Spring 2015 banner
 Issue No. 21
Spring 2015  
In This Issue

Helping you to realize your garden visions for over a decade.

Greetings, friends!

Hard to imagine that just a week ago the nursery looked like this: 

We are finally starting to get a bit of slightly warmer weather and, although we heard Pittsburgh had nearly 70 on Monday, we aren't there yet and we haven't started shipping either. Our first truck arrived this week so we will have to start opening things up and get moving. Before long we will be getting ready for the official Opening Day coming up on Saturday, April 18th!

Here is a fun video of the guys unloading the truck - lots of snow and mud!

G0013053

 

We made our annual trek to the wholesale nurseries out West to see what new goodies we could bring in for you. 

Mt. Hood, northern Oregon

They have had a mild winter out there whereas ours was pretty brutal. We have some really nice things coming in and we are excited to show them to you. This image is from the growers out west. 

Conifers

We not only have lots of plants coming in, but we will have some terrific granite and carved stone pieces, some interesting containers (planted or not), more bamboo fencing, plus we are expanding our perennial offerings. Exciting times at OGS! 

Survey: Yup, we finally got our survey together to ask your opinions on various things! Click here to take the survey. We want to know things like, do you use Facebook? where do you see our ads? why do you come to OGS? why don't you come to OGS? Do you use our coupons? Do you buy Groupons, or Amazon Local, or . . . ? This should take you about 10-15 mins to complete and we really would appreciate your feedback. At the end of the survey if you would like, you can leave us your email address and we will enter it into a drawing for a gift certificate. As always, feel free to shoot us an email at any time with whatever thoughts you might want to share. Survey is open until April 30. 

One last thing - if you know of anyone that might be interested in working at the nursery, send them our way. We are looking for people that like to work outdoors, are conscientious, and would like to learn about plants. 

Remember, the new season opens Saturday, April 18th. When you come, bring your boots - the spring season means lots of mud at the nursery! Something to set your plants on in the car is advisable, but we do have delivery available for those larger items if needed. We look forward to seeing you here at OGS!


Cheers,

Al Pfeiffer, Owner
Oriental Garden Supply

 


Plant Notes

We have a number of items to address on the plant front this time.

Invasive species and other selling/shipping considerations

Last fall New York State released a list of sixty-nine invasive species plants which can no longer be sold in NY after 3/10/2015, as well as a list of six more which may be sold until March 2016 with appropriate warning labels attached. A complete listing may be found on our website under the Library section of the Resources tab. Some of these plants we have not seen as a problem here, and the list may be revised as exceptions are made for sterile cultivars.

Big Wings Burning Bush
Euonymus alata 'Big Wings'

Similarly, Plant Boards in other states have lists of invasive species that may not be shipped to their states. There are other locations like California where the phytosanitary regulations are so strict or Alaska and Hawaii where distance to ship is so long that we have elected not to ship to those locations. The length of time to ship and be inspected may surpass the ability of the plant to arrive in good health. We have noted these shipping restrictions under the respective cultivars on the website. Please be aware of these when trying to order from our location in New York.

Early spring planting considerations

Be careful about getting out there in your gardens too early. Stomping around on ground that has not quite thawed out or is still soggy will compress the air pockets that plants need to draw from to grow. Earliest spring chores include cutting back ornamental grasses, perennials with evergreen or persistent foliage (like Acorus 'Ogon', hellebores, epimediums, or European gingers), and the early bloomers like euphorbias, and cleaning up plants that grow from a dense crown like Sedum spectabile 'Autumnn Joy.' Call us, email, or stop by the nursery if you have any questions.

Hellebores

We often get questions about pruning and removing winter damage from shrubs or trees. In general, pruning to judiciously enhance a plant's natural appearance is best and, not surprisingly, easiest to maintain. Evergreens (conifers) normally require little pruning, but different types of evergreens should be pruned according to their respective growth habits. Again, call, email, or stop by the nursery if you have questions.

Critter damage? Deer, rabbits, mice, moles, voles, what have you - they are getting more active in the spring. Check your plants and look for telltale tracks and bite marks - do you need to place some effective deterrents? We've got various sizes and styles of Plantskydd at the nursery to help with that.

This is an image of damage found on plants around the pond at the nursery. The severe cold turned the Blue Atlas Cedar brown (blue arrow), and the rabbits had a wild time munching on the Japanese maple (red arrows). 

Winter damage

 

New items

We have lots of new plants, particularly perennials, and materials this year. Some of these plants will not be ready right away as we want them to develop healthy root systems before we make them available for sale. However, new this year, we are noting on the website just when we expect them to be available so that if you have a hankering for a particular plant you can preorder them and we will put them on reserve for you.

Hemerocallis 'Chicago Apache'

If you have any questions about how to choose or care for your plants at any time, be sure to ask us.


Upcoming & Ongoing

Opening day at the nursery will be Saturday, April 18th. See you soon!

OGS will be at the Rochester Public Market Flower City Days again this year. Look for us - from 8 AM to 2 PM on Sundays, May 10, May 17, May 24, May 31, and June 7.

Mother's Day is coming up on Sunday, May 10th. Reminder, we have downloadable gift certificates on the website. Or better yet, bring her out to the nursery and let her pick out a preplanted container or her own plant for the yard. We can even chauffeur her around the nursery in the golf cart! 

 

Crocuses

Save 10%Spring Coupon Special
Valid 4/18/15
through 4/30/15
Bring this coupon to the nursery or use the coupon code below
on the website and receive 10% off all non-sale items.

 

 

OGSSpring15-10

Opening for the season on April 18th!
9 - 4 PM Mon thru Sat

with additional hours until June 30
until 8 PM on Thur
12 - 4 PM on Sun 

448 W. Bloomfield Rd.
Pittsford, New York 14534
phone:  585-586-3850
fax: 585-586-8945
email:  [email protected]