Free WiFi

We've opened up the loft upstairs and added some seating. It's a nice place to just come and sit. So if you need to get away from home to do some work, surf the web, or read a book - come on in!

Brown Jordan Patio Furniture

Envy is proud to now offer patio furniture by Brown Jordan. Come see our catalog and fabric samples!


BROWN JORDAN
timeless. essential. elegant.

New Store Hours

Just so there is no confusion, I'm going to give the new store hours one more time.

Thursday - Saturday 11-6
Sunday 12-5

We will be closed November 27th for Thanksgiving. We will also be closed Dec. 25th and 26th for Christmas.

Thanks, and happy holidays!

Pics of some of Heather's Artwork

These pictures do them no justice, but they give you an idea. Come into the store and check them out. They are fantastic!!

POINSETTIAS AVAILABLE

We've received our first order of poinsettias. We have mostly red, along with some cream and pink. Only $7. It's time to start decorating!! We also have some alternative holiday trees that would work great for someone with a small living space, or as decoration on your front porch. We have 2 norfolk pine trees and 6 lemon cypress. Add some lights and ornaments - BAM - instant holiday tree! Come check them out! And don't forget, plants make great holiday gifts! We have Heather Joy's artwork still hanging as well. Come take another look. Someone you know might be thrilled with the gift of art.

Art show a success

Thanks to all of you who were able to attend our gathering Saturday night. We had a lot of fun, and hope to see you all again soon. We're planning to do more of these type events in the future.

Art in the Jungle

We're hosting an art show here at Envy. Sat. Nov. 22nd from 6-9pm. Beverages and snacks. Photography by our good friend, Heather Joy. We hope to see you!!!

Prop 8 Protest

I know this has nothing to do with plants, but it's important to me that I help spread the word!

http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/page/Seattle

Watering your plants 101

Water properly. Like all containerized plants, houseplants will need frequent watering. Water thoroughly, so the entire root ball is wet and the excess water runs out the bottom of the pot. Don’t leave standing water in the catch-tray for more than a day or two. Doing so can promote root diseases. Allow the soil to partially dry before watering again. To check soil moisture, stick your finger into the top two inches of soil. If it is dry, it’s probably time to water. You can also tell how dry a plant is by lifting the pot. It will be heavy after watering, much lighter as it dries out.

Local artist, Heather Joy, to have show @ Envy

Our good friend, Heather Joy, will be presenting her photography here at Envy! The work will be displayed and up for sale from Nov. 12th throughout the rest of the year. Also, we will be hosting an event for the show on Saturday, Nov. 22nd. Evite with details to follow. All are invited!

Store hours to change

After careful consideration, we've decided to close our doors on Sundays. We will, however, be open on Tuesday instead. New hours will begin Tuesday, October 28th.

Hours will be as follows:

Tuesday - Saturday 11-6

Thank you all for your support!

Happy planting.

Jay

PUMPKINS

PUMPKINS for sale at Envy.

50% of proceeds will be donated in the form of plants to the new traffic circles on 25th behind Garfield High School and 26th and Spring/Spruce (not sure which one it is).

Envy is located at 2425 E. Union, AKA the corner of 25th and Union.

Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you.

New shipment of plants!!

Cactus Garden








Ric Rac Plant


We've added some new plants to the family, including a 6' tall pachiro (money tree), a large portulacaria afra, a ric rac plant, and a felt plant - just to name a few.

Stop by to check them out.







Pachiro (Money Tree)

10% OFF everything in the store

That's right! Let me know that you've seen this blog entry, and from now until October 12th, everything in the store is 10% off.

We hope to see you soon!!

Change of hours

New hours begin immediately as follows:

Wed.-Sat. 11-6
Sun 12-5

Note Cards for Sale

We've finally found the perfect note cards. We wanted something that related to the store, as well as a wide variety of customers. They are designed by local artist, Beth Shepherd. She calls them polaroid paintings. They are actually polaroid pictures that she manipulates using a car key. The result is a painting-like effect. You have to see them. They are amazing. They come with an envelope, and are prepackaged in a plastic wrap. They sell for $4.50 each.

Come in and check them out!!

Medicinal Plants

I found this while searching online and thought it was well worth passing on.

Without plants, most medicines you take would not exist. Over 40% of medicines now prescribed in the U.S. contain chemicals derived from plants. Historically, plant medicines were discovered by trial and error. Our ancestors noticed that aches and pains went away when they drank tea made from the bark of a willow tree. Later, scientists found that willow bark contains salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin.

This process continues today. Throughout the world, including the wild places in the U.S., botanists and chemists search the plant kingdom for new medicines. They sometimes find treasures in other people's trash. For years, the native Pacific yew was burned as trash generated by logging operations in the Pacific Northwest. In 1975, a substance in its bark, taxol, was found to reduce the production of cancerous tumors.

A comprehensive search of known plants for medicinal chemicals is an enormous task. Of the estimated 250,000 plant species on earth, only 2% have been thoroughly screened for chemicals with potential medicinal use. Because native plant habitats are destroyed almost daily, many medicinally valuable plants will be gone before scientists can even investigate them.

Coming Soon: Envy's Green Thumb Diaries

Starting next week, we will be interviewing neighbors in the Central Area and snapping some photos of their gardens, yards and patios. You know the ones. We walk our dogs or stroll to get our lattes and americanos, all the while gawking and admiring what they've done with their yards and gardens.

We are eager to meet the people behind these fantastic green spaces and introduce them to you as well. Who knows? We might even be able to coax them into revealing the secrets of their gardening success!

If you want to volunteer for one of these weekly profiles or would like to nominate a neighbor, please swing by the store or email me and I'll set it up!!

A lasting gift!

Indoor Succulent Planter $90
(incl. Milk Cactus, Plum Purdy, Jade Tree)

You know when you're friends buy a house and think it would be a great idea to throw a house-warming party? Yeah? Well it is a great idea!! Some people bring food or a bottle of wine, maybe even the breadmaker that was given to them as a wedding gift. :) Well, I think it's time to give something that could possibly live with them for a lifetime. A plant! I know that some people claim to have a "black thumb", but I'm sure we can find a plant that anyone can take care of, even if that means taking very little care of it.

So, the next time you are on your way to a house-warming party and you realize that you forgot to get a gift, come down to Envy and grab a beautiful potted plant. For your timing convenience, many of the plants are already potted. However, if you wish to make your gift a little more personal, we have a great selection of pots and plants that I can transplant on the spot.

Hope to see you soon!

Today's Update

OK. So the plant and tree sale is on. Starting today I can start taking some orders. All the details will be out with the email I'm sending. I know I keep saying that it's coming, but really it is. I talked with my tree wholesaler today, and they are working on my price list. As soon as I have that, I'm good to go! But as you know, we'll be offering 20% off all outdoor plants and trees during this sale. I'm going to do it both this weekend, and the weekend following!

On another note, I've received in some new pots. So come in a check them out!

Here's some exciting news for Envy. I spoke with Alison from NWsource.com today. She is doing a write up about Envy that will post, I believe, this Friday. I will be sure to add the link when it's up!

Enjoy these last summer days!! It's beautiful out! Gotta love Seattle!!

Fall Outdoor Pre-Order Sale - 20% off!

Fall is coming, which means cooler weather and the best time to tackle some landscaping projects and plant new trees!

While I don't stock a large selection of trees and outdoor plants, we can special order them for you and save you some money along the way. Over the next few weeks Envy will be offering you a chance to browse through outdoor catalogs and in-store samples to place an order at a 20% discount off what you would pay at a retail nursery. For all you math whizzes out there, that means you can get 5 plants for the price of 4! :)

I've been hard at work today creating a catalog that contains all the plants and trees that you can pre-order for your fall projects. Below is a list of the trees I can order for you - all are available in up to 14' heights! If you have your heart set on a tree that isn't on the list just let me know and I will track it down for you.

• Frasier Fir
• Amur Maple
• Vine Maple
• Armstrong Maple
• Himalayan birch
• Incense Cedar
• Eastern Redbud
• Blue Lawson Cypress
• Leyland Cypress
• Patmore Ash
• Sweetgum
• Weeping White Pine
• Contorted White Pine
• Weeping Scotch Pine
• Quaking Aspen
• Giant Sequoia
• Excelsa Cedar

So come by the store, call (206-588-2498) or email me (jay@envygrows.com) with questions or to get pricing on an order.

More to come...

Meet Foxy!

This is Foxy. She only works at the store part-time, but can teach you a thing or two about pulling weeds out of your garden! As long as it's all weeds, of course!

I'm just mad about saffron!

Everyone knows that saffron is pricey. Some say it's even the most expensive spice in the world. But why?

Saffron comes from a plant called crocus sativus. It blooms in the fall, and because we live in Seattle it doesn't bloom the same as the crocus I have here in the store. It takes a lot of crocus and hard work to make just a little saffron. The majority of saffron that we use today comes from Spain, Greece, and India. Here's where it gets interesting... saffron is the dried, orange-red stigmas found in the bloom. It takes several thousands of them to make just 1 ounce of saffron. So that explains why it's so spendy. Just food for thought. Pun intended. Paella anyone??

HEADS UP

FYI

You will all be receiving an email within the next couple days about a fall outdoor plant event we will be hosting Sept. 13th and 14th. Keep your calendars open. We will be doing a pre-order for trees and outdoor plants. I will have a list of available trees and sizes, along with prices. Also, suggestions for outdoor plants besides trees would be helpful. Details will be included with the email.

We will also have HomeGrown Organics here with us, another local company to the central area. Services available include:

• Hand-built raised beds
• Drip irrigation systems
• Rainwater catchment
• Sustainably minded landscaping

Thanks. And we hope to see you here!!

My 3 Most Exotic Plants

I've had these 3 plants shipped from Arizona. They are rare tropicals that are sure to draw attention! They are transplanted into new pots, and are ready for a new home.


Hylocereus - Full Sun - $73



Foqueria MacDougali (one of my favorites) - Full Sun
This plant has very sharp spikes up its stems, but also the very delicate, green leaves
$123


Crassula Hobbit - Full Sun (Part of the Jade Plant Family) $70

Remember, these are only 3 of the plants that I have to offer. Be sure to come in and see them all!

Are your plants happy?

Take a look at your plants. Do they have a nice shine? Are they standing tall and look healthy? If you said no to either of these questions you might want to take action. As far as the shine goes, it could be as easy as dusting the leaves with a wet towel. However, it might be something more. If your plants have been in the same pot for a long time, it may either be time to add some food (fertilizer), or it's time to transplant them. If you think you plant has gotten too large for it current pot, I would suggest a transplant into a larger pot. This is where I come in. I know it can be quite a messy project to do this, but trust me, your plant will thank you.

I would like to offer you all a transplant service. Bring your plant in to me and I will transplant it for you. The charge to do this is $5. You can either bring your own pot, or you can purchase a pot from us here at the store. We have a wide variety in many sizes.

I hope that some of you find this helpful, and I hope to see you soon.

Jay

Plants and Cats

Don't think that just because you have a cat, you can't also have plants. Here is a list of plants that are cat-friendly:

• African violet (Saintpaulia)
• Aluminum plant
• Any of the true ferns (Boston fern, maidenhair, etc.)
• Cacti (but make sure they are real cacti, not just a succulent)
• Catnip
• Coleus
• Common geranium (Pelargonium)
• Gloxinia (Sinningia)
• Goldfish plant (Hypoestes)
• Grape ivy (Cissus)
• Hanging African Violet (Episcia)
• Lipstick vine (Aeschynanthus)
• Miniature roses
• Pepperomia
• Prayer plant (Maranta)
• Shrimp plant (Beleperone guttata)
• Spider plant (Chlorophytum)
• Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus)
• Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea)
• Variegated philodendron leaf peperomia
• Wandering jew (Zebrina)
• Wax begonias (Begonia semperflorens)

We have several of these in the store, and can order any of the others for you.


lipstick vine

Are there toxins in the air you breathe?

Did you know plants can remove toxins and improve the air quality in your home?

Top ten plants for removing formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air.

1. Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) – Semi-sun,
2. Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa) – Semi-sun,
3. Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) – Semi-sun,
4. Rubber Plant (Ficus robusta) – Semi-sun to Semi-Shade
5. Dracaena “Janet Craig” (Dracaena deremensis “Janet Craig”) – Semi-shade
6. Philodendron (Philodendron sp.) - semi-shade
7. Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii) – Semi-sun
8. Ficus Alii (Ficus macleilandii “Alii”) – Full Sun & semi-sun
9. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata “Bostoniensis) – Semi-sun
10. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum "Mauna Loa") - semi-shade

link - http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/environment/sustainable%20living/garden/use-plants-to-remove-toxins.asp

Beautiful and ready to go

So I've decided to transplant a handful of plants from their plastic containers into beautiful pots. I've added rocks ground cover as well. Basically, all you have to do is find one you love. It's ready to take home and put in place. Or find the plant you love, along with the pot, and I'll do the transplant here in the store for you. These will warm up any home. They also make a long lasting, and impressionable gift.
















Fouquieria Macdougali (AKA Ocotillo)
The Ocotillo Cactus grows wild throughout Mexico and the southwestern United States. It is also called Coachwhip, Vine Cactus, and Octopus Cactus, because of the tentacle-like branches that sprout up from its crown root—sometimes as high as 30 feet. It is drought deciduous and usually withholds its foliage until immediately following a rainfall. With or without leaves, its bright crimson blossoms annually appear during the spring and summer, grouped into cone-shaped clusters that form on the tip of each branch. It has sharp, thorny branches that form an impenetrable barrier when planted in groups, and has become popular in the Desert Southwest as hedge growth.

Trees and outdoor plants

Fall is quickly approaching! I know, it seems like summer just got here! But, fall means outdoor planting. I'm setting up agreements with some nurseries that carry outdoor plants and trees. I'll try to carry some of the outdoor plants here in the store, but space is limited. Suggestions would be appreciated. Also, I'm going to try to come up with a date for tree deliveries. If I can get a list of what people want, I can have them all delivered at the same time. Perhaps a weekend in the middle of October. Let me know what you're looking for, I can get pricing, and we'll go from there!

Email me at - envygrows@gmail.com

Photos of the store

New plant store - OPEN!

So after 2 months of sweat and back-breaking work, and thanks to many of my friends, I've finally opened my plant store. I've been filling my house with plants since I've moved to Seattle in 05. With the house being over run with all of my own plants, and how well they are all doing, I've decided that I have a knack for keeping them alive. Now I want to share them with all of you! (Not mine, of course... though I know a few people who would like to see some of them disappear)

The store is located in the Central Area of Seattle. It's a bright, quirky space in a new building on the corner of 25th and Union. I'm going to be here Wednesdays thru Sundays from 11-7. I get kinda lonely sometimes, so if you're looking for something to do, come visit me please.

As far as inventory goes, think tropical. Exotic. Different sizes of plants give you the option to choose what is going to work for you. I also carry pots, rocks, and small furniture pieces that work great as plant stands. A 10% discount goes with all plants/pot combination purchases. And don't worry about having to transplant. I'll take care of that for you right here in the store.

There will be select outdoor plants available as well. If you're thinking of doing a project and you know which plants you will be using, let me know and I can most likely order them.

That's it for now. II'll try to keep this going with some helpful info, as well as new arrivals.

Special thanks to: David, Paul, Tom, Kara, Laura, Todd, Michael and JoAnna