2022 December Newsletter

Christmas trees are here! Our gift shop is decked out in holiday décor and great gift items for the gardeners and pond lovers in your life! 

Why buy your Christmas tree from us?

• #SupportLocalBusiness

• Trees are cut as soon as they arrive and placed upright in fresh water. This ensures that your trees are hydrated and healthy when you take them home.

• Gorgeous selection of fresh Nordmann, Noble, & Grand fir trees.

• 4′ up to 10′ tall!

• We have a new product: a Christmas Tree preserver. Developed by Oregon Forestry Laboratory. The ingredients help the needles stay on longer & the tree stay fresh. The gel in it prevents the water in the tree stand from drying up. Only $2.95!

Real, Fresh-Cut Christmas Trees

Christmas tree sales begin the day before Thanksgiving: Wednesday, November 25th. We will change to our Holiday hours on Friday, November 27th, where we will be open seven days a week, from 10 AM until 6 PM through Christmas. Follow us on Facebook for daily posts, Holiday gift ideas, and other fun announcements!

Why buy your Christmas tree from us?

• #SupportLocalBusiness

• Trees are cut as soon as they arrive and placed upright in fresh water. This ensures that your trees are hydrated and healthy when you take them home.

• Gorgeous selection of fresh Nordmann, Noble, & Grand fir trees.

• 4′ up to 10′ tall!

• We have a new product: a Christmas Tree preserver. Developed by Oregon Forestry Laboratory. The ingredients help the needles stay on longer & the tree stay fresh. The gel in it prevents the water in the tree stand from drying up. 

Environmental Benefits

Real Christmas Trees: The Best Choice

Each holiday season, shoppers find themselves confronted with a choice: celebrate with a fresh, real tree, or one that is artificial plastic or aluminum. What most people don’t realize is that the best choice has always been the traditional and natural choice — a Real Christmas Tree.

Real Christmas Trees Benefit the Environment

While they’re growing, Real Christmas Trees support life by absorbing carbon dioxide and other gases and emitting fresh oxygen. The farms that grow Christmas Trees stabilize soil, protect water supplies and provide refuge for wildlife while creating scenic green belts. Often, Christmas Trees are grown on soil that doesn’t support other crops. 

Real Christmas Trees Are Renewable

Real Christmas Trees are grown on farms just like any other agricultural crop. To ensure a constant supply, Christmas Tree growers plant one to three new seedlings for every tree they harvest. On the other hand, artificial trees are a petroleum-based product manufactured primarily in Chinese factories. The average family uses an artificial tree for only six to nine years before throwing it away, where it will remain in a landfill for centuries after disposal.

Real Christmas Trees Are Recyclable

Real Christmas Trees are biodegradable, which means they can be easily reused or recycled for mulch and other purposes.

Real Christmas Trees Help Preserve Green Spaces

Real Christmas Trees are often grown on soil that does not support other crops. 

Types of Trees Available this Holiday Season at Falling Water Gardens

 

Nordmann Fir

Nordmann fir trees are the fancier looking trees with branches that grow upward. They have a naturally flocked look, with unique-looking needles that have a glossy dark upper-side and a silvery underside. The needles last longer than the Noble Fir tree. Mild fragrance suited for people with allergies.

 

Noble Fir

Dense, sturdy, fragrant, and symmetrical. Nobles are one of the most popular varieties. Have a deep bluish-green color. The needles are long and four-sided, twisting upward.

 

 

Grand Fir

Very weak limbs that may not be able to hold heavier ornaments. Super fragrant. The needles are a beautiful dark green, flat and glossy.

Care for your tree

We want to make sure you get the most out of your Christmas tree this year. To avoid losing large amounts of needles and ensuring your tree to last you through the holiday season, we recommend you follow these steps:

Essentials:

• Water your tree regularly.
• Keep your tree away from open flames and heat sources, preferably in a cool room. Under-floor heating will dry out the needles much quicker so try to avoid setting it up in an overly warm space.
• Cover the floor or table area where you place your tree to protect against water spills.
• Wear garden gloves when handling your Christmas tree as the needles can cause a mild allergic reaction and rash on sensitive skin.

Setting up your tree:

• Keep your Christmas tree outside in a sheltered area, preferably standing in water, until you are ready to bring it indoors and set it up. At Falling Water Gardens, we cut the Washington-grown trees upon arrival and place them upright in water.
• No need to re-cut trees at Falling Water Gardens because we do it as soon as they arrive at the nursery. If you still feel it is necessary to have a fresh cut, prepare the base of your tree using a handsaw. Cut about a half inch to an inch off the bottom to aid water absorption.
• Don’t cut the base at an angle, in a V-shape. None of these methods help water absorption and they may make it more difficult to hold the tree safely in a stand.
• Mount your tree as soon as possible.
• Allow the branches to settle for a few hours before decorating.
• Tree stands come in different shapes and sizes. You never want your tree to dry out, so the stand needs to have water in it at all times. Water regularly.
• Make sure your tree is straight before you start decorating it. It’s a good idea for at least two people to put up your tree; one holding it stable while the other fixes the base.
• Check the water level in your stand every other day and keep topped up.

Are you tired of buying generic Christmas ornaments each year? Looking to having statement pieces that have more sentimental value? Visit the gift shop for a festive and fun selection of ornaments and other holiday decor that you will enjoy for many years to come.

Koi Pond – Sammamish

This Sammamish customer wanted a Koi pond.  We built a pond about 12’x16’x4’ deep with a short “double drop” waterfall/stream.  The customer had no elevation in the garden so we built up a hill.  The pond has terrestrial and underwater lights, a large UV sterilizer and a bead filter.  This pond was installed in four days and was dug by hand.

Pondless Waterfall & Walkways – Redmond

This Redmond customer had an old dilapidated water feature and wanted to have it remade into a “pondless” waterfall.  We demo’d her existing feature and installed a new 12’ long waterfall/stream into a pondless reservoir.  We also removed some sod and created a new planting bed and installed a beautiful Pennsylvania Bluestone walkway to the side of the house and a crushed decorative rock pathway to the other side of the house.  We’ll be coming back in the spring to demo her existing concrete patio and installing a new paver patio.

Here are this month’s featured plants that we recommend adding to your garden this season. To learn more about any of the following plants click their name and it will take you to our plant database!

House Plants

Monstera deliciosa

Monstera deliciosa is know for its natural leaf holes. In nature, these holes were thought to allow the sunlight to reach the forest floor. Young plants may come without any holes and develop holes as it matures over time. For planting use a well-draining soil, using lava rocks perlite can help to increase aeration. This house plant requires indirect to medium sunlight. Monsteras typically require a higher level of humidity, so you may need to consider a humidifier in the winter. Use caution as Monsteras can be toxic to pets, so it is best to keep them out of reach of kids and pets.

Philodendron ‘Black Cardinal’

Philodendron ‘Black Cardinal’ has glossy blackish green leaves with lush foliage . A hybrid, low growing, clumping tender perennial shrub. The leaves are broadly oval, emerging light orange or bronze. They slowly mature to a deeper, truly dark green with inclination to nearly black, and oldest leaves on the lowest part of the plant darkest and dullest.

Syngonium ‘White Butterfly’

White Butterfly Syngonium has creamy white and green foliage that is shaped like an arrowhead creating the illusion of butterfly wings. With its soft subtle color it is the perfect accent to any décor. It is easy to care for by watering thoroughly but allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings and using a liquid fertilizer monthly during active growth. For best display dust or wipe off leaves. White Butterfly Syngonium is best kept indoors but can be enjoyed outdoors during warm weather on a shaded porch, patio, or deck. They look great cascading from a hanging basket.

Plant Database

Have you checked out our plant database? It contains information about the plants that we sell at the nursery and more!

We have even taken it one step further and have incorporated QR codes into the database to help you save and recall information on the plants you are interested in at home or have bought from our nursery. You can bring us the saved plants from this data base to help us locate the ones you want. As well as when you come to Falling Water Gardens you will be able to scan the plant signs to get further information about the plants and flowers.

What is a QR code? In the simplest terms a QR code is a bar code. Most smart phones come equipped with a bar code/QR code reader that will scan the QR code and bring you to the web page of information about our plants. From there you can bookmark the page. If yours does not contain a QR code reader already, you can download one for free through your phone’s app store.

Featured Koi of the Month: Chagoi

Chagoi were named after the Japanese word for tea because they are a brown or bronze color similar to that of tea. They are one of the friendliest breeds of koi and are the easiest to train to hand feed. Other Koi will often learn from the Chagoi. They have the ability to become jumbo size and adults can become 40 plus inches!

Pond & Fish Care in Freezing Weather

Is freezing weather in the forecast? Here’s how to keep your fish and pond equipment safe.

FISH

Koi and Goldfish are extremely hardy. The cold weather doesn’t affect them too much.

As water temperatures decrease, you will notice your fish slowly making their way to the bottom of the pond. The water at the bottom is warmer than the water at the top. The fish will remain down there, in hibernation mode, waiting for warmer spring temperatures.

WATER MOVEMENT

• When it’s practical, suck water from the surface rather than the bottom of the pond. If your pump is sitting at the bottom of the pond and it’s possible to do so, try to lift it closer to the surface. There is no need to do anything else with skimmers because they are already sucking from the surface. If you have a more elaborate plumbing system, switch to surface suction instead of bottom suction, if possible.

FREEZING POND

• If the pond begins to ice up, ensure that at least one small hole remains open at the top of the pond. Keeping an opening in the pond surface allows oxygen into the water. Decomposing plant material and fish waste produce toxic gasses that will be able to escape if there is a hole at the top of the pond.
• Some great ways to keep an opening are to keep the water feature running; when the water returns to the pond it will usually keep an opening in the ice. Float a rubber play ball on the surface of the pond; the ball floating on the surface will often keep a hole open. Install an aerator in the bottom of the pond; the bubbles will keep an opening on the surface. Install a pond deicer; the deicer heats a small hole in the pond.

• If the pond completely ices over, do not break the ice. This is can cause concussive damage to the fish’s internal organs. Smashing ice can also cut your liner. The best way to open a hole in a frozen pond is to take a boiling pot of water carefully out to the pond and place the entire pot of boiling water on the ice. Do not pour the boiling water on the ice, just set the hot pot of water on the ice. Repeat this as the water cools in the pan until you’ve opened a hole in the ice.

PLANTS

• Most aquatic plants are dormant by now. If the pots are sitting high in the pond you can temporarily drop them lower in the pond to protect them from the freezing weather. Just remember to lift them back up after the freeze danger has passed.

POND EQUIPMENT

• It’s always a bit of a gamble how to manage your equipment during a freeze. In almost all instances Falling Water Designs suggests to try and keep your pond running during a freeze. In many ponds it is nearly impossible or impractical to try and get all the water out of the equipment and the plumbing. If you cannot completely drain the equipment and the lines it is safer to keep the pond running because running water is less likely to freeze even in below freezing conditions. If we can keep the water running the pipes and equipment are far less likely to freeze and break.

• Sometimes in a prolonged freeze the waterfall/stream will ice up to the point that water is overflowing the stream instead of returning to the pond. Another problem that can happen is ice crystals will form on the pond surface to the point that the skimmer will clog and the pump won’t work. If this happens you will be forced to turn off the pump and your equipment and then take additional precautions to try and keep equipment from being damaged. The good news is that if you are forced to turn off the pump cold water holds much more oxygen than warm water so your fish don’t really need the pump running in cold weather.

PUMPS

• If your pump is submersible you don’t really have to worry. Your water feature would have to be very shallow for freezing water to damage a submersible pump. If you pump is inline it is very important to keep it running during the freeze or you will have to completely drain it. On most inline pumps there are two drain plugs at the bottom that will have to be opened to get all the water out of the pump.

PLUMBING AND CHECK VALVE

• Most water features have a check valve between the pump and the top of the waterfall/stream. The check valve keeps water in the line on the way up to the top of the waterfall. It is not possible for most people to remove their check valve to drain the line so in many water features there is water in the plumbing from the pump to the top of the waterfall. If you turn off your pond that water will stay in the line and can freeze. This is the over-riding reason we suggest that most water features be kept running.

UV STERILIZER

• UV sterilizers are expensive and prone to breakage in freezing weather. If you system will allow you to bypass the UV you should do so, remove the UV, drain it completely and store it in the garage. Unfortunately very few ponds are plumbed for this. Your second option is to remove the transformer and then unscrew the quartz sleeve and light bulbs. We sell caps that allow everything but the housing to be removed and stored. This way you can keep the water running and in a worse case situation only the housing is damaged. Your third option is to just keep the water running through the equipment and usually the water won’t freeze and damage anything. Temporarily plugging the sterilizer back in will generate some heat and possibly keep it from freezing.

PRESSURIZED BEAD and/or SAND FILTERS

• Bead and sand filters are expensive and prone to breakage in freezing weather. While some limited amount of biological activity occurs, most bacteria die at temperatures below 45 degrees. Falling Water Designs suggests that it is more important to preserve costly equipment than keep the limited amount of bacteria alive, so the filter should be drained for the winter. Watch our video here to learn how to drain your filter. If you are going to keep the pond running, the filter should be set to “bypass” or “recirculate” and then the bottom drain should be opened to allow the water to drain from the bottom of the filter. Do not allow standing water in the bottom of the filter when the valve is set to bypass, recirculate or “winter”. Do not try and keep the filter running in the normal filter mode during freezing weather. The water in the filter can freeze and break the interior plumbing or the exterior housing. In bypass or recirculate mode the water is just going through the valve head at the top and not the media at the bottom which is why you can drain the bottom. If you are not going to run your pump during the freeze then you should drain the bottom and put the filter valve on “winter”. The winter setting will not allow water to run through the system so it is only used if you will be shutting down your entire pond and pump.

PROBLEMS WITH RUNNING THE POND

In almost all instances Falling Water Designs suggests to try and keep your pond running during a freeze. This is the easiest and in most instances the most practical solution. However, if you go this route and the waterfall/stream becomes iced to the point that water is leaving the pond, or if your skimmer becomes clogged with ice crystals to where you have to turn off the pump, or if the power goes out and the temperature is below freezing, you will have to take additional precautionary steps. If the pump is not running you will need to go out and disconnect the UV sterilizer and drain it completely of water and store it in the garage. You will also have to put the pressurized filter on “winter” and ensure that you did drain the beads. Finally when practical you should drain any exposed pipes of water to minimize breakage. Ensure that you keep one small hole open on the surface of the pond.

Have more questions? Fill out our contact form or email us at info@fallingwaterdesigns.com

Here’s a sample of items we think you’d enjoy this time of year. Be sure to visit the nursery to see ALL of the latest products and plants! We have a huge selection of décor and gifts to choose from!

Congratulations to all of the newly engaged couples! If you are looking for a magical outdoor venue, schedule a tour of Falling Water Gardens. Your outdoor wedding will be held on groomed lawns with backdrops to the gardens and water features. We have several ceremony locations to choose from, including our Formal Sunken Garden site. We have over an acre of private parking reserved exclusively for your event at the back of your property.

Email us at weddings@fallingwatergardens.com to schedule your tour today! 

We’re Hiring! 

Social Media & Marketing Coordinator

We are an award-winning, full-service landscape design/build firm and a retail garden center.

We have an immediate opening for a part-time Social Media and Marketing Coordinator (15-32 hrs/week) to work in our Monroe, Washington office.

General Job Description: The Social Media & Marketing Coordinator is responsible for the planning and day-to-day management of all social media execution, tracking, and reporting including, but not limited to; company websites, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google, Yelp, Bing, and Pinterest. The ideal candidate has professional experience creating and curating quality content for all major social channels.

Tasks include:

• Coordinate and create public-facing content for new products, monthly newsletters, press releases, blog posts, social posts, events, and business promotions.
• Creating and editing marketing material for websites, social media, flyers, and signage, etc.
• Drive workable leads for the sales team through social media efforts
• Engage and build social audiences across multiple channels
• Monitoring and measuring the success of social media strategy (increased engagement, customer acquisition, website traffic, etc.)
• Identifying, analyzing, and reporting on social media trends to nursery owner & nursery manager.
• Monitor & respond to online customer service.
• Handling customers in a competent and professional manner.
• Assisting nursery manager in general office matters including but not limited to:
• Creating, printing laminating signage.
• Adding photos of inventory into the point-of-sale database.

Preferred Qualifications:
• 2+ years’ experience in a social media & marketing position
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge of InDesign, Photoshop, and Microsoft Office Suite
• Photography skills
• Able to multi-task yet maintain close attention to detail and timeliness of work production
• Able to manage multiple projects to timely and accurate completion
• Highly motivated and effective
• Creative and constructive problem-solving skills
• Capable of handling administrative details independently and accurately
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities.

Ideal Qualifications:
• Proven experience creating video content
• Experience using WordPress or other software to update and maintain a website
• Ability to create live content on Facebook and or Instagram during big events

**Please, no phone inquiries.**

Compensation: TBD based on experience and abilities.
Job Type: Part-time
Benefits: Paid time off, health insurance, retirement matching, goal-based bonus program.

**Applications without the following questions answered will not be considered.**

Question #1: What previous experience do you possess in creating marketing content through social media channels?

Question #2: Do you have any previous experience creating video content and/or managing website updates using software such as WordPress or HTML Language?

Please answer the questions above and send your resume to info@fallingwaterdesigns.com.

Nursery Sales Position

Garden center and plant nursery, located in Monroe, Washington.

Our company has an immediate need for FULL OR PART-TIME SEASONAL nursery workers.

Enjoy working outside while developing your nursery skills and growing with a great, well-known company in Monroe, Washington.

Applicants who can demonstrate previous retail experience and/or plant knowledge are preferred. Previous retail sales experience is required.

This position assists the Nursery Manager in maintaining the plant material, surrounding gardens, and fish tanks. This is a very physical job requiring frequent lifting of 50 lbs. You must be able to work outside in rain or shine, cold or hot.

Tasks include:

• Assisting customers with purchases
• Stocking the benches and gift shop
• Digging, Edging, Mowing, Pruning, Planting, and Watering the nursery

Our nursery is open 7 days a week, from 10am till 6pm. You will be required to work AT LEAST ONE WEEKEND DAY per week.

Interested applicants should respond to this email with a resume and must answer the questions at the end of this ad. Please mention the Nursery Sales Position in your email. Please, no phone inquiries.

The position pays DOE. Nursery Sales $16-$20 per hour.

Applications without the following questions answered will not be considered.

Question #1: What applicable experience have you gained at previous jobs that you think will be helpful to our company?

Question #2: What has been your most physical job to date, or why do you think you will be able to handle a job as physical as this one?

Please answer the questions above and send your resume to info@fallingwaterdesigns.com.

Gardener Position

We are a destination nursery located in Monroe, Washington with many established garden beds and turf. Our company has an immediate need for PART-TIME or FULL-TIME SEASONAL gardeners.

Enjoy working outside while developing your nursery skills and growing with a great, well-known company in Monroe, Washington.

This position assists the Nursery Manager in maintaining the surrounding gardens, turf, and fish tanks. This is a very physical job requiring frequent lifting of 50 lbs. You must be able to work outside in rain or shine, cold or hot.

This position is primarily responsible for weeding, pruning, and planting new and established garden display beds throughout our nursery as well as maintaining the turf. This position requires frequent stooping, squatting, kneeling, bending, and twisting. This position requires an individual who can work without direct supervision and who can take initiative and keep busy.

Tasks include:

Digging, Weeding, Edging, Mowing, Pruning, Planting, Watering, Occasionally assisting customers with loading.

Our nursery is open 7 days a week, from 10am till 6pm. You will be required to work AT LEAST ONE WEEKEND DAY per week.

Interested applicants should respond to this email with a resume and must answer the questions at the end of this ad. Please mention the “Gardening Crew” position in your email. Please, no phone inquiries.

The position pays DOE. Gardening Crew $16-$20 per hour.

Applications without the following questions answered will not be considered.

Question #1: What applicable experience have you gained at previous jobs that you think will be helpful to our company?

Question #2: What has been your most physical job to date, or why do you think you will be able to handle a job as physical as this one?

Please answer the questions above and send your resume to info@fallingwaterdesigns.com.

Event Venue Coordinator

We are a wedding & events venue with an immediate opening for a part-time Event Coordinator (7-32 hrs/week) to work at our Monroe, Washington venue. Looking for more hours? Consider combining other part-time positions currently available at our company.

Our venue is currently seasonal and the hours required for this position fluctuate with more hours available during our season and less hours off-season. Our busy season is Spring and Summer.

This position requires the Event Coordinator to be present during the beginning of each event to answer questions and help get our guests situated for their event. Events are usually scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10am until 11pm.

General Job Description: The Event Venue Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day management of our event venue.

Tasks Include:

• Replying to leads generated through our marketing efforts.
• Creating and suggesting marketing programs to generate leads.
• Scheduling and leading tours of our venue.
• Negotiating contracts for the rental of our venue.
• Managing the timely collection of amounts due per our contracts.
• Being present during the early part of each daily rental to answer questions and help our clients resolve any issues before their event begins. 
• Coordinate vendors making deliveries prior to events.
• Coordinate and assist with the creation of public-facing content promoting our venue.
• Engage and build social audiences across multiple channels.
• Monitoring and measuring the success of social media strategy (increased engagement, customer acquisition, website traffic, etc.)
• Identifying, analyzing, and reporting on social media trends to the venue owner.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to multi-task yet maintain close attention to detail and timeliness of work.
• Able to manage multiple projects.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Photography skills
• Creative and constructive problem-solving skills.
• The ideal candidate has proven experience creating and curating quality content for all major social channels.

Interested applicants should email resume and must answer the questions at the end of this ad. Please mention the “Venue Coordinator” position in the subject.

Compensation: $16 to $20 DOE and abilities.

Benefits: goal-based bonus program.

Applications without the following questions answered will not be considered.

Question #1: What previous experience do you possess in creating marketing content through social media channels?

Question #2: What previous experience do you have managing and tracking due dates for multiple projects and what software or systems do you use to track those due dates?

Please answer the questions above and send your resume to info@fallingwaterdesigns.com.