It is fun to read the comments and hear what is going on in gardens in other parts of the country. "Black spot" seems to be a, "thorn in the side", so to speak with many. Living in the great "Pacific Northwest" we expect to see some in the early spring until the weather warms up. Warm wet nights seem to be the breeding ground for it. You might try some baking soda and water. Take an old spray bottle and put about 1 teaspoon of baking soda in it, then fill with water. You can add a drop or two of cooking oil, which will help it stick. As you walk the garden, take it along. When you see something start you might take that foliage off, and spray the plant, also the ground as it will harbor spores. Let us know what works for you!

If you pull into the parking lot, get out of the car and start thinking about having a great Italian dinner don't be surprised. We have a number of herbs that are being sold in the sales cottage along with some heirloom tomatoes, can't wait to see what the purple ones taste like. The smell from the herbs is divine. Green peppers, herbs, tomatoes, lavender and more - oh my!

This past weekend was the rose academy on fertilizing. There was a great turnout. The weather could not have been better. Make sure to feed your roses this year, it will result in a more healthy plant that provides nice big beautiful blooms.

With the nice weather the roses are starting to take off, we have seen a few buds here and there on some roses in the garden. Every now and then we find a bloom in the greenhouse on the roses that are waiting for a home.

We were at the "Yamhill County Master Gardner Plant Fair and Sale" this Saturday.The place was packed with plants and people. The lines to buy were to the back of the room. There were so many plants it was hard to decide. Vegetables were a hit, as it seemed every box had an assortment sticking out.

Next week Heirloom is traveling down to Ashland, Oregon to see what their plant sale is like. Take a few roses to sell and say hi to our garden lovers in the south of Oregon.

That's it for now,

Happy Gardening!!