walterandersen.com facebook.com/walterandersens twitter.com/walterandersens online store videos San Diego’s Independent Nursery Since 1928 TM MARCH 2018 Early Spring Rose Care By Walter Andersen, Jr. IN THIS ISSUE Early Spring Rose Care 1 Charming Wind Chimes 1 Overlooked Bromeliad 3 To Do List: March 3 We Love This Story! 3 History Of WAN 4 A Bonide Guarantee 5 Old Ben: Wild Bird Basics 7 Old Ben’s Specials 7 By now, your roses should have been and larger blooms. Our customers March Garden Classes 8 pruned back. Even if you forgot, there rave about this product. March Anniversary Specials 8 is still time to prune them. They should You should be fertilizing monthly now have been sprayed with Liqui Cop as with our favorite fertilizer, Gro-Power. a dormant spray, at least two times. If Apply monthly for optimum growth and they have new shoots, don’t spray now. bloom. We recommend using Gro- Ada Perry’s Magic Formula should be Power once a month until the last in the ground, and there’s still time to feeding in October. If you cut roses for do that. Adding this wonderful product indoor enjoyment, here’s an old trick will encourage more vigorous growth I learned from my aunt who was a continued p2 Charming Wind Chimes By Whimsical Winds & Melanie Potter Have you ever noticed our selection of wind chimes? You’ll find some whimsical and decorative ones as well as large sizes and small, delicate chimes. You may even find some commemorative Hello Spring Bulbs! ones (weddings, anniversaries, etc.) and those that chime a familiar tune. If you ever shied away from planting There are also chimes for a cause like bulbs, here is a good reason to give the one with the symbol for Autism. them a go. On cold days (these were The number of tubes that a wind spotted in San Francisco near Pier chime has determines the number of 39) what else could look so cheery? notes that it can play. Wind chimes Planted in a half wine barrel or raised with many tubes have the ability to bed, these tulips and daffodils are continued p2 eye catching and the daffodils will bloom next year. • 03.18 2 Wind Chimes continued from p1 Rose Care continued from p1 florist. Put an aspirin tablet in the vase when you fill it with water. The blooms will stay fresher longer. As the blooms run their course and start to fade, cut them off with long stems; don’t just cut off the top with the bloom. By cutting them longer, you get into heavier branches that will support stronger new growth. If you don’t cut them back like this, you will get a bunch of spindly growth that will droop with the weight of the new buds. Don’t be combine more sounds and create dif- and tuning of all Woodstock chimes. afraid to cut them back, as you will ferent harmonies. Wind chimes with We thank him for chimes tuned to play be rewarded in the next month or fewer tubes ensure a smaller range of well recognized parts of ‘Take Me Out two with more blooms. Watch for well-tuned sound. to the Ballgame’, ‘Clair de Lune’, ‘Conci- aphids, which are small, pin head erto de Aronjez, and ‘Pachebel’s Canon’. The tube finish on wind chimes primar- sized insects that suck the juices out The Woodstock ‘Chime for Autism’ ily affects overall visual appeal. Since of the plant. They are mostly found was inspired by several uplifting stories wind chimes are usually on display for on the newest growth and buds that shared by loyal Woodstock Chimes all to see, this can be just as important are forming. You can try to wash customers. One hundred percent of as getting the right wind chime sound. them off with a strong stream of the after tax profit from the sales of water, or you can also spray them Overall wind chime length determines these chimes is donated to autism with a good insecticide. There are the tone and depth of the sound. Longer programs and research. many to choose from including wind chimes produce lower, fuller tones, Tubular wind chimes are the most pop- Bayer, which has a systemic that is while shorter wind chimes produce ular wind chime design. These wind absorbed into the plant and lasts higher pitched tones. The clapper is the chimes are available in a vast array of maybe three or four weeks. There piece that comes into contact with the styles and sizes to suit any location. are also organic controls that you tubes. The point of contact is carefully Tubular wind chimes are made of need to apply more often, such as calculated to provide the best pos- several vertically hanging tubes, with Neem Oil spray. sible sound. • each tube lending its own tone. The size of the wind chime sail deter- A tubular wind chime with tubes of mines how much wind is needed to varying length sounds great and offers cause the wind chime to sound. Many exceptional visual appeal. Tubular Hang the chime where the wind can wind chimes are designed to begin wind chimes are typically aluminum reach it from as many directions as chiming in eight to 10 mph breezes. or pewter. possible. An open corner is ideal when This is a desirable size because a less hanging the chime from a structure. substantial sail would compromise Bell wind chimes are made out of Experiment with hanging your chime at durability, while a larger, heavier sail one or more bells. These wind chimes different heights. Wind velocity tends would result in less sound. are available in traditional styles or in to increase with higher elevation. contemporary styles with modern, geo- Metal wind chimes are the most pop- metrically designed bells. More often, Avoid hanging a chime within two feet ular because of their durability and these are crafted from brass. of a wall or too close to plants, furniture high tuning accuracy. Only metal wind or anything that might obstruct or chimes can be tuned to specific For the best sound, hang your chime divert the breeze. Try hanging chimes in tones and notes. Did you know that directly from the O ring or loop at the different locations throughout the year Woodstock chimes are hand tuned top of the chime. Don’t extend the top as prevailing winds change seasonally. by musician and instrument designer string of the chime by adding chain or • Garry Kvistad? He’s a Grammy winning string. This may cause the entire chime artist who founded Woodstock in 1979 to swing, when in fact only the center and is behind the design, development string and clapper should move. 03.18 3 Overlooked Bromeliad Deserves Another Look TO DO LIST: March By Melanie Potter This is a vigorous bromeliad that is easy to grow and will readily form clumps of PRUNING narrow upright bronzy-green rosettes. Prune Camellias and Azaleas after The nearly tubular two feet tall rosettes hold one foot long slender leaves that blooming to shape. have small teeth along the margins. In Cut back frost damaged plants and spring, the arching flower stalks carry feed with Gro-Power to encourage pink bracts and pendant flowers that new growth and regeneration. have chartreuse green petals edged with royal-blue. FERTILIZE Plant in shade in a well-drained organic rich soil and water occasionally. For an Roses and Shrubs with Gro-Power or epiphytic bromeliad, this plant is sur- Gro-Power for Roses. prisingly drought-tolerant and can often Feed Citrus, Avocado, and Fruits with ‘Queen’s Tears’ or ‘Friendship Plant’ be found surviving in shaded coastal California gardens that have received Gro-Power or Gro-Power Citrus & The photo of this bromeliad really little or no irrigation. However, the Avocado Food. does it justice because it captures the plants look better with a bit more water. unusual color combination realistically. It is reliably hardy to 30-32 degrees PLANT The photo was taken by Santa Barbara F but able to tolerate short duration landscape architect Billy Goodnick and temperatures much lower. This plant is Citrus, Avocados, and tropical and showcases why the plant received its native to Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina sub-tropical fruit. common names, Queen’s Tears or where it grows both as an epiphyte in Start to replace cool season bedding ‘Friendship Plant’. Billbergia nutans is low trees and as a terrestrial on the plants with warm season plants. commonly called ‘Queen’s Tears’ for forest floor from 2,300 to 3,000 feet the ornate hanging flowers with royal elevation. The name of the genus honors Plant warm season vegetables like blue highlighting that often exude Gustaf Johan Billberg, a Swede, who tomatoes, peppers, and squash. tear-like droplets of nectar, while the was a lawyer by profession and a Be sure to amend the soil with good name ‘Friendship Plant’ is attributed self-trained botanist, zoologist, and to this plant multiplying readily and anatomist who authored the ‘Flora of organic compost. Big Harvest Bale is propagating so easily that it is often Sweden’. • great for edibles and ornamentals. passed between friends. LOOK FOR Poway Store Hours Date To Remember! Azaleas, Spirea, Tuberous Begonias, Poway store hours Both stores will be closed Caladiums, Calla Lilies and Roses. • change effective April 1 for Easter. March 12. Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat/Sun 9-5. We Love This Story! Did You Have A Happy Valentine’s Day? We think Phil and his wife of 34 years did.