Start Planning Now For Windowbox Entry
We realize the snow’s still on the ground, but it’s not too early to plan a windowbox that will be eligible for the Sunshine Creative Windowbox Contest.
Categories include: best use of color, best before and after, best use of trailing plants, best whimsical or other windowbox and other containers.
There’s plenty to gain by entering: The winner gets a tour for two of the Provence region of France.
All that’s necessary to enter is a color slide or photo of your windowbox (don’t fret about the weather, the deadline is Aug. 1) and an entry form, available by calling (800) 665-4592 or on the Web at www.Sungro.com. A free 16-page booklet, “Creative Ideas for Window Boxes,” is also available from the sponsoring company, Sun Gro Horticulture, 110-110th Ave. NE, Suite 490, Bellevue, WA 98004.
A do-it-yourself haven
We’re declaring the official start of the home improvement season. And, it’s just in time for the annual Home & Yard Show at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds, which opens Thursday, noon to 9 p.m.
The show continues through March 2.
A plethora of floral possibilities
A new entry in the series of gardening books published by Reader’s Digest just crossed our desk and, as is usual in this series, the photos are rich and inviting and the text is loaded with useful information.
The 168 pages of “Cutting Garden: Growing and Arranging Flowers” by Sarah Raven ($32.95, hardback) contain more than 300 full-color photos of flowers, most arranged in vases and bouquets.
Bulbs and perennials are heavily represented so it will take more than one gardening season to achieve the results of the garden plans in the book. But even armchair gardeners will appreciate the inspiring text accompanying the photos. And nearly half the book is a flower-by-flower guide apropos to the subject.
What’s more natural?
And, while we’re talking books, a revised garden book from the University of Washington Press boasts a thorough survey of native Northwest plants suitable for landscaping projects.
“Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest” ($35, paperback) certainly nods to those plants which will thrive in the more temperate coastal regions. But those of us who live and garden in the inland zones, which requires a greater hardiness from our landscape materials, will be able to find a generous selection of plants we can use in our yards.
The book, of course, discourages gardeners from just heading out to the country and digging up plants and trees, and to this end, an index of retail plant sources is included.
Most of the photos are black-and-white, which can add difficulty to the task of picking out plants, but the descriptions are such that the colors of leaves, bark and flowers can be understood. If your garden is color-coordinated, though, it would be best to consult a book where photos are in color before ordering the plants, trees or shrubs.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo