We celebrated our 2nd Anniversary Saturday. We h…

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We celebrated our 2nd Anniversary Saturday. We had White Bear Studio demonstrating his pottery techniques, BBQ for everyone, two shopping sprees given away, as well as a chance for savings on the days purchases for everyone. The best part was it didn't rain, which a few weeks ago was a distinct possibility. The temps were in the mid 70's under clear skies. It couldn't get much better.

The best part is the turn out from the community. Many people came by just to thank us for being here. Lot's of them made purchases,
a which makes our anniversary day our single biggest day, when it comes to sales. Most important, it's our chance to thank the community for their support. We had people come from Auburn, Placerville, and Sacramento.

Just got the latest issue of a new national garde…

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Just got the latest issue of a new national garden center magazine called "Garden Chic, The art of niche retailing." It is published by the same people who put out "Nursery Retailer", another trade magazine. They had spotted our website a few months ago and felt is was nice enough to feature in the latest issue. Four web sites were featured from across the country. One in Texas, www.arborgate.com, Bainbridge Ohio, www.eaglecreekgrowers.com, www.chelseagardencenter.com in New York, N.Y., and ours www.thegoldengecko.com.

Most of these garden centers have been around for a while, and to have our web site compared to other leading garden centers is exciting. We are proud that our little garden center, which will be celebrating it's second anniversary May 6th, has been noticed.

Have you seen the Redbuds in bloom? Driving where…

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Have you seen the Redbuds in bloom? Driving where the native foliage has been undisturbed look for a shrub that is leafless, with colorful sweet pea shaped, magenta flowers growing on the branches and even the trunk. These are the Redbud (Cercis occidentalis). They are native to the west slopes of the Sierra Nevada below 4000 feet.

During the summer they are inconspicuous among the other native plants. They usually grow about 8 to 18 feet tall. Most grow several trunks from the base. Leaves are bluish green about 3" on diameter. In the fall the leaves turn a light yellow or red.

Don't even think of trying to transplant one from the wild. They are notorious for being difficult to transplant. They are also hard to find in garden centers. I tried growing about 50 of them last year with about 10% success. They are susceptible to root rot, and even with excellent drainage are hard to grow. If you do want to try one in the yard find a full sun spot, with excellent drainage, and give it a go.

I find the eastern Redbuds (Cercis canadensis) to be easier to grow in the garden. They tend to grow into a small tree, rather than a large shrub, but have the pretty sweet pea like flowers.

If you want to enjoy what is one of our most beautiful flowering native shrubs, head to the hills this week as they are going to be in full bloom.

Interesting request from a customer. Customer come…

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Interesting request from a customer. Customer comes into the garden center with the complaint that her tomato plant has fungus, and that she need's a fungicide. Now since we wouldn't think of selling tomatoes earlier than late April, I knew shehadn't bought it from us. No big deal, as she thought enough of us to get a organic fungicide for the plant. She didn't want the ready to use, but the concentrate, which cost $13.00. The tomato was bought at Home Depot for less than a dollar. Did it have fungus on it when she bought it, or did it develop in her yard with the rainy cold weather we have been having?

Two points stand out in this. One, in the foothills where we garden the last frost of spring almost always occurs between May 1st to the 15th. The ground is not warm enough to grow the plant now anyway. So putting in a tomato in the ground now before May is taking a huge chance.

The second point is, wouldn't it be better to just get rid of the diseased plant and re-plant later, at the appropriate time, rather than spend a bunch of money on fungicide?

We feel funny about offering plants at the wrong time of the year. The Home Depot, and stores like it don't. They have all the warm season stuff for sale now, as well as plants like bougainvillea that don't even grow here, except as an annual. Sure you could use the bougainvillea as a annual, but does The Depot tell you that?

I get customers who come in and ask where our warm season vegetables are. When we tell them it's to early to plant, some ask why they would be for sale at The Depot if it wasn't the time to plant, and go off to purchase them anyway.

The only way we in the independent garden center business can fight this is through knowledge. We may reach only 10% of the gardening public, but we have to, since I feel it is just wrong to push plants at the wrong time, or plants that are not for the climate zone we live in.

What do you think?

If you are not coming to our workshops you might b…

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If you are not coming to our workshops you might be missing out. We built a raised bed inside, since it was raining outside. It is now in Monica's garden where we added another foot of height so we won't even have to bend over to work in the garden.

Here we see Boy Kitty and myself starting the bed. The plastic hoops will hold frost blanket or bird netting up and over the plants.

With all the rain we've been receiving this goose decided to head to higher ground. He and the flying pig don't seem to mind the rain. I, on the other hand, am a bit tired of it.

We are always looking for interesting deer resista…

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We are always looking for interesting deer resistant shrubs and ground covers. Grevillea is one such plant. Grevillea comes from Australia and tends to be very tough, tolerating drought and nutrient deficient soils. One new variety of grevillea is the yellow flowering "Molongolo" variety. Growing two feet tall by six to eight feet wide it would be a great groundcover for a full sun area. It will also cascade over and down rocks.

Grevillea laveandulacea "Penola" is a variety that has red flowers on grey leaves. Growing to five feet tall and eight feet wide it is quite striking, adding a touch of grey to the garden.

We’ll the rain and cold isn’t going to get Monica…

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We'll the rain and cold isn't going to get Monica down. She uses the power of color to brighten her's and our world. Give her a can of paint and look out. Its amazing what color will do for some old patio furniture. She is going to use these in displaying her flowers. Go ahead, be bold and brighten up your yard.

The flowers tell us it's spring, now if only the weather would cooperate.

Got to go, just got in some really cool plants. I'll post some pics later today.

Here is a classic scene for you. Crocus in the Sn…

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Here is a classic scene for you. Crocus in the Snow. This scene is from the garden center where we are experiencing a late season cold spell. Bulbs like daffodils, crocus, and hyacinths often are blooming when we have these late storms. They are rarely harmed by the snow, and provide us with a sweet taste of spring.

At 2000 ft. elevation we really don't get all that much snow in the winter. It usually melts after a day or two.>

While it was cold outside Monica was holding a seed starting workshop in the store. Every other week we have workshops on various topics. Check out our web page for a list of upcoming workshops. They are informative and fun.

This is a flowering plum (Prunus "Krauters Vesuvi…

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This is a flowering plum (Prunus "Krauters Vesuvius) blooming in the nursery yesterday. The foothills have very changeable weather in the late winter and spring. Spring like one day, winter like the next, which is when the picture of the front of the store was taken.There is a chance for more snow tonight. I came from Costco in Folsom today, and watched as people were buying the impatiens they had for sale. Impatiens are highly frost sensitive and shouldn't be planted for at least a month. With spring in the foothills you are really taking a risk planting tender annuals to soon. Better to wait till the ground warms up. If you have the urge to plant there are many things that can be planted that the cold won't damage.

Pieris is one of our favorite plants for the sha…

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Pieris is one of our favorite plants for the shade. It starts blooming in late winter and continues through spring, providing a long bloom season. In addition some pieris, like “Mountain Fire”, have new growth that is bright red, providing further interest. In the foothills deer resistance is important, and pieris has good deer resistance.

There are a number of different varieties of peris, each with it’s own attributes. Two of my favorite are “Prelude” and “Mountain Fire”. “Prelude” is pictured above. It grows to about two feet tall and wide, with clusters of white bell shaped flowers that stand above the foliage. Its shape is a neat, rounded form. Place it in the foreground of your planting beds.
“Mt. Fire” is a taller grower, up to six feet plus. It has of bell shaped flowers that hang in pendulous clusters. While flowering, new growth that is bright red appears creating a spectacular display. Since it gets tall, use it in the background of smaller plantings, or as a screen.

If you would like to explore the world of pieris now would be a great time.

Spring is right around the corner when flowering …

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Spring is right around the corner when flowering quince start to bloom. This one is on Marshall Rd. in Georgetown, right in front of Black Oak animal Clinic. Quince can grow to about seven feet tall and wider. Monica stands next to the shrub to show the size. Deer tend to leave it alone, and it is quite tough. Full sun is best.