In Good Thyme - by Mariana Graham

A couple of weeks ago I ran a request from a man who asked whether I knew of any publications that gave formulas for natural garden products. I replied that I wasn't aware of any other than "Organic Gardening" magazine and the helpful books put out by its parent company, Rodale Press.

Shortly thereafter, Joyce King, whose garden overlooks Dugualla Bay, turned me on to a favorite book of hers. "Easy Answers for Great Gardens," by Marianne Binetti, offers "500 Tips, Techniques & Outlandish Ideas." Binetti's helpful (and sometimes irreverent) garden column appears each Thursday in the "Seattle Post Intelligencer." She also makes numerous television appearances, dispensing garden wisdom with a dash of wit.

Her book answers gardeners' most frequently asked questions, interspersed with practical advice that can be used by beginners and veterans alike. While not all are strictly organic, Binetti's recommendations certainly lean in that direction. One of her tips for controlling black spot and other fungal diseases on roses is as follows: Mix skim milk in equal parts or in a ratio of 1:1 with water. Apply the milk solution to the rose foliage by spraying or brushing on with a sponge-tipped paintbrush.
"Easy Answers for Great Gardens" is published by Sasquatch Books. It will give you a lot of good information for the price of $14.95.

Anyone west of the Rockies who's been gardening for a while probably owns a dog-eared, slightly muddy copy of Sunset's "Western Garden Book." Published since the 1930s, it's revised and updated every few years. Many gardeners have editions dating back several decades. The seventh edition made its debut at the Seattle Flower and Garden Show last February.
It is without a doubt, the best edition yet. The "Western Garden Book" has always been the place to look first for information on practically every cultivated plant that grows on this side of the Great Divide. Like Binetti's book, it appeals to novice and expert alike. The 2001 edition differs from its predecessors in that it has many more color photos and illustrations, and it puts a definite emphasis on organic gardening methods whenever possible. For the first time, it includes information on gardening in the State of Hawaii, something I had to learn by trial and error when I lived on Kauai in the mid eighties (ever see sweet basil grow six feet tall?).

I've discovered that the 2001 edition can be difficult to find on Whidbey Island. The places that stock it sell out quickly. Also, the sixth edition is still in many inventories. Be sure to ask specifically for the Sunset "Western Garden Book" for 2001. It has a green cover adorned with bright pink roses. The sixth edition, dated 1995, is green and white with a photo of yellow Fremontodendron on the cover.

This new gardener's bible costs $30, give or take a few cents, for 768 informative pages. It isn't cheap, but will serve you well for years to come. If you have trouble finding it, you can order it on line, but why not support your local bookstore? If they don't have it, they'll surely order it for you. Speaking of books, on Saturday, June 16, Marion Owen, one of the authors of the new best seller "Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul," will be at Rosehip Farm and Garden, Fort Casey Road, Coupeville, for a book signing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Master Gardeners will also be on hand to answer gardening questions. Rain or shine, June 16 will be a busy Saturday for gardening enthusiasts. It's also the day of the Oak Harbor Garden Tour and Tea. Not only do you get to see (and gather ideas) from six of the most handsome gardens in North Whidbey, but you're served tea and goodies as well. The tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so start early and you'll have time to visit Rosehip, too. Profits go to Oak Harbor Garden Club's beautification and conservation projects and scholarship fund. Tickets are $10 at the Daily Grind or Greenhouse Nursery, or by mail at OHGC, 486 W. Henni Rd., Oak Harbor 98277. Call 675-0538 for further information.

I'm a garden book junkie and have many favorites to recommend, but I'd like to get your input. Tell me a little about your top picks and we'll share with other Island gardeners.

Garden questions or comments? Call 675-6611, e-mail wnt@whidbey.net. Mariana Graham is a Master Gardener and member of Garden Writers Association of America.

MASTER GARDENER CLINICS (click on picture)
Master Gardener plant clinics are being held at various Island locations throughout the summer. On the North end, bring questions and plant samples to The Greenhouse Nursery each Saturday in July from 9 a.m. to noon, Cenex on Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or the Navy Exchange Garden Shop June 30th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In Central Whidbey, it's at the Coupeville Farmers Market each Saturday through the end of July from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. South end clinics include Freeland Ace Hardware from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 23, July 28, Aug. 25 and Sept. 22. You can also find Master Gardeners at South Whidbey Tilth on July 7, Aug. 4, and Sept. 1 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Clinics are held at Bayview Farm and Garden June 30th, July 7, 14, 21, 28; Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25. Clinics may be scheduled at other locations when volunteers and resource materials are available. 'Can't make it to a plant clinic? Call the Master Gardener hotline (360) 679-7327 each Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through the end of September.