Brrr! As you may know, I write a gardening column for the Lynden Tribune each month, and without fail, if I make any sort of a statement about the weather, it suddenly turns on its head and proves me wrong the next week. Recently, I made mention of how mild the winter had been...and this week, well, you know what happened! I'm thinking this spring I should complain about how [...]

Some of the 420 Lynden Baskets planted today!

So what happened to that winter we were supposed to get? All reports last fall indicated a cold, snowy season ahead. Sure, we’ve had our share of wet weather, but thus far, it seems like we’re the only part of the country that hasn’t been cold. With the mild weather, you've probably noticed your spring bulbs popping up, some of your perennials sprouting—and have you taken a look at your [...]

I think bears got it right when they first decided to start hibernating. I mean, they spend their whole life traipsing through the woods eating berries and chasing the occasional hiker who happens to cross their path, so it seems like a great idea to just take a few months off during the quiet, cold winter season to hibernate...doesn't it?Well, we haven't exactly been hibernating around here at Vander Giessen's, [...]

Have you ever stood out on a beach during a big storm and watched the waves crash ashore? It's fun to watch the swells start to build out as far as the eye can see--and more fun still to try to predict which one will be "the big one" that makes you run for high ground!But I'm not here to talk about big waves coming ashore...although it's starting to feel [...]

Beautiful handmade ceramic pots just in!

In the world of blogging, it's not always easy to find time to keep things current--especially as the season gets busier, it can be challenging to keep our readers up to speed on what's going on at the nursery and in the world of gardening. That's why I'm starting something new: Wordless Wednesday!While I will continue to post regular written updates on what's new, in bloom and looking good at [...]

Like many people, you may wonder what happens around a nursery during the winter? Many nurseries close after fall sales or the Christmas season--there's just not much to do until spring--but we're open! So what do we have going on right now?The truth is, the months of January and early February--while different from the rest of the year--are equally as busy as any other time. We're constantly working to make [...]