Carol Savonen’s latest column for the Statesman-Journal (Salem, Ore.) advises consumers on which plants to avoid when they are out shopping at garden centers. The column advises folks who see these plants on sale somewhere, to have a polite conversation with the plant buyer at that store. Savonen, a professor emeritus from Oregon State University, […]
Gardening hotline returns to Portland
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Gardeners in Multnomah County, Ore. now have a new resource to help them solve gardening problems. Oregon State University Extension Service has partnered with the West Multnomah Soil and Water Conversation District to establish a new, volunteer-staffed gardening hotline at 503-445-4608. It’s available from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday. The public can also drop in and […]
A P. ramorum breakthrough
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Researchers probing linkages between the two North American strains and the European strain of Phytophthora ramorum – the pathogen that causes Sudden Oak Death – say they have found important clues to their origins. According to a USDA Agricultural Research service press release: Their evidence showed that the European lineage may be older than the […]
See no weevil
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Are you free of weevils? Good for you, but bad for research entomologist Denny Bruck of the USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Ore., who writes: I have been working with Dutch colleagues to develop an attractant for black vine weevil and potentially other root weevil species as well. As you may or may […]
Control area established for filberts
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The Oregon Department of Agriculture has declared that the entire state is now a control area for Eastern filbert blight (EFB) (download the order: PDF). Officials took action because a new, more virulent strain of the blight was detected on the East Coast. As a result of the declaration, movement of Corylus nursery stock into […]
Attention English laurel growers
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Growers of Prunus laurocerasus cultivars (including English laurel, cherry laurel, ‘Skip’ and ‘Otto Luyken’) are advised that the species was added to California’s cherry fruit fly host list. All such plants must be certified before being shipped into California. “Certification for laurel into California is possible, albeit difficult and time-consuming,” Oregon Department of Agriculture horticulturalist […]
SPROut presents phytotechnology conference March 30-April 1
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The Sustainable Plant Research and Outreach Center (SPROut) will present “Soak It Up: Phytotechnology Solutions for Water Challenges,” a three-day conference, from March 30-April 1 at the Oregon Garden Resort in Silverton, Ore. This year’s conference will focus on plant-based solutions for stormwater and wastewater challenges. Keynote speakers will include Gerould Wilhelm of Conservation Design […]
Seattle, San Francisco garden shows ending
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Duane Kelly, chairman of Salmon Bay Events, made an announcement this morning that surprised many people in the industry — that the Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle, and the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show, will both end with their 2009 editions, unless he can find a buyer for them. From the official […]
State of Perfection Tour IV
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Stop four on our State of Perfection Tour was at Alpha Nursery in Salem, Ore., a multi-generational family business. As always, we asked them about a favorite plant and Josh Zielinski identified a Photinia fraserii variety that happens to be the nursery’s only patent (so far): Come back next Friday for the final installment in […]
‘Less care’ … not ‘no care’
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Gardening columnist Carol Savonen’s newest installment in the Salem, Ore. Statesman Journal concerns native plants, and how they can make a garden more attractive and easier to care for at the same time. But there’s an important bit of advice in there: This doesn’t mean that you can just plant them and walk away. “Many […]