Fort Mcnair Horse Chestnut is a recent arrival from Monrovia Nursery. The dense, dark green foliage turns golden yellow in fall. The lovely pink flowers with yellow throats grace the tree in late spring. This variety is smaller than many, slowly growing 35 x 25 feet.

Vegetables are still rolling out the door at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. ‘Early Girl’ and ‘Sungold’ tomatoes are among the most popular but folks are willing to try lots of the new varieties and heirlooms. You can get a bit of a head start and buy some tomatoes and peppers in the gallon size.

In stock at Bay Laurel Garden Center is a manzanita we do not often see, ‘Paradise’. This variety is noted for its copper edged new leaves and pink flowers. ‘Paradise’ can grow to 10 feet with an 8 foot spread. The availability of other varieties changes weekly. ‘Howard McMinn’ is always desired, it’s considered one of the most adaptable.

A useful herb with charming blue flowers is Borage. The plant can grow 2 to 3 feet high and readily self sows. The 4 to 6″ leaves are edible with a cucumberlike flavor. Borage has become quite popular but nothing beats basil!

Euphorbia milli – one species out of 2000! This variety sports several colorful flowers – red, pink and yellow. The plants also have thorns and are commonly called ‘Crown of thorns’. The plants are not very cold hard and will show damage in temperatures below 28, but with a bit of protection they can bloom all winter in the North County. Can be grown indoors with bright light.

Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero has been inundated with turtles (concrete)! They all need homes. Open your hearts and homes. Low maintenance.

There is an imposter among us! We depend on the reliable Salvias to inhabit our gardens – blue, red, pink, white. But there are few with yellow flowers. Enter Phlomis, also called Jerusalem sage. It is undeniably a great plant so we can forgive its duplicity. Many Salvias will be available throughout the season.

The codling moth is making plans to procreate. It will lay its eggs in the blossoms of apples, ensuring nourishment as the larvae eat their way out. How to thwart their plans ? You can set traps with pheromones to indicate the moth’s presence. At that point it is advisable to spray with an insecticide such as Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew.

One of the glories of spring – the ornamental crabapple ‘Floribunda’. The bright white flowers develop into small crabapples just the right size for your neighborhood flock. Redbuds, flowering plums, pears and cherries add to the spectacle. Add to this the colorful flowers of peach and nectarine trees.

It’s about time for the peaches and nectarines to set fruit. Beware the tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris). This small insect will deface the exterior of your fruit. Be prepared to spray at least twice when the fruit is very, very small. Effective sprays include horticultural oil, neem oil, Captain Jack’s dead bug spray and more.

Agaves are among the most drought tolerant plants we stock at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. Two of the very handsome varieties include ‘Blue Glow’ and ‘Weber’s’. The first is a favorite and was missing for some time from our inventory but it’s now finding grateful gardeners. ‘Weber’s’, a larger growing Agave is noted for its silvery leaves.

The Camellia ‘Kumasaka’ is a lovely addition to our collection at Bay Laurel Garden Center. This a Japonica variety, blooming later than the Sasanqua varieties. Camellias are surprisingly durable. They thrive in well draining soil and afternoon shade. There are few shrubs with the attributes of shiny, dark, evergreen leaves and stupendous flowers.

Remaining in the shade and Japanese mode, this Osmanthus ‘Goshiki’ is a great shrub for the shade. The variegation is a welcome bright accent. ‘Goshiki’ will slowly grow to 3 1/2 feet by 5. The new growth exhibits pink-orange tints. We also have a few of the extremely fragrant Daphne, ‘Perfume Princess’ at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero.

Vegetable starts are quickly finding their way to the home gardener. The selection is very good and will undoubtedly increase this month. Lemon cucumbers of course! A great variety of peppers and tomatoes. How could you not want to plant the tomato ‘Dancing with Smurfs’? Lovers of hot peppers also abound and the small lunch box varieties are quite popular. Don’t forget the herbs!

Beautiful ranunculus in 4″ pots. Enjoy them in the garden or indoors in your favorite vase. The best way to enable their return for next year is either withhold water in the summer or remove the corms and store in a cool, dry place.

Here’s another opportunity for cut flowers. The Gladiolus, however, will make a very strong statement. The stalks can reach 4 to 5 feet. They can be planted at intervals to provide longer periods of bloom.

Finally! We are able to offer the very desirable Salvia canariensis at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero thanks to the Arroyo Grande growers Native Sons. Salvias are one of the most important perennials in our area. Features include deer resistance, low water requirements and long bloom. This variety blooms for most of the summer into fall and can reach 5 to 6 feet.

Two very colorful plants that have been popular this season are Erysimum and Nemesia. Both are excellent bloomers in the cool season. We know the Erysimum to be perennial – we’re not sure about Nemesia although it seems quite possible with the introduction of these new hybrids. The advantage of planting these with other perennials is to ensure flowers almost all year!

The days for bareroot planting will be over before long at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. We still have lots of great fruit trees and berries including pistachio trees. These trees are not self-fruitful – one needs a male tree and it can pollinate up to nine females! Check out the website baylaurelnursery.com for current availability or come to the nursery.

Spruce up your spring with ‘Avondale’ redbud, one of the most profuse flowering native California redbuds. This variety was developed by Monrovia Nursery. The striking blooms give way to bright green kidney shaped leaves. The native red buds are extremely drought tolerant. This time of year relish other early flowering trees including ornamental crabapples and cherries.

Here’s another example of a lovely California native plant. This is Iris douglasiana ‘Alta’ developed by Monterey Bay Nursery in Santa Cruz. We currently have these plants in 4″ containers at Bay Laurel Garden Center. Another colorful native which just arrived is the Penstemon ‘Margarita Bop’.

Dahlia tubers have been wildly popular this year! Therefore – there’s more to come. A new supply should arrive in two weeks – it’s definitely not too late to plant them. The pictured variety ‘Mango Madness’ will be among the new dahlias. Additionally more gladiola bulbs and tuberoses will be added to the collection.

The ubiquitous Rosemary. We should not, however dismiss this extremely useful and varied plant. One use, of course, is for culinary purposes. But there are many different forms of rosemary. ‘Huntington Carpet’ and ‘Prostratus’ provide a drought tolerant, deer resistant ground cover. ‘Tuscan Blue’ and ‘Blue Spires’ are handsome tall shrubs with bright blue flowers. Other forms such as ‘Irene’, ‘Majorca Pink’, ‘Blue Boy’ (a dwarf shrub) and ‘Foxtail’ provide varied interest in the landscape.

Beef up your vegetable garden with some perennial varieties. We will have 4″ asparagus and rhubarb as well as lots of 1 gallon artichokes at Bay Laurel Garden Center. More herbs are expected plus 3 types of garlic. Be creative and add some herbs to your flower pots and beds. Lime thyme is a lovely low growing border. Dill adds a lovely ferny look.

The return of the Hellebores. The enchanting, nodding flowers add grace to the shade garden. Add English primroses to the mix until the summer shade flowers appear. We also expect pink flowered Dicentra (Bleeding Hearts). Potted bulbs will include freesias, ranunculus and anemones.

A very special bareroot offering from Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero – an apple espalier. Aside from its decorative effect on a wall or fence, six different apple varieties add to its allure. We also have pear espaliers with 4 different pears.

If you missed the bareroot roses all is not lost! Pictured here are these very plants in their new biodegradable pots at Bay Laurel Garden Center. For just a few dollars more you can choose among a great variety and plant them in the ground, pot and all. It’s still time to plant bareroot fruit trees – but don’t tarry!

The summer blooming bulbs have arrived at Bay Laurel Garden Center. Dahlias are the most popular. The dinner plate varieties are quite stunning with a wide range of colors. They make great bouquets as well as a strong color statement in the garden. Other additions include lilies, gladiolas and Crocosmias. We expect Tuberoses a bit later.

Potato starts accompany the bulb arrivals at Bay Laurel Garden Center. You can have some fun with a diverse selection of spuds. Try some French Fingerlings or German Butterballs. There are many ways to grow potatoes including settling them in a bed of straw.

Three garlic varieties to jazz up your menu from Bay Laurel Garden Center. ‘Elephant’ is the mildest and biggest – it’s actually a member of the leek family. ‘Spanish Roja’ is sweet and pungent maturing early to late. Finally, ‘Early Italian’ with a mild, rich flavor.

Erysimums abound! The growers keep developing more colors in this genus. And there’s good reason. There are vey few perennials that can stand up to our cold winter temperatures and keep cheerfully blooming. The latest acquisition is the deep yellow. We also have some very nice violet plants in gallon containers at Bay Laurel Garden Center.

Rhaphiolepis or “Indian Hawthorne” is a plant that’s been around for many years. The most common species displays pink flowers. R. umbellata however, has white flowers and very dark, leathery leaves. The plant will grow 4 to 6 feet. It is a very handsome evergreen shrub that looks great in any season.

Our collection of drought resistant succulents is growing at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. Agaves are very popular needing almost no water and adding a very dramatic touch to the landscape. Deer resistance is another plus. The Agave pictured here fits all the qualifications and it has tons of pups so a lot more Agaves can be propagated.

The original plan for Atascadero as laid out by E. G. Lewis in the early 1900s was to include acres and acres of orchards. We’d like to continue that tradition with our bareroot fruit trees at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. We offer such a large selection because of the seasonal mail order we undertake every year. Don’t let the pink “sold” tags deter you – we still have lots of great trees to sell. But don’t wait too long!

No, we’re not selling “Harry and David” boxed pears. However, you can install your very own Comice bareroot pear tree. The large fruit are juicy and flavorful. We have a good selection of other varieties as well. Seckel is known to be an excellent dessert pear – small in size but delicious in flavor.

Attention all growers of peaches and nectarines: the spraying time of year is upon us. That disfiguring fungus, Peach Leaf Curl, should be avoided. The recommended product for prevention is Liqui-cop. We offer it in several sizes including a ready-to-spray container that you can attach to your hose. Try to spray twice during the dormant season; the most important is that just prior to bud opening.

The popularity of roses does not seem to lessen – check out our selection of old and new varieties. A gorgeous older climbing rose is’ Don Juan’. The vivid red flowers have the added benefit of a delicious fragrance. ‘Golden Opportunity’ is a new climber to us this year. The cupped flowers dazzle in bright shades of golden yellow. ‘Distant Drums’, a floribunda variety, has intriguing coloration.

We can expect more than a few cloudy, chilly days the next couple of months. We suggest planting some cheerful flowers of the season. A type of African daisy, Osteospermum, is a great pick. New colors appear every year. A noteworthy addition is the double form. The plants are generally considered to be perennial – however they prefer cool weather for flowering but hold on during the hot summer.

Another great perennial for this time of year is Erysimum. There are many forms of this genus including a native variety. These days we are promoting hybrids such as the Sunstrong series. Currently in stock are Sunstrong orange and violet. This is their time to bloom and they add much needed color to the garden.

A handsome specimen of a Dracaena for your indoor landscape. This genus is seen in many forms and requires only minimal lighting. Our house plant selections vary from month to month. Currently in stock are the popular hanging Ceropegia (“String of Hearts”).

You can almost hear these sweet birds chirping at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero.

The native manzanita is a plant for all seasons but winter is the time for it to show off its delicate blossoms. The handsome, reddish bark only adds to its allure. And in addition to these attributes, bees and hummingbirds appreciate manzanitas as a source of food.

The holiday season is alive and well at at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. Wreaths are expected this week. We’d like to help you out with your shopping. You will find gifts for the gardener as well as for the non. Pictured below are a few suggestions.

A little rain, some warm days and you might be inspired to do a bit of winter planting. We are some of the fortunate ones – we can plant flowering annuals all winter long! Sweet smelling stock is quite addicting. Ornamental cabbages and kale tempting to taste. Violas and pansies are required.

We’ve adopted tons of plants from Australia and New Zealand – Grevilleas, phormiums, Eucalyptus, Bottle Brush and more. A lesser known evergreen shrub is Correa. Correa does well in the shade and it appears to be deer resistant. Several varieties exist including Wyn’s Wonder – a variegated shrub with deep rose flowers.

The Nordmann fir reigns supreme as the live Christmas tree of choice. These stately firs originated in and around Greece and the Caucasus. The trees grow over 30 feet tall and require regular water. We have Blue Spruce and “Charlie Brown” varieties – one such as the Deodar cedar that is well adapted to our climate.

Many bulbs are still available at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero, including the paperwhite Narcissus for forcing. A new supply of tulips has arrived. Daffodils always cheer us up in some of the darker days of winter.

We have California native plants and a book to go with them at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. It’s a great time to put them in the ground. The plants, not the book.

There is some concern for the commercial lettuce growers – everyone in the North County appears to be growing their own. There are some other vegetables to plant as well. Look for arugula, kale, onions and more. We have onion and shallot sets for sale. Don’t forget the strawberries.

The bareroot list is constantly being updated. If you are unable to come into the nursery, check out the website baylaurelnursery.com. There you will see all that is still available. Don’t put off ordering!

Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero will be closing early on Christmas Eve at about 1 pm. We’ll also be closed on the 25th and the 26th. We wish you all a very happy holiday!

It’s coming – the great Bay Laurel plant transformation. at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero we are getting ready for the Christmas trees and then hundreds of bareroot fruit trees in January. Later this month however, you can wander in for lots of berry plants, figs and pomegranates. We miss the bareroot strawberries but have jumbo packs available.

Winter vegetables are ready for planting at Bay Laurel Garden Center! Try six packs of broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Swiss chard, lettuce and lots more. Be a bit daring and go for some endive or escarole or radicchio in 4″ plants. Artichokes are available most of the year, now in 4″ and 1 gallons. Onion starts are here; California garlic should arrive later in the month.

Bulbs for spring, bulbs for forcing. New – the white Amaryllis belladonna (“Naked Lady”). They are just as tough as the pink ones and equally lovely. Ranunculus are perennial favorites and this year we have jumbo tubers – varieties include ‘Cafe’, Flamenco’ and more. ‘Cafe’ was planted in Joaquin’s planter box last year and wowed the crowd! For similar results, use premium soil and fertilize every two weeks. To store tubers for next year, keep them dry over the summer. If you want to force the Paperwhite Narcissus, the time to start is 6 to 8 weeks before Christmas.

This Miscanthus makes a very dramatic statement. There are many species included in the but ‘Yaku Jima’ is unusually outstanding, One of the many features is the late flowering when many garden plants have started to winterize. Other assets include low maintenance – cut back once a year. Water demands are relatively low. The flowing flower stems add grace and movement to the landscape.

Some excellent perennials are still in bloom at Bay Laurel Garden Center. The showy Coreopsis ‘Solanna Golden Sphere’ is one. One of the softest shades of the Garvineas is the pink variety. Should make a nice addition to a cut flower arrangement. Hollyhocks and Delphiniums are here in 4″ containers.

Native California plants are always in season. We have some handsome ‘Dr. Hurd’ manzanitas in stock at the moment at Bay Laurel Garden Center. ‘Dr. Hurd’ is one of the tallest manzanitas. After many years, as the lower leaves tend to disappear, you are left with this striking red/brown bark as a architectural feature.

Searching for colorful annuals for the shade? Try primroses. The varieties of this genus expand yearly. Currently, look for the variety ‘Primlet’. These adorable blossoms resemble tiny rose buds. Many colors are available. Another seasonable shade plant is Cyclamen. The red and white colors are quite fitting for the upcoming holidays.

The chill begins! Once again we offer sheets of row cover to protect your tender plants at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. The fabric can be used for several years. For low growing fruit trees it can serve as protection from the critters.

A reminder that our rose sale is still on at Bay Laurel Garden Center – 25% off all roses.

Our fall sale expands at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero! The bareroot season is fast approaching and we will need more room – thus the sale of our lovely roses. We have a great variety – hybrid teas, climbers, floribundas and tree roses. They are all 25% off. We still have the ongoing sale of fruit trees including citrus.

A faster way to enjoy the health benefits of broccoli – sprouting broccoli. ‘Baby Burgundy’ has tender green stems and dark sprouts. It grows quickly with high yields. Try it raw as a snack! Broccoli ‘Raab rapini’ is another sprouting variety. The flavor has been described as nutty, bitter and pungent. Place in boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes. Saute garlic in olive oil for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the raab, saute about 8 to 10 minutes and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

A very Southwest look at Bay Laurel Garden Center. These new containers look great with the metal agaves but will look equally stylish with some live green ones!

“Wood Hyacinths” (Hyacinythioides Hispanica) are lovely bulbs to plant in shade underneath trees or among perennials. Under the right conditions they can naturalize – they are known to reseed. We have pink and blue bulbs at Bay Laurel Garden Center. Plant them 3″ deep and about 6 ” apart. Also great for containers.

No better time to plant California natives than fall. An unusual offering is the salvia ‘Desperado’ in one gallon containers. This variety is extremely drought tolerant; it’s a hybrid of Saliva apiana and Salvia leucophylla. It grows about 4 feet with lavender blue spikes in spring reaching to 5 feet. Another gem on hand at Bay Laurel Garden Center is the Fremontodendron. This shrub can grow to 20 feet with stunning golden yellow flowers. Plant away from human activity as the small hairs on the plant are a skin irritant.

A new addition to our extensive house plant collection at Bay Laurel Garden Center is Monstera deliciosa variegata. The plant is included in the Philodendron family. These are generally easy care plants. This variety may need a bit more light due to its variegation.

A couple of attractive late blooming perennials are the white flowered Campanula ‘White Cloud’ for the shade and the sun loving aster ‘Purple Dome’. You’ll find lots of perennials still in bloom at Bay Laurel Garden Center. Examples include many salvias, Penstemon, and Osteospermum.

Garvineas are back. They’re the hardy version of the Gerbera daisy. The newest variety is named ‘Majestic’. This variety has a double center. We currently have yellow and pink at Bay Laurel Garden Center. In 4″ containers you will find the hot coral and dark pink. Garvineas are considered to be sun plants but they benefit from some afternoon shade in the hottest months.

The inevitable change of seasons is about to occur. And the advent of fall seems welcome after a very hot summer. We are ready to offer some great planting suggestions at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. It’s time to prepare for the bareroot season coming up. We start with the Fruit Tree Sale. We offer: 35% off all citrus and avocado trees – $35 for all 5 gallon apple, pear and stone fruit trees or 3 for $100. Also, 15% off fig, Jujubes, persimmons, multi-budded trees and 15 gallon fruit trees.

Fall vegetables have arrived at Bay Laurel Garden Center – those healthy, cool season varieties. For your planting pleasure you will find broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, lettuce, Swiss chard and more. For a good crop you seasoned vegetable gardeners know a rich, organic soil is the secret to success. We have the right stuff!

The fall bulb season typically begins with the German bearded iris. These little, somewhat shrunken tubers will bring forth colorful long lasting flowers. During this long life they only ask for some high phosphorous fertilizer and dividing every three or four years. This is a good time to do exactly that for your established plants.

It’s never too early to start planning your bareroot fruit tree order. You can find the current selections online at baylaurelnursery.com and our new catalog is available at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. Don’t forget berries, grapes and kiwis, plus lots of roses. Items only available at the garden center include tree roses and asparagus.

Here is a striking specimen of the Polygala shrub. One of our growers has turned it into a tree! This evergreen shrub is commonly called “Sweet Pea Shrub” as the purplish-pink flowers resemble sweet peas. Polygala will grow 3 to 5 feet tall. Prune heavily in early spring for the best appearance. A compact form of the plant also exists, reaching only 2 to 3 feet.

Carpenteria is a charming, native, evergreen shrub. These sprays of white flowers appear in June. Carpenteria is one of the most drought tolerant natives. It prefers afternoon shade and will grow 5 to 6 feet. We currently have 1 gallon plants, a rare occurrence. 5 gallons are also available. Why is the plant pronounced CarpenTERia and the city CarpinterIA?

You might be in need of a gift or unusual addition to your garden. Pictured is a rustic bird house. Remember to visit our Garden Gallery at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero – chock full of gift ideas.

Here is a rare and striking member of the genus Sansevieria – boncellensis. The most commonly known varieties often called ‘Snake plant’ have much thinner leaves. All the plants in this genus are known for their toughness. The easiest way to kill them is by overwatering. Check out our selection of unusual house plants at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero.