 10th at 2 PM
Bonsai Basics...
Make Your Own Bonsai

A perfect gift for Dad!
Westwood employee, Roseann Peak, who has a passion and an eye for this unique art form, will help you make your own Bonsai to take home.
Cost: $ 25.00 for materials (pre-registration required).

Saturday, June 17th at 2 PM
Containers with PIZAZZ!

Learn the secrets to making your own stunning container gardens

These basic design ideas will make all the difference!

Cost: determined by plant and container prices. You choose the container and the plants yourself.

Call 687-5952 for more information. Sign up Today!

by Tamara Galbraith

I've heard it a million times: "I can't grow lavender."

The problem most gardeners have is drainage. Growing lavender gives new meaning to the oft-heard phrase "needs well-drained soil." With lavender, they ain't kiddin'.

Given that fact, only young, small lavender plants do well in a container. In general, lavender will do best in the ground, as long as the soil is — you guessed it — well draining. My personal trick is three-fold:

• Add lots of expanded shale (or a similar pebble-like additive) and compost like Gardner & Bloome Harvest Supreme to the planting hole.
• Mound the soil up and plant the lavender on a small hill.
• Mulch around the base of the plant with small rocks.

All of these steps ensure that the all-important excellent drainage requirements are met. Once established, lavender plants are quite drought tolerant and relatively care-free.

Ok, so now that you're an expert at growing lavender...what do you do with it? Well, we all know the fragrance of most lavender cultivars is to die for; it's easy to collect and dry the spent flowers and make your own sachets. The fragrance of lavender is believed to relieve headaches, so try sprinkling some of the flowers in your next hot bath.

Lavender is also an essential part of Herbes de Provence, a spice/herb mixture used for everything from salads to meat rubs. And if you find lavender-flavored honey for sale - buy it. Believe me, you'll never want to put anything else on an English muffin again.

By Tamara Galbraith

Wondering what will grow in your veggie garden during summer's most sweltering months? Try the heat-loving beauty that is the eggplant.

Apart from the gorgeous fruit - which comes in many shapes and sizes, from the classic deep purple to pure white, to lavender-and-white marbled, and from the familiar large oblong fruits to the long slender Japanese varieties - the eggplant is in itself an attractive plant that can be grown as part of the ornamental garden. Its upright habit is fairly tidy, and the large, furry leaves provide an attractive contrast to other, more run-of-the-mill, plants in the landscape.

Unfortunately, eggplants tend to baffle a lot of gardeners. Many people don't want to grow them because they don't know what to do with the fruit, and that's a shame. When picked young, firm and still glossy, eggplants are delicious, virtually seedless and not bitter, and they make a wonderful accompaniment to many Italian and Mediterranean dishes.

Watch out for the rest of the plant, however; eggplant is a member of the toxic nightshade family, so don't eat any part but the fruit.

Most varieties should be planted 18 to 24 inches apart; compact and dwarf kinds can be a little closer together. Stake taller plants to keep the fruits off the ground. Plant in full sun - the more sun, the better. Soil should be fertile, well-drained and rich. We recommend amending with Gardner & Bloome Harvest Supreme before planting. Eggplant is somewhat drought tolerant, so don't overwater - it is susceptible to root rot. Mulching around the plant will help maintain even moisture. Water a bit more often when blooms appear. Eggplants will also do well in pots; use 3 gallon or better, with a good potting mix like Gardner & Bloome Potting Soil. Feed with a fertilizer recommended for tomatoes; like tomatoes, eggplants will put out lots of foliage and little fruit if you use a fertilizer too high in nitrogen.