December 2011 Newsletter©

December Thoughts

 

For a lot of people, their thoughts are about Christmas trees…

If you are thinking about a live tree (one with roots that you can plant in the garden), here are some things to remember.   It shouldn’t be in the house more than 3 days.  Beyond that, the warm temperatures in your house will force it out of dormancy and your chances of survival decrease rapidly with each day.  It’s likely to be June before it finally browns, but the damage was done at Christmas.                                                                                                                                             If you really want one, make sure you chose a variety that will survive here.  Fraser, Douglas and Noble fir, Scotch Pines, White or Black Spruce don’t grow here. There are a few marginal plants like White Pine, Alberta and Colorado Spruce sold as Christmas trees, but most of these do not survive the first year. They are not impossible to grow here, but dang near.  Your best choices are Short Needle pine (prone to borers), Leyland Cypress (prone to seiridium canker) Virginia Juniper (what we call “cedars”) or some type of arborvitae.  Use a garbage can lid for a saucer and keep a little water in it all the time in the house and remember…           3 DAYS, that’s it!

If you are thinking about a fresh cut tree, chose one with soft, pliable tips and there shouldn’t be needles missing from the tips.  You can expect a small amount of internal needle drop, but it shouldn’t be much.  If you must strap it to the car, drive slowly and take back roads.  Interstate speeds for just a few minutes will significantly dry out a tree. Get a fresh cut on the trunk and place it in water as soon as you can, within 3-4 hours if possible.  If it’s longer than that, I’d cut it again.  It is critical that you keep the end of the trunk under water to prevent the sap from hardening on the end. You may need to check your tree stand twice a day, but the best preservative for your tree is water.  It will stay fresher if you keep it out of direct sun, spray it with an anti-transpirant (Cloud Cover or Wilt Pruf), keep the room cool and keep the tree lights off as much as possible.

If you are thinking about an artificial tree, here are some tips to prolong its life.  It is best not to put it back in the box it came in.  You are less likely to damage limbs and lights if you can re-assemble it in the attic and cover it with sheets or put the sections in large garbage bags and hang them upside down from the attic rafters.  “Scrunching” them back in the box isn’t real good for them.                                                                                                                                                           It is very important to replace burned out bulbs immediately.  When one goes out, the others on that strand burn slightly brighter.  If several burn out on a strand, the others quickly follow and then the only way to repair it is to replace every bulb on the circuit before turning it on.  If you replace just a few and plug it in, they may all blowout and you get to start all over again.

A lot of December thoughts are about March, April and better weather.  I like to start thinking about the plants I want to try, move or remove.  So to help you with your plans, the following is a list of plants we will be growing for you at Dan West.  This is not all the perennials we will carry, just the ones we will be potting in late winter.

SUN PERENNIALS

DIANTHUS

IRIS ENSATA

NEPETA - MINT

SALVIA

ACHILLEA - YARROW

FIRST SCENT CANDY FLOSS

VARIEGATA

LITTLE TRUDY

BLUE HILLS

MOONSHINE

FIRST SCENT PASSION

LION KING

WALKERS LOW

CARADONNA

POMEGRANATE

FIRST SCENT SUGAR PLUM

IRIS GERMANICA

OENOTHERA - PRIMROSE

ENDLESS LOVE

STRAWBERRY SEDUCTION

FIRE STAR

ANACONDA LOVE

MISSOURIENSIS

FURMAN'S RED

SUNNY SEDUCTION

FIREWITCH

ARMAGEDON

SISKIYOU

MARCUS

TERRA COTTA

VERY CHERRY

FALL FIESTA

OSTEOSPERMUM - HARDY

MAY NIGHT

AGASTACHE - HYSSOP

DRACOCEPHALUM

IMMORTALITY

AVALANCHE

SENSATION WHITE

BLUE FORTUNE

BLUE DRAGON

MEGABUCKS

PURPLE MOUNTAIN

SWEET 16

BOLERO

ECHINACEA - CONEFLOWER

MILLENNIUM SUNRISE

PARDANCANDA – CANDY LILY

SEDUM

GOLDEN JUBILEE

HOT PAPAYA

RED HAWK

NORRISII

AUTUMN FIRE

PURPLE HAZE

MILKSHAKE

TANZANIAN TANGERINE

PENSTEMON

GARNET BROCADE

ALCHEMILLA –LADY’S MANTLE

PINK DOUBLE DELIGHT

TENNISON RIDGE

DARK TOWERS

MR. GOODBUD

MOLLIS

RUBY STAR

WORLD PREMIER

ELFIN PINK

SUNSET CLOUD

AQUILEGIA - COLUMBINE

FRAGRANT ANGEL

IRIS PALLIDA

HUSKERS RED

SEMPERVIVUM

BLUEBIRD

KIM'S KNEE HIGH

AUREO VARIEGATA

PRETTY PETTICOAT

HEN & CHICKS

BUNTING

MAGNUS SUPERIOR

ALBO VARIEGATA

PEROVSKIA - RUSSIAN SAGE

BRAUNII

CARDINAL

RED KNEE HIGH

IRIS SIBERICA

LONGIN

MRS GIUSEPPE

GOLDFINCH

TANGERINE DREAM

CAESARS BROTHER

PHLOX PANICULATA

PILIOSEUM

LEPRECHAUN GOLD

TENNESSEENSIS

STRAWBERRY FAIR

DAVID

RED TIPS

ROBIN

WHITE SWAN

KNIPHOFIA-RED HOT POKER

DAVIDS LAVENDER

RUBY HEART

SPITFIRE

EUPATORIUM-JOE PYE WEED

FIRE DANCE

FIREWORKS

SILVERINE

ARTEMISIA

BABY JOE

FIRST SUNRISE

FLAME CORAL

STACHYS-LAMB'S EAR

SILVER KING

PHANTOM

LEUCANTHEMUM - SHASTA

FLAME PINK

HELENE VON STEIN

ASCLEPIAS-BUTTERFLY WEED

EUPHORBIA

AMELIA

FLAME PURPLE

STOKESIA

TUBEROSA

ASCOT RAINBOW

BANANA CREAM

FLAME VIOLET

HONEYSONG PURPLE

BAPTISIA

GAURA

BECKY

FLAME WHITE/RED EYE

VERBENA

CHERRIES JUBILEE

PINK FOUNTAIN

DAISY MAY

LAURA

HOMESTEAD

BELACAMDA-BLACKBERRY LILY

SNOW FOUNTAIN

GOLD RUSH

NICKY

VERONICA

FRECKLE FACE

GERANIUM

LITTLE PRINCESS

NORA LEIGH

EVELINE

CAMPANULA

JOHNSON'S BLUE

SNOWCAP

ROBERT POORE

HOCUS POCUS

DICKSON'S GOLD

KARMINA

SUNNYSIDE UP

SHOCKWAVE

PINK EXPLOSION

PEARL DEEP BLUE

ROZANNE

LIATRIS - GAYFEATHER

PHYSOSTEGIA-OBEDIENT PLANT

ROYAL CANDLES

CENTRANTHUS-RED VALERIAN

ST. OLA

FLORISTAN WHITE

CRYSTAL PEAK WHITE

SONJA

PRETTY BETSY

GEUM

FLORISTAN VIOLET

PINK MANNERS

SWEET LULLABY

COREOPSIS

BLAZING SUNSET

LOBELIA -CARDINAL FLOWER

VIVID

 

COSMIC EYE

GIALLARDIA

CARDINALIS

PLATYCODON- BALLON FLOWER

 

COSMIC EVOLUTION

MESA YELLOW

FAN BLUE

ASTRA PINK

 

DREAM CATCHER

GOBLIN

MALVA - MALLOW

SENTIMENTAL BLUE

 

EARLY SUNRISE

ORANGES/LEMONS

PURPLE SATIN

FUJI WHITE

 

GALAXY

HEMEROCALLIS - DAYLILY

ZEBRINA

POLEMONIUM-JACOB’S LADDER

 

MOONBEAM

BLUEBERRY CANDY

MONARDA - BEE BALM

TOUCH OF CLASS

 

MOONBEAM CLUMP

EARLYBIRD CARDINAL

CORAL REEF

RUDBECKIA-BLACK EYED SUSAN

 

REDSHIFT

ENTRAPMENT

GARDENVIEW SCAR

CHERRY BRANDY

 

STAR CLUSTER

FIRE KING

JACOB CLINE

GOLDSTURM

 

ZAGREB

MARY TODD

MARSHALL'S DELIGHT

GOLDSTURM CLUMP

 

CROCOSIMA

RED RAZZMATAZZ

PETITE DELIGHT

INDIAN SUMMER

 

LUCIFER

ROUND MIDNIGHT

PETITE WONDER

LITTLE GOLDSTAR

 

 

RUBY STELLA

PINK LACE

MAXIMA

 

 

SILOAM DBLE CLASSIC

PURPLE ROOSTER

PRAIRIE SUN

 

 

SOUTH SEAS

RASPBERRY WINE

VIETTE'S LITTLE SUZY

 

 

STELLA D'ORO

 

 

 

 

STELLA D'ORO CLUMP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHADE PERENNIALS

FARFUGIUM-LEOPARD PLANT

SPIGELIA – INDIAN PINK

HOSTA CONTINUED

MISC. PLANTS

ACANTHUS - BEARS BREECH

JAPONICA AUREOMACULATA

MARILANDICA

JUNE

ALOCASIA-ELEPHANT EAR

MOLLIS

HAKONECHLOA

STYLOPHORUM - WOOD POPPY

JUNE FEVER

THAILAND GIANT

ANEMONE - WINDFLOWER

JAPANESE FOREST GRASS

DIPHYLLUM

JURASSIC PARK

AMPELOPSIS - PORCELAIN VINE

SEPTEMBER CHARM

ALL GOLD

TIARELLA - FOAM FLOWER

KOMODO DRAGON

BREVIPEDUNCULATA

WHIRLWIND

HELLEBORUS - LENTON ROSE

CANDY STRIPER

LAKESIDE PAISLEY PRINT

ASPARAGUS - CLIMBING

ARUM - WINTER HOSTA

RED

SUGAR AND SPICE

LAKESIDE SHORE MASTER

VERTICILLATUS

ITALICUM QTS

WHITE

 

LIBERTY

CLEMATIS

ASARUM - GINGER

PURPLE 

HOSTA

LITTLE AURORA

ROOGUCHI

CANADENSE

HEUCHERA - CORAL BELLS

ABIQUA DRINKING GOURD

LOVE PAT

CYMBOPOGON-LEMON GRASS

EUROPAEUM

BERRY SMOOTHIE

ALBO MARGINATA

MAUI BUTTERCUPS

CITRATUS

SPLENDENS

CARAMEL

AMERICAN HERO

MIGHTY MOUSE

DATURA - ANGEL TRUMPET

ASTILBE

CITRONELLE

AUTUMN FROST

NIAGARA FALLS

PURPLE PETTICOATS

BURGUNDY RED

CRIMSON CURLS

BLUE ANGEL

OLIVE BAILEY LANGDON

DOUBLE YELLOW

DEUTSCHLAND

HERCULES

BLUE MOUSE EARS

PATRIOT

INOXIA VARIEGATA

PURPLE CANDLES

MARVELOUS MARBLE

BROAD BAND

PAULS GLORY

FRAGARIA - STRAWBERRY

SPRITE

MALACHITE

DANCING QUEEN

PRAYING HANDS

VARIEGATA - ORNAMENTAL

VISIONS IN PINK

MELTING FIRE

DANCING STARS

RAINFOREST SUNRISE

HOUTTUYNIA

VISIONS IN WHITE

OBSIDIAN

DEVIL'S ADVOCATE

RHINO HIDE

CHAMELEON

BEGONIA

PISTACHE

DIAMOND TIARA

SAGAE

LONICERA - HONEYSUCKLE

GRANDIS

HEUCHERELLA - FOAMY BELLS

DREAM QUEEN

SATISFACTION

JOHN CLAYTON

BRUNNERA

GOLDEN ZEBRA

EL NINO

SEDUCER

MAJOR WHEELER

KINGS RANSOM

STOPLIGHT

ELEGANS

SPILT MILK

PACYSANDRA

VARIEGATA

LIGULARIA

EMPRESS WU

STAINED GLASS

GREEN SHEEN QTS

CIMICIFUGA - BUGBANE

BOTTLE ROCKET

FIREWORKS

SUM & SUBSTANCE

ROSE (MINIATURES)

HILLSIDE BLACK BEAUTY

MUKDENIA

FRANCEE

SUM OF ALL

CUPCAKE

DICENTRA - BLEEDING HEART

KARASUBA

FROSTED MOUSE EARS

THUNDERBOLT

DEEP VELVET

BURNING HEARTS

PHLOX DIVARCATA

GINKO CRAIG

TOKUDAMA AUREONEBULOSA

SHOOTING STAR

GOLD HEART

WILD SWEET WILLIAM

GOLDEN TIARA

TOKUDAMA FLAVOCIRCINALIS

STARINA

LUXURIANT

MANITA

GOODNESS GRACIOUS

TOUCH OF CLASS

YELLOW

SPECTABILIS

MARY HELEN

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

TRUE BLUE

ROSMARINUS- ROSEMARY

SPECTABILIS ALBA

PARKSVILLE BEACH

GREEN MOUSE EARS

VULCAN

ARP

EPIMEDIUM - BISHOP'S HAT

POLYGONATUM

GUACOMOLE

WIDE BRIM

STRAWBERRIES

RUBRUM

VAR. SOLOMON'S SEAL

HIGH SOCIETY

MISC. PLANTS

ALLSTAR (JUNE BEARING)

SUPHUREUM

PULMONARIA

HOLY MOUSE EARS

ACORUS - SWEET FLAG

EVERSWEET (EVER BEARING)

 

POLAR SPLASH

 

OGON QTS

OZARK  (EVER BEARING)

You are probably not thinking about garden chores, but there are some that can be done now to prevent problems later…

1.      Spray your broad-leaved evergreens (hollies, azaleas, gardenias, ligustrum, Indian hawthorn, cleyera, etc.) with ferti-lome Horticultural Oil.  It not only kills insects and their eggs, it helps seal the plant against the winter winds.

2.      Apply another application of Hi Yield Weed and Grass Stopper w/ Dimension to your lawn and flower beds to prevent annual bluegrass, chickweed, henbit and other winter weeds.

3.      Apply ferti-lome Tree and Shrub Drench to trees for season-long borer and scale control.

4.      Apply Hi Yield Zinc Sulfate to pecan trees to help prevent “rosette”.

Our December thoughts here at Dan West are about you, our customer.  We really appreciate you choosing us and supporting the local independent business community.  Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to each and every one of you!

Now…the fun stuff!

Here is the picture that won the October contest.  This is a pair of Danaus plexippus caterpillars.  They’ll grow up to be what’s more commonly known as  Monarch butterflies.

 

This was last month’s contest.

 

 

These are two wonderful oaks.  One is a nuttall oak (Quercus nuttallii) and the other is a pin oak (Quercus palustris).  Both have exceptional fall red color.

The contest is…which is which?     Left - Pin oak    Right - Nuttall oak

 

This is the December contest…name the plant below!

 

 

 

 

The contest ends on December 31st.  Email your entry to questions@danwestonline.com.  One winner will be selected from all correct entries to receive a $25 Dan West Gift Certificate.

 

Thanks for shopping with us at Dan West.