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.

Summer reminds us how great it is to have shade trees around us. We can enjoy their shade while also adding lovely flowers to the landscape. The Chitalpa tree is a great example. The orchid-like flowers perch atop slim green leaves. Chitalpas are grown with either multiple or single trunks. Their water needs are minimal. Other summer flowering trees at Bay Laurel Garden Center include Crape Myrtle, Albizzia (Mimosa) and Vitex.

You can choose some cool color combinations to aid in abating the heat. White is the classic choice. Try pairing it with blue. Here are a few plants to cool down your garden. In the shade – white Impatiens and begonias, blue Bacopa. Perennials for a sunny locale – white Penstemon, white flowered Tulbaghia (society garlic) and Gaura, blue salvia and Convolulus. It’s been a known trend to have an all white garden (Moon Garden). This can be particularly effective in the evening.

We have lately been able to secure “self watering” pots at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. These are known to be particularly beneficial to African violets. Our supply of house plants regularly changes. We have some truly unusual plants as well as the old favorites.

A cutting garden can be very rewarding. Here are a few suggestions – Alstroemerias and Lisianthus are both long lived cut flowers. Roses vary with variety. Other choices include Shasta daisies, Zinnias, Veronica, Dahlias. Our strong recommendation is a do-it-yourself preservative. One recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 of white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of bleach for every quart of WARM water. Dahlias have a special formula – immerse the stems in hot water for 30 minutes before arranging. Good fillers include Aster ericoides, Baby’s Breath and Statice. Leather leaf fern, bay leaves and Myrtus can provide the greenery.

Water – the crucial element for the gardener. Should I water early in the morning? In the evening? There may not be a right answer. But the challenge is keeping the water in the soil to hydrate the plants. Mulch certainly helps. We have several types. Another helpful product in time of excessive heat is shade cloth – we have some available in rolls. New plants are the most demanding. Water every day for at least two weeks – perhaps twice a day if the temperature is in the high nineties.

We have a couple of unusual perennials we’d like to highlight at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. Dicliptera (Uruguayan Firecracker) starts its bloom in July. The showy red-orange flowers last for several months, especially if the top blooms are removed after flowering. An added plus is its attraction to hummingbirds. The other plant, Glaucium (Orange flowered Horned Poppy) is totally new to us. The gray foliage is very unusual – we’ll wait to see about the flowers!

Figomenal is back! This is a great fig for containers. One advantage with container planting is the fact that gophers adore figs. The plant is very low growing and spreading and produces a crop of very tasty figs. We do also have a variety of other figs available at Bay Laurel Garden Center.

We have some great California natives in 4″ containers at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. Two of these are native milkweeds, Asclepias speciosa and A. fascicularis. Also in stock a variety of the native Salvia and Lepechinia fragrans. The latter benefits from some afternoon shade. Once established they should all be quite drought tolerant.

Here comes summer! Bay Laurel Garden Center is geared up for the season. Plant a Buddleja or two for yourself and the butterflies. Gorgeous colors – white, blue, lavender, fuschia and purple. Sizes vary as well from 3 to 8 feet. When the flowers are spent prune for a second bloom. Prune the plant heavily once year to prevent it from becoming woody.

Colorful annuals abound at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. We have a great variety of Zinnias. They have the capacity to bloom throughout the summer. ‘State Fair’ and ‘Benary’s Giant’ are wonderful cut flowers. Many of the smaller varieties are perfect container plants like the ‘Profusion’ zinnias in the picture.

As you sit in your cabana by the pool imagine a dish with your delectable, juicy tomatoes in an Italian sauce over a bed of your homegrown, low calorie Spaghetti squash. Add to that a bit of Basil and sweet Marjoram. The growing season for vegetables will soon be over, so do not tarry!

Our customers at Bay Laurel Garden Center are often seeking plants to act as screens. The most common candidates are privets, Photinias and oleanders. A plant we don’t see nearly often enough is the Jasmine ‘Revolutum’. This evergreen shrub can grow to 8 or 10 feet. It sports fragrant yellow bells in late spring. Another sturdy hedge is the native shrub Atriplex. It also grows 8 to 10 feet tall with silvery gray leaves. It is considered to be deer resistant.

What better place in which to spend your summer days than in the shade. Lamium is a choice plant for shade. The variegated leaves lead to flowers in an array of pastel colors – lavender, pink and white. Lamium is a perennial and grows only 3″ tall but will spread to over 1 foot wide.

The USDA has recently updated the climate map, generally bumping everyone up a warmer zone.. The actuality will most likely be decided by experimentation. Several plants such as Dodonaea (Purple Hopseed) were previously considered too tender for our area. We’re now hearing they do quite well. The question of chill hours for certain fruit trees is another matter. A chill hour is considered to be 45 degrees or less. We do have a lot of temperatures that low, so only time will tell if certain varieties get enough chill.

Everyone is quite used to calling Pelargoniums Geraniums. The former types are not considered to be frost hardy. The different species include zonal, ivy, regal and scented. A new introduction from Armstrong is the ivy Pelargonium ‘Caldera’. This closely resembles an older type, ‘Balcon’ with smaller flowers. These tend to be more heat resistant and to produce longer flowering stems. The actual Geraniums are very cold hardy; they are generally relatively lower growing. Currently at the nursery we have ‘Rozanne’ and ‘Tiny Monster’.

Some handsome faces to add a distinctive touch to your landscape at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. The Hydrangeas are in their full glory. Use them in the garden or in containers. They like water.

The garden beckons! It’s time to get ready for the next season and we are prepared to help at Bay Laurel Garden Center. You might want to start your planting with some impressive background plants. The burgundy Cotinus (smoke bush) is very popular for its striking color plus drought resistance. This shrub can grow to 20 feet or more but it’s quite prunable. We have, at this time, its polar opposite, Cotinus ‘Golden Spirit’. This relatively rare specimen’s bright chartreuse brightens up a shaded corner.

A welcome gift on Mother’s Day is a lovely bouquet of roses. It will last for two weeks if you’re lucky! A potted rose, however, will last for years. We just happen to have a great selection which includes many tree roses both patio size and taller. Hybrid shrub roses include Ingrid Bergman, Tropicana and many more. Julia Child is a lovely floribunda. The hybrid teas are great for cut flowers but the floribunda tends to bloom a bit more. Come in and smell the roses at Bay Laurel Garden Center!

Vegetable growers are filling up their carts at Bay Laurel Garden Center. Tomatoes and peppers are the most sought after. What to choose? Just a few of the sweet peppers you can plant – standard types include green, red, orange and purple – within that range are the small lunch box types. ‘Roumanian Rainbow’ is 4 to 5 inches long – the fruit ripens ivory, then turns orange and finally red. All three colors appear at the same time for a unique display You might try ‘Dragonfly’ – these 3″ thick-walled peppers turn from green to dark purple.

Some definitely like it hot! Check the Scoville chart by the vegetable rack at Bay Laurel Garden Center. It shows the Scoville units indicating the pepper’s hotness. ‘Carolina Reaper’ nears the top with Ancho/Poblano near the bottom. The pepper is called Poblano when green and great for stuffing, Ancho when red and dried.

A unique and exotic Azalea is ‘Double Cannon’. This isn’t exactly Azalea country but given shade and good drainage with an acid fertilizer you have a good chance for success!

A peek into the shade house at Bay Laurel Garden Center. The stately foxgloves are in bloom. We have a great variety of Heucheras (Coral Bells) – some varieties are grown for leaf color and other for the tiny bells. As they increase in size they can create a lovely display.

California natives are always desirable. Hurry on in to Bay Laurel Garden Center if you want to plant one of the showiest and least available shrubs – Dendromecon rigida. The bright yellow flowers remain on the plant for many months. Dendromecon requires good drainage and is extremely drought resistant.

The popularity of lavenders is totally understandable. Fragrant, colorful and deer resistant! The first types to show their faces are the Spanish varieties – Lavandula stoechas. We now have a variety of bloom colors to choose at Bay Laurel Garden Center from ranging from dark purple to pink.

Beware the tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris). This insect is most often found preying on the young fruits of the nectarine – sometimes peaches. It is necessary to spray the plant when the fruit is very young – perhaps twice a week – with a general insecticide, Use Captain Jack’s, Take down, etc. The insect will disfigure the fruit skin and cause it to be very undesirable.

We have lots of tough Euphorbias to fill your garden beds at Bay Laurel Garden Center. There are dark leaved varieties, variegated ones and ground covers. All come with a warning – do not let the sap get into your eyes!

What a lovely time of year this is! We gardeners are so anxious to get out in the garden. You might want to start your spring planting with some hardy shrubs. The rock roses (Cistus) are great candidates. They vary in size and color – flower colors are white and shades of pink.

It’s so reassuring to plant perennials that promise to return year after year. They’re just starting to fill up the bins at Bay Laurel Garden Center. Delphiniums are gorgeous plants in colors white to darkest blue. We stock them in 4″ plants, 6 packs, gallons and even have a few 12″ specimens. These plants seem to thrive in heavy soils but be on the lookout for earwigs!

The North County loves vegetables! Tomatoes top the list of desired plants. There are just too many varieties to be able to carry them all but we try to order the ones that are favorites. The old timers are Early Girl, Celebrity, Better Boy, Sweet 100 and Sungold. Juliet, Cherokee Purple, Black Krim and San Marzano also seem to have a following.

What’s happening in the shade house at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero? We have a striking new Heuchera from Monrovia. It’s named ‘Red Lightning’ and will surely light up your shady area! The leaf colors on these plants are ever expanding. The plain old green varieties sport charming bell flowers and also merit a place in your shade garden.

A jumbo pack of strawberries seem to go hand in hand with a cart full of vegetables. It’s hard to surpass home grown strawberries. Varieties include Seascape, Chandler, Sequoia and Albion. Although some are classified as everbearing they tend to peter out in the hot summers. A crop of delicious early berries is still worth the effort. We also have other berries in small quart pots including blueberries at Bay Laurel Garden Center.

Summer annuals brighten your borders and containers. Calibrachoas (million bells) are always a favorite. The color palette expands endlessly! We have hanging baskets of these lovelies or you can make up your own at Bay Laurel Garden Center. Check out the marigolds, petunias, sweet peas, Cleome, and nasturtiums among others.

New houseplants are arriving every week at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero. We have some handsome specimens. The fiddle leaf figs (Ficus lyrata) have been very popular – some of them require a very tall ceiling! We have lots of smaller plants for the more moderate consumer.

We’ve added some new items specifically targeted for hydroponic growers at Bay Laurel Garden Center. Most hydroponic enthusiasts tend to grow marijuana or tomatoes. However, some of these products contain bacteria and mycorrhizae which can be beneficial for any grower.