What April Showers Bring
After what feels like an eternity of gray skies and persistent chill, Edmonds is finally breaking free from winter’s grip. The rhodendrons have bloomed, cherry blossoms are looking pink and fluffy, and those first brave tree buds are pushing through—a sure sign that spring has officially arrived. Hurrah!
And you know what that means, right?
Garden season is in full swing! Let’s get our thumbs a little green, shall we?
(A short caveat before you dig in—if you’re reading this on a rainy April day, just remember our headline: “What April Showers Bring,” nod your head because you’re on the same page, and keep moving forward. Consistently sunny, warm days are soon upon us.)
Your Biggest Edmonds Gardening Resources
As they like to say: “Ace is the place,” and our Downtown Edmonds Ace Hardware is certainly the spot for pretty much all things gardens: Tools, seeds, soil, knowledgable staff, and more. Make it your first stop when you’re out running errands that support your outside areas.
If you’re looking for a depth of historical knowledge no one else in town has, get in touch with the Edmonds Floretum Garden Club. Founded in 1922, the Edmonds Floretum Garden Club has been investing in the landscape of Edmonds for over a century. What began with a simple mission to beautify the city has blossomed into a rich legacy of community, education, and environmental stewardship. Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 3, to swing by their annual plant sale and shop a variety of plants from members’ gardens. Learn more—and plan your day around it—here.
Did you know the Edmonds Floretum Club maintains twenty boxes in a local P-Patch? The produce from several boxes contributes to the weekly harvest for the Edmonds Food Bank. It doesn’t get much more local than that!
City employee caring for our flower baskets
Downtown In Bloom
Speaking of impressive city stats, here are a few about the people who maintain the hanging baskets the Edmonds Floretum Garden Club puts together:
- There are fifteen City staff members on the Streets and Storm Crew
- These staff members maintain 290 miles of streets, 500 crosswalks, and 25 signalized intersections
- Over 20,000 plants are used in the city’s flower program, carefully selected to tolerate extreme weather while remaining colorful from May to mid-September
Next time you see one of these dedicated City employees while you’re doing your rounds around the blocks, give them a wave. You can also help them by “adopting” a hanging basket or garden corner. Learn more and pick yours here.
Oh, and p.s. Did you know the dahlia is Edmonds’ official city flower? In 1925, after a resident poll ended in a tie between dahlias and roses, the Floretum Garden Club recommended the dahlia, and the city council officially designated the dahlia as Edmonds’ flower. Pretty neat, huh?
Bench & Board
Okay, Back To Your Garden
If you’re looking for starters for your garden, a few sellers at the Edmonds Summer Market will have them waiting for you each Saturday at their booths (weekly markets start back up in May and run through October). You can also get garden-fitted with all the right tools and accessories at Bench & Board (beautiful cement lion head pots, an herb gardening handbook) and FIELD (shears, botanical journals).
Need a refresh on what others have done to grow their gardens? Grab a book about what you most want to learn about producing produce and tending to florals from Edmonds Book Shop.
And, if you’re on the hunt for new vessels to display the output of your outdoor investment, check out HouseWares, Camp Vintage, Driftwood Modern, KSD Home, or Interiors of Edmonds.
Show Us How Your Garden Grows
Snap some pics of your spring blooms! We’ll showcase the best gardens from Downtown, highlight local shops that can help you grow, and share our favorite community photos. Tag us on social media—@edmondsdowntown on Facebook and Instagram—to join the garden party.
Let’s see those green thumbs in action!
By Whitney Popa, photos by Matt Hulbert
Main photo of FIELD by Morgan & Moss
