Do you have a gardener in your life that you are still needing to buy for?  Never fear, Pea Patch has compiled a list of gift that even the hardest to buy for will appreciate.  In no particular order - here are the top gifts for gardeners:
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2.  Seeds and Seed Collections - a gift that will keep on giving for the year!  There are many themes and many companies that are so great for collections.  Don't know if your gardener wants to start their own plants??  A gift certificate to their favourite greenhouse is always an option!  A few ideas could be:

• Culinary Herb Garden - basil, thyme, rosemary, parsley, sage, cilantro, chives; the list is close to endless - Maybe add a qualifier like Italian herbs, BBQ herbs, Tea Herbs, Bartender Herbs
• Weird and Wonderful Veggies to Try - heirloom tomatoes, kohlrabi, eggplant, asparagus peas - another endless list with so many combinations! 
• Sunflower or Sweet Pea Collection - Bring a little nostalgia with these garden friendly favourites! 

3.  Birds and Bees - Is your gardener planting a lot of bird and bee friendly plants?  Here are some cool additions to a wildlife friendly garden!

4.  Community Garden Plot - Not all of us have a yard available for us to garden on.  For those who don't there are a lot of Community Gardens that offer plots for lease for very reasonable yearly rates.  Check with your local market garden, Communities in Bloom organization or church/community group for more information.

5. Statuary/Ornaments - these can be found in most box stores and garden centres.  Maybe they need their own BERTGNOMIO, or Buddha, or bird bath or frog spitting water for their yard?  

6. Gift Certificates - Still unsure what to get for the gardener in your life?  A gift certificate is a great option!

• Lee Valley Tools offers E-Gift Cards for last minute gifts!  LEE VALLEY
• Indigo/Chapters - great for gardening books!
• Amazon - you never know what you may find here :)
• Veseys - plants, seeds, equipment - Canadian Company
• Botanus - Right now all gift certificates are on sale!  Great value for bulbs and plants!!
• Pea Patch Gardens and Greenhouse - any denomination available!

Wow!  That was a fast summer.  I think I always say that though :)

We are on day 3 at the hockey arena and day 2 back to school - Hurray!  Yesterday I did some housework, baking and crafting; it was glorious.  Today I am catching up on a few things, then heading out to the farm for a bit.

We are starting to work on next year's order already - so if you have any requests, now is an excellent time to get them in to us.

Also: anyone interested in Fundraising with Pea Patch Gardens and Greenhouse next year - please let us know soon so we can include it in our "what we need" list.

Take care!

I got this message from one of our customers yesterday, and I thought I needed to share it with everyone:

"As you can see, my plants are doing great!  All except the catnip...no idea why it's just twigs!! Lol.  If you have more out there, I will take quite a few plants!"

Final Clearance on Now!  All baskets are $10, all flats $10 mix and match - many more deals - come out to see us, or send us a message to get brought into town!

It has been a crazy couple of weeks, both in the greenhouse and at home.  I was on such a roll with posting too...
oh well, here is an update (minus last week's pictures as I don't have them available as I type this.)

Last week I was able to visit the grade two's at Wheatland Elementary with a few "friends".  We talked about bugs for an amazingly fast hour!  Everyone was excited to ask questions and see my insect friends.  I had a lot of fun and  I hope the kids did too!

The Pea Patch Clearance sale has started, if you are looking for a deal - now is the time to visit the greenhouse!  

I can't believe it's already time to call last call on the Brassica crops in the greenhouse!  Grandpa Bert wants to get the "leftovers" in the garden - so if you are still wanting cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower or Chinese cabbage contact us asap to make sure we save you some before it goes in the ground!  After Friday it will be planted in our big garden.

 Mantis Update: We have had two more pods hatch, they are making their way all over the greenhouse.  You can often catch them on top of a dahlia plant hanging out.  Yesterday, we saw one of the bigger ones (I assume it is from the first hatching), stalking a fly.  Not to sound like my twelve year old, but the fight that ensued was EPIC!  Mom managed to catch a picture of the action - it's not completely in focus, but I was too busy cheering for the little guy to take a picture, see below.

I have had two very important questions this week, neither of them are very good - please keep your eye out for both Fire Blight and the Lily Beetle.

Fire Blight is a bacterial infection that attacks members of the Rosaceae family - pears, apples, cotoneasters, etc.
It is called Fire Blight as it describes the appearance of the disease, which makes the affected areas appear scorched by fire.  Typically it occurs in the spring and you see it first in the open blossoms and new shoots and leaves.  

It can be transmitted by birds, insects, rain and wind.  I will save you all the gory details how it spreads through the plant, but treatment is to either prune out infected areas and destroy these clippings (DO NOT COMPOST!), or spray with a copper fungicide.  There is no true cure, and if not treated the tree will die.  

The Red Lily Beetle is another problem recently sighted in Calgary.  This red bug will devour your prized lily plants if not controlled.  They came to Canada from Europe/Asia in the 1940's and have no predators.  To control this beetle, hand pick adults and larvae as well as use of diatomaceous earth will help.  They over-winter in the soil and debris - so be sure to clean up in the fall!

I think that's it for now, here's a look at the greenhouse week 4 (yes, I know I'm late with the pictures).

I have seen the appearance of Buffalo Beans starting to bloom around here.  When I was younger, I was told this is the sign to plant your lettuce - but I think it's time to get all of those seeds into the ground - except maybe tender, untreated beans depending on what the forecast looks like for you, they don't like cold, wet soil.  If you are adventurous - or are willing to cover up your plants, you can probably start getting the rest of your bedding plants in now as well (especially in sheltered areas of your yard).

Sales have been steady at the greenhouse, and now in addition to being sold out of Nasturtiums, we are adding both blue and white bacopa as well as green sweet potato vine.  We still have a great selection - so come out and see us!

I would like to wish all of the 2015 Strathmore High School Grads good luck this weekend; we are busy getting your fundraiser order ready to be delivered!

Until next time - may not be until next week, Happy Gardening.

Good Morning!

Pea Patch has an amazing number of baskets this season!  We did an approximate count before we opened - but I don't think anyone came up with the same number of baskets.  I think the number we are going with is 461, this includes Wave Petunias, Mixed Baskets, Petchoas (A cross between a Petunia and a Calibrachoa - I like them), Littletunias, Crazytunias, Fuchsias, Torenias, Thunbergias, and Tumbling Tom Tomatoes.  (And likely more I can't name off the top of my head.)  With Mother's Day coming up this weekend, I decided to do showcase a few of the baskets we have grown for you this spring, focusing on the larger Wave and trailing Petunias.  (Maybe I will get the Littletunias, Petchoas and the rest in another post.)

Now keep in mind, this is truly just a slice of what we have in the greenhouse.  To get a true picture, you need to come see for yourself!  (And I am NOT a photographer).

What a cool, cloudy and gloomy looking morning out there today.  I have decided on wearing jeans to the greenhouse as I'm hoping this will make the sun shine.  We are really busy at the greenhouse, finishing up transplanting, making planters, filing orders and watering, watering, watering!  

I'm often asked about what plant can go where in the garden, and today's post will feature annual plants we carry for hot and dry areas.  Now, keep in mind, these plants still require water and attention, all annuals require some care, but picking the right plant for the location will help it's chances of survival.

Here is the Pea Patch list of annual bedding plants we grow that do well in sunny, dry areas:

Portulaca -  a spreading, low plant that has a rose-type flower.  This was one of my Grandfather's favourites, mine too.
Ice Plant - another low spreading plant, this one is neat because of it's daisy-like flowers and sparkly leaves that look like ice drops.
Gazinia - another daisy-like flower - this one opens when the sun is shining and closes up when it's cloudy.
Celosia - this one adds a lot of interest in the garden, as it has interesting, bright blooms
Dusty Miller - a staple in the garden grown for it's silver leaves.
Petunia - so versatile, so many colours...I think we started with 77 flats this season!
Salvia - another interesting flower - this one spikes above the foliage.
Sanvitalia - a creeping plant with cute sunflower-like blooms, also does well in containers.
Nicotiana - a trumpet shaped flower that is a favourite of hummingbirds.
Ageratum - a blue puff-ball flower adds interest, I really love the colour of these blooms.
Marigold - another standard that will bloom right up until heavy frosts.
Dahlia - one of my favourites, dahlias look like they are hard to grow, but really require minimal care (deadhead, and water).
Geranium - what is there to say about the geranium?  I'm not their biggest fan, but love the scent.
Euphorbia - a white flowered filler, does really well in containers and I love both alone and mixed with other plants - such as a petunia.
Dracaena - aka "Spike", add some vertical interest to your beds and containers.
Verbena - spreads through your planting and adds pops of colour, very good in containers.

Now, I may have missed some plants that belong on this list - these are ones we grow and have available for this season.  If you would like to read further on these plants I highly recommend these two books, they are in my library and I pull them out regularly!

Signing off for the day, off to the greenhouse to play.  Have a good one!

Groan.   Maybe this bugs me more than it should because it happens to be my B-day and I have already heard it multiple times today, or maybe I just dislike Star Wars, whichever it is, and more importantly, tomorrow is Cinco De Mayo!!!

I luckily spent the weekend trying to make my house and yard looking like we actually live here.  I'm still not done, but that's expected when more of your yard is plants than lawn.  I bought myself a new plant - a Sum and Substance Hosta - I fell in love with it's humongous leaves, I know just the place I'll put it too, but I haven't gotten to that part of the yard yet.  I also saw a Japanese Holly Fern, I didn't buy it for myself and now I'm regretting it.  I will go get it today or tomorrow because I really think I "need" it.  

I am pleased to announce that Vinny the grape made it through the winter, as did my sage, lemon balm and Sunny Days (zone 5) rose.  Now I know that our winter was as warm as I thought it was. :)

I've posted this year's pricing list, hope to see you soon!  We have hundreds of baskets and planters ready for Mother's Day - which is this Sunday!  Don't forget about Mom.

Off to the greenhouse!  

Many people have been asking exactly what we will have at the greenhouse this season, so I have compiled a list - for exact varieties and day to day availability, please visit the greenhouse - as this is subject to change daily.   (And I may be missing some :) )


Bedding Plants/Baskets Planters:

Fuchsia
Euphorbia
Petunia
Verbena
Thunbergia
Torenia
Super-Cal (Petchoa)
Sweet Potato Vine
Littletunia
Gazinia
Marigold
Diasca
Statice
Ice Plant
Snapdragon
Coleus
Lobelia
Nicotiana
Salvia
Dahlia
Pansy
Ornamental Grass
Alyssum
Eucalyptus
Mimosa
Dracaena
Geranium
Impatiens
Ageratum
Brachychome
Dusty Miller
Kochia
Celosia
Begonia
Liquorice Vine
Sanvitalia
Portulaca

Veggies & Herbs:

Tomato
Broccoli
Chinese Cabbage
Peppers
Cauliflower
Cucumbers
Thyme
Chives
Parsley
Rosemary
Lavender
Dill
Oregano
Cilantro
Mint
Lemon Balm
Stevia
Cucumelon
Heirloom Melon