Letter from the Nursery Manager
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Spring plant sale preparations have been set aside for a few weeks, frankly because things are caught up there for now, and I'm waiting for longer, warmer days to translate into plant growth. So, I've been occupied with infrastructure projects, which, though definitely not a picnic, are essential to making the nursery more efficient. |
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First, the irrigation system has always been a monolithic system in which a break in one part breaks everything. For example, if a greenhouse faucet breaks, then the mist bench is dry while the repair is made. If unprotected pipes burst in a freeze, again, the mist bench is dry while the repair is made. Furthermore, many sections of pipe have always been exposed to the elements necessitating that prior to a freeze the entire system be drained for the duration of the freeze. In a nutshell, this act was getting very old! So the system was compartmentalized, and the pipes were buried in the deep bosom of the warm earth. |
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Cinderblocks and dirt used to protect irrigation pipes. |
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Top: Volunteer Harvey Newman who was immensely helpful removing sand and concrete.
Bottom: Piles of concrete moved from the succulent house.
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Second project: the succulent house floor was made with three layers of material. The bottom layer was a concrete slab with a three inch concrete lip around the periphery. The next layer atop this was about two inches of sand, and atop this layer was laid square concrete tiles. It was quite a beautiful design, and brilliant because the water that would be trapped under the tiles in the sand would buffer against temperature extremes. Unfortunately, weeds discovered this cozy little home and sprouted from every crevice with the kind of vigor and zeal common among defensive linebackers. The decision was easy, the work...ongoing. Removing the tile and sand revealed a beautiful slab, impervious to weeds. Of course, the greenhouse floor is now susceptible to flooding because of the concrete lip around the edge, but a few quick cut-outs will take care of that problem.
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Salvia alert! Once again, salvias will be available at the Budding Out Plant Sale & Festival on March 18th, some new to the nursery, some old timers. I'll just list them rather than go into the details: Salvia darcyi, arizonica, x jamensis, blepharophylla, lyrata 'Juniper Springs', madrensis, mexicana 'Ocampo', microphylla 'La Trinidad Pink', microphylla 'San Carlos Festival', microphylla 'Orange Door', pansamalensis, uliginosa and x 'Cherry Chief'. Looking at the photos, it's clear these salvias still need to put on some top growth, but that should be no problem because the roots are already there.
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Craig Jackson
Nursery Manager
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The John Fairey Garden Nursery is open from 9 am - 3 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Garden members receive a 15% discount on plant purchases.
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