Phoenix Perennials - E-Newsletter

The 2007 New and Notable Catalogue is so very close to being completed but there are other things to announce and a March e-newsletter that really should go out in March! So, fellow gardener, here I give you the March e-newsletter with an alert about a new hellebore shipment we have received, information about our exciting workshops in 2007, and details on the Master Gardener Study Weekend at which I'll be speaking. Despite the Master Gardener title, this weekend is open to the public. I have also included another call for applications for our Charity Shopping Weekends. We have already received some applications but I would entertain a few more.

I will likely send out a special e-newsletter shortly announcing the arrival of the downloadable deluxe version of the catalogue. Watch for it.

Hellebore Alert!
A New Shipment Just Came In
If you missed the Hellebore Hurrah! or didn't get that hellebore you wanted here's another chance. We have just received a new shipment including the following:

'Kingston Cardinal' - Luscious raspberry-red flowers atop red stems with dramatic red and burgundy-infused young foliage. Heart-stopping, mind-blowing, plant-lusting spectacular!

'Heronswood Single Yellow' - Beautiful pale yellow and buttery yellow flowers, some with moderate red spotting. These were not available at the Hellebore Hurrah! but we were just able to attain some!

Heronswood Double Purple - Rich, warm purple, double flowers with burgundy-infused stems and foliage.

Heronswood Single Green - Big, vigourous plants with large, apple green flowers. A knock-out companion for the darker flowered strains such as Heronswood Double Purple and Heronswood Slate. You wouldn't think that green would be so popular but these plants caused quite a stir at the Hellebore Hurrah!

Heronswood Slate - My favourite. Dark purple-blue flowers with a slate sheen. You have to see it to believe it. And just to send you right over the edge: the leaflets on the flowering stems are the same slate-black colour as the flowers! Oh my!

Workshops at the Nursery in 2007

Welcome to the second year of our exciting workshop program! This year we bring you some new talent from amongst the Phoenicians to offer you a series of informative and inspiring workshops.

Spaces are limited. Please call (604-270-4133) or visit the nursery to book your space. Payment is required when booking. Each workshop requires a minimum of 10 people and a maximum of 15-25 depending on the workshop. Workshop participants will receive a 15% discount on any purchases they wish to make the day of their workshop.

Down to Earth: Earth-friendly gardening techniques | Instructor: Diane Brown | Saturday April 7th, 10am | $15 | This workshop will introduce the concept of right plant-right place, highlight the benefits and techniques of natural lawn care, and cover the basics of soil preparation and care of your beds including composting and mulching. This is a great workshop to get the season started off right.

Principles of Garden Design: Learn the "RRVBESSS" principles to any landscape design project | Instructor: Cliff Thorbes | Saturday April 28th, 10am | $15 | This is a great workshop for gardeners of all levels who are interested in taking their design skills to the next level. Cliff will enlighten you with his mantra of "RRVBESSS", an acronym that sums up the major considerations in any garden design. These principles of design will give you new and exciting insight into working with your garden space.

Ephemeral Beauty of the Woodland Garden: Designing for shadey places | Instructor: Diane Brown | Saturday May 5th, 10am | $25 | We will explore principles of woodland garden design and introduce you to a palette of woodland plants from around the world including some BC natives. Each participant will have the opportunity to design a woodland garden bed with the help of Diane. Come to the workshop with a reasonable-sized area of your garden in mind including measurements and pictures. Maximum: 15 participants.

Structure in the Garden: Shrubs and small trees for urban spaces | Instructor: Jo Turner | Saturday May 12th, 10am | $15 | Well chosen and positioned shrubs provide an important structural framework for your garden. This workshop will discuss some of the best shrubs for multi-seasonal interest in the urban garden (including flowers, evergreen foliage, berries, and fall colour); selecting the right shrub for your situation; using shrubs in the mixed border; and general care including basic pruning.

Containers to Die For: Discover the easy secrets to success with perennial containers | Instructor: Cliff Thorbes | Saturday May 19th, two workshops starting at 10am and 2pm | $20 | This is a fun hands-on workshop for gardeners of all levels who are interested in learning how to successfully create gorgeous perennial containers. After some practical and design instruction each participant will plant up and take home their own container. Please bring your own large pot (minimum 12-14 inches in diametre) with enough space for at least 3 to 5 one gallon perennials. A large, black, seven gallon plastic pot can be provided at an additional cost of $6. Please order your pot when you book your workshop.

Climbers and You: Taking your garden up to the next level | Instructor: Jo Turner | Saturday May 26th, 10am | $15 | Climbing plants add a vertical element that extends and enhances the appeal of a garden, especially in small spaces. Learn how to select, display and care for vines that will lift your garden to new heights. This workshop will also include a segment on everything you wanted to know about pruning clematis but were afraid to ask.

The Buzz of Beneficials: Natural pest and disease control in the garden | Instructor: Diane Brown | Saturday June 2nd, 10am | $15 | In this workshop you'll learn how to attract and encourage beneficial insects and birds and how to repel slugs, deer and other unwanted critters all through your selection of plants and other tricks.

The Low Down on Groundcovers: Groundcovers that grow on you | Instructor: Jo Turner | Saturday June 9th, 10am | $15 | Groundcovers fill a wide range of roles. We will "cover" several ways of utilizing them including: groundcovers for naturescaping, scent, flowers, evergreen interest, and edibility. We will also explore the practical and environmentally friendly use of groundcovers as a lawn alternative.

The Essence of Place: Exploring coastal native plants | Instructor: Diane Brown | Saturday June 16th, 10am | $15 | British Columbia has a wealth of beautiful and useful native plants including shrubs, perennials, and groundcovers. In this workshop you'll be introduced to our friendly natives and the reasons why native plant gardening is vital.

Writers in the Garden: A purely personal perusal of some favourite garden scribes | Instructor: Jo Turner | Saturday June 23rd, 10am | $15 | Garden writing is especially enjoyable as a way of vicariously visiting gardens, plants or designs through someone else's perspective. The best garden writing is more than this however, encompassing all the qualities of good literature in any genre; facility with language, a particular voice, and the ability to bring whatever is being expressed alive. Through readings and discussion, Jo will share some of her favourite garden writers from around the world and our own backyard. You'll leave this workshop with a list of writers guaranteed to pique the interest of the plant obsessed.

The Dry Garden: Designing a xeriscape garden that goes easy on the drink | Instructor: Diane Brown | Saturday July 7th, 10am | $25 | A workshop on the principles of designing and planting a bed for a hot, dry, sunny spot. Each participant will have the opportunity to design a xeriscape garden with the help of Diane. Come to the workshop with a reasonable-sized area of your garden in mind including measurements and pictures. Maximum: 15 participants.

Grasses that Captivate: The transformative powers of ornamental grasses | Instructor: Jo Turner | Saturday September 15th, 10am | $15 | The popularity of ornamental grasses continues to grow as gardeners discover their many virtues. Don't get it yet? Come to this informative talk and learn what grasses can do for you and your garden. Already enamoured with ornamental grasses? You'll love this workshop too. You'll get tips on using them for best effect in your garden design. As well, you'll be introduced to several cultivars you might not have seen before.

Winter Containers: Plant up a container to create winter interest | Instructor: Cliff Thorbes | Saturday October 6th, two workshops starting at 10am and 2pm | $20 | This is a fun hands-on workshop for gardeners of all levels who are interested in learning how to successfully create gorgeous perennial containers that will provide months of winter interest and an antidote against the dark, cold days of the year. After some practical and design instruction each participant will plant up and take home their own container. Please bring your own large pot (minimum 12-14 inches in diametre) with enough space for at least 3 to 5 one gallon perennials. A large, black, seven gallon plastic pot can be provided at an additional cost of $6. Please order your pot when you book your workshop.

Diane Brown is a graduate of Kwantlen's Landscape Design program and was the coordinator of the Earthwise Garden for many years. She has designed gardens with garden ecosystems in mind and specialized in presenting earth-friendly workshops. She works part time for Phoenix Perennials and does landscape design, garden consultations, and workshops in her spare time.

Cliff Thorbes is a certified horticulturalist, artist and designer. He is passionate about container garden design and integrating original art into the garden to create a unique and personal statement. Cliff returns this year to reprise his popular seminars on design and on the secrets to creating containers that will captivate the senses.

Jo Turner (Dip. Hort. Cap. College) is a Vancouver gardener beginning her second season at Phoenix. She has a passion for gardens, plants, books, and the people who tend them. Her interests have led to several years experience in a variety of horticultural pursuits, usually involving mud.

The Master Gardener Update
An all day event, open to the general public, to get you warmed up for another gardening season
Sunday, March 25th, 2007
8am-3:15pm
Michael J Fox Theatre in Burnaby
7373 MacPherson Avenue Burnaby, BC (Rumble and MacPherson)

Is Gardening Perennial? A panel discussion on trends in the nursery industry
with John Zaplatynsky, president of the Garden Works Nursery chain, Gary Lewis, owner of Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants in Richmond, Cass Turnbull, founder of Plant Amnesty in Seattle, and Gwen Odermatt, co-owner of Petals and Butterfly Nursery in Langley.

I am currently accepting applications from charitable organizations who would be interested in participating in our Charity Shopping Weekends program.

Charity Shopping Weekends are a way for Phoenix Perennials to give back to the community while helping to introduce gardeners to our nursery. Each month one charity will be selected to participate in a Weekend. During that Saturday and Sunday 25% of each purchase made by a customer who tells us they are there for that charity's Weekend will be donated to the charity. Last year we held successful weekends for UBC Botanical Garden, VanDusen Botanical Garden, the HomeStart Foundation, and the Weekend to End Breast Cancer. Since we started the Charity Shopping Weekends in 2004 we have raised over $2000 for local charities.

The charity that can benefit most from a Charity Shopping Weekend is one with a base of supporters that can be easily (and cheaply) contacted and mobilized.

If you are involved with or know of a charity that is looking for fundraising opportunities, please forward this information to them and have them contact me if they are interested at phoenixperennials@shaw.ca or at 604-270-4133. I will then forward them an application form.

The participating charity will be announced each month in the E-Newsletter. If you would like to support that charity (or are looking for ways to justify your hortaholic tendencies), consider doing some shopping on the Charity Shopping Weekends.

So many of our new visitors come to us through word of mouth. If you like what we're doing at Phoenix Perennials, please consider telling your gardening friends about us.

Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.
One of the largest and most exciting selections of perennials in the Lower Mainland
Specializing in distinct perennials, fragrant shrubs, hardy subtropicals and the botanically intriguing

3380 No. 6 Road, Richmond (Between Bridgeport and Cambie)
604-270-4133
www.phoenixperennials.com

Please visit our web page for information on the nursery, driving directions and a map.
We are near the south end of the Knight Street Bridge and very easy to get to from all of the surrounding municipalities and beyond.