Check your seed germination to see how viable they are. To do this, place 10 to 20 seeds between two sheets of moist paper towel and place in a plastic bag. Place in a warm area, and check every few days. If germination is less than 80 percent, consider purchasing new seed..

   I read the other day that Janurary 21 is Squirrel Appreciation Day. I relize that winter lasts a long time but this is really reaching for entertainment. I will reserve my feelings about squirrels because I know everyone feels different, however I do have to say that I will not be putting extra peanuts outside to help celebrate the day.
    I'm saving my celebration for Plant Appreciation Day which is April 13th. Like the one website that I visted asks "Imagine your world without toliet paper". I rest my case.

   Don't forget that the branches removed from your Christmas tree can be used to cover some of your more sensitive plants. The branches will help protect from the wind and also keep the ground from fluctuating temperatures.
   The branches also offer protection to birds. So instead of throwing out that tree this year to the curb, give it a little more life and use it in your garden.
   Merry Christmas!

   Though I hate to think of it as late summer, the realization that Labor day is right around the corner, brings my mind to that conclusion. With this in mind, I realize all the things in the garden that I still need to get done. Things need weeding, mulching, dividing, moving and with this weather......watering. Now is the time to start thinking of where I may want to put bulbs for the spring garden, or some spring flowering plants. Mums will be here soon and a few added to the garden will give me years of fall color.
   I mention all of these things because fall is a great time to plant. Plants planted in the fall get a jump start on next year. They will be double the size of any you could add in the spring. That extra six months of root growth in the ground will do wonders.
   So off to the garden I go, now that I have a sense of urgency. Happy gardening and get out there and work in that garden, because all to soon we will have to put our gardens to bed for the winter.

   This is for the rose lovers out there. I have not checked on what zone these roses can be grown in, however I do recognize the names of some of them and I know they are hardy to our zone. So please research these if you are interested. These roses are black spot and/or mildew resistant. The letter "b" will follow the name if it is black spot resistant and "m" if it is mildew resistant. Both letters are for those that are both.

Alchymist  b,m
Angel Face  b
Apothecary's Rose  b,m
Apple Rose  b,m
Beach Rose  b,m
Bonica  b,m
Carrousel  b
Cecil Brunner  b,m
Charisma  m
Chicago Peace  m
Crested Moss Rose  b,m
Duet  b
Europeana  b
Evening Star  m
Felicite parmentier  b,m
First edition  b,m
Flower Carpet red  b,m
Futura  m
Gene Boerner  b
Ivory fashion  b
Knockout Rose  b,m
Miss All-American Beauty  b,m
Mister Lincoln  b,m
Pascali  m
Peace  b,m
Pink Leda  b,m
Pink Peace  b
Pristine  b,m
Queen Elizabeth  b,m
Razzle Dazzle  b,m
Sarabande  b
Seashell  m
Souvenir de la Malmaison  b,m

   I do not grow many roses myself so I cannot swear by this information, I read this somewhere. I added the Knockout rose, which I do have experience with and also the Peace Rose. The Knockout rose seems to withstand most anything. Lots of blooms for the money.
  If you are into antique rose types, check out Antique Rose Emporium. I came across them a number of years ago and was inspired by their methods for trying to preserve the old roses of long ago. www.antiqueroseemporium.com
   Hope this helps, and if you have any better information please pass it on. Thanks!

  I know it's December but is it time to plant your annual poppies? I have read several articles that have said that this is the time of year to sprinkle the seed on the ground were you would like them and in the spring they will appear. I know a lot of poppies will self sow and that the best way to plant them it seems is to just sprinkle the seed. The winter sowing technique is something I have never tried though. I guess it's time I buy some poppy seeds and give it a go. It's always nice to see a large patch of poppies flowering.

   When I get up, much earlier than the rest of the world it seems, I often turn to the computer for entertainment. I spend a great deal of time looking up plants, seeds, and reading other garden related websites. I was looking at various seed web-pages today and was excited to find some of the seeds I saw offered. I was really excited about one particular website and what they had to offer. I was choosing in my head what to order and the number kept getting larger and larger. When I decided that I would wait and check on some other things  I went to their home page so that I could save it to my favorites. Well wouldn't you know it that I found that the website hadn't been updated since the winter of 2006. Ugh! Guess I'll check that part out first next time. At least it was fun while it lasted and I did learn of a few new plants that I would like to try. I did send an email to their web address justincase they may still be open.
   With the economy being bad as we keep hearing and feeling, I have decided for myself to plant a bigger veggie garden. I don't usually grow more plants than I need for my  own garden but I was thinking I could grow a few extra and have them for sale if anyone wanted any. I will not do a huge amount and I am sure I won't have the large selection that other places have, but there will be a few different varieties. If anyone is interested or has any suggestions, please let me know. I love to try new things.
   Thanks, and I hope you all are enjoying the holidays and that this finds you well.

  It's funny, the fact that even though gardening is a huge part of my life that I don't often think to give gardening related things (plants, seeds, magazines, books, tools, etc,) to other people for Christmas. I am not trying to push this idea on anyone, I am just stating that it took me watching a show to realize that this really is a good thing to get or do for other gardeners. Television does pay off at times.  So I offer this idea to the other gardeners out there, I hope it helps.
   Now I am going back to reading seed catalouges. Take care.

  At this time each year we are usually forced to add salt to our sidewalks for the ice that accumulates. This salt is great at melting the ice but terrible for our plants. I have found a list of plants that will tolerate the salt run off. When I say tolerate, I mean they will do quite well even if they do receive salt added to their soil each year. It is a little late to plant these this year, however it gives all of us something to work with in the spring.
Achillea (Yarrow)
Armeria (Common Thrift or Sea Pink)
Artemesia (Silver Mound)
Asters
Bergenia (Heartleaf Bergenia)
Calamgrostis( Feather Reed Grass)
Dianthus (Pinks) 
Echinops (Globe Thistle)
Erigeron (Fleabane)
Euphorbia (Cushion Spurge)
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
Gypsophila (Baby's Breath)
Helictotrichon (Blue Oat Grass)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Iris ( Tall Bearded, Dwarf Bearded and pallida)
Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker)
Lupinus (Lupine)
Oenothera (Sundrops, Evening Primrose)
Panicum (Switch Grass)
Penstemon (Beardstongue)
Perovskia (Russian Sage)
Phlox subulata (Creeping Phlox)
Potentilla (Cinquefoil)
Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sempervivum (Hen's and Chicks)
Stachys (Lamb's Ears)
Thymus (Creeping Thyme)
Veronica (Speedwell)
Yucca ( Adam's Needle)

   I try and encourage as many natural predators to nuisance pests as possible in the nursery and gardens. To bring in these natural predators it is also essential to have the type of plants that these predators like to get nectar from or to lay their eggs on. I have compiled a list of these plants so that maybe we can all plant a few to encourage these good guys. I would like to plant a specific area this coming year (2009) with some of these plants and see what happens. We have a number of these plants for sale at the nursery.
*Alyssum
*Cosmos
*Zinnias
*Sunflower
*Marigolds
*Golden Marguerite
*Yarrow
*Lavender
*Mint
*Fennel
*Angelica
*Tansy
*Dill
*Parsley
*Cilantro
*Carrots

   They say gardening is a great form of exercise to maintain health. Lets face it, with the digging, pulling, bending, stretching and carrying, gardening is a lot of work. It is very easy to see why it would be good for you physically, plus there are the added mental health benefits also. Gardening is a great way to forget your problems for a little while and relax.
   With this in mind and the fact that the average American puts on five pounds of weight from Thanksgiving to New Years, it's a good time to get outside and do some gardening. By now in this area the ground is usually frozen so there isn't much digging or weeding going on, however clean up can still be done.
   Raking up the last of the fallen leaves and adding them to the compost pile is a good start to cleaning up. Cutting back any perennials that you haven't cut back, adding pine branches around some of the more tender perennials in your garden, for that extra protection. Cutting back shrubs and trees, use the trimmings for indoor winter displays or holiday arrangements. Clean up your garden tools and put them away so you know where they are in the spring. 
   So forget the rush of holiday shopping or the binge eating for a bit and get outside and do some yard work. When you really want to relax though, start checking out the new seed catalogues that are arriving now. It is a great time to start thinking of what you'll be planting in the garden in the spring. Having a plan for next years garden is always a good way to get off on the right foot come spring. I know I keep thinking about it, and I also know I will change it a hundred times in my mind between now and then. It does make the longer days of winter a little shorter though.

  I read with interest last night that cornmeal sprinkled on the ground around your hollyhocks in spring may help prevent rust. Rust is those rust looking dots you find on the leaves. Malva is also a plant that seems to be very susceptible. This disease is not often fatal but unsightly. There are fungicides that control it, but this is at least a less toxic method. The best way to deal with rust is to try and prevent it. It can be spread by you or your pruners so be careful to wash both your hands or pruners if they are used on another plant. Removing the leaves that show signs of rust and throw them in the trash, putting them in the compost pile only helps to spread the disease.
   There was testimony, if you will, from a group of individuals who said that they all had great success with this method of rust prevention. They stated that you must remove all the leaves in the fall and get rid of them. Then in early spring sprinkle cornmeal around the plant. One person stated that this causes another fungus to grow that lives off from the rust fungus. I don't have any knowledge of that nor could I find any to support it. These individuals all stated that this really reduced the problem greatly, if not completely.
   There were also two methods mentioned that if you find it on your plant in midsummer, remove the infected leaves, and spray with a mixture of cornmeal or cornflour and a bucket of water and spray it on the foliage. A handful of either was the suggested amount. It recommened doing this about once a month. A different method was to use 1 cup of milk with a gallon of water sprayed on the leaves.  Good air circulation, try to keep the leaves from getting wet during watering and a average soil as opposed to a rich one will help also. Hope this works for everyone!

New useless information. Apparently a lot of states have adopted state insects like they do birds. Just for the record I have found ours out and the information follows:

New York's insect is the Pink Spotted Ladybug (Coleomegilla maculata). They have a dark pink body with squarish black spots, these  oblong bugs are feeders on the eggs of other insects and have been found to be very effective against the Potato Beetle. Members of the carrot family, Cilantro, Parsnips and Queen Anne's Lace are a few of the favorites of this beetle. 

  
1. Decide where you are going to plant your tree before you purchase it and dig the hole. The ground might be frozen after Christmas. Put the soil you remove from the hole somewhere it won't freeze, usually a garage is a good place. The shortest amount of time indoors is best for the tree, one week would be best but no longer than three. Trees are dormant when you take them inside, and a long stay in warm temperatures will make them think it is spring and they will try and grow. Keep it well watered while inside.

2. Planting any tree too deep will kill it for sure. The top of the root
ball should be at least one inch above grade, when you plant, mound some soil over the root ball or use a little mulch.

3. If you don't have good soil you can build a raised bed and plant your tree there. A good topsoil that drains well will be best for the tree, no fertilizer. Staking the tree would be best if it is in a windy area, otherwise the tree may tilt before new roots are established to anchor the tree. 

 
4. Don't remove the burlap from your tree,  always cut some slits in the burlap. If your tree comes with a wire basket around the ball it does not have to be removed unless you can do so without disturbing the root ball. Remove any rope wrapped around the trunk of the tree.
 
Enjoy your live Christmas Tree.
 

  I was reading an article yesterday that said after your shrubs have gone dormant, applying a balanced fertilize will help with root production and get your shrubs off to a great start in the spring. I am not sure how well this will work but I have decided to give it a try on  a few shrubs. If anyone else does this, or has done this, please let me know your results.
   I also like to check the house plants that spent the summer outside for pests again at this time. Any eggs should have hatched or small insects should be visible by now. Soapy water will get rid of many pests without the use of pesticides. Remember that house plants enjoy a misting of water also.

   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!

  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.  

   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.

   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.

   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!
   

   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!