Bloom - Spring 2015

bloom b 2015 SPRING

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

URBAN FARMING CONTEMPORARY CLASSICS

COLOR COLOR

everywhere

At Home

Plant Well for Well-Being

Buy MORE Save MORE! Patio Furniture on all

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All patio Umbrellas, Cushions & Adirondack Chairs

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SPRING 2015 4 Letter From Jack Color My World

7 Urban Farming Gardening 101

8 Contemporary/Classics Purple People Picks

10 Emerging Styles in 2015

Patio Furniture for your outdoor entertaining

14 Where There’s Smoke There’s Flavor 15 Smoked/Grilled Zucchini Garden Recipe

16 Not Your Grandma’s Garden 18 Al’s At Home 21 The Best of Both Proven Winners & Al’s

22 Color Color Everywhere

Outdoor Pottery SALE

24 Summer Splash From Al’s Experts

25 Plant Well for Well Being

30% OFF Sale runs 4/9 - 4/20/15

Spring 2015 |

3

Color My World S

pring is my favorite time of year and for good reason!

After a quiet and plain winter, the color comes back to life and I can feel my spirits brightening up with each new bulb and blossom that burst from the Earth. Yes, there is nothing quite like the promise of spring to make someone feel like they’ve got a second chance and a new beginning.

That new beginning can take on many different meanings in a person’s life, but for someone like me who lives for gardening, it means searching for new, unique plants and creating memorable adventures in the garden.

Whether you are a beginning gardener or have been at it for years, I encourage you to try something new this year and experience the joy and unique flavor that comes from growing your own vegetables. I may be an oldie, but I know a lot about the goodies when it comes to vegetables. To give you a unique perspective from a couple of different generations, turn to pages 8-9 to learn more about my favorite vegetables and our grower, Jill West’s favorite picks.

There is something for everyone, and most importantly, it is good to experiment and discover what you and your family like best.

Urban farmers are popping up at every turn in our sustainable Northwest corner of the world. The Portland area is no exception. People everywhere are looking for a way to grow or raise their own food. To celebrate this adventure, not only do we offer a great line of edibles an urban farmer can grow, but now at our Gresham store, we have what it takes to raise chickens and have your own homegrown eggs! Even in a smaller urban plot, we have creative ways to help you make the most of your space. On page 7, Gresham Store Manager, Tim Fidanzo shares all you need to know about joining the latest wave of urban farmers.

Some of my favorite memories were made in my grandmother’s garden. Just the smell of certain flowers take me right back to those carefree, childhood days. Many of the outstanding perennial flowers that existed in our grandmother’s gardens are still around today and in fact, are even better bloomers and stronger than their ancestors.

For a glimpse at some new and improved favorites to add to your garden, turn to Judy’s (Al’s perennial expert) picks on pages 16-17.

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BOOST Plant Growth

I love the old adage, “Out with the old, in with the new.” It is a good reminder that change is necessary and a healthy part of life. Spring is a great time to switch out some of the tired plants (out with the old) and bring new life and change to your containers with flowers that scream spring (in with the new)! Turn to page 24 to see how Josh Clarke, our container expert, brings spring/summer charm to your existing containers.

with

Resilience™ Enriched

Home is where the heart is and there is no better time to celebrate it than around Mother’s Day. Though Al’s Garden Center has been a foundation for your outdoor landscape, we are now bringing the beauty inside with our stylish décor and home items. For gift ideas or home decorating concepts, turn to pages 18-20 for Candace’s (Al’s Gift Buyer) fresh new additions from the home department.

Growing Mixes

To grill or to smoke…that is the question! Now you don’t have to choose because Al’s has both options. Come in and check out our new grills and smokers, just in time for Father’s Day and the prime grilling season. Check out our featured barbecues on pages 14-15.

Spring has arrived and summer is right around the corner!

I encourage you to slow down, pause and breathe in all of the sights and sounds of this glorious season. Take advantage of this opportunity to start again, try something new, or just appreciate where you are planted!

12% 13% 40% EARLIER BETTER ROOT GROWTH*

FLOWERING*

INCREASED STEM DIAMETER*

77% LONGER TIME TO WILT*

* Results will vary by plant type and how you grow your plant.

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GARDENERS WILL HAVE STRONGER, MORE VIGOROUS, LONGER LASTING PLANTS.

Al’s Son & 2nd Generation Owner © 2015 Sun Gro Horticulture Canada Ltd. All Rights Reserved ®Black Gold is a registered trademark of ODIN Enterprises ll, LLC and used under a license.

TM Resilience and Organic Strength are being used as trademarks of Sun Gro Horticulture Canada Ltd.

www.sungro.com

30% OFF

Cushions & Pillows

Join us for

Valid: April 15 - 30, 2015

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.

$

20 OFF

the price 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 1 - 15, 2015

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.

bloom 50 foot ™

Medium Garden Hose

16.99 regularly

$

24.99

$

Valid: April 15 - 30, 2015

t e f f u B t e k s a B April 9 - 11

All Al’s Locations The popular Basket Buffet & Benefit is your opportunity to create custom hanging baskets with specially grown annuals, and to help your community. We provide the basket, hanger, soil, fertilizer and a specified number of plants for the small or large basket from the ‘buffet’. Al’s Experts will be available to help you choose the right plants for your location and to provide tips for beautiful, healthy baskets.

Small (10”) Basket - $12.99 Large (12”) Basket - $16.99

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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.

Any One 1-gal. Perennial for

$

5.00

Valid: April 1 - 15, 2015

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1-gallon size. Regular priced $9.99 or less. One plant per customer.

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.

For every basket purchased, Al’s will donate $2.00 to your choice of one of these local charities: SnowCap, The Silverton Health Foundation or the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge.

bloom

Urban Farming W

by Tim Fidanzo Gresham Store Manager

e can see it growing all around us: it’s creeping over the fences, lining the streets, and hanging from the window boxes in front of our houses. We even have to step over it sometimes to get to the sidewalks. It is both beautiful and practical. Urban Farming has taken over. Living in a city that is known for making the most of everything it has to offer is exciting. Future food security concerns such as rising prices, drought, and GMOs have spurned us on to take charge of growing at least a portion of our own food in whatever space we have available. Some of us are even lending out our unused front yards and sidewalk spaces to others to grow food! Even with limited space, we have creative ways to help you make the most of the plot that you have.

Ideas to Maximize Your Space Go Vertical ► When you

cannot go out, go up! Pole beans, peas, and even melons can be grown on trellises to maximize the use of space. Make sure to use a little hammock for your melons as they grow bigger; they will need the extra support. Old t-shirts or cut up panty hose work great.

Contain it ► If you live in a paved paradise, container gardening is the way to go. You can grow anything from lettuce to potatoes in containers. Some advantages of container gardening are that you can control the soil and nutrients for each plant and you can also rotate or move the container for specific growing conditions.

Lemons are a favorite container plant because you can move it in to protect it against frost.

Be Creative ► Urban Farming is both practical and beautiful.

Consider ripping out the lawn and installing raised beds in the front yard. You can create different paths,

shapes, and heights with raised beds. Also, you can use different materials, such as wood and stone, creating an aesthetically pleasing and efficient front yard garden.

Make it Sustainable ►

Whether it is crop rotation, composting, or having backyard chickens, urban farming needs to be sustainable in order to be productive. Using composting worms is a great way to quickly compost food scrapes in a space no larger than a few square feet.

New to Gresham this spring, we are carrying everything that you need to create a backyard chicken coop and sustain it after established. Besides the actual chicks themselves, we will also offer chicken supplies, bedding and feed to help you have continued success as an Urban Farmer.

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bloom Purple People

There are so many varieties of vegetables available at Al’s Garden Center this spring. Whether your style is “contemporary” or “classic”, you’ll find a great selection to fill your garden and your dinner table.

Al’s Head Annuals Grower Jill West, has a contemporary taste in vegetables, while Al’s Owner Jack Bigej loves the classics. Here’s a look at some of their favorites.

CONTEMPORARY Cucumber “Mexican Sour Gherkin’

These are cute 1” cucumbers that look like miniature watermelons, but taste like cucumbers with a tangy, citrusy flavor. I like them fresh tossed in a salad – no slicing or prep work required. Like any cucumber, these are pretty easy to grow. They are a little slow to start, but once they kick in they’ll definitely need to be trellised. Don’t let the fruit get any bigger than 1.5-2” or they can become bitter. My grandparents were of German heritage, so if you can pickle it, they would have eaten it. If I brought these to a dinner party, people would think that I must have an eclectic garden – eclectic being a polite word for full of weird and unusual varieties.

Squash Kabocha ‘Cha-Cha’

‘Cha-Cha’ is a winter squash with dark green skin and bright orange flesh, similar to a Butternut squash but with a nuttier, slight less sweet taste and starchier texture. Winter squash is my favorite, so I’ll eat it any day. If I had to choose my favorite way to prepare it, it would be cubed and roasted along with other vegetables like Brussel sprouts and cauliflower. This variety has more compact vines so it can be grown in smaller spaces. People wonder what my obsession with squash is (I even like roasting the seeds and eating them just like pumpkin seeds).

Tomato ‘Japanese Black Trifele’ Despite its name, this variety actually originates from Russia. This is an heirloom tomato that produces pear shaped fruit that ripens to a dark red, or almost black at the base. It’s got a rich, complex flavor. If there is one thing Jack and I can agree on, it’s that nothing beats a fresh slice of homegrown tomato. Despite being an heirloom, this variety is surprisingly high yielding, so be sure to stake the plant to support the weight of the fruit. As for my grandparents, the dark purple color may have made them skeptical, but the taste would have won them over. If I brought these beauties to a dinner party, everyone would want to be my friend because I’ve got homegrown tomatoes and I might be willing to share.

Jack / Jill

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CLASSICS Tomato ‘Dorothy’s Delight’

There are only two things money can’t buy, the first is true love and the second is a homegrown tomato. Dorothy’s Delight is a nice meaty tomato that doesn’t run all over your plate when you slice it. The only way to eat it is fresh, but then again, everything is better with bacon. I could eat BLTs all summer long, throw a slice of Walla Walla sweet onion in there, and that’s the way to live. They are named after my neighbor Dorothy, her family had been handing the seeds down for 90 years. If I brought them to a dinner party they would close their doors, because they know I’ve got Dorothy’s Delight tomatoes and I’m going to leave a bushel.

Asparagus ‘Jersey Knight’ When you get it in early spring along with a filet of Chinook salmon, and the asparagus has just been cut, that’s a meal! I like it microwaved for about 3 ½ minutes, with just salt and butter. The trick to growing tender asparagus is to raise it in a hoop house. In the spring when it gets warm, it’s about 75 degrees inside and the asparagus will literally grow a foot a day. When it grows fast, it is tender and sweet. The faster it grows, the better it is. My parents had an asparagus farm when I was really young. We grew asparagus above the Molalla River in Canby, where we had 7 acres of good sandy soil. Make sure you cut the stalks underground, that way it will keep sending up new shoots.

Cantaloupe ‘Sarah’s Choice’

This cantaloupe tastes so good you’ll never want to buy another one from the grocery store. I plant cantaloupe in rows, and put down black polyurethane between the rows because it keeps the soil warm and the weeds down. Mix your fertilizer into the soil, plant a row, lay a soaker hose or drip line, cover it with black poly and walk away. Most people don’t believe that you can grow cantaloupe in Oregon, but we are lucky to be in the Willamette Valley. I like mine with just a little salt.

Jack / Jill

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Emerging Styles in

2015

by Teri Schafer Al’s Patio Furniture Buyer

The way that we design, furnish, and maintain outdoor living areas today is different from the way it was 25 years ago, and this will keep changing as new designs, products, and styles emerge. These days, there are beautiful, blurred lines between indoor and outdoor designs. Warmer climates have always enjoyed outdoor living spaces, now

we are seeing an increase in colder weather climates, realizing they can enjoy their outdoor living areas from spring through fall, not just in the summer. Homeowners have a greater interest in outdoor entertainment as part of their outdoor living. Let’s take a look at several new styles that you can incorporate in your backyard this year.

Modern inspired designs with crisp clean lines can be created with outdoor sectionals that provide the ultimate in comfort. They allow you to be able to generate space to entertain your guests, or you can sit by yourself in luxury for a little rest and relaxation.

TOP Seville Collection; LEFT Eclipse Collection

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Colorful

styles are fun and energetic adding a pop of color in your backyard. There is something spectacular about being able to enjoy your dinner outdoors.

TOP Lake Lure Collection; RIGHT Kettler Colorful Bistro Set Spring 2015 |

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Traditional

styles that bring comfort, last forever, and speak to the timeless values that infuse a style that can be both formal and graciously casual.

TOP LEFT Tuscany Collection with Santa Barbara Classic Firepit table TOP RIGHT Tuscany pub height table LOWER RIGHT Sherwood Party Bar LOWER LEFT OW LEE fire pit

Fun

in the backyard starts with pub height tables and party bars!

Fire Pits provide warmth as well

as a cozy spot for eating and drinking.

Good conversation can happen out of nowhere when you combine the warmth and comfort of fire pits with good conversation and good friends.

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Spring 2015 | 13

SMOKE There’s FLAVOR

Where There’s

Now, How Do You Get That Smoke Flavor To Your Food?

It’s really quite easy and only takes a little preparation ahead of time.

For gas grills:

Start by soaking a hand-full of wood chips in water for an hour before you plan on grilling. This will allow the chips to absorb some of the water so they don’t catch fire. The idea is that they smolder. Once the chips have soaked, simply place them inside a ‘smoke box’, which is a stainless steel or cast iron box into which you place the chips. Finally, just place the smoke box on top of the heat diffusers on your grill. Start your grill and once you see smoke starting, place your food on the grill and prepare as normal.

S

The ‘rule of thumb’ for smoking is to use heavier hardwoods like Hickory or Mesquite for “heavier” meats such as beef or pork. Lighter woods such as apple or cherry work well for “lighter” meats such as fish and poultry. Lighter woods also work well when grilling vegetables.

I like to have one or two varieties of wood planks on hand just in case. I have my favorites just like everyone else, but why use Mesquite on steak and not halibut? Here’s some helpful information to quickly get you grilling to perfection.

Heavy flavored woods Hickory: Strong, sweet flavor, it burns hot & slow and is best on larger cuts of pork and beef. Hickory has a fairly universal flavor and works equally well on poultry.

Mesquite: Strong

flavor with lots of smoke. Mesquite burns hot & fast and is best on red meats.

Light flavored woods Pecan: Medium, fruity, sweet, nutty flavor. Burns cool and slow and works well with brisket and ribs.

Folks usually will combine Pecan with Mesquite for a nice pairing.

Apple: Light, fruity flavor that is slightly sweet. Apple burns hot & slow and works well with poultry and pork.

Cherry: Light and sweet. Cherry burns hot & slow and is best 14 | als-gardencenter.com

Al’s Garden Center is happy to now offer pellet grills from Louisiana Grills®. This is my favorite method of getting smoke to your food. These pellet grills offer the ability to smoke your food perfectly every time! The pellets are made of select hardwoods, and come in special blends. An extra feature of the Louisiana Grill is the ability to sear your food. This process seals juices inside your food right at the beginning, and then you can finish your food by smoking it to perfection. Stop in to see our selection of grills and accessories at the Sherwood store, and imagine this hassle free grilling experience!

Choose Your Wood

Maple: Definite, sweet flavor, it burns hot & slow and is very nice on poultry & gamebirds as well as pork.

It is as simple as starting your coals and once they are hot, placing the soaked chips or chunks of wood directly on the coals. Since the chips are soaked, they will slowly burn and give off lots of smoke.

Pellet grills:

by Aaron Rivera Al’s Dry Goods Buyer

moke is an important ingredient of grilling that shouldn’t be overlooked. I like to look at it as an unmentioned part of my grilling recipe…it can make or break your main course.

For charcoal grills:

bloom Smoked / Grilled

Zucchini

Ingredients 4 to 6 small to medium Zucchini 1 cup Balsamic Vinegar ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil Salt & Fine Ground Black Pepper to taste

Directions In a shallow baking dish, whisk together Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar, set aside. Slice Zucchini lengthwise in ½” wide strips. Place the sliced zucchini into liquid and “toss” to make sure the liquid is able to come in contact with all of the zucchini. Lightly salt and pepper to taste. Let set in refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours.

Prepare grill with wood chips and bring to medium heat. Once grill is hot and the smoke is starting to appear, toss the zucchini one last time to make sure it is well coated and put onto the grill perpendicular to the slats, this way you won’t lose any to the BBQ . Use caution, a little of the Olive Oil may drip down onto the burner causing a small flare-up. Grill on each side for 2 to 3 minutes until cooked. I like them a little more well done, but not mushy. Again, salt and pepper to taste.

with Ham, Fish and Turkey.

Spring 2015 |

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Z NOT YOUR a

GRANDMA’S GARDEN

by Judy Alleruzzo Al’s Houseplant Buyer

W

hen you were young, do you remember digging in the dirt, looking for worms or even helping your Grandma or Grandpa plant flowers in their garden? Those were fun spring and summer days, surrounded by the colorful flowers growing in their backyard. Memories stick with us even if we don’t remember them until we are turning the soil in our own gardens. There is comfort being in a garden and seeing the flowers we remember from those days not so long ago.

A lot has changed in the plant breeding world since our reminiscent, childhood days. Plant breeders around the world have taken the flowering perennials that grew

so well in your grandma’s garden and have made new and improved versions of them. These newer varieties perform even better. Perennial flowering plants return year after year in a garden after a dormant time. They usually bloom, then are dormant in the late fall until spring and then re-grow for the next spring, summer and fall.

Today’s Perennials these days have stronger stems, more abundant flowers, non-fading colors and longer bloom times than their ancestors of the past. More often than not, that favorite plant from your childhood has a new and improved variety ready to grow and dazzle the next generation of gardeners.

Carnation ‘Cosmic Swirl’ Series (Dianthus)

Shasta Daisies ‘Real’ Series (Leucanthemum)

Yarrow ‘New Vintage’ Series (Achillea)

Gaillardia ‘Sunset’ Series

• Available in ‘Cosmic Pink Swirl’ & ‘Cosmic Red Swirl’ • Blooms from late spring to early summer • Remove spent flowers for more blooms • Sun or afternoon shade. Height 16”. Hardy to -10°F

• Available in red, violet and white • The flower color will stay longer before fading • Flowers all summer • Remove spent flowers for more blooms • Sun. Height 12” - 14”. Hardy to -25°F

• Available in white and lemon-yellow • New varieties are great as cut flowers • Blooms spring to fall • Remove spent flowers for more blooms • Sun. Height 16” - 26”. Hardy to -20°F

• Daisy-like flowers in bright yellow, orange and burgundy • Compact growing plants with blooms that stay sharp as the flowers mature • Blooms summer to fall • Remove spent flowers for more blooms • Sun. Height 14” - 16”. Hardy to -20°F

Add these varieties to your garden to make new memories:

Catmint ‘Junior Walker’ (Nepeta)

• This variety is a low growing, non seeding version of ‘Walker’s Low’ Catmint.

• Blooms all summer • Remove spent flowers for more blooms • Deer resistant • Sun. Height 4”-7”. Hardy to -10°F

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Spring 2015 |

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at

HOME

Exclusively Northwest

by Candace Moffatt Al’s Gift Buyer

R

emember the first time you walked into an Al’s Garden Center and said to yourself “I didn’t know they carried clothes and accessories” or “Wow, that’s really cute, I can see that in my house”? I work to bring you only unique clothing, accessories and tasty treats. Many from the Pacific Northwest.

Learn more about the brands I’ve selected with your health and lifestyle in mind.

SaltWorks harvests their own sea salt from the pristine waters of the Pacific Northwest, and offer an all-natural handcrafted line of smoked and flavored salts that don’t contain any additives. Their strict commitment to quality ensures that our customers will receive only the cleanest, most natural products possible.

Getting into the weeds to bring good products to customers is something that Prana thrives on.

They consciously consider the environment when selecting fibers, yarns and fabrics. They request mills to select organic cotton, and substitute other non-natural fibers. Their goal is seek out safe fabrics to wear that are free of toxic chemicals or over processing of natural resources.

Based in Portland, Lucy is providing stylish apparel that is earth friendly, without feeling like you’re sacrificing style for the betterment of the environment.

They are using fabrics containing soy and bamboo fibers, which are easier to grow and require fewer natural resources to produce.

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Their truffles and bars are crafted from the finest all-natural ingredients with a distinctly local flavor. They make for the perfect gift or a late night snack for yourself.

Spring 2015 |

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Aggie’s

The Best of Both:

Aggie’s is a darling home and garden boutique in beautiful and historic Union, Oregon where they pour their soy wax candles by hand.

Baggallini was started by two flight attendants, Ann and Dixie, in West Linn 20 years ago. They started making and bags and travel pieces for themselves and others in the travel industry, but soon realized that everyone could benefit from these expertly designed travel bags. Baggallini’s business and customer service offices are in Tualatin now.

Baggallini provides well thought out bags and satchels for travel or everyday use.

What could be better than a Proven Winner® plant being grown for you by Al’s Garden Center? When we don’t grow them ourselves, we partner with top plant breeders from around the world so you know you’re getting the most distinctive plants on the market. Together we

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus) Satin Series

Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) Lo & Behold Series

& ensure the varieties we offer are vigorous, healthy, vibrant and unique. Once a plant from Al’s makes it to your house you can be assured that it’s easy to grow and care for, bright and colorful, disease free – but above all tried and tested and selected for you by Al’s.

Quince

(Chaenomeles) Double Take Series

Hydrangea Cityline Series

Every earring and necklace is crafted by hand in Portland. Harlow’s intent is to make the woman who wears them feel beautiful and sophisticated whether she is browsing the grocery aisle or dancing at her best friend’s wedding. Their motto is “find something you love wearing, and wear it well”.

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Spring 2015 |

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Isn’t it interesting how the colors we choose are found in nature?

PANTONE

®

Pantone 2015 Color of the Year:

is a company who has made their living from influencing the colors we choose. Based in New Jersey, Pantone is best known for their Pantone Matching System or PMS. The idea behind PMS is to allow designers, Landscaping Designers included, to match specific colors when the designer enters the production stage, regardless of the medium they are producing. That’s what ensures that Al’s purple is the same purple regardless of whether it’s the jackets we wear or the signage on our buildings. Each year Pantone declares a “Color of the Year”, which affects thousands of design decisions every day. This year’s color is Marsala, which is a red earthy color similar to that of Marsala wine. Enjoy the other “Colors of the Year” that Pantone has chosen and what we believe was their inspiration from nature.

Marsala

Rose of Sharon Violet Satin

Abelia kaleidoscope

COLOR COLOR EVERYWHERE PANTONE 180

PANTONE 417

PANTONE 338

PANTONE 470

Lavender PANTONE 2563

Lyrical Blues Salvia

PANTONE 526 22 | als-gardencenter.com

Geum Firestorm

PANTONE 1797

Spring 2015 | 23

Plant Well

bloom

h s a l p S r e m m u S

for

by Josh Clarke Manager at Al’s of Sherwood

A Tropical Container for the

Well-Being

Pacific Northwest

by Jill West Al’s Seed Grower

M

y favorite Allocasia or “Elephant season Ear” is a gigantic bulb of the that shows off very large year is finally here! leaves in the shape of Weekend trips you guessed it, elephant to the river, wine ears! They do quite well country and back in full sun and some yard dinner parties varieties can reach up to are just begging six feet tall. Talk about a to be planned. statement plant! I have There really is one that is about 4 years nothing quite like old now. Every fall after Elephant Ear Allocasia summertime in it is spent for the season grow up to 6 feet tall!

Oregon. Sun-kissed I dig it up, store it in the cheeks and cold bottles of rosé lend garage and replant the next season. themselves well to be enjoyed on an immaculately curated patio filled with Red bananas and crotons are amazing the bright colors that only seasonal in containers as well. The long, color can afford! strappy leaves of the banana sway in the evening breeze and a croton really This season I decided to take the adds some visual weight as well as mystery out of using bringing a ton of color— “Tropical” plants from deep reds to bright outdoors and bring yellows, all on the same the islands to the plant. In this container, Pacific Northwest. the bromeliads are really I think most the color workhorse. people are afraid They come in various to use what they brightly colored hues. would consider a houseplant in an Finally, I’m going to outside container throw in some jasmine mostly because they and a few summer will have to replace annuals to tie the whole when temperatures thing together. I love Crotons add interest and lots of color. dip. It’s really no jasmine in a container. different than I know it usually is planting zonal geraniums or petunias seen growing on a trellis, but for my though. They both reward with lots of containers, I’m going to use it as a splash! trailer to spill over the sides. It will bloom all season long and the scent is an added bonus!

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P

lants have a well-deserved reputation for being aesthetically pleasing and beautifying our surroundings, but they are more than just a pretty face. Did you know trees, ornamental plants, flowers, and vegetables have a significant effect on our economic and environmental fitness, as well as our overall health and well-being? Check out some of the ways plants can improve our lives that you might not have known.

And that’s all there really is to it. I’m going in head first knowing that I’m going to have to come up with a totally new design for the following season on the patio, but I know that every time I walk out the back door, I will be transported to the tropics.

Bromeliads come in many bright tropical colors.

Health & Well-Being Benefits Memory & Concentration

Learning & Development

Work performed in an environment with natural influences (indoor plants or views of landscaped areas) has been shown to be of higher quality and completed with a greater degree of accuracy than work completed in environments devoid of nature. Adding plants to classrooms has been shown to improve children’s focus and concentration on the task at hand, and increasing memory retention by up to 20%.

Children who play regularly in natural environments, be it parks or backyards, experience lower stress levels, greater fitness , increased motor skills, and sharper reasoning and observational skills.

Source Hall, Charles R., and M. Dickson. 2011. Economic, Environmental, and Health/ Well-Being Benefits Associated with Green Industry Products and Services: A Review.

Spring 2015 | 25

Reduce Stress & Accelerate Healing

Flowers Generate Happiness

Gardening can reduce stress levels by providing a positive outlet for stress and frustration and allowing a pleasurable way to deal with negative feelings. Plants in patient recovery rooms have been shown to reduce the time necessary to heal, while the act of nurturing plants can have therapeutic effects on people who have undergone mental or physical trauma.

People who keep flowers in and around their homes feel happier, are more relaxed, and have a greater level of compassion and empathy for others.

Environmental Benefits Attract Wildlife & Promote Biodiversity

Improve Air Quality

Creating diverse green spaces with a wide variety of plants provides valuable habitat for bees and other pollinators.

Plants help reduce our carbon footprint by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere through respiration. In addition, plants also absorb ozone and other pollutants that contribute to poor air quality, especially in highly populated areas.

Reduce Storm Water Runoff

Reduce Noise Pollution

The leaves and roots of plants and trees absorb significant amounts of storm water, greatly reducing runoff and the associated costs of purifying storm water. In addition, the roots of plants help prevent soil erosion and the loss of nutrients and minerals.

It’s been said that good fences make good neighbors, but landscaped areas also absorb noise pollution, significantly reducing the amount of noise in neighborhoods.

Economic Benefits Increase Home Property Values

Energy Savings

Unlike other home improvements, landscaping yields, on average, a 109% return on every dollar invested. Homes that are well-landscaped sell faster, and have a perceived higher property value among potential home buyers than homes that are not landscaped.

Trees and ornamental plants around buildings act as natural insulators, reducing heating and cooling costs by up to 25% compared to what a typical household uses.

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It’s Something to Bark About!

g o D

t m a e e r n T t t o p S “I love my dog,

BEFORE

Available at

today!

Save $5.00

on one ½ GAL RTS bottle of Revive® Dog Spot Treatment Expires 4/30/2015.

While supplies last.

One coupon per customer

AFTER

but keeping my lawn green with her around can be challenge. A treatment of Rivive ® Dog Spot Treatment eliminates troublesome spots caused by pet urine and feces. I found that it’s safe to use on all grass types and will not burn even in the hot summer temperatures. The safe, organic based material in the formula treats pet spots without requiring your family and pets to stay off the lawn. Best of all there is no raking involved, just spray, soak and walk away.

Most areas show recovery in 14 days.”

- Mark Bigej, 3rd Generation owner of Al’s Garden Center

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.

16920 SW Roy Rogers Road Sherwood, OR 97140 (503) 726-1162

To Advertise Call (503) 726-1162

Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without written authorization by Al’s Garden Center. ©2015

1220 N. Pacific Highway Woodburn, OR 97071 (503) 981-1245 7505 SE Hogan Road Gresham, OR 97080 (503) 491-0771 als-gardencenter.com

Flats of Annuals (twelve 3-packs)

5 OFFFlat Sale Ad

$

Regularly $18.99 each $

NOW 13.99!

Mix-and-match color and variety.

While supplies last.

Selection varies by store.

Sale runs 4/23 - 4/27/15