Welcome to GardenTime!
Each month Master Gardener Marla Hovey posts tips for gardening success with a special focus on a particular vegetable or flower. She will often include a recipe of the month, too.
Please feel free to Ask Marla any gardening question.
Add An Indoor Garden To Your Home
Now that fall is here and winter just around the corner, it is a great time to think about growing some indoor plants to create cleaner air, besides adding something beautiful to your living space. [Read more]
Plant Now for Blooms in the Spring
Want bulbs blooming in the spring? Fall is the perfect time to plant your favorites! [Read more]
Growing Garlic
With fall just around the corner, it is time to think about plants that require fall planting. If you enjoy garlic, you may want to consider trying to grow it...Ideally, the garlic should have at least a month before cold weather to develop a strong root system.
This will enable the plant to gain strength to carry it over the winter. [Read more]
Plus, a simple dip recipe for a wonderful healthy dip. Enjoy!
White Bean Dip with Pita Chips
Tomato Pruning and Maintenance
It seems we all enjoy thinking about growing those luscious tomatoes. In fact, it almost becomes an all out challenge for some of us!...Now that we have looked into all the things you can do to produce those beautiful tomatoes we all dream of, here is a recipe I hope you enjoy! [Read more]
Insalata Caprese is one of my favorites. It has just a few ingredients but packed with flavor. Serve with a nice loaf of Ciabatta bread and you’re set for a delicious light meal.
Using Native Plants
In Your Landscapes
There are many good reasons why we should consider using Native Plants in our landscape design...Deer normally don’t bother them, they use less water and will grow with less maintenance...They also provide habitat for many birds and butterflies. [Read more]
Springtime = Asparagus
Who doesn't like Asparagus? And, it is relatively easy to grow when you take a few initial planting concerns. [Read more]
Plus, try this recipe for
Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Asparagus and Parmesan Rice
Think Garden And Hopefully
Spring Will Come
Wow, it has been quite the long, wet winter! We are all seeing lots of damage to our yards…could be from wind on tender leaves budding out, cold, things are rotting in the soaked soil, or a combination of things. Be patient in getting the “planting” bug. However, it is a great time to get some seeds going, pruning, laying 
out your garden or dividing your perennials. [Read more]
Plus, Marla's recipe for Rhubarb Custard Bars
What's Eating My Cabbage?
As summer winds down and we prepare to harvest our veggies, we might see chew holes on our cabbages, brussel sprouts, cabbages and broccoli. [Read more]
Try Tim Wittman's Sauerkraut Recipe
Growing Lavender!
Grow Lavender for it’s beauty, fragrance and yes, even baking! Marla discusses varieties of Lavender, tips for propagation and pruning and offers recipes for Lavender Sorbet and Shortbread. [Read more]
Helpful Hints For Success
In Your Raspberry Patch
We all love those beautiful sweet red berries. With a little care, they will perform very nicely in your garden. [Read more]
And then enjoy the fruits of the harvest:
White Chocolate Raspberry Tart
Marla has enjoyed gardening since childhood where she learned all aspects of gardening from her parents. However, moving the the West side of the state brought about a totally different type of gardening.
For the past 30 years, she has learned through experimentation, research and most recently completing the WSU Master Garden Program in 2006.
Flowers are truly a favorite of her garden, but she does love her vegetables, too! She utilizes a greenhouse to grow her tomatoes which are already producing ripe sungold tomatoes!
Ask Marla your gardening questions!
Plant clinics are offered on Thursdays, 9:00-1:00 at the Anacortes Senior Center.
Articles On Gardening
Non-Lethal Methods of Controlling Deer Damage
Water Conservation In Gardens and Landscapes
Read Master Gardener Sharon Schlittenhard's answers to many gardening questions:
Pollinating plum trees
Pithy apples
Pruning young boxwoods
Best time to plant fruit trees
Grafted Spruce?
Rust on Hollyhocks
Lack of Rhododendron Blooms
Suffering Madrona
Planting Madronas
Yellow Transparents
Concrete Blocks For Raised Beds
Dwarf Varieties
Red Hot Pokers
What might help my Rhododendron bloom?
Pull up the plastic?
Why is our salal dying?
Is this a good time to move my blueberry bush?
Do dahlias need to be dug?
Will Madrone grow from nursery stock?
What types of fruit trees grow well on Guemes?
Will my boxwoods come back to life?
Is it time to prune my roses?
What options do I have for a dry, windy, seacoast area?
Should I prune my boxwoods before or after I move them?
Can you could give me a list of specific plants that the deer on Guemes prefer not to eat?
What is the best way to get roses to thrive on Guemes?
Is there anything that will thrive under my large cedar trees?
Has anyone ever compiled a comprehensive list of plants that our island deer don’t eat?
When is the best time to transplant woody landscape plants?
What is the best way to prune rhododendrons?