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November 2015
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Vol 5, Issue 7
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Greetings from Christianson's!
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 Sometimes it just isn't easy getting family together for the holidays. Fortunately, I live close to my daughter and her husband, but, unfortunately, I have competition. There's one of me and 600 of my son-in-law's family who live within 10 miles of each other. They're a close knit clan who are always planning some family gathering, so I have to book my daughter et al. six months in advance if I ever want to see them. Luckily, the in-laws like Friday Thanksgivings so I get the actual day, provided I do most of the cooking.
Ever since the parental units changed their citizenship to Florida, holidays have gotten rather munged up. They have absconded their holiday duties in order to migrate to a tropical climate and I have been unceremoniously crowned the local matriarch of my family. I believe this elder mindset around the holidays is what keeps the airlines in business during the most uncomfortable months to rocket across the landscape in a crowded, metal tube. Offspring obviously have a deeper need to see their parents than parents their offspring. Why else would anyone in their right mind fly over the Rockies in peak winter storm season for a three to four day visit, only to spend two days of it stranded at name-your-airport due to weather delays? It's the offspring who have employment obligations, therefore limited time, that end up making the pilgrimage while the parental units stay put. That's the wisdom of parental units when they reach Ancient Ones status. They know better. In fact, they've attempted bribing us with airline tickets to make the trip, but so far we've resisted. To me, that old favorite holiday song should be changed to "Over the Rockies and through the swamp to grandmother's house we go...."
However, the need of offspring to visit grand-parental units is even stronger. I must give credit to my daughter; she's come up with a solution to get us all together by scheduling a pseudo-turkey day that fits with the ancient ones' flight schedule. However, this doesn't let me off the hook for the official day. Thank goodness I only have to provide the stuffing for the pseudo gathering because November is also a very busy month at the Nursery.
November 7 and 8 Primrose hosts its annual Holiday Open House and it's Arts Alive. We are bringing in local artists including, Rochelle's Jewels, Driftwood Creations and painter Jean Reis. Laura Campbell will be showing her lovely rosehip wreaths. Yours truly will be demonstrating how our Mohair Snow is created. Primrose will be decorated in Holiday splendor, filled with ideas for gift giving and decorating for the Holiday Season. Complimentary fresh-pressed hot spiced apple cider and home-made molasses cookies will be provided. This weekend will surely jump start the holiday spirit!
November 28 marks the twentieth year of our Holiday Tea! A gift from John and Toni Christianson, this event has become an annual Valley tradition. We transform our Meadow Schoolhouse into a lovely winter wonderland with Holiday decorations and lights. Musicians Bob Harper and Dennis Burkhardt will provide traditional acoustic folk music while you dine on delicious tea sandwiches and baked goods with your tea or coffee. There's still room, so call soon to reserve your space for this popular holiday event!
Other events that day include Karen Harper's wreath-making classes and Father Christmas will arrive that morning in his red sleigh to greet all the kiddos and listen to their Christmas wishes. It's a great time to bring your camera and take keepsake photos. Starting on the Sunday after the Holiday Tea we are offering our wreath-making machines for your use free of charge. We provide greens for purchase by the pound or you may bring your own. Several different sized wreath rings, from 6" - 12" are also available for purchase. Book a time individually or bring a group!
What better place to get your holiday spirit going than these great events. And don't forget to check out the class and workshop offerings this month. We look forward to seeing you and wish you and your family a lovely start to the Holiday Season and, remember, there's always Skype.
Debra Lacy,
Certified Professional Horticulturist & Editor
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Where To Find Us
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15806 Best Road
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Map and directions
www.christiansonsnursery.com
360-466-3821
1-800-585-8200
Fall Hours
Starting November 1
Open daily 9 am - 5 pm
Daylight Savings Time ENDS!
Time to turn the clock back an hour.
Weekly Radio Broadcast:
Sunday Mornings at 10:30 am
The Garden Show
with John and Mike
KAPS AM 660
Voted Best Greenhouse and Nursery
in Skagit Publishing's
People's Choice Awards for
2010, 2011 and 2012
Special Events
Arts Alive! &
Holiday Open House
November 7 - 8
20th Annual Holiday Tea
&
Arrival of
Father Christmas
November 28
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November Specials
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Ground Covers
November 1 - 15
Kinnickinnick, ivy, juniper, salal,
Contoneaster, Vinca, Pachysandra and Euonymous
25% off
end-of-season sale
50% off
Camellias
November 16 - 30
winter and spring flowering Camellias
in bud or bloom
1-gallon to 5-gallon sizes
20% off
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The Garden in November
by Rachel Anderson
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The garden in November tends to not be very beautiful. I don't mean to be a Negative Nellie here but take a look around. Perennials that haven't yet been cut down for the season languish in varying states of decomposition and frost blackened leaves smell strongly of decay. Most deciduous trees have dropped their leaves and are skeletons of their former selves with bare branches clacking mournfully in the wind. And the annuals. Read more....
To download a printable version, 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.
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Christianson's Great Design Plants
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Camellias are evergreen shrubs or small trees that add lovely color to an otherwise drab Northwest fall and winter. Below is a series that are among the most cold hardy camellias available; to minus 10 degrees. In fact, they are a full hardiness zone cold tolerant more than other varieties. Camellias prefer slightly acidic soils with filtered sun to shade. Great for use in shade gardens, woodland plantings, as specimen plants, or in large container gardening.
April Kiss:
 This vigorous growing variety is covered with red-pink, formal double flowers in late winter to early spring. Grows 8 to 12ft tall, 4 to 5ft wide. Hybridized from C. oleifera x C. japonica.
April Remembered:
 This vigorous upright grower with spreading branches has large, cream to pink shaded, semi-double flowers. The bud set is substantial, and the flowers are produced over a long period from early to late season. This japonica variety is slightly larger in all respects and much hardier than its mother, 'Bernice Boddy'. Grows 8 to 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide.
April Tryst:
 A large japonica variety that carries abundant, showy, large red semi-double flowers that bloom early through late spring. Popular for its bold, lustrous dark green, leathery evergreen foliage. This stunner will get 10 to 15 feet tall, so needs ample room.
Pink Icicle:
A hybrid of C. japonica & C. oleifera, this variety has clear pink, semi-double flowers with dark green glossy foliage. A very upright, medium to larger sized shrub, it grows to 8 feet tall and 5 feet wide. A later blooming variety that shows mid to late spring.
Winter Snowman:  An early flowering sasanqua hybrid ([C. sasanqua 'Narumi-gata' X 'Shishigashira'] X C. oleifera 'Plain Jane') camellia, that will produce either semi-double or anemone-form flowers (and sometimes both on the same plant), in autumn and into winter. Wine red colored new leaves. A narrower variety that grows to 12 ft. tall and only 5 ft. wide.
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Primrose Antiques & Gifts
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Holiday Open House
November 7 - 8
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
A crisp, Autumn day with music in the air, complimentary fresh apple cider and molasses cookies and local artists showing their work. Primrose will be all decked out for our Holiday Open House. We offer wonderful vintage and new glass ornaments; vintage holiday decorations and trees; bedazzled garlands and natural wreaths; an assortment of holiday cards; vintage French ironstone soup tureens; antique French quilts and fabrics; old fashioned Santas, and our exclusive, shimmery Mohair Snow that has just a hint of sparkle. Transform your home into an exquisite holiday wonderland. Great gift ideas abound!
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Fresh Ideas
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Here's an assortment of interesting ideas, helpful tips and great recipes for November.
Simply click on the link below the photo to learn more. We hope you enjoy this month's collection of fresh ideas!
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Garden Notes Editor:
Debra Lacy, Public Relations
Christianson's Nursery & Greenhouse
360-466-3821
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