The colors of fall are on display! Trees we normally associate with fall color include Liquidamber, Raywood Ash, Chinese Pistache, all manner of Maples. To be included – Crape myrtle, Cotinus (Smoke Bush) Oak leaf Hydrangea, Nandina and yellow-leaved Pomegranates. Don’t delay ordering your bareroot fruit trees – we’re running out of plants quite early this year. To check on current availability go to baylaurelnursery.com.

The demand for vegetables and herbs is ongoing. Presently in stock many types of lettuce, sugar snap peas, red bok choy and Swiss chard to name a few. We expect more garlic, onion sets and shallots. The Spanish roja garlic will be available in 4″ plants. You can plant Calendulas and Violas to add a festive touch to your holiday meals.

The Salvia ‘Amistad’ has been extremely popular this year. We now have its relative ‘Amante’. This Salvia has bright dark pink flowers in contrast to the purple of ‘Amistad’. These varieties are among some of the taller Salvias and do best with some afternoon shade. A close relative of the ever-popular ‘Hot Lips” is ‘Amethyst Lips’.

A couple of reminders: it’s that time of year to plan the protection of your tender plants from the cold. We have row cover 10′ x 12′ which can be cut down to size. We also have a large roll if you need something really sizable. The deer are really hungry! We suggest spraying new plants with Liquid Fence even though they may be advertised as deer resistant. It’s good insurance.

The tables are filled with lots of color for the fall and winter season. We currently have 3 varieties of sweet peas in 6 packs – ‘Bijou Dwarf’, ‘Mammoth’ and ‘Incense’. In full bloom right now are 6 packs of Linaria. The multi-colored flowers resemble tiny snapdragons. Ornamental cabbages and kale can be found in various sizes.

The Senior Nutrition program (“Meals on wheels”) is a service providing meals to the senior and infirm in our community. At this time there is a serious shortage of drivers to provide this service. You can volunteer for as little as one day a month – the route usually take no longer than two hours. If you’re able to help out with this important community service, please call Liz at 805-466-2317.

Who is Wilma Goldcrest? And why should we care? I fail to find such a person, but this very attractive cypress has such a name. This dwarf variety of the lemon cypress is perfect for containers and small gardens. In five years it will only grow 8 to 10 feet tall. The chartreuse color makes a lovely accent among darker green plants.

Succulent planters make great gifts. But if you’re a creative sort you’ll find a very good selection of succulents and containers so you can design your own. Arriving this week is a new variety “Chocolate Ball”. I have not seen the plant yet – the pictures vary quite drastically so we’ll just wait and see! The flowers are yellow.

We had a rather serious shortage of ground covers earlier this year, but Armstrong Growers has stepped up to the plate and provided a much needed supply. We hope to fulfill your requests. Gaillardias have been around for a long time – but the red variety has just recently entered the scene. The plant is extremely vigorous – it thrives in heat and survives in frost. Arriving soon – large containers of Salvia ‘Mystic Spires’ and Dianthus ‘Rockin’ Red’, also some 8″ foxglove and snapdragons and in 4″ pots – Digiplexis – a rather splendid hybrid with a foxglove parentage.

You can now hold an actual 2022 Bareroot Catalog in your hands and peruse it at your leisure! There are just a few items that are unavailable – either because of pre-ordering or shortages from the grower. As always, we have a great selection, in part due to our mail order business. Feel free to order at any time. The tree roses are not included in the catalog since we do not ship them, but you can find the list here at the nursery.

Prime time for planting California natives is now! Choices include the Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri) – a very popular and stunning native perennial. Check out the manzanitas – the 15 gallon Dr. Hurd and Mt. St. Helena are expensive but impressive. We almost always have Howard McMinn on hand; the leaves are a bright shade of green and it’s considered one of the most garden tolerant varieties. Howard will grow about 4 or 5 feet tall.

Let’s hear a warm welcome for the annuals of fall and winter. The cast includes pansies, violas, Calendulas, snapdragons, stock, as well as our own native California poppies. The poppies are available in both 4″ and jumbo packs. The 4″ poppies are Copper Pot, exhibiting a darker shade of orange. You can wait till the prospects of rain are imminent and throw out lots of seeds as well. We’ll have a greater selection of fall seeds later in the season.

Check out the tables with 4 ” perennials. Some of the great bargains include the native Salvia, Salvia apiana (White sage) and a charming small Silene, Druett’s uniflora variegata. This plant has unusual white flowers in spring that appear to be encased in little balloons. The Silene grows about 2 to 4″ tall and 8 to 12″ wide. If you see any green shoots appear, be sure to remove them. As with many variegated plants the green can overtake the variegation.

Guaranteed – these deer will NOT eat your plants!

And not a strict guarantee, but it seems most plants in the sage family are also left alone. We just received this beauty – ‘Pink pong’. the plant will grow 2 – 3 ft. tall and wide. Bright pink flowers adorn this vigorous and free flowering Salvia. Other Salvia are available including the all time favorite, ‘Hot Lips’.

We just received some exquisite vases made in Nicaragua. They vary in size and design – would make great gifts – if you can bear to part with them!

Most all of the fall bulbs have arrived. New this year is the “Spider Lily”, Lycoris radiata. They are native to China and Japan. 1 1/2 foot tall stalks bear flowers in late summer or early fall. Plant in an area that will stay dry during the summer months or plant in containers and with-hold water in summer. Another new bulb is the daffodil ‘White Petticoat’ with an unusual open form in pure white.

Two varieties of strawberries are available in jumbo packs – Eversweet and Quinalt. In the vegetable department the hybrid Brokali returns. Asparagus plants are here in 4″ and 1 gallon pots. You can still plant lots of herbs including French tarragon.

Fall is on the radar and Bay Laurel Garden Center is preparing for its entrance. Petunias are rather passe at this point with a few exceptions. ‘Indian Summer’, aptly named, is a trailing variety with changing hues of yellow to orange to coral. The perennial fall standby, Chrysanthemum, is available in 4″ and gallon containers. We’ll have some 6 packs of Calendulas plus Primula for the shade to get your fall/winter garden started.

Grasses that embellish the season include: Pennisetum rubrum – “Purple Fountain Grass”. Although it may not survive the winters in the North County it’s showy enough to shine as an annual. Pennisetum ‘First Knight’ is a cold hardy, deciduous grass with blades reaching 4 to 5 feet in dark, almost black shades. And last, Anemanthele lessoniana , “Pheasant Grass”. The evergreen blades grow to about 3 feet and are green in summer changing to coppery tones in fall and winter.

Nepeta is a very popular genus here at Bay Laurel Garden Center. Nepeta cataria is the variety greatly enjoyed by our feline friends (cat mint). Ornamental varieties including ‘Six Hills Giant’ and ‘Walker’s Low’ are great garden plants – long bloom and low water needs. And now – Nepeta ‘Neptune’. This deciduous plant is more upright with darker flowers growing 12″ x 12″. Originally discovered in the Caucasus mountains of Russia as Nepeta kubanica, it underwent many years of selection to be come this garden worthy variety.

What could be more appropriate than a new Manzanita in these times? This one appears to be quite exceptional. It has the largest leaves of any low growing Manzanita. The rather long name is Arctostaphylos x media ‘Peter Ehrlich’. The growth habit is 2 to 3 feet tall and at lest 6 feet wide. Our selection of California natives at Bay Laurel Garden Center is always changing. Fall is a great time to plant them.

Fall bulbs are arriving slowly at Bay Laurel Garden Center: some Iris, Tulips and Daffodils. More should arrive soon. If you have Iris that are 3 or 4 years old, this is the time to separate them. Dig and divide the clumps by either pulling apart or cutting. Save the largest rhizome with healthy leaves. Trim the roots and leaves to about 6″. Allow the cuts to heal for a day or so. If replanting in the same area, be sure to replenish the soil with a good amendment.

Our bareroot website Fruit Trees Online is now open for orders that will ship in January, February & March next year. See what new this year at https://baylaurelnursery.com/new-fruit-trees-berries.html

Tomato plants starting to look a bit bedraggled? Get ready for the fall vegetable planting. Beef up your soil with the great organic amendments we offer at Bay Laurel Garden Center. Arriving this week: broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, lettuce, kale and more. We offer a new pea called “Snak Hero”. The slender 4″ long pods look like an ordinary green bean, but the taste and texture resemble a sugar snap pea. We’d love to hear how your summer vegetable garden performed – any great performers or any disappointments.

Two more additions to your fall garden. Rudbeckias are always popular, especially ‘Indian Summer’. The autumn shades are also extremely showy and great for the fall garden. A perennial we haven’t seen for many years is Aster ericoides ‘Monte Cassino’. This is a great filler for flower arranging – the tiny daisy flowers last a very long time. It’s also quite charming in the fall perennial garden.

Add this stunning perennial shrub to your collection for mid-summer to late fall bloom. This variety of hardy Hibiscus moscheutos is ‘Blackberry Merlot’. The dark red flowers can be as large as 8″ wide. The plant will die down completely in the winter but makes a quick recovery in late spring. For the largest flowers, it is recommended feeding the plants every 6 to 8 weeks during the growing season. Other varieties of hardy Hibiscus are called “Rose of Sharon”. These plants are deciduous but maintain their structure. The flowers are not as large and many can grow to 6 or 8 feet.

A rather exotic perennial is this ‘Angel Wings’ Senecio. Use it as an accent in a container or find a place for it in the garden. There’s no shortage of blooming plants at Bay Laurel! he Buddlejas (Butterfly Bush) have amazingly vivid colors. Check out the many types of Salvia. ‘Chapel Hill’ Lantana with its soft yellow flowers will bloom for many months. Lavenders, Yarrows, Gazanias etc. etc. etc.

Some of our most popular ground covers will be arriving soon. We expect Elfin, Woolly and Red Thyme. These are excellent choices for relatively small areas, including between stepping stones. Herniaria repens is also a great low growing plant that can take some abuse. For shady spots we have Vinca major and Vinca minor in both green and variegated forms. Erigeron (Santa Barbara daisy) was not available in full flats but it’s arriving in 6 packs.

Angelonia is one of the showiest annuals – sure to brighten up some spots downed by intense heat. They are available in dark purple, lavender and raspberry, also white and pink which are out of stock right now. Plants are in 4″ pots and 1 gallon sizes. They’re effective in containers as well as in garden beds. They’re often referred to as “summer snapdragons”. Height is about 18″. Deadhead to keep the blooms coming.

The shade house has some pretty cool offerings as well. A fancy Geranium, ‘Mrs. Pollock’, has interesting leaf markings and bright orange flowers. A spectacular annual is Strobilanthes (“Persian Shield”). Scented Geraniums have a following – the current variety here is Citriodorum.

A few tips to help reduce your water usage. Mulch! You can put down at least 4″ of mulch to help maintain soil moisture. We have 3 choices here – medium and micro bark and shredded cedar. If you have a lot of ground to cover you can order truck loads from a local seller or tree trimmer. The product “Soil Moist” is great for containers. We have a new product, EZ Wet. When the ground is extremely dry it can resist water. This product will enhance soil penetration.

An example of the colorful containers we recently received from Spain and Mexico. New tiles are in stock as well.

The latest in soil improvement, Jeff has begun producing “Black Diamond Veri-Compost Tea” with a state of the art machine. The tea works to add beneficial microbes and fungal matter to the soil very quickly. The product will be available this month the week of August 6th and August 20th. The tea must be ordered and paid for in advance. Cost is $10 per gallon. It is necessary to apply the tea within just a few days of purchase.

Conifer lovers take note – Oriental spruce for sale! These evergreen trees make excellent specimen trees. The needles are a rich, dark green. The tree produces purplish cones which appear as berries. Plant growth is moderate and form is pyramidal. The plants are very cold hardy and take a minimum amount of care.

Color the garden for summer. We have myriad delights to enhance your outdoor living. Two really popular plants: Dahlia and Agastache. We have an awesome variety of Dahlias including some of the giant flowered dinner plate types. There are smaller varieties with single flowers and dark leaves and doubles with both green and black leaves. One of our favorites is Black Dahlegria Apricot Tri-color. We have a rather good selection of Agastache as well. Colors vary from red to apricot to lavender to red. They have a rather pungent odor and should be resistant to deer.

Grasses are always a great addition to the landscape. Stipa ichu and Ampelodesmos (‘Mauritania Vine Reed) are both evergreen with thin, arching blades. The flowers differ greatly, however. Ichu has silky delicate silver wands, reaching about 4 feet. Ampelodesmos, on the other hand, has wheat colored, one sided flowers that can reach 6 or 7 feet. Its common name comes from a previous use; the leaves were used to tie together grapevines. Both add a dramatic touch to the garden.

Seems people have all but forgotten ‘Soil Moist’ so here’s a reminder as to what this amazing product can do. It’s a great way to save time and water, especially for your container plants. ‘Soil Moist’ granules can soak up to 200 times their weight in water and then slowly release the water for your plant roots.

Annuals that defy the heat – Vinca and Zinnia. Vincas abound in 6 packs, 4″ pots, gallons and hanging baskets. Cool new colors have been added. Besides the usual white, pink red and fuchsia now available are very interesting shades called ‘Tattoo Black Cherry’ and ‘Tattoo Papaya’. Zinnias differ in size as well as in color. Smallest is the ‘Starbright’ series with white, yellow and orange flowers. Next we have ‘Profusion’ reaching about 12″ creating bright mounds of color. ‘Dreamland’ and ‘Magellan’ are mid-size, about 18 to 24″ in height. Finally, the star – ‘State Fair’ on tall stems 3 to 4 feet.

We all anxiously await the first crop of juicy, luscious tomatoes. Perhaps you’re thinking there should be more tomatoes on the vine. Voila! a technical breakthrough. It comes in the form of an electric toothbrush! This wonder product mimics the movement of bees – a slight buzz on the flower will almost insure pollination. You can find examples on YouTube. I’m afraid Bay Laurel does not stock this item.

We’ve finally been able to acquire Dymondia – a tough, very low growing ground cover with variegated leaves and yellow daisy-type flowers. It should be planted about 12″ apart. Water requirements are quite low. In addition to various ground cover flats, we have 4″ and 6 pack varieties suitable for small areas like ‘Betty Rollins’ Oregano and for the shade Golden Oregano. Erodium with white or pink flowers is available in 6 packs. Lime Thyme can form an attractive bright chartreuse accent to your plantings.

Groovy hats for sun protection.

We are pleased to announce the availability of Garvineas in 4″ pots. These Gerbera hybrids are great in containers and bloom from spring through fall. Other great finds in 4″ containers include one the most drought tolerant California natives, Salvia apiana. We have a new Scabiosa with giant white flowers. Several varieties of Lavender are available plus Gazanias, Echinacea and Rudbeckia.

One might think Cistus (Rock Rose) is a California native as well as it does in some of our severest situations. Cistus is actually a Mediterranean plant. We have a good supply at the moment – low growing salvlifolius to purpureus, 5 feet tall and wide. Of course there’s always a place for California natives. Penstemon ‘Margarita Bop’ is one of the showier species. For sturdy, permanent plantings, go to the Manzanitas, Toyon and Coffee Berries.

The Buddleias or “Butterfly Bush” has been extremely popular this season. And for so many reasons! They come in an array of many colors – dark purple, lavender, fuchsia and white. Additionally, they emit a very sweet fragrance. There are a wide range of sizes available. Two of the taller varieties are ‘Black Knight’ and ‘Royal Red’. Both have arching stems growing 6 to 8 ft. long. The ‘Buzz’ plants have flowers in sky blue, velvet and hot raspberry with heights of 3 to 5 feet. ‘Miss Molly’ and ‘Miss Violet’ grow to 4 or 5 ft. ‘Pugster’ is the dwarf of the bunch reaching only 2 to 3 feet with flowers pink, amethyst, periwinkle and white.

One of the really popular Zinnias is ‘State Fair’ and unfortunately they have been basically unavailable in 6 packs. The almost identical one is ‘Benary’s Giant’. These, however, are only sold as 4″ plants. We do have a pretty good replacement for ‘State Fair’ in 6 packs called ‘Zesty’. The plants are not as tall, 18 to 24″ but they have very large, colorful flowers and should be good for cutting.

Vegetables and herbs are still available – the supply a bit more limited as the planting season for summer is almost over. This week we expect a variety of sweet peppers – red, yellow and orange, including some of the small, ” lunch box” type. We have finally been able to acquire the grape tomato ‘Juliet’ which has a large following. ‘Stupice’ is a small, great tasting tomato which fruits very early and produces for a long time. Look for starts of melons, pumpkins and squash.

It seems we have lots of gourmet cooks in our midst – herbs have been selling furiously! Basil most certainly tops the list. Parsley and chives are also much sought after. Tarragon is popular but we can only find it occasionally. The most decorative variety of Thyme is the variegated lemon; we also have plain lemon plus English and French. Lime Thyme can also be used as an attractive ground cover. Doesn’t everyone have Rosemary?

Amongst our roses you will find two charming ones with clusters of small, bright red flowers. ‘Red Ribbons’ is a ground cover type, 24″ to 30″ tall with a spread of 5 to 7 feet. The flower clusters contain small 2″ double ruffled bright red flowers. The disease resistant rose has glossy, dark green foliage. A new variety from Monrovia, ‘Grace ‘N Grit’ is an upright shrub rose, It is advertised to endure a long, hot summer with unwavering blooming zeal! This disease resistant rose is grown on its own roots and is considered to be self-cleaning – no deadheading!

Maximize your plants! Treat them to some nurturing fertilizer. ‘Ferti-lome Blooming and Rooting’ will help produce abundant flowers. Use organic and organic-based vegetable food for a bigger, better crop. Green up those yellow leaves with iron or nitrogen and add some acid food for your blueberries. Don’t forget to indulge your roses every 6 weeks. You will be surprised at the improvements!

Dahlias are here! Lots of colors, including bi-colors and many with dramatic, dark leaves. Expect them to bloom for the season – keep dead heading. and feeding. Most will return next year unless you have heavy soil. Then it’s best to remove the tubers and keep in a dry, cool place to avoid rot. A new and unusual variety is ‘Mega-Bloom Berry Blast’. A tidy, well-branched plant topped with massive blooms for a dense display. A perfect fit an 8″ container or larger.

Chilopsis is a lovely native shrub. It will eventually reach 15 to 20 feet tall. The small, colorful flowers are similar to cattleya orchids. In time it will develop shaggy bark and a twisting trunk. It can be pruned to enhance a picturesque shape. Our native selection changes weekly. In time of drought, what better things to plant?

A new rather elegant bird feeder. We also carry humming bird feeders. Other aids to help the wild creatures – native milkweeds for the Monarch butterflies and a handout with information for bee friendly plants.

Can’t take the heat? Step into the shade house. View the Hydrangeas, ferns, Heucheras (Coral Bells) and more. Atop the tables you’ll find Coleus in 4″ pots and 6 packs, Begonias, Impatiens, Ipomoeas (Sweet potato vines) in two colors plus Pelargoniums (Geraniums). What used to be called ‘Martha Washington’ Geraniums has been revised to ‘Regal’. A new variety arriving this week is called ‘Pinkerbell’.

The changing palette of California native plants. We have blooming perennials including the Penstemon ‘Margareta Bop’ discovered at the Las Pilitas Nursery in Santa Margarita. The brilliant colors make it a local favorite Mimulus ‘Eleanor’, at sub-shrub growing 2 – 3 feet tall, has buttery yellow flowers with white margins and orange markings. It is attractive to bees and butterflies. We also have a good selections of manzanitas and a few California redbuds, plus some Salvia Apiana compacta. This salvia is one of the most drought resistant of all salvias.

Strawberries have been incredibly popular this season and we’ve had a great selection with many varieties. They include Sequoia, Albion, Seascape, Chandler and Elan – one of the newer varieties for us. The plants are very vigorous, producing many runners and the medium sized, conical berries are particularly sweet. They are considered ever-bearing, producing fruit from June to frost. Also great for hanging baskets.

Be sure to keep the crown of the plant above soil level; also provide good drainage. Sow bugs and slugs consider the fruit a treat: ‘Sluggo Plus’ is an excellent preventative. Birds can also be a problem: cover with netting or chicken wire. To avoid rotting fruit, lay down a layer of straw or plastic. You will find your home grown berries above and beyond any store bought strawberries!

It’s been a bit of struggle to obtain ground covers this year, but things seem to be improving. For sunny areas we have flats of ice plant and rosemary. Elfin thyme is available in 6 packs – It’s a very compact, tight growing variety of thyme. Woolly thyme is low growing but more spreading than the elfin variety. Shade ground covers include both minor and major Vinca. The major variety is great if you have a very large area to cover. Also here is the variegated Vinca minor – a bit showier than the all green ones and good for smaller areas. Ajuga is also suitable for smaller areas and provides lovely blue flowers in the spring.

What’s happening in the shade house at Bay Laurel Garden Center? On the shelves you will find mostly colorful annuals including Bacopa, Coleus, Ipomoea (Sweet potato vine), Begonias and Impatiens. These annuals should bloom throughout the summer. The few hardy perennial plants to be found are tuberous Begonias, Heuchera (Coral Bells) and Astilbe. Pelargoniums (Geraniums) can often be overwintered, depending on the winter temperatures and their location (sheltering helps). A very showy Alstroemeria with red flowers and variegated foliage can jazz up your containers.

A few suggestions for Mother’s Day May 9th

Protection from gophers is indispensable unless you are among the rare few who have escaped their wrath. We can offer three choices. The first, flexible mesh, is the easiest to use. These are the only type that offer 4″ baskets as well as 1 and 5 gallon. The least expensive, pieces of chick wire you put together yourself, can protect 1, 5 and 15 gallon plants. The “Root Guard” baskets are state of the art – they are stronger and more durable – also for 1, 5 and 15 gallon plants.

Vegetables and herbs are flying out the door! We finally received some lemon cucumbers. We have lots of tomatoes – the tried and true including Celebrity, Early Girl and Better Boy. Then there’s Chocolate Sprinkles and French Piglet Black Cherry. One gallon vegetables have been quite popular to speed up the season. We’ll keep adding to the mix whenever plants are available.

New plants stakes from a local artisan. They change monthly so stop in and see what we have at Bay Laurel Garden Center.

The essence of summer – the sunflower and back with us this year is ‘Sunfinity’. The plant, which is pollen free, grows to 3 or 4 feet, and the blooms are excellent for cutting. ‘Sunfinity’ has a very long bloom season, and you can plant it in a container or in the ground. We also have some Monrovia ‘Sunbeleivable’ from time to time as well as the 4″ Titan variety – the really tall one. We’ll hope for additional varieties as the season progresses.

Among the many glories of spring – flowering trees. We have some lovely specimens of cherries, crabapples and plums. Of course, fruiting trees also have their beautiful blossoms. We potted the fruit trees that remained from the bareroot season and have brought in some additional varieties. New this week, compact blueberries that make perfect container plants. Don’t forget the acid potting soil.

Have you noticed those tiny fruits on your peach and nectarine trees? If so, it’s time to prevent the Tarnished Plant Bug (Lygus lineolaris) from defacing the adult fruit. Several options include the insecticide Monterey’s ‘Take Down’ and horticultural oil. Nectarines seem to be the most susceptible. Apple blossoms will appear next and with them the coddling moths. Traps can be used to detect them and if you have only one or two trees this may eradicate them. Otherwise we recommend using the above mentioned remedies.

Summer annuals are slowly arriving – the usual petunias, marigolds, lobelia plus some more unusual items as Nicotiana, Queen Anne’s Lace, Godetia, Linaria and Lisianthus. The shade house is looking particularly colorful. You will find ‘Ruby Slipper’ Coleus, zonal and ivy geraniums plus Fuchsia ‘Autumnale’ – a variety with colorful leaves and two shades of Bacopa.

We were fortunate to have a successful bareroot season. The unsold roses have been potted up but we receive many requests for other varieties. Therefore, we are currently trying to supply the demand. If you have a rose on your list, let us know and we’ll see if it’s available.

The desire for native California plants grows every year. Manzanitas are always at the top of the list. This year we have one of the largest selections of 15 gallon plants ever. The varieties include ‘St. Helena’, ‘Louis Edmonds’ and ‘Sentinel’. You’ve undoubtedly noticed the glorious blooms on the Ceanothus. These plants can be somewhat short lived, but they are nevertheless really worth if for their spring show.

Have you ever seen a friendlier sun?

The world of succulents is gigantic. We stock lots of different varieties. Shown here is Sedeveria ‘Jet Beads’. The plant is a cross between Sedum and Echeveria. It’s great for containers – the leaves turn a copper color in the winter. Aside from container planting. we also carry six packs of ground cover types with varying shades of flowers – yellow, white, pink. All quite drought tolerant.

Wow! We have a lot of vegetable gardeners around these parts. Tomatoes and peppers rank high on the desirability list. For herbs, basil and parsley. But you will also see squash, cucumbers, corn, beans and much more trickling in week by week. Also arriving, many gallon tomatoes for the impatient tomato lover. Included are the newest hybrids – ‘Marriage’ tomatoes. These are two crosses of heirloom varieties. The advantages include improved vigor, earlier and greater production.

Time to say farewell to another bareroot season. The few remaining fruit trees will be potted up. Still available are several figs, pomegranates and shade trees. The roses are newly situated in biodegradable containers ready to be planted. It’s almost time for “Lady Banks” roses to put on their show. They only bloom in spring but it’s spectacular! Flowers in yellow or white. Later in the season we will be adding additional varieties.

Vegetable starts are always in demand and the supply changes constantly. We have started to carry some summer varieties with a warning to protect them from the cold; we’re still experiencing some freezing temperatures which make peppers, tomatoes and basil extremely unhappy! Currently in stock, 3″ Seascape strawberries. Strawberries are extremely popular and we’ll bring them in whenever they’re available.

Some tips from two of our in-house gardeners: Joaquin Gardens in Santa Margarita. His basic method is Perma-culture. The following is his recipe for super vegetables. 5 – 15% bone meal, for nitrogen; 5 – 10% bat guano, blood meal or chicken manure; 5% kelp meal; 10% or more earthworm castings; 3 – 5% humic acid; and 5 – 15% oyster shell (calcium). He’s had great success with a method called “hugelkultur” which originated in Austria. This method has been very successful growing squash varieties. The basic premise is to build a mound on top of rotting wood. Check out the article at https://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/many-benefits-hugelkultur .

Jeff does his gardening here at the nursery in containers. He’s had great results using “smart pots”. These fiber based containers are known for promoting excellent root growth. His soil preferences are bales of “Raised Bed” planting mix or “Formula 420”. He incorporates Vermi-compost and Dr. Earth Vegetable fertilizer throughout the season.

Native California plants are always an important section of the nursery. We have lots of the basics – coffee berries, manzanitas and Ceanothus. The lovely blue flowers of the Ceanothus are about to bloom. These gorgeous plants are not always terribly long-lived but they make an excellent accent in the garden. We currently have some Ribes sanguineum ‘King Edward VII’, deciduous shrubs which do well with a bit of shade. The perennial Eriophyllum lanatum ‘Siskyou’ features gray leaves and bright yellow flowers.

Don’t to forget to plant summer blooming bulbs. We still have some lovely dahlia tubers. Shown here one of the most fragrant of all bulbs – tuberose. Next to it, “Gladiolus orchids” a diminutive variety of the old fashioned Gladiola – we have some of those as well.

We’re gradually restocking the nursery. The bins will soon be filled with trees, shrubs and perennials. Coleonemas are popular spring blooming shrubs. A bit hard to detect in the picture are three different varieties. The most common is Coleonema pulchrum which grows to 5 or 6 feet. The smaller one is C. pulchrum compactum. This plant grows about 3 feet tall. The remaining variety is C .’Sunset Gold’. The leaves are a much lighter shade of green, almost chartreuse. These plants are not the deer’s favorite; at this point we are hesitate to say many things are deer resistant; the deer have recently expanded their palates!

Metal flowers are back. Folks just love ’em.

Gelsemium sempervirens has been a big seller. Aside from the vibrant yellow flowers which bloom in early spring, it’s one of the few evergreen vines that do well in the North County. Solanum jasminoides is another alternative. Star jasmine (Trachylospermum) also fits the requirement but does best with some afternoon shade.

Our artistic employee, Mick, is responsible for the charming cards on display. He’s taken many of the photographs here at the nursery. Add your own greeting inside. The cards are on sale for $4.95.

Last chance for bareroot roses. We still have some beauties left – shrubs including Abbaye de Cluny, Liv Tyler and Yves Piaget plus a great selection of tree roses. Amazing how early these plants start to leaf out. And if you haven’t already done so, be sure to prune your existing plants. Open them up and trim off the smallest branches and as soon as they start to show a couple of inches of growth, treat them with some hearty fertilizer. We have several brands available.

Our parched land has finally been hydrated! What a boon for gardeners. (some of the unfortunate aspects of the deluge are also recognized.) The planting opportunities are numerous. Start with spring blooming shrubs. A few of the earliest include Flowering Quince, Lilac and Forsythia. One of the loveliest of perennials is Helleborous. We have some exquisite dark flowered plants in 2 gallon containers and also 1 gallons.

Vegetables? We have a terrific supply. They have arrived in forms old and new. Plant lettuce, brokali, spinach, kale and pink raddichio. Add some tasty herbs to the mix – thyme, rosemary, parsley, chives and more. Beef up your soil with Bumper Crop, add a bit of Vermi-compost and wait for the spring harvest. You might want to start seeds for spring planting. We have bags of seed starter and bio-degradable pots for that very purpose.

Bedding plants add color and delight to the garden. We just brought in bunches of them for your gardening pleasure. We have Iceland poppies, calendulas, snapdragons and of course a great selection of pansies and violas. Be sure and check out the English primroses in the shade house. New this year are the Italian Ranunculus and Anemones. These varieties are known for their large flowers and extended bloom.

We continue to tout the virtues of Garvinea – the hybrid version of the Gerbera. Right now we have a couple of dozen on hand. The flowers are not as large as the typical Gerbera, but they are durable! They withstand frost and bloom for many months. They make great container plants.

A crazy season for bareroot. We are almost out of all fruit trees. Nuts remain. We have some excellent walnut trees – Chandler, Franquette and Pedro and the self fertile almond, All-In-One. The pistachio trees have just arrived. The male (non-bearing) is able to pollinate a harem of up to 10 to 15! We will have more berries, including blueberries in containers later in the season.

A reminder about plants tied to stakes. Be sure to remove the ties that the growers have very tightly attached to your plant. Remove totally if staking is not required; otherwise, re-tie the plants more loosely. It’s much better for the plant to gain strength with some movement. Also, the tie areas can be more susceptible to insect invasions.

It’s the Grevillea time of the year. These tough, very useful plants from the down-under are about to begin their northern hemisphere bloom. Two of the newer varieties are Grevillea juniperini ‘Lava Cascade’ and Grevillea lavandulacea ‘Penola’. The first specimen makes a great flowing ground cover. The plant grows to about 2 feet tall and 6 to10 feet wide with coral-red flowers. ‘Penola’ has gray green needle-like leaves with deep red buds opening to rosy pink, red and cream flowers. The plant will reach 3 to 4 feet tall and 5 to 8 feet wide. These are both excellent plants for the winter garden plus they are evergreen and look quite reputable all year long.