Monday, January 24, 2011

Anigozanthos


Anigozanthos commonly known as Kangaroo Paw plant is from western Australia. These hardy perennial plants are noted for their unique long lasting blooms. The tubular flowers are covered in velvety hairs and open at the apex with 6 claw like structures. Most common colors are red and yellow while oranges and greens are becoming favorites.

According to Angus Steward, Australian plant breeder, to get the most out of your Kangaroo paw grow them in full sun and be sure your soil drains well. Considered water thrifty during early spring & summer if you give them an extra drink you will extend the bloom season. Also dead heading promotes new flower spikes. Prune aggressively after the bloom season by cutting your plant back to the ground, not only does this promote new growth it helps eliminate possible diseases or fungus.

Fertilize early spring & summer with EB Stone All Purple Organic Fertilizer, a plant with beautiful blooms and lush green growth attracts birds to your garden.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Guest Chef for February


As we begin a new year and new seminars we are excited to have our neighbor/chef Liz be our first guest Chef. Liz will show us how to prepare a winter soup using a main ingredient which you can grow in your garden. You will also learn how to grow this ingredient and take one home to plant.

Seminar will begin at 11:30 and advance reservations are requested as we need to be sure and have enough soup for everyone to sample. Please come in and join us, I am looking forward to different chefs and different recipes all using at least one ingredient you can grow in your home garden. If you know anyone who would love to be our guest Chef please have them get in touch with me.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

January in the Garden


January is the month you see rows and rows of sticks in black nursery pots, what are these you may ask yourself as you wander thru Mission Hills Nursery. Many stone fruit trees and deciduous trees that are dormant come into nurseries as sticks without any clothing (leaves) or pants (pots). We plant them up so they can begin to wake up and expand their roots prior to putting on a spring show for you in your home garden.
If you have always wanted an orchard but are limited in space your garden is suitable for EZ-Pick fruit trees from L.E. Cooke. While the standard fruit trees grows 20-30' EZ-Pick fruit trees stay around 6-12' with most of the fruit being reachable in the 4-7' range. By having a smaller tree you are able to plant multiple varieties providing your family with different fruit throughout the year.

Two of the most unusual dormant trees we bring in are the Snow Fountains Flowering Cherry from L.E. Cooke and weeping Mulberry. Flowering Cherry says spring with a carpet of white blossoms while the Mulberry provides some very yummy edible fruit. Each are structurally artistic during the winter months and beautiful the rest of the year.

You also will see over 500 other pots with shorter sticks coming out of them, these are roses. Even though it is hard to buy a new rose without actually seeing and smelling the flower now is the best time to get them into your garden. We have been buying many of our roses year after year from Weeks Roses, they have been growing roses for over 73 years so they do know how to do it. For some good ideas which you can apply to your own garden please click over to their website and see what Ann has to say.

Today we saw the sun all day, first time in too long if you ask me. The plants are enjoying the warmth as much as we are. If you have been inside too long this winter this is the weekend you will want to get out in your garden. The soil is still soft from our rains making weed pulling and hole digging an easier task. Get dirty this weekend and we are open Monday in case you are one of the lucky ones who gets and extra day off.