January 2015
Vol 4, Issue 9


Garden Notes
Garden Notes Logo Bird


Greetings from Christianson's!
As most of us have experienced, New Year's resolutions are highly over rated. So, there's no surprise that the failure rate of these behavioral intentions have been studied a bit.  A 2007 study from the University of Bristol involving 3,000 people showed that 88% of those who set New Year resolutions fail, despite the fact that 52% of the study's participants were confident of success at the beginning. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, (a system where small measurable goals are being set; such as, a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends. So why set resolutions? The practice seems to be an artifact of deeper, cultural and religious customs.

Often assumed to originate from our modern, goal driven society, the fact is resolutions have fairly ancient roots.

According to Wikipedia:
  • The ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.
  • The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named.
  • In the Medieval era, the knights took the "peacock vow" at the end of the Christmas season each year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry.
  • At Watchnight services, many Christians prepare for the year ahead by praying and making resolutions.
Other religious parallels to this tradition include Judaism's New Year. During Rosh Hashanah, through the High Holidays and culminating in Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), it is important to reflect upon one's wrongdoings over the year and both seek and offer forgiveness. People may act similarly during the Catholic fasting period of Lent, though the motive behind this holiday is one more of sacrifice than of responsibility. In fact, the modern practice of New Year's resolutions partially came from the Lenten sacrifices. The turning of the new year, regardless of creed, is a great marker for reflection and self-improvement. Resolutions have been around as long as the human psyche has evolved to feel guilty.

Regardless of motivation, the key to keeping resolutions is to set small, realistic, simple goals. In the garden, these small goals could be something like creating a calendar of what to do when, instead of making sweeping statements like, "I vow to maintain my garden better this year." Making a list of smaller tasks to complete will give you a sense of accomplishment and direction when you check them off one by one. Of course, a resolution could be to even make a list if you're a gardener that works off the cuff and doesn't feel like you accomplish much.

Working in the garden is also a great way to keep that resolution on getting more exercise and losing weight. If you're an edible gardener, you'll be sure to keep the one on eating more fruits and veg. It's great when you can get one resolution to overlap another. More bang for the buck with less effort, which could be counter productive for any resolution to make more of an effort, I suppose.

Let's face it, New Year's resolutions are personal opportunities for do-overs. Like a garden, it's part of the cycle of life's continual renewal and evolution. Create your list for the new year and do the best you can with it. Treat resolutions like roll-over minutes because after all, there's always next year, right?

Happy New Year, everyone!

   

 

 

Debra Lacy,
Certified Professional Horticulturist & Editor
 

 

In This Issue
Seasonal Specials
Calendar Highlights
Primrose Antiques & Gifts
The Garden In January
Great Design Plants
Fresh Ideas
Closing Thought
Quick Links

 

2015 Rose List

 

 

www.Christianson's Nursery.com

   

La Conner Chamber of Commerce  

Mt Vernon Chamber of Commerce

  

Where To Find Us

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15806 Best Road

Mount Vernon, WA  98273

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www.christiansonsnursery.com 

 

360-466-3821

1-800-585-8200

 

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Open daily 9 am - 5 pm
9 am - 6 pm
Beginning March 1
 

Weekly Radio Broadcast: 

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Voted Best Greenhouse and Nursery

in Skagit Publishing's

People's Choice Awards for

2010, 2011 and 2012 

   

Special Events
February 11 - 13
NW Flower & Garden Show
February 28 - March 1
Winter Festival
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January Specials

January 1 - 31   

House & Conservatory Plants 
Tropical plants for home or greenhouse
(free repotting with plant & pot purchase)

25% off

 

Calendar Highlights

Upcoming Classes & Events
 
.: January :.

CLASSES
Saturday, January 24
Saturday, January 31
 
CLASSES
Saturday, February 7
11 am - noon: Growing Giant Pumpkins
1 - 2 pm: The Power of Rocks

Saturday, February 21
11 am - noon: What Is All The Buzz About?
1 - 2 pm: Basic Rose Pruning

Sunday, February 22
1 - 2 pm: Renovating Old Fruit Trees

Saturday, February 28
11 am - noon: A Glorious Profusion of Hellebores


EVENTS
February 11 - 13
8:30 am - 6 pm: Flower Buses to the NW Flower & Garden Show

February 28 - March 1
Ninth Annual Winter Festival: A Fascination for Hellebores


Classes are very popular and fill up quickly. Please call us soon to reserve your spot at 1-800-585-8200.
  
For more information visit our web site at

Primrose Antiques & Gifts  
  
Primrose offers a wide variety of glass jars and cloches suitable for terrarium displays.


Check back with us for additional items on sale during January! 
     
The Garden in January
by Rachel Anderson
Happy New Year, everyone!  I hope you all had a festive and joyous holiday!  I am pretty glad when the holidays are over because it means a gradual return to longer days, even though winter has only just begun.  Despite that fact,  I am really excited to get out into my own garden this month and I'm excited that I feel excited to garden...      Read more .....

 To download a printable copy of this article,  click here.

Thanks to her mom, Rachel has been gardening since childhood. She was  part of the team at Christianson's for 13 years before deciding to strike out on her own as a full time professional gardener and continues to contribute to Garden Notes. She's a Certified Professional Horticulturist with a passion for roses and vegetable gardening.  Rachel and her family enjoy gardening together and now share their urban garden with a menagerie of ducks, chickens, two cats, and a dog.    
Christianson's Great Design Plants
It's houseplant season again and we have all our indoor tropical houseplants on sale for 25% off! What better way to get through the winter doldrums than to fill your house with living plants and we carry a great selection for all manner of light levels. Now's a great time to get creative with displaying your indoor plants and we're offering a class - Terrariums: Miniature Worlds in Glass given by Kathy Hirdler of Floribunda Designs.

The best sized plants for terrariums are the 2" container sizes, but 4" sizes can be used in larger displays and when the plant can be divided. Some plants don't need containers such as Tillandsia (air plants) varieties or certain orchids because they get their moisture from the humidity in the air (epiphytic) or from a good soaking.

Here's a list of great houseplants that also work well in terrariums:

Low Light Conditions:

Pteris cretica albolineata: Bird's Foot Fern has wildly winged fingered fronds elaborately patterned with pewter white centers and is tolerant of a wide range of temperatures (do NOT freeze) and light intensities. Its upright, spreading growth habit makes it a great focal point in a terrarium setting.

Philodendron scandens: Heart Leaf Philodendron is a climbing or hanging plant with dark green, 2-3" heart-shaped leaves. It tolerates low light and low humidity well but prefers to be slightly rootbound in rich, moist soil. In a terrarium, provide a bark type support for climbing.

Selaginella species: Club moss creates a wonderful carpet in terrarium settings. It is best grown in cooler temperatures, low to moderate light with good air circulation in a moist, rich soil. It can also be divided.



Pteris cretica albolineata
Philodendron scandens
Selanginella

Moderate Light Conditions:

Asparagus setaceus: The Asparagus Fern is a very popular plant for terrariums. These are not true ferns but are in fact members of the Lily family. They grow best in bright, indirect light without any full sun. Asparagus Ferns should be planted in rich, light, slightly acidic, well-drained soil in a moist, humid setting.

Asplenium nidus
:
Bird's Nest Fern is a tropical, epiphytic fern that, in nature colonizes in trees or on rock faces. Requires warmth, high humidity, moderate light and rich, well draining soil that isn't too wet. Use in larger terrariums to show off their larger leaved form.

Fittonia verschaffeltii: A classic terrarium selection, Nerve Plant has beautiful, deep-green leaves with vein patterns of white, pink, or red. In its native South America, this tropical plant grows as a ground cover and can spread out about 12 inches. Its low-spreading habit makes it ideal for dish gardens and terrariums, where it thrives with the help of high humidity. Be aware that this plant doesn't like dry air, drafts, or direct sun, any of which may cause its leaves to shrivel or fall off.

Peperomia species: Peperomias are mounding plants often with deeply corrugated, 1�" heart shaped leaves and variegated colors along its veins. Needs moderate light. Allow soil to dry thoroughly before watering. Do not over water! Seldom needs re-potting.

Pilea cadierei: Aluminum Plants are fast growing, easy to care for plants that branch freely. These plants have 3", deep green, lance shaped leaves arranged in pairs along their upright, succulent stems. The fleshy leaves are accented with bold bands of metallic silver.

Soleirolia soleirolii: Baby Tears is an excellent, moss-like ground cover plant for dish gardens and open terrariums. Needs moderate light. Soil should be kept constantly moist but water on the tiny foliage should be avoided. Can be propagated by division. Spreads readily but is easily controllable.

Syngonium podophyllum: Arrowhead Vines are fast growing plants that are easy to grow in bright, indirect light or light shade. Allow rich, well draining soil to dry before watering. Pinch tips to induce bushiness.

Asplenium nidus
Peperomia sandersii
Peperomia sandersii



Pilea cadierei



Asparagus setaceus
Soleirolia soleirolii
Syngonium podophyllum


High Light Conditions:

Adiantum raddianum: Another terrarium classic, Maiden Hair Fern prefers bright indirect light, rich well draining soil and high humidity. Keep the soil evenly moist, but decrease watering slightly in the winter. Grows best when night temperatures are cooler (55�).

Cryptanthus bromelioides
:
Popular for terrariums, this rosette forming, epiphytic Bromeliad from Brazil needs bright light but no direct sun and high humidity. Should be planted in a potting mix containing sphagnum moss or peat.

Dracaena marginata: This dracaena species is a tree-like plant that is tolerant of lower light but appreciates bright, indirect light. Allow to dry slightly between waterings. Sensitive to fluoride, so allow water to set for 24 hours before watering.

Epipremnum aureum: Golden Pothos are one most popular of all house plants. They are attractive, durable and easy to grow vines that have smooth, leathery, heart shaped leaves with distinctive marbling alternating along rope-like green stems. Pothos vines are among the top ten air purifying plants for indoor use.

Hypoestes phyllostachya: For a splash of bright color, the Polka Dot plant grows best in a humid environment, needs bright light but not full sun. Use water that has been allowed to set for 24 hours to keep the soil slightly moist. Pinch back for bushiness.

Pilea involucrata: Friendship Plants are native to Central and South America, where they are known as Panamiga plants. They are creeping plants that form dense, mound of deeply textured, oval, 2�" leaves. The foliage color varies, but the most common variety has dark, reddish brown leaves gilded with silver or copper. Adds great color and texture to a terrarium setting.



Adiantum raddianum
Cryptanthus bromelioides
Dracaena marginata


Epipremnum aureum
Hypoestes phyllostachya
Pilea involucrata

Other Selections:

Tillandsia species: Tillandsia, commonly referred to as 'air plants' is the largest genus in the bromeliad family, accounting for approximately 550 of the over 2,500 species of bromeliads. They are native to the warmer climates of the Americas. Most Tillandsia species use their root systems to attach themselves to trees or rocks and absorb moisture and nutrients through their leaves. There is enormous variety in size, shape, texture, bloom and color of these bromeliads. The three most important requirements are bright light, although not direct sun, good air circulation and water. These plants pair will with epiphytic orchids. The way to display these amazing plants is only limited by one's imagination.

Succulents: A wide variety of succulents and cacti make great dish displays. Most require bright or direct sun, otherwise they can get leggy. Also, succulents prefer an open dish or bowl with excellent drainage and air circulation rather than an enclosed Edwardian case or glass cloche. Use a cactus soil and water sparingly. Pinch back to keep compact.

 

Fresh Ideas
Closing Thought...
 
Garden Notes Editor:
Debra Lacy, Public Relations
Christianson's Nursery & Greenhouse
360-466-3821