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Only 5 days to wait!
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Nine days of fun, tips, tools and experts to help you make your yard into your dream landscape and garden!Le Tour des Plants Magazines are now available at Participating Garden Centers & Nurseries |
What to do that’s of interest to you!
 Touring with heart
Several Le Tour des Plants garden centers have organized benefit sales with proceeds going to worthy causes.
» See which ones here.
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 Kids/family
Have you ever had a fire-breathing dragon toast a marshmallow for you? I thought not! Daisy the Fire-Breathing Dragon is scheduled to toast all day, every day of the tour at Bloomer’s Nursery.
» View kid-friendly activites.
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 Special tours/visiting wholesale nurseries
Ever wondered about where all those adorable plants come from or what they might look like as grown ups? Wholesale nurseries Terra Nova and Peoria Gardens are opening their doors to the public during Le Tour, and J. Frank Schmidt nursery is opening its 10-acre arboretum to the public for the first time ever!
» Click here for special tours
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Find out the appeal of clematis at the extensive Rogerson Clematis Collection at Luscher Farm. The research facilities at Oregon State University Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture test plants and plantings to find which ones are suitable to use in ecologically beneficial garden features such as green roofs and rain gardens. The Oregon State Organic Growers Club invites you to see their all-volunteer organic farm.
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Crafts/hands-on demos
There are so many things to make and do, from seed balls to scarecrows, Pot Men to petanque, living wreaths to lavender wands, we put all the crafts and hands-on demos here.
» View crafts and hands-on demos.
Touring for food
Several nurseries are spotlighting what to plant for a great harvest, along with tips on how to turn fresh produce into superior salsa and gourmet meals. If you were wondering how to grow food in containers, how to prune fruit trees or which berry is best for backyards, these classes are for you!
» View Touring for food
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Food & wine & music
Gardening is for ALL your senses! Twenty stops along Le Tour des Plants will tempt your palate with such things as pastries, fresh roasted garlic, tomatoes, scones, apples, coffee, lavender lemonade, and more! Local wineries will be pouring at Larsen Farms, Out in the Garden Nursery, and Blooms-N-More.» Food growing and tasting activities. |
Catch live musical performances at Blooms-N-More, Dancing Oaks, River Rock Nursery, and Evans Farms. Click here for a listing of music and special events.
» Click here for a listing of music and special events.
Pamper yourself with a little chair massage at Madrona Hills ACE Hardware and Garland Nursery.
» Click here for a spa activities.
Help with garden design
My outdoor living space definitely needs help, so I’ll be seeking out one of the many free design consultations and classes being offered during Le Tour des Plants. With help, I can tame my wilderness with Japanese design elements, improve my corner of the world with a green roof and a rain garden, and perk up my garden’s fall and winter look with unusual conifers. And I’ll definitely check out how the right plantings can help make my home more secure!
» Click here for a Design activities.
Correction: Gathering of Gardeners coupon
The Le Tour des Plants magazine with activity details and coupons is now available at participating nurseries and garden centers. There is one little problem with the coupon for the 6th Annual Gathering of Gardeners: the date is actually September 20-21! Plan to attend at the beautiful Village Green Resort, and enjoy the celebration! Click here to visit the coupon page.
Drawing for Le Tour “granny bike” from Don Sprague
Don Sprague is offering one of his original works of art as the prize for a drawing to be held in conjunction with Le Tour des Plants. Don, the creative force behind Garden Gallery Ironworks in Hubbard, created a bicycle garden sculpture especially for Le Tour. You may have seen it displayed at the Yard, Garden & Patio Show or at Gardenpalooza in years past. Now you can enter to win one for yourself! Click here for an entry form. Winners will be announced on the Sept. 27 GardenTime show.
Garden Companion Photo Contest winners!
Heartfelt thanks to all the gardeners who sent in photos of their gardening companions, and congratulations to Bev B. and Diane C., this week’s $20 gift certificate winners!
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Of her two chickens, Diane says, “My gardening is so much more fun now that I have chickens, raised from 2 days old. Meg and Amy follow me closely, checking out every hole I dig for bugs and worms, scratching in piles of raked debris, eating seed heads, and often removing dirt particles from my clothing. They keep up a running commentary on everything and are just delightful. They are two years old.” |
Car pool sites
Gas prices cutting into your plant budget? Want to share the ride with another gardener? Check out these sites for do-it-yourself carpooling!
www.erideshare.com
www.carpoolworld.com
www.carpoolmatchnw.org
or of course, Craig’s List: look under community for rideshare
Or, make like a celebrity and tour in your own van! Gather your entourage and charter your own ride, with space for purchases! Check out www.raztrans.com or www.ecoshuttle.net for biodiesel-powered vehicles to navigate your route in.
Top 10 reasons to “do” Le Tour des Plants
- Great way to spend time with friends and family
- Cost-effective way to get landscape design ideas
- Fresh new plants at great prices
- Best time to plant in the Northwest
- See how enjoyable gardening can be
- Learn cool things like...how to make a willow bench or turn your produce into gourmet meals
- Experts will help you build containers that look great
- Learn how to start an edible garden
- Taste local foods and wine
- Visit nurseries and gardens that aren’t normally open to the public (J. Frank Schmidt Jr. Arboretum, Rogerson Clematis Collection, Terra Nova Nurseries, Peoria Gardens, Oregon State research sites)
About Oregon Association of Nurseries
– Producer of Le Tour des Plants
 The Oregon Association of Nurseries, based in Wilsonville, represents more than 1,500 wholesale growers, retailers, landscapers and suppliers. For information visit www.oan.org or call 503-682-5089.
Sponsored by:
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