News Archives
Spring 2011, March 7th
Posted January 25, 2012
Spring Cleanup
It’s been a fairly unremarkable winter (we take no responsibility for the snow that may fall because of writing this, unless like most of us, you enjoy getting out the skis!). Past weather trends only serve to remind us that Mother Nature is notoriously unpredictable during late winter/early spring in our area. One week may find your yard coated in a gorgeous snowfall while the next boasts temperatures high enough for the robins to start singing. One thing we do know for sure is that once those temperatures start rising the leaf buds and early bulbs begin to show signs of life, and that signals the start of spring cleanup.
Now is the perfect time to contact us and get on our list. Our crews are eager to be out in the gardens again. Cottage Gardener spring cleanup includes raking the beds, cleaning up and cutting back spent perennials, and pulling up any old annuals that didn’t get taken care of last fall. We like to apply an all purpose fertilizer/soil activator in most instances, and a pre-emergent to prevent those nasty weeds. We will take care of pruning the winter-killed branches to allow for new growth, and remove any dead shrubs and bushes that did not make it through the winter. We can also thin out crowded beds and transplant to fill in bare spots if necessary. In other words, spring cleanup means just that: cleaning up your beds in preparation for the growing season. Getting your beds in order early in the season will make an instrumental difference in your gardens overall health. We look forward to hearing from you!
‘Hot Cocoa’. One of our favorites!
Posted January 24, 2012
Everything's coming up roses...
Roses are not just for Valentine’s Day! We love roses in our gardens as well. Many of our clients believe that roses are just too much trouble, require a lot of maintenance, are too prone to disease and insects, etc. Not so! With a little TLC your roses will give you many years of enjoyment with minimum care. Simply speaking, there are three types of roses we like to use: Tea Roses (one flower on a single stem, good for cutting), Floribundas (clusters of flowers over a long season), and Grandifloras (cross between the tea and the floribunda, flowers in clusters on longer stems, usually taller than floribundas).
Most roses require essentially the same kind of treatment. They need plenty of sun (at least 6 hours per day), rich, well drained soil, and room to breathe. Once you have found the best location for your roses, the next step is to buy them. So many choices! Not only are there the above varieties, but you may also be tempted by tree roses, climbing roses, hedge and shrub roses, miniature roses, groundcover roses, heirloom roses….the list goes on.
Most of our local nurseries here in Boise offer a great selection in the spring. Cottage Gardeners is happy to order for you as well; just give us a call with your wish list! If you are on your own, it’s probably best to choose your roses when they are in bloom, as many times the pictures just don’t ring true.
When should roses be pruned, and by how much? The best time to prune your roses is in the spring “when the forsythia is in bloom” usually after the last hard frost. Pruning too early runs the risk of additional frost injury. When pruning, you will be removing dead wood as well as weak and crossing branches. How much to remove depends on you. We like to tell our friends to prune for the shape you like, and don’t worry about it. Fertilize systemically once or twice during the season, deadhead the spent blooms, and enjoy!
There are hundreds of wonderful books available (online too) with everything you would ever want to know about roses. Start small and you will become addicted in no time!
Catalog Avalanche!
Posted January 23, 2012
Buy Local
Mid-winter seems to be the season of the catalog. Our mailboxes are stuffed with publications full of beautiful photographs and descriptions of plants and bulbs, making us long for warmer temperatures and the start of our growing season. Did you know that most of the same plants found in those catalogs can be purchased locally from Cottage Gardeners and our local nurseries here in Boise?
Buying your plant and nursery materials direct from local nurseries like Cottage Gardeners ensures that you’re buying items which support our local farmers and small businesses. Locally grown plants have a much improved chance of thriving because they are acclimated to our weather conditions and soil. Buying locally means you’re also helping to reduce the introduction of invasive insects, weeds and disease into your garden.
We’ve heard from many clients who were dissatisfied with the size, health and overall condition of their plants when ordering through the mail. In general, it is cost prohibitive to purchase plants online, either bare root or with fully developed roots. Buying locally saves on fuel and transportation costs, as well as cutting down on the stress a plant is subjected to during the shipping process.
So, please check with us first if you are looking for a specific plant. We are happy to accommodate you if at all possible. It’s not too early to call us or send an email with the list of plants you’re interested in purchasing this year. Our trained nursery staff and gardeners will take the utmost care of these new plants, ensuring they are ready to be planted in your garden as soon as the weather permits.
Please also remember to visit us on our Saturday Market Days (4-6 times per year) where we feature quality plants for sale to the public. If you would like to receive our newsletter letting you know of these events, please send us an email through our website.
Tips for the Gardener
Posted December 01, 2011
Landscaping Cloth and Bark
Fabric landscaping cloth has been a popular choice for many home gardeners. The claim of weed-free beds sounds very appealing. However, the negatives associated with the cloth far outweigh any benefits that few people may experience.
Good soil naturally repels insects, retains water and detracts weeds. Once you’ve installed landscape fabric, no compost or organic matter is going to be able to reach your soil until the fabric is removed. Organic material is much of what keeps nutrients in your soil, creating the ideal habitat for your plants and shrubs. Earthworms also find the landscape fabric inhospitable because they can’t breathe through it. Earthworms are a healthy gardens friend. They convert organic matter into humus, increasing the nitrogen and phosphorous concentration in the soil, improving the overall fertility.
Landscaping cloth also makes it difficult to plant and/or divide your plants. You first need to displace the bark or rocks, cut open the cloth, add good soil, etc…look at all the extra time spent, and you haven’t even placed the plant in the ground yet! Something else to keep in mind is that often when initially planting a cut is made in the fabric roughly the size of the plant. Over time, as your plant grows, the fabric will choke the plant; limiting its growth and lifespan.
No one likes to look at the landscaping cloth, so we cover it with bark. But the bark settles, moves, and turns an unappetizing color of gray…so we cover that bark with more bark. It doesn’t take long for those applications to build up and pretty soon you can find that there are 5 inches or more covering the cloth you’ve laid down. This barrier prohibits water from reaching your soil, and in turn, your plants roots will travel closer to the surface in search of water. This creates a plant that is less able to tolerate drought and stress, and making it more difficult for them to extract nutrients from the soil because their roots are now so close to the surface.
The best alternative to cloth and bark is to apply a layer of compost over the top of your existing soil. Compost should be applied during cooler months; up until March in the Treasure Valley. The moisture that we receive over the winter months will help the compost to naturally mingle with your existing soil. You will find that your gardens are healthier, you have fewer weeds to deal with (and those you do have will be much easier to pull when their roots aren’t tangled in landscape cloth) and any transplanting you decide to do will be much easier.
Winter Plant Feature
Posted November 30, 2011
Poinsettia
Poinsettia, euphorbia pulcherrima, is a plant native to Mexico. Joel R. Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, brought the first cuttings back to South Carolina in 1828. Today, the United States exports nearly 90% of the world’s poinsettia plants, with commercial greenhouses located in all 50 states. Poinsettia flowers are actually yellow. The beautifully colored petals are called “bracts”, a type of modified leaf that surrounds the tiny yellow flower.
Poinsettia’s require adequate drainage. Water as often as necessary, but allow the soil to get dry before watering again, and then soak the soil. Be sure that all excess water is drained away. Many are sold with a beautiful wrapper – be sure to remove the wrapper to ensure that drainage holes exist in the pot, and punch holes in the wrapper if you are replacing it.
It is not necessary to feed your poinsettia unless you are planning on keeping it past the Christmas holiday. To get your plant to re-bloom for the next season’s holidays, cut the plant back to approximately 4 inches in April. Water as needed, and fertilize the plant twice per month until October. The plant must be kept in complete darkness for 14 hours each night during October, November and early December. The plant should also be given six to eight hours of bright sunlight each day during this same time period. A good tip is to place the plant in a dark closet during this dormant time. No peeking though! Even the smallest amount of light will harm the plants schedule and it won’t bloom.
Fall Cleanup
Posted September 10, 2011
If you haven't taken advantage of our fall cleanup before, you may be wondering what this service entails. We pull annuals, cut back and divide perennials (that are not in bloom), trim and shape grasses and shrubs, plant bulbs and incorporate compost (if requested), and get your gardens ready for the winter season. We will also clean out containers upon request. Proper fall care of your beds makes a huge difference in the spring and in the overall health of your gardens. Once the flower bed cleanup is completed, we can return to your gardens later in the fall to rake again or to take care of any final trimming of perennials and pull any remaining annuals that were left at fall cleanup.
If you are a new fall cleanup client, and are interested in getting on our schedule, please contact us right away at 208-342-5195, or info@cottagegardeners.com. If you are a current maintenance client, we will work your fall cleanup into your regular maintenance schedule.
Tips for the Gardener
Posted August 19, 2011
August is a great time to harvest your herbs and flowers for drying and preserving. The optimal time to do this is during mid-morning hours. Allow any dew to dry off the herbs, but harvest before the sun causes them to wilt.
Boise is still experiencing hot weather. Keep the moisture coming, but don't be tempted to over spray everything (including your yard). Surface watering encourages the plants roots to come to the surface in order to receive the most water, which in turn will make them very vulnerable to drying out. Continue to water at the base of your plants to keep them healthy.
Overcrowded lily-of-the-valley bulbs will benefit from being dug up, separated and replanted individually at this time.
Keep pinching back the flowers off of your coleus and cut back a bit if they have become too leggy.
Deadhead roses, daisies and other repeat bloomers and continue to feed.
If your garden is missing color consider planting asters, hydrangeas, dahlias and hibiscus. Each of these plants come in beautiful colors and will provide blooms throughout the fall with proper care.
And finally, be sure to take plenty of pictures of your garden while it is in full bloom to help you prep for spring planting. This winter when you're daydreaming about warmer days and fragrant gardens you will have pictures to remind you of where the empty spots are and to help you decide on new color combination's.
August Plant of the Month
Posted August 16, 2011
Sedums
Wow! Varieties galore! Just like Echinacea (July Plant of the Month) the industry keeps producing more plants to tempt us! Sedum is a large genus of flowering plants, commonly known as stonecrop. There are ground cover sedums such as Angelina (our February Plant of the Month), tall sedums, red, purple, lime & blue leaf sedums, and sedums with variegated foliage — every one producing blooms in all colors throughout the season.
The various species differ in their requirements, but most are cold hardy and drought tolerant. They love the Boise heat, but be careful not to overwater!
An added benefit: They are deer proof!
August Market Day - CANCELED
Posted August 16, 2011
It’s time to take a break! The gardeners are tired and the plants are tired! Working all day in the heat has taken its toll on all of us.
But please come visit us for our September Market Day on the 17th for great bargains on plants, as well as some fresh new plants and ideas for fall. We’ll even have some freshly baked pies for sale!
Thank you to all of you that have made our market days so successful this year! We’ll miss seeing you in August, but feel free to stop in anytime if you are in the neighborhood. Our display garden is looking fabulous!
July Plant of the Month
Posted July 11, 2011
Echinacea
We love Echinaceas! A North American native, Echinacea produces a daisy like flower with a very cool prickly orange central cone. Most start blooming in July, and are wonderful for cutting and attracting butterflies and bees. The traditional Purple Coneflower is tall, but many new varieties now offer a shorter and more compact plant, as well as new colors and shapes.
Some of the newer varieties have fun names such as Green Envy, Pica Bella, Tomato Soup, Hot Papaya, and Tangerine Dream. Echinaceas make a bold statement in sunny borders with good drainage.
Come and check them out in our display garden.
Tips for the Gardener
Posted July 11, 2011
We have had such a crazy weather year so far in Boise! First it was too wet and cold; some perennials suffered, and annuals were dropping dead as soon as they were planted (coleus and zinnias especially). Suddenly we were bombarded with hot and dry!
What to do? Monitored irrigation (and good soil) is the key to successful gardening. Just like our bodies, plants need to be cared for on a daily basis! Too much water can be instant death to some plants and not enough water can result in weak and stunted growth. New plantings need DEEP watering (30 minutes or so several times per week) until they are established.
When planting, it is very important to:
1) dig a hole and work up the soil
2) set the plant in the hole
3) pour ½-1 gallon water over the roots
4) let the water drain
5) fill the hole back in with soil
6) firm soil around the base of the plant, and ENJOY.
The reason we like to water the roots is to make sure the plants get off to a fighting start! Overhead watering sometimes is not adequate enough to reach the roots, therefore resulting in weak and unhealthy plants.
July Market Day
Posted July 06, 2011
Join us for our July Market Day!
July 16, 10am-2pm
Please join us for our monthly Market Day and Open House. This month we will be featuring all kinds of beautiful GRASSES, as well as some MARK DOWNS on perennials and annuals. You will be able to purchase some of our favorite gardening tools, and specialty items will be available for sale or special order. We almost sold out of our Adirondack Chairs during our June Market Day, and we have some tables still available for purchase!
In support of our Bookkeeper, Mindy Walker, who is currently battling cancer, Cottage Gardeners will be donating 5% of our July Market Day profits towards her medical expenses. If anyone wishes to make a contribution outside of this event they can be sent directly to Mindy, care of Cottage Gardeners.
Mindy Walker
c/o Cottage Gardeners Inc.
600 N. Latah Street
Boise Idaho 83706
We hope you'll stop by and see us! Our display garden is looking fabulous this time of year... take a stroll through it and find the plants you would love to cultivate in your own garden.
May Plant of the Month
Posted May 03, 2011
Euphorbia Polychroma
There are 2,008 species of Euphorbia! It is one of the most diverse in the plant kingdom. Among all these, we love Euphorbia Polychroma, having found it to be the only truly reliable variety for our area. They need full sun and grow in a lovely mounded shape, reaching 12” to 18” in height. Euphorbia is known for its foliage and produces chartreuse yellow blooms in late spring. We have several beautiful specimens in our display garden. You are welcome to come take a look!
Among the Euphorbia Polychroma is “Bonfire”, and “First Blush”. “Bonfire” foliage has an exquisite burgundy, bronze-green tone and sports a yellow bloom as well. “First Blush” has a variegated, pale green leaf with white margins. Its new growth has a rose-pink tint and, as with the others, yellow flowers in the spring. These Euphorbia are wonderful in containers or in your perennial garden.
Another plant is Euphorbia Robbiae. It is mostly evergreen with green foliage, and provides good ground cover for sunny or shady areas. The “Fens Ruby” Euphorbia also makes a good groundcover and has soft, narrow, blue-green foliage, reddish stems and masses of chartreuse “flowers” in early spring. These are both spreaders, so be careful!
As an aside, Euphorbia is sometimes called by its common name, Spurge. Spurge derives from the Middle English/Old French espurge (“to purge”) due to the use of the plant’s sap as a purgative. When cut, the plant produces a white sap which can be an irritant to the skin.
Cottage Gardeners 25th Anniversary Celebration!
Posted May 02, 2011
Saturday, May 21st
10am–6pm
600 N. Latah, Boise
25 years of bringing color to gardens all over Boise! This is something to celebrate!
Join us on May 21st for a very special Market Day! We will have for sale, beautiful, blooming plants and potted containers, an array of colorful outdoor furniture, tools, and other garden supplies.
We have will also have 2 exciting classes happening during Market Day! One for you, and one for your children! Sign up to learn "All about container planting: How to choose the right pot, soil, and Cottage Gardeners’ recommended plants for pots". You’ll learn how to place them for maximum impact and how to maintain them for continued bloom. Your children will have the opportunity to plant an herb pot of their own which will contain all the right “tastes” for pizza! You will both go home with a personally designed container! Don't miss this!
You can also take a stroll through our display garden, taste homemade goodies & drinks, or just enjoy a general celebration of everything and everyone that has made Cottage Gardeners flourish over a quarter century! We hope you will join us!
Give us a call if you would like to register for one or both of the classes! 342-5195
CG Alerts: Events Coming Up
Posted April 06, 2011
Join us for our first Cottage Gardener Market Day of the year! April 16, 10am-2pm. Every third Saturday from 10am-2pm, beginning in April and ending in October, we open our nursery to retail sales. Customers are able to purchase our beautiful, quality plants, as well as gorgeous containers planted for the season. We will have our favorite gardening tools, products we are particularly fond of, and specialty items for outdoor décor.
We hope you'll stop by and see us! You will be surprised and delighted with Cottage Gardener's new retail side. And while you are here, you can take a stroll through our display garden and find the plants you would love to cultivate in your own garden.
Market Days are held at our office/nursery, 600 N. Latah Street, in Boise. Our yellow cottage is just off Americana & Emerald (across from the Morris Hill Cemetary).
Don't forget! Call today if you have not scheduled your Cottage Gardener Spring Cleanup!
April Plant of the Month
Posted April 06, 2011
Dicentra ‘Gold Heart’
‘Gold Heart’ is a golden leaved form of the common bleeding heart, Dicentra spectabilis, which has been an old garden favorite for many years. Dicentra typically grows to 24” tall and 24”-36” wide. The fern-like leaves are a beautiful, graceful, golden color when emerging in the spring. As mid-spring approaches, you will see nodding, heart-shaped, rosy pink flowers start to form in a row along the stems. These dainty little flowers resemble a “bleeding heart”.
This wonderful, long lasting, hardy perennial requires good soil drainage for survival. Its foliage will go dormant in late summer, so it’s best to plant it through a loose ground cover or among later developing perennials such as hostas or ferns. These later emerging plants will expand to fill in the gaps when the foliage has been cut down. Bleeding Heart grows best in the shaded border with some morning sun.
‘Gold Heart’ is our favorite dicentra, but there are many lovely varieties on the market these days. Short and tall, green leaf and gray leaf, pink, red and white flowers. No garden should be without!
March Plant of the Month
Posted March 16, 2011
Pansy
Pansies are one of the most loved flowers in the world! They are available in an amazing array of colors and can overwinter here in Boise if the weather is not extreme. They do very well in light freezes and short periods of snow cover so we often plant them in the fall for winter and spring color. This year's weather, unfortunately, has not served our fall pansies well, but a good spring planting now will get your garden on its way.
One of our favorites is the True Blue pansy. Truly blue flowers are rare, but this pansy has a lovely pure blue flower which is 2.5" to 3" across. The True Blue is a clear pansy, with no face, and holds up well in cold temperatures.
An interesting fact, the pansy is a hybrid developed in the early 1800's in England. It was crossed with the viola tricolor (Johnny jump-ups). Like their cousins the violas and violets, pansy flowers are edible.
As compact, low growers, pansies are ideal for edging and for squeezing between rock walls and paths. They are also a great choice for cool weather containers, making your entry an inviting harbinger of warm weather soon to come!
Tips and Tricks: Planning Your Garden
Posted March 16, 2011
(Photo: Cottage Gardeners Nursery, Early Spring)
Are you right in the midst of pouring over garden catalogs, dreaming of changes and additions to your own garden? That’s how many of us spend our winter: dreaming, scheming, and thinking of the day when our gardens will be “done”. At Cottage Gardeners we often have clients come to us with a list of plants they have mail ordered, only to find out that some will not grow well in Boise, or might cost an arm and a leg. Many arrive bare root, which can sometimes be a challenge to the novice gardener. While it’s fun to look at pictures and dream, it’s well worth noting that most of the plants you will see in the catalogs can be purchased locally, and will already be acclimated to our Boise climate.
It’s important, especially in this economy, to support our local nurseries and garden centers. Boise and the surrounding areas have some of the best!
Cottage Gardeners is not a retail garden center, but we do sell our quality plants on Market Days, the third Saturday of the month, April through October. We are also happy to take special orders for those hard to find plants. Give us a call, we’re here to help you plan YOUR perfect garden!
February Plant of the Month
Posted February 08, 2011
Angelina Sedum
You will not see lush flower gardens in Boise, Idaho in the winter. However, do not despair! Year round color and interest is not derived only from the use of blooming flowers in your garden. At Cottage Gardeners we like to use rocks and boulders, grasses, interesting trees and shrubs, and yes, perennials, for winter interest. Many perennials such as creeping thyme, creeping phlox, and Angelina sedum (our featured plant this month) keep their foliage during the winter months, and many trees and shrubs have unusual bark, colored twigs, or unique shapes once their leaves have fallen.
Angelina is low growing, hardy to -30°F, has bright lime green needle-like leaves in spring and summer, taking on orange to red hues in fall and winter. Angelina is one of our favorites. It’s hardy, colorful, spreading, and is wonderful when used in containers. Pair it with nepeta in the garden for a spectacular spring show!
Let us know if you need help with YOUR winter gardens!
CG Alerts: Events Coming Up
Posted February 08, 2011
Cottage Gardener Spring Cleanups, beginning March 1st. Call to schedule or for more information.
If you have never been to a garden symposium, or have not attended a Flower and Garden Show, now’s your chance! It’s a great way to get inspired and learn at the same time.
Northwest Flower & Garden Show, February 23-27. The Washington State Convention Center in Seattle will be bursting with color for this BIG annual event, and is well worth attending. You will find all kinds of products and plants to purchase, gorgeous garden displays, and informative seminars given by nationally renowned garden experts. More info at www.gardenshow.com.
Spring Horticulture Symposium, March 12. Boise has its own share of gardening events, one of which is the Spring Symposium sponsored by the Idaho Botanical Garden. This year’s event will be held at the Special Events Center at BSU. Please go to www.idhort.com for information and registration. There will be four different speakers and topics: Seed Starting, Editing Your Garden, Creating Waterwise Landscapes, and Compost Happens.
Boise Flower & Garden Show, March 25-27. Held at The Boise Centre on the Grove, you will be treated to a fine sampling of what Boise has to offer by the gardening industry. This show, while not on the same scale as Seattle, offers everything for the gardener in spite of its space limitations: Theme Gardens, Seminars, Wine & Jazz nights, Kid’s Craft, Orchid Show, and Specialty Foods. Please visit www.gardenshowboise.com to find out more information. And mark your calendars now for these inspiring events. You won’t be disappointed.
Partnership bloomed without business formalities
Posted October 13, 2010
by Anne Wallace Allen
Published: October 1, 2010 in the Idaho Business Review
Photo: Cottage Gardeners owner Nancy Day, right, and Nursery Manager Carly Geidl, left.
Nancy Day and Penny Rice found a vocation, a business partner, and their first client all on the same occasion: a neighborhood cocktail party back in 1985.
Day and Rice, virtual strangers who had children at the same elementary school, carried on a three-hour conversation about flowers that night. They left the party with a plan for Cottage Gardeners, a landscaping business that 25 years later is still going strong with 15 employees.
“The lady hosting the party said, ‘I’d hire you,’ and she was literally our first client,” Rice said.
In developing their company, Day and Rice followed some well-known business rules, ignored some others, and forged their own path in a few areas.
As soon as they decided to start a business, they headed down to the local Small Business Development Center to find out what to do next. There, they learned about things like bookkeeping and licensing, and met with retired business mentors. The advice was invaluable, both women said - and both the accountant and attorney mentors became clients.
But Day and Rice also ignored some of the most steadfast rules for starting a business with a partner. The two never created any kind of formal agreement for the assets; they just split the money in their joint company bank account in order to pay themselves. When Rice left the business in 1993, she took half of what was in the bank and left the rest of Cottage Gardeners to Day.
“I always said, ‘If you franchise, this, I get half,’ and it was a deal,” Rice said. “That’s how we functioned. We trusted each other. I was thrilled she went on and did what she did.”
The two are lucky things worked out as well as they did, said Penny Pickett, associate administrator for SBA’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development in Washington, D.C.
“That is extraordinarily rare,” Pickett said of the harmony between Day and Rice. “We always hear the disaster stories.”
The SBA urges would-be business partners to establish the same rules a larger company would, said Rick Vycital, the director of the Small Business Development Center’s Boise office. Partnerships need job descriptions and employee manuals, he said.
Rice and Day started out very slowly. Day worked at FedEx in the afternoons. The pair won some large contracts to design gardens for commercial homebuilders, and also did Christmas decorations on a smaller scale. They didn’t advertise; all their business has come from word-of-mouth. And they ran the business out of their homes.
“I had employees coming and going at all times of the day and night,” said Day. “I had three bicycles in my yard, and (the employees) would come and drop their paperwork off at 9 o’clock at night.”
Accordingly, in the early years the company had virtually no overhead. The pair used Rice’s Ford Bronco to transport plants, and their then-teenage sons pitched in when there was something heavy to move. They worked around the preschool schedule of Rice’s young daughter, bringing her to garden jobs when they had to. Their biggest expenses were business cards and a bookkeeper.
After Rice left in 1993, Day decided to get serious about making money. Last year the company moved out of Day’s home to an office on Boise’s Latah Street. At one point, there were 35 part-time employees. Now Day has a staff of 15 full- and part-time workers who stay busy at private and commercial gardens.
Day still does almost all of the garden design. She has seen the impact of the recession; design budgets are more constrained, and a larger proportion of work is maintenance rather than new jobs, she said.
Rice, a former nurse, and Day, who had a degree in elementary education, both said they never would have had the nerve to start a small business alone. Together, they split the work and the risks. And they shared ideas. Day is the designer and is also impulsive - she said Rice often talked her away from impractical notions.
“She had far more creativity than I did, a better eye for things, but she also sometimes thought beyond our capabilities,” Rice said.
“I just didn’t have the confidence that I could have done it on my own,” Day said.
A business partnership works well when partners’ skills are complementary.
“Look for someone who has the skills you don’t have, and be smart enough to recognize what you’re good at and what you’re not,” said Pickett, who has met her share of former friends and partners who are no longer on speaking terms.
Rice and Day also got along well and had fun together. Both laugh when they recall the early days of driving around in the crowded Bronco with plants balanced on their laps. Day still enjoys meeting clients and designing gardens for them.
“I can’t tell you the satisfaction of seeing something that actually turns out well,” Day said. “It still surprises me.”
October Plant of the Month
Posted October 04, 2010
When your garden colors begin to fade in the fall and you aren't ready for plain green landscape, plant an Aster! Asters are great for late summer and fall bloom.
Asters are perennial plants named for their star-shaped blooms. There are over 175 species of asters found in North America. They are popular in the garden and are often used as cut flowers. Asters bloom from mid-August through October.
Asters make terrific accents to your fall garden. They look great with ornamental grasses and the changing colors of the trees. They perform best in rich, evenly moist soil in full sun. Be sure to give them lots of room to grow as good air circulation is vital to prevent powdery mildew. If pinched back in mid-July, the plants will be heavier blooming and probably will not need staking.
September Plant of the Month
Posted September 07, 2010
The coneflower is a hardy perennial flower that puts on a colorful show in the flower border, herb garden or meadow. They are a great plant for filling in bare spots and adding some height to low borders, the coneflower is also outstanding in cut-flower arrangements, its blossoms lasting from 5 to 7 days.
Coneflowers are well suited for hot, dry weather and do best in rich, well-drained soil and under the full sun or partial shade. They feature a long blooming period of June through October.
The most common color is purple. This variety is the source of echinacea, an herbal anti-viral remedy. However, the original coneflower was orange and today's flowers are its descendants. Through selective breeding, coneflowers are now available in a variety of wonderful colors!
Not Just Cottage
Posted August 15, 2010
Well, yes, we are called the "Cottage Gardeners"; however, our designers are experts in creating ANY style of garden! Our clients range from comfortable & traditional to uber modern, and sometimes even weird and unusual. While staying architecturally appropriate, we work closely with our clients to help them achieve their perfect garden through the use of color, creativity and experience.
August To-Do's for Your Garden
Posted August 02, 2010
August heat is rough on most of us, and your gardens are no exception. Many plants don't grow much during extreme heat and often begin to look ratty and stressed. This is a good time to cut back, or cut down plants that don't look their best. After the heat subsides, a fresh mound of foliage usually bursts out, creating a neat and tidy garden for the Fall.
Watch out for pests! When your plants are stressed, bugs and diseases can easily attack. Catching the problem early and treating it immediately is the key. This reduces chemical use, and keeps your plants healthier at the same time. I like to wander around my garden in the morning with my cup of coffee and "scout" for potential pest and disease problems. Easy and relaxing!
On the bright side, tomatoes, peppers and other fruits and veggies are ripening!
August Plant of the Month
Posted August 02, 2010
Sedums may be one of the easiest plants to care for in the world. They will grow anywhere! Sun, good drainage and a bit of water is all that is required. Sedums may also be one of the most beautiful plants in the world too! They come in every color, pattern, shape, size and growth habit imaginable. These succulents are one of the few perennials that stay gorgeous through our hot dry summer. Another great feature is how easily they propagate! Break off a piece of stem and toss it on the soil. Soon it will send out roots and form a whole new plant! (Be careful not to propagate plants under patents.)
July Open House
Posted July 05, 2010
Join us Saturday, July 17th from 9am-12pm for our monthly Open House! We have great annuals, perennials, herbs, shrubs & planted containers for sale at clearance prices! Or, just stop by for refreshments, and see all the flowers blooming in our front garden beds. It is hard to believe that just last Fall, the beds were dead, brown grass patches!
July Plant of the Month
Posted July 05, 2010
Achillea (Yarrow) is often thought of as a smelly weed that grows wild all throughout Idaho. And it is. But Yarrow has also become a very popular garden plant, thanks in part to the development of new flower colors, and yarrow’s ability to thrive beautifully in our hot, dry climate. Achillea prefers full sun and well drained soil, but adapts easily to poor soil and harsh locations. Aside from being a beautiful and carefree plant, it is also valued for its medicinal purposes and makes excellent cut and dried flowers. When Achillea finally stops blooming, the frilly, fern-like foliage keeps looking gorgeous for the rest of the season! How could we not make this the plant of the month!?
June To-Do’s For Your Garden
Posted June 23, 2010
Watering:
Watering sounds like such an easy thing to do! But in reality, it is the cause of many common gardening issues. It is a balancing act between too much and too little. Improper watering creates weak plants, causes disease, and can result in instant plant death. We recommend watering deeply and less often to promote deep root systems. The water soaks deep into the soil, and the roots stretch down to retrieve it. This also reduces the amount of water on the foliage, which causes diseases like powdery mildew. It is important to set up a consistent watering schedule. Try setting your sprinklers to water an area for three fifteen-minute intervals in one morning, with a break in between each watering. This will allow the water time to soak in to the soil, rather than run off and be wasted. (I simply program my sprinkler system to cycle 3 times.) Start this schedule three times a week, and reduce to twice a week as your plants develop deep, healthy root systems. It is important to watch your plants and lawn, and water according to their needs.
Cutting back:
Some perennials like nepeta and salvia will re-bloom if you cut them down to the ground immediately after flowering. Other perennials won’t re-bloom, but can really benefit from being cut down after flowering. They will produce a nice, lush mound of foliage rather than remaining awkwardly cut stems for the rest of the season.
Deadheading:
Deadheading is removing spent flowers from a plant. After blooming, a plant switches its energy to producing seed in that flower. If you remove the flower, the plant will continuously create more flowers in an attempt to reproduce. Annuals and roses especially will bloom all summer long if you deadhead them regularly.
Pinching:
Have you ever had plants that become very long and leggy? One way to avoid this is by “pinching”. Pinching is removing the growing tip to cause a plant to “bush out”. The growing tip (bud) controls the growth of the entire stem, and selfishly directs most of the plant’s energy to itself! This results in one long stem with a flower at the tip. When you remove the tip, it causes buds all along the sides of the stem to begin growing. This results in a shorter stem with multiple branches and flowers. Almost all annuals need pinching, as well as many perennials that become tall and floppy.
June Plant of the Month
Posted June 02, 2010
What a cool, wet spring we are having! Despite the cold and dreary weather, we are so amazed by our Oriental Poppies that we decided to make them the plant of the month! They are SPECTACULAR! This cool weather makes the blooms on our perennials last longer than they usually would, and the poppies just won’t stop! Oriental Poppies bloom profusely in the Spring with huge, vibrant blossoms, and then die back completely once the weather turns hot. This allows them to survive extreme drought. Once the weather turns cool again, the leaves will re-emerge to form a lush, green mound. Oriental Poppies do not tolerate overwatering, and don’t handle transplanting well, so take a little extra care. Otherwise, they are very low maintenance. The poppy pictured is ‘Türkenlouis’, one of our favorites because the petals are very fringed.
Annual Plant Sale!
Posted May 02, 2010
600 N. Latah, Boise, ID
Sunday, June 13th
10am to 3pm
Every year we always have extra perennials, annuals and shrubs that we don't use at our design jobs, and we need to get rid of them! Stop by for GREAT deals on premium plants. We will also have beautfiul herb and flower pots for sale for instant color without the work!
Welcome to our website!
Posted May 01, 2010
As you can see from this picture, we are all about COLOR! We specialize in flower gardens, from design, to planting and maintenance. Please check us out and let us know if you have any projects we might be able to help with. Thank you for visiting Cottage Gardeners! We hope to hear from you!
May Plant of the Month
Posted May 01, 2010
Catmint (Nepeta) is Cottage Gardeners all time favorite perennial, and for good reason! It is so gorgeous, versatile and tough, it works in almost any garden situation. Nepeta starts blooming in May and will re-bloom until late Summer if cut back right after flowering. A member of the mint family, it is drought tolerant once established, is an excellent cut flower, and attracts bees and butterflies. Our favorite varieties are ‘Walkers Low’, which won the 2007 Perennial Plant of the Year Award, and ‘Dropmore’ which has larger flowers, and toothed leaves. Catmint is related to catnip, but catmint does not have the same draw for most cats as its cousin.
May Pot Party!
Posted April 19, 2010
May 15th, 10am & 1pm, 600 N. Latah
Bring your pots and hanging baskets to plant up with "Pat the Pot Lady", who designed our pots for over 12 years! We will have potting soil and gorgeous local plants for sale. RSVP to (208) 342-5195 to reserve a spot!
"Summer Pots" Open House
Posted April 19, 2010
May 15th, 10-2pm, 600 N. Latah
Container planting is a large part of our business. Stop by to see a showcase of our pots and speak with our designers about a custom planting! If you just need some instant color, we will have pre-planted pots for sale in all sizes and colors, and a great selection of plants for you to plant yourself!
April Open House!
Posted April 09, 2010
Want year round COLOR in your garden? We can help with that. Our monthly Open Houses focus on bringing premium plants and great garden design to everyone! Stop by, have a cup of coffee, and check out what we have to offer!
-Our favorite plants that are currently in bloom
-Planted containers (We will also have herb pots this month!)
-Discount plants
-New and used garden tools
Saturday, April 17th, 10am-2pm
600 N. Latah St., Boise, ID 83706
April Plant of the Month
Posted April 01, 2010
Talk about glowing! This bleeding heart is our absolute favorite, especially during the dark, rainy month of April. It appreciates a moist (but not wet) location, and a bit of morning sun, to keep the leaves bright chartreuse. Though prized mainly for its foliage, Dicentra ‘Gold Heart’ blooms all spring with the usual pink, heart-shaped flowers. We love how the maroon stems that emerge in early Spring contrast with the lime leaves! Contact us anytime if you are interested in purchasing this plant for your garden.
Upcoming Class: Waking Your Garden & Roses
Posted April 01, 2010
Saturday, April 17th, 10am-12pm, 600 N Latah, 83706. Learn our methods of cleaning and preparing your beds in spring. Along with perennial and soil care, we will also cover:
- Light shrub & tree pruning
- Our Spring 'Plant Picks'
- Rose pruning and care
- Rose selection and favorite picks for our area
Cost is $10. Weather permitting. Please call our office to register (208-342-5195). * Please bring your pruners if you have a pair. We will have some available for use.
"And Spring arose on the garden fair, Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere; And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."
- Percy Bysshe Shelley, "The Sensitive Plant"
It's Never Too Early!
Posted March 17, 2010
Our gardeners have been out since early February cleaning up beds, pruning trees and shrubs, and planting spring flowers! You really can have a beautiful garden all year round, just give us a call! Thanks to our client, Suzie, for this cute picture of her pansies in the snow!
March Plant of the Month
Posted March 02, 2010
Our featured plant for March is Heuchera, commonly known as 'Coral Bells'. They are one of the most beautiful and versatile perennials available! With foliage from bright orange to jet black, and every color in between, they really provide interest for shady beds and pots. Heucheras are one of our favorite early spring pot plants because they provide color and texture not usually found early in the season. Heucheras are beautiful plants from spring through fall, and even during winter in protected beds. New varieties are more sun and heat tolerant, but in general, they prefer shade to part-shade, in a moist, well-draining location.
Meet the Gardeners
Posted March 01, 2010
Front row (left to right): Bonnie (Maintenance Manager), Lauren, Nancy (Owner), Lisa (Operations); Back row (left to right): Carly (Nursery Manager), Charlotte, Brooke, Marilyn, Kim, Taylor (Installation), Cyrese (Installation Manager), Uriah (Installation), Linda
February Plant of the Month
Posted February 02, 2010
Our featured plant for February is the Hellebore. Also known as the 'Christmas Rose', this plant flowers through the winter and spring months, giving us color even before most bulbs pop up. The leathery, dark green leaves remain attractive for the rest of the year, and are often evergreen. Hellebore prefers part shade and rich soil, and is usually drought tolerant once established. Recently they have become available to home gardeners in more and more colors and shapes. Check your local garden centers NOW for these beautiful, easy to grow perennials!
Upcoming Classes
Posted February 02, 2010
In the coming months we will be offering some really fun classes on a variety of subjects. Our first class will be on Saturday, February 27th from 10:00am-11:00am at our location on Latah. The class is titled "Secrets of Starting Seeds Indoors (using common items from around the house)", Green AND Cheap! The class will be taught by our Nursery Manager, Carly. Cost: $10 (includes seeds, supplies, and refreshments). Please call 342-5195 to register, or to ask any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!
