Trees for the Future

Witch Hazel 'Arnolds Promise'

I often think about planning for the future in the garden.

Is it just about my immediate thrilling enjoyment?

Assuredly not!

Here we have our large yellow , fragrant, winter blooming Witch Hazel 'Arnolds Promise' , planted 32 years ago when we were renters in Seattle. I worked at Molbaks Seattle Garden Center in Pike Place Market.

The five gallon size pot with a tiny Witch Hazel cost me almost 15 hours of work at my minimum wage job in 1994.

It represented hope for our future and a belief that we would have our own business one day.

Two years later we started Langley Fine Gardens and are now beginning our 31st year in operation as greenhouse plant growers.

We dug up the Witch Hazel and brought it to Vashon in 1999 when we found our property where we now live and work, what was once five acres of blackberries and scotch broom with no electricity, waterlines or buildings of any sort is now a thriving greenhouse and farm and pumpkin patch.

I estimate the Witch Hazel to have been about 5 years old when we bought it in 1994.

So I'd say it's about 37 years old now.

Last year I bought a new little baby one at Little Bird Gardens Nursery on Vashon and planted it for Matt for his birthday.

Gardeners are always planning for the future garden they won't see but others will enjoy.

Get outside between rain showers and get into the soil, pull some weeds, see if crocus and snowdrops are coming up and blooming, are any daffodils in bud yet?

It's time to get to work.