Newsletter for January 2025

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.