July 5 column

Here is a link to my column in today's edition of The Spokesman-Review: Organic abundance. It's a preview of next Sunday's Coeur d'Alene Garden Tour, which run's from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Six gardens will be featured during the tour. Here are the addresses:

2456 E. Mountain Vista, Coeur d’Alene
1151 E. Warm Springs Ave., Post Falls
7260 N. Courcelles Parkway, Coeur d’Alene
7535 Mt. Carrol, Dalton
4860 Cuprum, Coeur d’Alene
959 7th St., Coeur d’Alene

See ticket information at the bottom of this post.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Teem "TJ" Scarborough's garden. It was a beauty! He grows veggies and fruits very successfully so tour-goers will learn a lot from his techniques. He's also done a good job of keep the resident deer popular out of his garden, which is something most Inland Northwest residents will be interested in hearing about!

Here are photos (including the top one) of areas of his garden:

TJ put structural plants inside his back fence to keep the deer out.

TJ uses covered hoops and cold frames to grow heat-loving crops.

TJ's family enjoys sitting in the garden in the evenings.

You can purchase tickets at any of the gardens on tour day, or at the following nurseries:

· Ace Hardware, 4^th and Harrison, Coeur d’Alene (208) 667-9466

Aspen Nursery, 6075 E. Commerce Loop, Post Falls (208) 667-7511
Greenacres Nursery, Greenacres (509) 928-1922
Mix It Up Gifts, 601 E. Front Ave., Coeur d'Alene (208) 667-8603
New Leaf Nursery, Lancaster and Highway 95, Hayden (208) 762-4825
Northland Nursery, 8093 W. Prairie Ave., Post Falls (208) 773-3247
Northwest Seed & Pet, 2422 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane (509) 534-0694
Northwest Seed & Pet, 7302 N. Division, Spokane (509) 484-7387
Plant Land, 15614 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley (509) 922-7618
Van Hoff's Garden Center, 1844 Government Way, Coeur d'Alene (208) 930-4424
Westwood Gardens, 15825 N. Westwood Dr., Rathdrum (208) 687-5952

For more information, go to www.cdagardenclub.com or call (208) 664-0987; call (208) 661-0773 on tour day.