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Thank you for your interest in Vander Giessen Nursery. Be sure to visit our garden center as well and check out the latest in-season annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees & more. Since 1938, we've served Whatcom County and beyond with the best plants and service we can provide, and we look forward to the opportunity to serve you in all of your gardening needs as well.

Vander Giessen Nursery, Inc.
401 East Grover Street
Lynden, WA 98264
(360) 354-3097

The Season for Dreaming

As a gardener, I’ve come to appreciate that gardening is never really finished. Sure, we mark the Last Mowing of the Year with pride and admire the look of a freshly-raked yard free of leaves for the (hopefully) final time, but if you’re anything like me, the satisfaction of a season finished is all too quickly replaced by the longing for spring upon the arrival of the first seed catalog in late December or January. As you start to dream of spring, here are some plants—new and old—I’ve come to love over the last few years that you might put on your spring wish list.

Admittedly, some patience is in order for the majority of the plants listed below. Many garden centers in our area don’t really stock up on plants before mid-February, and most won’t have a full selection until early- to mid-March. One plant we already have in stock at the nursery, however, is the hellebore, commonly called Winter Rose or Lenten Rose. 

'Jospeh Lemper' hellebore is a beautiful winter
bloomer for your garden

Most gardeners have at least some familiarity with hellebores, but if you haven’t planted one (or more) in your garden yet, now is a great time to start! They bloom through winter’s darkest days, tolerate full shade to part sun, require minimal maintenance, are very deer-resistant, and have pleasant-looking green foliage year-round. ‘Joseph Lemper,’ a pure white variety blooming now with large flowers is one of my favorites, but ‘Snow Fever’ is a fun twist on a classic cream-colored variety with speckled green-and-cream leaves that look great all year long.

A second plant that we have in stock at Vander Giessen's both now and throughout the year is heuchera, or Coral Bells. A couple years ago I wrote about it as the “perfect plant”—they’re evergreen, stay small, come in nearly every color of the rainbow, bloom through the summer, and grow in sun or shade. 

With the surging popularity of heuchera in recent years, it’s been hard to keep up with the number of varieties introduced. One of my favorites is ‘Dolce Cinnamon Curls,’ a rusty-red variety with ruffled leaves. ‘Dolce Blackberry Ice’ and ‘Obsidian’ are a couple more of my go-to varieties; boasting purple leaves, they make the brighter colors of most blooming plants pop and add drama to a container planting.

My third plant pick I’m dreaming of this winter is a favorite among ‘edibles’ gardeners: blueberries. While many edible shrubs and trees require at least some regular maintenance to perform well, blueberry bushes planted in a sunny spot will generally reward you with great crops of antioxidant-rich fruit year after year regardless of how much gardening know-how you possess. 

If you’re looking for ways to incorporate more edibles into your landscaping in the coming year, one variety of blueberry in particular would work well. ‘Sunshine Blue’ is a dwarf variety that tops out at just three to four feet tall and wide. In spring is puts on a beautiful show of pink and white flowers followed by good crops of berries in summer without requiring a cross-pollinator. In winter, it remains semi-evergreen as well, adding to its appeal as a landscape shrub.

Soon spring will be upon us, and along with it the joy of watching life begin again out in the garden. As we gardeners relish the slower pace of winter, though, now is the time to dream. What specific plants, colors or textures are you missing in your yard and what do you hope to grow this year? Stop by Vander Giessen Nursery to start browsing seed racks, see the selection of winter-interest shrubs and perennials and begin to put together your wish list of plants to enjoy in your garden in 2016.

30% off Wreaths & Garland

With Christmas just around the corner, now is the time to make sure your home looks its best for your Christmas parties and family get-togethers.

To help you make your home festive for the holidays, we've marked down our selection of beautiful wreaths and cedar garland. While supplies last, save 30% off cedar garland and our entire selection of wreaths available at the nursery.

While you're here, check out our colorful poinsettias, blooming Christmas cactuses and gift-packaged amaryllis bulbs. And if you're looking for a Christmas tree to decorate, we've just received another delivery of Fraser firs--and they're truly fresh-cut!

Stop in and check out all that we have to offer for your indoor and outdoor decorating this Christmas season. We're here to serve you!

Great Gardener Gift Ideas

Felco pruners provide unmatched quality and
durability--and with replaceable parts, they're the
last pruner you'll ever have to buy!

The Christmas season is well underway: lights are up, Christmas music fills the radio waves and December calendars are packed with parties and family get-togethers. While gardening may not be foremost in your mind this month, there are plenty of gift-worthy items you’ll find at Vander Giessen's that you can give to your favorite gardener—or add to your own wishlist—this Christmas season.

For most gardeners, one of the most-used tools they rely on is a hand pruner. Whether cutting back hydrangeas, picking bouquets of roses or trimming a Japanese maple, I always use a Felco pruner. No, they’re not cheap, but you get what you pay for, and since every part of the pruner can be replaced if needed, a good Felco may be the last pruner you ever have to buy. With several models available for different hand sizes and needs, let us help you pick out the right pruner for your loved one. 

Another great pruner (really more of a garden snips) I’ve fallen in love with over the last year is the aptly-named Deadheads. These diminutive pruners fit in the palm of your hand, allowing you to easily snip off spent flowers or pick fresh herbs and produce. Whether to add to your own collection of garden tools or fill a stocking, Deadheads are a great, inexpensive gift idea. 

Deadheads garden snips are a great stocking stuffer.

If you have kids or grandkids that regularly “help” with tasks around the house (as a parent of a three-year-old, I use the word “help” very generously!), you know the value of them having their own tools to use. This Christmas, consider giving your little helper a set of colorful kid-sized garden tools and their own brightly-hued garden gloves. Not only will they be thrilled to have something of their own, you might actually get some assistance pulling weeds next spring! 

Finally, one of my favorite tools to use around the garden this year has been a humble but versatile garden bucket. Superior to any ordinary five-gallon bucket, a garden bucket is lightweight with flexible sides and ergonomic built-in handles—the perfect combination of utility and comfort. I know, it’s a bucket, but try one and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Now, whatever the occasion, a thoughtful and well-meaning person might give you a poinsettia or blooming Christmas cactus this month. Green thumbs notwithstanding, I’ve heard too many stories from customers about how they somehow seem to kill their Christmas plants every year. 

If you look outside, you won’t see too many poinsettias or Christmas cactuses growing in your flowerbeds or by the roadside. In fact, you won’t see any; they’re native to warmer, drier climates, and as such, thrive in relatively warm, dry environments. The most common way I hear of poinsettias meeting their demise is with too much water—and the same goes for Christmas cactuses. 

If you receive a poinsettia this year, you shouldn’t need to water more than two or three times a week. When you do, take it out of its decorative sleeve and set it in a saucer or directly in the kitchen sink. After you’ve watered it, let it set for a few minutes before returning it to its wrapper to allow any extra water to drain out. For Christmas cactuses, water even less often, allowing the soil to dry before watering again. Should you succeed in keeping your plant alive, only increase the quantity and regularity of water you give it when new growth begins to show next spring. 

May you enjoy all this season has to offer. From my family to yours, have a blessed Christmas!

Christmas Open House This Saturday

Enjoy the sights, smells and tastes of Christmas this Saturday, December 5 at Vander Giessen Nursery! Indulge your taste buds with our special homemade olie bollen--fresh-made from 10:00-3:00--feast your eyes on our large selection of top quality poinsettias and bask in the fragrance of fresh-cut evergreens as you pick out the perfect Christmas tree or wreath.

If Christmas shopping is on your list this weekend, take advantage of special one-day sales on fountains, gardening hand tools, pottery and more--honored all day from 9:00-5:00.

Join our family this Saturday December 5 as we celebrate Christmas! For more information, visit http://www.vandergiessennursery.com/

Christmas Season Starts Friday!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Once again, Christmas season is almost here--and at Vander Giessen's, we're busy gearing up for the beauty of the new season. Our poinsettias are in stock, Christmas trees are arriving and fresh hand-made wreaths and cedar garland will be ready to go soon.

Starting Friday, November 27, we'll be ready to go with our complete selection of Christmas items for your decorating and gift-giving needs. Skip the craziness that is Black Friday and enjoy the more leisurely pace of visiting the nursery to pick out your Christmas tree, poinsettia or wreath to decorate your home.

If you're looking for fresh color to use in pots on your front porch, we can help as well! We've just stocked up on winter-blooming hellebores, winterberry, dwarf evergreens perfect for use as miniature Christmas trees and colorful heuchera to fill your pots.

Be sure to save the date--once again, we're gearing up for our annual Christmas open house. Stop in on Saturday, December 5 for hot, fresh olie bollen, hot cocoa and a festive atmosphere--in addition to the many great sales on stocking stuffers throughout the store.

As we get ready to welcome another Christmas season, we look forward to once again celebrating with you! 

All Fountains 20% Off

Massarelli's durable concrete fountains add beauty and value to your landscape

At Vander Giessen Nursery, we carry Whatcom County's best selection of fountains--both in durable concrete and lightweight, detailed resin. Available in a wide variety of textures, colors, sizes, and shapes, we have a fountain to fit nearly every space or budget.

And if budget is an issue that's prevented you from purchasing a fountain in the past, here's your chance: through November 21, our entire selection of in-stock fountains is 20% off. Historically, our fountains have only gone on sale one day a year, so you don't want to miss out on this extended sale.

Whether you're looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the gardener in your life or just want to splurge on yourself, these fountains are the perfect way to add ambiance and interest to your garden. All fountains include the required pump and electrical wiring and many even come with built-in LED lights for added interest.

Don't miss your chance to save 20% off all of the fountains available now at Vander Giessen's, through November 21!

Plant Bulbs Now | 25% Off

Bulbs are available in colorful mixes or solid colors,
allowing you to design your perfect color palette.

It's that time of year again--autumn is in full swing! As you wrap your hands around your pumpkin spice latte, don't forget it's the time of year for planting bulbs, too.

All too often, we hear from customers in February or March asking when they should plant their tulips, daffodils or other spring-blooming bulbs. The sad news we have to give at that time is that they're four or five months late (or seven months early!).

If you'd enjoy the perennial color that bulbs offer--and most varieties are perennials, returning year after year with minimal care--right now is the time to plant. And for a limited time, our entire selection of spring-blooming bulbs is 25% off!

At Vander Giessen's, we have a great selection of deer-resistant daffodils as well as beautiful colors of tulips, crocuses and fragrant hyacinths. Whether you plant in pots or directly into your flowerbeds, these bulbs will fill your porch or garden with color next spring.

Check out the beautiful choices in bulbs we have to offer this weekend, and get some planting done now for years of beauty to come!  

Prepare Now for a Successful Spring

Fall colors this year have been beautiful,
but don't let fallen leaves ruin your lawn!

From the football field to a game of chess, a successful player or team anticipates its opponent’s moves and prevents the rival from advancing. In gardening, the same rules apply, and while November isn’t always the most pleasant time for yard work, it’s a crucial time for a few final tasks around the yard and garden to avoid playing catch-up next spring.

First, now is the time to put your lawn to bed. Leaves are falling, and whether you choose to rake your leaves or suck them up with your lawn mower, be sure to remove them before winter sets in. With the crazy year we’ve had, some trees lost their leaves weeks ago while others are strangely still green. At whatever stage your trees are now, don’t forget to check your lawn for leaves after the last have fallen as any leaves left on grass over winter will smother and kill those areas. 

Now is also the time to prevent insect damage to your turf. Mild, wet weather provides perfect conditions for night crawlers to get active again, and while they can be good for aerating your soil, left unchecked they can turn a smooth lawn into a lumpy, uneven mess. Spread Sevin insecticide now for control of night crawlers and other damaging insects, particularly cranefly larvae, which eat grass roots over winter, killing it by mid-spring.

Another step you can take now to ensure a healthy winter lawn is moss control. While it’s been awhile since we’ve had moss issues, undoubtedly it’s starting to creep back into your lawn now that the rains have returned. Spread ferrous sulfate moss killer to knock it down--available at Vander Giessen's--then, if you haven’t yet applied your Scotts Turf Builder Winterguard fertilizer, do so a week or two after you apply the moss killer to encourage the lawn to fill in over winter, further discouraging moss growth. 

Next, take time to inspect the plants in your flowerbeds. While you’re cleaning leaves out from around your shrubs and perennials, look for any insect damage or the insects themselves. The change in weather has knocked back a lot of the aphids and other insects you might have battled earlier in the year, but if you still see evidence of bugs, it’s wise to spray them now. If we end up with another mild winter this year, a lot of insects will overwinter, so avoid the frustration of damaged plants at the outset of next year by controlling the population now. At Vander Giessen's, we can recommend the best spray or dust to control your bug problems. 

Beautiful daffodils will provide years of reliable,
deer-resistant color in pots or planted in the garden.

Lastly, it’s still prime time to plant bulbs for spring color. Well worth the time spent planting, bulbs brighten up your yard at just the right time when you’re sick of the gray days of late winter and early spring. As a bonus, all of the bulbs at Vander Giessen's are now on sale!

One common frustration I hear from customers who like their flowerbeds to look tidy is the amount of time it takes for bulbs to die down after they bloom. To avoid the “messy” look of dying bulbs, plant clusters of bulbs in black plastic nursery pots (most garden centers will sell you surplus pots), then bury the pots in the ground. 

When the flowers are finished, simply pull the pots out of the ground and move them to a back corner of your yard where the bulbs can die back properly. Not only does this keep your yard looking nice, it allows you to keep better track of where your bulbs are should you choose to replant with different colors or want to divide the bulbs you have.

As you wind down your gardening endeavors for winter, take the proper steps now to ensure a good start to next spring.