Solutions to Garden Problems
Dan Gilchrist
Much Ado About Mushrooms

Mushrooms make their appearance in lawns and gardens anytime, but more conspicuously in the fall. That’s when wetter weather and cooler temperatures make ideal conditions for them to emerge. Should you be concerned? Or, can you embrace your garden mushrooms? Read on for more information about these fascinating funghi.

Much Ado About Mushrooms
Plant Profiles, Garden History & Lore
Mike Kohfeld
An Ethnobotanical Perspective on Marigolds

The marigold is much more than a beautiful garden flower. Its utility as a colorful annual, edible flower, and companion plant for vegetable gardens is greatly enhanced by its profound role in religious and cultural practices around the world.

An Ethnobotanical Perspective on Marigolds
Staff Favorites
Aimée Damman
Fabulous Fall Recipes

When fall arrives, it always inspires me to nest. I search out new recipes, spend weekends cooking and baking, and then test my creations on my friends and family. There’s just something about the chill in the air and the early sunsets that encourage a hearty, home-cooked meal or sweet treat. Here are a few of my favorite fall recipes, including fall cocktails, sweet treats, and savory dishes.

Fabulous Fall Recipes
Planting & Plant Care
Denise Read
Fall Dahlia Care

Dahlias die back each year as autumn advances, but, with the proper care, the tuberous root system can live on to produce a stunning display year after year. The advice in this post is based on many years of growing dahlias in a low-lying area of Seattle with relatively moderate winter temperatures and excellent drainage.

Fall Dahlia Care
Edible Gardening
Aimée Damman
How to Grow Garlic

Sure, you can buy garlic, but for the best flavor - and an incredible sense of satisfaction - nothing beats growing it yourself. Unlike most vegetables, garlic is planted in the fall but not harvested until the following summer, making it a very long-season crop that’s worth the wait. In fact, it can be very encouraging to plant something new in late fall when all around you, most plants are fading in anticipation of winter.

How to Grow Garlic

Supporting Our Community

Thank You to Our Generous Community!

Thank You to Our Generous Community!

Your amazing generosity during our Giving Campaign made it possible to donate $20,000 to Ballard Food Bank! This donation will help provide fresh fruits and vegetables to families in need in our community. Learn all about the campaign.

Doodle, Chairman Meow, and the Seattle Humane MaxMobile!

Doodle, Chairman Meow, and the Seattle Humane MaxMobile!

As you may have noticed, Swansons is enthusiastically pet-friendly. We so enjoy meeting the dogs, cats, and even birds that visit us regularly. Since many of us are animal lovers, we are always looking for ways to contribute to an animal-friendly community, whether it’s keeping treats at our customer service desk, posting photos of furry visitors on our Facebook page or donating the proceeds from our reindeer buttons to Seattle Humane each holiday season. This year, I was able to visit the Seattle Humane headquarters and learn more about what they do. It’s an amazing facility and everyone I met was incredibly dedicated to the animals at the shelter.

Green Plate Special: Inspiring Youth Through Urban Gardening

Green Plate Special: Inspiring Youth Through Urban Gardening

This year, our annual Fall Festival is raising money for the local nonprofit, Green Plate Special, and we’re so excited to tell you all about the meaningful work they do to help low-income youth experience food in new ways through gardening, cooking, and eating together.

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A Visit to Fishtail Cottage

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A Visit to Fishtail Cottage

One of the perks of working at Swansons is being able to visit PNW gardens. While the majority of gardens we visit are public, it’s always a treat to visit personal gardens and explore what local gardeners are doing in their private spaces. Nestled in an ordinary block north of Seattle, there is a floriferous wonderland called Fishtail Cottage. Complete with a white picket fence, romantic cottage garden flowers, and a bevy of animal greeters, you might feel like you have wandered out of the suburbs and into a modern fairy tale land.

 
 

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