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San Diego’s Independent Nursery Since 1928 TM APRIL 2018

Ligularia Are Very Likeable By Walter Andersen, Jr.

IN THIS ISSUE Are Very Likeable 1 History Of WAN 1 Watermelon Varieties 1 Recipe: Apricot Cookies 2 To Do List: April 3 Words From Walter: Clivia 3 Poway Rose Show 4 Old Ben: Hummingbirds 5 Ligularia giganteum Ligularia tussilaginea ‘Shishi Botan’ Wistful For Wisteria 6 Do You Have An Easter Lily? 6 Ligularia are shade loving that 10” in diameter. They like rich, humus- April Classes & Specials 7 are easy to grow, and they thrive in our like soils which should be kept moist. If area. They are grown mostly for their the soil gets a little dry, the leaf stalks foliage, but they also send up large will wilt and make it easy to see when spikes with yellow daisy-like flowers. they need water. They make wonderful The bloom stalks can reach 3’ tall with container plants. If you live within a many blooms on each spike. The glossy couple miles of the coast, half day sun bright green foliage almost looks like it should be fine although morning sun, has been polished. Leaves often reach afternoon shade would be best. continued p2

History Of WAN: City Directory Would Be A Privacy Nightmare! By Ken Andersen

Fifth in the series. Read all the articles mid 1980s these directories were used starting with the December, 2017 extensively at the nursery. In addition Watermelon newsletter at www.walterandersen. to an advertising section, the book Varieties To Try! com/news/newsletters. contained three different directories arranged alphabetically by name, street By Botanical Interests As part of our ongoing articles about the history of the company, here is one address, and phone number. Our deli- that would be a privacy advocate’s very drivers used the street directory Can you imagine summer without nightmare! to pin down addresses on hard to find watermelons? If you now, you’ll streets. For example, in Point Loma, R. L. Polk Publishing used to print the be harvesting for summer. Ideally, Clove Street is broken into sections City Directory every year for the city plant when soil is 60-85 degrees F, by canyons. Knowing which section of San Diego. This massive volume is for early summer crop. an address was located in saved time four inches thick and is much, much by allowing the drivers to make a direct It can be tricky to know exactly more than a phone book. Up until the continued p3 when a watermelon is ripe and ready continued p2 04.18 2

Ligularia continued from p1 Watermelon continued from p1 Look For These Varieties: Ligularia tussilaginea ‘Shishi Botan’ is kind of an unusual variety of the to pick. First, know the number of family. It is dwarf sized, reaching 12” days to harvest and begin checking tall, and 16” to 18” wide. The leaves are fruits as the harvest date draws very cut and frilly; it resembles a giant closer. Signs to look for are: (1) the form of parsley if you can imagine bottom of the melon (where it lies that. Thick and compact, it should be on the soil) turns from light green planted in an area that gets shade to a yellowish color; (2) the surface most of the day. It can make a very color of the fruit turns dull; (3) the interesting container plant, or mix it in skin becomes resistant to pene- with some low growing ferns or bed- Ligularia tussilaginea ‘Argentea’ tration by the thumbnail and is less ding begonias. Fertilize with a general smooth to the touch; and (4) the purpose plant food like E.B. Stone full shade, and once again, keep the light green, curly tendril on the stem General Purpose Plant Food once a soil moist. near the point of attachment of the month from spring to fall. This variety Ligularia giganteum is sometimes sold melon is brown and dry. All of these will send up bloom spikes in late sum- as japonicum. It’s a wonder- mer to fall with bright yellow daisy-like ful plant for shaded areas. This variety indicators may not necessarily occur blooms. Protect them from heavy has HUGE leaves that can reach 10” or at the same time. frost in winter. more in diameter. The plant itself tops There are some wonderful varieties Ligularia tussilaginea ‘Argentea’ is out at about 2’ tall. Plant in soil that to choose from such as Crimson is rich in humus or organic material a showy variegated form. The plant Sweet (an heirloom), Sugar Baby, such as Sunshine Planter mix (mixed has round leaves to perhaps 7” to 9” Mickylee (grows 8-10” to fit in your 50/50 with your soil). This variety is the in diameter with almost pure white icebox) and Mountain Sweet Yellow more common of the ligularias and variegation in the foliage. The foliage (colorful, very sweet yellow fruit) pattern sets it apart from most other prefers mostly shaded areas. If you live from Botanical Interests. Available Ligularia. This variety is super easy to within a mile of the coast they do well from Renee’s Garden Seeds is Heir- grow. Amend the soil when planting in sun. Ideally, provide morning sun and because they like a rich soil. Like the afternoon shade. In spring and sum- loom ‘Icebox’ Doll Babies which will above mentioned plant, you’ll have mer they send up very showy yellow grow to be a pinky-red or yellow daisy-like blooms from summer to fall. daisy-like bloom spikes to almost 3’ fruit. • This variety would prefer growing in tall. •

Recipe

Apricot Amaretto Cookies

It was a happy day at the nursery when a family favorite recipe for a granola-like cookie came our way. First, the cookies came from one of our plant vendors, Dan Mojonnier. The treats were so delicious that we begged for the recipe and they graciously shared it. The recipe was from Mrs. Mojonnier’s mother (Carolyn Zandler) and they photocopied the one written in her hand. Our thanks to the family for allowing us to share it with you. • 04.18 3

History of WAN: City Directory continued from p1 TO DO LIST: April These directories listed almost every person, business, address, and phone number of everyone FERTILIZE residing in the city limits. The retail Feed Lawns, Palms & More value of these directories is listed Use Marathon Fertilizer for tall fescue, at $100 which in today’s dollars is and Hi-Yield Weed & Feed to feed over $1300! The nursery received grass and control broad-leaf weeds. a new one each year. This must Feed ornamentals with Gro-Power have been a monumental project or Gro-Power Plus. Feed vegetables to produce each year. Production with Gro-Power Tomato and of these directories ended in the Vegetable Food or Dr. Earth Organic 1980s. The last one we have is Tomato and Vegetable Food. Feed dated 1984. The one in the photo citrus, avocado, and fruit trees with route without having to check each of is dated 1972 and I have one from 1927 Gro-Power Citrus and Avocado Food. the segments. The office staff (where in my personal collection. Looking Feed palms and tropicals with Gro- through the advertisers is a who’s the directories resided) often used the Power Palm Tree and Tropical Food. alphabetical listing to find customers’ who of San Diego businesses. Many phone numbers or home addresses. long standing companies that are no PEST CONTROL More rarely used, the phone number longer in business are on the pages Edibles & Ornamentals directory could be used to look up a throughout the book. It certainly was Keep insects under control by customer’s name or address via their a different time and era and the way hitting them early. On edibles, use phone number. personal information was handled has Safer Yard and Garden Spray. changed dramatically. • For ornamentals, use a systemic control like Bayer 3-in-1 Insect Disease and Mite Spray.

Words From Walter PLANT Warm-season bedding plants, Dahlias, annuals, and perennials. Warm-season vegetables and vegetable seeds. Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes, and the specialty hot peppers are here.

LOOK FOR Flowering deciduous trees and shrubs, blooming roses, blooming Clivia By Walter Andersen, Jr. bulbs, Ceanothus and tropicals. • Clivia miniata are wonderful plants from striped yellow to almost white. South Africa. They are very showy when Clivia are easy to grow and should be in bloom with trumpet-shaped yellow planted in mostly shade to look their or deep orange colored flowers. There best. They tolerate temperatures down are some new hybrids with stunning into the low 30s. If temperatures in apricot shades, however, they are hard- your area are expected to dip lower er to find. The first true yellow variety I than that, just cover them with a frost saw was about 30 years ago and they blanket. Clivia prefer soil with lots of were super expensive. Some catalogs organic matter and the soil should with collector plants were charging sev- not get dry. Fertilize with Azalea and eral hundred dollars for a small division. Camellia plant food about every two The large strap-like foliage is pretty months to keep them looking their just on its own and is evergreen. Leaves best. They don’t attract many pests, are long and semi-glossy. There are but keep an eye out for snails. They some variegated varieties with foliage make great container plants. • 04.18 4 04.18 5

Old Ben: Old Ben’s Promise

I believe ingredients should come from Fun Facts About nature, not a lab. Hummingbirds I believe wild bird food should be made only with ingredients I am proud to share. By Old Ben I believe wild bird food should be simply prepared with as little processing as possible. I believe wild bird food should be made with a commitment to quality. A hummingbird’s brilliant throat color pace will increase when they are flying. Nature has nothing to hide; neither should is not caused by feather pigmentation, your wild bird food. Hummingbirds have no sense of smell but by iridescence in the arrangement but have very keen eyesight. I use ingredients from natural sources across of the feathers my entire line - NO artificial anything. The average life span of a wild hum- Hummingbirds cannot walk or hop, mingbird is three to 12 years. though their feet can be used to scoot sideways while they are perched. Hummingbirds digest natural sucrose, Old Ben's Specials the sugar found in floral nectar, in 20 Hummingbirds have 1,000 to 1500 minutes with 97 percent efficiency. feathers, the fewest number of feathers of any bird in the world. Despite their size, hummingbirds are one Valid April 2-30, 2018 of the most aggressive bird species. The average ruby throated humming- They will regularly attack jays, crows and bird weighs three grams. In comparison Old Ben’s Spring hawks that infringe on their territory. a nickel weighs 4.5 grams. It would Wild Bird Seed Sale! take more than 150 ruby throated Peak migration time for hummingbirds hummingbirds to weigh one pound. is from mid July through August or Old Ben’s Dove & early September. Species that nest fur- Approximately 25 to 30 percent of a Quail Seed ther north will begin migration earlier. hummingbird’s weight is in its pectoral A very popular blend in a 25lb. bag. muscles. These are the broad chest Hummingbirds are native species of Many other wild birds love this blend. muscles responsible for flight. the new world and are not naturally 25lb. bag found outside of the western hemi- Maximum forward flight speed is 30 Sale $19.99 Reg. $24.99 sphere. Hummingbirds are not found miles per hour for hummingbirds. in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia or Hummingbirds can reach up to 60 Antarctica. Old Ben’s No Mess miles per hour in a dive. There are more than 325 hummingbird Wild Bird Seed Of all birds, hummingbirds lay the species in the world. Only eight species The no mess advantage. Seed is smallest eggs. Their eggs measure regularly breed in the United States. hulled, will not sprout, birds can eat about one-half inch long. A humming- Up to two dozen species may visit all the seed which attracts fewer bird egg is smaller than a jelly bean. our country or be reported as regular pests. 20lb. bag Hummingbirds must consume about vagrants. The rest of the hummingbirds Sale $34.99 Reg. $39.99 one-half of their weight in sugar daily. are tropical species and do not regu- The average hummingbird feeds five larly migrate. Hummingbirds are found to eight times per hour. They also eat in Central and South America as well Old Ben’s Nyger Seed many small insects and spiders, and as throughout the Caribbean. • The staple food for gold finches sip tree sap or juice from broken fruit. and many other small birds. 25lb. bag Hummingbird wings beat between 50 and 200 flaps per second depending Sale $49.99 Reg. $59.99 on the direction of flight, the purpose Ask Old Ben! of their flight and surrounding air Old Ben’s Classic conditions. Ask Old Ben questions about birds, show him your (feathered) Wild Bird Seed Average heart rate for hummingbirds bird photos, or share your birding Classic mix that attracts a wide is 1,200 beats per minute. experiences emailing him at: variety of wild birds. No fillers in this A resting hummingbird takes 250 [email protected] mix. 20lb. bag breaths per minute. Their breathing Sale $24.99 Reg. $29.99 All specials limited to stock on hand. No special orders. Cannot be combined with any other discount or offer. 04.18 6 Wistful For Wisteria Do You Have An By Kate Karam, Monrovia Easter Lily?

Did you purchase an Easter lily, one of the most recognized symbols of Drenched in fragrance and draped languorously over a fence or pergola, wisteria Easter? is a beguiling charmer with the power to hypnotize. It’s long-lived, too. It’s not Native to Japan’s Ryukyu Islands, it unusual to see a specimen that’s at least 50 years old. All of that said, wisteria is was discovered by British plant ex- easily controlled (and flowering is encouraged) by regular pruning. pert, Carl Peter Thunberg. Sent to Keeping Wisteria Happy: If you have plenty of sun, lots of room, sharp pruners, England in 1819, the lilies made their and a very sturdy support, wisteria is not a difficult plant to grow. way to Bermuda in the mid 1800s as a commercial crop, where it was • Grafted plants are more likely to ensure blooms within the first three years. known as “Bermuda Lily.” When the entire lily crop was destroyed by a • Provide heavy-duty support such as a sturdy trellis or arbor. virus Japan became the only loca- • Six hours of full, direct sun will yield best bloom. tion where the lily was grown. Louis Houghton, an American WWI • Provide good drainage and a slightly alkaline soil. soldier allegedly smuggled a suit- case of lily bulbs to Oregon in 1919. • Protect from strong winds which can damage flower buds. As a result of the war, Japan wasn’t • Give it plenty of water when able to supply the lily bulbs to the in bloom. US anymore and prices increased. Today, the California-Oregon border • Avoid feeding with high-nitro- is known as the “Easter Lily Capital gen fertilizer as this is likely to of the World,” growing more than produce plenty of leaves, but 95% of all the Easter Lilies in the fewer flowers. world. The flower symbolizes purity, virtue, • Wisteria can live a long, healthy hope and life. Christians believe that life with no pruning at all, the lilies emerged where Christ’s happily twining, climbing, and sweat fell to the ground in his final sprawling. To control size, prune hours of life. The flower bulbs, which in winter, and if desired, again in should be buried, were said to repre- summer. • sent the tomb of Jesus and the showy trumpet-shaped flowers symbolize the resurrection. • 04.18 7 Garden Classes APRIL Date To Remember! Both stores will be closed Saturday classes are FREE and last about an hour. Complimentary coffee is April 1 for Easter. served. During inclement weather, classes are held indoors in San Diego and on the covered, heated patio in Poway. Topics are subject to change. See the full schedule at www.walterandersen.com/calendar/.

SAN DIEGO | 9:00AM POWAY | 9:30AM Bonsai Workshop Class 4/7 4/7 Spring is for Tomatoes Bonsai Workshop ($20 Must RSVP to 858-513-4900. 4/14 Limited to 15 attendees!) Join our Bonsai Workshop at our Made in the Shade: Poway location on Saturday, April Ferns & Shade Plants 4/14 Vegetables, Flowers, & Herbs: 7th. Fee is $20 which includes a Mini 4/21 Production for the Home Gardener Ragu Bay tree, soil, and instruction. Peppers, Chilies & Salsa: with Brijette from San Diego Seed Bring your own pot, or purchase Marco’s Back!!! 4/21 one prior to class. Must RSVP to 4/28 So Much Beauty, So Little Water! 858-513-4900 and prepay. Limited How to Host Hummers with Wendy Proud from Mountain to 15 attendees. • & Butterflies States Wholesale Nursery 4/28 19th Annual Rose Show!!!

April Specials Valid April 2-30, 2018 90th Anniversary Specials!

Your Choice Stainless Steel Herb & Floral Snips or Bond 2-Piece Shear Set TM $9.00 each San Diego’s Independent Nursery Since 1928

Limited to stock on hand. No special orders. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. While supplies last. Hedge Fund$ may be redeemed. walterandersen.com Visit Our 2 Locations facebook.com/walterandersens twitter.com/walterandersens SAN DIEGO POWAY online store 3642 Enterprise Street 12755 Danielson Court San Diego, California 92110 Poway, California 92064 videos {619} 224-8271 {858} 513-4900

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