Quotation of the Week: "I should like to enflame the whole world with my taste for gardening. There is no virtue that I would not attribute to the man who lives to project and execute gardens." — Prince De Ligne

We're open 'til 7:00 Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays for the month of May!

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14th

Gourmet Lazy K

Cabbage Kitchen Accessories

Need the perfect gift for Mom? Orchard has hundreds of ideas. Is she a gardening enthusiast? Felco pruners are a great choice…several styles available, including one for smaller hands, left-handed gardeners, or gardeners with hands that tire out quickly. Felco pruner parts are replaceable, so she may never need to buy another pair! How about a pair of Bionic gloves to go with the pruners? Bionic gloves are ergonomically designed and endorsed by the Arthritis Foundation. Does Mom garden in the hot sun? Sunday Afternoon hats will protect her skin while being fashionably stylish (UPF 50). Is she a fabulous cook? In the Garden Shop, we just received a new line of kitchen towels, aprons, and farmer’s market bags with beautiful cabbage and rabbit designs. In the Lazy K Gift Shop, there are gourmet gifts to please every taste bud. Do you want to brighten her day with gorgeous flowers? The Flower Shop would love to design a custom flower arrangement or English basket with all her favorite blooms. Maybe an exotic orchid is more Mom’s style. Do you want to give her roses all spring, summer and fall? We have hundreds of rose bushes to choose from. Click on the ‘Rose Gallery’ link on the left of this page to see what varieties we have in stock. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Do you want to help make Mom’s life a little easier? Or bring more beauty into her life? Are you totally stumped on what to get her? We have solutions for all these questions. Come down and we’d love to help you find the perfect gift for Mom.

From the Flower Shop

Miltonia Orchids (Pansy Orchid)

The name Miltonia was coined in 1837 to honor Viscount Milton, a great gardener and orchid grower. Miltonia are sometimes called Pansy Orchids because their flat-faced, open flowers resemble pansies in shape and markings. There are 25 species of pansy orchids, with a distribution range that covers Central America, the high Plateau of the Andes, western Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Bolivia. Flowers vary in color - red, white, pink with different colored markings and yellow.

Light: Plenty of diffused light; the leaves on the Miltonia plant should be light green, lighter than you may think is healthy if you compare them to other plants. If the leaves are dark green, increase the lighting. If the leaves turn yellowish green or reddish, increase the shading. Miltonia sunburn easily.

Water: The medium must be kept constantly moist, but not soggy. If the new leaves emerge pleated, the plant is not getting enough water. Increased watering will not flatten them out, but the next new leaves should be smooth.

Temperature: The most favorable temperatures fall between 50 degrees minimum and a maximum of 68 degrees. Miltonia require special attention during the warmest months of the year; increase humidity and ventilation, making sure the shading is adequate.

Fertilizer: Fertilize approximately twice per month when new growth is developing. We suggest Peters Professional all purpose plant food 20-20-20 or Grow More Orchid Food 20-20-20 (spring and summer). Feed less often in the winter months.

Repotting: Annual repotting at time of active growth (autumn) is essential. Plants prefer a minimum of 3 bulbs per clump. When repotting, remove dead leaf bracts and flower stems. The desirable medium is a fine orchid bark, potted into plastic pots.

Flowering: The best flowering is in the spring. Flowers usually last 3-4 weeks. Fall flowers from summer growth may show distinct color variations from spring flowers, and size may be smaller.

Art for the Gardens

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:

Dianthus 'Tiny Rubies'

5/05/06 - 5/11/06 Yours for just $4.99 each (reg. $7.98)

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

Enter our contest for a chance to win a shopping spree up to $150!

Click here for .pdf form

Recipe of the Week: Creamy Lemon Chicken Soup

What You'll Need: 2 cups cooked shredded chicken 1 1/2 quarts chicken broth 3/4 cup orzo pasta 5 ounces chopped fresh spinach 3 eggs 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Step by Step:

Bring chicken and broth to a boil in a small soup kettle or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add orzo; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add spinach, reduce the heat and simmer 8 to 10 minutes. While soup simmers, beat eggs and lemon juice until frothy in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk several ladles full of the hot soup into the eggs, being careful not to curdle the eggs. Turn off the soup kettle; return egg and soup mixture to the pot and stir well. Season with salt and pepper and serve at once. Yield: 4 servings