Every year as we are about to turn the page on the new year, the age old question is “Where did the time go!”
So it goes at the nursery in that once spring has come and then gone it seems as though we’re planting for the next spring! With all the transplanting, sticking of cuttings and other work of the greenhouses, we’ll be plenty busy in January and February. The new busyness from the additional greenhouse duties will make winter seem to end more quickly.
Another busy endeavor is the preparation needed for our winter seminars that begin on February 4th. The seminars will continue through March but there are some in April which will include Debra Hardwick’s seminar on Clematis that last year drew such a crowd that I was thinking that we would have to turn some folks away! I have said many times, please notify us beforehand if you want to sign up in order that we are able to do planning for adequate refreshments and seating. I think for $5 most participants will agree that they are getting a good value for the dollar.
The word at the nursery in January is “watch” as I must constantly be on the lookout for mice and vole damage in our overwintering structures and on the outside, deer and rabbit chewing.
Just keep busy and you’ll wonder whatever happened to winter as spring begins spring forth.
Tom
Friday, December 30, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
Dayton "Dirt" - December 9, 2011
In early December, the sun sets even before the sunset of the winter solstice on the 21st making the days appear even shorter than the shortest day of the year! No wonder that Christmas is all about lights and evergreens during the cold dark winter days.
We’re still fabricating more grave blankets and custom decorating many of them. In fact, I thought last week that we had plenty of spruce and pine branches to finish the season but instead we had to cut more this past week to insure a supply of blankets through the Christmas season.
Poinsettias have sold surprisingly well which I think much of the better sale is due to the high quality of the plants since we began growing our own.
The rain this past week has been no surprise as it’s been raining consistently every few to several days since the first of March!
We still have a decent selection of all Ohio grown Fraser Fir which will easily last past the New Year when the tree trunk is set in water.
Christmas was always a big baking extravaganza at our house when my grandmother (my mother’s mother) was alive in that cookies, nut rolls and poppy seed rolls would seem to breed in the oven.
I’ll be decorating my own tree soon but I think not until Christmas Eve as I’m somewhat tired after a long day at work.
Hope for snow!
Tom
We’re still fabricating more grave blankets and custom decorating many of them. In fact, I thought last week that we had plenty of spruce and pine branches to finish the season but instead we had to cut more this past week to insure a supply of blankets through the Christmas season.
Poinsettias have sold surprisingly well which I think much of the better sale is due to the high quality of the plants since we began growing our own.
The rain this past week has been no surprise as it’s been raining consistently every few to several days since the first of March!
We still have a decent selection of all Ohio grown Fraser Fir which will easily last past the New Year when the tree trunk is set in water.
Christmas was always a big baking extravaganza at our house when my grandmother (my mother’s mother) was alive in that cookies, nut rolls and poppy seed rolls would seem to breed in the oven.
I’ll be decorating my own tree soon but I think not until Christmas Eve as I’m somewhat tired after a long day at work.
Hope for snow!
Tom
Friday, December 2, 2011
Dayton "Dirt" - December 2, 2011
Last Friday, the so called Black Friday was busy at the nursery with sales of wreaths, roping, poinsettias and cut trees in full swing.
At the nursery our “Black Friday” is the month of May as that month pays for all our expenses for about the entire year when there are fewer sales or no sales such as in winter.
Predictably, the large trees of 10 feet and taller are about all sold but we do have a good source of Canaan Fir which can be cut for $100 retail. The trees are gorgeous with some approaching 12 feet. Canaan Fir is similar to Fraser Fir and has the same needle-holding capability when they are cut around Thanksgiving or after.
This week for us has been a real crunch time as our cuttings of flowers from Guatemala arrived and must be stuck quickly in the rooting media. These plants will be potted up to hanging baskets in late January and will grow on until May before they can be sold. Our next batch of cuttings will arrive in late January for more hanging baskets and smaller pots.
The months of January and February are only a brief interlude at the nursery before full production starts in March. I’ll be giving you some insight on what’s new for 2012 as soon as the holidays are over.
Remember Santa Claus will visit the nursery between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on December 3rd and 4th so that you’ll want to bring your camera, children and/or grandchildren for a photo opportunity.
It’s been wet enough this year so that the cold rain might as well change to snow.
Tom
At the nursery our “Black Friday” is the month of May as that month pays for all our expenses for about the entire year when there are fewer sales or no sales such as in winter.
Predictably, the large trees of 10 feet and taller are about all sold but we do have a good source of Canaan Fir which can be cut for $100 retail. The trees are gorgeous with some approaching 12 feet. Canaan Fir is similar to Fraser Fir and has the same needle-holding capability when they are cut around Thanksgiving or after.
This week for us has been a real crunch time as our cuttings of flowers from Guatemala arrived and must be stuck quickly in the rooting media. These plants will be potted up to hanging baskets in late January and will grow on until May before they can be sold. Our next batch of cuttings will arrive in late January for more hanging baskets and smaller pots.
The months of January and February are only a brief interlude at the nursery before full production starts in March. I’ll be giving you some insight on what’s new for 2012 as soon as the holidays are over.
Remember Santa Claus will visit the nursery between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. on December 3rd and 4th so that you’ll want to bring your camera, children and/or grandchildren for a photo opportunity.
It’s been wet enough this year so that the cold rain might as well change to snow.
Tom
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Dayton "Dirt" - November 25, 2011
With Thanksgiving behind us, it’s time to get in the swing of the Christmas season. Our poinsettia crop turned out better than expected with almost all of the varieties having large colorful bracts of red, white, marbled and pink.
I am so thankful too that our Christmas tree grower is very fussy about quality as he hires extra labor to harvest the trees late in November in order that they remain fresh for our customers. In the past two years I have inspected the cut trees at some of the home improvement stores and was shocked that they would ever sell as most of the trees were so dry! In fact, I was in one of the stores buying plumbing supplies on Christmas Eve two years ago when a young couple with a baby bought one of the last three cut Douglas Firs for $5.00 in which the bottom one third of the needles had fallen off!
I will be doing my inspection of at least 5 stores this year to see if the quality has improved at least in the freshness department but I’m not setting my expectations very high. Cutting your own tree can be a fun family experience which will sure insure that your tree is fresh but if you don’t want to bother with cutting your own, we’ll have the next best thing which is a ready-cut fresh tree from Ohio.
Wreaths, roping, greens and our grave decorations that we’ve been making for almost thirty years are ready for pickup or delivery. We can even custom decorate the blankets to fit your own personal taste.
Tom
P.S. Don’t forget that you can tag your cut tree if your not ready for it and then pick it up or get it delivered when your ready. Keep in mind that we will even set it in the stand for you if you prefer.
I am so thankful too that our Christmas tree grower is very fussy about quality as he hires extra labor to harvest the trees late in November in order that they remain fresh for our customers. In the past two years I have inspected the cut trees at some of the home improvement stores and was shocked that they would ever sell as most of the trees were so dry! In fact, I was in one of the stores buying plumbing supplies on Christmas Eve two years ago when a young couple with a baby bought one of the last three cut Douglas Firs for $5.00 in which the bottom one third of the needles had fallen off!
I will be doing my inspection of at least 5 stores this year to see if the quality has improved at least in the freshness department but I’m not setting my expectations very high. Cutting your own tree can be a fun family experience which will sure insure that your tree is fresh but if you don’t want to bother with cutting your own, we’ll have the next best thing which is a ready-cut fresh tree from Ohio.
Wreaths, roping, greens and our grave decorations that we’ve been making for almost thirty years are ready for pickup or delivery. We can even custom decorate the blankets to fit your own personal taste.
Tom
P.S. Don’t forget that you can tag your cut tree if your not ready for it and then pick it up or get it delivered when your ready. Keep in mind that we will even set it in the stand for you if you prefer.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Dayton "Dirt" - November 18, 2011
Thanksgiving, the holiday that President Lincoln proclaimed should be celebrated on the last Thursday in November, is upon us.
At the nursery, we’re still collecting branches for our different styles of grave blankets and tomorrow we bring up our poinsettias we’ve been growing in our rear greenhouse as they are now showing lots of color. The variety Polar bear is a gorgeous pure white that benefits polar bear preservation when this variety is purchased.
Live wreaths, white pine roping and greens will be ready on Saturday afternoon as well as all styles of our grave decorations.
Other things going on at the nursery are a general clean up, propagation of geraniums for our spring crop and the finishing of construction of our new greenhouse for the production of perennials.
In Wolf Creek Gardens we’ve planted more Hemlock, White Pine and Dogwood varieties in order to enhance this ever expanding botanical garden display. Another chore I’m tiring of is having to erect a 6 foot windbreak on the west side of the rhododendron-azalea portion of the garden. The Norway Spruce screen that was planted 4 years ago should be big enough to do the job in another 2-3 years so that the windbreak job will be no more!
Next week our cut Christmas trees come in from southern Ohio of which the varieties will include Fraser Fir, Scotch Pine, White Pine and Douglas Fir. I’m impressed especially with the Fraser Fir as Frasers do not like to grow too far out of their native range which is the Appalachian Mountains at elevations of 2200 ft. and up! In fact, our Frasers from southern Ohio are superior to the normal North Carolina Frasers as they are so much fresher!
Tom
At the nursery, we’re still collecting branches for our different styles of grave blankets and tomorrow we bring up our poinsettias we’ve been growing in our rear greenhouse as they are now showing lots of color. The variety Polar bear is a gorgeous pure white that benefits polar bear preservation when this variety is purchased.
Live wreaths, white pine roping and greens will be ready on Saturday afternoon as well as all styles of our grave decorations.
Other things going on at the nursery are a general clean up, propagation of geraniums for our spring crop and the finishing of construction of our new greenhouse for the production of perennials.
In Wolf Creek Gardens we’ve planted more Hemlock, White Pine and Dogwood varieties in order to enhance this ever expanding botanical garden display. Another chore I’m tiring of is having to erect a 6 foot windbreak on the west side of the rhododendron-azalea portion of the garden. The Norway Spruce screen that was planted 4 years ago should be big enough to do the job in another 2-3 years so that the windbreak job will be no more!
Next week our cut Christmas trees come in from southern Ohio of which the varieties will include Fraser Fir, Scotch Pine, White Pine and Douglas Fir. I’m impressed especially with the Fraser Fir as Frasers do not like to grow too far out of their native range which is the Appalachian Mountains at elevations of 2200 ft. and up! In fact, our Frasers from southern Ohio are superior to the normal North Carolina Frasers as they are so much fresher!
Tom
Friday, November 11, 2011
Dayton "Dirt" - November 11, 2011
On this Veteran’s Day of November 11th, we remember the Americans that are both dead and living who have secured our freedom and the freedom of our friends and allies around the world.
Unfortunately, the armistice that was signed on November 11, 1918 that ended World War I was suppose to be the finish of the war to end all wars.
November’s weather is still overall quite pleasant enabling many of us to finish yard work such as raking leaves, planting flower bulbs and mowing the lawn one last time. Below is a brief list of garden chores in November:
1 Take a soil test and apply lime if necessary to the lawn or garden to elevate the ph to 6.5 - 7.0.
2. Apply the last fall feeding of the lawn to insure a quick green up next spring to crowd out weeds.
3 Dig and store any tropical bulbs such as Dahlias or Cannas.
4 Finish planting any spring flowering bulbs such as tulips and such.
5. Water shrubs deeply under house overhangs to prevent winter burn or death of the plants due to dry soil.
6. Protect valuable plants from deer browsing or rabbit gnawing by spraying them with liquid fence.
7. Erect wind screens on the west side of broadleaf evergreens that are susceptible to winter wind burn.
8. Plant the tree now that you have been thinking about planting in spring so that the tree can root in this fall and very early spring.
I was relieved that we finished planting and mulching our blueberries last week as the planting would normally have been completed a little earlier this fall but was delayed because of the wet October. While tilling in the sphagnum peat for the blueberries, the nursery’s 37 year old walk-behind rototiller finally “died” when its Wisconsin engine had a bearing failure.
Many of our cascading grave blankets and pillows will be ready for delivery or pick-up this weekend with our spruce decorations ready toward the end of next week. Don’t waste the weekend as the weather will be sunny and mild.
Enjoy November.
Tom
Unfortunately, the armistice that was signed on November 11, 1918 that ended World War I was suppose to be the finish of the war to end all wars.
November’s weather is still overall quite pleasant enabling many of us to finish yard work such as raking leaves, planting flower bulbs and mowing the lawn one last time. Below is a brief list of garden chores in November:
1 Take a soil test and apply lime if necessary to the lawn or garden to elevate the ph to 6.5 - 7.0.
2. Apply the last fall feeding of the lawn to insure a quick green up next spring to crowd out weeds.
3 Dig and store any tropical bulbs such as Dahlias or Cannas.
4 Finish planting any spring flowering bulbs such as tulips and such.
5. Water shrubs deeply under house overhangs to prevent winter burn or death of the plants due to dry soil.
6. Protect valuable plants from deer browsing or rabbit gnawing by spraying them with liquid fence.
7. Erect wind screens on the west side of broadleaf evergreens that are susceptible to winter wind burn.
8. Plant the tree now that you have been thinking about planting in spring so that the tree can root in this fall and very early spring.
I was relieved that we finished planting and mulching our blueberries last week as the planting would normally have been completed a little earlier this fall but was delayed because of the wet October. While tilling in the sphagnum peat for the blueberries, the nursery’s 37 year old walk-behind rototiller finally “died” when its Wisconsin engine had a bearing failure.
Many of our cascading grave blankets and pillows will be ready for delivery or pick-up this weekend with our spruce decorations ready toward the end of next week. Don’t waste the weekend as the weather will be sunny and mild.
Enjoy November.
Tom
Friday, November 4, 2011
Dayton "Dirt" - November 4, 2011
The weather has been almost perfect this past week which has given us the opportunity to plant our blueberry plants.
The blueberry field is just on the east side of the irrigation lake on high ground and will be a future patch for a pick-your-own type of operation. The varieties include the old time favorite Bluecrop, along with Patriot, Elliot and the early type called Duke. It may seem strange to some of you to plant in November but as I have been preaching for years, fall is for planting.
We’ve harvested are first batch of pine branches for our cascading grave blankets and pillows and we’ll harvest the blue spruce branches we need about a week from now so that they remain fresh when we store them outside.
Again, tress and shrubs for planting are still available with some of the trees at a good buy on the 50% off sale until mid-November.
Other happenings at the nursery include the installation of a new roof on our store building, the replacement of our worn out main sidewalk and the continuing construction of our new movable roof greenhouse for producing more and higher quality perennials.
So it’s been a busy November!
The blueberry field is just on the east side of the irrigation lake on high ground and will be a future patch for a pick-your-own type of operation. The varieties include the old time favorite Bluecrop, along with Patriot, Elliot and the early type called Duke. It may seem strange to some of you to plant in November but as I have been preaching for years, fall is for planting.
We’ve harvested are first batch of pine branches for our cascading grave blankets and pillows and we’ll harvest the blue spruce branches we need about a week from now so that they remain fresh when we store them outside.
Again, tress and shrubs for planting are still available with some of the trees at a good buy on the 50% off sale until mid-November.
Other happenings at the nursery include the installation of a new roof on our store building, the replacement of our worn out main sidewalk and the continuing construction of our new movable roof greenhouse for producing more and higher quality perennials.
So it’s been a busy November!
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