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November 2, -You are receiving this email because you requested it, if not, see the end of this email. |
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Plant of the Week
Leonotis leonurus (Lion's Tail)
Orange is always a good color for the late summer and fall garden and this plant supplies lots of it. This striking evergreen shrub is native to South Africa and a member of the mint family. Growing to 4-6 feet tall, it has straight, square stems with aromatic foliage. The blooms are whorls of tubular 2 inch flowers in shades of orange and orange red. These flowers have a coating of fine hairs which give a fuzzy appearance, hence one of the reasons for the common name Lion's Tail. Preferring full sun and well-drained soil, this plant needs little water - be careful not to over water even when first planted. Semi-hardy, it should be pruned back to live growth in spring if damaged by frost. Try it as a specimen plant in the border or alone in a large container. Could be combined with other plants flowering at this time such as lantana or annual zinnias or with plants having interesting foliage such as Helichrysum 'Limelight'. I might even be tempted to try it with purple asters for a really colorful look.
 | Outside our hoop house nursery Oct 26th
this is just this years growth |
 | Those crazy lion tails...
a real Dr. Seuss plant? |
 | | Nursery 1 gall plants for sale still blooming too... portending things to come next year. |
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Now is the Time for Fall Planting of California Natives...
Now is the ideal time to plant your California native perennial garden. The soil is still relatively warm and with some luck we'll have enough rains so that you don't have to water the natives after your initial planting and drenching. Markham has an extensive inventory of California Natives for you to consider. See the picture below for Markham's California Native bed as of Tuesday October 26th. There are also some other natives available in nearby beds (Ceanothus, Manzanitas, and Heuchera). See you soon? 
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DVC Plant Sale this Saturday Oct 30th, 9am - 1pm
By far the largest non-profit plant sale in Diablo Valley will be this Saturday at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill ( map). While Markham has a few plants DVC usually doesn't have, DVC has TONS of plants we don't have (and probably never will). There is something for every plant shopper at DVC Plant Sales. For example, they have lots of shrub material for landscaping, and even some citrus trees. If someone was going to plant a new home, this DVC Plant Sale could probably accomodate all the screening and perimiter material. Veggies?... they have a whole table of peas, all in individual pots. Editor's Notes:
 The long-standing and biggest factor in the success of the DVC Plant Sales has been the leadership of Kathy Echols, DVC Horticulture Instructor extraordinare. She has planned, managed, and slaved over these sales for years with the assistance of her students. Kathy will be retiring from DVC instruction at the end of this year, and this will be her last DVC Plant Sale. There are many of us who were her students and even more of us who have many plants in our gardens that came from her DVC Plant Sales. While Kathy will be around in her own Garden-of-Delights in Martinez and devoting even more time to her garden and grand-children, we will all miss her classes and especially her Plant Sales. Happy Retirement Kathy!!! |
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Come and Visit the Nursery
Come visit us and let us help you make your summer garden complete... always room for one more plant? Volunteers to help with selections and purchases are normally here on Tuesday morning from 9 until noon, and occasionally other hours, but call ahead to confirm.
The Nursery is located at 1202 La Vista Avenue (off Clayton Road) in Concord (map). On Tuesday's you can drive all the way into the Nursery area. The office phone is 925-681-2968 or you can email to info@markhamarboretum.org.From all the Volunteers, we look forward to seeing you soon!
Plant Sales every Tuesday from 9 until noon
(weather permitting... call 925-681-2968 to confirm)
Last Saturday Plant Sale Scheduled for Nov 13, 2010: 10am - 2pm
Markham Nursery Prices effective Sept. 20104" standard pot ...........................$34" deep pot "special" plant................$41 gallon standard pot......................$51 gallon "special" plant (e.g., natives)..$62 gallon.....................................$8 5 gallon...................individually priced
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