JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2003 Serving You Since 1955 981 Alden Lane, Livermore, CA • www.aldenlane.com • (925) 447-0280 Announcements

Watch the Valley Gardener for great gardening tips with host Jacquie Williams-Courtright. Tune in 4 days a week on Cable Channel 30. Monday: 9 am & 3:30 pm, Friday: Stars For 3 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday: 7 am, 11 am & 2:30 pm. Your Garden š › Livermore-Amador Valley Garden From Down Under Club meets the first Tuesday of the month, join us on January 7th at 7 p.m. at Alisal School, 1454 Santa Rita By Lydia Roberts Rd, Pleasanton, Ca. For more No, I’m sorry we haven’t got Nicole Kidman or Russell Crowe waiting to go information call Bev at 485-7812. This month’s speaker will be: Simone home with you, but we have got some beautiful floral stars that are center stage Martell, author of “Expectant this month in the garden while our Californian talent is still preparing for their Gardener” will talk about what we performance later in the season. can look forward to in our gardeners. The climate in much of Australia and New Zealand is Mediterranean, similar to On February 4th hear Judy Sandkuhle, Central California. It can be a Little cooler here in the winter but most of the plants owner of Sunset Color, talk about her suggested below are hardy to 20 degrees F. They are evergreen and flower from favorite plants and flowers. winter through spring bringing a welcome touch of color. Generally they are easy to care for. They need little to no fertilizer, especially do š › not use a high phosphorus fertilizer as this can kill them. First signs are yellowing If you like armloads of cut flowers in of the leaves and an application of iron will usually cure the problem if phospate the spring and summer you can start poisoning is suspected. They are also drought tolerant once established. So what by planting gladiolus, dahlias and are you waiting for – read through the cast list below and bring a sparkle to your other summer blooming bulbs. garden. Alden Lane has a full complement of Hardenbergia is an evergreen vine with masses of purple, pink or white flowers them available starting in February. that thrives in sun or part shade. Leptospermum or tea trees are a wonderful š › selection of shrubs that make great backgrounds to the shrub border or hedges. Especially look out for ‘Crimson Glory’ which has dark red flowers against Remember Seed Potatoes are burgundy foliage. Grevillea is a huge family of plants that range from low growing available this month. Choose red, white and russet, purple and yellow ‘Coastal Gem’ to 6-8 ft. shrubs like ‘Robyn Gordon’. They have masses of varieties. tubular pink, red, cream and yellow flowers that the hummingbirds love. They are great on banks or hillsides. š › Callistemon has wonderful fluffy red flowers just like a Bottlebrush hence its Crabgrass Alert! Prevent this common name and again comes in sizes to suit all gardens. Westringia is one of noxious weed in January. Crab- my favorites, especially ‘Wynyabble Gem’ which grows to about 4 ft. with grey grass is an annual weed common in green evergreen leaves and light purple flowers heaviest in the spring but inter- lawns with pale green-yellow foliage mittently throughout the year. For shadier parts of your garden don’t forget the spreading through your darker green Correas or Australian Fuchsias with their hanging bells in shades of cream to lawn. Crabgrass dies with the onset on cold weather, leaving seeds that red or the Sollyas or Bluebell Creepers which can be grown as a ground cover will sprout as the spring weather or climber. And last but not least are my absolute favorites which are the Boronias. warms the soil. Jan. and Feb. are the Red Boronia has feathery evergreen foliage to approximately 6-8 feet tall and months to prevent crabgrass from has bright pink flowers which are very fragrant, and Brown Boronia has unusual sprouting in your lawn. Applying small brown flowers that are intensely fragrant, reminiscent of freesias and can Master’s Lawn Fertilizer Plus Crab- perfume even during the colder months. grass Control now will prevent So come in and see our selection and you could have an Oscar-winning crabgrass seeds from sprouting. performance in your yard this February. The Fragrance of Spring is Coming in Roses

There are so many roses to choose from in our huge selection. If you’re a novice the possibilities are overwhelming but don’t worry we have experts to help you! Collectors will be thrilled with our extensive selection of old roses, Austins and more. And for those of you looking for the new award winners – we have them! We purchase only the finest and largest top quality roses available. Once the roses arrive at the nursery they are immediately planted with a quality blended soil mix. This ensures proper root protection, a successful transplant and early establishment. A slow release fertilizer is also added to maximize healthy growth and bloom. By providing the best in quality and experience we can supply you with the finest roses available in the greater Bay Area. Stop by Alden Lane this month and choose some of the new introductions and All American Rose Selection winners to grace your garden through the coming years. . Presenting the 2003 All American Rose Winners: Other new introductions: Cherry Parfait provides a refreshing show especially in Bella’roma, an exquisite hybrid tea with an intoxicating the heat. This grandiflora flowers freely with large sprays of fragrance, is Jackson and Perkins’ Rose of the year. Bright white blossoms edged in red. yellow buds reveal warm yellow petals blushed rich pink, Hot Cocoa produces stunning displays of chocolate- set off by glossy, dark green foliage. orange to dark red blossoms. This floribunda is easy to The J&P floribunda of the year is aptly named Flirta- grow and has excellent disease resistance. tious, for its enticing blooms and sweet, intense perfume. Eureka captured the judges’ attention with its novel Creamy buds open to lightly striped petals tinged pink and apricot to copper-apricot blooms and exceptional vigor and yellow at their base. strong disease resistance. This floribunda is an excellent It’s not just gentlemen that prefer blondes; everyone will choice “en masse” or mixed with perennial plantings. love this creamy apricot hybrid tea rose named to honor an Whisper offers luminous ivory white blooms and light American legend, Marilyn Monroe. This new introduction musk fragrance. Perfect blossoms unfurl from classic, from Week Roses holds its own in the heat and has superior greenish white buds on a vigorous hybrid tea bush. vase life and perfect flower form.

Give Your Roses Some Zing For Spring With Dave’s Fertilizer Program!! This recipe will catapult your roses into glorious blooms and luxuriant growth. This Program provides for general plant vigor, and wonderful looking roses For use on established (planted for at least 6 months) roses only in FEBRUARY and AUGUST, for each rose: 4 12-12-12 (NO SUBSTITUTES) ½ cup per rose (5# bag for 18 roses) 4 Magnesium Sulfate 2 tbs per rose (5# bag for 70+ roses) 4 Chicken Fertilizer 1 shovel per rose (1 bag for 9 roses) 4 Bone Meal ½ cup per rose, (4# bag for 18 roses) 4 Sulfur* ½ cup per rose (5# bag for 18 roses) Sprinkle the first 4 ingredients around each rose and RECIPE FOR A GOOD GARDEN SOIL mix into soil if possible. Then sprinkle the chicken Amend the valley soils to give your plants their best opportunity fertilizer around each rose and water everything in. for growth. Keep this recipe handy for your planting needs. For • To supply sulfur, use one of the following: Iron each 100 square feet add: Sulfate, Iron Plus, or Ph Adjuster-plus. Iron containing n 5 bags Master Gold Rush or Bumper Crop (10 cubic ft.) This products can stain; wash off adjacent paving after amount can be tripled if you are just starting out. application. n 5 pounds Iron Sulphate to acidify, break up clay and add iron • DO NOT combine this recipe with systemic rose n 10 lbs. Master Vegetable Food, or Master Flower Food or fertilizer. It poses a serious health risk to pets if Master Formula 49 (can be used for ground covers). ingested. Pets are attracted to the bone meal and may n 50 lbs.gypsum. It loosens hard soils as it adds sulfur & ingest systemic rose food if it is included in this recipe calcium. (An excellent addition in our heavy soil.) or applied other months in the same area. Mix well with your soil to a 4" depth and water thoroughly. January & February Gardening Calendar

þ Continue pruning fruit trees, roses and other deciduous trees and shrubs. January is ideal as most trees are in a dormant state. WARNING: Do not prune spring blooming shrubs and trees such as lilac, quince, flowering cherry etc. until the blooming period is over. þ Turn over A New Leaf Free of Peach Leaf Curl! (Early January Spraying). Stop over wintering disease spores and insect eggs from taking hold of your garden this spring. Use MASTERCOP plus SPRAY GRIP for strong and effective control. If it rains within 24 hours of the application you must reapply. þ January is Sweet Pea seed starting month for most of the fancier sweet peas. Start them indoors where it’s warm and move them outside when they are 3 or 4 inches high. They will grow and establish themselves now, and produce blooms for wonderful displays late this Spring. We have a great selection of sweet pea seeds! þ Think strawberry shortcake! This is the month to set out perennial vegetables and fruits. Try strawberries, rhubarb, raspberry, blackberry and many other cane fruits. If you like asparagus and artichokes we have starts for those too. þ Keep your New Year’s Resolution to join the Livermore-Amador Valley Garden Club (485-7812). Call to join! þ This is the perfect month for planting bareroot! Consult your favorite California Certified Nursery Professional™ at Alden Lane Nursery for suggestions on choosing the best variety of fruit tree for your garden. You can select fruit and shade trees, and flowering shrubs and trees for planting this month. þ Every garden needs a rose. It’s the queen of the garden, noted for both its beauty and fragrance. Join use for our Annual Rose Care Clinic on Saturday & Sunday, January 11th at 10 a.m. on Saturday with David Lowell & 1:00 p.m. on Sunday with Ken and Judy Jones. þ Set out winter blooming annuals for a garden filled with blooming color. Choose primroses, pansies, Iceland poppies and more. Check with the staff! þ Remove old flowers on camellias and azaleas to reduce the chance of petal blight. þ Check with Alden Lane Nursery for a blooming token of your love this Valentine’s Day. Choose from an assortment of blooming bulbs, baskets of violets, cyclamen and lush house plants. þ Choose azaleas and camellias now while they are in bloom. The selection is great and you’ll pick just the right color for your Valentine’s garden. þ February is the last month for dormant spray. Apply MASTERCOP plus SPRAY GRIP. Spray at the “pink bud” stage. This is when the flower buds just start to show color at the tip of the bud. Generally this occurs sometime between the second and third weeks of February. For peaches and nectarines spray again at ¾ petal fall. This stage is the best time to control Peach Leaf Curl. NOTE: If it should rain within 24 hours of application then reapply material. Rain can make your treatment spotty at best. þ HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS þ If you like lots of cut flowers in the summer to decorate your home plant summer blooming bulbs this month. Choose vivid gladiolus, vibrant tuberous begonias, and dahlias. We have a wide variety of lilies. þ Apply crabgrass control this month. Use an application of Master Nurserymen’s Lawn Fertilizer Plus Crabgrass Control. Don’t Miss These Great Winter Care Classes • January 11th & 12th: Be sure to join us for a dynamic presentation by All America Rose Selections (AARS) Consulting Rosarians: David Lowell and Ken & Judy Jones. David will be at Alden Lane Nursery at 10 a.m on Saturday, January 11th and the Jones’ will be here at 1 p.m. on Sunday, the 12th to talk about pruning and 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. • January 25th: Concannon Vineyard, 4950 Tesla Road, will host both rose and grape pruning demonstrations. Mt. Diablo Rose Society members will also be on hand to demonstrate rose pruning if you happen to miss our earlier demonstra- tions; and the experts from Concannon will teach you about grape pruning. Rose demonstrations will be at 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. followed by the Grape pruning demonstration 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. For information call 447-0280. Join us for the following “Walk and Talk” Classes through our Fruit Tree section. Learn about our new variet- ies, and bring your pruning questions to be answered as we stroll. It may be cold and even rainy so bring an umbrella and bundle up! We know the rewards will be plentiful! • Saturday, January 18th at 11 a.m. Pruning 101 - Basic Pruning. Tour Guide: Jacquie Williams-Courtright • Sunday, January 19th at 2 p.m. Tour Guide: Steve Campbell • Saturday, February 8th at 10 a.m. Tour Guide: Lydia Roberts • Sunday, February 9th at 2 p.m. Tour Guide: Steve Campbell Fresh Fruit From Your Garden Nothing beats the taste of a sun-warm, tree-ripened fruit picked straight from the tree in your own yard. You know it’s fresh, juicy and, with the right cultivation, pesticide and chemical-free, which you can’t always say about store-bought fruit, which is often held in cold storage for months and has been treated with who- knows-what to get that perfect market appearance! We have a tremendous inventory of fruit trees, berries and grapes available for your selection. All of our trees are planted in pots which stops damage to the roots and prevents them from drying out. This means you’ll have even more success than with traditional bareroot plants. Consider using fruit trees in the yard to provide shade or hide unwanted views. Grow an espaliered apple or pear along your fence or wall, train a grape or kiwi up over an arbor or trellis, plant a dwarf peach or apple in a container on your deck. If space is limited a combination tree could be the answer – it will give you a summer of fruit! Special highlights of our list this year are the late-ripening apricots, Autumn Glo and Earli Autumn, both Bareroot Grapes, Berries with a taste winning flavor; the white & Vegetables: peach, Ambrosia, which was Artichoke: Greenglobe featured in ‘Sunset’ magazine; the Tri-lite peachxplum which has been extremely popular at fruit tasting; the Sweet Asparagus: U.C. 72 Bagel peach which is a flat ‘Doughnut’ shaped peach but with yellow flesh Blackberry: Black Satin Thornless and finally the new multi budded Zee Sweet Nuggets which are a limited release Black Butte Olallie of pluots that have been among the highest scoring fruit at the tastings. Blueberry: Jubilee So come in and meet our expert staff. They’ll be happy to help you choose Misty the correct varieties based on ripening time, taste and space availability. We’ll O’Neal Southern Blueberry provide you will planting instructions and all the necessary items and knowl- Reveille edge to get you growing. Whether you have space for a whole orchard or just Bosenberry: Thornless a single tree, come in and see our extensive selection and soon you’ll be Gooseberry: Pixwell picking ripe fruit from your garden. Grape: Autumn Royal Black Monukka Seedless Top 20 Taste Test Varieties – 1993-2001 (wine) Cabernet Sauvignon Champagne Based on overall scores from two different years. (wine) Chardonnay All scores shown are two-year averages. Concord (Seedless) ACID SUGAR FLAVOR OVERALL Concord (Eastern) Crimson Seedless 1 Arctic Jay White Nectarine 2.6 4.04.7 8.2 Delight 2 Flavor King Pluot ® 3.3 3.7 4.3 8.0 Fantasy Seedless 3 Dapple Dandy Pluot ® 3.4 3.8 4.4 7.6 Flame Seedless 4 Flavor Supreme Pluot ® 3.3 3.7 4.4 7.5 Golden Muscat Ladyfinger 5 Van Cherry 3.3 3.8 4.3 7.4 (wine) Merlot Arctic Supreme White Peach 3.4 3.6 4.2 7.4 Midgely’s Purple Heavenly White Nectarine 3.2 3.7 4.2 7.4 Perlette Seedless 8 Snow Beauty White Peach 2.5 4.04.4 7.3 Princess Seedlessy Craig’s Crimson Cherry 2.4 3.5 4.2 7.3 Ruby Seedless Thompson Seedless Arctic Glo White Nectarine 3.4 3.6 4.2 7.3 Tokay 11 O’Henry Peach 3.1 3.7 4.1 7.1 (wine) Zinfandel 12 Red Fuji Apple (BC2) 2.7 3.7 4.1 7.0 Horseradish Horseradish Arctic Rose White Nectarine 2.7 3.9 4.1 7.0 Kiwi All Purpose (Male) Hosui Asian Pear 2.6 3.9 4.1 7.0 Hardy, Issai Self Fruitful Fantasia Nectarine 3.6 3.6 4.1 7.0 Hayward (Female) Compact Flavorette Peach 3.4 3.5 4.07.0 Loganberry Thornless 17 Flavor Queen Pluot ® 2.5 3.6 4.1 6.9 Raspberry Autumn Bliss Emerald Beaut Plum 3.5 3.5 4.06.9 Bababerry Caroline 19 Laroda Plum 3.5 3.3 4.06.8 Cumberland Black Cap Zee Glo Nectarine 3.2 3.5 4.06.8 Fall Gold Pink Lady Apple 3.2 3.3 3.9 6.8 Williamette Red Harken Peach 2.8 3.5 3.9 6.8 Rhubarb Victoria Cherry Utah Giant Cherry 2.5 3.4 3.7 6.8 Strawberry Sequoia BARE ROOT FRUIT TREES:

Almond Varieties Ripening Time Mulberry Varieties Ripening Time Pecan Variety Ripening Time All In One Late Sept. Fruiting Weeping June Mohawk Late Sept. Garden Prince Early Oct. Persian Fruiting June Western Schley November Apple Varieties Ripening Time Nectarine Varieties Ripening Time Persimmon Varieties Ripening Time Ashmead’s Kernel Mid Sept. Arctic Glo Early July Fuyu ‘Jiru’ Late Oct. Braeburn Late Oct. Arctic Jay Mid July Giant Fuyu Late Oct. Bramley Seedling Late Sept. Arctic Rose Mid July Hachiya Late Nov. Calville Blanc Late Sept. Arctic Star Late June Pistachio Varieties Ripening Time Fuji Early Oct. Divinity Late Aug. Kerman Fall Gala Mid Aug. Double Delight Mid July Peters (Pollinator) Golden Delicious Mid Sept. Fantasia Mid July Golden Russet Early Oct. Garden Delight Mid Aug. Plum Varieties Ripening Time Granny Smith Late Oct. Heavenly White Late July Burgundy Late July Gravenstein Late July Necta Zee Late May Emerald Beaut Early Sept. Jonagold Mid Sept. Santa Rosa Late June Peach Varieties Ripening Time Pink Lady Late Oct. Satsuma Mid Aug. Ambrosia Late Aug. Snow (Fameuse)l Late Oct. Weeping Santa Rosa July Spitzenburg Early Oct. Arctic Supreme Late July Tompkin’s King Late Sept. Babcock Late July Pluot Varieties Ripening Time Donut ‘Stark Saturn’ Early Aug. Dapple Dandy Mid Aug. Apricot Varieties Ripening Time Elberta Early Aug. Flavor King Late Aug. Autumn Glo Mid Aug. Eldorado Early June Flavor Queen Early Aug. Blenheim Mid June Eva’s Pride Late May Flavor Supreme Mid June Canadian White Blenheim Early July Frost Late July Early Autumn Mid Aug. Pomegranate Varieties Ripening Time Honey Babe Mid July Wonderful Tree Sept. Gold Kist June Indian Free Early Sept. Moorpark Mid June O’Henry Late Aug. Prune Varieties Ripening Time Tilton Late June Q-1-8 Late July French (Improved) Late Aug. Cherry Varieties Ripening Time Red Baron Mid July Italian Early Sept. Bing Early June Red Haven Early July Walnut Varieties Ripening Time Black Tartarian Mid May Rio Oso Gem Mid Aug. Carmelo Early Oct. Craig’s Crimson Mid May Strawberry Free Early July Chandler Early Oct. Lapins Early June Sweet Bagel Late Aug. Montmorency June PeachXPlum VarietiesRipening Time Rainier Early June Tri-lite June Stella June Utah Giant June Pear Varieties Ripening Time Van Early June Bartlett Mid Aug. Bartlett, Red Early Sept. Chestnut Varieties Ripening Time Bosc Mid Oct. Colossal Fall Comice Late Oct. Nevada Fall D’Anjou Early Sept. Fig Varieties Ripening Time Hosui Early Aug. Black Mission Aug.-Oct. Kikusui Mid Aug. Brown Turkey Aug.-Oct. Seckel Mid Sept. Kadota Aug.-Oct. Shinseiki Early Aug. White Genoa Aug.-Oct. Twentieth Century Late Aug. Jujube Varieties Ripening Time Lang Late Oct. Li October

Combination/Espaliered Fruit Trees Combination (4 n 1) Babcock Peach, Heavenly White (White Peach/Nectarine) Nectarine, Arctic Supreme Peach, Arctic Combination: (2 n 1) Nectar Babe Nectarine & Pix Zee Peach Rose Nectarine, White Lady Peach Cherry: (4 n 1) Black Tartarian, Bing, Lapins, Van Combination (4 n 1) Fantasia Nectarine, Saturn Peach, Red Combination Nectar White Peach, Independence (Showy flowers) Baron Peach, May Pride Peach, Double (Fruit Salad) Nectarine, Santa Rosa Plum, Blenheim Delight Nectarine (4 n 1 of 5) Apricot, Elberta Peach Peach (4 n 1) Strawberry Free, Babcock, Golddust, Apricot/Aprium: Blenheim, Tomcot, Flavor Delight, Flora July Elberta, Scarlet Robe (4 n 1 of 5) Gold, Royal Rosa Pear (Domestic) (4 n 1) Bartlett, Comice, D’Anjou, Bosc Apple (Espalier): Braeburn, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Pear (Asian) (4 n 1) Hosui, Shinko, 20th Century, Seigyku Granvenstein, Red Delicious Pear (Espalier) (6 n 1) Bartlett, Bosc, Comice, D’Anjou, Apple (Gourmet) (4 n 1) Fuji, Gala, Mutsu, Jonagold Flemish Beauty, Red D’Anjou Apple (Traditional)(4 n 1) Golden Delicious, Fuji, Granny Smith, Pluot (4 n 1) Dapple Dandy, Flavor King, Flavor Gala Supreme, Flavor Queen Apple (Espalier) All Fuji (3 tier) Plum (4 n 1) Elephant Hear, Late Santa Rosa, Apple (Espalier) All Gala (3 tier) Nubiana, Beauty, Laroda Create a Winter Fantasy in Your Garden By Steve Campbell Yes! It really is possible to put some pizzazz into your will look forward to its bloom period year after year. Daphne winter garden landscape. There are some real noteworthy works great as a container plant in terra cotta and wood, plants that will bud and bloom beginning in January and which enables the roots to breath. As a container plant you really show their glory in February. Here are a few of my can bring it right up to the front door so you can enjoy it’s favorites. heavenly fragrance One of Alden Lane’s favorites is Spirea prunifolia also One of my favorites are the Deciduous flowering known as Shoe Button Spirea, which blooms in February magnolias that often are grown as spectacular multi trunked with a huge show of white flowers covering the whole plant. specimens. One of the first varieties to bloom is Magnolia Camellias of all sizes and varieties will add a profuse x.s. ‘Alexandrina’ and with its deep purplish pink outside show of large blossoms during the coldest of winters. Pinks, and white inside coloration will really catch your eye. reds, whites and combinations of colors will give those shady With so many winter blooming plants available it really is areas of the garden a bright patchwork of color. possible to create a winter fantasy in your garden. In between Daphne odora is one of the classic winter blooming and the showers please stop by to see the latest displays of extremely fragrant plants. When you pass by this small to winter blooming landscape plants and don’t forget to smell medium sized shrub and catch a whiff of its pervasive floral the daphne. perfume I guarantee it will put a smile on your face and you

January Pot of the Month PRIMROSE & CYCLAMEN MOSS BASKET Fun and easy to create, decorative moss baskets may be made to serve many purposes. This month we are going to create a Primrose and Cyclamen basket. YOU WILL NEED: to keep large pieces intact. • When the first row of plants is in 3 cell packs of mix colored primroses • Line the basket with moss, working place, cover the roots with 1 to 2 inches of soil. Tamp down gently and 5 – 4" cyclamen from the bottom up in a spiral pattern and overlapping edges. then sprinkle with about 1 teaspoon of 1 cell pack Silver Thyme Osmocote fertilizer over the soil. • Put about 2 inches of Master 1 – 16" wire basket and hanger Nursery Moisture Mix into the basket. • Add plants, soil and fertilizer in 1 – 820 cu. in. bag of Green Moss this manner to within two inches of the • Poke your fingers through the basket’s lip. 1 cu. ft. bag of Master Nursery moss wall at the soil level, making a Moisture Mix hole large enough to insert a root ball. • Finally, add soil to 1 inch from the 1 box of Osmocote (14-14-14) Fertilizer (Spread the wire if necessary). top. Space three or four plants over the basket’s surface. Sift soil in among the • Ease the plant’s (well watered) root • Attach the wire hanger securely to roots and firm it in place with your ball in from the outside, through the fingers. the basket. Bend all the wires at one moss wall and into the basket. Move time to ensure that the basket hangs four or five inches farther along the • Water thoroughly straight. circumference of the basket and repeat • Place the basket • Soak the sphagnum moss in water this process, until you have ringed the in a morning shade and Master Nursery Soil Penetrant. Try basket with plants. location. February Pot of the Month SPRINGTIME “POT-IN-A-POT” YOU WILL NEED: • Put all the daffodil bulbs on the outer • Plant up pot with your selection of 4" 1 – 24" Clay pot edge of the pot. annual color 1 – 14" Clay pot (painted) • Cover the bulbs with soil but stop the • After both pots are planted and 24 Daffodils – yellow soil one inch below the rim of the pot. finished put the 14" pot in the center of the 24" pot. 1 lb. of annual Rye grass seed • Put down a thick layer of annual rye 1 each – 4" Pansy, Iceland Poppy, Viola, grass seed and lightly cover with more • Both pots require full sun. Water Snapdragon, Stock, your choice of color soil (less than 1/8" thick). twice a week. Fertilize twice a month. • Paint and design 14" clay pot in Pot will bloom from February through • Fill the 24" pot half way with soil spring colors. April. Pre Order Bulbs! Reserve yours!!! Fragrant Flowers of Tuberose Tiny, Bell-Shaped Flower Clusters make this Bulb a Hot Commodity of “Lily of the Valley” are also in Come in to reserve your share. Tuberose rhizomes, Great Demand (bulbs) arrive early spring, but their popularity and short They are known as “pips”, baby root sections of this window of availability leave some people empty handed or fragrant favorite grow so well, they often bloom before they wanting more. This year we are reminding you early, and are planted. Water Lily of the Valley pips and provide some taking pre-paid reservations to make sure all who plan warmth and light, and these cuties will sprout and bloom ahead get their share of this unique, fragrant plant. within just 3 or 4 short weeks. White flowers on slender 20-inch stems are among the Enjoy their fragrant bloom again next spring, plant out in most potent fragrant plants we know of. Sweet and vanilla the yard, and watch them multiply before they bloom again like. One or two tuberose plants will provide aroma-therapy next spring! These often come into the nursery and are for a full patio. Plant them in pots so they can be brought in sold out before some gardeners even have a chance to under cover when temperatures dip below freezing. Come buy one. Come in and pay to reserve yours soon. in to reserve yours now. Just Add Bulbs To Your Garden Splashes of bright color can be added to your summer gardens by planting summer blooming bulbs in February and early March. You can guarantee yourself a glorious summer filled with many cut flower bouquets. Some summer blooming favorites Gladiolus, Dahlias, Lilies and Tuberous Begonias. Their bright and dramatic colors make great garden accents for the long, hot summer days. If you plant the Gladiolus every two weeks you will have cut flowers through the summer. Dahlias are available in different heights and flower forms. Dahlia tubers get bigger every year and provide a larger and more colorful show. If you have a shady spot in the garden that needs cheering up consider using hybrid Begonias. Tuberous Begonias are available in hanging basket and upright varieties. There are also different flower forms available: doubles, and singles are just two to consider. Come by and see the selection.

Congratulations to Clarice M. from Pleasanton for winning our Thanksgiving Turkey drawing. We hope it was tasty! Win A Win A Multi-Graft Rose Feeding Plan Fruit Tree & Planting This February Supplies In January (1) 10 lb. 12-12-12 Fertilizer Now you can grow more than one variety of fruit tree in (1) 8 lb. Bone Meal your garden, all in the space of one tree! We are offering a large selection of multi-grafts this year. You’ll be able to (1) 4.5 lb. Iron Plus select one when you win this month’s contest! (1) 5 lb. Epsom Salt A Bare Root Multi-Graft Fruit Tree (1) 30 lb. Chicken Fertilizer 1 cu. Master Nurserymen Planting Mix A $45 value 2.5 lb. Master Nurserymen Bone Meal (Please see recipe in this issue) A $50 value Drawing to be held February 28, 2003. Drawing to be held January 31, 2003. No purchase necessary. Need not be present to win. No purchase necessary. Need not be present to win. ROSE FEEDING MULTI-GRAFT TREE & SUPPLIES February 2003 January 2003

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Food Donations are Optional. All donations go to local relief agencies. One coupon per family, please. Offer Good January 2-31, 2003. SPECIAL COUPON FOR FEBRUARY

Present this Coupon & A Canned Food Item TO RECEIVE FREE 12 Gladiolus Bulbs Your Choice of Colors! ($2.49 value) Food Donations are Optional. All donations go to local relief agencies. One coupon per family, please! Offer Good February 1-28, 2003.

SPECIAL JANUARY / FEBRUARY HOURS: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. except February 4th - 8th & 11th - 15th. We will open a half hour later(at 9:00 a.m.) to accommodate staff training time.

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