Bloom Magazine - Spring 2016

bloom Spring 2016

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

- David Austin -

Dedicated

to Creating Beautiful, Fragrant Roses

The BIG Benefits of

Begonias Tiny & Tasty Patio Vegetable Gardening

2016: YEAR OF THE

Delphinium

Olivia Rose Austin (Ausmixture)

Buy MORE Save MORE

Patio Furniture on all

Buy 2 pieces

Save 20% Buy 3 pieces

Save 30% Buy 4 or more

Save 40%

Sales run March 31st through April 21st at all Al’s locations

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Indoor/Outdoor

Pottery Buy 2 pieces

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Save 30% Buy 4 or more

Save 40%

INSIDE

Spring 2016

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4 6 8 10 14 15 16 20 24 26

Letter From Jack

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Find Joy This Spring From Al’s Experts

The Big Benefits of Begonias Homegrown

Tiny and Tasty Patio Furniture

Creating an Outdoor Oasis Grilling

A Better Barbeque Garden Recipe

Grilled Spinach and Artichoke Flatbread Al’s At Home

New Spring Fashions & Decor Cover Story

Dedicated to Creating Beautiful Fragrant Roses Perennial of the Year

2016: Year of the Delphinium Gardening 101

Container Friendly Vines

Spring 2016 |

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Find JOY This Spring

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his nice weather has me itching to get outside, and just like you, I couldn’t be happier about the prospect of digging into my garden. Each new season offers a new garden adventure and I can’t wait to see what this spring has in store!

The National Garden Bureau has announced its annual and perennial winners in the 2016 “Year of the” program. They include two of my all time favorites! For the annuals, it is the Year of the Begonia and for the perennials, the Year of the Delphinium. When making their selection, the National Garden Bureau chooses crops that are easy to grow and are genetically diverse with a lot of new varieties to choose from. What this means to you, the home gardener, is that these annual and perennial crops are tried and true winners in the landscape and in containers. They have withstood the test of time as old-fashioned favorites and they continue to impress with newly bred varieties. Our growers, Jill West (annuals) and Jason Keck (perennials) have a lot to offer this spring with several varieties of begonias and delphinium that will live up to your expectations in our Pacific Northwest gardens.

While delphiniums have already hit Al’s retail floor, you can expect to see a prime selection of begonias in early May. It’s time to fire up the grill and light up the night!

The backyard has always been a good spot to enjoy barbecuing, playing outdoor games and roasting marshmallows. Homeowners are beginning to recognize the value in creating comfortable, entertaining extensions of their homes with outdoor living spaces. Many of us have precious little time off, so our backyards have become our primary refuge for relaxation and we want to utilize this space as much as possible. At Al’s, we have everything you need to make your outdoor space uniquely your own. From patio furniture (I use this term loosely as we now carry much more than tables and chairs) to grills, pottery and outdoor garden accessories, Al’s has everything you need including the flowers to dress it all up. Stop in and see what’s new, I promise you won’t be disappointed!

When planning your landscape this year, I challenge you to think vertically! Vines and trellises are a perfect way to add instant beauty without losing precious space. Even if you aren’t “space challenged”, vines add a beauty all their own and the structure of a trellis or arbor adds contrast to your natural landscape. In this issue of Bloom, we highlight some of our favorite, easy to grow vines for the Pacific Northwest. It’s time for you to grab one and start growing “up”!

David Austin Roses have long withstood the test of time and they continue to deliver in gardens all over the world in a big way with their beautiful blooms, fragrance and disease resistance. They have been a favorite at Al’s Garden Centers and continue to gain in popularity as a customer favorite due to their consistent performance and attributes. David Austin and I share a passion for plants and I have always admired his determination and drive on his quest to breeding the perfect rose. Many rose gardens and home landscapes have benefitted from his hard work and are enjoying the roses that he has brought to life. For these reasons, and as David Austin celebrates his 90th birthday, it seems appropriate to feature a David Austin Rose on our Bloom cover and share more about his passion and path to successful rose breeding.

Whatever you do in your garden this spring, I challenge you to try something new and find joy in the beauty that surrounds you outdoors! I don’t care what anyone else says, I think that gardening is good for the soul!

I’ve solved more world problems while raking leaves and weeding than anywhere else. I hope you enjoy this issue of Bloom magazine. As we head into yet another glorious spring, I am grateful to have the opportunity to support your gardening habit!

Al’s Son & 2nd Generation Owner

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Enjoy beautiful blooms all summer long…

David C.H. Austin

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lant David Austin’s English Roses in your garden to enjoy wonderful color and fragrance throughout the summer. With their many petalled scented blooms, large array of colors and natural bushy growth, they will complement both traditional and contemporary spaces.

They are also magnificent planted in large containers positioned on your terrace.

DAVID AUSTIN®

Available now in-store at Al’s Garden Center

www.davidaustinroses.com

bloom

The BIG Benefits of

Begonias

by Jill West Al’s Annual Grower

B

egonias are your go-to annual when you are looking for a versatile flowering plant that rapidly fills the bed and not only performs throughout the spring and summer, but explodes in the fall with a glorious show of color. Though begonias have been a gardener’s favorite for years, many don’t realize all of the options now available in the begonia family. 2016 is the Year of the Begonia and what better way to highlight this easy to grow plant that thrives in a variety of conditions. Whether you are designing containers, hanging baskets, or garden beds, begonias are the perfect filler flower. Following are the begonia varieties that we grow at Al’s and their attributes.

Look for these begonias at all Al’s locations starting in May!

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Fibrous Begonias If you want a foolproof annual, fibrous begonias are about as easy as it gets. They do well in a variety of conditions, are drought tolerant once established due to their thick, semi-succulent leaves, and are a great plant for beginning gardeners because they are so low maintenance. Fibrous begonia’s true beauty is best showcased as a mass planting in flower beds.

Light: Part Sun, Shade, Sun | Height: 6-12” | Width: 6-12” Flower Color: Scarlet, Pink, White, Mix | Leaf Color: Green leaf, Bronze leaf

Nonstop Begonias

Tuberous begonias (also referred to as nonstop) come by their name naturally because of their continuous flower power! They are perfect in containers or hanging baskets that are located in an afternoon shade area. The Mocca Series is a gardener’s dream with bright bloom colors that pop against the dark, cappuccino leaf color.

Light: Shade | Height: 8-10” | Width: 8-10” Flower Color: Orange, Red, Pink, Yellow, White | Leaf Color: Green leaf, Dark leaf

Solar Begonias

Begonias are notorious for providing vibrant color in the shade, but Solar begonias break the sun shade barrier by offering that same glorious color in full sun. This bold and beautiful begonia, with its mixture of single and double blooms, can take intense full sun or deep shade. It is a great addition to your containers or hanging baskets.

Light: Sun, Shade | Height: 12-14” | Width: 12-14” Flower Color: Velvet Red, Dark and Light Pink, Salmon Coral, and Light Yellow Leaf Color: Dark, glossy green leaves

Big Begonias™ If you want big results in the garden, you have to think Big Begonias™. These low maintenance, self-cleaning annuals are heat and drought tolerant as well as versatile in the garden. They thrive in full sun or shade and fill in quickly to offer a big show of color. Their prolific blooms, extremely large flowers, and dense flower canopy are eye catching and saturate your landscape with color.

Light: Sun, Shade | Height: 18-24” | Width: 18” Flower Color: Pink, Red | Leaf Color: Green leaf, Bronze leaf

San Francisco & Santa Cruz Begonias -- For Sun

Perfect for pots, hanging baskets, and mixed containers, trailing begonias are easy to grow and offer vibrant color. San Francisco and Santa Cruz begonias offer unique, free flowing blooms that are long lasting and thrive in the sun. Available in gallon size and hanging baskets at Al’s this spring, you won’t want to miss out on the show that these begonias will give your garden.

Light: Sun, Partial Shade | Height: 12-16” | Width: 16-20” Flower Color: Dark Orange, Bright Salmon | Leaf Color: Glossy, green leaves

Illumination Series Begonias -- For Shade

This begonia is a winner for hanging baskets as it is a profuse bloomer and has long stems that cascade gracefully over the side of the pot. The long-lasting double blooms offer a spectacular show of vibrant color in the shade.

Light: Shade | Height: 12-18” trailing | Width: 6-12” Flower Color: Apricot, Dark Orange, Salmon Pink, Bright Red, White Leaf Color: Glossy, green leaves Spring 2016 |

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bloom

Home Grown

Tiny & Tasty Patio Vegetable Gardening

by Jill West, Al’s Seed Grower

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ant to garden but don’t have a garden?

Or as much of a garden as you’d like? Fear not – our new line of Patio Vegetables provides the perfect solution. These 12 varieties are ideally suited for growing in containers, while

their compact habit ensures they don’t take up precious real estate in the garden. Now you too can enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables no matter what size garden you have, because as Jack is always telling us at the farm: there are two things money can’t buy – true love and homegrown tomatoes.

< Look for this symbol on the tags of Al’s Garden Market Edibles to find varieties that are great for containers and small spaces.

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Beans ‘Mascotte’

Cabbage ‘Gonzales’

Cucumber ‘Patio Snacker’

Cucumber ‘Petipikel’

These dwarf, 16-18” plants produce slim, stringless beans continuously over a long harvest window. The beans are held on the outside of the plant, making for easy picking, and when blooming, it makes for a pretty ornamental plant as well.

This miniature cabbage variety can be harvested at softball size or smaller.

The very dense heads have a very sweet flavor, and can be eaten fresh in mixed salads or coleslaw, as well as used in soups and stews. The heads hold very well, allowing for a long harvest time.

Fast-growing with early fruit set, Patio Snacker is a great variety to kick-start the season. Compact, well-branched vines produce high yields of dark green, crunchy cucumbers that have a great flavor and can be sliced and eaten fresh or pickled.

This compact, short-vined plant produces abundant, crisp, sweet pickling cucumbers on tidy, attractive plants over a long harvest period.

Keep plants evenly moist to avoid bitter fruit and harvest often to encourage more fruit set.

Full Sun Spacing: 2-6” Days to Maturity: 50

Full Sun Spacing: 6-12” Days to Maturity: 60

Full Sun Spacing: 12-18” Days to Maturity: 39

Full Sun Spacing: 12-18” Days to Maturity: 60

Eggplant ‘Patio Baby’

Sweet Pepper ‘Mowhawk’

Sweet Pepper ‘Redskin’

Chili Pepper ‘Cayennetta’

A unique, high-yielding, compact variety that produces individual-size, 2-3” deep purple eggplants. Fruit develops very early, and has a long harvest window. The plants also have attractive purple blossoms, making them very ornamental as well as edible, and are thornless for easier harvest.

This pepper has a spreading, cascading habit that makes it good for hanging baskets or patio containers.

The sweet, orange, elongated belltype peppers can be eaten fresh, roasted, or sautéed.

A true dwarf pepper plant that produces many sweet, red bell-type peppers that hold well. The 4” fruits are perfect for fresh eating, roasting, or stuffing and can be harvested as soon as they are large enough to use.

These compact, well-branched plants have an attractive habit and yield large crops of bright red, mild cayenne-type chili peppers that can be eaten fresh or dried. Performs well in cooler temperatures.

Full Sun Spacing: 12-18” Days to Maturity: 45

Full Sun Spacing: 12-14” Days to Maturity: 75

Full Sun Spacing: 12-14” Days to Maturity: 75

Full Sun Spacing: 12-14” Days to Maturity: 82

Summer Squash ‘Buckingham’

Winter Squash ‘Honeynut’

Tomato ‘Big League’

Tomato ‘Fantastico’

A compact variety that produces abundant quantities of delicious, tender, yellow summer squash that are 6-7” long. Plants have a tidy, neat growth habit and establish quickly in pots and containers.

This variety produces small, individual-size butternut squash with the same sweet, nutty flavor as regular butternut squash. Plants are also higher yielding than traditional varieties, producing an abundance of 2lb. squash. Stores well in wellventilated, cool areas.

These plants grow only 4ft. tall, but produce large beefsteak type slicing tomatoes previously available only on vigorous indeterminate vine type tomatoes. Clustered trusses each hold 5-7 red tomatoes that are 4-5” in size.

Perfect for fresh eating.

The unique determinate bush habit of this variety makes it ideal for small space gardens, planters, and large hanging baskets. Up to 350 grape size tomatoes are produced in long clusters that are held on the outside of the plant for easy harvest.

Perfect for soups, salads, or sandwiches.

Full Sun Spacing: 14-18” Days to Maturity: 45

Full Sun Spacing: 18-24” Days to Maturity: 90

Full Sun Spacing: 24-36” Determinate Days to Maturity: 82

Full Sun Spacing: 24-26”.

Determinate Days to Maturity: 50

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Creating an

S

Outdoor Oasis

by Teri Schafer Al’s Patio Furniture Buyer

pring has sprung and everywhere you look it’s about color and texture. Popular trends this year in patio furniture include a focus on the look, the flow, and using mixed materials.

The first step is defining your style with the look, color and texture you are going for. Second, measuring your patio and deciding on the right flow of the furniture to create a comfortable space to move in and out of for easy daily use. Last, and very popular this year is the consideration of using mixed materials, whether it be all weather wicker, cast aluminum, wrought iron or a mixture of them all together. Outfitting your patio is an investment, so don’t forget to consider the quality craftsmanship and warranty of the furniture in your decision making process.

Continuing with the same themes as in the last magazine, we now have the floor full of many new collections, ready to outfit your outdoor spaces. Depending on your style, there are new Timeless Treasures and Stand Out Styles as well as lots of Fresh and Affordable collections to choose from at Al’s.

Brand new to Al’s this year is the elegant Grand Terrace Collection which comes in a variety of deep seating cushion club chairs, woven chairs and sectional pieces.

Timeless Treasures

The Palazzo Collection is a simple design lending itself to a variety of outdoor living styles. It comes in comfortable deep seating and can be ordered in a variety of pieces.

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Stand Out Styles

The Windsor Collection returns this year with a brand new textured fabric. It comes in a stunning transitional design inspired by grand furnishings of the past. Featuring a classic boxed wing, this groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s graceful silhouette offers an elegant yet understated look.

The Vollare Collectionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deep pillowed cushioning is the ultimate in outdoor relaxation.

The curvature of the frame and elegant arched back brings indoor comfort to your outdoor room year-round.

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The brand new South Pointe II Collection offers sophisticated transitional styling that will add a contemporary flair to your outdoor living area. This new collection has a small profile with sleek lines that will add an accent of color and be a perfect fit for a small deck.

Modern Inspiration

The Westfield Collection offers best of both worlds: dining comfort with a modern slat top look and comfortable deep seating. Dive into the season with a new modern and colorful group.

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Fresh & Affordable

The new Monaco Collection carries a sleek, Euro styling in a charcoal grey finish.

This collection is available in dining and simple deep seating to fit any size patio.

The Reno Collection offers a cross weave styling in a charcoal grey finish that offers a clean look at an affordable price.

Outdoor living is about eating, laughing and loving every moment in your garden. Nothing invites relaxation more than comfortable outdoor seating. Create an outdoor oasis in your backyard using the three “C’s” of casual furniture: Comfort - Making the most of the time off from your job is translating into the installation of creature comforts outdoors. It’s

making sure those comforts fit your lifestyle, personality and pocketbook. Remember, patio furniture can look great, but if you aren’t comfortable in it and it’s not functional, you’re done before you’ve begun.

Color - Color is certainly an aesthetic, something the eye drinks in and the mind remembers. It is linked to emotions and can soothe, calm or create excitement and drama. Add that pop of color that will excite you as you enjoy your outdoor space.

Creativity – Craftsmanship of this year’s styles have never been cooler. Go wild and get creative with your outdoor living space.

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A BETTER BARBECUE

by Aaron Rivera Al’s Grill Buyer

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pring is here and so is grilling season. Time to get new plants in the ground, pull out the patio furniture and take the cover off of the grill. When you take that cover off the grill, does it’s charred and maybe even rusty inside make you cringe? Maybe the time has come for a new grill. I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to SABER grills.

SABER grills stand out because of their patented infrared technology that allows you to more effectively and efficiently cook food, lock in more moisture, reduce the amount of time it takes your food to cook and reduce your gas consumption by up to 30%! Another benefit of SABER’s infrared heating system is the elimination of those scary flare-ups that you get on other grills. With SABER’s unique stainless steel heat emitter, the ‘peaks and valleys’ collect any drippings from your food, but, since there is no flame that directly comes in contact with the drippings, you don’t get a flare-up. Instead, the drippings vaporize, which adds more flavor to your food.

Grill with 100% Infrared heat for Juicy, Tender, and Delicious results EVERY time!

In addition, SABER manufactures their grills using type 304 (18/8) commercial grade stainless steel. Type 304 stainless is used in many industries including dairy, beer, citrus and marine. These industries use this type of stainless steel because of its resistance to corrosion and ability to hold up in severe conditions. The burner boxes, firebox liners and grease trays are porcelain coated for easy cleanup. In addition, SABER grills come standard for propane fuel however, we do have a Natural Gas conversion kit for quick and easy switch over.

Come in to Al’s Garden Center in Sherwood and Gresham to see SABER grills in person!

A SABER® grill’s patentpending cooking system design eliminates flare-ups.

Even temperatures across the entire cooking surface mean no more hot or cold spots.

Our high-efficiency burner system saves you money by using 30% less gas every time you grill.

Rapid pre-heat - from 0 to 700°F in 10 minutes or less eliminates time wasted waiting for your grill to pre-heat

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Wide temperature range provides you the ultimate flexibility when cooking. Whether slow roasting or searing, your SABER® Infrared grill will help you produce the perfect meal every time!

Reliable electronic ignition at every burner ensures no worry, hassle-free starting every time you use your SABER® grill

bloom

oke h ic t r A d n a Grilled Spinachicken and Sriracha h C h it w d a e r b Flat

This mouth watering dish was created for SABER Infrared Grills by the wonderful foodie blogger Colleen Kennedy of Souffle Bombay.

Ingredients

Directions

• 2 boneless chicken breasts

Oil your grill and preheat to medium-high heat.

• Salt & Pepper • 1 disc of pizza or flatbread dough,

homemade or store-bought • 1/2 Tablespoon olive or grapeseed oil • Spinach & artichoke dip,

homemade or store-bought • 3 scallions, thinly sliced • Sriracha

Salt and pepper your chicken breasts and grill until done.

Approximately 3-4 minutes per side, depending on the size of the breasts. If you use a thermometer, grill until reaching an internal temperature of 450° to prevent them from drying out.

Once the chicken is done, pull from the grill and let it rest.

While the chicken is grilling, shape your dough into an oval or rectangular shape. Using your fingertips, coat both sides lightly with the oil, then season with salt and pepper. Place the prepared dough onto a baking sheet.

Lower your grill heat to medium, carefully flip your dough onto the grill, close the lid and allow it to cook 3-4 minutes.

Take a peek. Lift with a spatula and check for grill marks and a crispy crust. If you have that, gently flip it over. If not, allow it to grill another minute or two.

Once you flip the dough, close the lid and turn off the grill. Allow the residual heat to do the rest. In 2-3 minutes, it should be perfect!

Remove the bread/crust from the grill and smear it liberally with the spinach & artichoke dip.

Slice the chicken and place in dip atop the crust. Season with salt and pepper.

Scatter the scallions over-top, drizzle with Sriracha, cut into portions, serve, and enjoy!

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New spring looks

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are at

Spring 2016 |

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e m o H @ s â&#x20AC;&#x2122; l A

As spring approaches and the sun comes out, we have dĂŠcor that can warm up any home and patio.

A

B

A Terra cotta animals add a natural

texture to your patio, and the terra cotta planters have that pop of color that will look like spring no matter what the weather is outside.

B The Paddywax soy candles are

inspired by long dinners, harvested flowers, local produce, and farm to table. Their soft, natural fragrances will warm any room in your house.

C These beautiful glass vases are hand made in Portugal, and come in multiple sunny shades.

D Add a modern country look with

these ceramic and glass decorative containers.

E Keep biting insects away from your patio party with this citronella candle in a stylish copper bucket.

D

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E

Basket Buffet annual basket planting event

April 7 - 9 All Al’s Locations The popular Basket Buffet is your opportunity to bring out your creative gardener and build custom hanging baskets or containers with specially grown annuals while leaving the mess behind. We provide the basket, hanger, soil, fertilizer, and a specified number of plants for the small or large basket.

Small (10”) Basket - $12.99 • Large (12”) Basket - $16.99 This year we are providing the option for you to bring in your personal hanging basket or container and fill it how you like. We have priced out the soil and flower plugs so that you may make your own custom creation in your personal container.

When you use

the original,

it shows.

Rose-tone® provides premium nutrition for prize winning roses. Made from all natural ingredients with beneficial microbes for superior growth, Rose-tone gradually breaks down to feed flowers throughout the growing season. Simple and safe, it’s no wonder Espoma has been #1 in organics for over 86 years!

A natural in the garden since 1929.

For more information call us at 1.888.ESPOMA-1 | www.espoma.com

L

ike us here at Al’s Garden Center, David Austin Roses is a family business of three generations. The story began way back in the 1950s when David C. H. Austin started to breed roses as an amateur on his parents’ farm in the heart of the English countryside.

Olivia Rose Austin (Ausmixture) NEW for 2016

Graham Thomas® (Ausmas) A wonderful rose that can be grown as a shrub as well as a spectacular climber. No wonder it was voted the World’s Favorite Rose in 2009!

English Roses are ideal to grow in large pots or half barrels to place on your terrace or back yard as well as making a fantastic welcome at your front door. Keep them well watered and enjoy their wonderful perfume at close proximity.

Princess Alexandra of Kent (Ausmerchant) pictured

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“I developed a passion for plants at a very young age. I fell in love with roses when my sister bought me a book on Old Garden Roses, which inspired me to grow a few Old Roses and I was able to appreciate, at first hand, their full beauty – their beautiful flowers, wonderful fragrance and their bushy, natural growth in the garden. As a means of comparison, I also ordered some modern hybrid tea roses and noticed that they flowered from early summer through to the autumn. They also included a wider color range including yellows and apricots.”

It was at this time, when David Austin was in his early twenties, that he decided on his subject and started breeding roses as a hobby.

His aim was to breed roses that combined the charm and fragrance of the Old Roses with the wide color range and repeat-flowering of modern roses.

The vision and subsequent achievements of one man are quite extraordinary. From a hobby, he developed a lifetime’s passion and quest to create a new breed of roses, that he called the English Roses. The journey was difficult as the fashion at the time was for hybrid tea roses and he was sailing against the tide. And yet his determination enabled him to release his first repeat-flowering roses in 1969, taking orders around the kitchen table!

A hobby has now grown into an international, premium brand and here at Al’s Garden Center we are proud to be stocking such a quality garden plant that provides great beauty and perfume for our gardens as well as a wonderful history.

David C.H. Austin OBE, VMH

- David Austin -

Dedicated

to Creating Beautiful, Fragrant Roses

Mr. Austin has just celebrated his 90th birthday and yet he continues to go to work in his office located at the bottom of his garden, finding new inspiration and ideas in the breeding crosses he is making. “Although I’m not as active as I once was, I come into the office most days. My passion is still very much in the breeding program and my favorite time is in the spring, when the first seedlings are flowering in the greenhouses (approximately 160,000 seedlings in total) and also in the summer to inspect the seedlings out in the trial fields.”

With a 9 year breeding and trialling process before introducing a new variety of rose, David Austin is a very patient man. As gardeners, we benefit from his lifetime’s work as he continues to introduce two or three roses each year. ‘Olivia Rose Austin’ (Ausmixture) is one of his new varieties for 2016 and it has been named after his grand-daughter, so it has to be something rather special! It is indeed, an outstanding variety – it commences flowering early in the season, with excellent vigor and beautiful, fragrant pink blooms.

David Austin’s goal remains the same as when he started breeding roses as an amateur nearly 70 years ago – to create garden worthy roses that combine beauty, fragrance, repeat flowering with good disease resistance. We believe he has fulfilled this goal many times over but his quest continues as he seeks that perfect rose.

Three generations of the Austin family at the Chelsea Flower Show, London 2015. David J.C.Austin Jr.; David C.H. Austin and Richard Austin

English Roses planted with mixed herbaceous plants to create a tapestry of color and texture through the season.

We would like to raise a glass to Mr. Austin and join him in celebrating his 90th birthday, but we must leave the last word to David Austin as he looks to the future... “With the continuous help of my son, David Junior and my dedicated team, there will be many more English Roses to come. My goal remains the same – to try to develop the healthiest roses possible without compromising their beauty, fragrance, grace and most importantly, their charm – the quality they are most renowned for.”

David Austin roses including the new variety ‘Olivia Rose Austin’ are available now in-store. Plant now to enjoy their fragrant blooms this summer and for many years to come.

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The Renaissance Garden, filled with English Roses, is one of the gardens located at the David Austin nursery and provides the backdrop to Mr. Austin’s commute to work!

Eglantyne (Ausmak)

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2016: YEAR OF THE

Delphinium

by Judy Alleruzzo Al’s Perennial Buyer

W

hen I think of Delphiniums, I picture flower spikes, blue as the summer sky, standing tall in an English style garden bed. It’s the photo that is conjured of a quintessential early summer blooming garden. Maybe that’s why The National Garden Bureau has named 2016 The Year of the Delphinium.

The ancestors of today’s Delphiniums, also called Larkspur, are native across the Northern Hemisphere including Greece where there are a few myths surrounding the naming of this flower. One myth claims it is named after the Delphi Temple.

Apollo, the Sun God, is revered at the Delphi Temple and it is said that he loved Delphinium flowers.

Another myth is that ancient Greeks thought the flower buds look like a dolphin. Delphis, the Greek word for dolphin, became Delphinium, the flower.

In the middle ages, the English started to cultivate Delphiniums and called them Larkspur, as to them, the flower buds look like a Lark’s claw. Delphiniums are native in many regions of the United States. The statuesque Delphinium flowers grow very well in the Pacific Northwest.

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New Millennium Delphiniums

Bred at Dowdeswell’s Delphinium Ltd. Wanganui, New Zealand

New Millennium ‘Dwarf Stars’ (above) Flowers bloom in purple, blue, mauve, pink, lilac, and cream.

Compact, well branched plants | Height: 18-30 inches | Hardy to -40⁰F (below from left to right)

New Millennium ‘Double Innocence’

Double Pure White, Frilly Petal Flowers

New Millennium ‘Pagan Purple’

Violet to Midnight Blue Flowers

New Millennium ‘Sunny Skies’

Light Blue Flowers with White Bees

New Millennium ‘Sweethearts’

Dark and Light Pink Flowers with White Bees Sturdy stem flower spikes | Height: 4-6 feet | Hardy to -40⁰F

Pacific Giants ‘Percival’

Bred in the United States by Frank Reinelt White flower spikes with black bees.

Sturdy flower stems | Height: 54-72 inches | Hardy to -30⁰F

‘Guardian Blue’

Bright blue-violet flower spikes.

Sturdy flower stems | Height: 29-39 inches | Hardy to -30⁰F

 Plant in full sun to dappled shade in the afternoon  Add a few shovels of compost to help the soil drain well  Bait for slugs when plants are just coming up  Fertilize with Al’s Slow Release Fertilizer  Water plants deeply and keep evenly moist  Trim back after the first flowers fade  A 2nd smaller flower spike will bloom later in the summer Al’s Farm is growing several varieties of the 2016 honored flower this year. As Delphiniums grow tall and not too wide, all gardens large and small can fit in a few plants!

Hints for Beautiful

Cut Flowers

Enjoy Delphiniums as cut flowers in summer bouquets.

For long lasting cut flowers, harvest Delphiniums in the cool temperatures of the early morning.

Trim off all foliage that may be submerged in water.

Change the vase’s water every 3 to 4 days.

Spring 2016 |

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bloom

Passion Flower

- Passiflora

Passiflora, or “Passion Flower” as it is commonly called, is a wonderful addition to any garden or patio. The vine can be quickly and easily trained to grow up a trellis, and when established produces some of the most interesting and unique flowers found in nature.

We humans aren’t the only ones who appreciate them - they attract bees and hummingbirds too! They can tolerate full sun, but prefer partial shade. Use a fairly large container with good drainage and your Passion Flower will take off in no time!

• Can easily grow up to 15 feet in a season • Feed with a well balanced fertilizer in the early spring to promote blooms.

• Can be overwintered if mulched heavily or brought indoors.

by Joe Rampone Al’s Dry Goods Dept.

s e n i V y l d n e i r F r e n i a t n o C S

pring is finally here, and that means it’s time to spruce up your patio or deck with some containerfriendly vines! Not only do they look great, but they don’t take up much space either. They grow easily up trellises and fences and can really liven up your porch or patio areas. There are tons of ornamental and edible vines to choose from, so I’ve narrowed it down to a few of my favorites.

Honeysuckle

- Lonicera

These vines are known for producing an abundant variety of brightly colored flowers that attract large numbers of hummingbirds. They can be grown as groundcover, but actually prefer some form of support such as a lattice fence or trellis.

• Full sun (Can tolerate a little shade) • Thin out the upper portion of the vine in the dormant season to ensure enough sunshine reaches the lower portions.

26 | als-gardencenter.com

Star Jasmine

jasminoides

- Trachelospermum

This evergreen vine loves to grow up any kind of trellis or post. Its star-shaped white flowers smell wonderful and are perfect for growing over an entryway. Just prune any upward facing shoots to maintain a consistent height.

• Grows to a height and width of between 3 to 6 feet • Full sun to partial shade • Blooms mostly in spring, but will continue to bloom through summer.

Hops

- Humulus Lupulus

Hops look fantastic when grown up an arbor a trellis, and they can be appreciated by gardener and brewmaster alike! They grow quickly and will send up new shoots starting in early spring and will die back in the winter.

• Can easily grow to a height of 20 to 30 feet if left unpruned • Prefer full sun and lots of heat but can tolerate a little shade

Hardy Kiwi

- Actinidia Arguta

Unlike its large, fuzzy counterpart the hardy kiwi can tolerate very low temperatures. In the wild, it is known to grow up trees, so be sure to provide some sturdy vertical support, such as a wrought iron trellis. In order to produce fruit, you will need a male and female plant.

One male can pollinate as many as eight female plants.

• Deep green, heart-shaped foliage with creamy-white flowers • Full sun to partial shade (Full sun for fruit production) • Requires rich, well-drained soil and lots of water • Can climb 30 feet or higher if not pruned back

We have a great selection of decorative wrought iron and cedar trellises that will stand up to the elements and provide the vertical support your ornamental and edible vines need to thrive. You can completely transform your deck, patio or porch with a well placed trellis with your choice of vine growing up, on and around it.

Spring 2016 |

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

$

Regularly $18.99 each $

NOW 13.99!

Mix-and-match color and variety.

While supplies last.

Selection varies by store.

Sale runs 4/21 - 4/25/16