Saturday, October 29th

11-1: "The Blue Moon Brothers"
Kick up your heels with one of our most loved bands.

11-3:
We will offer free to customers who bring us their dogs.

1-3: Pumpkin Painting For Kids
Our friend and artist, Anne Jewett, encourages kids to have fun and be creative while painting “kid-size” pumpkins.

2-4: ‘Jump-In’ Sing-Along Music
Fun folk, blues, oldies all the way to the 90’s.

Sunday, October 30th

11-1: Time to Plant Fall Veggies
Our friend, Leslie Stiles, chef, gardener, caterer and author of the popular ‘Farmer’s Market Lovers Calendar’ shares her favorite varieties, planting tips and savory recipes for your harvest.

11-3:
We will offer free to customers who bring us their dogs.

Noon: Kid’s Coloring Contest Winners
We will announce the winners!

Noon: ‘Guess the Weight’ Pumpkin Weigh-in
Winners announced and prizes given.

12-2: "Insect Songs" Sing along
Voted “Best Interactive Kids Program” by Diablo Magazine, the charming and inventive Sandi & Stevie lead the children in silly song and dance play.

1-3: A Suite of Sweets by The Cake Lair
Join Suzie Orpin as she demonstrates the many uses for her fabulous handmade flavored sugars.

1-3: The East Bay Banjo Club
If you love banjos, happy music and fun, this is the place to be. Tips and compensation are donated to worthy charities.

12-3: Put On a Happy Face
Our friends return to delight kids of all ages with clever and creative face painting.

Nothing is more beautiful in the garden than a large display of cyclamen. They are among the best fall-blooming plants. You can use them in pots on tables, by the front door, or planted in a nice shady spot outdoors before the frost arrives. They are great for atriums.

The flowers resemble a butterfly fluttering above the plant. The foliage is in the shape of a heart and they grow in a mound over the pot. There are miniatures varieties for small spots and the common larger plants for the table or garden. The foliage color can be green to silver and every combination in-between. The flower color ranges from white to pink, red, lavender and some multi colored. Some varieties can also have frilly flowers or smooth edges. Hint, a great gift plant for someone with a cool home during the winter.

General: Try to keep water away from the crown area (they can get crown rot). Do not bury them too deep; keep the top of the tuber just slightly above the soil line. Keep your plants well fed feed every couple of weeks while they are in full leaf. Pull out the stems that have gone by. Hint! Bend the stem down towards the foliage and quickly pull the stem out. It will snap free from the plant. Never leave old flower stems on the plant as they will rot and kill some of the leaves next to them. Pick a few flowers to go into a bud vase. They are lovely and last quite well. As the flowers begin to fade, gradually allow the plant to dry out for 2-3 months; do not feed during this time. Resume feeding when new growth appears. Repot at this time in a container 2 inches larger.

Outdoors: Cyclamen like cool weather (that's why they make great winter-bloomers). That means outdoors in a shady to semi-shady spot. If you have a spot that is full shade in summer and gets more light in cooler weather, that is ideal. Make sure they are planted in a well-draining area. They like cool weather--but not severe cold. Some are more hardy than others, but most need some protection against cold.

Indoors: Pick a cool spot. Make sure they have good air circulation, but keep out of cold drafts and hot, dry air. High humidity, especially during winter, is very important. Try putting the cyclamen on a tray of water with a layer of pebbles to form a shelf for pot to sit on. Don't put the cyclamen itself in the water. You want humidity around the plant, not soggy soil. Let the cyclamen have plenty of light in winter; sunburn is rarely a problem. In summer keep it in indirect light. Repot when the tuber fills the existing pot; it's best to repot it while it's dormant. Use a pot just a little larger than the old pot.

One aspect of lettuce that sets it apart from any other vegetable is that you can only have it one form, and that is fresh.

There are hundreds of different varieties of lettuce. Today, an increasing variety is available so that the salad bowl can contain a wealth of color and texture. They make a great alternative for annuals in pots.

These are the types that you will see at Orchard Nursery this season:

Round Lettuces:
Sometimes called head or cabbage lettuces, round lettuces have cabbage-like heads and include:

Butterheads: These are the classic lettuces seen in kitchen gardens. They have a pale heart and floppy, loosely packed leaves. They have a flavor as long as they are fresh.

Crispheads: Crisp lettuces, such as Iceberg, have an excellent crunchy texture and will keep their vitality long after butterheads have faded and died.

Looseheads: These are non-hearting lettuce with lose leaves and include lollo rosso, oak leaf lettuce and red salad bowl. Although they are not particularly remarkable for their flavor, they look superb.

Cos Lettuces:
The romaine is the only lettuce that would have been in antiquity. It is known by two names: cos, derived form the Greek island where it was found by the Romans, and romaine, the name used by the French after it was introduced to France from Rome. There are two romaine lettuces, both with long, erect heads.

Romaine: Considered the most delicious lettuce, this has a firm texture and a faintly nutty taste. It is the correct lettuce for Caesar Salad, one of the classic salads.

Bibb: In appearance, Bibbs look like something between a baby romaine and a tightly furled butterhead. They have firm hearts and are enjoyed for their distinct flavor. Like other lettuce hearts, they cope well with being cooked.

Lambs Lettuce or Corn Salad:
This popular winter leaf does not actually belong to the lettuce family, but as it makes a lovely addition to salads, this seems a good place to include it. Called mache in France, it has spoon shaped leaves and excellent nutty flavor.

Lettuce likes moist, fertile, well-drained soil and a sunny location. Plants grow quickly and will need a constant supply of water and nutrients.

Lettuce is rich in calcium, potassium, iron and vitamins A, E and C, along with traces of other elements. Keep in mind that the darker the leaves contain the most nutrients.