Gardentalk Radio Is Back on The

walterandersen.com facebook instagram youtube shop October 2020

STORE HOURS: San Diego 8am-5pm | Poway 9am-5pm | 7 Days-A-Week IN THIS ISSUE

Stop Peeking! 1 Stop Peeking! By Melanie Potter In Memoriam 1 GardenTalk Radio Back On Air 1 It’s Bulb Season 3 Make A Fire Pit! 4 Ben: Feeding Wild Birds In Fall 5 Old Ben Specials 5 Houseplants For All Locations 6 Did You Order Seeds? 7 To Do List: October 8 It’s Good To Be The Best 8 Fall Recipe: Pumpkin Fluff 9

Purple Hopseed Bush by Monrovia Do you ever feel like you’re being Tall hedges and trees can make watched? Sure, you may be in your good neighbors and we’ll get to GardenTalk Radio own yard, but all eyes can be on you. some suggestions in a bit, but Is Back On The Air It’s a complaint we hear regularly you’ll need to start with some from customers who are looking to considerations. add privacy to their yard and divert 1) Identify your needs and what you their neighbor’s prying eyes. want a plant to do. You’d be wise continued p2

In Memoriam: Tom Dougherty If you have shopped in our Poway store, it is likely you are familiar with Tom Dougherty. He was easy to spot, unless he was wearing a hat, because Good news! The GardenTalk crew was able to negotiate a time slot his white hair stood out. There were times when on KCBQ 1170AM/96.1FM and KPRZ he would come to work with a fresh-looking hair 1210AM/106.1FM. You will be able to cut and tell coworkers how pretty his stylist was. hear the radio show at 6am Saturday Tom was a charmer. He also was a fountain of mornings. Your GardenTalk hosts knowledge when it came to plants including his are Ken Andersen, David Ross, specialties, citrus and water plants. Mark Mahady, and George Allmon. The guys will talk about the latest Tom unexpectedly passed away last month. He trends they are seeing in gardening, worked, which he loved, until his passing. Sure, seasonal topics, and more. They can he was in his 80s but he was quite vibrant. even answer your questions live Tom will be remembered for his quick wit, he was on the air if you would like to call in. funny. He had wonderful stories about his life in All of the shows will be recorded and archived as podcasts on the the Navy and when he lived in Hawaii and Palm Springs. He came to work at podcasts page on our website, and the store in 1999 which makes it hard to think of our work lives without him. on the station’s website. • If you knew Tom, think about planting a tree in his memory. • October 2020 2

Stop Peeking! continued from p1

Texas Privet by Monrovia Pittosporum ‘Silver Sheen’ Eugenia myrtifolia by Monrovia by San Marcos Growers plant. You’ll also want to know how macrophylla called ‘Maki’. This one much space you have available takes a long time to grow and needs for a plant. While a tree might not more water than you’d think to get work, you could opt for vines that established. provide good coverage. Those Carolina Laurel Cherry “Bright ‘n’ Tight” Pittosporum “Silver Sheen” by Monrovia include Pandorea, Bower Vine, Star Jasmine, Bougainvillea, Calliandra, This has an open, airy growth habit. Passion Vine, Orange Flame Vine or It doesn’t provide a dense screen Thumbergia. but one that you can see through somewhat. Now that you are focused, here are some recommendations: Carolina Laurel Cherry “Bright ‘n’ Tight” Purple Hopseed Bush Grows to 10-12’, fills in pretty densely Adds a bronze color to the garden; and fairly quickly. They can be it grows fast to 12’ and requires hedged well. The downsides are they occasional water once established. produce a poisonous berry (though not to birds who love them) which Metrosideros by Monrovia Texas Privet can be messy. So, plant them away Makes an excellent hedge and can to stay away from deciduous plants from a sidewalk or hardscape where be kept to any height and width with because they will lose their leaves the berry would stain, make a mess, pruning. and the privacy they afforded you and be slippery. They also sprout and part of the year. Ficus nitida you’ll find lots of little bushes spring- ing up. If these shrubs are planted 2) Choose plants that are in harmony Looks similar to Texas privet and against a fence with other plants with your landscape. has a very formal, Italian look to it. Makes a great ‘green wall’ effect. This in front of them, the litter and the 3) Do you have any hardscape also has berries that drop, and an spread are not much of a problem. features that could make planting a aggressive root system. Favorite choices also include challenge? Podocarpus macrophyllus and Eugenias and Metrosideros. 4) Does your HOA have any henkelii (fern pine) Eugenia myrtifolia ‘Monterey Bay restrictions. Brush Cherry’ moderately grows Both of these are usually grown as to 15 to 20 ft. tall. It has a lush 5) Since you are trying to be a tall trees but can be kept to size appearance and makes an excellent good neighbor, be aware that a tall with pruning. They grow quickly and tall evergreen screen or hedge. New plant will affect the sun and shade make a dense privacy screen. The growth remains bronze red over a patterns next door. It wouldn’t leaves are soft and look like bamboo long season. Creamy white brush- hurt to share your plans with the without the mess. The downside to like flowers are followed by rose neighbor. the macrophyllus is the superficial purple fruit. Metrosideros, or New 6) Ask yourself how much root system it develops as it gets Zealand Christmas Tree, can have maintenance you want to give a older. There is also a shrub version of continued p3 October 2020 3

Stop Peeking! continued from p2

Sweet Olive by Monrovia Christmas Berry by San Marcos Growers

gray-green or variegated foliage and to keep the trunk clean. Texas Ranger / Photo: Monrovia blooms with crimson flowers that Sweet Olive (Osmanthus) cover the plant. Nectar attracts birds and insects. It’s excellent as a mass A beautiful shrub that does well in planting, hedge or specimen plant. Italian/Mediterranean gardens. If you aren’t looking to provide a Christmas Berry/Toyon fortress and opt for something that An awesome native shrub for a grows to 8’, here are suggestions. background or privacy screen. Its Texas Ranger dark green serrated leaves stay green year-round and take less Grows 6’-9’ tall and has profuse water than most horticultural variety purple blooms. plants. It gets beautiful sprays Lavatera of delicate, white flowers. Once Pruned as patio trees, the canopy is pollinated, these flowers turn into full and always in bloom with large red berries at Christmas time for purple flowers. It is a shrub so it seasonal cheer. The red berries are Lavatera by Monrovia continues to branch out along the not poisonous to people (unless you length of the trunk and it is a fast eat buckets full) and are food to grower so it requires regular pruning native birds. •

Lockdown News: It’s Bulb Season By Melanie Potter

Here are some hints: the days are getting shorter, some mornings the air is crisp, the calendar says that fall is here so that means?? Bulb season is upon us. That’s right, it is time to plant fall bulbs. Fall bulbs are planted in fall for blooms that appear in winter/spring! Here is what you will find at our stores. Amaryllis belladonna These fragrant pink bloomers will naturalize in your garden, multiply, and bloom year after year. The other Stop in to see our selection of bulbs Amaryllis belladonna continued p4 October 2020 4

Make A Fire Pit! Amaryllis in all the colors are due are the most popular varieties of By Melanie Potter later this month or early November. Narcissus. Leucojum Jonquils: They have dark green, Leucojum will naturalize here round, rush-like leaves and clusters meaning more and more every of small, fragrant, early, yellow year with more snow-white flowers blossoms. every late winter. As a bonus, deer, Daffodils: Without a doubt, modern squirrels, and rabbits rarely bother large flowered daffodils are the most early little leucojum corms. popular type of Narcissus planted Freesia today. Lots of colors to choose from and Paper whites: They are the early fragrant! blooming Narcissus variety with white, powerfully fragrant, clustered Hyacinth Do you know when marshmallows flowers. Easily forced indoors. taste best? Right after you take them One of the earliest spring bulbs, away from an open flame when usually appear after crocus but they are sort of oozy and brown, before tulips and have old-fashioned just before they become charred. charm combined with a sweet, They are also not too bad when strong scent. Their signature sandwiched between Graham fragrance has been used in French crackers and chocolate. Again, you perfume and they are used in Persian need a flame source so when I saw New Year celebrations. this do it yourself project in West- ways magazine; I thought it needed Iris (Bearded and Dutch) to be shared. Although all irises share sword- The project is to make your own like leaves and flowers with six fire pit and all you need is a terra spreading or drooping lobes, there Ranunculus cotta pot and saucer, aluminum foil, are groups that grow from creeping charcoal briquettes, a lighter and rhizomes while others grow from Ranunculus whatever you want to roast over the bulb structures; some iris groups are Colorful, tightly packed with many fire pit. categorized as “bearded,” others petals, you know a ranunculus when > as “beardless,” and still others as Line a terra cotta pot with you see it. Did you know this fun “crested.” Japanese, Dutch, and aluminum foil then place it on the fact? The name of this flower is a > Siberian iris are among those that saucer. Add charcoal briquettes, combination of two Latin words. fall into the beardless category. and a small wad of newspaper to Rana means ‘frog’ and unculus > The bearded iris (Iris germanica) is get a flame going. Light it up and means ‘little.’ These bulbs were first roast your marshmallows. arguably the most popular of the found blooming in Southwestern types, and among the easiest to Editor’s Note: I did this project with a Asia. It is believed that its name grow. The bearded iris is identified 19 year old engineering student who came from where it grew naturally— by thick, bushy “beards” on each is a big fan of anything with a flame. along streams in the spring with the of the falls (lower petals) of the We used a 4” pot. The briquettes little frogs. didn’t stay lit or heat up enough so blossoms. Within the broad category we doused them in lighter fluid, of the popular bearded iris group, Tulips torched them and waited for them to there are also subcategories: tall This bulb may make you think of turn ashy. The marshmallows roasted bearded, intermediate bearded, Holland. Very colorful and wonderful nicely over the pot and we had a fun short bearded, miniature bearded, flower shapes, plant tulips en masse time making and eating s’mores. This and border bearded. Irises are toxic (most bulbs look best this way) and is definitely an activity to do with an to cats and dogs, especially the as a cut flower, don’t display with adult. When you are done with your rhizomes. daffodils because they wilt. personal fire pit, let it cool down then • spray the coals with water. • Narcissus Jonquils, Daffodils, and Paper whites October 2020 5

Old Ben: Feeding Wild Birds Old Ben's Specials In The Fall By Old Ben Valid October 1-31, 2020 Fall is a > Provide an easy food source for

OLD BEN’S BRAND fantastic time migrating birds passing through to feed the your area. Lowest price ever birds. These fall > Offer supplemental food when for these specialty bird feeding bird feeders! natural food sources are depleted tips can help you attract a > Help birds imprint on the location wide variety of both resident birds of reliable food sources so they will and migrating birds to your back- return to the same place next year. yard feeders. Best Fall Bird Foods Feeder Tree Fall Bird Feeding Myths To give migrating birds the best Platform Feeder The ideas that if the birds have a nutrition and energy for their long steady source of food available in journeys, you should provide foods Both are constructed of western with high oil content and many cedar for long lasting beauty and the fall, they won’t migrate, and calories like: Old Ben’s Classic, No durability. that when those feeders are empty, the birds will starve are a total Mess, Special Finch Blend, Nyger, Feeder Tree misconception. A reliable food Peanuts and Hummingbird Foods. Great for adding special foods such source is only a minor factor that See this month fall bird seed specials. as oranges, apples, millet sprays affects how birds migrate. Daylight Tips For Feeding Fall Birds etc. It also holds water and seed. levels, climate and instinct play There is more to feeding fall birds (Does not include treats shown). import roles in seasonal migration. Reg. $37.99 than just providing the right foods. Feeding birds in fall does not By keeping your backyard safe and Platform Feeder prevent migration, but can help meeting birds’ other needs, a fall Provides a stainless-steel mesh bot- it. Migrating birds require lots of flock will be healthy and active. tom for drainage and air circulation calories for energy necessary to fly and a covered top. Reg. $39.99 hundreds or thousands of miles. > Check feeders for damage and Your Choice $29.99 Feeders can provide an energy repair them so they are safe. boost to passing migrants as well > Choose fall plants that offer as help resident birds build up fat No Mess Wild Bird Seed evergreen cover and lasting berries, reserves for falling temperatures. The No Mess Advantage. Seed is nuts or fruits for fall and winter food. hulled and chopped, will not sprout. It is also a myth that there simply > Keep bird baths filled with fresh Birds can eat all the seeds which are not enough birds around to feed clean water. attracts fewer pests. 20lb. bag in the fall. Bird feeders will still see Sale $34.99 Reg. $39.99 plenty of activity. Your backyard > Allow leaf litter to build up under flocks will change as some birds trees and shrubs to attract insects, Classic Wild Bird Seed will leave and more northern birds fallen seeds and other foods. A classic mix that attracts a wide will arrive. > Protect exhausted backyard mi- variety of wild birds. No fillers in this Why Feed Birds In The Fall grants from predators such as cats. mix. 20lb. bag Feeding fall birds can be a rewarding Sale $24.99 Reg. $29.99 Fall is an ever-changing season and it can be a very rewarding time way to enjoy the changing season. By Premium Finch Blend to feed birds. You should always following these fall bird feeding tips, keep your feeders stocked in the fall it is possible to attract a wide range Attracts Finches like a magnet. to help with: of fall bird species and ensure they 20lb. bag are fed throughout the season. • Sale $39.99 Reg. $49.99 > Resident birds build fat reserves for energy.

All specials limited to stock on hand. No special orders. Cannot be combined Ask Old Ben questions about birds, show with any other discount or offer. bird photos, or share birding experiences at Ask Old Ben [email protected] October 2020 6

Houseplants For All Locations By Zee Praise

Here is a great article on houseplants makes it feel like you’re in a lush by Zee Praise found on The Greatist, paradise and not your boring an informative lifestyle website. old room. Thompson especially recommends hanging plants if you live in a small space. She finds that by hanging a few together, you’ll be able to add height and dimension to a tight corner or an awkward wall. Plus, hanging plants are the perfect way to show off a pretty pot or a macrame hanger (and keeps them Bird Nest Fern out of reach of pets). Plants that love to hang out: > String of Pearls. This elegant, draping plant likes indirect light, so avoid putting it in a sunny window.

String of Pearls Water sparingly, every 10 to 14 days, and even less in winter. The plant craze may have taken root > English Ivy. This hardy vine likes years ago, but the pandemic has sent medium to bright light and prefers it into full bloom. As uncertainty and cooler temps. Water once a week, confusion run amuck outside our allowing soil to dry out in between. walls, decorating our pads with flair feels like a particularly joyful process. > Pothos. Arguably the easiest of Not only does tending to plants all houseplants to grow, even if you help us feel in control, every room are a person who forgets to water Spider Plant looks better with a plant (read: many your plants. This trailing vine has designs. They require special care, plants) in it. pointed, heart-shaped green leaves, though. sometimes variegated with white, Generally speaking, interior design is yellow, or pale green. While pothos Show your plants off in a not an affordable hobby. While the likes bright indirect light, it can window cost of plants does add up quickly, thrive in areas that don’t get a lot Our plant friends look stellar in they’re among the cheapest ways to of sunlight or have only fluorescent windows, whether hanging or placed make a room look chic. lighting. on the sill. While flowering plants To help you achieve all your plant may love a window (flowers tend to Wall plants: the cutest goals, we asked Cloe Thomson, thrive in direct sunlight), you can’t wallflowers a DIY and design enthusiast who put just any plant directly next to a incorporates the use of plants in Similar to when you hang plants, window. First off, windows are drafty many of her designs. With her help, mounting plants to the wall adds and therefore colder than other we created this guide on all things color and texture to bare space areas. So while plants may not react plant décor. Before we get into the that probably wouldn’t be utilized in the warmer months, winter could various types of plants and design otherwise. Wall plants have a way of bring their demise. Plants are also ideas you can use to brighten up bringing the outside in like no other susceptible to sunburn if they get your home, there are a few questions décor style. Plants that look good too much direct sunlight and since to consider. on walls: windows have a magnifying effect, Hanging plants: the ultimate > Adaptable Ferns. These are a they can exacerbate burns. Be on jungle feel great option for an indoor wall or to the lookout for yellowing leaves or add a little life to your patio as they brown spots, as this can mean it’s It’s hard to resist cascading tendrils work well in bright and low-light getting too much sunlight. Plants of leaves in a window or on a shelf. environments. that are leggy or look like they’re It’s a way of bringing color and life reaching toward something aren’t to areas of a room that would be > Staghorn Fern. These unique getting enough light. Below are bare otherwise and, to be honest, cuties are a favorite for wall plant continued p7 October 2020 7

Houseplants continued from p6 Did You Order Seeds? By Melanie Potter two plants that should do just fine If you’re a plant newbie, start with the in a window.Plants that tolerate easy, no fuss stars like spider plants, windows: pothos, and snake plants. Once you have a little fleet of plants that’ll do > Aloe Vera. These hardy desert well no matter what, then try your plants love direct sun and look great hand at the more finicky species. on a sill. Diversify the look of your forest. > Spider Plant. These ultimate beginner houseplants will grow in all Yes, most plants are the color green. kinds of conditions, making them a But there is SO much variety when it Photo by River Reporter safe choice for a window. comes to hues, shapes, and textures. According to Thomson, thinking When in doubt, add an air plant Sometimes we have ordered seeds about what vibe each plant brings that are to be delivered via the U.S. Air plants look like specimens to a space is a key way of creating mail. You expect them and don’t think collected from a different universe. As a deliberate aesthetic, rather than a twice about planting them. Over the the name says, they get the majority hodgepodge of greenery. summer, CBS News confirmed that of their nutrients from the air—that’s Be thoughtful about presentation. residents in all 50 states have reported right, they don’t need to be placed in receiving suspicious packages of the soil at all. All they need is to be Sure, you can plop any plant into a seeds. The U.S. Dept of Agriculture watered adequately and live in good corner with its original plastic pot and said if you receive the packets of air circulation. They’ll do fine under call it a day, but transplanting into seeds, do not plant them and contact almost all lighting conditions. sturdy pots keeps your plants happy by giving them more space to grow. your state plant regulatory official. Succulents, the easiest and You can also mix and match pots to Locally, the San Diego County breeziest compliment the look of your space. Agriculture Department asks that you If you still haven’t jumped on the take a photo of the shipping label and Take stock of the environment succulent bandwagon, now’s the send it to Pest Exclusion email: PHPP. time. There are so many species of before buying [email protected]. Double bag succulents you could spend your All plants have a native habitat they the packets and take them to a sample whole life collecting them and still do best in. Some plants are adaptable drop box in San Marcos at 151 E. find new ones. and hardy, while others (looking at Carmel St., or the County Operations you string of pearls) only thrive in Many succulents have intricate Complex at 9325 Hazard Way, San certain conditions. Before you spend leaf patterns, some even look like Diego, 92123. Seeds should not be put any money, do your research. Here flowers, making them a no-brainer in the trash or planted. are three important questions to ask for decorating. The vast majority of about your space when deciding The USDA has identified some of the them will tolerate any kind of light, which plant to buy: plant species in bags of unsolicited so you don’t have to be discerning seeds. Officials have warned the when choosing where to place > What kind of light does the space shipments of mystery seeds, which them. On that note, brightly colored get? Low, direct, indirect, filtered? appear to have originated in China, succulents require more light than Most plants thrive best in a bright could be invasive plant species. So their green counterparts. So, if you’re setting but away from direct sunlight. far, however, the species appear a beginner, it might be wise to start > What’s the temperature spectrum? to be innocuous. Some seeds have with green succulents. You can try Think about drafts around windows been identified and include mustard, arranging a few succulents in pots on and doors as many houseplants are cabbage and morning glory as well as a windowsill, or planting succulents sensitive to cold. herbs like mint, sage, rosemary and with a variety of shapes and colors into one pot to create a bouquet > What’s the humidity like? Remember, lavender. He said hibiscus and roses effect. Succulent arrangements make most of the houseplants we keep were also found. • beautiful centerpieces for a table or originated in high humid, jungle-like nightstand. conditions. While they may not need that much humidity to survive, they The 411 on decorating with also likely aren’t going to want to be plants indoors place next to an AC or heater unit. • Pick plants that are easy to care for. October 2020 8

It’s Good To Be To Do List: October The Best Fertilize > For lawns, use Marathon Fertilizer for tall fescue, and Bonide DuraTurf Weed & Feed to feed grass and control broadleaf weeds. > Feed ornamentals with Gro-Power. > Feed vegetables with Gro-Power Tomato and Vegetable Food or Dr. Earth Organic Tomato and Vegetable Thanks to the readers of the San Food. Diego Union Tribune for voting Walter Andersen Nursery as the > Feed citrus, avocado, and fruit best nursery/garden center in its trees with Gro-Power Citrus and Plant Liquidambar trees for fall color 2020 Reader’s Poll. It has been a Avocado Food. trying year for all businesses. We > Feed palms and tropicals with Gro- hope you will take a look at the poll Power Palm Tree and Tropical Food. and support these and many other > Do not feed Camellias until after companies as they struggle to keep they are finished flowering. • their doors open, employees on the payroll and see their dreams succeed. You can follow this link to see the Reader’s Poll: https:// www.sandiegouniontribune.com/ Look for bulbs like Saffron Crocus bestofferssd/story/2020-09-02/san- diegos-best-2020-for-the-home. • Plant > California natives and drought- tolerant plants are best planted this time of year to get root systems established.

> Bulbs like Daffodils, Ranunculus, Plant winter annuals like Primrose Freesias, Anemones and more. > Winter annuals like Stocks, Snapdragons, Pansies, Violas, and Primrose. 31 > Cool season vegetables. > Shrubs such as Camellias and O C TOBER Azaleas, and trees that provide wonderful fall color such as Coton- easter, Liquidambar, and Ginko. > Overseed Bermuda lawns with Annual Rye. It’s a great time to plant Fescue from seed or sod. Water When dry Santa Ana winds arrive, make sure to get extra water on plants and lawns as needed, especially container plants. Fertilize citrus trees October 2020 9

Fall Recipe: Photos Of Fall Pumpkin Fluff It feels like fall when we look at the beautiful gourd and pumpkin photos readers are sending. Thanks to Carol Kinney for the cute pumpkins and how about the first gourd of the season that a customer brought us.•

INGREDIENTS 3 large eggs Decorative Gourd 1 (1 lb.) can pumpkin 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 can evaporated milk 2 tsps. cinnamon Pumpkins / Carol Kinney 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 tsp. ginger 1 box yellow cake mix 3/4 cup melted margarine 1 cup chopped pecans INSTRUCTIONS Mix together eggs, pumpkin, sugar, milk and spices on medium speed in mixing bowl. Pour into a greased 9x13 inch pan. Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the batter. Drizzle melted margarine over the top of the cake mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 21.5” Diameter Pumpkin / Bryan Evans First Gourd of the Season 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle nuts on top. Continue baking for 30 additional minutes. Garden Classes Serve with Cool Whip. • Classes at both stores are suspended until further notice.

SAN DIEGO POWAY 3642 Enterprise Street 12755 Danielson Court Visit Our 2 Locations San Diego, California 92110 Poway, California 92064 619-224-8271 858-513-4900 Open 8am-5pm | 7 Days-A-Week Open 9am-5pm | 7 Days-A-Week

Visit Us Online walterandersen.com facebook instagram youtube shop