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   Winter tips for house plants:
   
Do not fertilize, most house plants are taking a break now also.
     Misting is enjoyed by plants, dry indoor heat draws moisture away from plants. A tray with pebbles and a small amount of water underneath will greatly benefit your plants.

Winter Garden View
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Winter Grass
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Winterberry, Ilex at Longwood
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Chamberlain Acres Perennial Nursery
Weblog
 
 
 

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Flowering this week.
   I figured I would list some of the flowers that are in bloom, in the garden as well as plants that are in the nursery. It can work as a good reference point for all of us next year to compare where things are in comparison to this year.
   The dogwood trees have been blooming for about 2 weeks now. The alliums are starting to bloom now, as well as the bleeding hearts, Solomon seal, forget me nots, primrose, a few daffodils still, azaleas, rhododendron is starting, native azalea is almost finished. I believe that may be it for the yard. The pollen from the spruce's this year was terrible. The driveway is still a yellow green from it.
   In the nursery the creeping phlox is blooming, so isn't Red Fox veronica, some gauras (whirling butterflies), Johnny Jump Ups, burgundy gallardia is close to flowering, bleeding hearts and the huechera's are starting.
   Ahhh...the sun is really shining now. We had a nice rain all of yesterday, a good soaking gentle rain. Temperature should be 66 today and chance of showers this afternoon. Time for me to get out there and get started. Take care!
6:11 am est

Monday, May 12, 2008

Great start.
  We had a great weekend and wish to thank everyone for making that possible. It was nice to see some familiar faces from last year and so many new ones. We hope that everyone enjoyed themselves as well and found what they were looking for. Not many people mentioned or used their discount that they were sent. We do this for your benefit and as a loyal customer or loyal website reader we want to show our appreciation. If you haven't joined the website, please do. We wish to show or appreciation from time to time by sending out some sort of discount or advanced notice on something we feel may be of interest to you. Again, Thank You to everyone, its time for me to get back to the garden.  
6:06 am est

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Frost
   We've had frost the last two mornings. I say its time for that to quit. Plants have been covered so they are fine. I started my squash seeds yesterday for my garden, along with cukes. I'm sure these will greatly benefit the wildlife like they have in the past. My part to save the wildlife I guess. I look forward to the veggie garden as much as I do the other gardens. Its always fun to see what I can keep from the animals and enjoy myself. I have plenty of tomatoes this year so I should get a few for myself. Lilacs are getting ready to flower and the peonies are growing strong. My daffodils left a lot to be desired this year. I will have to plant more and see what happens. The suns now up and it should warm up soon. Time for me to get busy. Lots to do before we open. Weeds keep growing.
5:29 am est

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Open soon
   We are hoping to be open the weekend of Mothers day. We would like to open on Friday the 9th of May. This date is not set in stone yet so please watch for more information.
   There has been a lot to do before opening. The gardens that will be out back will not be in before we open. These will go in this summer as time allows. It will be nice planning that garden. It will be the first time that I will have most of the plants that I want for a garden available all at once.
   I  think the plants are doing well, and I am excited to be opening. I believe we should have something for everyone. This has been a fun journey so far and I am looking forward to everyone out there making it even more fun. Please if you don't see something you want, let me know. I can only be successful if I can make you happy. To do that I need to know what it is that you are looking for. I hope to see all of you the weekend of the 9th.
8:21 pm est

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Shrubs
   An order of shrubs is due to arrive today. It is the perfect time to plant trees and shrubs. I had ordered some winterberry to plant myself. Winterberry is the plant that I had mentioned before that I had seen at Longwood. Beautiful red berries in the fall that last into winter. Great plant that I am excited to plant and watch grow. 
   Our wonderful spring weather temperatures have been low 20's in the morning to 60 in the afternoon. The extremes of spring can be hard on plants. They have a tendency to put on new growth that can be damaged if it gets to cold. So far I have not noticed this but I do want the drastic changes to end. I am trying to get the greenhouse plants used to no heat. I cannot turn off the heat for good if the temperatures drop so low at night.
   I intend on starting some of the plants for the veggie garden today. Our last frost date is the end of May. I have found in the past that usually there are no frosts after the first of May. I try and cheat each year by trying to get the garden started in that first week. If a frost is forcast I just cover the plants for the night. 
   Well I guess I should get outside and get to work. Hope everyones gardening is going well, even if it is just cleaning up. Take care!
   
7:42 am est

Monday, April 7, 2008

Spring Like
   The weather yesterday was great, in the low 60's. The rest of the week looks almost as good. It's a great week to start transitioning some of the plants from the greenhouse to cold frames. I'm trying to get them ready for the great outdoors. Most of the plants started from seed are really taking off now, the increased daylight is really helping with that. Crocuses seem to be appearing around town now. It is nice to hear the birds and see some growth of plants. It is also time to start cleaning up around plants in the garden before they put on to much growth. Grasses should be cut back so as not to harm new growth. Its a great time to plant shrubs and trees now also. I have a few plants that I want to move and will be doing that also. The extra rain in the spring helps the plants adjust before they put on a lot of growth. Well it's time to hit the greenhouse. Take care!
5:45 am est

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

April
   Wow, we finally made it to April. The first day of April and the temperatures are supposed to be in the 60's even. It seems that it has been a long winter. I did notice a crocus yesterday starting to open. The buds of the trees and shrubs are starting to show more of a sign of growth too. I can't wait till I can start planting things in the ground. I have soil under my nails now but that is from transplanting things in the greenhouse. I long to be digging in the real soil. Right now if one were to dig outside they would be digging in mud. I think we have reached the mud season. The seaon when the snow has melted, ground is thawing and we get lots of rain. Thank goodness this season does not normally last that long.
   Anyway, lots growing in the greenhouse and many more plants on the way. These are plants both for the nursery and for myself. I'm looking forward to starting the new gardens outback. I've been designing in my head. Hopefully the garden will somewhat resemble what I picture. Well the sun is up and I need to start my day. Take care!
6:12 am est

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Question about Bonsai
   I was recently asked a question about Bonsai, I have copied my response and will add it here so that everyone may see it. I hope it may help others if they need it. If there is anything that I have left out that anyone else knows about please let me know and I will post it too. I am not an expert in this area but this is the small amount I know about the subject.
   The question was that they were looking for potting soil and fertiliser for their bonsai because it was not looking well and did I have any ideas that may help. This was my response:
   Hi there,
Sorry but we do not carry these type of products but maybe I can offer a little help. I am not an expert but what I have read and or learned in the past is that you can use a general type potting soil to repot your plant. One that is well draining is the best. As far as fertilizer goes an all purpose fertilizer like Osmocote can be used. This is a granulated fertilizer that can be mixed in the soil. This will fertilize the plant for a few weeks to a few months. Read the label to be sure how long it will last. A fertilizer that is water soluble like Peters can be mixed and given as water to the plant for a quick fix. This has to be repeated often during the summer. I was once told by a botanist that if you have plants outdoors(in pots) a mixture of Peters made half strength and watered to the plant every time you water will work great. I do this myself now and it does work well. Only feed your plant from spring thru summer.
   Hope this helps some. I know that a lot of the bonsai plants bought at Christmas time do not last that long in our homes. Most people either over water (yellowing leaves) or under water (brown leaves). These plants when bought are usually stressed from the conditions they are displayed in at the store and take a lot out of the plant. I hope some of this may help. I know Lowes sells soil (maybe even Bonsai type soil) and they sell the fertilizers I have mentioned. Good luck and if I can be any more help please let me know.
7:16 am est

Monday, March 24, 2008

Cold Mornings
   I must say that I am ready for the cold mornings to go away. Actually I am now ready for all the cold to go away. Sixteen degrees is a little to cold for this time of year I think. At those temperatures it is a bit more work to try and keep the greenhouses warm. I say greenhouses because we put up a temporary greenhouse to accommodate some plants. I am not sure if I mentioned this the last time I posted here. This greenhouse is 12 x 40 and it is pretty much full sun. I believe I have stated before that greenhouse growing is much different than growing something in your window or garden. I never thought that the greenhouse would stay as humid as it does. This is just one of the challenges that greenhouse growing presents. It has been fun and I must say I have learned a lot about growing things this way. I prefer to garden outside.
  I have also been slowly trying to get some of the perennials cut back and some of the beds cleaned up. Soon it will be time to replenish some of the mulch. The deer have found the garden again so it is also time to start putting out my deer deterrent. The birds are back and hearing and seeing them make yard work so much more enjoyable. Well I see the sun is now up, so time for me to get to work. I will try and update this more often if I get the time. Take care.
5:57 am est

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Almost Spring
   Almost spring and almost Easter. I have noticed bulbs starting to send up their green shoots now. It will be nice to see some flowers. We put up a temporary greenhouse to hold some of the plants that we will have for sale this spring. It has been busy. Things are looking good. I'll be glad when I can plant a few of these things for myself. I am excited to start the new gardens. I have been cutting back some of the perennials that weren't cut back in the fall. The grasses are a good thing to do that to now. Robins are back and I hear more birds singing every morning. I also start to get up earlier because I like to go out and work early in the morning. Usually by this time most mornings (7 AM) I am already in the greenhouse.
Well I should get out there now. I need to check the heat and make sure things are watered. I just wanted to let everyone know that I still do check on the site and think about it. Hope all is well with everyone and I hope to see you all in spring here at the nursery.
6:14 am est

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Springs coming
   Well thats what the calender says at least. Temperatures still seem a little cool to me. My nephew did say he saw two robins in the yard the other day.
   After our ice storm this past weekend it is hard to think about spring. The ice is pretty much gone now and there are a lot of trees in the area that have suffered some damage. There is a cedar here that I am not sure if it will return to its former state. The tree was bent literally over and the top of the tree was touching the ground. One can only hope for the best at this time. 
   The greenhouse is showing lots of life. The plants get bigger everyday and it seems there is less room all the time. More plant starts will be arriving soon and there are more seeds to plant. I am looking forward to working outside.
   I am forever impatient waiting for spring. I took a little walk around the yard and looked at things yesterday. The buds on a lot of trees and shrubs are swelling. The maples are always the first I notice it on. If you look along the edge of the road when driving now it appears that the tips of the trees are redder. This is usually the buds of new leaves starting to swell. I can't wait. It's always exciting and suspenseful to see how things that you've planted in the past are doing.
 
6:31 am est

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Busy, busy, busy!
   Been busy planting and working in the greenhouse. Things are growing well. Somethings are growing great. Can't wait till spring so that all the plants can go outside. The weather is slowly warming and the Canadian geese are definitely back. Possible storm again this weekend, maybe it will be the last.
   I am trying to make sure I have a good mixture of plants for spring and I do believe I do. If anyone has anything that they are looking for in particular please let me know. My garden will be enjoying some of the new plants that I have brought in. It is going to be an exciting year. I really do promise some new pictures soon.
8:23 pm est

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Snowy Forecast
   Yikes, its been a while since I have written. As spring draws near I have more to do to get ready for opening the nursery. The greenhouse has been an interesting new way to grow plants for me. I never really thought about all the differences in water, light and even humidity that it would offer. It has been an interesting learning curve. Things are doing great. I need to get some photos added here, I will try and do that later today.
   The forecast for today is snow again. The storm that is expected is supposed to give us from 3 - 6 inches. There is a good chance that some of this will be rain also. It seems this time of year any snow we get doesn't seem to last long. Its almost like the sun changes and the snow melts faster. 
 Temperatures are above 32 degrees during the day and below that at night. This is maple syrup time. Sap rises best at these temperatures. This is a definite sign of spring. Time for me to be out in the greenhouse.
8:34 am est

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Just Like Spring
   Yesterday with the temperature in the 50's it seemed like spring. This time of year the sky seems a little bluer and the snow seems to come and go faster. This could be fantasy on my end but it appears that way to me. I get more excited each day as I anticipate being able to work outside in the garden. Gardening truly is a labor of love.
   The greenhouse temperature shoots up to the 80's with just the least little bit of sun. It is nice to be in there then. Trying to keep it a little cooler than that though. It would be a real jungle in there if the temperatures stayed that high until Spring.
   There is so much work to do in the spring. Finishing putting in the driveway to the back of the property, a bit more grading and lots of planting of the new gardens outback. The planting is the part I am really looking forward to. The challenge is how do I want them to look? I have many ideas but I am unsure which one to choose. I'm sure between now and then there will be many more ideas. We will see what happens in the spring. 
   I did take a walk around the property yesterday to take a look at the plants. When the temps. go up and down like this it is a good time to keep an eye on things to make sure there is no heaving of plants. I have been successful in the past if I noticed this by mulching the plant that is being heaved with a few inches of mulch until spring, then you can place the plant back to its proper planting depth. The best way to prevent this is to have mulched the plant well when it was planted. I know sometimes these things get put off and never get accomplished, I have been guilty of this myself.
   It won't be long and the bulbs of spring will start to come up. You may wish to cut back last years perennials before that happens, if you did not do so in the fall. This is something I need to do myself.
   Suns out and I am sure the greenhouse is getting quite warm. I will run and check on it. I'll post a few pictures soon, till then, take care and Think Spring.
9:10 am est

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Been Awhile
   It has been awhile since I wrote anything. I've been busy working in the greenhouse and making sure everything for this spring was ordered. Learning a lot as I go. Still having fun watching the plants grow.
   I ordered some White Bleeding Heart (Dicentra Alba). I say this beacuse by the time I can get them outside, they will have already flowered. The plants I ordered were a little larger than I thought they would be, and so now that I have planted them not only leaves are coming up but also buds. I will take pictures and post them here for all to see. I feel bad that I timed that so poorly but as I said I am learning.
   The purchasing of plants will also be reduced as I wish to grow many of them myself. I have many seeds started and many more to start as soon as I can. I also have a few tomato seeds that I wish to start for myself. Nothing like the fresh taste of a home grown tomato.
   Thats it for now. I will try and be better about writing here. I also will post some pics from the greenhouse soon. Take care!
7:06 pm est

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Think Spring
   Had a chance to talk with another gardener yesterday. It was great! Nothing inspires a person more than talking their hobby with another enthusiast. I find I usually walk away with tidbits of information that help me, yesterday was no exception. The mention of when they start their seeds and the fact the sun being higher in the sky a few weeks later, makes plants grow just as fast if planted a little earlier. I will remember that and try it. I have included a picture of the inside of the greenhouse so we can all watch the progression of the plants inside. It's a bit messy at the moment but it will improve. Feels like a tropical paradise inside at the moment.
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1:01 pm est

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Rain Rain Go Away
   Its winter and all we seem to get anymore is rain. I'm not saying that I love snow but it is better for the garden in the winter. The snow also makes it seem less gloomy.
   Lots of little plants in the greenhouse now. Its my early burst of spring I guess. Trying to stay ahead of watering. and making sure everyone is getting the right amount of light. When the sun is out the greenhouse really warms up. Haven't had to worry about that in the past few days though.
   I finally found a plant I have been looking for for some time now, variegated horseradish. I will have a few extra for sale in the spring if anyone is interested. I first saw this plant mentioned in a book 10 years ago and I have been actively searching ever since. The plant grows like regular horseradish but as it settles into its new location the new leaves take on variegation. The leaves are quite spectacular. 
   Branches from forsythia, apple, cherry or pussy willows can be brought in now to be forced. This is done by taking a few branches, smash the ends with a hammer, and place in water. It is best to set them some place cool when you first bring them in. After a few days bring these branches out and watch them flowers. It adds a nice burst of spring to any room. It won't be to long now and we will see this happening outside. I know it is a little while but think spring.
9:32 am est

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Groundhog/Genetically altered Grass
   Six more weeks of winter according to the groundhog. What a surprise, have you ever seen winter end this early? Its good for a party I guess.
   Below is an article I kept from a couple of years ago. Its from the New York Times. I have never been for genetically altered plants. This is an example of how these plants spread. There are many documented cases of genetically altered corn being mixed with non altered corn. Is it a good thing or bad?
   Grass Created in Lab Is Found in the Wild
Published: August 16, 2006

An unapproved type of genetically engineered grass has been found growing in the wild in what scientists say could be the first instance in the United States in which a biotechnology plant has established itself outside a farm.

Ecologists at the Environmental Protection Agency said they had found a small number of the grass plants growing in central Oregon near the site of field tests that took place a few years ago.

The E.P.A. scientists and others said the grass would probably not pose an ecological threat. Still, it could provide fodder for critics who say that agricultural biotechnology cannot be adequately controlled.

“It is a cautionary tale that you have to think about the possibility of plants escaping into populations where there are wild relatives present,” said Jay Reichman, an agency ecologist who is the lead author of a study to be published in the journal Molecular Ecology.

The genetically engineered grass, called creeping bentgrass, is being developed by the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and Monsanto for use on golf courses. It contains a bacterial gene that makes the grass resistant to the herbicide Roundup, known generically as glyphosate.

The goal is to create a product to allow groundskeepers to spray the herbicide on greens and fairways to kill weeds without hurting the grass.

The Department of Agriculture is evaluating whether to approve the grass. A department spokeswoman said that no timetable had been set for making a decision, but that the new information would be assessed.

One concern often raised by critics of agricultural biotechnology is that genes that make crops resistant to herbicides or pests may escape to wild relatives, creating “superweeds” that would be harder to eradicate.

That is hardly a risk for the main types of genetically engineered crops grown in the United States — soybeans, corn and cotton — because they generally do not have wild, weedy relatives in this country.

But it has been a concern with the genetically engineered grass, which has wild relatives. And, unlike corn or soybeans, grass does not have to be replanted every year.

Some scientists have expressed concern that if the gene escapes, weedy grasses could be harder to control with glyphosate, a widely used herbicide.

Because of those concerns, the Agriculture Department is doing a full environmental impact assessment before making a decision. It will be its first involving a genetically engineered crop.

Two years ago, scientists at the E.P.A. laboratory in Corvallis, Ore., published a paper showing that pollen from a test plot of the grass had spread as far as 13 miles downwind, much farther than many had expected. That made it likely that genetically engineered grass would be found in the wild, though the scientists did not look for that.

In the new study, scientists sampled 20,400 plants up to three miles from the edge of an 11,000-acre zone surrounding the test plots. They found 9, or 0.04 percent, that were genetically engineered, the farthest being 2.4 miles from the control zone border.

The scientists said some of the plants had been created by seeds that had blown off the test plot and others by hybridization of wild grass with pollen from the genetically engineered grass. All were of the same species of grass being developed by Scotts and Monsanto.

A spokesman for Monsanto said that creeping bentgrass lacked the characteristics needed to become a weed and that other herbicides could control Roundup-resistant bentgrass if need be.

Jim King, a spokesman for Scotts, said the company had already admitted that some grass was growing outside the test plots and that the company was working to eradicate it. In field tests, Mr. King said, a windstorm arose when the grass had been cut and was drying in the field, dispersing seeds.

Scotts argues that grass on golf courses, which is kept short, does not pose the same threat of seed dispersal or pollen flow as grass grown to produce seeds.

The company says the nonengineered bentgrass now used on golf courses has not become a weed, and people outside of golf courses do not try to control it by spraying Roundup.

But Norman C. Ellstrand, a professor of genetics at the University of California, Riverside, said that in some parts of the country bentgrass was considered a problem and was controlled. Dr. Ellstrand, an expert on gene flow in plants, said that foreign genes put into crops had escaped into the wild in other cases abroad.

Scientists in Canada have reported an instance in which herbicide resistance appears to have spread by pollination from genetically engineered canola, which is widely grown there, to a wild relative.

In Japan, transgenic canola was found growing near some ports and roadsides. Since the crop is not grown commercially in Japan, scientists hypothesized that imported seeds had escaped during transportation to oil-processing facilities.

11:22 am est

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Winter for Houseplants
   Just want to remind everyone that when the heat is on in the house it tends to dry out the houseplants quite a bit. Most houseplants enjoy a misting from time to time. An easy way to raise the humidity around plants is to place the plant on a tray of pebbles and add water to the pebbles. As the water evaporates it adds moisture to the air around the plant. Great way to reduce the number of times you water to.
   Houseplants don't usually grow much during the winter, so plant food should be limited, if any. I have heard some say you should feed them a couple of times each winter. I choose not to do this, however when the new growth starts in late winter or spring I use a half strength fertilizer eery other watering.
   If your house plants become real dusty, most will tolerate or even enjoy a shower. Place the pot in the sink or if its a large plant, place it in the tub. Spray the leaves with luke warm water. You'll have a happier clean plant.
2:17 pm est

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

New Garden ? Things to Think About
   With the start of the nursery some of the trees and brush were removed from the back yard. This area offers me a new area to cultivate and grow a new garden. There will be many challenges here because of former tree roots, bulldozing has removed some of the topsoil and the soil appears to be mostly sand and stone. Below is a list of things that i always think about before starting a new garden.
   The best way to start any garden is first select the site. Look to see what kind of sun the area gets. Does it get full sun or is it in the shade. Sun in the morning is not as hot and as intense as sun in the afternoon. What do you plan on planting? Will it grow in the conditions that you have at this site? Think about how hard it will be to access this area. You will probably have to water and carry things to this area, so if its out of the way, be sure there is a path that allows easy access to this area. A path that is wide enough to push a wheelbarrow through is the minimum width it should be. What is the soil like? There are many ways to check this, the easiest being to take a shovel and dig down and see what you find. The more you garden the better you will be able to determine what the soil lacks or needs. A soil sample can be taken and tested to see what the garden lacks. If you have compost available this is by far the best thing you can add to your soil. Compost has a lot of natural bacteria that the soil needs. The texture can help retain moisture. The benefits of compost are huge. If you can plan ahead the fall before you could actually compost some old leaves right in the spot of the new garden. You could simply lay them over the area you intend to garden in and let them break down some over the winter. You could rototill the whole area , mixing the leaves in as you go. A quick rototill in the spring will be easy work after this and the leaves will have broken down quite a bit. This is also a good time to add any compost you have or anything like lime if you have acidic soil.
   So much to think about before actually being able to start that beautiful garden you have imagined in your head. Im still thinking about my plan of action. I have leaves ready for the beds I will create. I used the leaves as a protection around shrubs for the winter. I'll add lots of compost and mulch once the plants are in. With these things and hopefully some rain and a little sun, this garden may be everything I imagined.
   I know this won't happen....a gardener always sees something that needs changing. A plant needs to be moved, or the colors of two plants aren't good next to each other. A bare spot is visible.....its never done. We still dream though.
10:00 am est

Friday, January 25, 2008

Voter Registration/Winter Projects
   This is a link to the website to register online from anywhere in the US for any state so that you can vote. I put this here to make it easier for everyone that I know to go ahead and register and how important it is. Your vote does count.  http://www.usayfoundation.org/
   Now is a good time to do any of those things that you should have done in the fall or need to do before spring. We will start with tools. First remove any soil left on your tools. If some rust is showing, sand it down a bit. Sharpen all blades. Wipe a small amount of oil, machine oil, such as used in your lawn mower, on the exposed metal parts to help protect against rust. Use linseed oil on the handle of all wooden tools to help maintain the wood.
   Trim trees and shrubs. A few shrubs can be trimmed back to a few inches from the ground, but as a rule, most cannot. You will have to check on the individual shrub to see if yours is this type. A good website for tree trimming help is http://www.na.fs.fed.us/Spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_prune/prun001.htm. For shrub pruning techniques try here   http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/nursery/430-459/430-459.html
10:26 am est

2008.05.01 | 2008.04.01 | 2008.03.01 | 2008.02.01 | 2008.01.01 | 2007.12.01 | 2007.11.01

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                    Hard day in the garden.

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