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:
​

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!

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!  

Happy January folks.  My short ones are back to school, and the routine was surprisingly easy this morning.  Call me a pessimist, but I don't expect it to be the same tomorrow.  This morning I'm starting to work on the seed order for the spring, I figured that was a good task to start on a cold winter Monday.  It won't be long and we will be back at it, just 9 weeks until we fire up the greenhouse, yikes! I expect the next few weeks to fly by, as they seem to do in my house, as my schedule is, as always, packed full.  

I'm not much of a resolution maker, but I do have some goals and things coming up in 2015 that I am looking forward to: working on our new place in Montana, helping build the community garden with CIB, and a few little projects that have been on the back-burner for a while.
  
Until the next time, keep warm and GO CANADA GO!  

Another busy weekend at the Patch!  We are now gearing up for Strathmore's Annual Spring Fest.  This will be the fourth year that we have participated in Spring Fest, and look forward to seeing everyone out!  This runs Saturday, May 31 10 am - 4 pm.

People have been asking about the herbs that we carry, so here is a list with information and some pictures, (All available in a 4" pot):

Lemon Balm - Is used in teas and essential oils - I love to plant it where it will get brushed against near walkways, it is marginally hardy (zone 4) so it may overwinter if you have a sheltered spot for it

Cilantro - is used in Mexican and Asian cooking, I love it's fresh flavour added in salads, soups and tacos.

Basil - who doesn't already love basil?

Chives - perennial from the onion family, great chopped up in salad, or on potatoes

Thai Basil - spicier basil, can be used in place of regular basil

Lemon Basil - lemon scented basil - a fresh change in your pesto!

Parsley - great for everyday cooking and salads

Oregano - we have had a fantastic crop of Oregano this year, we are excited to dry some ourselves this summer!

Catnip - anyone with a cat will be popular with your furry friend with this herb!  Mine like it right off the plant, dry it and save for the winter months.

Sage - mmm, sage always reminds me of turkey soup.  Great in full sun!

Thyme - a creeping plant, great along walkways and sunny areas.

Rosemary - great for barbecued meats, needs hot sun to really do well.

Mint - I love mint!  It has so many uses (mojitos anyone?)  I dry my extra leaves for tea in the winter.  This one is invasive - I plant in a pot so I don't have to fight with it staying in it's allotted space.

Chocolate Mint - NOT YET AVAILABLE - coming soon

Lavender - NOT YET AVAILABLE - coming soon

Stevia - popular as a sweetener/sugar replacement

I am hoping to get my Sweet Grass plant going - the plan is to offer smudge sticks mixed with lavender or sage down the road when it gets large enough.

That's it for now, I will end this post with a slideshow of herbs :)  Have a great week and we hope to see you at the greenhouse or at Spring Fest soon!