MARCH 2016 Serving You Since 1955 981 Alden Lane, Livermore, CA • www.aldenlane.com • (925) 447-0280 Announcements CLOSED ON EASTER SUNDAY, MARCH 27th • Watch the Valley on TV30 for great tips with Daffodil Show - March 5th & 6th host Jacquie Williams-Courtright­ at 7:30 am and 1:30 p.m. Monday - Friday­ co-sponsored by the Northern California and repeated­ on Saturday at 7:30 & Daffodil Society & Alden Lane Nursery 11:00 am, and 1:30 pm & Sunday­ at 7:30 & 11:00 am, and 1:00 pm.; or Groom those blooms to enter on Saturday morning, catch on tv30.org. March 5th, 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. All entries are welcome. Bring address labels to speed the process. • The Livermore Amador Valley ­ Club will meet Thursday, Enjoy the show on: March 5th, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. March 10th. Join us for a lecture March 6th, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Asian Influenced by Bill ­MacNamera. And mark your calendar for April 14th to hear Succulents in our Homes by Paolo and Darya ­Ferrer. Power The meetings will be held at the Alisal School, 1454 Santa Rita Road, “ it and They will Come” ­Pleasanton. Guests are always welcome Hummingbirds, butterflies, beneficial and refreshments will be served. Visit ­insects and native bring life, joy and www.lavgc.org for more information. ­movement to the garden and help us appreciate­ • Fremont Garden Club meets the 3rd the smaller miracles of the natural world. Wednesday of each month Feb. – Oct. These “good guys” will flock to your garden Guest speakers, field trips, annual­ with the simple addition of plants that provide ­garden tea. For more information, shelter, and larval food. phone 510-401-0138 or email Whether gardening for pleasure or to [email protected]. ­produce edibles, attracting these small marvels­ • Mt. Diablo Rose Society meets the of nature into your garden has never been second Wednesday of the month, easier or more important. Alden Lane is featuring a diverse selection of 7:30 p.m. Join Bill Mann for The Roses ­natives, perennials, and annuals each month so you can “plant it and they will of Star Roses. This month the meeting come”. Visit each month to see our featured profusion of beautiful host and is at the Shannon Community Center in Amborse Hall, 11600 Shannon food source plants. ­Avenue, Dublin, CA. Visit We would like to encourage you to get your pollinator pride on by joining­ www.mtdiablorosesociety.org. the nationwide “Million Pollinator Garden Challenge” sponsored by • San Francisco Flower & Garden the ­National Pollinator Garden network. The network is rallying us all, from Show celebrating 30th Anniversary – ­window box to those with yards and larger properties, to help ­ensure March 16-20 at the San Mateo Event the health of our local flora and fauna. It's as easy as visiting their website Center. You can purchase general www.millionpollinatorgardens.org or visiting Twitter #PolliNation and admission tickets at Alden Lane. Stroll registering your garden. through designer , watch demos by world class floral designers and March Pollinator Palette browse a wide selection of specialty • Santa Barbara Daisy (Erigeron sp.): shops. Visit www.sfgardenshow.com for • Snapdragons: upright, cheery more information on the event. low growing mound with small white annuals grace gardens with loads of fading to lavender daisies. Low care. blooms. • Bouquet’s to Art is at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, April • California Wild Lilac (Ceanothus • Grevillea: from down under, a 5-10. Show hours are 8:30 to 5 p.m. sp.): spring blooms in shades of blue whole range of heat lovers bloom daily. ­Floral designers fill the de ­attract pollinators and provide homes for in shades of coral – irresistible to Young ­galleries with floral tributes butterfly larvae. ­hummingbirds. ­complementing works of art. For • Citrus: heady fragrance we love • Rosemary: the same aromatic, ­information call 800-777-9996 or ­attracts the pollinators needed to low water user we love in the visit www.bouquetstoart.org. ­produce oranges and lemons. kitchen is a pollinator magnet. Spring Shouts Color for Home & Garden! We are back from our big shopping trip to the gift market! New for spring is lots of color. Shades of coral, turquoise and blue all add a cheerful brilliant tone to home decor and gardening this spring. You won't want to miss adding touches of these lovely hues to your clothing too! We have new scarves, necklaces and purses from Simply Noelle in all of the colors of spring. Serious Hand Repair Cream is new from Naked Bee! This extra rich hand cream containing Ceramide 3, helps seal in moisture for dry hands. It also contains Safflower oil, Borage oil, and Shea and Cocoa Butters. Come in and try it! We have found new miniature and fairy figurines from some of our favorite vendors. There's an adorable bear reading a book, new dragons­ roaring and fairy babies with ­dragonflies. Come see what's new and create a fairy garden today! Easter is on March 27th, and we have loads of Easter themed gifts & taste treats – not to ­ mention darling statuary bunnies and religious figurines.

Give the “Gift of Green” To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day You do know that everyone is Irish on St. ­Patrick’s Day? To ­celebrate this wonderful­ day stop by the nursery and choose something­ green! One of the day’s specialties­ is pot of shamrocks.­ We can even add a green bow to make it official! So stop by and celebrate the ‘wearing of the green’. Win A Citrus Tree You’ll be enjoying home grown oranges, lemons or limes when you win your ­citrus in this month’s contest. Just drop off the entry form at the nursery the next time you visit, and you may be the winner!

CITRUS You’ll win: March 2016 • (1) 5 gallon citrus of Name:______your choice valued at Address:______$49.99. A $86.95 Value • 1.5 cubic ft of Master’s City:______­Acid Planting Mix No purchase Phone:______• 5 lbs. of Master’s Start necessary. • 5 lbs. of Iron Sulfate Email:______Drawing to be • 5 lbs. of Master’s held 3/31/2016.  Yes, I would like to receive the newsletter online. ­Citrus Food Notes for March Gardening

Feed! Feed! Feed! It’s time to refresh your garden plants. Remember to plant gladiolus bulbs (corms) every two Fertilize all of your plants to support spring growth. For weeks and you’ll have armloads of cut flowers through landscape shrubs and trees feed with Master’s Formula 49 the summer. All Purpose Plant Food. If you have citrus or avocado trees, e use Master’s Citrus Food. This is a good time to start feed- e Remember to water plants under eaves and in ing fruit trees, grapes and berries. We recommend Master’s ­containers. It’s important now to deep water trees and Fruit Tree & Vine Food for the nutrition your plants need shrubs if it isn’t raining on a regular basis. Their root to produce the best ever! Your roses will appreciate a systems are starting to grow now. monthly feeding of Master’s Rose & Flower Food. e Plant your potatoes on St. Patrick’s Day if you haven’t Prune azaleas and camellias into shape after their got them in the ground. See us for instructions and best blooms have faded. Feed them Master’s Camellia, ­Azalea varieties. and Gardenia Food and Iron Plus monthly thru ­October. e Start annual morning glories from seed this month and e Place Yellow Jacket traps out early this month to catch establish them in the garden or a pot by summer! Morning the queen before she starts her family. Prevention is the glories are one of the most stunning of the old fashioned best cure! garden flowers. Flowers are huge – three to five inches e across – and bright, colorful blue, purple or pink. Best of e Give your lawn “a meal – not a snack” with Master Green all, morning glories are easy! Lawn Food. Combat Citrus leaf miner organically. Hang traps in Now is the time to set out snail bait. We carry Master’s your citrus to catch the flying adult. This will greatly reduce e Snail control products in a variety of forms. Use Sluggo if damage to new growth of your lemons, oranges and other you want a non-toxic alternative. citrus. Hot Pepper Wax Spray insect repellent has been a e helpful control as well. e This is a good time to think about lawn renovation or lawn alternatives. e Cooke’s Wisteria Dazzles in Spring and Summer Wisterias are durable and beautiful vines, surviving drought with little to no added water and blooming spectacularly each spring. One Wisteria, in particular, stands from the others, because it repeats its bloom through summer. The spring bloom itself is enough to want the vine, but the added benefit of repeat blooms in summer gives Cooke’s Special Purple Wisteria an appeal like no other. Why not shade a patio with this beautiful bloomer? Cooke’s Purple Wisteria is our favorite Wisteria; we sell more of this variety than any other. We have a couple of them planted at the nursery. Neither of which suffered through the drought despite receiving little-added water. Each March or April these wisterias crack color and unfurl slowly to provide a lengthy display lasting as long as a month . . . blossoms unfurl first, followed by lacy leaves. Then as ­summer heats up additional blossoms pepper the vine ­occasionally through Summer. Wisteria is grown most often as a vine but can be trained into a small tree. It is a rampant grower and can reach out 20-30 feet. As a vine, it must be supported by a heavy ­structure, such as a built-in wood arbor or pergola. If grown as a self-supporting tree, start out training it up a pair of lodgepole stakes. It will normally be kept at about 15' high and wide. Wisteria can grow in full sun or morning sun and they bloom best if they suffer a bit of drought. Wisterias planted near a lawn will not bloom well. Water regularly the first 1 to 2 years to establish. We usually carry Cooke’s Wisteria in 5-gallon and 15-gallon­ sizes, both as a vine and also as a small tree. Select your wisteria early, as the supply diminishes as the season and the blossoms unfold. Container Gardening Class Saturday, March 19th at 2:00 p.m. This offering is co-sponsored by the American ­Association of University Women - ­Livermore, Pleasanton,­ Dublin branch. Refreshments will be served. Join Jacquie for a FREE Container Gardening Class. Enjoy an hour long class and demonstration on container gardening. The class will ­include how to sustainably grow vegetables, fruit and flowers in pots. Jacquie will discuss options for sun and shade and show all the ­ingredients to create beautiful and fruitful containers.

Clay Pot Planted Wreath Saturday, March 26th from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. What creative FUN! Join us in making a glorious clay pot wreath for inside or out, succulents included! Easy to craft if you can twist a little wire. Bring your friends or family – open to age 12 to 120 – so come “twist and shout” with the crafters at Alden Lane. The cost is $55.00 + tax. If you would like to see a color picture, visit our website at www. aldenlane and click on “classes” Reserve your space with our Alden Lane Cashiers by Tues. March 22nd. Space is limited. See you there! Hands-On Orchid Workshop Sunday, April 10th from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Why? How come? and What now? are the words we hear most from orchid enthusiasts who have taken the time to actually try and grow and bloom these beauties they have received as gifts or rescued from a dismal dumpster fate. Our orchid guru, Sue Fordyce Darden is pleased to announce a new, hands-on basic orchid class. Better than a video, because you get to do it in person! Please bring two orchids that you are concerned about or you think may need repotting (if you don’t have any orchids, but just want to learn, bring yourself). We will go over all the basics of orchid care and then roll up your sleeves, because after a demonstration, you will repot those babies (with guidance). Bring with you clean pots about the size you think your plant will go into. We will also have pots available for purchase if don’t have some. We will provide the bark or sphagnum moss. Also bring with you an apron or gloves if you think you will need it. After you leave this class you will have all the basic knowledge to grow beautiful orchids and become your OWN orchid guru! The cost for this class is $25.00 per person. Please sign up with our Alden Lane Cashiers (925)447-0280. Class size is limited.

Mt. Diablo Iris Show & Plant Sale is April 23rd and 24th Join the fun this weekend and come check out the fabulous colors and varieties available in Iris. The show is ­Saturday, April 23rd from Noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 24th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Not only will you be able to see a fantastic representation of Iris but you’ll be able to purchase some as well. Come stroll through our rose collection. We have hundreds of plants budded and ready to burst into bloom. Our #1 grade roses are especially beautiful. The Ultimate Rose Feeding Recipe This Program, inspired by David Lowell, provides for general plant vigor and wonderful looking roses! For use on ­established roses only (planted for at least 6 months). Apply in MARCH and AUGUST. For each rose apply: • 16-16-16 March only Application 1/2 cup/rose (5# bag for 18 roses) • 5-5-5 August only Application 1/2 cup/rose (4# box for about 9 roses) • Bone Meal 1/2 cup per rose (4# bag for 18 roses) • Sulfur* 1/2 cup per rose (5# bag for 18 roses) • Gypsum 1/2 cup per rose (5# bag for 18 roses) • Magnesium Sulfate 2 Tbs. per rose (5# bag for 70+ roses) • Chicken Fertilizer 1 shovel per rose (1 bag for 9 roses)

*to supply sulfur, use one of the following: Iron Sulfate, Iron Plus*, or Soil Sulfur. Iron containing­ products can stain. Wash off adjacent paving after application.­ (*Iron Plus is non-staining.) Make sure to water your roses the day before feeding. Sprinkle the first 5 ingredients around each rose and mix into soil if possible. Then sprinkle the chicken fertilizer around each rose and water everything in. Do NOT combine this recipe with systemic rose fertilizer.­ It poses a serious­ health risk to pets if ingested. Pets are attracted­ to the bone meal and may ingest­ systemic rose fo­ ­od if it is included­ in this recipe or applied other months in the same area. Alden Lane Nursery recommends applying­ Master ­Nursery Rose and Flower Food ­monthly, April through July and September (skipping August for Spring and Fall Fertilizer­ Program above). A one inch mulch layer may be put around your roses to conserve water and insulate­ roots from summer heat. ­However, to encourage early bloom, delay mulching­ until after the soil has been warmed by spring temperatures.

Need Help For Your Yard?? Bonide Tree & Shrub Insect Control One application provides a whole year of protection! Many gardeners have at least one tree that before they begin. This product is particularly susceptible to insect infestations can be used on ornamentals for of one kind or another. Sometimes an insect control of borers, aphids and drops a sticky substance that makes a mess of scale, as well as many other the patio or whatever is parked below it. An insects. (NOTE: it may also be insect can weaken the tree, or in the case of used on a few edibles: apples, borers, eventually kill the tree. Usually when a pears and cherries, peach, plum customer brings in samples to the nursery and and pecans.) Bonide Tree and wonders what can be done, the infestation is Insect Control is very easy far enough along that any treatment is expen- to use. It is not sprayed on, but is diluted with water and poured sive and too late. Bonide Tree and Shrub Insect around the base of the tree. One application provides a whole year of Control is effective and is very easy to use. protection. Get a head start and apply it to those trees you have with Apply it now to prevent this year’s infestations a reputation for infestation. Beneficials For Your Garden With weather warming we will soon carry beneficial nematodes for controlling grubs and other insect larvae that overwinter in the soil. We will also carry earthworms for improving your garden soil. Both these organisms are wonderful and natural but have a short shelf life so we would like interested customers to pick them up as soon as possible. Check out aldenlane.com to sign up to be notified when these good guys arrive in early March. We can put your name on a box or two. Nematodes last 4-6 weeks in the fridge, and earthworms just under 2 weeks, so it’s important to get them and release them when they are fresh. Ladybugs will be arriving soon, too. The KOKEDAMA STRING GARDENS Are HERE! What a beautiful way to display your houseplants and patio foliage! This is the hottest trend since macramé. Kokedama means “Moss Ball” in Japanese, and we have these hanging moss ball containers in 2 sizes and 2 colors (green and natural). You can either create­ a ­hanging garden (super­ for planting and ­displaying orchids)­ or they also look ­stunning in a bowl with rocks as a more natural container than a pot (great for your thirstier plants). Come in and check them out in our ­Garden Store. Tiny Trees! We always have a nice selection of Bonsai plants to choose from, both starters and fully finished, as well as books, tools and pots, but wait until you see the beauties that just arrived! We have a large assortment of 4" potted starters from Isley Nursery­ in Oregon that are beautiful! We only get them once a year – so don’t miss out. They are perfect not only for outdoor Bonsai, but also a great addition to outdoor fairy gardens, or miniature gardens in general.­ We have a selection of Pines, Cotoneaster, Hemlock, Spruce, Firs, Holly and Elm and more – come in and check it out! The Valley Bonsai Society meets on the 3rd Sat. of each month at 2 pm here at Alden Lane. The Club welcomes all visitors. Prevent Wormy Apples Recipe for Good Garden Soil! If you have apple trees and want to monitor codling Good Garden Soil Starts Here!! moth activity to determine the best time to spray, use one If you are preparing a vegetable garden now or just of our Codling Moth Traps. The lure or bait in the trap ­dreaming about it, it’s still a great time to improve the soil. duplicates the female codling moths’ pheromone, (scented ­Follow our “Recipe” to improve the texture and fertility hormone) which attracts the male. Periodically looking of your little piece of earth. This should be a part of your into the trap in search of captured moths will alert you as ­vegetable garden routine 1 to 2 times a year. Amend the ­valley to when the moths are present. soils to give your plants their best ­opportunity for growth. Traps should be used at least two weeks before buds Keep this recipe handy for your planting needs. break. Use one to two Fruit Tree Pest Traps per tree to help you monitor codling moth activity. Each carton includes 2 traps, lure and hanger. When codling moths first appear (usually when about For each 100 square feet add: 3/4 of the flower petals have fallen from the tree), wait one  10 cubic feet of : Master Gold Rush or week and spray with Garden Tech Sevin once, and then Bumper Crop® (5-8 bags) spray weekly with Spinosad mixed with light summer oil  5 lbs. Iron Sulfate to acidify and add iron. or Take Down for 2-3 weeks. Replace traps monthly and  10 lbs. or repeat spray regime after additional generations of moths Master Vegetable Food Master Flower Food, Master Formula 49 can be used for ground ­covers. are trapped.  40 lbs. Gypsum to loosen hard soils as it adds ­sulfur & Check out the UC Cooperative Extension Service web calcium. (An excellent addition in our heavy soil.) site for more detailed options. http://homeorchard.ucdavis. edu/apple.html. Mix well with your soil to an 8" depth and water well. For Fabulous Flower Beds – Read on! Spectacular flower beds can be yours with just a little pre-planning and a trip to Alden Lane Nursery. You can still plant your flower beds with Alyssum, Calendula, Dianthus, Iceland Poppies, Violas, Stock, and Violas. For shade gardeners do not forget Primroses in a multitude of colors. All of these blooming beauties will flower for the months ahead. Also coming toward the end of March you will be able to plant Bachelor buttons, Fibrous Begonias and Lobelia, Marigolds, Petunias, and Impatiens. Come to Alden Lane Nursery for all your annual color needs. See you soon! Lilacs are Great for Planting in Spring! Nasturtiums: The Edible Flower This year some of the varieties we will have are ‘Angel For Shade Gardens White’ which has spectacular clusters of fragrant pure Warm your palette and your plate with these spicy white flowers. ‘Charles Jolly’ bears gorgeous double, deep summer annuals. wine-red flower clusters, ‘Ludwig Spaeth’ has heavily ­fragrant reddish-purple to dark purple single flowers Nasturtiums: which bloom a bit later than other lilacs. ‘Blue Skies’ long time a favorite makes a beautiful show of light lavender-blue flowers and for the bright shade ‘Sensation’ is trusses of purplish-red florets edged with garden, come in white and a captivating fragrance you’ll not want to miss! hot salsa colors of red, orange, yellow,­ Some other varieties include ‘Miss Kim’, ‘Pocahontas’, and everything­ ‘Miss Canada’, ‘President Lincoln’, and ’Declaration’ in-between.­ (this variety reblooms!). There are many choices to bring ­Nasturtiums spicy beauty and fragrance into your garden. attitude is inherited­ Lilacs range in size from its close anywhere from 6-12 ­cousin, the herb, feet depending­ on the Watercress, and variety. You will want like their cousin, to plant them in morning ­nasturtiums are sun and afternoon shade in ­edible. The brilliant colors­ are both beautiful and tasty the ­inland areas. Drop in and tossed in salads, or filled with cream cheese piped through let us help you pick the perfect a pastry sleeve. Lilac for your garden. Nasturtiums look fabulous in the garden or patio. They lend an informal, country feel. They are great in hanging Summer Bouquets baskets or planters or massed in a bed. Choose from dwarf varieties that hug the earth at 8" high, or vining varieties Start Today that ramble or climb. All the bulbs you plant this Plant seeds for nasturtiums in a location where plants spring will fill your summer will receive morning sun and afternoon shade (or a spot gardens with armloads of with bright shade all day). If you don't have a shady spot, beautiful cut flowers. Think plant them in among cosmos. The cosmos will grow tall about what a great addition and the nasturtiums will climb up through its shade. the dahlias and gladiolus will Nasturtium seeds require darkness to germinate. Sow provide to a summer bouquet. seeds in the garden about the middle of March or later Glads – The tall flower stalks covered with beautiful and cover with one half inch of soil. They grow easily this florets. If you plant two weeks apart you will have plenty way or if you would like to wait just a bit, nasturtium of garden color and loads of cut flowers to arrange in plants arrive at the nursery later this month. ­summer bouquets. Dahlias – Take your pick of separate colors in dinner plate, decorative, cactus and pompom flower forms. They are show stoppers. Seed Starting Tuberous Begonias – Beautiful hybrids with ruffled Now is a wonderful time of year to get a jump start double flowers in rose form, upright and hanging basket on a vegetable or flower gardening by selecting seeds varieties. Choose firm tubers for planting. and starting plants indoors. Seeds that are started Check with our staff for detailed planting instructions. ­indoors get a few weeks jump on those planted We have the bulbs, the know-how and the experience to ­directly into the ground. get you growing. Seed starting is easy when you have a heating mat and a covered seed starting tray. We have Grow Your Own Spring/Easter Grass! versions that sit on the windowsill or on the counter. Seeds started now will be ready to set out later this Easter is March 27th month or early next month. We have wheat and annual rye seed, perfect to grow an Vegetable seeds to try include all the tomatoes, instant Easter egg nest in pots, bowls, vases and baskets. ­peppers, beans, squash, cucumbers and corn. For Simply fill the container with soil, sprinkle with seed, water flowers try morning glories, nasturtiums, zinnias, and watch it grow! Wheat seed germinates in 3-4 days and and Black-eyed Susan vine. the annual­ rye in 7-10 days. PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #274 Livermore, CA

981 Alden Lane Livermore, CA 94550 (925) 447-0280 aldenlane.com

Nursery Hours 8:30 to 5:00 Daily through Sunday, March 13th 8:30 to 6:00 beginning Monday, March 14th

IMPORTANT! Time Critical Please Deliver Promptly

0316 CLOSED EASTER SUNDAY, MARCH 27th

SPECIAL COUPON HOW TO FIND Present This Coupon & A Canned Food Item ALDEN LANE to Alden Lane to Receive NURSERY $5 OFF the ­Citrus of your Choice!!

Food Donations are Optional. All donations go to local relief agencies. One coupon per family, please! Offer Good March 1-31, 2016.