In late winter, before any seeds have germinated in the nursery, we are out in the snow with loppers and clippers in hand. Our objective? Collecting live stakes and cuttings from stands of willows and cottonwoods. A cutting bed at Derby Canyon Natives of McKenzie willow (Salix prolixa), with Hobbes We make these collections while the […]
Scouler’s Willow
In the forests of Eastern Washington one of the first woody plants to bloom is the Scouler’s willow. A large Scouler’s willow at Derby Canyon Natives in March By mid-March most years (early March this year!) these willows, at least the male ones, are alive with insects gathering pollen. The Scouler’s willow around my nursery were […]
Attracting MORE Insects with Native Plants – Part 1: Native Bees
[Winter is hanging around still; after an almost snowless and warm December and January we now have 12” on the ground in Peshastin. Nonetheless, I think of native plants. Here are some articles to get us thinking of the approaching growing season.] Signs point to spring One reason for using native plants in the landscape […]
Willows galore
At Derby Canyon Natives I grow close to 140 species of plants but the bulk of my revenue comes from about 12 species that we sell in large numbers for restoration projects. Many projects, particularly those in riparian areas, call for one or more species of willows. Hobbes in the MacKenzie willow cutting bed There are many species […]
CUTTINGS
Still cold out there and the native plants are dormant, which is good. I’m out collecting cuttings this week from a number of natives that we’ll use to propagate more plants. I’m cutting 1 and 2-year old shoots from willows (five species), black cottonwood, red osier dogwood and snowberry. I do most of the cutting […]