Friday, April 02, 2010

Portland Gardeners, Mark Your Calendars Now!

This is a cross post to my column, out Friday in Just Out. You can also read it online here.
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I’m planning my 2010 garden season and before we get off and running—or should I say digging—I’m getting into my calendar all of my favorite sales, open gardens and tours.

Plant sales provide direct access to our area’s plethora of plant growers, saving you time in driving from one end of the valley to another to get that one special tomato, or heirloom sweet peas.

As for open gardens, they’re the single best way to get inspired for your own garden. Do you think I came up with the idea of putting marbles in our gravel walkways? Thank you, open garden.

Several events are on my list, with more announcements anticipated as the season progresses. For now, I want to make sure to have my top choices on my calendar—and yours.

Spring Plant Sale & Garden Festival
The Hardy Plant Society typically kicks off the plant sale season with their spring plant sale, and for good reason: the quality of vendors and plants are top notch. If you’re seeking a unique new plant from one of our area’s growers you can get a jump start here.
Saturday-Sunday, April 17-18, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Portland Expo Center, Hall C, free admission, parking $7, hardyplantsociety.org

Bauman’s Greenhouse Gallery
Any reason to go visit at Bauman Farms in Gervais and I’m there. This art show comes with morning mimosas and afternoon wine tasting. Beautiful art for home and garden, the event raises money for the Linda L. Valadyka Breast Wellness Foundation. Pick up some freshly baked goods from their on-site bakery, shop for plants, and even purchase locally grown produce while you visit. I love Baumans, and you will too.
Saturday-Sunday, April 24-25, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., 12989 Howell Prairie Rd., Gervais, free admission, baumanfarms.com

Spring Garden Fair
I have a favorite plant sale of the season and this one is it. The Clackamas County Master Gardeners pull out all stops for this fantastic sale featuring over 185 of the best area nurseries. Come prepared to walk, visit, and buy. From vegetables to ornamentals to everything in between, this sale should be on every gardener’s calendar!
Saturday, May 1, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, May 2, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Clackamas County Event Center Fairgrounds, 694 NE 4th Ave., Canby, $3, clackamascountymastergardeners.org

Glencoe Florist Plant Sale

Glencoe High School runs a fantastic student run greenhouse program. The big secret? They have plant sales, and your purchase helps to support their program. Like you needed more reasons to buy plants? Here you have it. Support a local school.
May 3-8, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. (school hours), Glencoe High School Greenhouse, 2700 NW Glencoe Road, Hillsboro, free admission, 503-844-1900

LoneSomeVille Studio Open Garden and Pottery Sale

This private garden opens to the public but once a year, and is one of Portland’s best-kept secrets. Romance abounds in this farmhouse garden: take in the garden and get some of their arts and crafts style pottery at discounted prices.
Saturday, May 29, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., LoneSomeVille, 5006 SE Long St., Portland, free, lonesomeville.com

Garden Conservancy Open Days

The national open days program is in Portland June 5, with five local gardens to visit. Check their website for updated information as the date gets closer.
Saturday, June 5, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., $5 per garden, opendaysprogram.org

Seeding Our Future

The Foundation for Tigard Tualatin Schools pulls off a fantastically coordinated and curated garden tour every year, and should be on your list. Eight private gardens in Tigard and Tualatin will be open and a garden art show is also planned the same weekend. Tour + shop? Golden.
Seeding Our Future Art Show, Friday, June 25, noon-8 p.m., Saturday, June 26, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tigard High School, 9000 SW Durham Rd., Tigard, free
Seeding our Future Garden Tour, Saturday June 26, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., tickets $20, locations announced with purchase, foundation4smartkids.org

Behind the Scenes Garden Tour
The Association of Northwest Landscape Designers organize a wonderful tour every year, and this year’s tour will feature 9 gardens in North and Northeast Portland, as well as Vancouver Washington.
Saturday, July 10, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., tickets will be available online, anld.com

Cracked Pots Garden Art Show
The big kahuna of garden art shows with 75 vendors, Cracked Pots throws a fantastic show and sale of garden art made from recycled materials. Better yet? It’s set outside among the gardens and grounds of McMenamins Edgefield. Benches built from recycled garden hoses, birdfeeders made from salvaged china, hummingbird statuary crafted with old silverware? This is the place to find it. Don’t wait ‘til the last minute: this art sells fast, for good reason.
Tuesday-Wednesday, July 20-21, 1 p.m. – 8 p.m, McMenamins Edgefield, 2126 SW Halsey Street, Troutdale, free, crackedpots.org

7 comments:

danger garden said...

Thank you for the Bauman’s Greenhouse Gallery dates! I've been looking for an excuse to trek to their nursery and I think you've just proveded it.

One that you might want to add to your list is the Rare Plant Research open house on May 15th & 16th, 2010 from 11am - 4pm... it is amazing! http://sites.google.com/site/rareplantresearchopengarden/

Jacquelyn said...

Nice! Thanks for the list!

Kathleen Bauer said...

If you don't mind, I'll post these dates on the calendar on the blog…great list!

Mark H said...

THIS IS a real "insider" gardeners list, Lelo, and THANKS for getting us UP to date in ONE spot here....thanks, really!

Concrete Jungle said...

Thanks for the list. I've added several of these events to my "adventure list" (and to my blog!).

LeLo said...

You are all so welcome! These are my favorite places for sure: I'm so happy to share them with you. xoxo-L

6512 and growing said...

Came here via Dig This Chick. I once wrote a gardening column too, fun times. Portland is such a lovely, fertile place. Enjoy!