This spring, I had the pleasure of "ghost blogging" for the
Puget Ridge Garden Center at my alma mater, South Seattle Community College. This retail nursery/teaching facility is part of the Landscape Horticulture complex, completed just a few years ago, which includes the garden center, a greenhouse, cold frame building, head house, lath house and classrooms. This complex is a far cry from the dilapidated, 20-year-old, "temporary" classrooms that were in use when I was a student. After years of promises that construction would start "next fall," until fall came, and then "we'll break ground in the spring," and then more promises the following fall, it makes me happy to see this facility finally completed.
I've enjoyed visiting the college weekly, seeing what is new and taking photos. It has reminded me of how much I enjoyed plant ID, landscape design, horticulture science and propagation classes. It was one of the great joys of my life to be so immersed in the study of something I loved so much. Even though I stepped away from design and consulting work in recent years, due to health issues, I never lost my passion for it. Spending time at the college these past months has reminded me of that, and it has been part of the reason I am returning to the business.
But now the quarter is drawing to an end and the garden center will be closing until fall. Will I will resume my "ghost" blogging position then? I don't know. What I do know is that there are some great deals to be had on plants this week and next. There's some gorgeous plant material there, with prices at or near wholesale. While you're there, take a look around. Maybe you, too, will be inspired to sign up for a class. Check out the
Puget Ridge Garden Center blog for more details on dates and hours open.
