Quotation of the Week: "A garden is half-made when it is well planned. The best gardener is the one who does the most gardening by the winter fire." — Liberty Hyde Bailey

Get into the 'Wild Blue Yonder'

by Tamara Galbraith Rose fans and growers, get ready for a 'purple reign.' For the first time in over 20 years, a lavender-hued rose has been named as one of the All-American Rose Selections. And 'Wild Blue Yonder' — a cultivar developed by leading hybridizer Tom Carruth — isn't just pretty to look at. Like the other 2006 AARS winners, this rose is tough and disease resistant too. 'Wild Blue Yonder' is in the grandiflora class of roses, meaning it sends up sprays of large buds instead of single-stemmed blossoms. Its large flowers are ruffled, can measure up to 4-1/2", and carry a strong, citrus-like fragrance. And the color? Wow! Deep reddish-purple with a lavender 'eyezone,' the blooms reportedly almost resemble a camellia up close, or a hydrangea from a distance. And the flowers' hue intensifies in cooler temps, so expect an even more gorgeous second bloom in the fall. Widely available now, 'Wild Blue Yonder' is a medium-large (4'-5'), upright, shrubby rose with glossy, dark green leaves that will look great in your garden even when not in bloom. But, of course, it's those gorgeous purplish flowers everyone will be oohing and aahing over.

Available as a shrub or a standard tree rose at Orchard Nursery.

SPATHIPHYLLUM

Have you given any thought what you will be putting in that space where the Christmas tree was? Why not consider one of the most easy care and best selling houseplants that Orchard’s Flower Shop carries on a regular basis. The Spathiphyllum, more commonly known as “Peace Lily,” is one of our favorite choices here in the Flower Shop. It is one of the few green houseplants that will provide the enjoyment of blooms. Spathiphyllum tolerates lower light conditions and will provide lush green foliage with a minimal number of blooms. Given brighter light conditions, it will flourish and the number of blooms will be greater.

WATER- Provide ample water. The Spathiphyllum will wilt quickly without adequate moisture. It requires less water in the winter than in the spring and summer.

LIGHT- Prefers bright filtered light, but will survive in low interior light.

TEMP- Average temperatures 68ْ-85ْ are ideal; avoid temperatures below 55ْ F.

FERTILIZER- Once a month with a balanced fertilizer such as 20-20-20 works well.

TIP- periodically use a damp cloth to remove dust from leaves as this helps prevent pests from getting started on your plant.

Winter Pruning

Felco pruners

Winter is generally the best time to rid your plants of the dead wood or unsightly growth that developed last season and to shape the anticipated growth of next season. Deciduous plants are dormant and the lack of foliage exposes their structure to the gardener’s critical eye. In spring the sap is rising, causing wounds to bleed profusely; in summer the exposure of previously shaded tissue to the sun may cause scorching; fall pruning may stimulate soft new growth leaving the plant unprepared for cold weather. Effective pruning requires the use of proper techniques and tools. Our pruning classes this month are a good place to start (Wednesday, January 18 for our newsletter readers). Call for a reservation. Our staff can advise you on the pruning needs of specific plants, and our book section offers several books on the subject. Ortho's All About Pruning is a good basic text and Martin’s little book on How To Prune Fruit Trees is very useful. Every gardener should have a basic assortment of pruning tools. Small shrubs can be handled with hand pruners and pruning shears. Trees will require the use of loppers, saws and pole pruners. Our staff can advise you as to the best tools for your particular tasks and any accessories (gloves, sharpeners, sealers, etc.) that can make your work easier and more effective.

Pruning Classes -Mark your Calendars: January 18th from 10am-12pm for our newsletter customers January 21st from 10am-12pm - January 22nd from 11am-1pm for general public Reservations required.

Recipe of the Week: Slow Cooker Curried Lentil Soup

What You'll Need: 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped 1 cup dry brown or yellow lentils, rinsed and drained 1 medium onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 (14-1/2 oz.) can diced tomatoes, undrained 3 (14 oz.) cans vegetable broth 1 tbsp. curry powder 1 tsp. fresh ginger Plain yogurt or sour cream (optional) Step by Step: In a 4 to 5-quart slow cooker, combine sweet potatoes, lentils, onion, and garlic. Add undrained tomatoes, broth, curry powder and ginger. Cover and cook on LOW heat setting for 8 to 10 hours or on HIGH heat setting for 4 to 5 hours. If desired, top individual servings with yogurt or sour cream. Yield: 4-6 servings