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.

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.

How did it get to be late October?

I guess it was the "wedding of the century" that really took it's toll on our summer. The ceremony was held in our yard - on our back patio (see below). Everything went perfectly - weather was wonderful, everyone was on their best behavior, and we got the best new daughter (Justine Bushman) whom we love, dearly.

We are working on our workshop & class/special event/bus tour schedule and will post it here and send to our e-mail list very soon. We are not having a formal holiday open house this year, again, but will be having special weekend events throughout November and December.

SEASONAL NOTES:

It's time to think about putting our gardens "to bed" for the winter. However, there are some things that can't be done this early. Don't cover tender perennials, mums, etc. until the ground is firmly frozen - usually around Thanksgiving. The purpose of mulching is to protect the plant's roots from the freezing/thawing activity that does the damage and may even kill the plant. This is why plants in raised beds or patio pots are at a greater risk of freezing out over the winter. If you have pots of perennials on your deck, you should submerge the pots into the ground, or transplant the plants into the ground now for winter protection.

Remove dead plant material - especially large leaves like Hosta - after a good frost. Not only does your garden look better, but you are removing a winter home for diseases and bugs.

Leave ornamental grasses, coneflowers, and other plants with a good "skeleton" for winter interest in your garden. The seeds feed the birds, too. Next spring, as soon as you see new growth, cut these plants back to about 6" above the ground.

Ge those spring-blooming bulbs in! It's getting to the end of the planting season - you want to have a little growing time for the bulbs to get their roots established before really cold weather. However, as of this writing, my bulbs are still in their bags in my car! Like I always told my children, "do what I say, not what I do".

LATE SUMMER PERENNIAL SALE

If your garden looks like mine at this time of year, it's pretty "green". The July peak has passed and the re-bloomers have not yet matured.

Now is a good time to add perennials to your garden - plenty of time for the plants to get a good root system established before winter - and next spring you'll have a more mature plant ready to go. Don't forget the perennial phrase - "First year/sleep, second year/creep, third year/leap". You'll see that this is really true.

Perennial Sale...

Beginning Friday, August 15th, all of our perennials will be on sale. Save 25% off any of our remaining perennials - blooming or not.

Cincinnati Flower Show 2009

Our official in-house "tour directors" (Barb & Mary) are looking into arranging a bus trip to the flower show in Cincinnati next April. It is promoted as one of the best - better than Philadelphia. It will be the week after Easter in 2009 - not sure which day of the week they will choose. It will be a three day trip with other stops of interest along the way and in Cincinnati. This may supersede the Chicago show even tho it will be back at Navy Pier in 2009.

The "wedding of the century" - our son Alex and his fiancee Justine Bushman - is still on for August 30 and we haven't killed each other yet. The challenge is that it will be in our yard which adds the weather card into the mix of worries. I'll post pictures after the event - should be lovely.

Faerie Garden Workshop

The Faerie Garden workshop is still on and hopefully everyone interested will be available next week. If you're on the list, expect a call soon to confirm the date and time - if you're not on the list, call me (682-7711 x111) - we'd love for you to come, too.

SEASONAL GARDENING NOTE

Don't forget to dead head your perennials and annuals - perennials especially. They are peaking now and if you keep the seed pods removed, you may get another flowering later in the summer/early fall.

WELCOME!

Well, they've hauled us kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

First it was a web-site, now it's a Blog. Of course, the technology is still way beyond my ability - Thank You, Matt Glaeser!

I will be posting upcoming events, sales, the "new and different" (as merchandise and plants arrive) so you bloggers will have the information first.

Check back, I'm going to try to have at least a current calendar up by the weekend.

Welcome to the Roorbach Flowers blog, check back soon for tips, specials and articles.