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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— PostedThe 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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— PostedGrowers 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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— PostedThe 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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— PostedDuane 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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— PostedStop 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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— PostedGardening 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 […]
New NWREC plant health educator
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— PostedThe North Willamette Research and Extension Center has hired a new bilingual extension educator in nursery plant health. Dr. Luisa Santamaria will be introduced at a reception from 2-6 p.m. Friday, March 6 at NWREC, 15210 N.E. Miley Road, Aurora, Ore (directions). Dr. Santamaria is currently working as a post-doctoral Research Associate with Tennessee State […]
Sean Hogan interviewed
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— PostedSean Hogan, co-founder of Cistus Nursery (Portland, Ore.), has a new book out called Trees for All Seasons: Broadleaved Evergreens for Temperate Climates. Kym Pokorny, garden writer at The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) recently interviewed him in conjunction with that book release. I particularly liked his answer to the question, “Why plant trees?”: An 88-year-old man […]
Borderline hardy plants
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— PostedOregonlive.com gardening blogger Kym Pokorny has musings on borderline hardy plants, how the current weather may affect them, and what gardeners may do if these plants don’t survive this year. She includes paraphrased comments from Cistus Nursery owner Sean Hogan.