DECEMBER 2001 Serving You Since 1955 981 Alden Lane, Livermore, CA • www.aldenlane.com • (925) 447-0280 Announcements Alden Lane is selling bundles of The Spirit of the Holiday Season! trimmings for firewood. Each By David Brown bundle is $5.99. In all my years in the retail business I have never experienced such a unique Watch the Valley Gardener for great holiday spirit as I have at Alden Lane gardening tips with Jacquie Williams Nursery. Not only do you receive many Courtright. Tune in 4 days a week on creative ideas in our beautiful gift shop Cable Channel 30. Monday at noon & but even before you enter the store. You 3:30 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 7 a.m. will be taken in by the lustrous selection & 11 a.m & 2:30 p.m. of Colorado Blue Spruce, Dwarf Alberta Spruce, variegated Lemon, Holly,

Cyclamen, Rosemary topiaries trimmed Livermore-Amador Valley Garden with ornamental kale and cabbage. Be- Club meets January 8th at 7 p.m. The tween these scents and the lush look of location is the Alisal Elementary all these you can’t help but find School, 1454 Santa Rita Road, yourself right in the heart of ! Pleasanton. This month’s program will It’s now time to do some serious be “Growing Wine in your Garden Christmas shopping in the Gift Shop. with Gloria Taylor of Retz Laff Winery. There are two dozen or more decorated theme trees trimmed with your This is the month to perennial favorite Christmas ornaments. We also vegetables and fruits. Think about it – have a fabulous line of Christmas blackberry cobbler, strawberry pies, fragranced potpourri – choose from: and fresh fruit for your cereal – yum Evergreen spice, Cinnamon Cider, yum! Set out strawberries, rhubarb, Natural Woods, and Holiday “Cheers”. raspberry, blackberry and many other Now, don’t forget candles . . . I’m sure cane fruits this month. If you like asparagus and artichokes, the starts we have a shape and fragrance to complement your holiday décor. And then there are available for those too. Come by are Snowtown Collectables to enhance any buffet or tabletop along with a wide and let us help you choose your selection of silk floral and wreaths. Are you tired of your Christmas stand? favorites. Enhance the look of your tree by setting it on a gazing ball stand or a beautiful pot to give it more height. And of course, no gift shop is complete without Burt’s Bee and its world famous lip balm and other body products. You can also choose from And don’t forget to add some zing to our Bath and Body Collection: Honey & Oatmeal, Lavender, and a special Pari- your cooking. Garlic starts are here. sian Collection – Pre de Provence. Plant November through early Come and enjoy the fragrance of spruce, the bright colors of poinsettias, cyclamen January for the best results. and azaleas and of course, a relaxing atmosphere. May the spirit of Christmas be with all of you this season! Friends of Alden Lane are organizing themselves at Alden ALDEN LANE’S HOLIDAY HOURS Lane Nursery on December 8th at 1:00 p.m. to show appreciation for WINTER CHRISTMAS EVE: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. the nursery’s past service to the HOURS Closed December 25, 2001 community and to participate in the Alden Lane Open December 26th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for our new look for the future. We might will be open: Annual Christmas 1/2 OFF SALE! put in a walk of personalized bricks 8:30 a.m. – Closed December 27th through and/or help create a Children’s 5:00 p.m. January 1st. Happy New Year! Educational Facility. Come with nd your ideas. 7 days a week. Open January 2 with regular winter hours Horticultural Treasures: Living Gifts By Steve Campbell Seasonal change is one of the many exciting draws for me in the nursery industry. There is always something new happening, such as the first brilliant leaves of Japanese Maples in spring or the festive colors of Crape Myrtle in the summer. Or how about the delicious fragrance of the first roses to bloom in the spring? Even in December the nursery offers many horticultural treasures that are perfect gifts that can be enjoyed and remembered by friends and family for years to come. One of the classics is Winter Daphne. It blooms late December through February. A small shrub that does best in morning sun and afternoon shade, it produces clusters of waxy, cream colored fragrant flowers. I have seen it most successfully grown in terracotta or wood containers which can be set by your entrance way or patio so you can enjoy the sweet fragrance. Many varieties of citrus show off their ripening fruit during the early months of winter. Lemons, oranges, kumquats, tangerine and Satsuma mandarins to name a few. When most plants are dormant citrus is in its true glory. Camellias in all shapes and sizes are just beginning the long bloom season. Glossy green foliage abound with rounded buds are the perfect backdrop to large showy open flowers. Rose, roses, roses…weather permitting we receive several thousand roses the week before Christmas. Even though they are dormant, we plant them up into biodegradable pulp pots for easy planting. We will do a complimentary foil wrap and bow to make a colorful gift presentation. Dormancy can be dramatic especially when it comes to Coral Bark Maples and Red Twig Dogwoods. Both are small trees that display their beautiful red branches during the coldest days of winter. They are a great gift for the gardening connoisseur! Alden Lane Nursery is one of the Bay Area’s best kept secrets. Come and enjoy our peaceful setting under the oak trees. Our staff will be very glad to help you find a horticultural treasure, a living gift.

Not To Be Forgotten or Missed This Holiday Season!!! The Gift Shop’s Flower Fairy Collection These darling resin figurines were inspired by Cicely Mary Barker, the author of the Flower Fairy book series. Nursery owner, Jacquie, and her husband, Tom, saw them in England this summer and wanted to make them available here. The figurines have a bronze patina finish and come complete with a decorative gift box that describes the Our Unique Selection of Poinsettias character. These 8"-12" figures are great for year around indoor decorating or gift giving. We still have available the classic “Winter Rose” and the “Plum Purple”. (Yes, a purple poinsettia). You have to have Our Beautiful Collection of one! Poinsettia Care Tips Dried Everlasting Wreaths Keep the plants in bright indoor light You can’t pass up these hand worked wreaths with Avoid sudden temperature changes. Do not use outside. a selection of berry piks, dried evergreens, leaves and Keep plants slightly moist and do not place near a heat- assorted fruits. They come in an array of different sizes ing vent or open fire. and can be displayed on any door, or wall – even that one If you set poinsettias outside to decorate your entryway, area you don’t know how to decorate! Come and see this you must bring them inside each evening. Chilling tempera- special collection while supplies last! tures will kill poinsettias. Care For Your Living A living Christmas tree is a gift to your personal environment that everyone can enjoy! By choosing a living tree over a “cut” one, you can add beauty as well as make vital contribution to ecology. To keep your tree green and beautiful through the holiday season, it is important that it receive adequate air, light, moisture and a comfortable temperature. The requirements of all living Christ- mas tree indoors are much the same as those of an ordinary houseplant. The following are answers to commonly asked questions: ? Where should I place the tree indoors? Situate your tree in a well lighted room, as opposed to a dark location where drapes are drawn or natural light is inadequate. ? What about watering? Keep the roots of the tree moist. If the tree is growing in a nursery container, this simplifies the watering. If the rootball is contained in burlap, set it in a suitable container to catch the drainage and then saturate the rootball with water. A heavy plastic covering under the container will pro- tect your floor or carpeting. Never allow the tree to remain standing in water, but be careful that the plant doesn’t dry out between waterings. ? Can I decorate the tree with ornaments and lights? Absolutely! Lightweight ornaments and minia- ture lights are recommended. Display decorated trees on the porch or patio as well as indoors, to add a festive Holiday Spirit to outdoor areas. ? How long can the tree be kept indoors? We recommend keeping the tree indoors about 1 week if your home is kept warm. It may stay inside a little longer if the room is quite cool. Avoid placing the tree next to a fireplace or heating outlet since the excess heat can damage a live Christmas tree as well as a cut one. ? Does the tree need any special care after Christmas? After your living Christmas tree has served its purpose indoors, remove all decorations, take the tree outdoors and hose off its foliage with a fine mist spray. This will be helpful in the tree’s transition from indoor to outdoor living, whether it is planted in a landscape or grown in a container as a decorative accessory. Fresh Greens Fill the House With the Fragrance of the Season Deck the halls with boughs of holly, pine, fir, cedar and other sweetly scented evergreens. Bring the fragrance of the holidays indoors to your home with wreaths, swags, and even . We have gorgeous sprays of several kinds of evergreens fresh from the state of Washington. Stop by the nursery and let us help you with custom decorated wreaths and swags as well as the right amount of garland to dress the banisters and mantle. Measure the lengths of staircases and door frames to ensure you’ll have enough. Check with us for all of your tree trimming ideas! Recycle Your Christmas Trees 3 Ways

In Livermore • Trees must be cut into lengths that will allow 1. Boy Scouts of America Annual Fund- the lid or cart to easily and completely close. Raiser. Tree pickup Day – Saturday, January 5, 2002. For a $5 donation, local Boy Scouts will pick If you have any questions please call 447-1300. up Christmas trees on Saturday, January 5. Call 454-9746 or 454-9577 (no later than January 2) to In Pleasanton schedule your pick up or trees can be dropped off 1. Pleasanton Garbage Service will pick up at Alden Lane Nursery on Saturday, January 5th . trees on two Saturdays in January . . . Jan. 12th 2. Special One-Time Tree Pickup – Week of and Jan. 19th. Cut your tree in 4 foot sections and January 7, 2002. On your regular service day, a set it curbside the night before. No stands, , special truck will pass down your street and pick ornaments or lights, please. up Christmas trees at the curb. Trees must be at 2. If you miss these pick up dates, you may the curb no later than 5:30 a.m. Please adhere to bring the trees to the transfer station at 3110 these restrictions: Busch Road, Pleasanton. • Only clean trees are acceptable (no flocking, 3. Call your Boy Scout Troop for a pick- tinsel, or tree stands) up with a small donation. • Trees must be cut to 6 feet or less. 3. Using Your Green Waste Cart: Use your Green Waste cart to recycle Christmas trees any- time after the holiday with the following restrictions: • Only clean trees are acceptable (no flocking, tinsel, or tree stands) DECEMBER GARDENING CALENDAR

Come on by the nursery and pick up a gift certificate for your favorite gardening pal, the postal carrier or the baby-sitter. It’s a gift sure to please anybody and everybody on your shopping list. Protect fruit trees and deciduous shade trees from peach-leaf curl and other de- structive diseases and pests. Use Copper Dormant Spray plus Master Nursery Spray Grip. Protect frost tender plants when frosts are expected. Spray with Cloud Cover, use burlap, Fast Start Plant Blanket Fabric or cardboard boxes to cover. Try not to let the covering material rest on the plant. Uncover the plant during the day unless using clear plastic film. String Christmas tree lights on your frost tender plants when a freeze is expected. The warmth from the bulbs will provide another measure of protection. Pruning workshops will be held on Saturday, December 8th at 10 a.m. and Sunday, December 16th at 1 p.m. Plan on attending one of these informative seminars and find out how to shape deciduous trees and shrubs, prune fruit trees properly or get any of your own pruning questions answered. Poinsettias, cyclamen, and Christmas Cactus make wonderful hostess gifts and thank you’s to work associates. And don’t forget to treat yourself and decorate the home too. Take care of gift plants by placing them in a comfortable, well-lit area of the home. Punch a hole in the foil covering for drainage. Place away from drafts. Set our winter blooming annuals for a garden filled with blooming color. Choose primroses, pansies, Iceland poppies and more. Check with the staff. Holiday greetings and many thanks for your patronage through the rest of the year. The staff of Alden Lane Nursery wishes you a prosperous and healthy new millennium. Alden Lane Nursery will be closed on December 25, open on 26th for our 10th annual Christ- mas ½ off sale, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. We will be closed December 27th through January 1st. Happy New Year to all of our special Customers!

Thank You and Applause for All of These Wonderful Winners!!

Thank You Girl Scouts! A BIG thank you to all of the wonderful Girl Scout Troops that helped staff our Fall Activities in October. We appreciate your time and helpfulness! THANK YOU TO TROOP NUMBERS: 1936, 2348, 861, 2470, 167, 1573, 263, 1004, 1817, 2568, 2347, 1464, 2285, 187, 212, 868, 1943, 2875, 2816, 398, 1160, 978, 1584

Winners of the Largest Pumpkin Contest Amanda Stear 1st Place - 128 lbs. Robert Rowenhorste 2nd Place - 81 lbs. Elizabeth Farrell 3rd Place – 49 ½ lbs.

Winners of our Scarecrow Contest at Fall Festival The “Traditional” Group The “60’s” Group The “Movie’s” Group 1st Place Troop #1683 1st Place Troop #1377 1st Place Troop #1738 2nd Place Troop #2863 2nd Place Troop #310 2nd Place Troop #2200 3rd Place Troop #2791 3rd Place Troop #868 3rd Place Troop #1568 Christmas Stocking Stuffer Ideas! As the holiday season bustles along at breath taking speed it’s hard to remember who’s been taken care of and who’s not! So drop by Alden Lane for a bit of a breather. While you’re enjoying the fragrant spruce and pine you might want to pick up a few gifts for your gardening buddies. We have an awesome selection. And believe us when we say “there’s something for everyone!” A handful of Zinc or Copper Pant Markers in a stocking would be a welcome sight to a gardener who would like to remember what seeds or perennials were planted and where. Colonial Candles are loaded with fragrance and burn a long time. They fill a room with comfort and will bless someone’s stocking’s too. Several great fragrances are avail- able. Felco pruning shears are great to hold and use. They are our top-of-the-line pruning shear. Felco pruning saw is extremely sharp and easy to use. Tahoe Gardening Gloves are high on comfort and wearability; built specifically for ladies’ hands or choose from a variety of fun colored gloves from other manufacturers. Flower or vegetable seed packets are an easy gift to recommend. Like giving someone a dream in a packet. Seed starting pellets or pots make a great stocking stuffer. They inspire those in need of a fresh start. Also include a seed starting heating mat. Aromatique potpourri brings wonderful fragrance inside. A welcome gift for any home. An Alden Lane Gift Certificate takes up so little space in a stocking but can mean so much to the recipient. Traditionally, this gift is a big problem solver that leaves everyone smiling. A dozen Paperwhite bulbs and a pot for forcing indoors. The Dramm company makes a great collection of (They are so easy; they can bloom indoors in just 5 to 6 brightly Colored Water Wands; a color for every personality. weeks.) Almost anyone would find a water wand useful whether nurturing plants or cleaning a motorcycle. The Rainbow Also for forcing in a pot indoors, Amaryllis bulbs Water Wand may not slip inside a stocking, but it can produce huge flowers. Some of the flowers are four inches certainly be strapped on the side of one. across. Available in a variety of colors. Adirondack Rocking Chairs Alden Lane has the most comfortable Adirondack style rocking chairs we have ever slumped back in. These rockers are beautifully made in Canada of western red cedar. They look good and they are so wonderful to sit in. The company who makes these chairs only builds them in the winter months when weather prohibits outdoor work. (For this reason they have been a bit difficult to keep in stock. We have secured our first shipment for the new year and can provide a limited number of the chairs for those of you who are looking for a very special gift for Dad and Mom, Grandma and Grandpa or a close friend. Come in for a test drive (quickly). We don’t know how long supplies will last Bulbs For Growing or Gift Giving This is Amaryllis and paper-white season. Some bulbs are blessed with a remarkable ability to bloom shortly after planting and when grown indoors. Alden Lane has a selection of some of the largest amaryills bulbs on the planet. These bulbs come in a variety of colors and can bloom as short as 6 weeks after you put them in a pot and begin to water them. After they bloom, keep them in a frost protected area, (Outside in the warm season ideally.) In late summer or early fall, stop watering the pot and let the leaves wither. Cut the dried leaves just above the bulb and set in a cool dark place. The whole process begins again next Winter when you start to water the pot. Paperwhites also make a great gift or house warming. A handful of bulbs in a bowl will delight the recipient when they fill their home with fragrance and memories of your thoughtfulness. (They bloom in just 6 weeks when grown indoors.) Pruning & Roses Workshops at Alden Lane Pruning workshops will be held Saturday, Dec. 8th at 10 a.m. and Sunday, December 16th at 1 p.m. Plan on attending one of these informative workshops and learn the basics to shape deciduous trees and shrubs, prune fruit trees properly or get any of your own pruning questions answered. Mark your calendars for January 12 and 13 so you’ll Join Us For These be sure to join us for a dynamic presentation by All America Rose Selections (AARS) Consulting Rosarians: Upcoming Classes David Lowell and Ken & Judy Jones. David will be at Alden Lane Nursery at 10 a.m on Saturday, January 12th and the Jones’ will be here at 1 p.m. on January 13th to talk about care for the most popular flower in America – the rose. They will speak about the best varieties for the Livermore Valley as well as proper pruning techniques, feeding and general care. Call 447-0280 to reserve space for this free clinic. Kids Club Stepping Stone Workshop Come decorate a stepping stone on Saturday, December 15th at 11:00 a.m to preserve a lasting memory. Give a gift that a parent or grandparent will cherish for years. A stepping stone decorated by a child with little pieces or memorabilia and a hand print will capture a moment in stone to be enjoyed more and more with the passage of time. We make the mess, your kids get to be as creative as they wish, and we clean it up. We will have 9x9 stones poured and ready to decorate. Bring your own decorations, or use our collection of stones, beach glass and pottery. Cost is $18 per stone. Call ahead to register and pre-pay. Las Positas College Horticulture Classes Call now for registration information for these great horticulture classes – 373-5800. The spring semester begins January 21st. You can also call (925) 426-0197 or log on www.laspositas.cc.ca.us. Rose & Grape Pruning Classes at Concannon Winery Concannon Vineyard, 4950 Tesla Road, will host both rose and grape pruning demonstrations on January 26th . Mt. Diablo Rose Society members will be on hand to demonstrate rose pruning if you happen to miss our earlier demonstra- tions. Rose demonstrations will be at 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. followed by the Grape pruning demonstration 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. For information call 447-0280. Composting Class Worm Composting Class on Sunday, January 27th from 2-4 p.m. at the Livermore Composting Garden, 3589 Pacific Avenue. For more information call the Rotline at 510-444-SOIL (7645).

New Viola Varieties Do you have a winter sun garden and want to plant something new? Try these new varieties of violas. They have a very long blooming cycle, and can last into the summer with their built in heat tolerance. Violas produce many flowers on a compact plant. Choose from: ✽ Coconut Swirl has a white center and is trimmed with a purple edge. ✽ Lemon Swirl has a yellow center and is trimmed with a purple edge. ✽ Velour Blue-Bronze is unique in that the top petals are dark blue and the bottom petals are bronze-yellow. Drop by and see this color combination for yourself.

Alden Lane’s Container Planting of the Month We are proud to introduce you to some creative planting ideas After watering for the first time check the for your deck or entryway. Try this one for your holiday entrance. pot once a week. Fertilize with Maxsea triple 16 1 month later and then every two weeks 1 – 2 gallon Alberta Spruce 1 – 2 cu. ft. Moisture Mix Potting Soil until spring. 4 – 4” Red Cyclamen 1 – Tablespoon of Osmocote Put the pot in a sunny location and pick 4 – 4” White Cyclamen 7 – Tablespoon of Master Start faded blooms every time you water your pot. Christmas Calendar December 1st and 2nd: Pet Photos with Santa 10:00 – 2:00 p.m. Get a photo of your favorite pet with Santa. Sponsored by the Valley Humane Society and Alden Lane Nursery. Bring in your favorite, friendly pet (dogs must be on leashes and cats in travel carriers) for a special photo opportunity with Santa. For a nominal fee of $15, Valley Humane Society professional photographer will take two 4x6 photos of your furry angel for you to treasure. Alden Lane will be donating the proceeds to the Valley Humane Society. Your photos will be available for pick-up at the Valley Humane Society the next week. While you’re at the nursery check out our collection of animal theme ornaments in the gift shop. They’re all 10% off this weekend. December 8th: Decorate your home for the holidays. We will provide holiday decorating ideas for your home, including mantels, staircases, Christmas trees and wreaths. Two sessions will be held: 11 a.m. – Decorate with David 3 p.m. – Decorate your wreaths with Teri Walder, Alden Lane’s Nursery’s talented florist. You won’t want to miss these sessions! December 9th: Sheperd’s Gate Charity, 10% of all proceeds from the gift shop will be donated to the Livermore Women’s shelter (Sheperd’s Gate). Santa will also be arriving here at the nursery, so dress the kids and come and get your Christmas picture taken. Nominal fee for photos. December 15th & 16th: A weekend at the Alden Lane Lodge! All of us at Alden Lane will be waiting for you to arrive dressed in your flannel shirts to do last minute shopping and sprucing up for the holidays. You can take a look at our lodge themed ornaments and accessories. Hot cocoa and s’mores are served. Don’t miss our first annual best looking fishing hat contest. Bring in that weathered hat and see if it can be a winner! A special prize will be awarded at 3 p.m. on Sunday the 16th. Bring your hats in on Saturday, December 15th and see if you’ve won on Sunday at 3 p.m. Pruning workshops: Saturday, December 8th at 10 a.m. and Sunday, December 16th at 1 p.m. We will reward you with a 10% discount on all pruning supplies these weekends. December 24th, Christmas Eve: A Christmas Eve sale for the very last minute Holiday Shopper. Buy any one ornament and get a second (equal value or less) ½ off. Not to be combined with Holiday Dollars. New Year Calendar January 12 & 13: Rose Care Clinic will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 12th and 1 p.m. on Sunday, January 13th. January 26: Rose and Grape Pruning at Concannon Winery. Rose demonstrations will be held at 1 – 2:30 p.m. followed by the Grape pruning from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Win A Table Top Fountain Bring the relaxing sounds of the outdoors in with this TABLE TOP FOUNTAIN Hen Feather's table top fountain!! December 2001

A $80.00 Value Name:

No purchase necessary. Address: Drawing to be held December 21, 2001 City: And The Winner is . . . Congratulations to Marguerite Williams of Livermore for winning the October Bulb Phone: Bonanza. Enjoy your beautiful spring! SPECIAL COUPON HOW TO FIND US Present This Coupon & A Canned Food Item TO RECEIVE FREE 4" PRIMROSE Your Choice of Color!

(A $1.79 value.)

Food Donations are Optional. All donations go to Tri Valley Haven. One coupon per family, please! Offer Good December 1-31, 2001.

Don’t Forget to Redeem Holiday Cash Thanksgiving til December 24th

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE 981 Alden Lane PAID Livermore, CA 94550 PERMIT #274 Livermore, CA (925) 447-0280

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