Newsletter for October 2026
Fall is for planting – the ideal time of year before the rains arrive. Native California plants are particularly amenable to fall planting. We have a great selection of manzanitas at Bay Laurel Garden Center in Atascadero from the tallest, ‘Dr. Hurd’ to ‘Howard McMinn’ (5 to 6 ft.) to the shortest, ‘Emerald Carpet’ ground cover. Also available are some handsome 5 gallon plants of Rhamnus ‘Leather Leaf’.
The genus Nepeta (cat mint) is a very useful one for the North County. Its attributes include deer resistance, low water needs and long blooming time. The variety pictured is ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ offered through Proven Winners. The features that distinguish this are the more upright and floriferous flower stems.
Fall vegetables have arrived at Bay Laurel Garden Center – we’re waiting for the fall weather! You might be interested in a few of the more unusual varieties, Broccoflower is also known as Romanesque broccoli. It’s a cross between broccoli and cauliflower with a bright green color and taste similar to cauliflower. Broccoli raab or Rapini has long stems with small buds and a mild bite. It’s very popular in Italy.
Hand in hand with vegetables are the various herbs available. For a bit of fall color try Bronze fennel. The plant is infused with a licorice-anise flavor and the leaves can be used in salads and soups among other uses, Borage is extremely ornamental with blue or white flowers. The blooms can be used in salads or as tea and the plant is an excellent pollinator.
Almost all of the fall bulbs have arrived at Bay Laurel Garden Center. A couple of less familiar varieties are well suited to shady areas. Leucojum or Giant Snowdrops has small white bells and blooms a bit later than most. We also have blue and pink Wood Hyacinths (Hyacinthoides). These fragrant nodding bells are perched above 1 foot stems. They can be grown in containers as well as in the ground.
Are you ready for the fall holidays? Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. The second holiday is popular in Mexico to honor the dead. Many homes erect small alters (ofrendas) and decorate them, often using the orange Marigold. It is thought that the fragrance will help lead the dead back to their homes.
We have just a couple of these gorgeous Begonias at at Bay Laurel Garden Center. They are among a select few flowering house plants. Additionally you might like Spathiphyllum or “Peace Lily” with its white spathe-like flowers. Another candidate is Anthurium; with flowers in orange, red and pink. The leaves are also quite attractive when flowering is over.
October is unofficially Sweet Pea Month. This is a great time to plant these fragrant annuals in 6 packs or with seeds. This will give them a head start for their spring bloom. There are many varieties to choose from; the taller varieties need support but the shorter ones like ‘Bijou’ are self-supporting and make good container plants.
The bareroot catalogs have arrived! You will find lots of the old standards plus a few new items. A new Asian pear is ‘Korean Giant’. Also new is ‘Desert Gold’ a clingstone peach people find desirable for canning. There’s some useful information inside. Drop by and pick one up!
