Al's Bloom - Spring 2014

bloom b 2014 Spring

Quarterly Inspiration for your Garden, Home & Lifestyle from Al’s Garden Center

Our Roots,

Your Success What’s Bugging You?

Live Better

Outdoors Spring Grilling

4 DAY SALE! April 17 - 20 All Indoor & Outdoor

POTTERY Buy MORE Save MORE

Buy 1 - Save 10% Buy 2 - Save 20% or - Save 30% Buy 3more While supplies last Limited to stock on hand Selection varies by store

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2014 Spring FEATURES 4 | Jack’s Letter Live Better - Plant Something!

6 | Grown by Al’s: Our Roots, Your Success Behind The Scenes At Al’s Farm

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10 | Keeping it Fresh What’s New for 2014 GARDENING 101 11 | What is a Pollinator?

Attracting Pollinators To Your Garden 12 | What’s Bugging You? How To Deter The Azalea Lace Bug HOMEGROWN 13 | Nuts for Hazelnut Shells Toss Them in The Garden!

LIVING OUTDOORS 14 | Live Better Outdoors Al’s Spring 2014 Patio Collection FOOD 18 | Chillin’ And Grillin’ Top BBQ Picks and Tips

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LIVING INDOORS 20 | Top Spring Picks Cheerful and Bright for Spring PURPLE PEOPLE 21 | What’s Your Spring Signature?

Al’s Staff Spring Favorites Three locations to serve you: Woodburn 1220 N Pacific Hwy, Woodburn 97071 (503) 981-1245

Subscription inquiries To receive a subscription to Al’s Bloom Magazine, sign up for Al’s Garden Rewards Program at any of our three store locations. Once you have earned 100 points as an Al’s Garden Rewards Member, you will begin to receive Al’s Bloom Magazine.

To Advertise Call (503) 726-1162 Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without written authorization by Al’s Garden Center. ©2014

Sherwood 16920 SW Roy Rogers Rd, Sherwood 97140 (503) 726-1162 Gresham 7505 SE Hogan Rd, Gresham 97080 (503) 491-0771 als-gardencenter.com

Spring 2014| 3

W

hile you are sitting here reading this magazine, you are burning precious daylight hours that could be spent cleaning up your yard, preparing your garden beds or planting some spring flowers. Don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled that you are reading our spring issue, but just make sure it is on your lunch break or late at night when you can’t sleep, not during your precious gardening hours.

I obviously live for gardening and have been blessed to make a livelihood out of my passion. Since I was a little boy, my interest in growing was piqued by my grandmother’s garden and I remember feeling so proud when I grew my first pot of impatiens. In this issue of Bloom, we hope to inspire you with ideas on how to live better, grow cleaner and garden greener in your own backyard.

Spring is my favorite time of year, with the greenhouses in full swing! I love the smell of fresh soil, the ticking of the transplant machine and the hum of tractors that surround the 36 acres of land that we call home to Al’s growing nurseries. It is truly a nursery of sorts, with seedlings and small plant plugs getting their start and growing up in every open space around us. These fresh new annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees will soon make their debut at Al’s retail stores so that they are ready for you when you are ready for them. Growing our own plants has been a niche of ours for over 30 years and in the article, “Grown by Al’s” (page 6), my daughter and grower, Dorothy Russo, shares why we started growing years ago and how our customer’s needs and desires drive us to continue as one of the few grower/ retailer garden centers in the Pacific Northwest.

I would be lying if I didn’t admit to enjoying and relaxing in my outdoor space once all of my garden chores have been accomplished. There isn’t a more leisurely way to spend the day than relaxing on my back patio, enjoying the view of my newly planted garden beds and watching them grow and change throughout the summer. At Al’s, we are always looking for new ways to help you live better. This year, we are featuring several new classic and contemporary patio furniture sets to help you relax, entertain and enjoy your

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outdoor haven. New to Al’s this year, we have also carefully selected some quality lines of BBQ grills to help round out your perfect outdoor setting. You won’t want to miss learning more about the amazing Big Green Egg and other top notch grills now featured at Al’s Sherwood.

Here at Al’s, everything is done with quality, health, and sustainability in mind. This year, we are thrilled to expand our Al’s Garden Market lineup with some new vegetable additions. We’ve searched the seed catalogs and picked some exciting edibles, many of which are improvements upon last year’s varieties, and are fun, healthy options to plant in your home garden. In a continued effort to reduce our environmental impact, we are still offering all of our vegetables in Coir pots to serve our customers with the most earth-friendly, biodegradable option available. Learn more about the healthy, new and improved edibles from our grower, Dave Worth, on page 10.

Spring is here and it is time to get going! Al’s is hosting several events to help you get started in your garden. Join us to build your own basket at Al’s Basket Buffet on April 1013th. $2 from every basket goes to your choice of three local charities. Get your planting done and support a good cause at the same time! Bring the kids and make gardening a family adventure. Our monthly Kid’s Club is in full swing and ready to help your kids dig in with fun, educational gardening projects each month! What are you waiting for? Just get out and garden! It is good for your health and brings great happiness! We look forward to serving all of your garden needs this spring.

Al's Son & 2nd Generation Owner

Select 1-gallon

Perennials

25% off April 10 - 28

See store for varieties

Selection varies by store While supplies last

Patio Furniture Buy MORE Save MORE

Buy 2 pieces - Save

20% Buy 3 pieces - Save 30% Buy 4 or more - Save 40%

April 10 - 28 Excludes cushions & accessories Not valid on special orders Selection varies by store

All patio

Umbrellas

25% OFF

OUR ROOTS, YOUR SUCCESS

By Dorothy Bigej, Chief of Al’s Growing Operations I’ve had the privilege of being around flowers all my life but it took going to college, getting married and moving away for me to truly appreciate all of the beauty that surrounds Al’s and its growing facility. Even though I earned my teaching degree and spent a few years educating the 6th grade population of the early ‘90s, I didn’t stay away long and I was eventually drawn back to my roots and our family business.

As a third generation owner of Al’s Garden Center, I am proud of what my grandparents, Al and Ann Bigej, started back in 1948, and of the journey of growing landscape and bedding plants that my father, Jack, embarked on in the 1980’s. True to the promise of growing the highest quality plants with the best selection and cost in mind, we have continued to develop and evolve our growing to meet the changing needs of gardeners and the communities we serve.

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MORE THAN JUST A LABEL ON A POT!

Grown by Al’s represents plants grown with years of experience and quality in mind. I didn’t realize the impact it would have on our business when my dad said he wanted to grow his own plants! Fed up with quality, cost, and selection available to us, growing our own plants seemed like the logical path to ensure that what we grew was in line with what our customers wanted.

Today, we grow over 80% of the plants we sell through our three retail stores. Our focus on high quality plant material has not wavered over the years, and though we have taken advantage of the technology that planting and seeding machines offer, we still rely on a human touch to produce great plants.

GROWING ANNUALS

Al’s growing locations rest on approximately 36 combined acres in quiet corners of the Willamette Valley (Gresham, Mt. Angel and Hubbard, OR). While you are watching the rain fall outside your window and daydreaming about your garden, we are hard at work producing the plants that you’ll put in it. We plan and purchase all of our seeds and cuttings a year in advance of the season and the greenhouses are a buzz of activity with over 40 employees during the busiest growing season, February – May. In June, when you are beginning to enjoy the start of summer, we are receiving poinsettia cuttings and planting them for the holiday season six months ahead. Likewise, while you are enjoying Thanksgiving dinner, we are receiving plugs for your spring flower baskets.

GROWING PERENNIALS

Perennials are plants with multiple growing seasons and they have become increasingly popular due to smaller spaces and value-minded consumers. Our unique growing structure allows us to produce high-quality perennials. A retractable roof and walls mimic outdoor production while providing protection when the weather is bad, ensuring beautiful perennials with strong root systems.

When we plan our perennial production, we think: variety, variety, variety. Fifteen years ago, when we started growing perennials, we mostly grew the “staples.” Today, we grow nearly 1,500 different varieties - -instead of a few lavender varieties, we grow over 20, instead of one daylily, we grow 17. The best part of being a grower/retailer and growing a diverse selection of plants is the ability to offer you choices.

We hope to provide a lot of options to fill your garden with exactly the right plant for your landscape and your taste.

One of the greatest benefits of growing your own plant material is having the option to grow whatever you want.

Driven by customer requests, new trends, and classic favorites, we are able to tailor our planting to reflect your needs and desires. This advantage, along with complete control over our product mix, allows us to produce a large selection of high quality, locally produced plants that have been specifically selected to thrive in the Pacific Northwest.

We also get to experiment with growing new and exciting plants and offer them to our customers, sometimes even before they are available to other growers.

Another benefit of growing our own plants is that we can experiment not only with new and different varieties, but also with pot colors, sizes and shapes. Hanging baskets are a staple for us at Al’s, but we are giving them a new twist for 2014. Be on the lookout for colorful Surrain baskets this spring. These new baskets are planted with specially chosen combinations that complement the vibrant pot color. They will be sure to give your porch or patio a fresh look this year.

Spring 2014| 7

GROWING LANDSCAPE PLANTS

My father, Jack, has never been one to sit back and watch things happen and he has never been afraid to try new things. One of his favorite quotes, or what we call a “Jackism,” is “leading edge is often times bleeding edge.”

We are always on the hunt for the next great idea, improved plant, new variety, or different ways to grow that help us improve our quality and products. This keeps us on the leading edge, but sometimes it doesn’t work out and we learn from that equally as well!

Our newest adventure has led us to tree and shrub production. While bedding plants remain one of our specialties, we have found a unique niche in growing woody stemmed plants. Innovation continues to drive our desire for excellence as we persistently look for new and modern ways to grow quality landscape plants that are a must-have for every gardener in the Willamette Valley.

“Grown by Al’s” is a promise to you that the plants you take home have been grown in optimum conditions with quality, care, and experience to produce a plant that is established and will perform successfully in your yard. With thousands of cuttings crossing our production line daily, we get the opportunity to grow, adapt and continue to improve our plants and our practices. Years of experience and the support of gardeners like you have helped us continue to thrive as a grower/retailer in the beautiful Willamette Valley. With a love of gardening and sustainability on our side, we will continue to do our best to serve your garden needs.

FUN FACTS

ABOUT GROWN BY AL’S • It takes 9 weeks to produce a 4” tomato from seed.

• Al’s plants all of our vegetables by hand, all 150,000 of them!

• Al’s source for plugs, cuttings, seeds, and bare root are first and foremost local growers, but also include Israel, The Netherlands, Central America, and Germany, just to name a few.

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• In our busiest planting season (February-April), Al’s consumes approximately 225 yards of soil a week – 4 dump truck loads!

• Al’s has approximately 12 acres of heated, covered space; One acre of unheated, covered space; and 15.5 acres of field space.

• Al’s produces over 25,000 baskets in a spring season.

• Al’s busiest production week is February 23 – 28; the busiest shipping week is May 4 – 10.

• Al’s produces over 13,000 1-gallon berries to distribute to our stores. Our #1 variety – Chandler Blueberry.

• Al’s produces over 150,000 perennials, all sizes combined.

CHECK OUT THESE NEW AND EXCITING VARIETIES!

Petunia Surfinia Variegated Baby Purple – Variegated green and white foliage with a bright contrasting bloom adds an unique interest to baskets and mixed planters. One of the only variegated petunias on the market so you will be one of the first on the block to have this beauty.

Petunia Cha Ching Cherry – Exciting multi-color variety that is easy to grow. Its cherry red blooms with creamy yellow star pattern mixes well with other plants to make one of-akind combinations.

Lavender – Lavendula - Choose from our 20 different varieties of these fragrant plants with unique foliage. The old-fashioned favorites have various growth habits and bloom times to meet every gardener’s needs. Lavender is a reliable bloomer that attracts butterflies and bees and is also deer resistant.

Daylilies – Hemerocallis – Another bee favorite, daylilies, can add a nice color spot to any sunny garden. They come in a wide array of flower sizes and colors, and will bloom from June until frost. Plant them as a single plant or in a drift for a big WOW affect.

Choisya Sundance – Mexican Orange With vibrant yellow foliage is a must have for every yard. This evergreen contrasts nicely with other plants, providing a different color than the standard green. It grows about 3-5 feet tall with shiny, dense leaves, and flowers in the spring / early summer, and can take full or half day sun. The white blooms are citrus scented and add not only visual beauty but also a fantastic aroma to your yard.

Nandina Gulf Stream – Disease resistant, uniquely colored foliage with an easily controllable shape and height –what more could you ask for? Nandina is an evergreen plant that will provide wonderful color all year around, but it really shines in the fall and winter months with its flamboyant red, orange and yellow color. It will take full sun and add a kick to your landscape.

Spring 2014| 9

KEEPING�IT

FRESH

by David Worth, Al’s Assistant Grower

Another winter is in the books, and as the temperatures warm and the soggy ground (slowly) starts drying out, it is time, once again, to focus your attention to that bare plot in the yard that will soon become the vegetable garden. As you look ahead to the harvest, it’s a good time to revisit last season (you took notes, right?) and consider what worked, what didn’t, your favorite varieties, and the ones you might not bother with again.

We do the same thing at Al’s. We are constantly trying new varieties, testing them against current favorites, and evaluating them based on their performance here in the Northwest. Our goal is to do the leg work for you, by scouring seed catalogs, checking different suppliers’ selections, and growing new varieties, in an attempt to offer an edibles lineup that is packed with productive, delicious vegetable varieties from safe seed sources that will keep you harvesting all season long.

This year, we’ve found some new items we are particularly excited about, as well as a few improvements upon some old standbys.

What’s New & Why We Like It!

New for 2014 Cucumber Pickling (Jackson Classic) replaces Cucumber Homemade Pickles Why: Matures 15 days earlier and has broader disease resistance so the vines stay healthier over a longer period of time.

Cucumber Slicing (Olympian) replaces Cucumber Sweet Slice Why: Matures 10 days earlier, sets fruit more easily for increased yield and has broader disease resistance.

Eggplant Galine replaces Eggplant Satin Beauty Why: Tolerates cooler temperatures, so yields are much higher in our Northern climate.

SHELLING BEANS

Tomato New Girl replaces Tomato Early Girl Why: Bred from Early Girl, New Girl has better tasting fruit on more disease resistant plants.

CANTALOUPE TASTY BITES

Tomato Orange Oxheart replaces Tomato Jubilee Why: Heart-shaped fruit can weigh up to a pound and have fewer seeds, making them good for slicing or sauces.

(Missouri Bill & Yin Yang) Attractive crimson-streaked or black and white beans can be stored and used in soups and stews; harvest when 90% of the leaves have yellowed or fallen.

These personal sized sweet melons can double as edible serving bowls for fruit salads, ice cream, or yogurt.

PEPPER LUNCHBOX SNACK

It’s the pepper world’s answer to the Sun Gold tomato: abundant, super sweet, snack-size orange peppers.

SWISS CHARD PEPPERMINT

No, not peppermint flavored: the stems on this chard are streaked with red and white, making this edible plant an interesting ornamental, as well.

TOMATO INDIGO ROSE

Dark purple tomatoes have a high level of anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants.

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Tomato Sun Gold replaces Tomato Sunsugar Why: Sunsugar was already addictive to snack on, and the fruit of Sun Gold is even sweeter.

Tomato Sweet Million replaces Tomato Sweet 100 Why: These fruits are sweeter, slightly larger (two bites versus one), yet still produce in the same abundance.

What is a

Pollinator?

bloom Gardening 101

By Jill West, Al’s Head Grower

So you’ve got plenty of flowers on your vegetable plants but no sign of fruit. What’s going on?

Chances are the flowers have not been pollinated properly. 90% of plants need pollinators for successful pollination, which is the first step towards fruit and seed production. If your vegetable garden isn’t yielding as much as you’d like, there might be a shortage of pollinators in your yard. Here are some simple tips on how you can attract more pollinators to your garden and get more vegetables in the deal.

Attracting Pollinators * Pollinators feed on the nectar (carbohydrates) and pollen (protein and minerals) that flowers provide.

Choose plants that flower at different times of the year to ensure a steady supply of nectar and pollen. * Different pollinators are attracted to different types and colors of flowers.

Bees, for example, are most drawn to blue, violet, white, or yellow flowers while hummingbirds are attracted to flowers that are orange, red, or white. Planting a good assortment of colors and flower shapes (tubular vs. flat daisy-type) will give your garden maximum appeal to a wide assortment of pollinators. * Most pollinators find their favorite flowers by scent and color, so planting in clusters rather than single plants will give them a better chance of finding them in your yard. * Plant native plants or heirloom varieties of perennials and annuals.

Modern hybrids have features that are attractive to gardeners – increased disease resistance, increased flower size, unique flower colors and patterns, but this often comes with reduced production of nectar and pollen, making them less attractive to pollinators.

* Herbs are very attractive to pollinators, bees especially. Plant herbs like Anise Hyssop, Borage, Catnip, Lavender, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, and Thyme are magnets for pollinators and you get to enjoy the culinary and practical uses of them in addition. * Got clover in your lawn? Leave it!

Clover is a favorite of pollinators and it also fixes nitrogen into the soil in a form the grass can use so you can get green grass without the use of chemical fertilizers. * You don’t need a ton of space to make a pollinator friendly yard. Even a few pots or window boxes will help increase the presence of pollinators in your yard. With the rise of urban beekeeping, there is often a short supply of food available to keep the hives going, so every little bit helps. * When we use the word ‘bee’, we most likely think of honeybees that live in social colonies, or hives. However, 95% of native bees are actually solitary.

They dig short tunnels in the ground, or use cracks in branches or dead wood to gather pollen and lay eggs. Too much landscape fabric and mulch in the yard deters native bees. Try leaving small areas of ground open to encourage native bees to take up residence.

Look for these tags throughout Al’s stores for plants that will attract pollinators to your yard.

What is a pollinator? Pollinators are insects or animals that help move pollen from the male part of the flower to the female part of the flower, enabling fertilization to take place. The most common pollinators are bees and hoverflies, but many other insects and animals such as butterflies, moths, beetles, and hummingbirds also assist in this crucial task.

Some plants like beans, corn, and tomatoes are capable of pollinating themselves, but the vast majority of flowering plants need some help, while others such as cucumbers, melons, and squash are entirely dependent upon pollinators to continue their life cycle.

Even if you don’t have a vegetable garden yourself, it’s a good idea to make your yard more attractive to pollinators. Bees pollinate more than 100 agricultural crops in the U.S., and in the U.S. alone, bees and other insects create over 40 billion dollars worth of products annually as a result of their handiwork.

In other words, 1 out of every 3 bites of food you eat is owed to a pollinator.

Pollination also provides fruits and seeds that feed birds and other wildlife, so the more pollinators there are, the better for everyone.

Spring 2014| 11

what’s

BUGGING you?

by Mark Bigej, Chief Operating Officer of Al’s Retail Stores If you’re noticing something’s not quite right with your azaleas or rhododendrons the last year or two, you’re not alone. Many people, myself included, are finding their plants are off-color and not as healthy as they’ve been in the past with their foliage turning light green to yellow or white.

So what’s bugging our plants?

While there could be a few different things wrong with our azaleas and rhododendrons, the most common thing we are seeing the past two years is damage from a little pest - the Azalea lace bug (Stephanitis pyrioides). To best understand this newer pest to the Northwest, we consulted Oregon State University’s website and here is what we found: “Adult lace bugs are around 1/4 inch long. Their wings are covered with a network of veins and lightly colored with white and black patterns creating a windowpane effect. They can be found flying around an azalea or rhododendron but are most commonly found on the underside of leaves. Larval stages of the insect start out clear and turn dark brown in color and can also be found on the underside of leaves, usually concentrated in the middle of the leaf.

Lace bugs cause damage by piercing the underside of a leaf and sucking out the chlorophyll, which removes the green color in the leaves and reduces the plants ability to use the sunlight for necessary processes in a plant.

High populations cause severe damage on azaleas, turning the leaves from light yellow to nearly white. Heavily damaged leaves can turn brown, and severe damage may defoliate the plant. On rhododendrons, severe damage ranges from yellow leaves with green veins to mostly white leaves.

In the Northwest, overwintering eggs typically hatch mid May to early June depending on the temperature. Lace bugs can have 2 to 3 generations in one growing season.”

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Rhododendron with Azalea Lace Bug

Pest: Azalea Lace Bug Plants affected: Azaleas and Rhododendrons Symptoms: leaves turning light green then yellow or white. Pests can be seen on the back of affected leaves.

Solution: Prevention – make sure plant is well fed and as healthy as possible.

Early Season Control – least toxic – Insecticidal Soap and All Seasons Spray Oil. Systemic Controls – Systemic Insect Control or Annual Tree & Shrub Insect Control by Bonide.

For bee safety, be sure to apply these after the plants are done blooming.

For more technical information, please see OSU’s article at http://ir.library.oregonstate. edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1957/40424/ em9066.pdf.

How do I get rid of the lace bug if they are on my plants?

Step 1 – Prevention Ensuring a plant is healthy and as stress free as possible is the first step in prevention since bugs generally attack weaker or stressed plants. Make sure your azaleas and rhododendrons are getting the correct sun exposure – shade from the hottest afternoon sun in most cases, are in soil that is well drained, are fertilized well with an acidic type fertilizer (Espoma’s Holly-Tone), and get some supplemental water during the hotter parts of the summer.

Step 2 – Early Season Control Early season control is very important to reduce future generations and to prevent damage. Least toxic sprays such as Bonide’s Insecticidal Soap and Horticultural Oil, such as Bonide’s All Seasons Spray Oil, are most effective on newly hatched nymphs and should be applied at first detection of the insects (late May to early June). In order to be effective, these sprays must come in contact with the bugs, so thorough spraying of the underside of leaves is critical.

Step 3 – Other Controls Systemic sprays (sprays a plant absorbs or transports into its leaves) are typically the most effective type of control for lace bugs. To protect bee populations, it is recommended that these sprays are not applied until after the plants are done blooming – late May to early June depending on variety. Systemic Insect Control by Bonide is a control that can be sprayed on a plant, which is absorbed by the plant killing the lace bugs when they attempt to eat the plant.Spraying your azaleas and rhododendrons when the bugs are first detected will minimize the number of times you need to treat your plants.

Bonide’s Annual Tree & Shrub Insect Control is another systemic control that is very effective in controlling the lace bug. This control can be mixed and poured around the base of your plants rather than being sprayed. The active ingredient in this product is a neonictiod, so for bee safety, it is very important to not apply this product until after your plants are completely done blooming. The Annual Tree & Shrub Insect Control has a long lasting effect, so you will only need one application of the product over the course of the growing season.

Azaleas and rhododendrons are part of living in the Northwest. Their beautiful blooms can create some spectacular scenery in the local wilderness, as well as in neighborhood yards like yours. By providing the best growing conditions possible, and starting with the most mild response when you see a problem, your azaleas and rhododendrons can be healthy, thriving plants.

NUTS

bloom Homegrown

for Hazelnut Shells!

Oregon boasts an ideal climate for growing the world’s highest quality hazelnuts. Temperate ocean, mountain and river climates with rich volcanic soils make our area prime hazelnut-growing country. According to the Oregon Hazelnut Industry, Oregon produces 99 percent of the U.S. hazelnut crop.

Cracked hazelnuts pair well with everything from salads to chocolate, but did you know there’s also a use for the shells? Hazelnut shells are great for mulching and creating pathways in the landscape. They also help reduce weed growth, and deter slugs and snails.

Now available for purchase in bulk or bags, Al’s Garden Center sources its shells from Kyle and Anna Plaisted of KP’s Harvest Time Products in Aurora, OR. Wally Roots is their half-shell product and Wally Slug & Snail is their crushed-shell product.

“Our hazelnut shells look beautiful in the garden and are all-natural with no chemicals added, making them child and pet safe,” says Kyle. “The shells are resistant to decomposition, so they can last three or four years before the color fades.”

Kyle recommends spreading hazelnut shells anywhere you might have used mulch in the past -- in raised beds around edibles to prevent slugs from snacking, and around perennials or annuals to lock-in moisture.

Because the shells stay dry on top, they are also ideal for creating pathways.

To find out more about hazelnut shells, please call or visit any of our three stores.

10LB Crushed $5.99 25LB Half-Cracked $9.99 Bulk Half-Cracked $20 per ½ yard; $40 per yard.

Free delivery with minimum 3 yard purchase, within a 10-mile radius from the Woodburn and Sherwood stores.

Spring 2014| 13

bloom Living Outdoors

LIVE BETTER OUTDOORS

with Al’s 2014 Spring Collection

Make the most of your outdoor living space by selecting patio furniture that matches your style and budget. Look for comfort and durability, and be mindful of size. A patio set that is too large will overpower a small space, whereas a set that is too small will create an unbalanced look.

To maximize your investment, consider weather and fade-resistant frames and cushions. Nowadays, quality manufacturers provide many beautiful, yet practical, options that are built to last. Pictured are a few of our favorites.

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Above: Make a bold statement with this Cahaba all-weather wicker patio set, paired with bright cushions. Deep seating pieces feature removable webbed seat bottoms for the ultimate in comfort and support. Manufactured

by Erwin and Sons, renowned for its superior quality, exceptional beauty and lasting value.

bloom Living Outdoors

| Montego Bay Collection Above: Entertain in style with the Montego Bay all-weather wicker dining set. Built to withstand the elements, this set can be updated by adding patterned pillows.

Below: The Hampton Collection all-weather wicker set is crafted from a made-to-last durable finish. The timeless deep-seating design boasts comfort, size and durability.

Alfresco Home’s patio furniture uses Sunbrella™ outdoor fabric for ultimate water repellence and fade resistance that blends well with traditional or modern styles.

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Hampton Collection

Spring 2014| 15

bloom Living Outdoors |

Gabrielle Collection

Left: The Gabrielle Collection by Woodard evokes the lovely elements of French country garden design.

Hand-crafted from wrought iron for beauty, strength and durability, its Kodiak powdercoat finish stands up to the elements, and protects against chipping, rain, wind and salt air. Weather resistant Sunbrella cushions are UV stabilized and colorfast with zippers for removing cushion covers. Frame and cushions clean easily with mild detergent and water. Mesh table tops allow water to drain for no-fuss cleaning.

Right: The finest quality materials are utilized for the Classic Bistro set by Paragon Casual. Genuinely handcrafted using the latest manufacturing techniques and meticulously inspected for quality, strength and durability. All stone tops are created with premium quality natural stones. Every tabletop offers its distinctive “personality” in appearance, texture and color variation.

| Below: Enjoy the splendor of outdoor living without compromising comfort and durability with the St. Tropez Collection by C.R. Plastics. A unique manufacturing process creates the best recycled plastic maintaining the finest fit and finish on the market.

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St. Tropez Collection

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Classic Bistro

Below: The Generation Line Collection by C.R. Plastics colorful chairs are crafted from recycled plastic and built to last generations. You’ll never need to stain or paint and they will never rust, mold, rot or splinter. 100% guaranteed to weather our rainy Oregon conditions!

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Generation Line Collection

give them a

Sucker Punch

Sucker Punch is a plant growth regulator that stops suckers sprouting from roots and pruning cuts of ornamentals trees, fruit trees and other woody plants.

Apply after proper pruning Stops suckers from sprouting roots Lasts 6 months Easy brush-on application

25% OFF! Cushions & Pillows Valid: April 7 -15, 2014

$20 OFF!

Purchase of 3 or more yards of Al’s Manure Compost, Al’s Premium 3-Way Mix or Al’s Premium 3-Way with Topsoil Valid: April 7 - 30, 2014

bloom

Limited to stock on hand. Selection varies by store. Coupon not valid with any other offer. Not redeemable for cash. Limit one coupon per customer. Excludes special orders. Not valid on previous purchases.

$4.00 OFF!

Osmocote Flower & Vegetable Fertilizer Valid: April 15 -30, 2014

bloom

Regularly 11.99. 3-lb jar. Limit 2 per customer. Limited to stock on hand.

Selection varies by store. Coupon not valid with any other offer. Not redeemable for cash. Excludes special orders. Not valid on previous purchases.

bloom

Limit one coupon per customer. Limited to stock on hand. Coupon not valid with any other offer. Selection varies by store. Excludes special orders. Not redeemable for cash. Not valid on previous purchases.

ONLY $5! One Perennial 1-gallon size, one plant per customer Regular price $9.99 or less Valid: May 1 - 15, 2014

bloom

Limit one coupon per customer. Limited to stock on hand. Coupon not valid with any other offer. Selection varies by store. Excludes special orders. Not redeemable for cash. Not valid on previous purchases.

Spring 2014| 17

bloom Food

The warmer weather is upon us -- time to fire up the barbeque for months of outdoor cooking!

No longer reserved only for weekends, grilling has become a popular method of cooking for many of us all year-round. The wonderful, mouthwatering flavors from cooking over an open flame, along with no-fuss clean-up, and the health benefits make grilling an attractive alternative to slaving over a hot oven.

Whether you’re cooking chicken and veggies over Mesquite chunk charcoal or searing a steak or tuna on a hot gas grill, Al’s has the perfect barbecue grill for you! These top-brand names are not only the best, but the range of what they can cook might just surprise you!

BIG GREEN EGG: The Big Green Egg stands alone as the most versatile barbecue or outdoor cooking product on the market, with more capabilities than all other conventional cookers combined. From pizza to ribs to desserts, the Big Green Egg will exceed all your expectations for culinary perfection. Al’s Garden Centers (Sherwood) carries all five sizes along with all of the accessories you need to get grilling!

SABER GRILLS: Saber Grills are engineered for efficiency! The patented infrared cooking system allows for faster cooking with fewer BTU’s reducing fuel consumption by 30%. In addition to being efficient, Saber grills are made of 304 commercial grade corrosion-resistant stainless steel guaranteeing years of worry-free and maintenance-free cooking enjoyment!

Al’s carries three models of Saber Grills and lots of Saber accessories to choose from, assembled and ready to grill.

WEBER GRILLS: Al’s Garden Center (Sherwood) offers over 20 models of Weber Grills. From portable charcoal or LP gas grills to the beautiful Genesis gas grills. Featuring options such as the three stainless steel, 38,000 BTU burners, Sear Station, stainless steel Flavorizer bars and side burner. Weber grills are tried & true and beautiful, to boot! Pictured: Genesis® EP-330™ Gas Grill Available in Sherwood only. Pictured top to bottom: Large Big Green Egg, Saber 500, Weber Genesis® EP-330™ Gas Grill

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tips for

101

successful grilling

By Aaron Rivera, Al’s Buyer

Master the art of outdoor cooking with our simple grilling tips.

BE ORGANIZED

Since grilling can involve temperatures as high as 500 degrees or more, once you begin, you need to be focused and need not be sidetracked by last minute prep work. Make sure that everything you will need is readily available.

Tongs Instant read thermometer Plates, platters, Aluminum foil Fuel, charcoal or propane. (Nothing is worse than running out of fuel in the middle of a $50.00 Salmon filet…trust me, I have experience with this one.)

KEEP YOUR GRILL TIDY

One of the least appetizing things to come across is bits and pieces of last week’s barbecued chicken on tonight’s Tri-tip.

After you have pre-heated your grill, oil the cooking grates. You can do this by (carefully) wiping the grates using a folded paper towel that has vegetable oil applied to it. Or, spray the grates with oil (away from flames).

After you’re done grilling, leave the grill on (or burning, if using charcoal) for a couple of minutes to char any bits & pieces that may be left. Then, use a grill brush or spatula to scrape off those left over pieces.

TREAT WHAT YOU’RE COOKING WITH CARE

Don’t poke or prod your food (unless you are grilling on a skewer).

Use a spatula or long-handled-tongs to rotate your food, unless you’d rather drain all of the flavor-intense juices right onto your coals or burner -- and potentially start a grease fire.

Knowing how and when to baste your grilling subject is also important!

Bastes and marinades can be applied throughout the cooking period. *Remember, if you baste with a marinade that had raw meat or seafood soaking in it earlier, be sure to bring the marinade to a full boil before using it.

By mounding charcoal around the outside of the grill, or turning off a burner on one side of your gas grill, you can cook indirectly.

FINALLY, WAIT!

Just about anything that you cook on a grill will be even tastier if you let it rest before you incise your centerpiece.

Allowing meat (or even vegetables) to set on the cutting board, covered for a few minutes will allow the juices (flavor) that have been driven towards the center of your selection by heat, to come back to the surface. In the end, you’ll have a tastier and more tender bite. Enjoy!

If you are using a sauce that is sugarbased, such as barbecue sauce, apply it toward the end of grilling.

KEEP A LID ON IT!

Resist the temptation to keep checking in on your larger cuts of meat and poultry, such as a pork butt, tri-tip, tenderloin or whole turkey. These items should be cooked using indirect heat.

Indirect heat is a method of cooking where the food is not directly over the heat source.

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bloom Living Indoors

Top Picks for Spring!

Little Shirley vases are individually hand-glazed, sanded and stamped. Crafted in Washington using locally-sourced clay, potters take care to ensure that each vase is a one-of-a-kind piece of ceramic art. A portion of Littly Shirley profits support organizations working to cure cancer.

Addictively delightful to use and formulated to be safe for you, your home, and the environment, Caldrea household products are beautifully packaged and incredibly effective.

With scents such as Ginger Pomelo, Mandarin Vetiver and Sea Salt Neroli, cleaning the house will now be satisfying … and enjoyable!

Whether you’re running errands, dropping kids at school, or power-walking with girlfriends, you’ll look and feel great in Lucy Activewear.

Available in a variety of size and shape options to suit all women, Lucy’s designs breathe, stretch and are cut to flatter.

Al’s carries a great selection of the best-selling tops and jackets in bright spring colors, and two styles of slimming black pants.

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Soaps from Gianna Rose Atelier are not only sweet-smelling, they will leave your skin feeling great! Perfect for a gift or a quick pick-me-up, these triple-milled soaps are made using only the finest natural botanical extracts and rich emollients.

SIG-PrintAd-AlsBloom-2.43x10-Spring2014.pdf 1 3/12/2014 1

Al’s Annual

Basket Buffet

Join us for our annual

Join us at all three stores, Thursday, April 10th through Sunday, April 13th for our annual Basket Buffet!

Slide your basket down the ‘buffet’ and choose from an assortment of specially grown annuals and create your own hanging basket.

Al’s experts will be on hand to help, and $2.00 from every basket will be donated to your choice of the following local charities: M SnowCap Community Charities M Silverton Health Foundation M Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Pots, hangers, soil and fertilizer are included in the price, along with a specified number of plants for the 10-inch and for the 12-inch basket.

Cost: 10” Basket - $12.99 12” Basket - $16.99

BLOOM SEASON OPEN GARDENS! May 9 - June 1, 2014 Enjoy the beauty of our display gardens, plus wine, food, music & more!

Rain or shine, gardens are FREE and open to the public.

Learn more or order online:

(503) 393-3232 3625 Quinaby Rd NE Salem, OR 97303

bloom Purple People

What is your Spring Signature?

“Spring blooming bulbs! I’ve got hundreds of them planted in a strip in my yard that is 8 feet wide and 100 feet long. All kinds of bulbs, daffodils, tulips, hyacinth… There are so many bulbs that I have to take a picture with my camera when they are blooming so I can see where there is space to plant more in the fall!”

- Kirk Wade, Al’s Sherwood

“The Avondale Redbud tree. Their stunning, bright magenta blooms remind me that spring has arrived!”

-–Jennifer Giller, Al’s Woodburn

“PJM Rhododendrons… for spring. They are one of the first rhododendrons to bloom so I know when I see them bloom, spring is here!

I always plant them in my yard because they’re not a giant crazy rhododendron; they grow 3-4 feet tall and wide.”

- Tim Fidanzo, Al’s Gresham

“I hang up my Mason bee homes.

It’s spring in my yard once my Mason bees get busy. They pollinate my apricot trees. Apricot trees are the first fruit trees to bloom and using Mason Bees makes a big difference. I had a full crop of apricots after I started using them. My neighbors know it’s spring -and that they’ll be getting apricots from me -- when they see me hang up my Mason bee homes!”

- Lynne VanDusen, Al’s Gresham

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“My spring containers! As soon as the threat is over of my patio being washed away by rain, I’m outside planting my containers. I like a simple style for spring, a great looking single plant in a beautiful pot.”

- Kyle Schweigert, Al’s Gresham

“Cutting blooms and plants that are pushing new growth and bringing them inside. I bring daffodils, blooming branches, even fresh fern fronds inside the house to remind me that spring is here!”

- Sandra Foster, Al’s Sherwood

Spring 2014| 23

16920 SW Roy Rogers Road Sherwood, OR 97140 1220 N. Pacific Highway Woodburn, OR 97071 7505 SE Hogan Road Gresham, OR 97080 als-gardencenter.com

4 DAY

SALE! April 17 - 20

While supplies last.

Not valid on previous purchases.

Limit 7 per customer 24 | als-gardencenter.com

1-gallon

Tomatoes $

1.99