Newsletter for June 2025

Old fashioned flowers with a few updates, lavender never ceases to please! The two main varieties are Lav. stoechas (Spanish lavender) and the Intermediate ones (English types). The Spanish varieties are nearing the end of their bloom time. New for this species are shades of pink. Now it’s time for tall types such as ‘Provence’ and ‘Grosso’, ‘Phenomenal’ and shorter ones such as ‘Hidcote’, ‘Munstead’ and ‘Superblue’.

We have lots more perennials to beef up the garden at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. Bright yellow Calylophus gains in popularity every year – heat does not deter it. The “Balloon Flower” (Platycodon) is currently available in blue in 4″ plants. It completely dies back in winter but returns for its inimitable summer bloom.

The vegetable supply is dwindling at Bay Laurel Garden Center – hurry! If you want to raise pumpkins don’t wait until October to plant them! We plan to keep the herb supply throughout the summer. Tomatoes, peppers, corn and more are still available – how about some ‘Tasmanian Chocolate’ tomatoes? The spray for blossom end rot is here as well. Look for more strawberries in jumbo packs.

We have native California plants that will add some color to your summer garden. The Eriogonum “Rosy Buckwheat” is a perky addition. Those outrageous poppies Romneya coulteri (Matilija poppies) are blooming right now. We’ll try to keep them in stock. They’re hard to start but amazing when successful!

Dahlia tubers were a big hit last fall, now they have arrived in containers at Bay Laurel Garden Center. The color selection is impressive – red, orange, pink, yellow and bi-color. Leaf color choices are green and almost black. The height and flower size also vary. We also offer some of the dinner plate varieties. You might pick up a pot or two of baby’s breath to add to your bouquet.

Back in the running for best overall house plant is Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema). This lovely specimen needs minimum care – low light and average water. ‘Silver Bay’ is the variety shown here. We have lots of new interesting house plants in small containers.

The unassuming flowering vinca, when the heat is on these plants stand strong! They’re great in pots – the white variety is particularly appealing during the hot summer days. We have lots of other lovely annuals to choose from as well – marigolds, petunias, verbenas, lobelias and on and on!

This brightly colored shrub is designed for the shade. This particular variety of Aucuba, ‘Picturata’ has brighter hues than its original form. Hostas also depend on their leaf color to add brightness to shady areas. Other choices include colorful Coleus, Begonias and Impatiens.