These daffodils look worse for wear after yesterday's snowfall at Willapa Bay.

I spent the weekend out at my parents' place in Pacific County. I had a big indoor painting project planned. Working indoors was a good idea, it turns out.

I woke up yesterday to find two inches of snow on the ground, my mother's daffodils frozen in place and tulip leaves buried under the snow.

Today, I called Lore Van Lierop, co-owner of Puyallup's Van Lierop Bulb Farm
http://www.vanlieropbulbfarm.com/ to ask her about snow damage. She said there were no worries. "The bulbs kind of like the snow," she said.

Van Lierop said tulips are "taking their time this year" due to the cold nights we've been having. But, they'll come up soon enough.

I'll finish this post with a shot of my mother's greenhouse after Sunday's snowstorm. It's missing part of its roof from the December storm. That'll be my first outdoor project of the year.

Hey gardeners. Are you watching this crazy snowfall outside today? Anyone go crazy and plant anything early this year? If so, are you regretting it? Tell us how your garden is faring during this unusual cold-warm-cold snap we've had the last few days. If this keeps up, I won't be digging that garden bed this weekend...

This just in....

How can you get lichens off fruit trees and keep them off? I don't see them in commercial orchards. Is there a spray you can use?

Anyone have advice? Comment away. Allegedly our comments are working again. If you have trouble, just e-mail me your snappy reply at sue.kidd@thenewstribune.com

After leaving Abil Bradshaw's "Food Folly Follies" http://www.abilnutritionist.com/ Monday night I stopped by my favorite grocery store in Puget Sound: Uwajimaya in Seattle's International District. http://www.uwajimaya.com/

While stocking up on udon, dashi and stuffing my mouth with all the sushi I could eat (Kobayashi-style) I also picked up these:

Uwajimaya has many varieties of Japanese and Asian vegetable seeds. Many I'm not familiar with but I figure you can't go wrong with shiso and onions.

I'll let you know how they do in Freak of Nature garden this year.

Now, if only the snow would quit falling...

Reaching into the reader question grab bag, here's what I came up with:

I want to try to grow tomatoes this year. In the past years, I had no success. Usually my tomatoes developed "blight." Can you advise me as to how to avoid this? Second, I was going to either plant a "raised garden" or plant the tomatoes in a pot. How deep does the dirt need to be for the tomato plants to grow?

If you have any advice for the reader, comment away.

I've never had trouble with blight. It could be because I only grow tomatoes from starts I buy at the annual WSU master gardeners sale (this year, May 10 and 11 at the WSU Research Center, 7612 Pioneer Way E., Puyallup).

When I grow my tomatoes, I use a compost rich soil in a raised garden bed. I bury the plants deep and strip off the bottom layer of leaves before planting. I make sure they get plenty of sun. And that's pretty much it beyond watering regularly. I don't like growing tomatoes in a pot because I think they are difficult to manage when the weather is really warm.

I dug into our story archive and I found a great article we ran last May by our freelance writer Jean Parietti. Here is a quick list of tips she recommended for getting your tomatoes off to a good start:

Growing tips

Cindy Knight, owner of Cindy's Plant Stand in Elma, and Joyce Harms, a King County Master Gardener, offer these eight tips for growing tomatoes from starts:

1. Select plants with sturdy, thick stems; avoid the tall, spindly ones.

2. If the plants are fresh from the greenhouse, harden them off before planting. For a week, place the plants outside during the day, then bring them inside or into a protected area at night.

3. Boost the plant's root system by removing all the leaves except the top few. Then sink the plant into the ground up to those leaves; for a gangly plant, dig a trench and lay the tomato in sideways, leaving just the top stem and leaves exposed. Roots will develop all along the bare stem, producing a stronger plant.

4. Mix some 5-10-10 vegetable fertilizer into the planting hole; check the package for the proper amount. Water well after planting. Additional fertilizing usually isn't needed; if desired, side-dress the plant with fertilizer in mid-June or July.

5. For indeterminate plants (those that keeping growing and fruiting all season), use stakes, trellises or tomato cages to keep them off the ground and support the weight of developing fruit. Secure the vines to the support structure with cloth, plastic tape or plastic tomato clips; wire and string will cut the plant.

6. Never water a tomato from above - it encourages fungus. Water deeply at the base of the plant, in the morning, as often as the soil dictates. After watering, the soil should be moist 4-5 inches down.

7. Tomato blossoms are self-pollinating, but if desired, tap the blossoms or shake the plant to help things along.

8. If planting in a container, make sure the pot is at least the equivalent of a 5-gallon bucket (larger tomato varieties need larger pots). A light-colored, plastic pot retains water best, but the plant still may need to be watered daily. Include a trellis to support indeterminate varieties.

I went to a press preview in Seattle Monday night for "The Food Folly Follies" starring nutritionist/performer Abil Bradshaw. That's her below, playing one of the many characters in her show: a hunting and gathering cave woman.

If nutrition themed drama sounds like a good mash-up you'll love this show. Bradshaw plays several other characters (a rural Texas native, a Nurses Aid, a snake oil salesman) all revolving around food and nutrition.

One great feature of this show is that after the performance Bradshaw, a Bastyr University Masters graduate (Science, Nutrition), answers questions about nutrition. Naturally, I asked her what she had growing in her garden. She said her winter greens garden is in full swing: collard and mustard greens, radishes, arugula and something she called "corn salad" - I'll have to look into that one.

Another audience member asked her about foraging - does she actually do it like her cave woman does? Yes, she does. Rule #1: Don't pick anything you don't know. "Plants can kill you," she told us. Rule #2: Get away from roads where car exhaust will pollute the food. She says she can find all sorts of great wild greens for salads.

The one night only show is at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 17 at The Museum of History and Industry. Go here for more information and/or tickets: http://www.abilnutritionist.com/

As the person who sits closer to Craig Sailor than anyone in the newsroom (a mere 36 inches away), I can vouch that he does not stink. Usually. But it does bring up an interesting point, his use of his bathtub to grow seed starts (scroll down to read his posts on his current bathtub garden project).

I'm old school and grow my starts in my garage with a grow lamp (my neighbors were very suspicious of me at first). I wonder, where in your home do you keep your seed starts until they're ready to harden off? On a windowsill? In your bathtub? An upstairs bedroom that gets decent light? Tell us. Tell us! We want to know....

I took much ribbing in the newsroom today over my bathing habits after posting the entry about my bathroom turned greenhouse. We're reverse publishing from our blogs in to the newspaper so that item ran in print as well.

I'm sure some of our readers our concerned about my cleanliness.

For the record: I have three bathrooms in my house and this one has a separate shower and bathtub.

Not that I use any of them.

Ha. I kid. Really.

Here's the latest photo of the little tomatoes shot this morning...just before my shower. Really.

Reaching into the reader question bag this morning... and here is what I yanked out:

Hi Sue,

Thanks for letting us ask questions.

I am looking for an inexpensive, non-toxic, non labor-intensive method of getting rid of root weevils.

I have tried nematodes (expensive and not long-lasting); I have purchased a Bayer product to kill insects (but, I'm afraid, very, very afraid); I have too many rhodies, camellias, and salal to go out at night and try to dispatch them in that manner; I have "Tanglefoot" but that won't work on the salal.

I'm desperate. My leaf notches are getting worse.

My father-in-law says to bury rusty nails around the perimeter of the plant. If the iron oxide is effective, would some sort of other iron product work as well?

Thoughts? Comment here or if our comments field is disabled (yes, we've been having "technical issues" with our commenting, but I have no official comment on that...), e-mail me at sue.kidd@thenewstribune.com.

From the reader garden question bag:

What, if any, chemical will kill those blasted seed throwers? We are inundated by neighbors' casually kept yards and they're just about to overwhelm us. I won't mention the morning glory that comes visiting. Let me know though about the seed throwers, please. They are sufficient to make our gardening experiences miserable.

Anyone have a solution? A bit of advice? I'll scrounge around and see if a master gardener has any comment on the problem. Until then, post away, people who have answers.....

I was making the usual commute past Watson's Nursery this morning on my way to my plush cube here at the TNT and I spotted a few purple-ish blooms on a striking rhododendron near the nursery. It made me want to get out of my car and jump around, go inside, buy some stuff. If only I had time to garden this week.... unlike Craig Sailor's proclamation below (scroll down people), I won't get started on my gardening experiments until next week, and I am sooooooo not growing anything in my bathtub (it's full of rubber duckies and other kid toys).

Back to rhodies: I just got a release about the annual rhododendron and plant sale at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way.

Details here:

What: 2008 Spring Plant Sale Fundraiser
Where: Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, Weyerhaeuser Corporate Headquarters West Parking Lot, 33663 Weyerhaeuser Way South, Federal Way
When: Saturday, April 5, 2008 – 10am to 3pm & Sunday, April 6, 2008 – 10am to 2pm
Admission: Free admission to the sale and the Rhododendron Species Botancial Garden during sale hours plus plenty of free parking!

Cool Plants! Rare and unusual varieties plus many all around favorites!

So where is your favorite place to see rhododendrons in bloom? Fellow GetGrowing blogger Craig Sailor and I were roaming about South Tacoma Way last spring and we stumbled upon a great collection of rhodies -- at the Tacoma Cemetery (48th and South Tacoma Way). We took a detour into the cemetery, feeling slightly guilty for being garden voyeurs in such a solemn place. We drove around the cemetery in silence, looking at all the blooms, which were amazing. It really is a beautiful place, hidden off of South Tacoma Way. I think it was about early May, about the time we were working on our giant South Tacoma Way culture project.

Please tell us where you like to check out rhododendrons in bloom, won't you? Post here or e-mail me at sue.kidd@thenewstribune.com.

Spring is only a few days old and I already have tomato seeds coming up - in my bathtub. The one inch high seedlings are Momotaros from Japan. Two weeks ago I sowed 17 seeds and, lacking a greenhouse, put them on a board stretched across my bathtub. I have a window there that gives them great afternoon light.

According to Territorial Seed Company, the indeterminate Momotaro is one of the most popular tomato varieties in Japanese markets. Its flavor is described as sweet and tangy and the 6-7 ounce fruit is dark pink, durable, heat tolerant, and crack resistant with good storability.

The seeds cost $4.05 so that works out to 23 cents per plant if they all come up (only 10 have so far.) Of course, they take time, water and a lot of care but I'll still save a ton of money compared to store bought tomatoes.

These are the only tomatoes I'll be growing from seed. The rest I'll get as starts from our local farmers markets. The two most successful and best tasting from last season were orange cherry tomatoes (Sungold) and Brandywine (a red giant with a wonderful and distinctive flavor.)

My crop last year wasn't very successful. I tried Green Zebras, Lemon Boys and other varieties with varying success. I had plenty of tomatoes - they just didn't want to ripen. This year I have some ideas involving large reflective boards to build up heat.

Until then I just have to be careful the next time I take a bath. Seed pots don't float like rubber duckies do.

I got an e-mail this morning from Maidee Gregory, president of Watson's Greenhouse and Nursery in Puyallup, to tell me about a really neat sounding clematis lecture at the nursery April 4.

Have you been by the nursery lately? I drive by Watson's every morning and I swear, there have been cars waiting to get through the iron gate almost daily when I roll by at 9 a.m. .... on my way to my swank cubicle at the TNT. Spring is soooo here. But I digress... It sounds like it's a must-attend event if you are interested in clematis, as a newcomer or a seasoned grower. Check out Gregory's release here:

Watson’s Greenhouse and Nursery has the good fortune to have internationally renowned clematis breeder Raymond Evison speaking at our garden center on Friday, April 4 at 1 p.m. He will be talking about his latest book, Clematis for Small Spaces and how it celebrates a new generation of clematis that will appeal to both established enthusiasts and beginners. Visiting all the way from Guernsey, Channel Islands, he will recommend varieties now available for mixed borders, containers, patios, and hanging baskets. He will also talk about their hardiness and disease resistance as well.

Mr. Evison has spent four decades researching, breeding, introducing and cultivating over 100 of the best clematis varieties to gardeners worldwide. He has won numerous awards, including many RHS Gold Medals and the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour (2004). He serves as a Vice President of the Royal Horticultural Society, and his business, The Guernsey Clematis Nursery Ltd., is the world’s leading producer of young clematis plants.

We will have his book, Clematis for Small Spaces, available for purchase and Mr. Evison will be available after the seminar for book signing.

This just in...

GARDENERS, ECO-BUILDERS and VOLUNTEERS …
Are you interested in learning more about affordable green home construction?

Want to assist with a sustainable landscape installation specially designed for Puyallup Tribal Elders?

Join this community building opportunity as we install native plants at the recently constructed Puyallup Tribal Elder Healthy Home located at 1415 E 32nd Street in Tacoma.

Volunteer support is needed on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, March 17, 18 & 19 - each day from 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 pm

We'll be installing plants that have been salvaged from local forest properties, as well as native plant materials provided by the Washington State Dept of Transportation. Plants selected for the Elder Healthy Home have been chosen for their cultural, food, floral and other values that additionally benefit the environment in numerous ways.

Tools, gloves and refreshments will be provided. Volunteers may also receive one free salvaged native plant for every two hours that they contribute to the Elder Healthy Home landscape installation program from the Native Plant Salvage Alliance.

To learn more about this event, contact the Native Plant Salvage Alliance at 253-566-3342; or by e-mail at anna.thurston@ssstewardship.org.

There is a woman I know, Leona Lisa, who is starting a lawn renovation project that sounds entirely familiar. At least for those of us who have lousy looking, unhealthy grass. I've got a patch or two in my South Hill villa (ha). So far, my solution has been to slowly rip out the grass, replacing it with planting beds filled with perennials and ornamental grasses. Leona is slowly converting me to her way of thinking: grass is sort of elemental, a necessity in some ways. Consider keeping some of it. I suppose so. She says it's a good provider of oxygen and good for the atmosphere. I'm all about that. Cool. And it's attractive, provides curb appeal. Yeah, I buy that. Plus, my child does like to knock around a soccer ball on our lawn.

But what's a girl to do with soggy patchy areas of lawn and moss that is showing up all over the place? (arrgh! rain! shade! drama!) Well, folks, read on.

Leona, the garden department manager at the Fircrest Home Depot, is rehabbing her boyfriend's lawn. He's got issues. Big ones. The pH balance is off. There's some kind of weird mesh plastic in the sod that she has to rip through. The yard has serious moss. Does your head hurt yet? Mine does.

He's putting his house on the market. Leona is helping him give it the curb appeal she says grass can provide. She's promising us detailed reports of her progress, as well as pictures.

Leona told me Monday, "The lawn to me is intriguing. You don’t even know (all the trouble) until you start."

What's she attacking first? The moss. "Moss is very opportunistic. If the grass isn’t healthy, moss will take over every chance it gets," she said. She's improving the health of the lawn to solve the problem of a repeat performance by the evil moss. To remove the stuff that's already there, she used a granular moss killer application (iron). It's a less strenuous alternative to the "Freddy Krueger" method of using a huge scary rake to manually extract the moss, Leona said.

Even Leona knows sometimes parts of a lawn are not worth saving. "There’s parts of the yard, we’re not even going to try and have grass growing; we’re going to change it out and make some planting areas. ... I’m going to bring in hostas, impatiens, heuchera."

Stay tuned for more details on the fabulous Leona Lisa renovation project.

The All-American Rose Selections, a non-profit association that evaluates and promotes exceptional roses, announced today that it is starting regional specific rose recommendations. They've created a list for Northwest rose gardeners, based on our climate of course, that will help guide South Sound gardeners in rose selection.

So what's on the list? I got a release from the group, here it is. (I laughed at the phrase "frequent periods of rain." Yeah, is that what it's called?):

Gardening in the Northwest region - with its chilly winters, mild summers and frequent periods of rain - is full of challenges and rewards. To help ensure people’s success with roses, AARS consulted with regional gardeners and rose experts to determine the most robust roses for this climate. As a result, the 2008 AARS Region’s Choice initiative selected ten rose varieties that thrive in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest:
About Face™
Crimson Bouquet
Honey Perfume™
Sunset Celebration™
Day Breaker™
Marmalade Skies
Cherry Parfait
Gemini
Fourth of July™
Carefree Wonder

Also, the association plans to amend the list annually. The group also launched regional-specific rose lists for the Southwest and Mountain States, too.

Want more detail? Check it here.

I tried to download pretty pictures, but my computer is not cooperating. I'll report back more when I can get someone from photo to give a girl a hand.