I.The front porch of my house at 1404 Ethridge Avenue NE, Olympia is the location of my garden. I have only lived in this house, which I rent, since April 2006.
Directions to my front porch from TESC: Head East on Evergreen Parkway NW Right on Cooper Point Road NW Left on Harrison Avenue NW At first traffic circle head onto Olympic Way NW At second traffic circle head onto 4th Avenue W Left on Plum Street NE Continue on East Bay Drive NE Right on San Francisco Avenue NE Left on Bethel Street NE Right on Ethridge Avenue NE
II. Garden Area: My front porch is located on the northeast corner lot of Bethel Street NE and Ethridge Avenue NE. My porch is wooden, and various elements of it have been replaced or repaired over the years. It is also in the process of being painted (expected completion is sometime this spring). Most of the other houses immediately surrounding mine are from the 1950's, 70's, and 90's. Many of my neighbor's have been putting a great deal of time, energy, and money into their gardens and home exteriors. The majority of the neighborhood is going through a time of revitalization. I think that has a lot to do with the influx of a large number of families with small children and empty-nesters trying to improve the quality of life. III. Garden Site: 1. Size: 6' x 22' 2. Shape: Long rectangle 3. Topography: Flat. 4. Slope: None (I get plenty of standing water when it rains). 5. Exposure: Southern – gets a full day of sun. 6. Soil: Organic potting mix. 7. Water Features: None 8. Existing Plant Species: None 9. Animal Activity: None yet - but just put up a suet feeder and a seed feeder for the birds. 10. My house was built in 1921, and neighbors in the area tell me that it use to be a very large lot (it has been subdivided many times) with a large number of trees. My husband and I have been attempting to fix up the yard and the exterior of the house – it was a terrible eye sore when we moved in. When the weather warms up and there are some rain free days I will finish painting the trim and porch floor. 11. I love my little house, but its been neglected and it shows. I chose the front porch of my house for my garden because it is the welcoming point between inside and outside. I want my porch to be a place where neighbors feel invited and friends feel at home. It's a garden for the community - especially my daughter and the neighbor girls.
Contents of Basket#1:
1 Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
1 Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia)
1 Calibrachoa ssp.
Contents of Basket #2:
2 Tumbler tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
(Planted seed on April 25, 2007) Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Contents of Basket #3:
1 Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia)
1 Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
1 Silver thyme (Thymus argenteus)
1 Fuschia ssp.
Contents of Basket #4:
1 Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia)
1 Calibrachoa ssp
1 Cuban oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus)
1 Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
1 Nasturtium (Tropaeolum spp.)
Contents of Basket #5:
1 Lobelia ssp.
1 Fuschia ssp.
1 Calibrachoa ssp.
1 Petunia ssp.
Contents of Basket #6:
2 Petunia ssp.
1 Lobelia ssp.
1 Nasturtium (Tropaeolum spp.)
Contents of Shasta and Marlo's Whiskey Barrel:
1 Licorice Plant (Helichrysum petiolare)
1 Diascia ssp.
1 Strawberry (Frageria spp.)
3 Violets/Pansies (Viola ssp.)
1 Pineapple Mint (Mentha suaveolens var. variegata)
1 Red Chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla)
1 Nasturtium (Tropaeolum spp.)
2 Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)
IV. Plant List: Catnip (Nepeta cataria, family Lamiaceae) Perennial herb, can grown up to 5', the leaves are used in salads, sauces, teas, soups, and medicines. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum, family Alliaceae) Leaves and pink/purple flowers are excellent to eat, grows best in full sun and moist, rich soil, will grow 8-13" in height. Thyme, Silver (Thymus citrio, family Lamiaceae) Bright green leaves have a strong lime scent, grows to a height of 6”, prefers full sun. Nasturtium (Tropaelum spp., family Tropaeolaceae) Trailing, reaching a length of 8-10', peppery tasting blossoms are delicious in salads. Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia, family Myrsinaceae) Trailing perennial reaching a length of 2-4', prefers moist soil and partial shade, for decorative use, can be invasive. Petunia (Petunia ssp., family Solanaceae) Trailing annual which prefers full sun and moist, rich soil. Lobelia (Lobelia ssp., family Campanulaceae) Trailing annual with masses of small flowers (usually blue or white) which does best in full sun, with moist, rich soil. Violets/Pansies (Viola spp., family Violaceae) Partial shade, with moist, rich soil, flowers and edible and used for decoration, tea, and medicine. Strawberry, (Frageria ssp., family Rosaceae), Heirloom variety, with average size fruit, disease resistant, full sun and moist, rich soil.
. . . more to come.
V. Design: Each of the 6 hanging baskets and the whiskey barrel have a mixture of decorative, culinary, and medicinal plants – one must look, explore, and enjoy to find what they need. All baskets have plants that provide height and that trail (to help provide a screen from the busy street). VI. Activities: January Order seeds, turn compost, dream February Garden design, order seeds, dream March Turned compost, order strawberries, purchased potting mix and coconut husk liners, start seeds indoors, purchased available plants, assemble pots April Purchased more available plants, assemble pots, turned compost May Turn compost, plant seed starts in baskets, fertilize pots with worm tea, pinch Reminder – be sure to make notes of plants (uses, flavor, varieties, likes, dislikes) and take pictures! June Turn compost, fertilize with worm tea, pinch, harvest, dry plants, enjoy tea (made with the basket herbs) in the evenings on the porch with family, friends, and neighbors July Turn compost, fertilize with worm tea, pinch, harvest, dry plants, use flowers and herbs to decorate Marlo’s birthday cake, make lemonade and sun tea with pineapple mint, celebrate, enjoy August Turn compost, fertilize with worm tea, pinch, harvest, dry plants, love my plants September Turn compost, harvest, dry plants . . . towards the end of the month transplant the perennials to other homes in the garden . . . clean out baskets, prepare for storage October Inventory plants harvested and dried, share November Enjoy teas from summer’s harvest, relax December Enjoy teas from summer’s harvest, dream
VII. Materials and Tools: Existing: Jiffy pots Growing tray 6 wire baskets hooks wire for hanging chives, plant pineapple mint, plant nasturtium, seeds snapdragon, plants red chard, plant and seeds strawberry, plant compost Purchased: Coconut husk pot liners organic potting mix plants
VIII. Compost System: Existing; there is a three-bin composting unit made from pallets on the east side of the house. I can compost all plant cuttings/pinchings, whole plants, and coconut husk liners there.
IX. Watering System:
Garden hose and watering can.
X. Procurement: The Perennial Gardener 5424 Boston harbor Road NE Olympia, WA 98506 360.754.8084 moneywort, plant catnip, plant petunia, plant lobelia, plant thyme, plant violets, plant Diascia, plant licorice plant, plant Calibrachoa, plant tumbler/basket tomato, plant Cuban oregano, plant
Black Lake Organic 4711 Black Lake Boulevard SW Olympia, WA 98512 360.786.0537 coconut husk pot liners organic potting mix
Olympia Food Co-Op, Eastside 3111 pacific Avenue SE Olympia, WA 98501 360.956.3870 nasturtium, seed
Territorial Seed Company P.O. Box 158 Cottage Grove, OR 97424 1.800.626.0866 www.territorialseed.com
Shasta and Marlo's Whiskey Barrel at the end of May.
Front of roughly drafted "postcard"
Back of "postcard"
Allyson's Porch Garden In Winter 2007
Garden Site Description
I.The front porch of my house at 1404 Ethridge Avenue NE, Olympia is the location of my garden. I have only lived in this house, which I rent, since April 2006.
Directions to my front porch from TESC: Head East on Evergreen Parkway NW Right on Cooper Point Road NW Left on Harrison Avenue NW At first traffic circle head onto Olympic Way NW At second traffic circle head onto 4th Avenue W Left on Plum Street NE Continue on East Bay Drive NE Right on San Francisco Avenue NE Left on Bethel Street NE Right on Ethridge Avenue NE
II. Garden Area: My front porch is located on the northeast corner lot of Bethel Street NE and Ethridge Avenue NE. My porch is wooden, and various elements of it have been replaced or repaired over the years. It is also in the process of being painted (expected completion is sometime this spring). Most of the other houses immediately surrounding mine are from the 1950's, 70's, and 90's. Many of my neighbor's have been putting a great deal of time, energy, and money into their gardens and home exteriors. The majority of the neighborhood is going through a time of revitalization. I think that has a lot to do with the influx of a large number of families with small children and empty-nesters trying to improve the quality of life. III. Garden Site: 1. Size: 6' x 22' 2. Shape: Long rectangle 3. Topography: Flat. 4. Slope: None (I get plenty of standing water when it rains). 5. Exposure: Southern – gets a full day of sun. 6. Soil: None existing – I will bring in an organic potting mix. 7. Water Features: None 8. Existing Plant Species: None 9. Animal Activity: None 10. My house was built in 1921, and neighbors in the area tell me that it use to be a very large lot (it has been subdivided many times) with a large number of trees. My husband and I have been attempting to fix up the yard and the exterior of the house – it was a terrible eye sore when we moved in. When the weather warms up and there are some rain free days I will finish painting the trim and porch floor. 11. I love my little house, but its been neglected and it shows. I chose the front porch of my house for my garden because it is the welcoming point between inside and outside, and currently it is not very welcoming. I want my porch to be a place where neighbors feel invited and friends feel at home. I also want a visual gap – currently, all I see out of my front room window is the side of my neighbor's house and the busy street.
IV. Plant List: Catnip (Nepeta cataria, family Lamiaceae) Perennial herb, can grown up to 5', the leaves are used in salads, sauces, teas, soups, and medicines. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum, family Alliaceae) Leaves and pink/purple flowers are excellent to eat, grows best in full sun and moist, rich soil, will grow 8-13" in height. Oregano, Kent Beauty (Origanum rotundifolium, family Lamiaceae) Trailing herb with silver veined leaves and hop-like floral bracts. For cooking and medicine. Pineapple Mint (Mentha suaveolens variegata, family Lamiaceae) Perennial with green and white variegated leaves, grows to 8-12" in height, prefers partial shade and moist, rich soil. Excellent for teas and beverages, and in a variety of cooking. Thyme, Lime (Thymus citriodorus, family Lamiaceae) Bright green leaves have a strong lime scent, grows to a height of 6”, prefers full sun. Nasturtium (Tropaelum majus, family Tropaeolaceae) Trailing, reaching a length of 8-10', peppery tasting blossoms are delicious in salads. Moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia, family Myrsinaceae) Trailing perennial reaching a length of 2-4', prefers moist soil and partial shade, for decorative use, can be invasive. Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium, family Lamiaceae) Perennial which grows to a height of 3-12", and is used for tea, medicine, and insect control. Petunia, Purple Wave (Petunia hybrida, family Solanaceae) Trailing annual which prefers full sun and moist, rich soil. Lobelia (Lobelia erinus, family Campanulaceae) Trailing annual with masses of small flowers (usually blue or white) which does best in full sun, with moist, rich soil. Violets (Viola odorata, family Violaceae) Partial shade, with moist, rich soil, flowers and edible and used for decoration, tea, and medicine. Strawberry, Earliglow (Frageria, family Rosaceae), Heirloom variety, with average size fruit, disease resistant, full sun and moist, rich soil.
V. Design: Each of the 5 hanging baskets must all have a mixture of decorative, culinary, and medicinal plants – one must look, explore, and enjoy to find what they need. All baskets will have plants that provide height and that trail (to help provide a screen from the busy street). VI. Activities: January Order seeds, turn compost, dream February Garden design, order seeds, dream March Turn compost, order strawberries, purchase potting mix and coconut husk liners, start seeds indoors April Purchase available plants, assemble pots May Turn compost, plant seed starts in baskets, fertilize pots with worm tea, pinch Reminder – be sure to make notes of plants (uses, flavor, varieties, likes, dislikes) and take pictures! June Turn compost, fertilize with worm tea, pinch, harvest, dry plants, enjoy tea (made with the basket herbs) in the evenings on the porch with family, friends, and neighbors July Turn compost, fertilize with worm tea, pinch, harvest, dry plants, use flowers and herbs to decorate Marlo’s birthday cake, make lemonade and sun tea with pineapple mint, celebrate, enjoy August Turn compost, fertilize with worm tea, pinch, harvest, dry plants, love my plants September Turn compost, harvest, dry plants . . . towards the end of the month transplant the perennials to other homes in the garden . . . clean out baskets, prepare for storage October Inventory plants harvested and dried, share November Enjoy teas from summer’s harvest, relax December Enjoy teas from summer’s harvest, dream
VII. Materials and Tools: Existing: Jiffy pots Growing tray 6 wire baskets hooks wire for hanging chives, plant compost Purchase: Coconut husk pot liners organic potting mix plants
VIII. Compost System: Existing; there is a three-bin composting unit made from pallets on the east side of the house. I can compost all plant cuttings/pinchings, whole plants, and coconut husk liners there.
IX. Watering System:
Garden hose and watering can.
X. Procurement: The Perennial Gardener 5424 Boston harbor Road NE Olympia, WA 98506 360.754.8084 pennyroyal, plant moneywort, plant catnip, plant oregano, plant pineapple mint, plant petunia, plant lobelia, plant thyme. plant strawberry, plant violets, plant
Black Lake Organic 4711 Black Lake Boulevard SW Olympia, WA 98512 360.786.0537 coconut husk pot liners organic potting mix
Olympia Food Co-Op, Eastside 3111 pacific Avenue SE Olympia, WA 98501 360.956.3870 nasturtium, seed
Territorial Seed Company P.O. Box 158 Cottage Grove, OR 97424 1.800.626.0866 www.territorialseed.com
