Page 3 - Home and Garden South Edition 2014

April 23, 2014
Spring Home and Garden
3B
From page 2
■ She said last year about 250 people came out, along with
15 vendors. She’s hoping for And Westergreen has plen- ty of knowledge to offer.
even more of both this year.
“Oh, I’ve gardened since I Though Westergreen does-
could move,” she said.
n’t try to conform the garden She grew up in Northern
to a preconceived structure, she said she has to consider Washington, gardening with
some “formal elements” if her mom and grandmothers.
she wants to host events and weddings.
She got a degree in landscape architecture and a minor in
horticulture from Washington The garden also acts as a
State University, where she met her husband, Poppe, who showcase for the plants she sells in the nursery. Many
was studying architecture at customers see plants in the
WSU but who was originally from Spokane, Wash.
greenhouse, but it’s important to see them in the ground as
well, Westergreen said. “A “He was a city boy, and
lot of plants just behave he’s learning to be a farmer,” Westergreen said. “He’s
totally different in the gar- den.”
taken a lot of ownership in
the garden, and that helps immensely.”
That in-ground experience
is also what sets small nurs- eries apart from the big Between the two of them,
chains as well.
they’ve built a beautiful gar- den, much of which was
planted on the fly.
“I grow plants,” Westergreen said. “I know all
about the plants I grow . “We kind of develop it as we go, versus writing a mas-
yes, maybe I’m more expen- sive . but I know every- ter plan,” Westergreen said.
thing about every plant on “We’ve learned a lot about the property as we go and let
the property.”
the ground tell us a little bit There’s a reason plants at
about what’s going to work box stores are inexpensive, ABOVE: Carol Westergreen
and what’s not. Every year’s an experience.”
she said. “They’re often a loss leader. [A product sold strolls through her green- house at Out in the Garden
below its market cost to stim- Nursery in Molalla. Westergreen has also
ulate sales of more profitable items.] A lot of people don’t RIGHT: Stores of acorns worked in the Christmas tree industry for 19 years.
understand that. A lot of the placed in a section of limb of an Oregon white oak by “I’ve a varied experience,
box stores sell plants at very low margins. We can’t live acorn woodpeckers. The but all agricultural based,” she said.
on that.”
woodpeckers drill holes in Poppe handles most of the
the trees and fill them with acorns, creating “granaries.” formal and structural aspect of the garden. Though, as a Essentially, what you’re getting from small, local
Westergreen had a few of team, they aren’t what nurseries is the owner’s
the more damaged limbs cut Westergreen would consider “formal gardeners.”
knowledge of the plants they
down before they became a hazard.
grow and take care of, as well as a few items you can’t “That’s not our style,”
find at box stores, Westergreen said. “We’re very casual gardeners.”
Westergreen said.
The casual approach seems Out in the Garden is open prices.
changes and evolves through their needs.”
often a plus, but that’s not
to be working, as Out in the Garden is beginning to get on a regular basis from April Though the cost of plants
time.” Making a plan seems For more advanced gar-
always why I grow a plant.”
some attention.
through September. “We play October by ear, just because impersonal to her, she said. “That’s not what a garden Particularly in the spring, people get very caught up in
at a specialty nursery may be higher, the reasons for shop- deners, Westergreen said there’s never an end point to
some years we have great is.”
“We have people ask us all the time if we want to do ping at them come back to garden knowledge. “Basic flowering plants, but they
Octobers and some years we have really bad ones,” weddings,” Westergreen said. the support you receive from the owners. “Shopping with For people new to garden- knowledge is key,” she said, forget about the rest of the
Westergreen said. She sells Hosting events like weddings has “been the goal for a long me, you’re getting my ing, Westergreen offers some good advice. “Learn your but as you get more knowl- edge you try something that’s year. Westergreen grows a lot of varieties that look good
plants through the winter as well by appointment.
time,” but Westergreen wants knowledge and my experi- ence,” Westergreen said. area,” she said. “Learn your “more exotic” or “new.”
year round. “It’s not all about
to wait until the garden is “There’s a lot of ways to gar- garden. Learn your soil, learn your sun, shade . 70 per- April and May,” she said. “There’s so much more out “I actually had a lot of “That’s the fun part,” she said. “Even an experienced
more mature. She said she’s shooting for next year.
den. I’m glad to share how I cent of gardening is right there.”
people come in March this year, which is exciting,” she gardener, you never stop
do it, but I’m pretty casual in the way I do it. You know, plant, right place.”
Out in the Garden does, said. “It’s small. It’s not a big She’s willing to help with learning . Pay attention to your plants, and they’ll tell Once people realize there’s more to a garden than flow-
gardens are forgiving and however, host other events, like the Wine and Cheese in huge business, but it’s slowly growing.”
that. “While I do not do for- you a lot. And that’ll increase ers, then gardening becomes
ever changing. Not stagnant.”
the Garden, an annual event mal design work for cus- tomers (a drawn plan and your success.”
more than yard work done in the spring.
Competition is tough That’s why Westergreen Westergreen focuses a lot
featuring vendors and enter- tainment. This year’s wine plant list), I do help people though. Westergreen tries to not grow the same plants that doesn’t follow a precon- on shade plants. “I have a lot “Agriculture is a lifestyle,”
and cheese event will be July all the time with their design questions,” she said. “I help the big stores sell because ceived plan for her garden. “A garden is a very personal of textures and colors,” she said. “More foliage than Westergreen said. “I guess I don’t see it as work anymore.
27, and Westergreen is expecting a good turnout.
them select the right plant for
she can’t compete with their
thing, and it expands and it
flowers. For me, flowers are
It’s just my life.”

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