P.J.M. Rhododendron is a dwarf broad-leaf evergreen(does not lose its leaves in winter) shrub presenting masses of pretty, fragrant, lavender flowers in the late spring. Small, rounded leaves bright green in summer, turn a gorgeous mahogany in winter. Tolerant of cold, heat, shade and sun, along with its compact, mounding form-make this one of the most versatile rhododendrons. Rhodos must have well-drained, rich acidic soil, use plenty of peat moss when planting.

Newly planted P.J.M. Rhododendron

Care and Cultural Tips:

P.J.M. Rhododendron is deer-proof and somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, benefiting from being planted in a somewhat sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder zones. At maturity P.J.M. will grow 4 feet tall spreading 3 feet. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. Prune only after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season’s flowers. Feed rhodos after flowering with a low nitrogen/high phosphorous organic fertilizer.

Landscape Attributes:

An outstanding evergreen shrub planted in mass or standing alone as specimen. Consider planting with spring bulbs, hostas and ostrich ferns. For the zen garden pair this rhododendron with Japanese Maples and Lemon thread-leaf Cyprus.

Fragrant lavender flowers in late spring

P.J.M. Rhododendron as Specimen

P.J.M. Rhododendron adds interest, texture and colour in the fall and winter landscape.

Mass of P.J.M. Rhododendron

Can you believe it?  This week-end The Harrow Fair is celebrating 157 years of agriculture, big zucchini’s and down home family fun!

The 157^th Harrow Fair

“Busy Bees”

Thursday September 1st to

Sunday September 4th

Admission is $7.00 for adults

Children 12 and under are Free!

Weekend passes are available for $15.00

More

I thought I knew a lot of plants by sight and I do, so when I discovered this plant growing behind the shed at my home in Windsor, Ontario, Canada I was taken with surprise. I first noticed its gorgeous purple-red stems and black berries arching towards the ground. Looking up a bit, I spied clusters of dainty white flowers dangling gently amid dark green broad-leaf foliage 4 to 5′ tall and wide.  Let me say this widened my curiosity even more!  Was this plant something wicked or something wonderful? Having looked a bit online and in the reference books I’ve yet to find my answer, but never say never. Heck its what GARDENING IS ALL ABOUT, opening one’s eyes, the quest to find the answer, nature’s treasure hunt!

So I’m off to find the answer, unless of course one of my readers has my answer. Until then..happy hunting.

French dramatist and diplomat, Jean Giraudoux once said, “The flower is the poetry of reproduction. It is an example of the eternal seductiveness of life.”

For me a seed is the expanding universe, the miracle of nature, treasured and sure. It is all things. It pulses through our veins just as surely in the oceans and the air we breathe. Seed gives us hope of a thousand tomorrows. Persons that are keepers of seed have a desire to sustain and protect it. This is not an easy task. You cannot simply toss a seed over your shoulder and hope a plant springs forth. The experienced seed keeper knows this, for they have learned the rhythm of science.

We can all learn to be seed keepers and stewards of our planet just by opening our minds to the rhythm of science through seed. The heart will follow. It is the reason.

I hope that my journey as a seed keeper will inspire and aid you, should you decide to participate in nourishing our planet in a safe, responsible manner.  Grass Root Gardens strives to use certified organic seed at all times, especially for all my vegetable, herb, and fruit seedlings. I am constantly looking for heirloom varieties that provide outstanding taste, texture, and colour.

When I started many moons ago, I had no clue what a seed looked like! Well I knew what a seed looked like; I just could not tell one seed from another. This made it extremely hard for me to collect seed from a flower, not knowing seed from shinbone. I looked in print and online for images of what the actual seed of a tomato looked like. I hit the jackpot; the information was plentiful, cultural information galore (excellent) but not one picture of the seed itself. Short of purchasing different vegetable varieties from my local supermarket (do not laugh, I have done that) to see the difference, I was at a loss for the information I so desperately wanted. Perhaps had I access to images when I began my journey as a seed keeper I would have saved time, money, and the seed! No regrets, the journey is the fun, the lessons learned, the reason. Having a little help on the path doesn’t hurt. Let’s go..

I started these tomatoes from organic seed in a heated greenhouse on March 27, 2011. Planted seedlings in the garden May 22 and picked them for eating August 3, 2011 at 7:15 pm. Minimal cost, maximum benefits. Delicious, nutritious, organic, and GM free!

Not new to me, Bonny Best tomato produces an early crop of sweet-tasting, medium sized tomato with high yield. On to the cherry tomatoes, Sweetie is what it says, sweet. I like its taste, early- delivery, high yield, and the skins do not split like other cherry tomatoes. New to me this year is the Black Cherry tomato. I was excited to try this heirloom variety and it did not disappoint thus far. Black Cherry seems to be an early variety with high yield. I will not know for sure until later, but hey, that is the journey, the rhythm. Black Cherry tomatoes are a bit larger than most cherries, and their purple colour will pump up the colour in any salad. Pop one of these plump toms from vine to lips, they really do taste like black cherries.

Gardening is a joy but it is also hard physical labour. Lazy I am not but whenever the chance presents an easier way to do anything, I am there! Building a new garden plot requires little or no digging by following these easy instructions.   Give it a whirl, you will never fear the dreaded double-digging again!

Outline the shape of your new garden bed with your garden hose or something similar. If it is existing lawn cut the grass as short as possible. Once that is done get newspaper or cardboard and lay it on the shaped garden bed, overlapping the sheets like laying roof shingles. Lay newspaper using 4 sheets thickness, cover the whole area inside the shaped outline. Lay one thickness of cardboard if that is what you prefer. When finished, wet the newspaper/cardboard thoroughly. Now you are ready to lay the compost or organic soil on the area you have prepared. Lay the organic soil/compost at least 3ocm(12″) thick. Let sit for one week (the soil will settle and you will lose a few centimeters as it compresses). Now you are ready to plant your garden with Grass Root Gardens ‘chemical-free’ perennials. No muss, no fuss, particularly no digging. Once you have planted, water the plants in well and mulch with real cedar mulch 5cm/2″ thick on garden bed. Please pay attention to leave a 5cm/2″ diameter of dirt around each plant as mulch up to the stems and leaves could rot your new plants. Water the new garden well until established. Once established(usually the following year), most perennials will thrive with 3cm/1″ of precipitation weekly.

Sit back, relax, weed, relax, then watch miracles happen!

Butterflies in Flight

Your garden is a special place, peaceful, healing, and nourishing. It is colour, fragrance, and flutter. A place to leave the stress of everyday life behind. A place to wander and wonder. It is yours to share, or keep secret. It is inspiration. It is joy. It is yours.

Let it be ours too. Grass Root Gardens.

WELCOME

Welcome to Grass Root Garden’s Website. We are proud to share with you our fantastic new look! Grass Root Gardens’ website was first introduced the spring season of 2002. It was developed as a tool to enhance the customer’s experience with our Organic Garden Centre and all it has to offer. Gardens evolve and change over time, so too the plants we grow. We thought it time to have our website reflect these changes. Our extensive horticultural background has given us tremendous insight into the gardening marketplace in North America and we use the same successful approach towards Grass Root Gardens® with quality, uniqueness, exclusive varieties and new and retold introductions.

Why Buy From Us?

• Chemical-Free Garden Centre, Plants, and Seed.
• 600+ varieties available.
• New and exclusive plants and flowers for the landscape.
• Assortment of Perennials, Annuals, Grasses, Shrubs, Vines, Hostas
• Heirloom Fruits and Veggies for the Edible Garden.
• A selection of outstanding varieties of merit and beauty.
• Strong Industry Guarantee.
• Stewards of our Planet.
• Urban Farming Enthusiasts.

Customer Service Is Our Top Priority

Customer satisfaction is a top priority at Grass Root Gardens®. Our knowledgeable and experienced grower is always on premise to answer any questions about the plants we grow. We are there to guide you through your growing, planting and garden adventures. If you need assistance at anytime please call and we will gladly do our best to answer your questions in a timely manner. Can’t find the plant you are looking for? Perhaps we can find it for you.