Current Pond 50° F
Updated: 11.02.24
We have the Christmas jams on here at the nursery, and we’re fully decorated with holiday items in stock!
Falling Water Gardens has been a favorite location for Christmas trees for many years because we’re a local business, and we keep the trees in water while they wait to grace your home or business.
Read below for details on how to care for your fish in freezing weather, and changes to the operating hours here at the garden center throughout the holiday season.
Trees are in! Many families come back to us year after year for their trees, and we’re always thrilled to see the same faces each season. Our gift shop is decked out in holiday décor and great gift items for the gardeners and pond lovers in your life!
We will be open seven days a week, from 10 AM until 5 PM through Christmas Eve. Follow us on Facebook for daily posts, Holiday gift ideas, and other fun announcements!
Why buy your Christmas tree from us?
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.
We have a gorgeous selection of fresh Noble and Nordmanfir trees, from 4′ to 8′ tall.
We have also brought back a popular 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.
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.
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 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 biodegradable, which means they can be easily reused or recycled for mulch and other purposes.
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, or 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.
Kikokuryu
The Kikokuryu is a metallic black & white Doitsu (scaleless or partially scaled) koi fish. Kikokuryu can be black & white, blue & white, or silver & white. Any blue on this fish is not permanent. The fish changes quite frequently. Changes may be caused by environmental changes such as water temperature, lighting, water chemistry, etc.
Kikoruyu has good sheen throughout it’s body. The whiter the white on the head, the better quality the Kikoruyu is.
We are currently not selling fish, as the water temperature in our ponds is too low for a safe and effective way to move the fish. We’ll care for the fish we currently have throughout the winter and will begin restocking in the spring!
We are also not feeding our fish here at the garden center now that the water temperature is below 50 degrees for the first time since early Spring. Low water temperature means the fish stop digesting their food, so it’s not safe to feed them until temperatures warm again with the weather.
Is freezing weather in the forecast? Here’s how to keep your fish and pond equipment safe.
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.
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.
Curious about what to do if your pond starts to freeze? We have a special page with details on how to care for your pond in freezing weather.
Since it’s cold season, let’s take a look at a few popular winter selections!
Monstera deliciosa is known 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 the plant matures over time. For planting use well-draining soil. 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.
Dramatic foliage ranges from deep golden to glowing reddish pink with undulating margins. Golden mature foliage features contrasting hot pink undersides. An outstanding seasonal accent for border or woodland garden.
‘Forever Purple’ is a knockout with ultra-purple glossy leaves with fluted edges and great vigor. Very short spikes of purple-pink flowers in summer and four seasons of purple.
Wedding season is still a few months away, but we’re approaching engagement season!
Falling Water Gardens boasts one of the most unique wedding venues on the Eastside, with expansive ponds and water features and a spectacular array of display gardens. You can take a tour of the venue as it looks in peak season by visiting our Youtube page.
If you or someone you know are planning to get engaged this holiday season, we’d love to have you here for a tour! Visit our weddings page for details.
Falling Water Designs is an award-winning Seattle, Washington-based landscape design and pond installation company serving the following areas: Seattle, Bothell, Bellevue, Sammamish, Redmond, Kirkland, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Clyde Hill, Medina, Mercer Island, and more.
