Friday, May 27, 2011

BEDHEAD GARDEN CLUB- DIVIDING HOSTAS


  ITS TIME TO LEARN  GARDENING  MATH.  WHERE  YOU  START  BY DIVIDING  AND  END UP MULTIPLYING.  FIRST LETS DISCUSS WHEN IT IS TIME TO DIVIDE A HOSTA. THE PLANT SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED AND AT LEAST 10 INCHES  IN DIAMETER AT THE CROWN, THE PART CLOSEST TO THE SOIL.  IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO REMOVE HALF OF THE PLANT LEAVING THE OTHER HALF UNTOUCHED, THIS IS A GOOD IDEA IF YOU ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE HEALTH OF A HOSTA BED.  I FIND THAT OVERGROWN HOSTAS ARE PRONE TO SLUG INFESTATIONS. IN THIS CASE, DUE TO THE REMOVAL OF A LARGE SHADE TREE, THIS SPOT IS MUCH TO SUNNY AND HOT FOR  THIS SHADE LOVING PERENNIAL.

WITH A SHARP SPADE PLACED ABOUT 4 INCHES FROM THE CROWN, PUSH IT IN AS FAR AS IT WILL GO AND PRY THE PLANT FROM THE GROUND. FOR LARGER PLANTS YOU MAY HAVE TO DIG IN SEVERAL PLACES TO GET THE PLANT TO COME OUT. THE PLANT MAY RESIST AT FIRST BUT THEY HAVE A TOUGH ROOT SYSTEM THAT WILL HOLD THE PLANT AND ROOT BALL TOGETHER.

 A HOSTA PLANT REMOVED FROM THE GROUND

WITH YOUR SPADE CUT THE CROWN IN TWO. IF THE PLANT IS LARGER YOU CAN DIVIDE IT IN MULTIPLE PIECES. EACH  DIVISION  SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 6 INCHES AT THE CROWN.

IF THE SPADE IS DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO USE YOU CAN USE A KNIFE OR SAW TO CUT THRU  THE CROWN AND THEN PULL THE ROOTS APART.

A NICE SIZED DIVISION READY FOR A NEW HOME.

NOW IS THE TIME TO ADD IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SOIL,LIKE  PEAT MOSS OR COMPOST.  PLANT THE HOSTAS AT THE SAME DEPTH  AS THEY WERE GROWING BEFORE AND WATER WELL.  CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE JUST MASTERED ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION. OR IS IT PROPAGATION? MAYBE BOTH.

PLANTING A VEGETABLE GARDEN

AFTER A LONG WINTERS REST OUR RAISED BED NEEDS A WAKE UP CALL. WE ARE ADDING COMPOSTED MANURE,  FOR IT'S NUTRIENT RICH ORGANIC MATER, AND SPHAGNUM PEAT MOSS THAT WILL HELP HOLD MOISTURE AND IMPROVE THE SOIL STRUCTURE.  THE SOIL WILL NOT COMPACT AND WILL BE EASIER TO  PLANT.

ONCE THE SOIL AND THE AMENDMENTS ARE COMBINED USE YOUR FORK OR SPADE TO BREAK UP ANY LARGE CHUNKS. IT IS BEST TO WORK YOUR SOIL WHEN IT IS MOIST BUT NOT WET , IF THE SOIL IS TO WET YOU COULD GET HARD CHUNKS THAT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO BREAK UP.

WE ARE PLANTING SOME ITEMS FROM OUR ORNAMENTAL EDIBLE COLLECTION, INCLUDING SWISS CHARD, MUSTARD GREENS, BEETS, CHINESE CABBAGE AND RADICCO..

USING A TROWL OR YOUR HANDS DIG A HOLE AND AFTER GENTLY LOOSENING THE PLANT FROM THE PACK,  PLACE IT IN THE HOLE.  BRING THE SOIL BACK AROUND THE PLANT KEEPING IT SLIGHTLY  DEEPER THAN IT WAS IN ITS ORIGINAL CONTAINER AND FIRM THE SOIL  WITH YOUR HANDS.

PROPER DEPTH FOR A SWISS CHARD SEEDLING.

ONCE PLANTED WATER  AROUND THE PLANT WITH HOSE OR WATERING CAN. YOU CAN PLANT THE ENTIRE BED BEFORE YOU WATER, BUT DON;T PUT OFF WATERING FOR TO LONG. DO NOT SKIP THE WATERING EVEN IF IT COULD RAIN, AS DRY SOIL COULD TAKE WATER FROM THE NEWLY PLANTED SEEDLING. A FEW TIPS, DON'T BE AFRAID TO MIX VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS, THO I WOULD NOT COMBINE THEM WITH SAY, ROSES OR ANY INSECT PRONE PLANT THAT YOU WILL NEED TO USE INSECTICIDE ON. YOU CAN PLANT YOU VEGGIES IN ROWS, BUT I PREFER TO MIX THEM AS SOME WILL MATURE FASTER AND THEN WILL MAKE ROOM FOR SLOWER GROWING PLANTS.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

OUR SECRET GARDEN, PASS IT ON

WE HAVE A LARGE SELECTION OF ORNAMENTAL EDIBLES, PLANTS THAT WILL BEAUTIFY YOUR GARDEN, AND YOU CAN EAT THEM TOO! LETTUCE, SEVERAL VARIETIES OF KALE, BEETS, NASTURTIUMS, AND A LARGE SELECTION OF HERBS.

OUR IMPROVED ACCESS TO FROM THE GREENHOUSE TO THE BACK GARDEN  TO MAKE YOUR SHOPPING  EVEN  EASIER

OUR GREENHOUSE HAS A LARGE VARIETY OF SPECIALTY ANNUALS , GRASSES,  TROPICAL  HIBISCUS AND MANDAVIAS, YEP AND A CREW TO TELL YOU WHAT THEY ALL ARE.

 THIS JUST IN, WE HAVE HEIRLOOM TOMATO PLANTS OR IS IT TOMOTO? YOU CHOOSE, 4 HEALTHY PLANTS FOR $10

STOP BY AND SEE OUR TEACHING GARDEN, AND STAY TUNED  FOR HOW TO VIDEOS

THANKS TO THE APRIL SHOWERS, HERE COME THE MAY FLOWERS

PEACH GARDEN ROSES,  ORANGE PINCUSHION PROTEA, CORAL CELOCIA, AND MOKARA ORCHIDS ARE ENHANCED BY THE CHARTREUSE GREEN CYMBIDIUM ORCHIDS IN THIS MONOCHROMATIC ARRANGEMENT

PEONIES, ROSES, CYMBIDIUM ORCHIDS,  HYDRANGEA, AND LARKSPUR, GIVE THIS SYMPATHY ARRANGEMENT AN ELEGANT FEMININE FEELING

THIS COMPLEMENTARY ARRANGEMENT IS ACCENTED WITH HOT PINK ROSES. THE ROSES ADD DEPTH TO THE DESIGN

 AN OLD FASHIONED TRADITION GETS A CONTEMPORARY TWIST. THE SCRIPT TELLS THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE DECEASED TO THE SENDER.

 THIS GROUPING OF SEASONAL FLOWERS TAKES ITS QUE FROM  FUNKY HOTELS IN NYC

Thursday, May 5, 2011

BABY YOUR MOTHER

MOTHERS DAY GIFT IDEAS

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING, OUR EDIBLE LETTUCE BOWL.  THIS SALAD FACTORY CONTAINS TWO VARIETIES OF LETTUCE [12 TOTAL PLANTS], KALE,  HERBS, ARUGULA,  AND YES, DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN EAT VIOLAS! OUR RESIDENT MOM AND HERB EXPERT  AMY LIKES TO  ADD HERBS TO SANDWITCHES,  PASTAS,  AND LOVES THEM ON TOP OF FRESHLY BAKED PIZZA. THIS GREEN GODDESS GO TO WILL THRIVE OUT SIDE IN A SUNNY LOCATION, PREFERABLY CLOSE TO THE KITCHEN DOOR. THE LETTUCE  WILL PRODUCE  UNTIL LATE JUNE AND THE HERBS AND KALE WILL PULL THEIR WEIGHT THE REST OF THE SUMMER. GREAT FOR MOM AND GET ONE FOR YOURMSELF TOO. AND YES WE WILL MAKE THEM JUST FOR YOU, IF YOU WANT YOU CAN PICK THE HERBS AND VIOLA COLORS, ADD SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE. $50

RABBIT PROOF YOUR SALAD GARDEN WITH THIS METAL STAND FOR $25

SUCCULENTS AND ECHAVERIAS, ARE A LONG LASTING LOW MAINTENANCE GIFT AND VERY ON TREND AS THE FASHIONISTAS SAY. ENLOY THIS ARRANGEMENT OUTSIDE ALL SUMMER AND BRING IT INSIDE IN THE FALL THEN PUT IT OUTSIDE IN THE SPRI....... WELL YOU GET THE IDEA, SHE WILL HAVE IT A LONG TIME. $75

IF MOM IS NOT THE OUTDORSY TYPE  THIS PORCELEN FOOT BATH FILLED WITH HYDRANGA PLANTS COULD BE JUST THE THING. THE FOOT BATH  WILL EVENTUALY BE GOING UP IN PRICE DUE TO THE RISING COST OF LABOR IN CHINA, BUT OUR PRICE WITH THREE HYDRANGA PLANTS IS $200

OUR GREENHOUSE IS OPEN, COME IN AND ASK SYLVIA, AMY, DENISE, ANDREW OR ALEX TO HELP WITH ALL YOUR  GARDENING NEEDS. WE CARRY RUSH-CREEK GROWERS AND PLETCHERS GROWN GARDEN PLANTS. GIFT CERTIFICATS ARE AVALABLE FOR THE DIY MOM.  LARGE GERANIUM POTS ARE $50

OUR CUSTOM DESIGNED HANGING BASKETS ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE YOU COLOR ALL SUMMER LONG.  THESE COMBINATION PLANTERS CAN ALSO BE PLACED DIRECTLY IN YOU FRONT DOOR URNS OR PATIO PLANTERS, AND YOU CAN SAY YOU DID IT YOURSELF.  $75 SHOWN ALSO AVALABLE IN $50 SIZE

PROM TIME

AWARD WINNING DESIGNER, AMANDA THERMAN-DOUGHERTY CREATES ONE OF A KIND CORSAGES FOR PROM GOERS SPECIAL NITE.

BEAUTIFUL!

MILL CITY MUSEUM WEDDING

A TRIO OF COLORFUL ARRANGEMENTS WORKS WELL ON THE OVAL TABLES AT MILL CITY MUSEUM

A TALL CENTERPEICE  TAKES IT'S COLOR CUES FROM THE RICH TAPESTRY LINEN AND ADDS DRAMA TO THE ROOM

A CLOSER VIEW OF A  TALL  ARRANGEMET SHOWS HOW THE BUDDED CURLY WILLOW ADDS MOVEMENT TO THE DESIGN.