Native Alternatives to Your Favorites Shamrock Facts Meet the Dragon

walterandersen.com facebook.com/walterandersens twitter.com/walterandersens online store videos

San Diego’s Independent Nursery Since 1928 TM MARCH 2019

Shamrock Facts By Flower Delivery Sherman Oaks

IN THIS ISSUE

Shamrock Facts 1 Meet The Dragon Fruit 1 Native Alternatives 1 Old Ben: All About Bluebirds 4 Old Ben Specials 4 Ready To Bloom: Buddleia 5 Class: Cactus & Succulents 5 To Do List: March 5

Fertilizers OMRI Listed 6 Oxalis regnellii March Garden Classes 6 Shamrock, Oxalis, Clover, whatever range of shades and delicate flowers March Specials! 6 you call them, March is their time in bloom off and on during fall, winter the spotlight and St. Patrick’s Day and spring. is when they take center stage. Of Here are some lesser known and inter- course, both stores have a selection esting facts about shamrocks. of these plants. Oxalis flowers have five petals and usually bloom pink or You Can Grow Them Indoors Native Alternatives yellow and are bell-shaped. The potted All they need is direct sunlight. Unlike To Your Favorites shamrock plant (Oxalis regnellii) is a other plants, shamrock needs barely small specimen, often reaching no By Moosa Creek moist soil and cool temperatures. more than six inches. Leaves are in a continued p2

Meet The Dragon Fruit By George Allmon We invite you to plant and enjoy this unusual and tasty fruit. Both stores will have these specialty varieties: American Beauty, Condor, Cosmic Charlie, Dark Star, Physical Graphitti, Makisupa, and Natural Mystic. California Flannelbush Dragon fruit or Pitahaya/Pitaya (Hylocereus spp) Native plants offer the best possible is a vining cactus native to Central and South habitat and food for wildlife, are not America. It was introduced to Asia via Vietnam fussy if planted in the right situation, by the French in the early 1800s. Dragon fruit is and require little to no maintenance. commercially grown in Southeast Asia, Australia, Here are some ideas to help you Israel, South Africa, Mexico, South America and determine what will look fabulous! now in the United States where it is primarily Instead of Hibiscus, try the lush yel- ‘Maki Supa’ dragon fruit continued p3 low flowered Palmer’s Indian Mallow, continued p2 03.19 2

Shamrock Facts continued from p1 Native Alternatives continued from p1 To make sure, he counted it twice. It Was Fun For Children To Find A Four Leaf Clover Prostrate Children had a myth that finding a Gumplant four leaf clover would make them see fairies. They used to go out in the fields to find this rare leaf. Once they found it, they waited for fairies to come and meet them. Finding A Four Leaf Clover Won’t Bring You Luck Four leaf clover is known to be lucky. However, it is lucky only if you find Purple Oxalis triangularis them accidentally. Roaming around Four Leaf Clover Is A Variation Of and struggling to find it won’t bring Tecate Three Clover Leaf you luck! Cypress Scientists predicted that four leaf clover Animals Like The Taste Of Clover is a wee variation of three leaf clover Cows, horses and other animals like the but they are unsure as to the reason for taste of shamrocks. They have protein, California Flannelbush, and the stun- this variation. calcium and phosphorus making them ning white-flowered Bush Anemone. Four Leaf Clover Are Considered nutritious as well a tasty. For a flowering groundcover, instead of Gazania, African daisy, and Myo- Lucky If Found On A Three Leaf It Was Once A Symbol Of Ireland Clover Plant porum, the delicate lavender blooms It was considered a symbol of Ireland of the California Aster will feed It is very rare to find a four leaf clover on in the 18th century. They used three native butterflies and pollinators. a three leaf clover, but if you do, enjoy leaf clover to represent heat, hands Also look to prostrate varieties, such some luck! and head. For showing support and as the lovely blue spikes of Creeping Lucky Four Leaf Clover Symbolizes nationalism, Irish people started wearing Sage, the bright yellow flowers and Four Things green and shamrock print t-shirts. blue fruit of Creeping Mahonia, the yellow daisy-like flowers of Prostrate It Became Illegal To Wear Love, faith, hope and luck. If you see a Gumplant, and the blue blooms of Shamrock Prints four leaf clover on a shamrock, then you Centennial Wild Lilac. will be blessed with these four things. After shamrocks became a symbol of There are far more choices for native Ireland, people started wearing green St. Patrick Is The Person Who Made trees than most people suspect. For and shamrock prints. British authorities Shamrocks Famous areas that receive a lot of water, banned this practice and any person St. Patrick used the three clover leaf replace maple or liquidambar with the who dared to wear it was tortured and plant for teaching Christianity while he graceful White Alder, or the statu- punished. was traveling Ireland. He believed that esque Western Sycamore. The non- the leaves represented the Holy Spirit, Shamrocks Are Edible native pines that are succumbing to drought can be replaced with the Holy Trinity and Son of God. All parts are edible. The bulb is suc- iconic Torrey Pine, which will grow Irish People Used To Give Shamrocks culent and sweet and the leaves are straight when away from windy sea As A Wedding Present tart. They can be used in stews, salads, bluffs, and the larger Coulter Pine. The and smoothies. It is given as a gift in the form of a showy flowers of Bauhinia, Tabebuia, bouquet to the bride and groom as a Hope you enjoyed those fun facts, and Flowering Pear and Cherry can be symbol of good luck. now we leave you with an Irish blessing. replaced with Western Redbud, De- sert Willow, or the white dangly A Shamrock Plant Is Not Restricted May your blessings out number blooms of the Silk Tassel Tree. A To Having Three Or Four Leaves The shamrocks that grow great substitution for the ubiquitous A Japanese farmer name Shigeo Obara And may trouble avoid you conical Italian Cypress is Tecate found a 56-leaf clover on a shamrock. Wherever you go. • Cypress, which is fast-growing, has gray-green foliage, and requires little to no water once established. • 03.19 3 - Dragon Fruit continued from p3 grown in Southern California, Florida, and Hawaii. It performs well in areas where avocados are successfully grown. The plant adapts very well to our Southern California climate and is drought-tolerant. Dragon fruit makes for a unique edible landscape plant with interesting struc- ture, bloom, and fruit. The blooms of this cactus are among some of the largest flowers in the world ‘San Ignacio’ dragon fruit and only open for one night. They have a fruity tropical fragrance that will encourage upright growth during their invite you to spend your evenings with first year. Prune to remove dead and them in the garden. In their native diseased stems and thin to improve air jungle environment, these flowers are circulation and exposure to sunlight. pollinated by nocturnal bats and moths. There is ongoing research on dragon Most growers will have some success fruit to identify the best growing prac- without hand pollination; however, for tices in order to improve yields both better production hand pollination can commercially and in the home garden. • be helpful. Dragon fruit cuttings Fruit flesh can be white or varying degrees of red, pink, or magenta de- pending upon the variety, and is filled with tiny black seeds much like kiwi fruit. White fruit tends to be the mildest (almost bland) while darker varieties are usually juicier and sweeter (my favorite to date is “Maki Supa”). The fruit is ripe about 40 days after pollination and is ready when the wings start to wither and the fruit easily detaches from the vine with a twist or two. Dragon fruit is a nutrient dense fruit as well. Rich in vitamins, including vitamin B1, B2 and B3 and C, it also has calcium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus. They are also a good source of fiber, protein and omega essential fatty acids. Dragon fruit will grow in most soils providing they are well draining, but remember that these are a tropical cactus that will perform better in rich, well-draining, organic soil. To grow and produce fruit, fertilize monthly during the active growing season. Stop feeding during the colder winter months. In its native home, the plant will often grow in and upon trees and will benefit from some type of post or trellis for support. They should be trained to Dragon fruit flower 03.19 4 Old Ben: Old Ben's Specials

All About Valid March 1-31, 2019 Bluebirds By Old Ben Old Ben’s Nyger Seed The staple food for goldfinches and Western Bluebird Nest boxes have greatly helped in- many other small birds. crease populations of bluebirds in many 25lb. bag Can you imagine eating bugs and ber- areas. Bluebirds will nest in boxes if ries and living inside a tree? Western Sale $49.99 Reg. $59.99 they are well made and placed in a bluebirds do just that. They are mem- good location. Building bluebird trails bers of the thrush family, meaning that is popular throughout the country. A they are related to robins. Bluebirds eat Old Ben’s No Mess bluebird trail is a series of bluebird nest mostly insects. Grasshoppers, earth- boxes along a path planted with berry Wild Bird Seed worms, snails and beetles are among The No Mess Advantage. Seed is plants. The path should be near an their favorite foods. They sit on perches hulled and chopped, will not sprout. open area where bluebirds can forage and drop quickly to the ground to catch Birds can eat all the seeds which for insects. Small shrubs and trees with their food or they can catch insects attracts fewer feeder pests. berries supplement bluebirds’ winter in the air. Bluebirds also eat fruit and diet. Elderberry, juniper, red cedar, 20lb. bag berries, especially during the winter cherry and sumac have berries that when there are fewer insects. Sale $34.99 Reg. $39.99 bluebirds like. Western bluebirds are Why Bluebirds Need Our Help mainly insectivorous and can be attracted to feeders if you offer meal- Populations of western bluebirds have Old Ben’s Classic worms. Bluebirds need places to perch Wild Bird Seed declined over the past 50 years. The while they look for insects. Tree limbs Classic mix that attracts a wide variety main reason for their decline is compet- and brush piles near open areas make of wild birds. No fillers in this mix. ition for nest holes from European great perches. Don’t forget a birdbath. starlings and English house sparrows. Bluebirds like shallow birdbaths lined 20lb. bag Starlings and house sparrows are with flat rocks, Place the birdbath in Sale $24.99 Reg. $29.99 exotic species, meaning they came an open area with a perch nearby so from somewhere else and don’t occur bluebirds feel safe. naturally in North America. These birds were brought here and have multiplied Bluebird Facts very quickly. They out compete many Ask Old Ben! • Nesting occurs from March through of our native birds for nesting habitat. August. Only the female incubates the Old Ben doesn’t always four to six eggs, which she maintains Creating Habitat think about birds. at a temperature of 98 - 100 degrees F. Bluebirds need places to nest. Old trees Sometimes he thinks often have many woodpecker holes • Both sexes defend territories; the about his business and that’s when he had a that they can use. Don’t remove all of males tend to defend territory edges grand idea. How cool the dead trees in your landscape if pos- while females primarily defend the nest. would it be if you could sible as they are important for wildlife. continued p5 reach out and ask him all kinds of questions about birds, or show him Old Ben’s Feeders & your (feathered) bird photos, or share your Nesting Boxes birding experiences? Old Ben’s hand built feeders and nest boxes are Well, now you can by back in stock and better than ever! To celebrate, using this email. we are taking 10% OFF the regular price. [email protected] Come in and see the GREAT selection! Savings from $2 to $10.50 All specials limited to stock on hand. No special orders. Cannot be combined with any other discount or offer. 03.19 5 - Ready To Bloom & Add To Your Landscape TO DO LIST: By Craig Childs March

PRUNE Camellias and Azaleas after blooming to shape. Cut back frost damaged plants and feed with Gro-Power to encourage new growth and regeneration.

FERTILIZE Roses and Shrubs with Gro-Power or Gro-Power for Roses. Feed Citrus, Avocado, and Fruits with Gro-Power or Gro-Power Citrus & Avocado Food.

For a breathtaking spring show, Buddleia alternifolia, ‘Fountain Butterfly Bush’ PLANT will produce cascading wands of powerfully fragrant lavender blooms in early Citrus, Avocados, and tropical and spring. It is a vigorous, deciduous and hardy (0 degrees F - Sunset Zones 2b-24) sub-tropical fruit. perennial shrub from China which blooms for 3-4 weeks on last year’s growth. It can tolerate many soils thriving in poor, dry gravels and requires little irrigation Start to replace cool season bedding after it is established. Prune after bloom during the summer growth phase, plants with warm season plants. training it to grow up and trail over espaliers, arbors or as a small tree. It can also Plant warm season vegetables like be used as a large hedge up to 12 feet tall. The nectar laden flower clusters on tomatoes, peppers, and squash. arching willowy branches are irresistible to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies!• Be sure to amend the soil with good organic compost. Big Harvest Bale is great for edibles and ornamentals. Special Class: Dean Karras & His Prickly Friends! LOOK FOR Azaleas, Spirea, Tuberous Begonias, Caladiums, Calla Lilies and Roses. •

Join local grower Dean Karras of Gnosis Nursery for a presentation on April 6 at 9:30am at the Poway store on cactus and succulent Old Ben continued from p4 care followed by a curated sale of rare and uncommon xerophytic • A bluebird can spot caterpillars and plants. The presentation will in- insects in tall grass at a distance of clude a discussion of proper more than 50 yards. sun exposure, soil, fertilization, • Bluebirds can fly at speeds up to 45 watering, and pest control as it miles per hour if necessary. relates to both xeriscape design • Bluebirds have no blue pigments in and succulent container culture. their feathers. Instead, each feather Dean may look familiar to many barb has a thin layer of cells that as he is a former Walter Andersen absorb all wavelengths of color ex- Nursery customer service repre- cept blue. Only the blue wavelength sentative. • is reflected and scattered, resulting in their blue appearance. • 03.19 6 Garden Classes MARCH Happy Frog Fertilizers OMRI Listed For Saturday classes are FREE and last about an hour. Complimentary coffee is Organic Use! 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 Happy Frog dry fertilizers have been schedule at www.walterandersen.com/calendar/. reformulated and are now OMRI listed & OIM registered. Look for the certification logo on each bag.• SAN DIEGO | 9:00AM POWAY | 9:30AM 3/2 3/2 Lady Bug Release Party! Organic Insect Control Bring the kids and come watch 3/9 the ladybugs make their way Chuck McClung: How Orchids through the garden Rebloom & Book Signing 3/9 3/16 Spring Tomato Class Veggie Garden Prep 3/16 with Richard Wright Spotlight on Succulents 3/23 with David Miller Jumpstart Your Veggie Garden 3/23 with Brijette from San Diego Kitchen Herbs: Seed Company A Culinary Herb Class 3/30 3/30 Spring Garden Controls The Chili Pepper Class with John Ford from Bonide

March Specials Valid March 1-31, 2019 Fruit Tree & Plant Guard Buy 1, Get 1 FREE! These goof proof water-based combinations are economical, versatile and have a very broad spectrum. Concentrate Only 2oz./gal. treats not only a comprehensive listing of fruit, but also nuts, flowers, shrubs and ornamentals. or

Ready To Spray San Diego’s Independent Nursery Since 1928 TM Lambda-cyhalothrin, boscalid and pyraclostrobin. 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