Plant of the Month
Gaura lindheimeri
‘Whirling Butterflies’
I love this perennial for full sun. It is long blooming and easy to grow. With its popularity has come the introduction of several new varieties. The original Texas native has airy growth up to 4 feet, with pink buds opening to white flowers that drop off cleanly. The plant is long lived with a deep tap root and is a self-seeder. It blooms from late spring till frost. To avoid self-seeding, remove those stalks which also approve appearance, otherwise, just let it do its thing.
Gaura is a water-wise perennial that looks good in the ground or in the containers. Cut back hard after bloom (in winter), to basal growth. This plant is on the deer resistant list but my experience is our deer will eat it, so spray or protect to establish.
‘Karalee Petite Pink’
New varieties to look for:
- ‘Whirling Butterflies’- larger flowers
- ‘Siskiyou Pink’- maroon leaves, pink flowers
- ‘Pink Foundation’- lateral branching, pink flowers
- ‘Passion Rainbow’- colorful foliage, pink flowers
- ‘Karalee Petite Pink’- shorter, good in mixed containers
May Specials
- GreenAll Organic Potting Soil 2c.f. – last month, so stock up!
Buy 3 get 4th FREE - Fruit Trees
Buy 3 get 4th FREE - Plant of the Month- Guara
$2.00 OFF 1 gallon $1.00 OFF 4 inch - “Fill a Flat” and “Bakers Dozen”
- Roses
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May Newsletter
For us in Lake County, May means we are just about over any real chances of frost and vegetable sales and tender annuals are coming into full swing. As many of you know, availability changes on a weekly basis. For example, Barber County Farms, our good local supplier of organically grown summer vegetables is already out of stock of Early Girl and Brandywine. I stocked some Black cherry tomatoes, but it could be the only time this year that I have them, etc.
Some different varieties you might want to look for are the very popular, tomato ‘Pineapple’, along with ‘Box Car Willie’ and ‘Cherokee Purple’. We have the white eggplant ‘Gretel’, along with ‘Rosa Bianco’. Organic pickling cukes and a white cucumber good for eating and canning are on the shelf. Love those little Persian ones? We have the seed along with English and Japanese. We have a few melons but look for watermelon next week. This is the first week we brought in ‘winter’ squash, so time to buy the squash that means it ‘keeps for winter’ (you grow them in summer). These include spaghetti, butternut, delicata, acorn, buttercup, etc. We just got in the ‘Mohawk’ sweet pepper that I am told it is like an orange ‘Gypsy’. Never tried ‘Padron’ Peppers? These are a very popular roasting or stir-frying pepper that gourmets rave about.
We have plenty of fruit trees and berries, grapes and currants available with selection still good, except for cherries.
Don’t have a place to grow food? Nonsense! You can grow blueberries and dwarf peaches in containers. Many of us, me included, grow our vegetables in containers. We have Grow Boxes, Smart Pots, wine barrels, colorful pottery and sturdy plastics to get you started. Need a vine? Why not choose a grape? Need a big growing shrub? A pomegranate works. Need a hedge? Currants and gooseberries can fill the ticket. Need a tree? Why not a fruit tree? They blossom, produce fruit and have nice fall color.
Mother’s Day is right around the corner and this year we have grown our own hanging baskets and containers from plugs. Some of our roses are starting to bud. I will write a little about them next month after I see the new ones bloom.
If you have not fertilized yet- get on it. Every growing thing in your yard should be fed in the spring. Lawn looks tired? Try over-seeding and working a thin layer of Firmulch into it. Better run through your drip irrigation system, replacing batteries and making sure all is working properly. Spring is a wonderful time of the year and a busy one- so get busy! (And don’t forget your Sure-Start!)
In Bloom Now:
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In Stock Now:
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And much, much more…
See you soon,
Tanya