Butterflies and Summertime

Longer days, warmer weather…the perfect time for this season’s sun-loving flowers to shine!  Many classic San Diego ornamental trees are blooming all around us, from the ferny leaves and lavender flowers of the Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia), 

to the vivid canary-edged orange cup like blooms of the African Tulip Tree (Spathodea campanulata).  Flowering vines are also putting on a good show…Passionflower vines both edible and ornamental, Red Trumpet vines with forked leaves and delicate tendrils, and the large open flowers of Mandevilla dipladenia 

are lovely draped over arbors or gracing trellises.  Best of all, these bright blooms do more than just liven up the scenery; they welcome neighborhood friends of all sorts to visit!

You might already know that both hummingbirds and butterflies fall head over heels for red, tubular flowers of all kinds…but did you know certain plants act as a home base for many kinds of butterflies?  For instance, Milkweed (Asclepias) 

is a popular plant as it is both a main food source for Monarch larvae and a parent plant that adult butterflies lay their eggs on.  We have garden varieties of Milkweed with flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and red, and also carry a native Milkweed in our Native Plants section.  Narrow Leaved Milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis, blooms with creamy white flowers, is a valuable food source for Monarch butterflies, and grows well in full sun.  

Butterflies have several other favorites in the garden as well….the aptly named Butterfly Bush, or Buddleia, boasts plump spires of tiny sweet smelling flowers that tempt hungry butterflies to stay and drink their nectar.  Sage (Salvia) and Penstemon species come in many colors, leaf shapes, and sizes; their tubular shaped flowers are magnets for hummingbirds and butterflies alike.  Native plants like Red Buckwheat and Monkeyflower are tough little beauties that are very low maintenance once established, and entice native fauna to your landscape.  Be sure to notice the butterfly icons on the signs describing our native plants, as they will indicate which plants are best for drawing in fluttering friends.

And of course, summer is the perfect time to relax and enjoy your garden— and appreciate all the hard work you’ve put in earlier this season!  Mission Hills Nursery offers everything you need to put the finishing touches on outdoor entertaining, from cheerful paper lanterns and hanging baskets, to handmade patio furniture and hand painted ceramic table top torches.  Be it a neatly kept container garden on an outside patio, a monstrous vegetable garden rich with the smell of sun-warmed soil and ripening tomatoes, or a pocket garden just starting on a sunny kitchen windowsill, find time to share your growing plants with the ones you love.  Sip a glass of wine with a friend, laugh at the antics of the local wildlife, and watch the sun sink down over your own carefully tended bit of nature.  Cheers to the joys of gardening!  Cheers to summer!

Bok bok bok bok Ba-GOCK! Have you seen our full grown black and white chicken roaming the nursery? Her name is Ash. Ash likes following Juan and Enrique when they are cleaning up and moving plants because there are usually treats, worms, earwigs, and crickets under the pots. She gobbles them up along with snails and centipedes. Her favorite employee seems to be China because she is the one to let her out of her coop each morning and fills her feeding spots with grain. Ash lays beautiful brown eggs, and in the warmer weather we average one egg a day. 

This month Fausto decided that more the merrier when it comes to chickens, since they are social creatures. Thus he brought in a brood which arrived in the mail peeping very loudly on their first day and each day since. They are quickly outgrowing their temporary housing but love to cuddle under the heat lamp between meals and play time. We are planning on keeping a few to grow up here while the others are ready for you to purchase and take to your own garden.

We have two types, Top Hat Special (photos from the internet)

 which have little puffs of fluff on their noggins and range from blonde to russet to charcoal gray. They grow up to sport stylish hair do's.

 Also in the mix are New Jersey Giants, they grow up to be big docile black chickens that are excellent egg layers.

Do you think we will ever see Fausto walking his around Mission Hills like this guy?

If your curiosity is piqued, check out the City of San Diego's page on keeping chickens in residential areas. The page can answer some Frequently Asked Questions as well as elaborate on the city requirements for chickens. Be sure to check your own city's or county's requirements before purchasing your new family members.

http://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/pdf/news/keepingchickens.pdf

Stop in and hang with our "peeps", we hope to have them in their new coop next week as they are growing bigger and funnier each day.

blog written by: Casey

May in the garden

As I sit down to write this month's blog I poured myself a hot cup of Woolly Blue Curl tea

 from Moosa Creek Nursery, added a touch of honey and am enjoying hearing and seeing the rains wash clean all the plants in our courtyard.

It doesn't matter if you wash your plants regularly from a garden hose or squirt bottle, there is something magical about rain that makes everything shine. The tallest trees not only get a good shower and clean leaves but it is a slow and steady rain soaking into the ground and not all washing down the gutters into the ocean. Hopefully you put fertilizer out this last weekend too.

May in our local gardens is one of my favorite months. The weather is for the most part in the mid-70's sunny with a slight breeze. Flowers are blooming in every color, from the palest pastels to the brightest oranges. If you planted vegetables early enough you are beginning to harvest them. And your herbs certainly are adding flavors to your dishes. Tomatoes are flowering and begin setting fruit along with squashes, beans and peppers. It isn't too late for leafy greens, we carry a variety of lettuces, just remember to plant them in a bit of shade. We buy from different growers so we can carry an array of vegetables and herbs. This week one of the most aromatic herbs selling has been a variety of Thyme.

Look for pizza thyme in eco-pots which you plant right into a container or the ground.

A new line of Organic Fertilizers and Insecticides has been added to our shelves. Espoma a company which began in 1929, just 19 years after Mission Hills Nursery. We are their first retailer in the San Diego area and look forward to a strong relationship. From when we first took over Mission Hills Nursery our fertilizer and insecticide lines have drastically changed from synthetic to organics, we believe in what we sell and will not sell any product we would not use in our own gardens.

May is the month you really should be enjoying your garden, your hard work was done earlier in the year and now you sit back and reflect on the beauty and bounty of your garden. Are you looking for new ideas and inspiration? Then it isn't too late to get your ticket for the Mission Hills Garden Club's annual garden walk, this is their 15th year and the theme says it all....."Something for Everyone"
tickets are available at the nursery thru Friday, May 10th just $25.00 each (cash or check), day of the walk, Saturday May 11th ticket price is $30.00.

Tomato Time

Now is the time of year when we can go a bit crazy with choices of tomatoes to plant in our gardens. Everything from super sweet 100's

to extra large and dark Black Krim.

 There has to be at least one favorite variety you have.  If you could only plant one which would it be?

Tomatoes require enough space to spread out and grow up. They do not want to be crowded as they enjoy air circulating around them. Give them as many hours of sun as possible, with a minimum of 6 for the best crop production.

Also consistency, keep the soil moisture level and temperature consistent. Plus feed, feed, feed.  To produce as much fruit as possible your plant needs to be fed. We recommend organic fertilizer because it stays in the soil longer and your plant takes up what it needs without worries of over feeding. Read the label of what you use and if you don't have any fertilizer then come see us for our recommendations.

If you have had problems in the past growing tomatoes then we have another option for you, Mighty Mato grafted tomato.

Reason #1 Mighty ‘Matos Are Created Naturally

 Hey, what is a grafted tomato anyway?  Grafting is the technique of lining up two different plant stems, and tying them together so the plants end up growing together as one plant.  Similar plants can be grafted together…you might have seen the “cocktail citrus” trees we sell here at MHN. Branches of lemon, lime, orange, and other citrus plants are skillfully grafted onto the branches of a single young citrus tree.  Since all the new additions are in the general citrus family, the tree readily adopts the newly introduced branches and you end up with a tree that produces a variety of fruit.  In the case of the tomato, one plant is selected for its vigorous root system (but maybe doesn’t produce particularly tasty fruit), and it is topped with a plant that produces delicious tomatoes (but doesn’t have an exceptionally strong root system).  Grafting is NOT the same as genetic modification (GMO).  Grafting is a time tested technology dating back in ancient China as far as 2000 BC!  Grafting gives the gardener a leg up on producing natural, homegrown tomatoes.

Reason #2 A Great Introduction into Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom tomatoes can be some of the biggest, tastiest, and most visually striking members of the tomato family.  However, some beginning gardeners have found growing heirloom tomatoes in general to be more challenging than growing other tomatoes.  Mighty ’Matos are a great introduction to growing heirloom tomatoes because the hardy root stock offered by the grafted Mighty ’Mato gives an immediate advantage over the traditional heirloom plant, including…

Reason #3 Mighty ’Mato Plants Have a Better Resistance to Soil-borne Disease and Pests

In general, the superior root systems of Mighty ’Mato plants are not as susceptible to soil-born diseases and nematodes as the root systems of heirloom tomatoes.  Additionally, they are better able to withstand extreme temperatures and temperature swings.  Healthier plants mean…

Reason # 4 Mighty ’Mato Plants Typically Yield More Fruit

The super strong root stock is more efficient at pulling up nutrients and water from the soil, so the overall plant is more robust, and can produce more tomatoes over a longer period of time.  Finally…

Reason # 5 Ace in Your Back Pocket

It’s so tempting to try out new tomato varieties every year, especially once you’ve gotten the taste of sweet summer success! When you’re spending valuable time and resources planting your vegetable garden, wouldn’t it be nice to count on harvesting from a tried and true tomato?  Might ’Mato gives you that peace of mind: a tomato plant that produces bigger fruit, longer into the season; is less likely to fall prey to soil pests and diseases; and not only grows but thrives in many types of San Diego soil.  When planning your summer garden, it’s worth considering investing in a Mighty ’Mato tomato plant.  If you have any questions about grafted tomatoes or tomato growing in general, the staff at Mission Hills Nursery would be glad talk to you about gardening.  Come on in and visit us, and be sure to check out our many tomato varieties.  Have fun digging in your garden! 

Plant What You Eat

You've heard the saying, "You are what you eat" and we want to help you take it a step further....

"Plant What You Eat" and "you will be what you plant" sounds a little crazy but if we know where our foods come from and how to prepare them to get the best from them it has been shown that we will feel better.  

Fausto and I snuck away one Sunday to the vineyards in Temecula, after a day of tasting and enjoying the countryside and music we settled into a new hotel for the night. Rising the next morning and going to breakfast the chef was offering a fresh vegetable drink, based on what was available in their gardens or the local market.   That drink was carrots, celery, cucumber and a hint of ginger.

 The sweetness from the carrots blended so well with the cleanliness of the cucumber and I was hooked. I told my kids I wanted a juicer for my birthday.

Well little did I know then how much work really goes into juicing a single glass each morning. The compost worms at work are enjoying the pulp that is left over. Carrots are the main vegetable I blend with cucumbers, apples, celery, kale (not really much juice in kale or other leafy greens), I've added beets and citrus. I will admit I don't do this every morning because of the work involved and you need a lot of vegetables to get a glass full, but when I do I find myself with much more energy.

As we live in a high rise with not much space I will be planting my juicing vegetables at the nursery or shopping the local farmers markets for the freshest ingredients.  

Now is the time to plant your spring/summer edible garden, but first remember your soil.  Without good soil your plants will not perform and with edibles you want the best conditions to get the best results. Begin by amending your soil with E.B.Stone planting compost, we use it in all our installation jobs. If you are planting in raised beds you will use E.B.Stone soil booster and or Edna's Potting Soil. This company has done the research for us, blending the right amendments and they are all organic so you don't need to worry about what your edibles are growing in.  When growing edibles your plants need to be fed so they may in turn feed you and your family. Again E.B. Stone has done all the research and blended a fertilizer just for edibles. Healthy happy edibles are able to fight off insects and diseases easier than unfed ones, similar to us right?

What do you plant now?  Beans from green to soy, cucumbers Armenian, lemon, burpless, English,

corn both yellow and white, eggplants, look at what Celeste grew in her E.B. Stone soil

 peppers from sweet to hot and of course tomatoes. 

What a variety of tomatoes we are bringing in, each week something different including grafted ones. 

What is a grafted tomato?  I will answer that question in my next blog, stay tuned but until turn your soil into a living breathing growing machine.

You Can Grow That

February is a funny month in the garden, located between January which this year kept us inside with a good book and warm fire, and March which shouts SPRING. So I want to follow the advise of garden bloggers and write this month based upon 4 simple words......

You Can Grow That

Gardening really isn't as hard as some people make it out to be, it is hard physically when you are just starting a new landscape on untouched soil. Yet to actually grow something anyone can do it. Since we are in February also known as the month of Love we will focus on growing Love.

Close your eyes and think of something that takes you to a special time or place when you felt Love. What comes to mind, a sound, a place, a scent? If it is a scent is it of something cooking or a fragrance from the garden? For many of us when we walk thru a garden or park and pick up the light scent of a blooming plant we are transported to another place or time and happy memories flood our thoughts. A smile comes to our face and we feel at peace.

You can duplicate that feeling in your own garden. A few of the flowers which speak of Love are roses, carnations, gardenias, lilies. These flowers are always included in bouquets given on Valentine's Day. Why give just the flowers when you can plant a bush which will give throughout the year? For me a rose needs to have fragrance over beauty and this year I selected 85% of our roses based upon their fragrance. Right now they are still just sleeping beauties but if you plant one this Valentine's Day for your Love or yourself by spring you will be enjoying their lovely scents.



Gardenias; a fussy plant but again the fragrance it brings to a room just by floating in a shallow bowl of water. If you don't want to worry about fussy than now is the time to plant stock. To me stock is like light cinnamon toast so yummy smelling.

And don't forget the simple joy of eating with the one you Love. How about growing a herb garden together? Fragrances which evoke feelings and memories can be started in your kitchen window if you don't have a garden or in pots to sit outside your kitchen for easy access. If you do have a large area herb gardens can be formal or simple, whichever way you go just remember.......

You Can Grow That

If you get stuck we are here to help, we don't want you to fail at gardening we want you to succeed and have fun.  Let the biologist and plant propagators do the hardest part of cloning and testing. Yet if you do fail a plant or two don't give up, add it to your compost pile and go forward, grow grow and grow again.

Growing Edible Greens this Winter

This article was written by Casey, she has a passion for herbs, succulents and learning more about gardening. While putting the nursery back together after Christmas Casey has had a chance to really see what we sell. She saw that the lettuces were quick sellers thus she did a little research on different varieties and would like to share her findings with you. Enjoy your salad.

Gardener’s Salad: So many greens to choose from!

Welcome winter time in San Diego with some cool season greens sure to perk up any salad!  We’ve just gotten in some novel edible greens as well as an interesting assortment of lettuces.  The lower temps we’ve been experiencing might be a little chilly for most San Diegans, but lettuces and their counterparts are slower to bolt (go to seed) in the cooler weather.  Insect pests like leaf miner, aphids, and whitefly are also less active during the winter. Another highlight to growing lettuce and greens is that they will grow quite well in the shade, so you can tuck them nearly anywhere in the garden to harvest year round.  To harvest evenly and discourage bolting, just give your plants a “flat top” hair cut about an inch from the soil, leaving the budding centers to re-grow for your next salad.  With so many varieties of leafy greens to choose from, it’s easy to have a gourmet array growing right in your own backyard!

Right now MHN has some delicious choices for lettuce in six packs.  Red Fire has soft green ruffles brushed with red at the edges. It’s attractively colored curly leaves would be a perfect addition to a baby leaf salad.  Freckles is a fun romaine type lettuce that has a scattering of red speckles over each crunchy leaf.  Its upright growing habit means you can harvest mature heads at 55 days or enjoy it earlier as baby lettuce.  Or, try a selection of lettuce types at once with a six pack of Bistro Blend.  The lettuce seedlings sprouting up vary in color from deep purple-red Rouge D’Hiver and Red Salad Bowl to green Parris Island Cos and Oak Leaf lettuce.  We also currently offer Oak Leaf Lettuce in 4 inch pots.

Spice up salad time with greens that have some kick.  Osaka Purple Mustard is beautifully hued and mildly spicy with a wasabi like flavor.  Oakleaf Arugula has eye-catching lobed leaves, while frilly Frisee has a cheery textured appearance.  Give Italian favorite Silene a place in your garden this season, and enjoy the slightly herbal flavor of its mild green leaves, similar to arugula or chicory.  Harvest the young leaves early for salads, sautés and omelets, and then enjoy the delicate fringed, bell shaped white flowers it puts out in late spring/early summer.  Red Rib Italian Dandelion is a striking contrasting green to add to your salad or used in light cooking.

And don’t forget, there’s always space on a windowsill to grow your own sprouts.  A staff favorite for sprouting are the Sunflower Microgreens from Botanical Interest.  These 100% organic seeds are sprouted and ready to be picked in just about a week after planting….and of course have the appealing texture of fresh sprouts with the toothsome taste of sunflower seeds!  What a great combo.  We also carry Spicy Microgreens and a mix of Sandwich Sprouts.  Be sure to ask about our seed trays and Seed Starter planting medium to get your seedlings off to a sure start.  Happy Gardening!

What to plant in January

Why a Fresh Cut Christmas Tree?

Just My Thoughts

One way to improve our economic situation is with a small jester...the Christmas Tree.

The good ol' American Fresh Cut Christmas Tree, it is a simple product, a renewable resource that keeps people working and earning a living all year long. In good times and tough times; let me explain.

The Christmas Tree begins with a propagator somewhere in Northern United States. We have seed sourcers that look for the best possible traits in fir trees. These folks harvest and germinate the seed that will eventually become a Christmas Tree. The little starts are grown to a height of 4" to 6" in growing trays here in the U.S. before being sold to Christmas Tree farmers who plant them on private farms. Some of these farms are small family owned with just a few acres while others are larger producers with hundreds of acres. The farmer employees people to plant them and grow them until they are ready to harvest, which typically takes 7 to 8 years, at an average height of 7' - 8'.  During the growing period not only are the hired employees caring for these trees but fertilizer and pesticide companies have employees working to keep the Christmas Tree healthy and on track to reach their optimum height. As the Christmas Tree reaches the age of harvest employees go into the fields to grade and select. Christmas Trees need to be ready for cutting every November, so more employees are hired. Some of the Christmas Trees are grown at higher elevations and helicopters are hired to haul them out of areas not easily accessible with tractors. In the processing areas more employees have been hired to tag, wrap, organize and load the Christmas Trees. Truckers are hired to take the trees around the country, giving an economic boost to the trucking industry. Many of these trucks then load up with another commodity to return to their original state, making it more profitable for them.

Once the Christmas Tree reaches its destination, whether it be a small individual business that sets up in a neighborhood, a local garden center such as ours or a non-profit group there are again more people employed.

Now compare a synthetic tree which is made in another country, there is no economic benefit to our country. No U.S. employees are hired, no U.S. product is used and the carbon footprint to get that synthetic tree here is not environmentally positive.

Freshly Cut Christmas Trees are typically recycled after the holidays and used as mulch, it goes back into our gardens and public areas along with employing another branch of workers. The freshly cut Christmas Tree provides many workers with a means to help themselves and their families while bringing smiles of joy to households all over this country.

In my opinion this is one small way we can help improve the U.S. economy.

Merry Christmas,
Fausto

FREE trees

Saturday November 17th -
Tiger is giving away FREE trees. Bring your truck and your friends to help you load.
This offer is valid for one day and you need to load and take the tree(s) with you.
There is no holding and it is first come first to take home. NO RETURNS all sales are FINAL

Some trees may not look their prettiest, but once you get them into the ground they will settle their roots and by next spring you won't believe they were FREE.

Also marked down are all roses in stock 50% off, stone fruit trees 50% off, large fountains 60% off.

Just remember you need to bring your own truck and muscles to load them up.

New at Mission Hills Nursery

We are still waiting here in San Diego for the fall weather to stay around and our gardens need care.
Watering can be tricky, some days we need to water more than once, especially when the winds are blowing. Other days we have gotten rain and hopefully your irrigation system wasn't running at the same time.

The nursery is filling up and cutting back. We are bringing in fall/winter vegetables but cutting back on pottery selections as we begin the annual move of condensing the two side of the nursery into one. We did receive an order of orange pottery, perfect for your Halloween and Thanksgiving decors.

I do love the fall bedding plant selections.

Annual mums will add color to your containers along with pansies and various ornamental kales. Remember to add height and textures to your containers, snap dragons, stock, and grasses bring all those elements together. If you aren't sure what works come visit China and she can help you. If you want we can schedule to pick up your pots, bring them into the nursery so you and China can work together on them, or just let China know your color preferences and she will do her magic.

We have the sidewalk planter filled with pink annuals and perennials in support of the 3 Day Walkers who come by next month on the 18th. Come over and join us as we cheer them on, remember to wear your pink.

For those who enjoy giving paperwhite baskets as gifts during the holiday season, remember it takes approximately 5 weeks for them to be blooming. Count back and begin planting yours up now for Thanksgiving. This year our paperwhite bulbs are a pretty large size, we were not able to get amaryllis bulbs but we will have the plants come in starting next month. We will plant up gift baskets with the bulbs for gift giving. Another fun area which we are restocking after years of not having, flags. You can see the Halloween flags flying in front of the nursery this week, switching over to Fall Harvest and Christmas. This is an inexpensive way to decorate your home for the seasons or no other reason than it is easy and fun.

Tiger's Tips for June

May gray is gone and June gloom is hanging around the coastal communities. If you are having issues with your tomatoes it most likely is due to the weather. Remember tomatoes like consistency. Consistent soil temperature and moisture. Feed regularly as they are trying to produce food to feed you and your family. If you haven't already heard or seen our grafted tomatoes you still have time to come in and get a few for your garden. Right now they are also on sale, buy 2 get 3rd one for just 1cent. Offer good while supplies last.

for the rest of the Tiger Tips stop in the nursery

Urban Farmstyle Seminar

For our April Urban Farmstyle Seminar we are changing it up a bit. The title of a book caught my attention when the author; Cara Wilson-Granat came into the nursery and asked if we would be interested in having her speak. How could I say no to this title.....
It Takes A Lot of Sh*t To Make A Garden Grow

If you or you know someone who could use a little kick start on shoveling all the sh*t out of their life, you won't want to miss this seminar.

What other good things come out of your garden after you've worked hard shoveling and toiling? Flowers, shrubs and edibles of course. After we've all listened to and laughed with Cara we will enjoy a fresh from the garden spring dish prepared by our local food blogger, Liz the Chef.
Liz is one of our neighbors and when I read her postings and see her photos I want to run over and taste her goodies.

What we hope to share with you at this Urban Farmstyle Seminar is there are many good things to come out of gardening. Sure you might have sore muscles, but when you sit back and see how fresh your newly toiled soil looks and smell the earthy delights you know it was worth it. Then when your spring flowers begin blooming and you harvest your first crop of the year, all senses kick in and you feel alive.

Come join us in getting rid of life's unnecessary worries and enjoy a taste of spring. Sunday April 15th 11:30 - 1:30, seating is limited, tickets may be purchased at the nursery $5.00. Sign up via our facebook but payment is due prior to event to guarantee your seat.

Tiger's Tips for March

Much is beginning to happen in the nursery and your gardens as we leave winter behind later this month and welcome Spring.

March's flyer will breakdown the month so you don't get overwhelmed by necessary chores. I am recognizing Richard Lesser this month as your go-to seed guy, plus knowledgable nursery person and our 1st Urban Farmstyle Seminar's guest chef will be Chef Miguel from the Red Door Restaurant. New and old products are re-introduced to you.

If you are a computer person please if you haven't already click over to our facebook page, link is at the top and "like" us, you will get gardening tips, offers, and notice of upcoming events. Plus Fausto is beginning to post pictures of new plants that we get in and you will want to come in quickly as some we receive in limited supplies.

Plant a tree with the Lorax and IHOP

We all grew up reading Dr. Seuss, his books would take us on adventures. There is a movie coming out based upon one of his books. The Lorax which "chronicles the plight of the environment and the Lorax, who speaks for the trees against the greedy Once-ler." One other adventure I think we all enjoyed as a child was going out to breakfast. Now you can share with your children these two adventures in one.

IHOP, International House of Pancakes has teamed up with Universal pictures on the Lorax with sweepstakes and games along with giving away 3 million bookmarks which are seeded. Plant the bookmark and hopefully you will help in growing 3 million trees which we really could use as our Urban Forest are dwindling away. Offer valid while supplies last to children ages 3-12.

Now the question is can you actually grow a tree from the seed varieties they are using, Canadian White Pine and Blue Spruce? Here in San Diego it will take more than just putting that little bookmark in the ground or a container. So we are looking at a different tree seed which we will then exchange your bookmark for. We want your child to be successful in their plantings, not discouraged. If your child gets a Lorax bookmark please don't plant it right away, check with us and we will be sure to either give you good planting information or hopefully change it for another tree more suitable for our climate.

Have fun on your adventure with Dr. Seuss and in your garden.

Love in the Nursery

February the month of Love has brought a new love into our lives at home with the addition of our newest granddaughter, Isabella Rose. Isabella is the daughter of our daughter Kristi and her husband Jeff and she joined the family last Tuesday the 7th. A special Valentine Day will be celebrated by her parents this year I'm sure.

When showing your special Valentine how much you Love him or her how about giving them a gift which will show that Love all year? Flowers and Chocolates are welcome gifts yet a gift that reflects your Love each & every day they look out the window and watch it grow is so rewarding.

Pick a tree which bears fruit, as they bite into it every time they will remember your Love. Or how about a rose in their favorite color? Did you take a special trip together or hope to one day? Plant something which will remind you of the area you went or wish to go to. France maybe? Plant a lavender. Italy? How about a wine grape? Or if you and your Love enjoy cooking together you can plant & grow a vegetable and herb garden. Sharing in growing and cooking what you eat is truly rewarding.

My insights and Tiger's Tips

What a crazy weather month we have had this January. Rain and cold then sunny and hot with today being a perfect spring day. It can be hard on your garden so remember to check your plants for any damage. If you did get some frost do not cut your plants yet, let them go even if they are ugly until the weather stays consistent.

As we began the new year with a clean up at the nursery, just like at home, once you remove the holiday tree and decorations it's time to spruce up the place. Our greenhouse is getting some new coats of paints, let me know what you think of the colors. The upper lot pottery section has been reorganized to make shopping easier and our new line of glazed pottery is getting great reviews.

Roses are in and canned up, we are still expecting our order from David Austin to arrive any day. I selected fragrant varieties, don't you wish rose tags had scratch & sniff spots? Stone fruit trees, Japanese Maples, Wisteria and the very popular Weeping Mulberries are also canned and resting for the winter. But don't wait until spring to get them in your garden they would appreciate a new home while they rest.

Oh yes I can't forget the chickens. Willow, Mr. Rooster is very protective of his ladies so keep an eye out when walking around. Maggie and Ash are plump and happy ladies who each lay an egg every day. Spend some time just watching them you surely will walk away laughing.

Ugly Sweater Contest

wear your ugly Christmas sweater and possibly win a $100 shopping certificate to Mission Hills Nursery. Check out our facebook page for more information.

Great gift idea

This last year we saw a tremendous increase in home gardeners starting or expanding their edible gardens. We brought in garden boxes which you could assemble at home and had a few planted at the nursery, everyone enjoyed the fresh tomatoes, strawberries and herbs. New this year and just in time for the holidays we have a simple to use and store when not in use garden bag.

The Little Acre raised bed garden bag.
No tilling No digging No soil amending No tools No assembly and No weeds

What a fun and easy gift to give that keeps giving, the kids will love growing what they eat while everyone else will enjoy the ease and no hassle growing.

Fausto's special offer includes one Little Acre garden bag, 3 E.B. Stone Planting Compost, and 1 box of E.B. Stone Sure Start for just $74.88 (regular pricing would be just over $95.00) Put the Little Acre garden bag under the tree and the other items can be picked up later so you don't have to wrap the bales of compost. Or you can wrap the compost and really surprise your special gardener.

Tiger's Plant for November

Tiger took time out of setting up our Christmas wonderland to select a plant for the month of November. Even though this plant flowers in the summer you will want it for the foliage which right now just yells "Autumn".

Hibiscus acetosella
Is a tropical hibiscus grown mostly for its foliage. To
me the flower is inconsequential or at best, a nice conversation item. With its psychedelic looking foliage that comes to life during the summer months. The leaves will show red, purple, and a creamy variegation.
This plant will be a great show piece in any garden or container.

Plant Needs: Sun Water: average This plant reaches about 4' and is cold hardy down to 30 degrees. It does like well drained soil