Quotation of the Week: "I will be the gladdest thing under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers and not pick one." — Edna St. Vincent Millay

Plant A Row For The Hungry

Does anything taste better than a crisp, sweet apple newly picked off the tree? Or a juicy, vine ripened tomato fresh from the garden? At Orchard Nursery, we believe nothing beats the taste of garden-fresh produce. We think that everyone should be able to experience it. With that in mind, we are proudly joining forces with Garden Writers of America’s “Plant a Row for the Hungry” and the Monument Crisis Center. The mission of the Monument Crisis Center is to provide food, help, and referrals in crisis situations and promote community awareness of needs and available resources. The Center provides emergency food supplies (a 3-day supply of nutritious food) to families in need. Orchard Nursery invites you to help us make a difference in our community. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…
When you plant your vegetable garden this year, plant an extra row for the hungry.
July 9th – October 30th When your crops are ready, harvest the produce and drop it off at Orchard Nursery. (Donations will be accepted on Sundays and Mondays only.)
Orchard Nursery will then bring the bountiful harvest to the Monument Crisis Center, who will in turn disperse it to those in need.
To thank you for your involvement, each week that you bring us produce you can enter your name for a raffle to be held each month. Prizes are guaranteed to please a gardener!
Here are some recommended fruits and vegetables; they hold up well in storage and have high nutritional value:
What To Grow and Bring
Apples	Beans	Broccoli	Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage	Carrots	Cauliflower	Chard
Corn	Cucumbers	Eggplant	Onions
Peas	Peppers	Potatoes	Radishes
Spinach	Squash	Tomatoes

From the Flower Shop

Platycerium Bifurcatum (Staghorn Fern)

Staghorn ferns are epiphytic in habit, which means they grow on trees and rocks like orchids. When attached to trees, they are only clinging on to the bark and not actually growing into the tree. Their nutrients are provided by the rainwater that washes debris off the branches and transports it to the root area. There are 18 species recognized, with many varieties and hybrids. Staghorns are native to Philippines, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Australia, Madagascar, Africa, and South America.

Light: Grown as a houseplant: good bright, indirect light. Grown outside: place in shade or partly shaded conditions; no hot sun.

Water: Water thoroughly 1-2 times per week during the warm months and less often in the cooler months. One of the biggest problems of Staghorns is overwatering; if your plant still feels wet from earlier watering, let it go for a few more days before you water again.

Temperature: Staghorns are considered to be tender or semi-tender plants; temperatures below 55 degrees are not tolerated well. If you are growing your plant outside, you should bring your plant in to a warmer area at night in the winter months.

Fertilizer: Feed monthly in the growing season, and every other month when growth slows down; we recommend Fish Emulsion.

Pests: Staghorns have few pests, but an infestation can spread quickly. The pests to watch for are mealy bug and scale.

Repotting: As mentioned earlier, Staghorns are epiphytes; this means they are grown without soil. To repot a staghorn find a nice board, such as redwood, and mount your plant to this board by using sphagnum moss as the medium and a piece of chicken wire or other suitable material, fastened by staples, to secure it to the board, .

Note: There are 2 types of leaves: The sterile leaves are the brown dry leaves found at the base of the plant, and the fertile leaves are green ones that look like antlers, giving the plant its name. When new leaves form, they have protective "fuzz" which should not be disturbed; this will disappear as the plant develops.

PERENNIAL OF THE WEEK

Our 10th year of bargain hunting has begun and continues through October. Every week we find something special for you to add to your garden and offer it at almost 40% off! Since the beginning we've offered over 200 different species...

THIS WEEK'S SELECTION:

Salvia Suberba 'Blue Queen'

4/28/06 - 5/4/06 Yours for just $4.99 each (reg. $7.98)

Runs weekly Fri. through Thurs., limited to stock on hand - so shop early.

Rabbit Tales

By Tamara Galbraith Bunnies are, of course, just about the cutest thing on Earth. (Incidentally, their poop makes great fertilizer too, and doesn't need to be composted before use.) But what to do when Peter Rabbit spends his evenings munching on your beautiful lettuce, peas and beans? First, conduct a thorough examination to see whether or not you really have a rabbit problem. Rabbits generally browse no higher than a couple of feet off the ground. Their pea-sized round droppings are their calling card. There are several critter-ridder products on the market that work with varying degrees of success. Many contain diluted fox urine, an ingredient that is safe to use around plants, people and pets, and acts a repellent for all small furry animals that foxes usually dine on. We find Shake Away for Small Critters to be very effective. Vinegar, clumps of human or dog hair, and diluted aloe vera gel are also said to be effective rabbit repellents when placed strategically around the garden. Garlic pepper spray - the kind also used as an organic insecticide - is a big turn-off for bunny taste buds, as is any bottled hot sauce.

Recipe of the Week: Honey Chipotle Glazed Carrots

Honey Chipotle Glazed Carrots 1 Tbsp. Butter 1 ½ lb. Carrots ¼ Cup Robert Rothschild Farm Honey Honey Chipotle Pretzel Dip* Salt and pepper to taste Melt butter in a medium skillet. Slice carrots at an angle to form large thin slices. Add to skillet and cook carrots for about 6 minutes. Add honey Chipotle Pretzel Dip and mix into carrots. Season with salt and pepper. Cook an additional 2-3 minutes or until tender. * Robert Rothschild Farm Honey Pretzel Dip is available at the Lazy K House.