In many ways September and October can be the most enjoyable part of our gardening season. It's especially rewarding being able to do things most of the country can't because of their snow, freezes, and hard winters. What we do now can make for a beautiful garden this winter AND a beautiful show in the spring.

We can plant flowers that will bloom all winter long. We can plant vegetables that produce in January and February.

We can plant almost anything that will go through the winter and it will come out performing even better than plants planted in the spring!

This is the time you can tell what is just overgrown, tired, or shaded out in the garden. By replacing these things now, you give the new plantings time to root out before the spring growing season.

Most of our older gardens have areas where plants are now getting too much shade. Depending on the area, ferns, azaleas, carex grasses, and coral bells can dress up areas that have gotten shadier over the years.

Do you have plantings that you are tired of having to chop back all summer?

Do you have plantings that you can't make look the way you wanted them to when you planted them?

Now is the time to replace them while you can remember what needs to be replaced.

If you aren't sure what to do, call the Garden Crew and let us help you. We offer a multitude of services, including consultations and various levels of involvement tailored to your needs.

In any case... FALL is the time for Planting!

Happy Gardening,
Jungle Jim

Promising a Rose Garden...or Backyard Orchard!
by Amy Lomeli

If you're looking to have your very own cut roses or backyard fruit harvest, now is the time to start thinking about your selections with our 2011-2012 Rose and Fruit Tree Orders. Have a hard-to-find fruit? Check out our Dave Wilson Special Order Fruit Tree (SOFT) list. That gorgeous rose bouquet or perfect peach can be grown right outside your backdoor! Don't forget that we offer pruning and care seminars for both these topics in January.

There are classics and new varieties to choose from in both order forms; available in-store or online. Remember to order early, as some varieties (especially roses) are in limited supply. SOFT orders must be prepaid and ordered by November 12, regular orders by November 30. Remember that early pre-paid orders receive a 10% discount!

Fall Feeding
by Amy Lomeli

As summer comes to a close, it's time to start thinking about feeding your garden for fall.

• Roses could use an extra kick of Sul-Po-Mag and Rose and Flower Food for a good fall show.
• Start feeding your lawn with Fall and Winter Feed when temperatures begin to cool late this month.
• Shrubs and trees can be fertilized with Formula 49 this time of year.
• Plants such as gardenias that are showing iron deficiency could use a boost with Iron Plus.
• Use Bud N Bloom on late summer flowers like marigolds, zinnias, vincas and impatiens to extend their bloom.
• If you're planting your fall flower beds and veggies, be sure to use Master Start, our 'baby food' for plants
• Begin fertilizing your camellias and azaleas with Master Bloom for bigger, better and more flowers this fall, winter and spring.

Moss Baskets for Fall
by Amy Lomeli

Dressing up a patio or outside a window can be easy with a custom moss basket for sun or shade. Like fashion, fall and winter plants will carry a seasonal theme. Look for warm golds, oranges and maroon flowers or foliage to pair with classic greens. Seasonal mums with viola on top and an ivy or wire vine base is a lovely, simple combination. Or try 'Wine Flash' Pansy (maroon and purple with gold hues) on the sides and top with 'Toffee Twist' sedge.

For part-shade or morning sun areas, try a combination of ajuga on the sides or trailing out the top with white or wine red cyclamen. Leptospermum with gold primrose also makes a lovely combo, as does green, gold or purple heuchera with cyclamen or primrose.

Remember that you can also use vegetables and herbs in hanging baskets! Lettuces, chard, peas, thyme, oregano and tarragon are excellent examples.

Use our Moss Basket Guide to create a gorgeous living bouquet for your outdoor space, or come to our free Moss Basket Demonstration September 24 at 11:00. Immediately afterward, create your own with help from one of our experts (RSVP 523-7978, $35 workshop materials fee).

Vegetables for Fall
by Amy Lomeli

As summer winds down and you're pulling your tired tomato plants, consider planting a fall and winter vegetable garden. We carry a healthy selection of vegetable transplants and seeds that can be planted during the cool season.

Planting time is perfect for lettuces, chard, snap peas, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, onions, spinach and more. Many of these transplants even come from our grower, Fredriks Nursery in Ripon, making your harvest even more local. You can also plant root crops like carrots and beets for the cool season.

As with a summer garden, remember that good soil and regular fertilizer are the bread and butter of a productive edible garden. Mind the spacing of your vegetables and and especially seedling spacing, as this can affect the growth of the plant considerably.

New to cool season gardening? Come to our free Fall Vegetable Garden How-To seminar on September 17 at 11:00.

Too Much of a Good Thing
by Amy Lomeli

Perennials can be tried and true - to the point that you have too much of a good thing! When cutting back and dividing perennials this fall, save a few to bring to our second annual Perennial & Seed Swap Meet October 22, at 11:00.

We'll kick off the event with a short talk from our propagation pro, Darrell, followed by the swap. Bring your overabundance of seeds, bulbs, cuttings, divisions and more to share and swap. Please label your goods (popsicle sticks and a sharpie work well!), and we have flats and used containers if you need them beforehand (just ask one of our staff).

Call 523-7978 for more information. We hope to see you there!

Fall Events Calendar

Cast Concrete Bird Bath/Garden Art
Part 1: September 10, 11:00 am
Part 2: September 17, 10-3
$20 Materials Fee

Learn how to make your own cast concrete leaf bird bath garden art! This will be a two weekend event. Make your leaf the 10th, paint it the 17th anytime between 10:00 & 3:00. Pre-registration and $20 materials fee required. Class size will be limited to 10, so call 523-7978 to pre-register.

Fall Veggie Garden How-To
September 17, 11:00 am
Free

Always had a summer garden but called it quits when it came to winter veggies? Learn the best cool season vegetables to plant and how to plant them at this informational seminar. You CAN have a nearly year-round harvest!

Moss Basket Seminar & Workshop
September 24, 11:00 am
Seminar: Free
Workshop: $35 Materials Fee & RSVP

Back by popular demand - Learn our easy step by step way to make moss baskets! Seminar free and unlimited spaces. Afterward, attend our Mossing Workshop immediately following, and make a 14" basket with seasonal annuals. Workshop size limited to 12, call 523-7978 to RSVP. $35 workshop materials fee.

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. Great for kids and adults alike. Free

Perennial & Seed Swap Meet
October 22, 11:00 am
Free for Participants

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!

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