Saturday, March 28, 2009

P Allen Smith


A few Saturdays ago, I attended a seminar in the Chicago area sponsored by Proven Winners. It was aimed at the consumer (that's you) and
P Allen Smith was one of the speakers - see picture! We've been attending Proven Winners seminars for growers for several years now, so when they offered one for the public, I thought I'd better go and see if they're telling you the same things they're telling us. They are.

It must be Spring if . . .

I'm sure you all have been out hunting for little green shoots in your gardens by now. The Daffodils and Tulips are peeking out of the earth, and many summer Perennials are showing signs of life. I love to see the first Robin, but my favorite early spring return is the Red-winged Blackbird. I remember it's song from years ago when one perched on a branch just outside my bedroom window and woke me up each morning.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

The Last Week of February

I'm always glad when February is over - to me, it is the last month of winter. Even though March can still be cold and (heaven forbid) snowy, it holds the promise of spring. Let's all hope we have spring this year. If you remember, last year it rained for six weeks starting in May!


Plant of the week:
Tetrastigma
(Chestnut Vine)


In the Genus of about 90 species of evergreen and deciduous tendril climbers Tetrastigma is found in tropical woodland from Indonesia and Malaysia to north Australia. It is the giant of the vines group. Each leaf measures more than 1ft. across when mature - the 3-5 leaflets which make up each leaf are glossy and saw-edged.
They are diamond shaped, toothed, shiny, dark green above and yellowish brown and hairy beneath.
Because Tetrastigma grows below the canopy in the tropical rainforest, it requires bright, indirect light and humidity.


We have three of these wonderful hanging vines which we enjoy in our screen porch each summer. Because they are tropical (zone 11), they must be wintered indoors. We grow ours in 12" hanging baskets which are easily brought in and wintered in our indoor planter. They require nothing special to thrive. Water with dilute fertilizer during the summer months and water sparingly throughout the winter.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

WEEKLY UP-DATE


I see that it's been a long, long time since I posted anything of interest.



I am going to be more attentive to my blog putting up something new and of interest every week. These are the topics I will change or update each week.



If there is a topic, plant problem, etc. that you would like me to address, please let me know and I will do what I can to help you.


* Plant Of The Week
name, picture, care instructions, best use of the plant

* What To Do In The Garden This Week
there's always something to do that's garden related - every week of the year

* Link Of The Week
a new link that takes you to another site of interest

* Calendar Update
upcoming events, trips, workshops



Check back on Monday -

my plan is to work on the blog over the weekend and have it available by Monday each week.

If I don't, and you catch me, I will send you a 5$ gift certificate to use in our store at your convenience.

Saturday, November 22, 2008


Thanksgiving

I guess we're really leaving our lovely Autumn behind. It was 14* on my car thermometer last nite driving home!

Moving right into the "Holiday Season", we have Thanksgiving next Thursday.

Even tho the economy is bleak, we still have much to be thankful for here in our wonderful country - besides, where in the world would it be any better?
To complete your Thanksgiving dinner table, a centerpiece of fresh flowers and candles is a perfect gift. This arrangement is available for $42.95 and we'll deliver it for you, too.

Monday, October 27, 2008

WORKSHOPS, TOURS, CLASSES

Until I can get our "Special Events" planning committee to commit, here is a list of potential/probable workshops, classes, tours, etc. that we are working on for the next several months. I will list the events in chronological order as best I can.

If you see something that you are interested in, please e-mail or call and we'll get you on the list now. I will send an e-mail when our dates are firm so if you're not on our e-mail list, now would be a great time to send your address to me.

claireolson@roorbachflowers.com
920-682-7711 x111




November/December 2008
NOVEMBER 27: Thanksgiving
*Make-your-own FRESH WINTER WREATH
*GLITTERED CONE ORNAMENT
*FRESH EVERGREEN "KISSING ORBS"
DECEMBER 25: Christmas

January/February 2009
*After-The-Holidays TIME TO WINE DOWN featuring wine tasting and fresh flowers
*Mid winter 1/2 price GREEN PLANT SALE including "orphans" and pottery
FEBRUARY 14: Valentine's Day

March 2009
*Chicago Flower Show (back at Navy Pier!)
*Going to Pot Orchids - orchid class
*Water Gardening for small spaces

April 2009
*Cincinnati Flower Show
*LIVING WREATH of succulents or annuals
APRIL 12: EASTER SUNDAY
*late April SPRING OPEN HOUSE & GERANIUM SALE
*SILK SCARF PAINTING

May 2009
MAY 10: MOTHER'S DAY
*EUROPEAN GARDEN BASKET
MAY 25: MEMORIAL DAY (observed)
*GREEN BAY BOTANICAL GARDEN SALE (May 30 & 31)

June 2009
*CEMENT LEAF garden accent
*HYPERTOOFA BALL garden accent (a P Allen Smith project)
*FAIRIE GARDENS for kids
*BOWLING BALL (gazing ball) garden accent
*BENT COPPER garden accent

July/August 2009
BUS TOURS:
*Klemm Arboretum (Rockford, IL)
*Rotary Gardens (Janesville, WI)
*Olbrich Gardens (Madison, WI)
*Camp Rosemary (Lake Forest, IL) - as part of the Illinois Garden Conservatory tours

September/October 2009
*FALL FESTIVAL - weekends from mid September thru Halloween
October 31: Halloween

BLACK RADISHES


On one of my "sessions" on Ron Zimmerman's "Be My Guest" program on WOMT recently, the subject of black radishes came up. As is the case with some questions we get, this one was a mystery. So, when I got back here, I started looking up black radishes on the Internet. Not much information on growing them, but did find out that they are a native of Southeast Asia and, like many other foods from that part of the world, are hot in the spicy sense of food.


Last month Robert Jarosh stopped in to ask about the black radish search - he had one along! (That's Mr Jarosh with his prize radish at the top of this post.)


He went home, prepared the radish for eating (peal, slice thin, salt well and wait). He brought a few slices back that afternoon for us to "enjoy". A definite radish taste, but with a "bite" - sort of like horseradish in the sinuses. Mr Jarosh gets his seed from the Silver Lake Country Store or the co-op in Whitelaw. He planted the one he brought, in mid-August, and within six weeks it was ready to eat.