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Christianson’s Nursery Garden Notes Newsletter August 2023

Located in beautiful Skagit Valley,
we offer a wide variety of
common and uncommon plants,
garden accessories, antiques, and gifts.
Open Daily
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
"Summer afternoon...to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language"
-Henry James
August 1 - 17
Outdoor Containers
our huge selection of small to very large glazed and terracotta outdoor containers
15% off
August 18 - 31
Summer Heather
hardy blooming plants in a variety of colors
15% off
and
Water Plants
water lilies, floating plants, iris, and more!
15% off
Our Summer Vintage and Antique Market is Back!
Join us for an exciting weekend of antique shopping at the Summer Antique Fair hosted by Primrose Gifts and Antiques. The fair will take place on Saturday, August 26th from noon to 5 pm and Sunday, August 27th from 10 am to 4 pm. The event will be held under a festive white tent in the Meadow Field, north of the Nursery by the Vinery. 
We are thrilled to bring together multiple antique and vintage vendors for your shopping pleasure. Whether you're a seasoned collector or just starting out, you'll find unique and one-of-a-kind items that will add character to your home or collection. 
Don't miss this opportunity to explore the world of antiques and vintage items and find that special piece you've been searching for. We look forward to seeing you at the Summer Antique Fair!
*Please reach out to SaraJo at 360-201-3021 if you would like to join us or if you have any questions, and if you would like to receive an application.*
Visit the Skagit Valley Farmers Market Every Sunday!
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. through October
Mark Your Calendars!
Holiday Markets
November 12th, 10-3
December 17th, 10-3
Our mission at the Skagit Valley Farmers Market is to build lasting connections between our community’s residents and the stewards of our farmland, as well as showcase local cultural arts. We strive for a cooperative and family-friendly atmosphere that promotes mutually beneficial interactions among the producers and local residents.
This season we will continue to showcase the bounty of Skagit-grown fruits, veggies, and handmade crafts of local farmers and artisans. Visitors are welcome to take a seat inside the Vinery and enjoy market sweets and good conversation while observing local photographs on pea vining. We hope the Skagit Valley Farmers Market offers a space for experienced and new farmers to share their wisdom, their harvest, and their joy of farming with the locals, as well as out-of-town visitors.
Interested in selling with us? Contact Market Manager, Kathryn Shiohira, for more information at SkagitValleyFarmersMarket@gmail.com.
Mark Your Calendars!
The Skagit Vally Giant Pumpkin Festival
Saturday, September 16th
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off * Farm Animal Rescue and Mentoring * Face Painting * Family Carnival Games
Toad Observatory * A-maze-ing Hay Maze with Camp Korey * Food Vendors *
Sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Giant Pumpkin Growers, with Coastal Farm & Ranch, Skagit Valley Food Co-op, and Mount Vernon Tractor Supply
Christianson's Nursery is an official weigh-off site for the Giant Pumpkin Commonwealth (GPC), an international organization, which is sanctioned to submit giant pumpkin world records! Mark your calendar and plan to spend the day amidst avid pumpkin-growing hobbyists to view this year's Weigh-Off competition. Enjoy the early morning parade of trucks lining up to unload giant orange pumpkins and green squash that tip the scales to great weights.
Last Year's Giant Pumpkin Winner was Joel Holland, of Sumner, WA, with a whopping 1,614.00 lb pumpkin winning the $1,500.00 cash prize.
Mid-Summer Care for Outdoor Plants
Our warmer and drier summers are wonderful for gardeners who enjoy spending time watering... a lot of watering. As these days get hotter increase watering, especially containers and hanging plants. Remember with all watering, that deep, thorough watering is more important than frequent shallow watering. Many vines start looking their best in summer including star jasmine, honeysuckle, and climbing hydrangea. Keep a lookout for powdery mildew on akebia and honeysuckle vines, especially if they are somewhat shaded.
Hydrangeas, and fragrant summersweet (Clethra sp.) start blooming and looking their best in the warm weather. Potentillas and Escallonia keep on blooming and Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) will be starting to flower now or in August. Evergreen Magnolias and Stewartias are later flowering trees, and just beginning to pop.
Most roses will be in full bloom at this point or re-growing after their first flush of flowers. Unfortunately, this is now the time when black spot and powdery mildew fungi start moving in. Remove diseased leaves, do not compost them, and water at the base of the plant and not on the foliage. Also, apply fungicide regularly to keep problems to a minimum. A well watered and happy rose is a healthy rose!
Plant Spotlight: Aronia
Native, Adaptable, Medicinal, and Beautiful!
Chokeberry (Aronia sp.) is an adaptable shrub with year-round interest: fragrant white flowers in spring, brilliant red/purple foliage in fall, and berries that are rich in antioxidants and fruit into the winter. We carry many cultivars, some smaller growing and some taller, as well as some selected to have especially bright fall foliage.
Chokeberry is very adaptable and can grow in a range of soils from well-drained to quite wet, and will tolerate poor, compacted soil. It will take part shade to full sun, but flowers and berries more prolifically in sunny spots. Aronia can grow 6’ tall and makes a good hedge or shrubby border that will be appreciated by all of our native birds. We have a great selection, so come on by and check them out!
Picture credit: Proven Winners, variety 'Low Scape Mound'
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