Love Those Ranunculus
Today Marian Parsley, Behnke's Annual Buyer/Manager was so excited when she told me that the first of the Ranunculus have arrived! She plans on getting some more for this weekend, depending on the weather and then more next week. For us, seeing these beautiful plants makes us know that Spring is just around the corner!
Before I came back to work at Behnke's 8 years ago, my husband and I owned a wholesale nursery for 27 years. Ranunculus and Pansies were two of my favorite crops to grow. We used to grow ten thousand of them in 4.5 inch diameter pots. Starting with little seedlings in early December, we would pot them and then move them to a much cooler greenhouse where they were grown at very cold temperatures. This "hardened them off," so that when we sold them to garden centers like Behnke's, you, the customer, would get a nice tight, tough, beautiful plant.
I remember going into our greenhouse each morning to select plants to fill the day's orders and we would see light frost on them! Their range of bloom color was just amazing. I would pick up one after the other and say to my husband, "Hey, Jon look at this one!" Or "this one!" No two ever really looked alike. You need to imagine a 144 foot long greenhouse full of these beautiful plants--set down pot to pot, they would make a line 3/4 of a mile long! We would pick out all the blooming plants 'til there was not a speck of color left anywhere in the greenhouse, and then the next morning we would do it all over again since new flowers would open up overnight. We had to grow so many just to be able to get enough in bloom each morning to fill the orders from our customers.
Besides garden centers, we sold hundreds to local landscapers who would use them at home and garden shows and then later in March in outdoor containers in and around the DC area. Since they were grown so cold, they were able to handle the cooler temperatures.
Most folks just enjoy them indoors in a cool room in a bright window, for the splash of bright color after a long cold white winter. They will take sun to part sun and keep them moist but not soggy. Since they like it on the cooler side, you will need to keep them away from your heat outlets or fireplaces. Treat them as a houseplant at this point and once chance of frost is over they can be placed outside, knowing that as soon as warm weather comes in they will fade away to make room for your warm weather annuals. I wish I had photos to share with you of them in our greenhouses but unfortunately it was before digital cameras.
~ Stephanie Fleming, Behnke Nurseries
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Look What We're Excited About...
CAMELLIAS HAVE
ARRIVED!
Get your first glimpse of Spring! Take a peak for some Pinterest inspiration. Or you can check out our Flickr page of Camellias. Plus, you can click here to learn all about camellias.
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BIRD FEEDERS
GALORE!
(Isn't this the cutest?) Learn the whys and hows of feeding birds in winter.
Click here for more. |
CITRUS!
Add some rosemary and you've got a winning combination to wake up your senses and beat the winter blues.
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Philadelphia Flower Show
Last Day to Register is Sunday!
Join Kathy Jentz of the Washington Gardener magazine on a bus trip to the famed Philadelphia Flower Show. This is the easiest way to see the show -- you don't have to worry about driving or parking. The bus leaves from Behnke's next Thursday at 10am and returns at 10pm. Lunch and snacks are provided.
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 How do you choose the right color flowers to go with your décor? Even if you don't know how to use the color wheel or the difference between tints and shades, follow Evelyn's simple advice for harmonious color success.
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Check Out What's On Sale  Primroses, begonias, bird seed AND MORE!
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Garden Club Special: 20 % Off Espoma Organic "Tone" Fertilizers
Sale Extended Through March 1st
Must be a Behnke Garden Club member to get this special price. To join, Sign Up Here! Or, sign up next time you are at Behnke's. Members enjoy special weekly sales and coupons. Plus, extra specials and news via snail mail. Membership is FREE! Click here for more into.
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Upcoming Activities & Events
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Plus, Celebrating Pollinators with the Prince George's Master Gardeners
February 28 & March 1, 10am to 4pm Stop by, chat, & check out their display. They love to answer questions!
To view our complete list of events, click here. |
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 Now Hiring Smiles!
Behnke Nurseries is hiring for seasonal staff positions. Are you ready to join the team? Are you a team player who enjoys working with people? Are you focused on providing excellent customer service and enthusiastic about helping people succeed in gardening? Bring in your resume, reference list and smiling personality today! Stop in the store or click here for an application and bring it with you when you apply.
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