Happy New Year!
I am confident this year will be an excellent year for gardening. The weather has already proven this correct so far. Last year plant growth and flowering were delayed almost a month due to lingering cold and wet weather. This year it is the opposite: most plant growth and flowering cycles seem to be about a month early. This is neither positive nor negative, as long as we don't get a late frost as spring buds are breaking.
There is a lot to look forward to this year as far as gardening goes. Most growers and suppliers have ramped up their efforts, so we do not expect as many shortages as we had last year. The weather throughout the spring looks to be in our favor as well.
A few exciting things have already happened! We received our first large shipment of pottery of the year, including our most popular items and a few new designs as well. There are many different styles and types of terra cotta from standard Italian, to a light buff color, a grey washed mocha, and even a darker orange Thai line.
Our very trendy line of white, matte white, and matte black are back in different sizes and shapes as well. We have also restocked our concrete looking cylinders and squares for that more contemporary look. Wooden and metal plant stands are back as well to give dimension to your pottery and indoor plants.
Fountains, bird baths, and statuary have gotten a much-needed restocking. In our Pottery House you will find an organized displayed of fountains of all shapes and sizes, new and marked down pottery, statuary, bird baths, redwood furniture and planters, and more!
As for plants, the closer we inch towards spring the more we will have in stock. Houseplants continue to be in very high demand and the growers' supply is still catching up due to the pandemic (lack of workers, freight, etc.) but we continue to do our best to restock every week with what we can. Presently we have a nice selection of sansevieria in different sizes and varieties, hanging succulents like donkey's tail, string of pearls, and string of tears, a few different hoyas, as well as a few other gems like the blooming bromeliad and variegated aglaonema, below.
In the nursery you will find a large assortment of goodies. Plants with nice winter blooms include poppy anemones, pansies, and violas, camellias, nemesia, cyclamen. Drought tolerant plants like leucospermum and grevillea (some of my favorites include 'Spider net', 'Peaches and cream', 'Long John', and 'Deua flame'- these last two pictured below). Citrus trees currently have nice blooms as well, and the larger ones are bearing fruit!
Aloes of all kinds are still in the peak of their bloom cycle. We have a nice display up front and more in our cactus and succulent section.
You may notice our stunning Acacia podalyriifolia (pearl Acacia) in full bloom as you enter the nursery on the right. Even when they are not in bloom their blueish foliage and bark are quite attractive. Spring is right around the corner and next month we will start our rose pre-order program.
It is not too late for winter vegetable and herb plantings, but it is too early for spring and summer planting in my opinion. You will still benefit from planting a first/second crop of broccoli, leafy greens (such as lettuce, spinach, kale, and swiss chard), beets, and sugar snap peas. Strawberries are available now, too. Don't forget to fertilize regularly and replenish the nutrients throughout the grow season and after the harvest. I suggest Recipe 420 Recharge, some worm castings, and organic planting mix.
I would recommend if you haven't already to start pruning your fruit trees (especially the deciduous ones) this time of the year. Deciduous trees (apricot, peach, plum, nectarine, apple, pomegranate, etc.) are still dormant so pruning is recommended this time of the year because it is easier to see the shape and what branches you should be pruning.
Only prune the citrus though if they haven't started budding yet, otherwise you might miss out on the fruit...so be sure to check before getting started. I highly recommend the book "How to Prune Your Fruit Trees" by R. Sanford Martin which we offer in the nursery gift shop. Very easy to understand with diagrams on how to prune based on what type of tree it is.
I hope all of you are doing well and staying healthy. I look forward to seeing you at the nursery soon!