Gear Up for Weekend Gardening

The weekend is coming and the weather forecast looks fantastic, so we’re guessing a few of you will be spending some time in your yards and gardens. If you’re anything like us, while you enjoy a good trip to Home Depot or Lowe’s, you don’t look forward to the prospect of standing in long lines, waiting for the clerk to get the price check on that obscure plumbing part… Well, we found a few alternatives to the big box experience…

Metro Parks Spring Vegetable Garden Starter Sale
If you’re looking for vegetables to plant, you may want to consider stopping by the Spring Vegetable Garden Starter Sale at the Seymour Conservatory in Wright Park this Saturday. The flyer promises what sounds like an exciting variety of vegetable starters; the list includes fun names like Chocolate Cherry, Indigo Rose, Purple Calabash, and Stupice tomatoes; Crème Brulee, Sweet Big Bertha, Sweet Chocolate Beauty peppers; and Baby Bear Pumpkins.

When:
Saturday, May 12, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 9, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where:
W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory,
316 N. G St, Tacoma
In Wright Park
Details: www.MetroParksTacoma.org

YMCA Friends and Servants Plant Sale
Another opportunity to pick up some plants for your garden that you might not have heard about is the YMCA’s Friends and Servants plant sale. Proceeds from the sale go to benefit the program for the youth at Remann Hall who grow the plants. This Friends and Servants project provides juvenile offenders with an avenue to fulfill court requirements while giving them a positive work experience.

When: Fridays and Saturdays, April 27 – July 21, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Remann Hall, 5501 6th Ave., Tacoma
Details: Learn more from the Tacoma Daily Index

TAGRO
And, if you’re ready to pick up a load of Tacoma’s favorite local garden product, you can now pick up bags of TAGRO potting soil at seven Tacoma area locations. Of course you can still pick up TAGRO in bulk at the TAGRO facility, but if you’re in to convenience, the pre-bagged stuff is a nice option, and with the addition of Tacoma Boys to the roster of TAGRO vendors, you can get it any time, day or night…

Bagged TAGRO Locations

• GardenSphere, 3310 N. Proctor St., Tacoma
• Gray Lumber, 3800 Sixth Ave., Tacoma
• H&L Produce, 7320 Lakewood Drive W., Lakewood (new location)
• Northshore Ace Hardware, 35419 21st Ave. SW, Federal Way (new location)
• Portland Avenue Nursery, 1409 E. 59th St., Tacoma
• Tacoma Boys, 5602 Sixth Ave., Tacoma (new location, open 24 hours)
• Walker Ace Hardware, 1616 S.W. Dash Point Road, Federal Way (new location)

Bulk TAGRO
TAGRO is located at 2201 Portland Ave., Gate 6.
Spring hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
More information on the wonders of TAGRO at www.tagro.com

These are a couple local gardening options, but we know there must be more. Tacoma’s Farmers’ Markets are always a good option; what else is going on around Tacoma for gardeners?