November at the Nursery

Temperatures are dropping and the holidays are right around the corner- must be November!  There's still time to brighten up your landscape for the winter and our greenhouse is bursting with colorful pansy and viola blooms, as well as other irresistable choices- The days might be chilly but our plant selection is as diverse and interesting as on any warm spring day!  Ornamental cabbage and kale are blushing with winter color and evergreen herbs such as rosemary, lavender, parsley, thyme, oregano and sage are aromatic despite the chill!  Our large selection of camellias are budded and blooming- they make great gifts!  Delectably fragrant rosemary topiaries arrive the week before Thanksgiving and fresh greenery arrives the week after.

November Hours:  Monday-Saturday 9 to 5.

Sunday 1 to 5.

Garden Checklist

November is still an excellent time to tackle landscaping projects.  Planting trees and shrubs now is easier on the plants and you- Planting during dormancy allows roots to get established before hot, dry weather sets in, which lessens stress on the plant and means less watering for you to do.

The average first  frost is November 8th.

Cut perennials back after they have been killed to the ground by a frost or freeze.  If needed, dig up, divide or transplant perennials now.

Prune trees and shrubs that need it after Thanksgiving, once they are dormant.

Daffodil, paperwhite and tulip bulbs are in!  Plant these spring-blooming bulbs after Thanksgiving.  Many of our customers enjoy forcing bulbs for the holidays and paperwhites are the easiest and most popular to force, here's how:  Cover about 2/3 of the bulb with potting soil or pebbles.  Place in a cool, shady place until shoots are 4-6" tall then move to a cool, sunny spot.  Allow atleast 4 weeks for blooms to appear.  Store unplanted bulbs in a brown paper bag in the refrigerator, basement or garage and make sure they stay dry.

Oh, Conifer!
Evergreens Add Interest to the Winter Garden

As winter bares the garden of its leaves, evergreen plants provide the only green to rest our eyes on in a landscape of grey and brown.  Their verdant shades and graceful, fluffy branches provide interest in the winter garden as well as offering wildlife protection from cold winds.  Evergreens can be used to screen views and create privacy or as accents in the landscape or containers, where they are particularly elegant with pansies and violas.  We currently have a great selection of conifers, boxwoods and other evergreens for the winter garden so stop by and check them out!

For the Collector...

We have some unusual plants in stock for those of you who are on the look-out for out-of-the ordinary plants to add to your garden collection.  Availability is limited so stop by to find out more about each of these!

'Crane' Ornamental Kale     Rose-like heads atop sturdy, two foot stems (yes, two feet!) make an impact in the garden and flower arrangements.

'Watermelon' Pepperomia     A must-have houseplant and the name says it all!  Leaves that look strikingly like mini-watermelons with bright red stems and a tough constitution make this a fantastic indoor plant.

'Picasso's Paintbrush' Croton     This wild houseplant looks like it belongs on the ocean floor with narrow, grass-like leaves in a kaleidescope-color mix of green, yellow, red, orange and black.

'Fernspray' Hinoki Cypress     Interesting conifer with graceful, fern-like branches.  This is just one of several unusual conifers we have in stock at a great price- 1 gallons for $9.99!  

'Black Dragon' Cryptomeria     A whimsical growth habit with dark green, evergreen foliage makes this an excellent specimen or accent plant in the landscape.

American Beautyberry     Sporting shockingly purple berries in fall, beautyberries are a must for the native plant garden and are striking in autumn arrangements.

Golden Raintree     Vivid yellow, summer blooms that are sure to turn heads, plus heat and drought tolerance, make this small tree a great addition to the garden.

Bigleaf Magnolia     Found in the wild as understory trees, these deciduous magnolias also sport the largest leaves of any plant native to the United States!

White Akebia Vine      You may have seen the purple variety, also known as Chocolate Vine, but this white-flowering variety is likely to stump your gardening friends!

White Lady Banks Rose      The south's favorite climbing rose, known for its disease resistance and thornless stems, can now be found with a white flower, as opposed to its traditional yellow bloom.

Garnish with Pansies
Add Something Unexpected to Holiday Dishes!

Did you know that pansy flowers and leaves are edible?  Brighten up a winter salad or dessert with pansy blossoms using this recipe for crystallized pansies from Southern Living Magazine (June 2008 issue).  This is a great project to do with friends or family- and get the kids involved!

Note:  Crystallized pansies may be prepared up to 48 hours in advance.  Store in a cool, dry place.

Yield 9 dozen flowers and 3 dozen leaves.

Ingredients

1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar, sifted

3 tablespoons meringue powder

1 cup water

9 dozen pansy blooms

3 dozen pansy leaves

1 (16-ounce) package superfine sugar

Preparation

1.  Beat powdered sugar, meringue powder and 1 cup water in a large mixing bowl at medium speed with an electric mixer 4 to 5 minutes or until smooth and creamy.

2.  Brush meringue powder mixture on petals and leaves; sprinkle with superfine sugar.  Let stand on wire racks for 24 hours.

Cool Garden Link!

Plants For a Future

Discover just how useful, as well as beautiful, many plants are on the Plants For a Future website.  Browse through the plant database, view plants grouped by edible and medicinal uses, learn how different plant parts, such as roots and barks are used, or search for a specific plant and find out its benefits!  Grab a cup of coffee- this is a great site to dig into on a cold winter's day!