Spring is Coming!

Hi !

I hope the signs of spring are started to emerge in your area. We've had a couple of 60F (15C) degree days here in Seattle and it's been hard to keep me inside. Work? Wassat?? And this is why I love the Great Northwest: the daffodils, primroses, lenten roses, camellia trees... - are all blooming now. The saying, "the earth laughs in flowers" is pretty accurate!

So I'm catching up this week on a few things: I finally got a "How to Build a Miniature Garden" video done. I can't believe it's taken me so long to get this together for you. Here's more of the backstory. Please let me know what you think of the video either in the comments on the blog, youtube or hit reply.   

I taped my talk at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. The footage isn't that great, read: professional 😆 - but it was the best I could do with what I had and, often-times, this is okay - I hope. (Just tell them I said it was if anyone asks. Lol!) 

~~~
 

MORE Spring Plants (!) Have Arrived!

Along with our fresh miniature and dwarf trees and shrubs, our first order of "miniature garden bedding plants" are now in stock! See them here. 

Not ready for your spring in your area yet?

I try to always have a nice variety of miniature garden plants and trees in stock for you, but I can't promise I'll have that certain tree, shrub or plant when you are ready for your spring planting. 

BUT I can hold your trees for you! Purchase reserves the trees and you tell us when to ship - we will always double-check before sending them to you, to make sure your weather is right. Here are the deets: 

• Purchase reserves the trees and shrubs.
• Be Sure:  **20% restocking fee for canceled orders. 
• Reserve is for trees & shrubs only. 
• Estimated delivery by mid-May, or whenever you tell us to ship.
• *We will always check with you before shipping.

This got kinda long so grab a cuppa! 

Got a question or need some help with your miniature gardening?  Hit reply!

Whatever you do, make it fun,

The Miniature Garden I made during the new demonstration at the NWFGS. This combination was chosen not only for the great colors - and the "matchy-matchy-ness" (<~ technical term) of the pot-color, all the plants are matched for according to the plant's needs. The above combo will do well in full sun, hardy to -20F or Zone 5 AND these plants prefer to dry out to damp in between watering sessions to avoid over-watering.

The plants, from left to right: Chocolate Chip Bugleweed (Ajuga,) Primo Arborvitae wearing its winter blush (Thuja occidentalis,) Blue Star Juniper (Juniperus squamata,) and in front of the Blue Star is Elfin Thyme (Thymus serpyllum.) Behind this row of plants is a row of Dwarf Mondo Grass, or Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana.' 

The accessories are Large Size or 1-inch scale. The patio is made from one of our Pink Stone Sheets and installed with our very own Mini Patio Mix Kit. 

The ceramic pot is 13" (33cm) in diameter and 5" (12cm) tall. I don't normally plant in pots this shallow, I recommend at least 8" (20cm) deep because I like my miniature gardens to age and grow for years. So I might be repotting this next spring or fall - 2026. 

~~~

Janit Calvo, Miniature Garden Nerd, at the NWFGS.

Is it Dead? Assessing Plant Damage in the Spring

I think we all received a dose of extreme winter this year in some form which has left us wondering about the state of our garden plants. And, know that I'm just a slow to react as you might be - and I'm "supposed" to be a professional. Lol! I have to admit, during our hard-freeze a few weeks ago, I was looking around my garden saying to myself, "What have I missed protecting?" We are not apt to get a freeze that lasts for days so it took awhile for me to get my head around it. 

The answer to my question: I dunno but I will find out, soon enough. 

Which brings me to my advice for this week: Just Wait. 

If your plants, full size and mini, took the winter weather hard, just wait to see if they come out if it before giving up all on it together. Don't pull any plants out of the ground just yet, leave it be as long as you can tolerate as there may be some dormant life left in the little guy. Especially if your soil hasn't warmed up yet, it's worth it to wait and see. 

If there is a lot of damage to the top of the plant, the foliage is dried and turned brown, the plant still may likely recover. Shear or prune any damaged branching off as soon as spring makes an appearance in your area. 

**YOUR BARE MINIMUM if you get too busy for awhile: just keep your plants watered at the very least. A lot of the plants we use can tolerate the odd dryness from time to time - as long as it doesn't happen too often for too long. 95% of the maintenance work is watering. It's just a miniature garden and, especially this time of year, it'll wait for you. When you have a free hour or two one day or evening, you can tackle your spring dividing and repotting. 

Spring (& Fall) Advice + NEW DIY VIDEOS:
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