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FEBRUARY 26, 2025
VOL. 106, NO. 9
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REFRESH WITH SPRING BULBS QueenAnne Magnolia By Erica Browne Grivas
If you didn’t plant undulating carpets of snowdrops, crocus and early daffodils in Septem-ber, not to worry. Didn’t force any bulbs inside? It’s OK, read on. You can still enjoy some microdoses of oh-so-welcome flower power right now. Happily, growers around the region did the growing and forcing for you, and supermarkets, florists and nurseries are beginning to glow with cheerful spring bulbs in pots. From small-est to largest, you’ll find tiny snowdrops with their dangling bells, upward-facing crocus, fragrant hyacinths, and narcissus (daffodils) from rockgarden-size “Tete a Tetes” to taller “February Gold” or “Thalia.” I love “Tete a Tetes” especially because they bloom for weeks and weeks, and their small size makes them easy to fit into borders without having to look at big gangly leaves after they bloom.
Winter containers Feel free to dig these, pots and all into your outdoor containers for a winter reboot. If you need more, you’ll see primroses available in
every color, and some pansies, that make an excellent edgers around the bulbs. Other welcome supporting cast members would be per-ennials like hellebores and saxifrages, which will be blooming anon, which won’t need replacing next year. There’s no reason you can’t fill an entire window box with spring bulbs for a fantastic display. Keep in mind, it will need changing out in a month or so.
Accentuate sleepy shrubs
Sure, shrubby dogwoods may be shining right now, and their bright winter stems make great adds to winter containers and arrangements, but other deciduous shrubs may not be looking their snazziest at the moment. (How do you look when you’re sleeping?) If you have a front-and-center hydrangea, ninebark (Physocarpus), or other sparse creature, why not add a skirt of bulbs at its feet? It won’t notice, and you’ll love the effect. This is a great location for permanent bulbs too.
Make a mass display Get a collection of inexpensive terracotta pots or baskets to use as cachepots and display a curated field of bulbs anywhere you crave color – from your front steps to your dining table. The uniform containers will unify your collection.
COURTESY ERICA BROWNE GRIVAS
Indoors, bulbs will probably finish blooming faster and will need to be planted outside ul-timately.
For the creatives with itchy fingers Have you ever made a kokedama? The plant’s root ball and soil are rolled into balls and wrapped in sphagnum moss for hanging or table display. To secure
the moss, you typically use green florist’s wire or clear picture hanging filament. They are especially charming hung from trees. I recently saw British gardener @ lady_green_fingers create adorable kokedamas with spring bulbs, which really brings the flowers into view. With their roots so close to the air, kokedama plants can dry out
more quickly, so be ready with a mister if rain is sketchy. You could also do this indoors temporarily but keep evenly moist.
Indoors Likewise, you can make lovely table arrangements using potted spring bulbs inside. Consider
BULBS, A1
Business survey, report indicate good news for Washington state’s economy By Brett Davis The Center Square
A recent survey by the Association of Washington Business shows cautious optimism among state employers, while a new study by WalletHub found that Washington employers aren’t struggling to find workers. AWB’s most recent quarterly survey, based on 441 responses collected by email from busi-ness owners and operators across the state
from Jan. 16 through Jan. 30, hints at a more upbeat take on the economy. According to the survey, 17% of respondents expect a recession in Washington in the next year, down from a quarter who said that a year ago. Almost half of respondents were opti-mistic that their businesses would see growth in the next six months. However, respondents also said their five biggest challenges are government
regulations, the overall tax burden, inflation, the cost of health care and a lack of qualified workers. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic remain a concern as well, with 37% of respondents saying their business costs have gone up 21% to 30% since January 2021. More than 75% said their business had experienced rising energy costs in the past two years. Manufacturers and agricultural producers were
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asked about tariffs in light of President Donald Trump’s recent tariffs aimed at Canada, Mexico and China. Trump says these tariffs will boost the U.S. economy and protect it from illegal immigration and the flow of drugs. More than half – 54% – of respondents said they were concerned that potential tariffs or re-taliatory tariffs would negatively impact their business. “Washington employers
are feeling slightly more confident about their businesses in the coming year, but it’s clear that rising costs remain a major concern,” AWB President Kris Johnson said in a news release. “Employers need certainty and predictability. We urge the Legislature to find ways to support businesses and grow the economy this year and not add to years of skyrocketing costs by passing new taxes and regulation.” There was some more good news on Evergreen State’s economic front. According to a new study by personal finance company WalletHub, Washington employers have the thirdsmallest hiring struggle in the U.S. Only California and Hawaii fared better than
Washington. To see where employers are having the most trouble hiring new workers, WalletHub com-pared all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on the rate of job openings for both the latest month – January – and the last 12 months. The job openings rate in Washington during January was 3.8%, while the job openings rate in the past 12 months was 4.17% “This suggests a relatively stable workforce with low turnover, which allows businesses to focus on growth rather than constant rehiring,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo told The Cen-ter Square in an email.
SURVEY, A1