It’s time for Summer School 

Just because the public school system is on their summer break doesn’t mean that we all stop learning, now does it?  Of course not!  Thanks to the local garden centers you can have countless opportunities to broaden your base of knowledge and have fun doing it.  All you have to do is check out the community calendars of your favorite local paper or go to your favorite garden center’s website and you will surely find something that is of interest to you.  Here at Sunnyside we are offering the following free classes during the month of July.  Hope to see you here.

July 11—SUMMER PRUNING—This is the first time we have offered a pruning class in the summer.  But the fact is that summer is a very good time to prune.  Plants are actively growing and heal much faster and pruning that is done this time of year usually results in much less re-growth compared to winter pruning.  For those of you that did a lot of pruning in late winter and early spring this is a good time to evaluate how your plants responded and to see if you need to make any further corrections.  We will review all the pruning basics like we cover in the fall and winter so even if you have taken one of my classes before this should be a good review for you.  Come with pictures and questions.  Class starts at 10:30am sharp so come a little early to get a good seat.   

July 18—LIVING ROOFS AND WALLS—Everyone was all abuzz this year about green roofs and walls.  Fancy hotels in downtown Seattle are now using them to conserve electricity and create a more attractive environment for city dwellers.  But living walls and roofs work for us small town folks too.  Maybe you have a garden shed you would like to turn into a green roof or a fence that you are picturing as a waterfall of plant material.  Or, if these ideas seem too grandiose then we will show you how to plant an old window to hang in the garden.  Whatever your dreams are, here is your chance to learn the ins and outs from the professionals who built walls and roofs for the 2009 Northwest Flower and Garden Show.  Class starts at 10:30am sharp.

July 25—CREATE A BACKYARD BIRD SANTUARY—These last couple of years I have really got into the act of encouraging birds to come into my garden.  It all started with a couple of cheap bird feeders, then a bird bath or two, then some suet cages and before I knew it we were watching all kinds of birds outside our kitchen window.  We’ve seen several types of wood peckers, finches, sparrows, nuthatches, juncos, black birds, mourning doves and a grosbeak or two.  If you enjoy watching our feathered friends half as much as I do then you will want to mark your calendar for this class.  Members of the National Wildlife Federation from the Camano Island Chapter will be here to discuss how to attract wildlife into your yard and how to get your backyard certified as a Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary.  No matter how small your lot is, there are simple things you can do to attract wildlife.  Providing food, water, a place to hide and a place to reproduce are the basics.  It’s a lot easier than you might think.  Join these folks at 10:30am sharp for this educational program. 

All of the above classes are completely free but we ask that you call ahead to let us know you are coming so we can make sure to have enough supplies and seats for everyone.  Gardening classes like these are a great way to start out a Saturday morning and get you all fired up for a summer project.  Check out the other nurseries in your area for other classes as well.  Some have a nominal fee to cover materials or instructor costs but anyway you look at it, it is cheap entertainment.