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 Sun. 9am - 8pm
"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." -
Charles Dickens
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McShane's Nursery December Newsletter
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A very, very, Merry Christmas...
Here at McShane's we are deep in the Christmas Spirit as we have weekly shipments of "field fresh" Christmas Trees coming at this point. A vast majority of our trees are sustainably farmed in Mossy Rock, Washington. Mossy Rock is a colder, harsher environment than many of the operations in Oregon. As a result, our trees are some of the most durable, well proportioned stock within one hundred miles. Did I mention we deliver and set up trees?
Also, as 2013 comes to a close, we are conducting our customer feedback survey. You can find our survey online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HX5FH97 . Please complete all questions for your chance to win a $20 gift certificate to McShane's Nursery. The winner will be contacted at the end of the month!
The Christmas Season is the time of year to make a long list of what you're thankful for. Here at McShane's the last three years have been about the most challenging I've faced in life on a personal level. This especially applies to a small local business like ours. We depend on folks willing to recognize we are a community minded business and appreciate your decision to shop local.
Here's to a Joyous Season and a Happy New Year,
Steve
Steve McShane
Owner & General Manager
steve@mcshanesnursery.com
(831) 455-1876
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WHAT'S NEW AT MCSHANE'S...
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We Are Your One Stop Holiday Shop!
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By buying your tree from McShane's you'll be guaranteed that nursery level of quality that you've come to know and trust from us.
For your convenience McShane's will be offering delivery. We will be charging five dollars a foot. McShane's offers fire retarding service and will also be carrying tree stands from small to jumbo, making us your one stop shop for your Christmas tree needs.
 McShanes also carries LIVE TREES! You can count on us for a large selection of live trees including firs, redwoods and pines. Don't delay and miss out on the perfect Christmas tree, preorder today!
To order in advance, simply download and fill out the form below and fax it in to McShane's at (831) 455-2753 or call us at (831) 455-1876.
Download: Christmas Tree Order Form
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Poinsettias are coming in fresh daily. Our favorite is the "jingle bells" variety. one of the most popular holiday plants in the United States. Here along the Central Coast, we are blessed with several local producers that keep local nurseries stocked with some of the highest quality plants in the nation.
We have three sizes: 4 inch, 6 inch, 8 inch, and 10 inch, starting at $6.99 Many colors and styles to choose from. McShane's also offers large volume and corporate discounts!
How To: Caring For Your Poinsettia 
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Deck the halls with a beautiful succulent wreath that will last year round! Fully matured and beautiful. Complete with bow, these beauties were started locally sourced and grown over the last 5 months.
Each living wreath is unique and will change throughout the year. Simple and elegant, they are the perfect conversation piece for every holiday party.
This month only, check out the exclusive $20 off coupon at the bottom of this newsletter!
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20 inch to 40 inch sizes. We will decorate and bling out your wreath for only $10! Stop in today to see for yourself.
Interested in making your own wreath? We have another wreath workshop this coming Saturday, December 7th at 1:30pm at the nursery. Cost is $10 and RSVP is required by calling Ellen at McShane's Nursery: (831) 455-1876
Facebook Invite: Christmas Wreath, Swag, and Bough Decorating Workshop
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Did you know that the custom of kissing under Mistletoe comes from England? The original custom was that a berry was picked from the sprig of Mistletoe before the person could be kissed and when all the berries had gone, there could be no more kissing!
McShane's offers locally sourced misletoe. Fresh large bunches for only $2.99.
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Gifts, Ornaments, & Wrapping
We have gifts, ornaments, and soooo much more! Come by today and check out our unique selection of ornaments for the gardener in your life. We also offer FREE gift wrapping!
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McShane's Nursery & Landscape Supply is proud to present its 2013 Holiday Light Show. The purpose of this show is to celebrate the spirit of Christmas while remembering those less fortunate. We have partnered with both the Salvation Army and the Monterey County Food Bank. We encourage guests of the show to bring canned food or toys for those less fortunate. Items will be collected and delivered to both non-profits on a weekly basis.
Stop by the nursery between 5 - 10pm, 7 days a week until New Year's Day and listen to the light show on your radio at 94.3FM.
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Beautify Your Holiday Event!
Do you have a special event coming up? McShane's Nursery rents plants! Plants are delivered and picked back up. They can be dressed in burlap or placed in decorative pots.
Please contact us for more details: (831)455-1876 or info@mcshanesnursery.com
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December Landscaping Tip: Lawn Renovation
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Winter is an excellent time to do lawn renovation. From filling holes or just leveling areas, dirt work can and is of often done in early winter. You'll have to remember that seeding this time of the year is considered as dormant seeding and you will not see germination until the soil temperatures warm up in the spring. Be sure to cover the seed to protect from animals but rest assures that the freeze thaw will help seat the seed for the following spring.
Be sure your lawn is mowed at the proper height going into winter. If your grass is too tall it will mat over in the winter causing fungus and disease problems to kill these areas. Also, a short lawn can make your yard more susceptible to winter kill. The best height to keep your lawn at all year is 3 inches.
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Gravel & Rock
Durable enough to cover paths, terraces, and driveways, gravel conveys a softer mood than most other types of paving. Don't forget to first lay down your weed fabric! We offer large quantity discounts.
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Weed Fabric
McShane's offers Weed Fabric and staples to help protect your plants, gardens and lawns from invasive weeds. Quick and easy to install, it is essential for your garden before laying down a gravel, rock, or bark groundcover.
How To: Choosing Groundcover
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We Sell/Rent Tools
From carts, to post drivers, to lawn rollers... McShane's Nursery offers tool rentals to help you get started on your landscaping and design projects! We also have a large selection of tools for sale.
Call (831)455-1369 with any questions!
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In-House Charge Accounts at McShane's
We want to help make your next project run as smoothly and quickly as possible. McShane's Nursery now does in-house charge accounts. Applications are available at the nursery and are processed as quickly as 2 days! For more information call one of our garden experts today: (831)455-1876
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Winter Special: 20% Off on Design Services!
During the winter months (Nov.-Feb.), McShane's Nursery puts our design on sale. The mission of McShane's Design Department is to create environments that reflect our client and the desired conditions within which use, space and flow coincide with intelligence of selection, placement, function and meaning. We want to help you design a plan for your residential or commercial space during the winter months! The best outdoor environments have a design in mind before the first shovel of ground is moved. Please take our online survey to help get you started by clicking here!
Call our Nursery to speak to one of our in-house designers today. (831)455-1876
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Annual Tacky Sweater Holiday Mixer!!!
Thursday, December 5th, 6-8pm
The Salinas Jaycees are proud to announce the ULTIMATE Christmas Mixer! Join us at McShane's Nursery from 6-8pm to celebrate the season with local wine, appetizers and plenty of networking!
Donations are being accepted to benefit the Children's Shopping Tour. The event will feature a our annual "Tacky Christmas Sweater" contest with fabulous prizes for the top vote getters!
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Pest & Disease Screenings
 Stop in any time and bring in samples of plant material that do not seem to be doing well. Our experts will identify pests, disease, and deficiencies in order to get your garden going again. Make sure to bring your sample in a well sealed bag or container!
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Winter Flowers: Adding Color to Your Garden!
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McShane's Nursery carries a wide variety of flowers and shrubs that will keep your garden full of life and color throughout the winter months. Stop into the Nursery and check out a few of our favorites...
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 Cyclamen
Cyclamen is an excellent winter perennial!!! It's sweet scented, grows great both indoors and out, and doesn't mind the cooler, central coast, winter climate!
McShane's Nursery has red, white, and pink varietals... Stop in to add some color to your garden this winter!
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 Calendula
Daisy-like calendula provides easy color from late fall through spring in mild-winter climates, and are long lasting in a vase.
Choose classic orange and bright yellow, or opt for subtler shades of apricot, cream, and soft yellow. Branching plants are 1 to 2 feet high and 1 to 1½ feet wide and look great as masses of color or in a container.
Calendula plants take full sun and moderate water. They will tolerate many soils as long as they have good drainage.
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 Pansies
Gardeners in warmer climates have long known that pansies can be planted in fall and continue to grow and bloom all winter and into spring.
Healthy pansies are compact, exhibit minimal leaf yellowing, and probably show fewer blooms while in the packs because they're younger plants. Despite the lack of color at the time of purchase, these are the plants you want.
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 Iceland Poppies
The Iceland poppy is a short-lived perennial usually grown as a cool-weather annual, or biennial. From hairy tufts of linear blue-green foliage rise wiry stems bearing a pendant bud. The single (occasionally double) short-lived flowers unwrinkle their petals into a wide-spreading saucer shape 3 inches across. - Provide full sun and moist but well-drained soil. Plants dislike disturbance.
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 Winter Vegetables Winter gardening, although an old practice, is an excellent solution for keeping the fertility of your garden's soil at its peak levels. At the same time it yields crops of delicious vegetables throughout the winter that cost a fraction of produce purchased in the supermarket.
Now is the time to plant lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, beets, and carrots. McShane's carries the tools to get you started on your winter garden! |
Frost Protection - What You Need To Know
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When the weather report calls for freezing temperatures overnight, you don't want to be rushing outside in the dark to cover your cold-sensitive plants. Here are some tips for being prepared. Check out this helpful information from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Divison.
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Why worry?
Frost injures plants by causing ice crystals to form in plant cells. This makes water unavailable to plant tissues and disrupts the movement of fluids. Frost-damaged leaves appear water-soaked, shrivel and turn dark brown or black.
Plants are classified according to the minimum temperatures they normally tolerate. "Hardy" plants tolerate some amount of short-term freezing, while "tender" plants are killed or injured by freezing temperatures. Citrus, avocados, bougainvillea, fuchsias and succulents are among the tender plants. If you are in an area prone to frost or freezing, consult a reference such as the Sunset Western Garden Book to learn the hardiness of various species.
Site selection is important
Elevation, surface reflectivity, soil properties, canopy cover and proximity of structures or plants can all affect heat radiation within your landscape. Avoid planting tender species in open, exposed areas or in low spots where cold air settles. Better to put them near a south or west-facing wall, which absorbs heat during the day and radiates it at night. Fences, boulders and shrubs also can serve a protective function for nearby plantings.
Defensive measures- Water the soil thoroughly (except around succulents). Wet soil holds heat better than dry soil, protecting roots and warming air near the soil.
- Bed sheets, drop cloths, blankets and plastic sheets make suitable covers for vulnerable plants. Use stakes to keep material, especially plastic, from touching foliage.
- Remove the coverings when temperatures rise the next day.
- For a short cold period, low plantings can be covered with mulch, such as straw or leaf mold. Remove once the danger of frost has passed.
- Place a 100-watt lamp designed for outdoor use in the interior of a small tree. It can emit enough warmth to reduce frost damage. Holiday lights (not the LED type) serve a similar function, but be sure they don't touch any covering materials.
- Spray an anti-transpirant, available at your local nursery, on the foliage of cold-sensitive plants to seal in moisture. One application can protect up to three months by coating the leaves with an invisible polymer film.
- Cluster container plants close together and, if possible, in a sheltered spot close to the house.
Succulents need special care While some succulents like stonecrops are very cold hardy, others are quite sensitive. If the temperature frequently dips below freezing in your microclimate, you may want to keep your succulents in pots so you can move them indoors or to a sheltered location under house eaves, a deck or a tree. Whether your succulents are in pots or in the ground, try to keep them on the dry side. When plant cells are plump with water, they are more likely to burst if the water freezes. Do not remove damaged leaves unless they start to decay. Leaving them in place protects lower foliage. Don't overreact to plant damagePlants can be remarkably resilient. If you see signs of frost damage, do not prune off the affected parts or dig up the plant immediately. This is especially true for palms. Wait until the weather warms up in March to see whether new leaves sprout. You may see healthy new growth at the base of the plant, at which point you can prune out the damaged parts. If no regrowth is noted, remove the dead specimen and replace it with a more cold-tolerant species.
Keep in mind: McShane's is fully stocked with seeds, seedlings and all the fixings for fabulous November upkeep!
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Frost Fabric at McShane's
 Consider Frost Fabric for your garden. McShane's sells it by the square foot.
Lay the fabric directly on top of the plants or support them above the crops on hoops (or make shift frames - tomato stakes work great.
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 Pick Up Some "Wilt Stop"
Available at McShanes. Consider Wilt Stop to protect your garden from frost. This natural, non-toxic product, derived from the resin of pine trees, has the unique ability to form a soft, clear flexible film on treated plants. This film protects plants from drying out, drought, wind burn, sunscald, winter kill, transplant shock and salt damage. Wilt Stop also extends life of cut flowers and Christmas trees. Great for use year around on deciduous trees, evergreens, shrubs, roses, transplants, vegetables, and fruit. |
More Gardening Resources at McShanesNursery.com
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An old English Victorian tradition, figgy pudding comes right out of a Dickens novel. Here is an authentic recipe for you to try at home!
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Yield: 4 servings
Level: Easy (Promise!)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups chopped dried pitted dates
1/2 cup chopped dried figs
2 cups water
1 teaspoon baking soda
100 grams (3 1/2 ounces or 7 tablespoons) butter, softened
1 cup superfine sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups self-rising flour
75 grams (2 1/2-ounces) dark chocolate, grated
Butter, for coating ramekins
Ice cream or whipped cream, for garnish
Sauce:
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups heavy cream
200 grams (7-ounces or 14 tablespoons) butter
Fresh figs, quartered, for garnish
Vanilla ice cream, optional
Whipped heavy cream, optional12 ounces Cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 cup orange juice
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Add the dates, dried figs and water to a medium saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the baking soda. Let cool for about 5 minutes, then add to a blender and puree.
Using a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add the eggs and beat well. Fold in the flour, the pureed date mixture and the chocolate.
Put the mixture into 4 buttered, 1-cup individual ramekins, filling halfway or slightly under. Put in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
Prepare the sauce by stirring the sugar, cream and butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Simmer until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the butter and stir until incorporated.
Remove the ramekins from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. May be served in the ramekin or unmolded onto a small serving plate. With paring knife cut a cross in the top of the puddings for the sauce.
Pour the sauce into the cross in the center of each pudding, then pour more sauce over the puddings and it allow to soak in slightly. Top with fresh figs and vanilla ice cream or heavily whipped cream. Serve warm.
Like this recipe?
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"DID YOU KNOW?" - Fun Garden Facts
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People with chionophobia are simply said to have a fear of snow. One of the largest components to this fear is the idea of becoming snowbound. A forecast calling for a snowstorm can bring on cold sweats, panic attacks, and even an unrealistic feeling of doom and dread.
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Putting Frosty to Shame
The tallest snowman was 113 feet 7 inches tall and named Angus and made in Bethel Maine in 1999. It was built to bring attention to the Bethel, Maine area and allow the total community to come together for a project. The people of Bethel and the surrounding area worked 5 months to plan and build
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Snowflakes start as ice crystals that freeze around small pieces of dust in the air. As these fall to the earth, the ice crystals join together to form snow flakes. The shape of each snowflake is determined by temperature, wind, the amount of time it takes to fall to the ground, and the amount of water vapor in the air.
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The oldest man to receive a Winter Olympics medal is 83-year-old Anders Haugen. The Norwegian-American actually received his ski jump bronze medal 50 years after he competed in 1924 when a scoring error was discovered in 1974.
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Win a $20 Gift Certificate
to McShane's Nursery!
Complete our quick 4 question online survey and be entered to win a $20 gift certificate to McShane's Nursery! All questions must be completed.
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Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Yelp, Youtube, Foursquare... Whew! McShane's is all over social media! Take a minute to Like, Follow, Pin, Review, Watch, and Check-In with us! We love running contests and specials for our social media followers.
Have you unlocked our check-in special on Foursquare yet? Download the free Foursquare app in your smart phones app store and start following McShane's Nursery and unlocking specials!
Spread the love! See anything you enjoyed in this email? Share it with a friend!
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$20 Off!
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$20 off Handmade Succulent Wreath
$20 off handmade "succulent wreath" : More than 100 well rooted succulents grown directly into a reusable plastic hoop that provide a stunning hanging attraction for your home.
Please print this coupon or present it to your sales associate in your smart phone.
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Offer Expires:
December 31, 2013
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