We're throwing open the doors, painting the walls and cleaning shelves! Don't be alarmed if you come into the nursery and see more projects than usual going on this fall and winter. Since spring is such a busy time for us, all the prep work happens in fall and winter. We're taking advantage of the cooler weather to clean out seasonal, slow moving or excess product - in store and outside - in preparation for our 63rd spring.

Take advantage of our cleaning house with our sale that runs through October 9. It's impossible to leave without a deal, as everything's 30% off store wide with many additional items clearanced at 50% off or more. In addition to trying that new plant or buying that replacement shrub you've been putting off, stock up on soils and fertilizers too. You can never be too prepared for next spring!

Let spring fever hit early this year! Fall is time to plant all your cool season annuals, perennials and shrubs. Our Mediterranean climate makes fall the ideal time to plant-the soil is warm and roots will grow quickly to support more growth with a four month head start. Envision borders and beds full of Iceland poppies, snapdragon, pansy, viola, primrose and foxglove! A new hedge, specimen plant or shade tree will settle in nicely before winter. Depending on what is planted, there will often be rewards in the form of fall flowers or leaf color even before our winter rains set in. If you find your spring schedule filling up fast, why not get your planting out of the way now?

The time is now for planting many spring blooming seeds. Wildflowers are a great way to start and many come pre-mixed for variety. Try California poppy (available in several colors), yarrow, larkspur, clarkia, godetia and gypsophila. Other seeds for starting in fall include Forget-Me-Not, Columbine, Calendula, Bells of Ireland, Bachelor's Button, Lupine, Nigella, and Foxglove.

Too impatient to wait for seeds to start? Plant all your perennials and groundcovers now in preparation for spring. They'll reward you with more growth and bigger, often earlier, flowers next spring. And don't feel limited to larger gallon sized or quart sized containers. We've got a full line of perennials available in six packs too. Try Cup and Saucer Campanula, Heuchera, Statice, Balloon Flower, Ajuga, Veronica, Dymondia among others.

Plants for fall decor from the garden:

• Sprigs of leafless Harry Lauder's Walking stick in a vase, or plant in a container near an entry or window. Hang plastic spiders and false cobwebs for a spooky effect.
• Cut branches or sprigs of trees or shrubs with colorful fall leaves. Make a bouquet of these for indoors. Try Japanese maple, purple leaf plum, holly or osmanthus, cattails from purple fountain grass, Lemon Beauty box honeysuckle sprigs, ferns, Burning Bush euonymous, Liquidambar, Ginko and others.
• Decorate with mums inside-and out. After bloom, cut back near the ground and plant in a sunny location. Pinch back next year for bushier plants in the garden.
• Create a unique biodegradable container for a patio or centerpiece by planting up a pumpkin. Carve out a pumpkin and plant annuals in the top. Make sure to line the inside with petroleum jelly first to slow decomposition.
• Edible and ornamental kale are dramatic in arrangements as a substitute for fern, as is Swiss chard.
• Terra Cotta containers are classic, classy and perfectly colored for fall decorating.
• Wrap burlap over ceramic or plastic containers (even vases) for a fall feel. Tie with fall-colored raffia or twine to hold it in place.
• Decorate pumpkins and gourds. Check out our easy Fall Pumpkin Decorating Class October 15 at 10:00 (RSVP 523-7978, $$ Material Fee). The ladies from locally owned Furniture Market will teach you how to make your pumpkins star in your fall decor!
  

Interested in learning the age old art of bonsai? Just in time for our new bonsai shipment, here are a few beginner's tips:

• Watch the Water! Bonsai are rarely, if ever, water plants. They prefer moist, not soggy soil.
• Sun Stress: Because of their smaller containers, even full sun plants do better in some shade.
• Outdoors vs. Indoors: Although bonsai may look like indoor plants, most are for outside growing.
• Tiny Pots: Make sure the container is to scale with the plant. Too small of a pot will inhibit your plant.
• Horti-Torture: Pruning will depend on the plant and its growth. Make sure not to over-do it.
• And most importantly, HAVE FUN! Although there are many guides to bonsai, it should be most important to learn to "have an eye" for it and pick up tips and tricks along the way. Like so many other hobbies, it should be a learning experience.

It's already October!

As always I want to encourage people to garden this time of the year. The cooler nights and shorter days mean the plants will establish easier. The warm soil means you get lots of root growth. The root growth means lots of extra spring growth!

Shrubs and trees love to be planted now. Do you have some plants that just are too big, too overgrown, shaded out by trees or larger plants or just aren't happy? This is the perfect time to replace them.

If your summer garden is winding down: broccoli, lettuce, onions, spinach, sugar snap peas and carrots are just some of the plants for winter gardens.

A tip for planting broccoli or any of the cabbage family is to cover the row loosely with Row Cover, This is the same stuff we use for frost protection. Here it keeps the soil warmer for better winter growth. But, in addition it keeps the caterpillars and aphids out! An easy, one time solution to the main cabbage family problems.

A second tip for annuals, perennials, and vegetables is early fertilizing. At home I condition with Paydirt and fertilize at planting with Master Start. Then I fertilize with Master's Rose and Flower food or Vegetable Food every two weeks for six to eight weeks. It is specially critical to get the plants off to a good start BEFORE the cold weather comes.

We sell gardening success!

Jungle Jim

Pretty Up Your Pumpkin!
October 15 @ 10:00 am
Materials Fee TBA
RSVP 523-7978

Create a stylish pumpkin with paint at this hands on activity for adults. The gals from locally owned Furniture Market will show you how to decorate with pizazz!

Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center
October 15 @ 10:00 am
Free

Come see the Stanislaus Wildlife Care Center at Scenic Nursery! The center specializes in rescuing injured and abandoned wildlife. Learn about what they do and meet a couple of permanent wildlife residents of the center at this hour long presentation. Great for kids and adults alike. Free, donations welcome.

Perennial & Seed Swap Meet
October 22 @ 11:00 am
Free

Join us for our second annual Perennial and Seed Swap Meet! Darrell will kick off the event with a short talk on dividing perennials, collecting seeds and other methods of propagation, and the swap will immediately follow.

Bring divided perennials, bulbs, seeds or cuttings to share with others (ask one of our sales associates for containers beforehand if needed!)

If you have labels or tags to identify what you will be sharing that would be perfect! We will also have grease pencils and sharpies available if you need them at the event.

Seminar is free, swap is free for those with material to share!