Quotation of the Week: "When the world wearies and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the garden." — Minnie Aumonier

JANUARY BULB SALE!

Daffodils, Tulips, Ranunculus, Anemones, Muscari and More!!
Save 50% on All Spring Blooming Bulbs
Sale through Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Offer subject to stock on hand.
tete-a-tete daffodil	anemone de caen	freesia double

Annual Pruning Demonstration

	(Wednesday sold out, we still have room on Saturday and Sunday)
	Join our own Bonnie Brusseau, Advance CCN Pro. With a seminar fee of $10.00, you will receive an Orchard coupon valued at $15.00 along with a gift pack valued at over $20.00 Available to the general public Saturday, January 21st from 10am-12pm - Sunday, January 22nd from 11am-1pm
Reservations are required as seating is limited. Please call in advance to reserve your seat. No tickets will be sold at the door. Call 925/284-4474

Plant of the Week -Zamioculcas Zamifolia

Zamioculcas Zamifolia (ZZ Plant)

Talk about a tough plant that can be used indoors! This plant has recently arrived to the horticultural industry, and is all that it’s proclaimed to be and more. Those who have tried the ZZ plant in low light situations have been impressed with the fact that it didn’t just sit there, but started to grow. Not spindly growth, but good strong stalks and leaves. An added bonus is that it requires minimal watering and is not prone to pest problems. If you have a difficult indoor situation where other plants have failed, why not try a ZZ plant? Seldom do we run across a plant like this!

WATER- Drench thoroughly and allow it to dry out between watering.

LIGHT- Will do well in a wide variety of light situations; prefers filtered or diffused sunlight, but will tolerate lower light conditions.

TEMP- Comfortable in average household temperatures 62-85 degrees.

FERTILIZER- Use a balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks.

Join us at our Houseplant Clinic! The ZZ plant will be one of our featured plants. Thursday, January 19th from 10am – 12pm No reservation needed and there is no charge for this clinic.

Barks and Mulches

In winter, most gardens develop bare spots due to winter dormancy, frost damage or dieback induced by the cold and damp. In some cases, areas are left bare by the removal of warm weather crops by gardeners who choose not to give themselves reasons to go out in the rain to tend beds of broccoli or pansies. When a vegetable garden is emptied and no winter crop is contemplated, the spot can be saved with a fall planting of a cover crop like fava beans, annual rye or crimson clover which can be tilled under for spring planting. When the bare spots develop late or the gardener procrastinates, then alternatives to a cover crop that will do the job quickly are called for. Otherwise the patch quickly progresses from bare to damp to muddy (to mudslide if a slope is involved). Once the growing season is past your best bet to cover an area is bark mulch. Existing areas covered with bark should be inspected and freshened with new material as needed and muddy spots can be covered at any time. Orchard Nursery provides a selection of mulches: Paydirt or Gold Rush (1/4” or less) are good choices for areas that don’t have much foot traffic (in spring they can be worked in to condition the soil); Micro Bark (1/2” or less) provides a good surface for paths or play areas; Forest Bark (small - 1” or less, medium – 1 ½” or less) will give a long lasting mulch for areas needing permanent cover; and Shredded Red Cedar provides a fragrant, woodsy effect.

Orchard Nursery and Florist BLOOD DRIVE

Saturday, January 28, 2006 11:00am to 3:00pm

Location: Donor Mobile For information or to Schedule Your Donation Appointment

Please Contact: Chris Rowe at (925) 284-4474 or Sign up online at www.bloodheros.org (Sponsor Code = orchardNF)

Donors must have verifiable identification to donate. Each donor will receive 2-for-1 Coupon for a Hornblower Cruise!

Please Eat and Drink (non-alcoholic) Before Donating

Donate blood during the month of January and receive a 2-for-1 Coupon for a Hornblower Cruise on the San Francisco Bay. You can be a life preserver for someone in need.

What You'll Need: 2 (12-oz.) jars beef gravy 3 (4-1/2 oz.) jars or cans sliced mushrooms, drained 1 large onion, cut into wedges 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/4 tsp. ground allspice 2 (16-oz.) packages frozen meatballs, thawed 1 (8-oz.) carton sour cream 6 cups hot cooked wide noodles Step by Step: In a 4-1/2 or 5 quart slow cooker, combine beef gravy, mushrooms, onion, Worcestershire sauce and allspice. Stir in meatballs. Cover and cook on LOW heat for 5 to 6 hours or on HIGH heat for 2-1/2 to 3 hours. In a small bowl, gradually stir 1/2 cup of the hot gravy into the sour cream. Add sour cream mixture to slow cooker, stirring gently until combined. Serve meatball mixture over hot cooked noodles. Yield: 10 servings