Plant of the Month
Penstemon heterophyllus
In keeping with this year’s water wise theme, this CA native is a winner. We usually carry the variety ‘Electric Blue’ but occasionally we have had other varieties. You can plant these lovely perennials in sun or with some afternoon shade to keep them looking a little fresher. I have one that grew down in the lower 40 and it gets no water at all and survives but does not look good by mid summer.
The glossy foliage grows about a foot tall and two feet wide. It sports numerous spikes of blue to reddish purple spikes in spring over a long period and if in a garden situation can send up more flowers in fall. This does okay in containers or as an edging plant along paths or at the front of a border.
These are available in 4inch containers right now and I might get in some #1’s. In addition to $1.00 off the 4in regular price I still have plenty of last month’s Plant of the Month-Bergenia in #1s, and I am still offering them at $2.00 off the regular price while supply lasts.
March Specials
Spring is officially here and with it comes these soil specials
Greenall Organic 2 cubic ft.
Potting Soil-Buy 3 and get a 4th FREE
Premium Organic 420 Formula Potting Soil
Buy 3 and get a 4th FREE
Potted Roses
Regular price is $27.99, only $19.99 thru March
March 2014 Newsletter
It’s March and that means Spring days ahead, hopefully some spring rains and daylight savings time is just a week away. With that comes our change in hours back to 9-5 everyday thru Spring with rain days 10-4 and the eagerly awaited soil special.
We are busy potting up our bareroot stock, unpacking spring orders like new pottery, re-organizing the nursery, and sorting out what plants are not coming back and need to go to the compost pile. We have received fresh stock on some of our best selling plants and have tables full of cheery pansies and primrose in color.
So what should you be doing in the yard now?
- Saving on bareroot shade trees and fruit trees, grapes and berries while still available
- Finish your pruning of trees, roses and perennials
- Spray dormant sprays-copper for fungus and oil for insects (last spray for peach leaf curl at bud break to two thirds petal drop and copper on pears and apples can help control fire-blight)
- Fertilize your lawn, bamboo and ornamental grasses with a nitrogen fertilizer (lawn food)
- Stock up on fertilizer with your coupon-feed everything at the end of this month or the beginning of April
- Plant potatoes, onions, peas, carrots, beets, lettuce, spinach, chard, broccoli, kale etc. These tolerate frost. Get them in now to harvest before you set out your tomatoes, squash and beans in May after frost danger is passed.
- Mulch heavy for weed control and moisture retention.
- Keep an eye out for pests- many insects will be hatching earlier than normal. It is all about degree days for hatch timing and lets face it, we have already had lots of warm weather this winter.
- Look to reduce or remove your turf and replace with less water thirsty plants.
With that in mind, I am including this list of water wise plants for you on our website and in separate message. The list is also available at the nursery. Just ask for a copy.
Happy March Gardening,
Tanya