December 31, 2010
With the end of 2010 upon us, my hope for you in the new year is that we will not have a repeat of last summer’s heat and drought.
Many plant problems I noticed started appearing in late August and September because of the lack of water.
In my opinion, the drought in the Akron area did not end until Thanksgiving Day with a nice slow rain of up to 2 inches that was followed several days later with a similar rain.
The recent snows this past month have helped to restore the water table and soil moisture.
On a more positive note, the holidays are over and you’ll have time to plan your garden for next year and assess your failures and successes of the previous season in order to move forward to a more productive garden.
Some of your gardening resolutions might be:
- I will pull more weeds in the vegetable and flower garden this coming year before they get out of control.
- I will grow more food for my family’s consumption and search out locally grown foods
- I will involve and teach my children more about gardening and the natural world
- I will review food labels on the products I purchase in the grocery store to understand the nutritional value and sugar content and the possible effects of my food purchase on my health.
- I will learn how to freeze, dry and can more of the produce I grow at home.
- I will beautify my property with trees, shrubs and flowers to improve my own yard and my community.
- I will use less harmful pesticides and fertilizers loaded with phosphorus on my lawn and garden.
- I could go on and on but I ‘m sure you get the idea.
By giving just a little more thought and planning the yard and garden, you and your family will be better off health wise and while enhancing your property. You may just spread the contagion beyond your own property line to your entire neighborhood!
December 24, 2010
Christmas Eve is a welcome slow down from the Christmas rush and coming just after the winter solstice on December 21st. It reminds us that we’re entering the depths of the long, dark winter.
There is plenty to do in winter as it relates to gardening. Winter is the time to catch up on all your garden reading reviewing the new mail order catalogs and plan new projects in your garden.
At the nursery, we’re putting the final touches on our plans for spring which includes what we will grow in our new greenhouse facilities, what new plants we will stock and promote and the continuation of our winter seminar series in order to educate our gardening customers.
What better time to learn about the garden than winter when the garden itself is asleep!
In spring, there will be some new surprises for anyone coming into the garden center but will wait to give you a hint of what is to come late this winter.
Keep an eye out on our website for updates about the seminars and other items of interest.
Remember that we will be open next Monday-Thursday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and will close Friday, New Year’s Eve at 3:00 pm and will remain closed (except for seminars) until March 1st.
We will still be here working and ready to answer your phone questions and e-mails.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Tom
December 17, 2010
Last week, Santa’s visit was a big hit with the children and parents alike.
The specifically built bench for Santa was big enough to hold Santa with a parent on each side and a child on Santa’s lap.
We’re low on cut trees now but still have a few beautiful 8-10 foot Fraser Fir and several 6-7 foot Scotch Pine.
As I wrote formerly, we’ll have grave blankets and wreaths ready for pick up or delivery right up until Christmas Eve.
The remodeling of the original store is almost done as well as our new production greenhouse that will be used for a whole host of annual flowers for May sales.
Keep an eye out for my later blogs as I’ll give you hints on some of the new items that will be here next spring in perennials, annual flowers, roses, trees and shrubs.
Another way to find out about all the new stuff is to visit our seminars that begin late January and finish up in late March.
See you at the seminars!
Tom
December 10, 2010
We’re already winding down on our fresh cut trees! Scotch pine (6-7 feet) and Fraser Fir (8-9 feet) are the only trees left of any number. The 8-9 foot Fraser Fir are exceptionally nice since the grower just delivered more fresh cut ones last week.
Remember that Santa is here this Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 3:00 each day so that you’ll want to bring your children or grandchildren for a photo op as it’s completely free. Be sure to bring your digital camera! Santa will be sitting on a very sturdy garden bench that Brad (AKA Mr. Fix It) just made that we’re sure will hold Santa and a child on his lap.
We’re still making and delivering grave blankets until Christmas Eve.
I almost forgot… we have tree delivery and set up available of a real cut tree that will relieve you of the hassel of mounting the tree in the stand straight. A seven foot tree delivered and set up is only $20 with trees greater than 7 foot at a $35 charge.
Hope to see you in the Owl Barn this weekend!
Tom
December 3, 2010
Even though the shortest day of the year is the winter solstice , December 21 or 22, it surely seems that the shortest days are now and that’s because the sun sets earlier in early December then it does on the solstice.
No wonder that Christmas is filled with lights from the lights on the tree, to the star of the wondrous Star of the East.
This year is the 500th anniversary of the first Christmas tree that was cut and erected in Riga, Latvia in the year 1510.
Thankfully for us, the Hessian soldiers defending Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey were busy celebrating Christmas and not expecting the sly fox George Washington to attack them and take these two towns!
Don’t forget that if you’ve been thinking about a real Christmas tree, that we can deliver and even set it up in your stand for a very reasonable fee. All you need to do is decorate the tree to your liking!
Please purchase a stand such as Cinco brand that is the right size for the tree as it’s not a good idea to shove the tree trunk down the middle of a small stand as the tree will no longer take up water to remain fresh.
Remember, Santa is coming next weekend between 12:00 and 3:00 Saturday and Sunday (December 11th & 12th) and will be available for photographs.
Be sure to bring your children, grand children and even great grand children as Santa is very convincing even though he is actually a Nortonite named Tim Crawford who is well known in Norton and throughout Summit County.
Remember too that all the excitement with Santa is free!
Hope for snow,
Tom
November 26, 2010
It’s finally time to pick out a real Christmas tree for an old-fashioned Christmas.
No, a real tree is not as convenient and easy as a pre-lit artificial tree but then that’s the fun of it.
The “fun” is the search for the perfect tree with just the right shape, needle length, color, height and width.
Getting outside in the fresh air and maybe snow with the entire family and you might just have to make a “day of it” instead of family members going his or her own separate way.
Our trees are all Ohio-grown and as I’ve written in earlier blogs, ours are very fresh!
The Owl Barn is filled with trees, gift items, poinsettias and such that give the inside of the building a Christmas glow.
You’ll have to come by to see the 11 foot Fraser Fir decorated against the north wall.
Its lit up with more than 800 LED lights that cut power usage by as much as 80% compared to the old incandescent types.
I like the LED Christmas lights as they are cool to the touch and don’t tend to dry out the tree.
For nearly 30 years, we’ve been making and displaying quite an array of grave decorations that are ready for pick up or delivery.
Live and artificial wreaths, door swags, roping and greens are displayed inside and outside the Owl Barn.
Come on down to take a look at our beautiful trees and displays and visit the new Owl Barn Market.
Tom
November 19, 2010
Tomorrow, November 20th, my guest on our radio program “Ready, Set, Grow” on 1590AM WAKR (8:00-10:00 AM) will be Amy Galehouse from Galehouse Tree Farms in Doylestown.
The Galehouse family has been growing Christmas trees forever and has cut-your-own or ready-cut Christmas trees for sale.
The action starts right after Thanksgiving that will see crowds from all over northeast Ohio!
The radio show will sure to be an “everything you wanted to know about real Christmas trees” as Amy has had years of managing the tree farm after her father had passed away in a tragic accident in the early 1990’s.
I know a lot about the Christmas tree business myself as my family has been in the business for 54 years and started me out by pulling baled trees across the yard to be stacked when I was just 5 years old.
Our trees come from a small family operation in Ohio and are of excellent quality and very fresh. If you want a tree any fresher, you’ll have to cut your own!
The Owl Barn is open today and our main store is now closed.
Our complete setup of roping, live wreaths and greens should be ready by this Sunday with our cut Christmas trees ready for your viewing on the day just before Thanksgiving.
If you want, you can pick out your tree early and we’ll hold it for you until you’re ready for pick-up or delivery.
Remember that we will set your tree in your stand for a small fee as long as you have a proper stand for the tree you choose.
Hope to see you soon in the Owl Barn!
Happy Thanksgiving,
~Tom
November 12, 2010
Without a doubt, the holidays are coming fast!
Our cut Christmas trees will be ready for sale by November 24th so that if you want the “pick of the litter” that would be the day to come over toe pick out your tree and have it held until you’re ready for it.
Our trees are from a small family operation in southern Ohio and are extremely fresh and of high quality.
I pick out about a dozen trees per year for customers that let me know the type and shape of tree they want.
Generally I do well except with rare exceptions on satisfying the customer.
The grave blanket business will be in full swing this week as we just cut our branches.
I will be delivering many of the grave decorations just before Thanksgiving although deliveries or pick ups go on until Christmas Eve.
In addition to the live greens and wreaths, we’ll also have many artificial wreaths, trees and grave decorations made up.
On the nursery front, even now is a good time to plant your favorite tree or shrub and we’ve got plenty in stock.
The large Maples we received just last week are gorgeous!
Hope to see you at our holiday open house November 26-28.
Tom
November 5, 2010
Today the rain and/or snow is a welcome sight as the ground is still on the dry side!
Soil moisture is especially important for broadleaved evergreens as they tend to transpire water more than other evergreens so that adequate soil moisture is important while they are in the dormant stage.
We just received a large shipment of different varieties of Maples in a 2 1/2 “ and 3” caliper size and in the range of 12 to 16 feet!
This size of tree tends to be a size that you could call “instant” shade.
We have finished up covering our own overwintering houses with white plastic film and now are anticipating a run of mice in the houses that will eat bulbs, perennial roots and even bark off trees and shrubs.
Our way of dealing with mice is a good old-fashioned mouse trap baited with a single sunflower seed.
Its not unusual to kill 30-40 in the fall and winter season!
Well, its back to unloading trees and setting them up.
Arriving next week is a load of beautiful Cleveland Select Pears as they could not be dug until all the leaves had fallen.
I just don’t like wrestling around the 500 pound plus root balls!
Back to work,
Tom
October 29, 2010
At the nursery, we’re just about wrapped up for winter and already getting ready for Christmas.
Next week two truckloads of gorgeous Maples, Cleveland flowering Pears and a few Red Oaks will be coming in that can be planted yet this fall or spring; however, fall is the best time as the root system will have a growth spurt in order to get the trees established before the next hopefully not-too-hot summer.
This year, our new structure we call the Owl Barn will be open that will give a better Christmas ambiance for the season instead of our main store that is filled with the smell of fertilizers.
The Owl Barn will be complete with decorated trees, gifts and more as well as our standard fare of Ohio grown cut Christmas trees, wreaths and greens.
Grave blankets will be in our perennial house on display where they used to be more than five years ago so that all of our “Christmas stuff” is altogether.
The Owl Barn is currently closed in order to get it ready for the holiday season but will open in mid-November.
Hope to see you soon.
Tom
October 22, 2010
With several medium frosts behind us, the plant life is really beginning to “shut down” for winter.
Much of the nursery stock that we bought for next spring as well as the stock we grew this summer has now been “put to bed” in the winter storage houses where even though there is no heat, the full force of the winter cold and winter winds will not kill the root systems of the plants since they are above ground.
Keep in mind that although most of our stock will be put away after the weekend, we will still have the material available should you wish to do some landscaping even through November.
Some nice Maples, flowering and other trees will be arriving in early November as they will dig safely when their leaves have fallen and will be ready to plant in your yard until the ground freezes solid!
Our new production greenhouse for annual flowers for spring is proceeding on schedule so that we’ll be able to offer better quality at prices less than last year on 4.5″ potted plants, hanging baskets and many combination pots.
Let’s hope for some significant rain yet as still the ground is dry deep down.
Tom
October 15, 2010
Fall’s colors are ramping up for their peak display and it looks like this weekend will be a spectacular show.
The Autumn Blaze Maple that has been planted at the nursery for several years has been blazing red for over a week now.
I still favor Autumn Blaze Maple as it is more tolerant of drought conditions than its relative, Red Sunset. Also, the more rapid growth of Autumn Blaze will result in quicker shade from the hot summer sun.
In early November, we’ll have a spectacular display of large balled and burlapped trees on display and at a good price too. (See our pre-dug fall sale on balled & burlapped trees)
Remember that fall is for planting so that if you are thinking about planting a tree or shrub the cool, moist weather of fall will initiate a flurry of root growth to get the plant’s established to grow well come spring.
The Owl Barn Market is open with its display of apples, cider, gourds, pumpkins and squash along with fresh baked Amish pies and other goodies. Later on, the Owl Barn will be our Christmas shop with decorated trees, wreaths, ornaments and so on.
We’ll be advertising the arrival of Santa Claus (Tim Crawford) in mid-December that will create a photo-taking opportunity for the children with Santa Claus.
Enough about December. Chrysanthemums are still blazing along in all their glory and we still have a good selection starting at $4.99.
Enjoy the great weather.
Tom
October 8, 2010
The weather has certainly been cooperating on breaking the drought of late summer with cool rainy days replenishing the ground moisture. So many of you told me about the toil just to get a shovel into the hard ground before these welcome rains.
No doubt many of you have delayed lawn repairs in September because of the lack of moisture so that if you still want to go ahead, I’ll give you the green light.
Just remember, when seeding that bluegrass seed germinates only after three weeks or more which may result in the seed germinating in spring which will work fine if you don’t apply the regular crabgrass preventer and feed.
Applying a product containing the active ingredient called Siduran will allow the remainder of the ungerminated seed to spout in April.
Fall color is getting underway especially on the maples.
If you’re looking for a tree replacement, a good fast grower in the maple family with brilliant red fall color is the Autumn Blaze Maple.
While we don’t have any in stock right now, digging of the trees will begin in late October when they are dormant.
Watch for the notice on our website for 2 ½” and 3” caliper trees (12-14 foot tall) that will yield some significant shade in just a few years.
I think you’ll love the price too as these gorgeous trees will be significantly discounted too.
Now, we can enjoy the sunshine after the rains.
Happy growing,
Tom
October 1, 2010
If your lawn still needs renovating from the damage of the long hot summer, be sure to take action quickly as time is running out.
If you’re overseeding, thatching helps in order that the seed will nest in soil instead of falling on thatch in which case it will never grow.
A fall fertilizer such as Greenview’s 10-16-20 also is an excellent fertilizer as it has a high amount of phosphorus for root growth of the new seedlings.
A fall fertilizing of all your trees and shrubs is an excellent way to promote healthy growth next spring as the plant’s roots will be active until temperatures drop to below 40 degrees F and will be able to absorb the nutrients you provide and store them for spring growth.
The cool fall is an excellent time to landscape as agagin, root growth will get the plants well established for healthy growth next spring.
At the Owl Barn, cider, apples, pumpkins add to the autumn ambiance of the nursery.
Hope to see you soon!
Tom
September 24, 2010
Our fall festival seemed to be quite a success especially with the children.
The hayrides, animal show, balloon man, bouncy house and making crafts at the Pat Catan’s craft table seemed to overwhelm them.
My favorite “activity” was the roasted sweet corn made in a special corn roaster on wheels!
Tomorrow and Sunday is Barberton’s annual Mum Fest with over 20,000 plants donated by Aris Horticulture (formerly Yoder Brothers)
The mums combined have at least one million blooms and are planted along the northeast corner of Lake Anna Park in downtown Barberton.
Mums are a main attraction but many other events and activities make it a worthwhile drive.
At the nursery, our mum patch is finally in bloom as it was delayed by the hot weather in August and the first half of September.
Our fall sale is still going on at 50% off many trees, shrubs and perennials so be sure to stop by as more than likely there is something you’ll see at a very good buy.
Lets hope for sunny skies for the Mum Fest and then we could use a lot more rain but without tornadoes such as the one that touched down in Wooster at the Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center in Wooster.
The widespread damage to this world renowned research center and arboretum is a tragic event and must be repaired although it will take years to heal the Secrest Arboretum.
See you at the fest!
Tom
September 10, 2010
Remember our fall 50% off sale is still on and open to the general public so that you may want to check the inventory online or call if you missed anything you wanted that we still may have.
Remember too that a week from Saturday will be our Fall Festival on the 18th of September which will be full of events for children and “grown children”.
I will be giving the hayrides as always because I enjoy the mix of people – young, old and middle ages.
I wonder what it is about a hayride. I remember bailing and hauling hay to the barn at our farm in Burbank, Ohio that was nothing but hard work.
Maybe its just the adventure of riding on the wagon without the hard work.
In addition to the hayrides, there will be fair food, roasted corn, face painting, balloon sculpting, live music, Outback Ray animal shows, bouncy house, Pat Catans craft tent and new for 2010… a garden specimen contest. The contest will cover 3 categories: best fruit specimen, best veggie specimen and best floral specimen.
Entries are limited to one per person, per group and can be dropped off on Friday, September 17th or up until 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 18th. A single fruit, veggie or floral stem from your own garden is what will be judged.
First prize will be awarded with a ribbon, certificate and a $10.00 gift card. Second and third prizes will be awarded with a ribbon and certificate. Judging will take place at 2:00 pm. You do not have to be present for judging.
Hope to see you there!
Tom
September 3, 2010
This is the first day of our fall sale and I think almost all of our Garden Club members will be impressed with the selection of plants included in our 50% off sale.
Be sure to take a look in the Owl Barn Market while you’re here at the nursery to look at the fresh produce and browse the aisles for some of the gift items and cooking accessories.
As time goes on more locally grown apples will be displayed as well as ample cider, pumpkins, squash and other related food items.
The coolness of fall signals a resuming of our planting in Wolf Creek Gardens just down the hill from the Owl Barn along with a “push” to get the various trees, shrubs and perennials labeled.
It was a spectacular display in May with the blooming Creeping Phlox, Azaleas, Rhododendron, Dogwoods, Redbuds and shade perennials blooming in the garden although many of you did not see it.
The sad fact about some of the native trees in the garden is that they are Ash trees which will soon be killed by the Emerald Ash Borer which is an invasive insect that will bore holes in the trees and kill them.
This insect came out of Detroit, Michigan from pallets of sewer pipe imported from (yes, you guessed it) China.
One bright spot is that we will replant with disease resistant American Elm and Tulip Poplars which are very fast growing and stately.
Hope to see you at the sale this weekend!
Tom
August 27, 2010
A week from today starts our annual fall sale for which many trees, shrubs and perennials will be 50% off the list price.
It has been a little slower this summer probably due to the high temperatures so that the fall sale selection will be better than ever.
Do remember though that not everything will be on sale as some items we buy and display for fall but are actually for next spring’s sales.
Look on the website to get an idea of current inventory and the 50% off sale list about September 1st to take a look to see if there is something that you would like at the 50% off savings.
The first four days of the sale will only be open to our Garden Club members in order that they get first dibs on the stock.
After the four days, the sale will be open to everyone although if you are not currently one of our Garden Club members, you may sign up the same day and receive the 50% off discount.
Keep in mind that the inventory online is not perpetual and sometimes changes rapidly even in one day so be sure to call or e-mail ahead if there is some special item you want that is showing low numbers in our inventory.
Hope to see you next weekend!
Tom
August 22, 2010
This week the construction starts on our new greenhouse that will enable us to grow more annual flowers to stock our retail greenhouse next spring.
I became very frustrated as some plants were in short supply and the quality on many declined as everyone tries to cut corners in the new economy. We sent product back to our suppliers that was only marginally saleable. I was so fed up in May that I decided to do something about it and take more direct control of our supply by building the new greenhouse with heat retention curtains which will enable us to start growing in mid January without transferring large amounts of cash to the gas company!
The greenhouse will be more automated and should elevate the level of quality of what we grow now as well as elevate the quantity so we are not at the mercy of outside suppliers.
We’re still tweaking the produce for sale in the Owl Barn Market to ensure high quality and freshness as well as providing more variety as it comes out of local farms. I’m looking forward to the apple crop that isn’t far away so that we can stock up on a kaleidoscope of various apples.
See you soon,
Tom
August 13, 2010
The middle of August is most likely the time when your pulling a lot from your garden as far as the heat-loving vegetable group; that is tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn, beans, cucumbers and squash.
One of the questions we have had periodically is if the our produce is organic. My answer is no as we deal with a variety of farms including Amish growers and all of them are not strictly organic.
At least one of our produce suppliers does have a GAP rating (Good Agricultural Practices) that is certified by the State Department of Agriculture.
These good practices include:
– control of soil erosion
– Minimal pesticide use
– Control of runoff water
– Low water usage from drip irrigation
These points are just some of the major ones that a farmer must satisfy through rigorous inspection in order to be granted the GAP certification.
We will have some produce in the future that will be certified organic but I must say that I don’t think we wil be totally organic.
With our fall festival coming up on September 18th, I’m excited in that we’ll be able to showcase the new Owl Barn and all the bounty of surrounding farms.
While Wolf Creek Gardens is still coming around, we will make even bigger strides in late September and October in tweaking the plantings as we have a small lull in the amount of projects that have to be done at the nursery.
One of the fall projects in Wolf Creek Gardens will be an addition to the blueberry patch that I think will be open for limited picking next summer.
Tom
August 6, 2010
Shortly we’ll begin construction on our new greenhouse to supply us with small potted flowers and some earlier hanging baskets.
I was not pleased with some of the greenhouse product we received from some of our vendors that have supplied us for 25 years or more.
The product was sometimes substandard quality or non-existent – another result of the “new” economy.
The new greenhouse will not supply all of our needs but will greatly supplement what we are able to grow now.
Since the growing year has been running ahead, please keep an eye on the grubs waiting to destroy your lawn as the egg hatch from European Chafer and Japanese Beetle is about to begin.
By the first of September, any grub infestation should be noticeable as the grass will begin turning off color in patches and the soil will actually lift up when the infestation is severe.
If you detect more than 3 grubs per square foot, apply a product such as Dylox but do not apply “Grub-Ex” with the active ingredient imadocloprid or Merit as it is too late.
Dylox is relatively safe and will do the job quickly once it has been watered in.
Our fall festival is getting closer so make sure you mark your calendars for the entertainment and hayrides to come!
See ya soon,
Tom
July 30, 2010
With August fast approaching, many of you should have produce coming out your ears!
It has been a rough growing season though as some gardens have been attacked by tomato blight and powdery mildew because of the extreme heat coupled with exceptionally high humidity.
For the things you don’t grow, I hope you’ll come on over to the Owl Barn Market as we have plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits in stock from local farms.
I must admit that I am a little behind as we normally have all of our cuttings of shrubs taken by now but a major “time-eater” occurred when our main 25 horsepower pump failed so that we had to rely on the much smaller 10 hp electric pump.
Unfortunately, the new economy means less stocking of everything so that it took about 3 1/2 weeks to get the replacement pump in order to water the nursery stock properly with the heat.
Weeds, as always, are a pain but more so this year as I let some of them go too long because I frankly did not want to have anyone, including myself, pulling weeds in 90 degree plus weather coupled with high humidity.
Remember to use your Dayton Dollars by the end of August before they expire as stock for many trees and shrubs, perennials and hard goods are quite adequate for you to select an item you want.
Well, back to finishing the cuttings,
Tom
July 16, 2010
The long awaited opening of the Owl Barn Market is finally almost here.
I hope you’ll be able to come to our open house tomorrow to take a look at all the locally grown produce from neighboring farms as our emphasis is and will be to buy local in order to ensure freshness and quality of fresh foods and to help your neighbors – local farmers.
The Owl Barn will have related food goods such as jams and jellies, some baked goods and an assortment of cooking utensils and paraphernalia.
Lisa Merrick will be displaying some of her art work including her well known works of framed pressed flowers from her own garden.
The Owl Barn is a return to the produce market days of the late 1960’s through the mid 1970’s when I sold produce from my garden at my parents’ home in Norton.
A lot has changed since then about the products available and the display of those products.
Again, locally grown fresh produce is the emphasis of the Owl Barn Market and I think it will fill a void as its location of just ¼ mile north of I-76 on Cleveland-Massillon Rd. will be a convenient location for Norton, Barberton, Wadsworth, Copley and Fairlawn residents.
The other void the market will fill will be the freshness of the product. I was appalled by the sweet corn that was being soil in the local grocery store a couple of weeks ago.
The sweet corn of course was not local because of the early season; however, the dried up mess that the store offered as sweet corn I would have been ashamed to sell!
Just make sure you e-mail the nursery or make it known to one of the clerks if there is something we offer not to your liking in case we goof.
Remember, if we don’t have all the produce you are looking for, it may not be available yet as again our emphasis will be on locally grown produce.
Hope to see you soon.
Tom
July 9, 2010
By now, many of you with blueberries have been picking a bumper crop at least that’s the way it seems at the nursery.
Its getting close to the time that we’ll open the Owl Barn Market so that we are feverishly getting ready although we have been working on getting ready since last January.
We’re going to try to make the market something special that you’ll want to visit for fresh local produce but also to see what’s going on next.
Wolf Creek Gardens, adjacent to the market, will be open too and we’re working hard to refine it into something special as well.
I’m anticipating a call from Chuck Seiberling within a couple of weeks that the sweet corn is ready to pick and also a call from Chuck’s niece Norma, who has titled herself as the chief flower grower of Seiberling Farms and whose flower bounty we will stock in the Owl Barn Market.
As time goes on, we’ll be sure to expand our selection of produce and other goods but we don’t’ want to get in a rush to do it all at once as we would rather do it right.
Keep an eye on our website for the opening day and a chance to see what’s going on at the Owl Barn and nursery too.
Tom
July 2, 2010
Picnics, swimming, fishing, get togethers, fireworks and more conjure up visions of the 4th of July.
That same week in 1776 in Philadelphia, it was hot and muggy with all the delegates of the Continental Congress not on the same page.
I can just imaging some of the heated arguments that the gruff John Adams had with his fellow delegates.
Truly with the genius of men like Franklin, Madison, Adams and Jefferson, its no wonder that the eighteenth century is known as the “Age of Enlightenment”.
Don’t forget this is the last week that you can plant heat loving successive crops such as sweet corn, cucumbers and squash.
The garden spiders will be out soon in full force if they aren’t already and don’t you dare kill any of them as they’re doing you a great favor by catching and eating insects harmful to the garden.
I remember reading a magazine in which a naturalist was searching for a bat cave in Tennesee.
The visitor questioned a farmer about the bats to which the farmer replied that those darned things were in such and such location.
When the naturalist found the cave, he noticed shells of insects on the floor by the thousands which were potato beetles.
When the Tennessee potato farmer found out about the onslaught these beetles suffered from the bats, these bats then became HIS bats!
Enjoy your weekend and the 4th.
Tom
June 25, 2010
I’m getting excited about my annual “shopping” trip to Holland, Michigan to visit Walters Gardens that has 900 acres or more under the cultivation of perennials.
It’s always a thrill to take a look at all the facilities and growing fields to see what’s going on and especially what’s new.
I remember my dad and I taking our first tour of the nursery in 1982 when Dennis Walters gave us the tour.
Mr. Walters was so very friendly and kept asking us after an hour of the tour if we had any more questions or wanted to see more.
He did show us 20 acres of daylilies that were all sold to the marketing company Wayside Gardens while inside this processing building, workers were assembling bags with two oriental poppy roots in each bag for a total of one million poppies!
Walters has a fantastic website too with color photos and descriptions of most of their inventory.
After my tour and a little study, I’ll be able to dream about all the new stuff for 2011 like the new Itoh peonies that have colors of yellow, orange, pinks, reds and purples like the tree peonies only they die down like garden peonies and can be grown in full sun!
I already ordered these plants last January to sell in 2011!
Keep an eye on my blogs for the new developments…
Tom
June 18, 2010
The wet and rainy June has given way to abundant sunshine and heat so that the flower and vegetable garden should be growing like mad as long as you have well-drained soil.
A good idea is to give the vegetable garden a side dress of garden fertilizer as all the rain has probably leached away much of the nitrogen and potassium necessary for good growth as these components of plant nutrients are not so stable in the soil although a soil with a moderate amount of organic matter will retain nutrients such as these much better than a sandy soil or other type that is devoid of organic matter. Some timely “to-do’s” include:
1. Putting a preventative grub treatment on your lawn now
2. Finish quickly trimming all spring blooming plants such as Azalea, Viburnum & Rhododendron
3. Apply a slow release fertilizer to your lawn
4. Examine your lawn for insects such as sod webworm and chinch bug
5. Plant successive crops of tomatoes, beans, sweet corn, carrots, squash, cucumbers and winter potatoes
6. Spray or treat for Azalea lacebug if you haven’t already (see our Azalea-Rhododendron care sheet)
7. Get ready to cover your blueberries as they get ready to turn color
8. Keep powdery mildew and several other diseases off the flower garden and vegetable garden with Bi-carb
9. Spray roses and vegetable garden with Neem Oil to kill nymphs of several insects as it is organic but do not spray in the day but in the evening as the product is deadly to honey bees.
With the onset of the summer solstice on June 21, the perennial garden should be coming into its prime with foxgloves, delphinium, shastas, harebells and more coming into fall color.
I just love summer in Ohio although I must confess that I do like the spring even more.
Tom
June 11, 2010
Today would have been my mom & dad’s 61st wedding anniversary but unfortunately, my dad passed away 6 years ago.
I remember this day (in 1972) also because Hurricane Agnes was in the North Atlantic and was absorbed by a low pressure cell over Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania which flooded the region and gave us such cold rainy weather that about a thousand pepper plants I planted were stunted and never did grow.
In fact, on June 15th, in Hartville, it actually frosted and did damage to the truck farms in the area.
Remember on Saturday, June 12th at noon, we’ll have the Rose Lady and Mimi Zak to touch on some rose highlights and answer your questions. I think you’ll like the rose samples displayed from Mimi’s magnificent rose garden.
Its back to work for me as all this rain has made the garden grow but the weeds too!
Tom
June 4, 2010
While Memorial Day signals the commencement of summer, there are still 3 weeks left until the summer solstice.
With the long warm days, our gardens seem to grow wildly as compared with the slow start from the somewhat cold early May.
As I have said before, Memorial Day need not be the end of the vegetable garden planting as successive crops can be planted to keep the harvest going later in the summer and into fall.
An interesting book to read is American Intensive Gardening by the Poisson family as it describes the family’s trials and errors to create the most productive garden in the cooler New England climate of New Hampshire.
Be sure to keep an eye on trees and shrubs you planted early in spring.
Two simple rules are as follows:
- Container grown plants – water twice weekly by soaking thoroughly. A good rule of thumb is that for every “gallon” of the container in which the plant was grown, give it at least that amount in gallons in any one watering.
- Balled and burlapped trees and shrubs – soak thoroughly once weekly unless the plant is a Rhododendron or Azalea on of the family I which case the watering frequency is twice each week.
- Remember that rainfall counts as watering only if you are sure that the rainy period resulted in one inch of rain or more in a 24 hour period.
- Most importantly do bypass a softener when watering your plants if you have a well because most softeners use a sodium exchange type system which is not good for plants.
Although I don’t like hot weather, I still remember shoveling snow in February and I can tell you I don’t miss the snow shovel as this past winter was just a little tiring with the seemingly endless snow storms.
Happy Growing,
Tom
May 28, 2010
This weekend, Memorial Weekend, is the traditional weekend to decorate the graves of our departed loved ones although for years the date was May 30th and known as Decoration Day. Another tradition is that it’s the weekend to plant the garden and then it’s done. I find this tradition a little strange as planting has gone on or should have gone on in the garden at least since mid-April. The other side of the coin is that planting can go on long after this weekend with succession crops of sweet corn, beans, potatoes, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, beets, squash . . . I think you get the picture.
The succession crops can be planted up until about July 4th in most cases although turnips, parsnips, carrots and kale can be planted in mid to late August so that they can be harvested in late fall and even stored in the ground as long as they have their crowns covered with straw to prevent damage from a hard freeze.
By planting succession crops you’ll have more fresh produce to supplement your diet as well as your family and be less dependant on food frequently shipped from sources far away with a taste that might as well be like chewing on cardboard in many instances.
Stop in and see what we have as we are still stocked fairly well although I’m sure there may be some items out of stock until the next year.
Next month is perennial gardening month so be sure to take a look at our perennial house when you stop by. Hopefully all or at least some of you (garden club members) have received our late spring-summer newsletter, if not, you should be getting it shortly.
Get Gardening!
Tom
May 21, 2010
This week for some is a good planting week for your vegetable garden and annual flowers but still the watch word is just that “watch” as frost still could occur. With the soil much warmer, seeds and plants should do just fine unless we get an extended cold, wet period.
In 1972, Hurricane Agnes came up the east coast and was absorbed by a low pressure cell centered over Pennsylvania. Wiles-Barre and Scranton, Pennsylvania flooded severely and even here in Akron, Ohio it was very cold, wet and rainey June 11th through June 15th. I remember well the weather as I had 600 medium hot pepper plants on a somewhat sandy ground which seemed to drain well. Nevertheless the plants were stunted and never did grow well after things warmed back up to normal!
Our hanging baskets should be in their prime now as we time them to look their best between Mother’s Day and last until Memorial Day. It seems the 12″ hanging baskets do well with the large soil volume to keep the roots cool and of course allow room for roots to grow. Our larger hanging baskets still have a charge of Osmocote slow release fertilizer to carry them into summer; however, it’s a good idea to supplement this slow release feed once weekly with a liquid fertilizer like Miracle Gro or 20-20-20.
Back to vegetable plants. Remember to not only depend on heirloom varieties of plants as most are not disease resistant like the hybrids are. Also, check into growing plants in an earthbox as this system of growing vegetables is very productive and does not take up a lot of room.
Happy Planting!
Tom
May 14, 2010
It’s about time to start putting out more tender plants but most of you know that the weather is unpredictable and you still have to be careful. From experience you may have noticed over the years what kind of micro climate you have. In the city or an allotment, it will generally act like a zone 6 climatic zone which enables you in most years to plant now. I know in my own case that the nursery seems much colder than the surrounding area and is truly a climatic zone 5. My mother only lives two miles from the nursery and a frost after mid May in most years is rare. When I see a prediction for an overnight low of 40º F or lower, I know that in almost every case it will frost at the nursery if the sky is clear and the air is still.
Be sure to come in to take a look at all our new varieties of heirloom vegetable plants, strawberry plants, raspberry plants, horseradish, fruit trees, elderberries and blueberry plants.
We’re in a high mode of production now with our blueberry plants so we think you’ll be able to find about anything you want.
Say hello if you see me as I may not readily acknowledge you because of my limited sleep!
Tom
May 7, 2010
May 9th is Mother’s Day and is nearing its 100th year anniversary since it officially began with President Wilson’s blessing 1917. Almost all moms love flowers and I’m sure you’ll find something she’s sure to like.
When you come in the front gate, you won’t be able to not notice the 2300 red tulips that I planted last November called Ile de France. These are a triumph tulip which is a group that blooms after the late April Darwin types. The brilliant red I thought would contrast nicely with the white post and rail fence. Even Claude Monet was inspired by the tulip fields in Holland as he painted them with one of the classic Dutch windmills in the background.
This week in May is our very peak of inventory and spring bloom so that I’m sure the nursery will be to your liking. Remember, the old fashioned lilac is on sale this week as an unadvertised special along with the Miss Kim lilac. An advertised special for Azalea ‘Manderin Lights’ I told you about in my last blog is now available as its getting ready to burst forth with its flowers that will cover the plant in shades of brilliant orange before the leaves fully come out.
Be sure to take a peak at the creeping phlox bed below and to the north of the Owl Barn. Creeping Phlox is a perfect choice for sloping (but also level) beds in full sun or part shade. Then between the boulders, sedums have been coming to life that will eventually fill the cracks and crevices of the extensive boulder wall.
Come take a look!
Tom
April 30, 2010
Its time to plant your favorite tree whether for shade or ornamental value and we’ve got just the trees to get you started from a small Weeping Pea Tree for your patio or a towering giant like the Eastern White Pine in which the tallest one ever recorded was 227 feet in the state of Maine!
Planting a tree now is perfect while the soil and weather is still cool and moist so that the root system can become well established before the warm weather arrives.
Our flowering trees consist of Flowering Plums, “non-messy” Flowering Crabapples, Golden Chain Tree, Japanese Lilac Tree, Flowering Cherry and White Fringe Trees among many others. Trees give height and a majestic quality to what would be an otherwise boring landscape. Could you imagine a street or your yard without trees or flowers? Well, try this. The People’s Republic of China during Chairman Mao’s tenure in 1966 actually banned the people from having flowers as they considered them bourgeois!
With Earth Day just passed on April 22nd, how fitting to plant your favorite tree that will grow and develop year after year long after your new car is in the junk pile!
Plant a tree so that one day as your grandchildren picnic under the shade of its branches that they could say “our grandparents planted this tree for us.” It’s a tree that remembers our grandparents names!
Happy Planting,
Tom Dayton
April 23, 2010
April 24th at noon, you’ll be getting an earful on growing ericaceous plants (acid loving) in particular, rhododendron and azaleas. I’ve been fascinated with these plants for over forty years because of their bright flower colors, interesting and varied foliage patterns and just their sheer beauty and majesty. I remember visiting David Leach of Madison, Ohio in May of 1976 so that I could see some of his breeding programs first hand and first and foremost to pick his brain.
I’ve learned a lot since then and will share as much of my knowledge as I can with all of you at the seminar tomorrow. Remember when I told you in my April 9th blog that shade from a tree as compared to that of a building acts differently on turf grass? Well, it works differently too on plants and I’ll be discussing that as well.
At the nursery we have a wide swath of varieties all suited for Northeast Ohio as long as they get a few things they must have.
Soon the nursery will be ablaze with the plants in our sales area and in our natural woodland setting in our Wolf Creek Gardens. I like the deciduous azaleas too as colors of bright yellows and oranges that are not available in evergreen types, are plentiful in the deciduous types. In fact, watch for our ads in the Trading Post, Westside Leader and the Akron Beacon Journal later on as there will be a good sale on the brilliant orange deciduous azalea aptly named, Mandarin Lights.
See you tomorrow,
Tom
April 16, 2010
Clematis is called the Queen of all flowering vines and for good reason. The colors and patterns of these colors are so wide and varied due to the constant on-going breeding programs from several breeders all around the world..
Recently, the new Evison cultivars have been introduced with beautiful new bicolor and enlarged stamens of the flower that add even more beauty to this marvelous species. On Saturday, Deborah Hardwick, a customer and Clematis lover, will be telling us all about Clematis as far as the selection and care so that you can learn to get the most enjoyment out of these vines. Two of the new varieties we will be offering this year are Rosemoor with its wine red flowers that appear on old and new wood and Avant-Garde with its reddish petals and large pink contrasting stamens. In her presentation you’ll learn to take complete advantage of these beautiful vines to add yet another dimension to your garden.
See you at the seminar.
Tom
P.S. On Saturday, April 24th at 12 noon, I will be hosting a seminar on the selection, cultivars and care on my long time favorite plants – Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Hope to see you there.
April 9, 2010
Tomorrow, on Saturday, April 10th, Sam Wagner, who for years, worked for the Greenview lawn fertilizer people will talk during a free seminar on the do’s and dont’s of lawn care.
Sam will share his years of experience with us as he has actually done what he is going to tell you on his own farm in Medina.
To those of you who do your own lawn care or want to do your own lawn care, you’ll be able to pick up a lot of tips from Sam that will eventually enable you to achieve that lush lawn with minimal work and expense.
One question that almost everyone asks is, “How do I grow grass in shade?” What I have learned from experiments conducted at Ohio State University is that tall fescue blends of grass perform best under trees.
The experiments revealed what I always suspected but did not know why that shade from a structure is different from that of a tree because a tree will absorb the red light which “starves” the grass of red light and only leaves it with more far red light. More specifically, red light and far red light refer to the wave lengths of these two types of light.
Conversely, a building does not absorb red light so that the red light to far red light ratio is much higher which results in grass growing just fine in the shade of a building as compared to under a tree when the amount full shade in both cases is 90%.
We’ll talk about grass in shade and about a lot of other good stuff at the seminar.
Please, we ask that you let us know if you are coming as we are limited in seating and need to have enough refreshments on hand.
The lawn seminar begins on Saturday, April 10th at noon.
April 2, 2010
It’s so good to see April!
On Saturday, April 3, Tom Parry of Hudson, a Proven Winners brand expert, will talk to us about Proven Winners plants. You see, Tom is a salesman for a brokerage company that we and many other growers use as our supplier of Proven Winners plants. Tom visits many greenhouses, especially in Michigan and gets to look at all the production practices and the exciting new introductions.
I’m jealous as I only get to see a fraction of what he views so that he can tell his customers about it.
The other subject that he will be addressing is “Water Wise Easy Irrigation” in order that you have less of a struggle to keep your plants healthy and nice during those hot days of summer.
Later on, we’ll have many new Proven Winners introductions such as the Pretty Much Picasso Petunia and the new vigorous white Alyssum called Lobularia ‘Snow Princess’. Enough for now….you’ll just have to wait and see…
Tom
March 26, 2010
On Saturday, March 27th at noon, I will be giving another educational seminar on Mountain Laurels.
These delightful plants will extend the blooming season of your landscape as they typically bloom May 15th through June 15th with a kaleidoscope of color from their many and varied flower colors of white, shades of pink, and shades of red in various combinations.
Mountain Laurels, until established, can be frustrating to grow so I’ll share all my knowledge with you so you too can be successful. Mountain Laurels are the perfect companion plant for Rhododendrons and Azaleas and can fill in the missing details to your shade landscape or foundation planting.
On another note, we’ve already received a lot of our stock and have been pulling a lot out of our winter storage houses. However, we won’t be set up fully on the outside until about mid-April as the weather can still turn nasty.
More specifically, by nasty I don’t mean snow, but bitter cold.
You see, there is new root growth now on the plants in pots and a temperature below 20 degrees F with moderate wind would kill much of that new root growth and set the plant back.
I have a good memory and the cold blast that I fear in April happened April 5-8 in 1982 and again on April 8-10 just recently in 2007.
I’m sure everyone remembers the 2007 blast as that happened Easter weekend and the temperature on that Saturday was a high of about 35 degrees with 35 mile per hour winds, after a low that morning of only 19 degrees!
Let’s hope we don’t have to experience that for a while!
Tom
March 19, 2010
Tomorrow, March 20th at 12:00 noon, I will brief you on the wherefores of green roofs.
Green roofs are in big time use in Europe, especially Germany, as they are even mandated by local laws such as in the city of Stuttgart.
There are many benefits to employing a green roof during the construction of a structure as not only are they aesthetically pleasing, they absorb runoff water, cool the building in summer and greatly extend the life of the roof membrane.
On our new barn, we installed our green roof in October of 2009 which created a buzz in Norton about what was on the roof!
Onlookers even pulled up into the driveway in front of the structure to take a look with some turning around in the newly seeded yard so they wouldn’t have to back out on the street!
During the seminar, we’ll take a good look at the roof and I’ll explain its construction details (as long as it’s not pouring down rain!)
Spring is here!
Tom
March 12, 2010
Remember Saturday March 13th that Joan Gangle will share her knowledge with us on the culture of growing roses. Joan is from Copley and is well known for her garden and by being a member of the Cuyahoga County Master Gardeners.
I almost forgot to mention that the nursery is open Monday through Saturday 8:30 am to 6:00 pm and closed on Sunday.
There is really not much to look at on the grounds but that will change very soon as stock begins arriving and we start pulling plants from our winter storage houses.
We’re still feverishly potting up annual flowers and perennials to get ready when the greenhouses open at the end of April.
On Tuesday, March 16th at 6:30 pm, we’ll learn about organic fertilizers and soils from the Espoma fertilizer company. We’ve carried the Espoma line for quite a few years now and most of our customers seem to enjoy using it as it is low in salts and easy on soil microbes. You’ll be able to get a window into the differences of supplying the nutrients plants need through the organic way vs. the chemical fertilizer method. Bring your note pads as this seminar is bound to have loads of interesting technical information.
Just think, it’s almost spring!
Tom
March 5, 2010
With March on the scene, the scoop at the nursery is busy, busy, busy! Our roses and Endless Summer Hydrangeas are all potted up and will be available sometime in the month of May. Another hurried pace is due to the arrival of our small annual flowers that we plant to make combination pots and hanging baskets.
Small perennial plants will be arriving by the thousands. I’m particularly intrigued by all the new perennials for 2010. Its quite a problem to display all the new plants as we’re introducing over 75 varieties.
Tomorrow, March 6th at noon, we’ll gain much from Joyce Pelz’s insight on backyard bird feeding. This seminar will be timely as the bluebirds return soon to Ohio and the hummingbirds return is not far off.
You’ll note also that our seminars continue through early spring as we have the place to do it with the addition of our owl barn.
On Tuesday evening (March 9th) at 6:30 we’ll discuss the new “stuff” for 2010 and have tips on the use of Bamboo in the landscape. This seminar is $5.00. As always though, we still ask that you pre-register so that we can be sure enough seating and refreshments are on hand.
Tom
February 26, 2010
I remember in grade school in Norton about being taught about the Civilian Conservation Core camps set up during Franklin Roosevelt’s administration for the purpose of putting young unemployed men back to work by planting millions (eventually 2 billion) of trees to combat soil erosion by wind and water because of the mowed down forests and plowed up prairies. In fact, lines of trees were planted as windbreaks after the outbreak of the Dust Bowl in the 1930’s that blew tons of precious topsoil away.
In Norton, many willows were cut down by property owners along a small creek which resulted in enormous soil erosion of the property owner’s yards. Yes, trees do indeed matter.
Michelle is quite knowledgeable and I’m sure the program will be most worthwhile.
Tom
February 19, 2010
We made it over the hump of winter! Temperatures will (on average) be on the rise giving us a preview soon of a glorious spring.
Megan Vance will be our guest speaker in the Owl Barn on Saturday at 12 noon. Megan has her own business called Suzanne Jardin Garden Design so that with all her background in design and planting, Megan is an expert in shade gardening especially with perennials. Megan was our guest last year when she spoke on container gardening and new perennials for 2009. I do well remember that she is very entertaining.
During the seminar I will press Megan closely to classify the different types of shade that plants require or have to deal with as all shade is not created equal.
I want to personally thank Bill Bauman of Bauman’s Orchards in Rittman for all his expertise on fruit trees. Bill’s family has been in the orchard business for about 60 years in which the results of their labor and knowledge have turned Bauman’s orchards into a favorite destination for many of us in the Summit, Medina and Wayne counties during the harvest season.
I’ve got my questions listed for Megan tomorrow and you be sure to have all yours ready so you can fire away as soon as she gives the signal for a question and answer period.
See you tomorrow,
Tom
February 12, 2010
I think everyone enjoyed the herb seminar last week and now it’s time to move on to small fruit. It seems that so many of our seminars center around eating and food but so what?
Planting and growing fresh vegetables and fruits is a large part of why we garden and the other at least as important part of gardening is pleasure. I always knew a fair amount about small fruits but did I ever get an education when I started studying the updates.
So many varieties of strawberries, blueberries, rhubarb, raspberries, blackberries, etc. are available, it just boggles the mind. For me it’s like studying in school again on what’s going so that I can pass on everything to all of you.
About the same time last year I spoke to you about blueberries and I will touch on this subject again although this seminar will be an expanded one covering more of the small fruit realm.
Almost everyone has enough space for these small fruits in their yard and another fact about them that makes them so great is that they are perennial members of the garden that continue to grow and develop to provide a harvest year after year after year.
Hope you can come tomorrow!
Tom
February 5, 2010
It didn’t take long for January to fly by and already I can tell the days are getting longer. I figure that by the time we get by Washington’s birthday, the rough weather (at least sub zero temperatures) is over.
Saturday, February 6th at 12 noon is the start of our next seminar of the use of herbs in our lives for fragrance, fitness and flavor. If you’re satisfied with bland tasting food or the fast food garbage that’s out there, you won’t be interested in this seminar. However, herbs seem to be the catalyst resulting in good food becoming great food!
The fitness part comes into maintaining and enhancing our health through the use of antioxidants, vitamins and such. I’m sure the seminar won’t tout the medicinal aspects of herbs as that in something only a physician could advise you to use them correctly as some if used incorrectly can be harmful.
The fragrance of herbs is well known from that of lavender, the subject of last weeks seminar, to Sweet Woodruff, Rosemary, Thyme and so on.
Don’t forget next week that I will be giving a seminar on the planting and growing of small fruits with a side about fruit trees such as there selection, pollination and such.
See you tomorrow at the seminar.
Tom
P.S. Remember the seminars are held in the new “Owl Barn”.
January 29, 2010
Tomorrow is the first in our series of winter seminars beginning with the multiple uses of lavenders and how to grow them. This herb (perennial) is not only versatile when harvested but is well known in the perennial garden for its flowers and fragrance.
I can remember the lavender growing on the hillside of Provence, France when I stayed in a small town above Nice called Vence. The only disappointment was that my timing was off as none were noticeable as they were not in bloom.
Tomorrow, January 30th, is the first day of use of our new barn that we call the “Owl Barn”. This structure is a perfect place to hold seminars in that it is heavily insulated and boasts an in floor heating system powered by a small boiler. We have already had this system cranked up to check it out and I must say that all those attending should be nice and warm no matter the weather outside.
I hope you can come. The seminar begins at 12 noon and will include a short break for refreshments. See you there.
Tom
January 22, 2010
Now we’re entering the coldest part of the winter and I pray that at least 3-4” of snow or more will blanket the ground through February which will definitely help tender perennials overwinter well.
The first in our series of winter seminars takes place on the 30th of this month with Judy Byrne of Daybreak Lavender Farm.
Lavender is such a fascinating plant with its beautiful foliage and aromatic leaves. We grow about 8 varieties including Munstead, Hidcote, Fred Boutin, Lady, Vicenza, Provence, Blue Cushion and Coconut Ice. Judy will be speaking on the best cultivation practices for lavender and its many uses. She will be my guest next week on our radio program “Ready, Set, Grow” on 1590AM WAKR on Saturday, January 23rd at 8:00 am.
I’ve been answering gardening questions on the radio program for almost 14 years now and I have learned a lot myself from our callers as to how they solve various garden problems.
This coming week we’ll receive our shipment of primrose called Super Nova. These primrose are a great improvement over the old Pacific types in that they are just as hardy but the flowers are so much larger and colorful. I hope to offer them in early spring as a potted plant to be enjoyed indoors and then planted in the garden in some shade when the weather warms. Primrose like cool temperatures (45-55 degrees) so that for us, they will be ideal to grow in the greenhouse as we can keep the heating costs down.
I’ll look forward to seeing you at the seminars!
Tom
January 15, 2010
Even though we’re moved into the Owl Barn, we still have a lot of work to do before you’re invited. We’re constructing counters, shelving, coating & sealing the floor, hanging tapestries, hanging colorful photographs…
On a trip last summer to Holland, Michigan, some extraordinary large framed photographs caught my eye. I saw them in the window and just had to have them. One is a huge photo of a daffodil called ‘Ice Follies’ with amazing detail. The second framed photograph is one of the famed tulips of Holland, Michigan followed by the glowing orange of an Oriental poppy with the black inner parts of the flower contrasting with the robust orange.
The barn will be an ideal space to market the blueberries that we’ll be planting next spring next to the lake area at the rear of the nursery. While we’re not planning to market solely organic foods, the main focus for our summer market will be on locally grown and locally preserved foods from farms around this area.
The word local is broad by I have defined it to mean that our sources for almost all products will come from a one hundred mile radius from the nursery.
Other products available will be fresh cut flowers as well as potted flowers from our own greenhouses and growing operations.
Before the farm market opens, the Owl Barn will serve as a display and gathering space for educational seminars and flower shows. As time goes on, we hope to make gradual changes to our business to achieve a higher level of service, more varied but related products and a more pleasant atmosphere for our customers to shop.
Back to work for me,
Tom
January 8, 2010
Don’t forget that birds get hungry too and must constantly eat to keep up their 104 degree Farenheit body temperature. In lengthy studies, it does not seem to harm birds to feed them as the myth about making them too dependent on humans that can “giveth” and then later “taketh” away the food source.
Periodically please wash your bird feeders and use a bleach solution to kill any bacteria that would be detrimental to the birds’ health.
We are closed for the winter but Copley Feed is an excellent source for all your bird feeding needs.
Don’t forget too that I told you last year about staking up your cut Christmas tree near the birds feeders to give them shelter and cover from predatory birds and animals.
Check the trunks of your young trees that are less than two inches in diameter for rabbit damage. It would be a good idea to place tree guards on young trunks.
Also, if you sprayed your plants susceptible to deer damage in November, I would recommend a re-spray of Liquid Fence with the advent of a January thaw. Re-spraying with Wilt-Pruf or Freeze-Pruf would be a good idea too on those broadleaf evergreens that can be susceptible to wind burn when cold day winds accompanied by frozen soil take hold in winter.
I must lecture you also about that perils of throwing salt-laden snow from your sidewalk onto your landscape plants – don’t do it! Urea will work as a safer ice-melter and you can pick it up at Copley Feed.
See you soon,
Tom