Category Archives: Newsletter Articles

Written by Richard Flowers, ACCNP-Green Thumb Nursery-Ventura For several years I had tall growing Gladiolas planted along the unsightly 6 foot tall chain link fence. The summer blooms were spectacular as the flowers and foliage disguised the bare fence for a few weeks during the summer. Amongst the “Glads” were other lovely perennials. Combining bulbs with perennials […]

Written by Alicia R. Gardens are romantic, which is why so many people choose to celebrate weddings amid places like backyards, botanic gardens, and the flowerbeds of public parks. Similarly, plant nurseries are romantic. They’re colorful, fragrant, and filled with opportunities to create beauty outside and indoors. So, as Valentine’s Day approaches, consider giving your […]

Written by Alicia R. Water conservation is a way of life in California especially since May when Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation requiring water districts statewide to set permanent usage rules applying even in years without drought. Creating a water-wise landscape involves practices such as: Planning a combination of hardscape and planted areas Installing drip-watering systems Mulching […]

Written by Kathy Moine Now that 2018 and the holiday season is but a fond memory, we now have time to look at doing some things in the yard. Besides the usual winter maintenance, January just happens to be a great time to plant bare root fruit trees. For those of you who are unfamiliar […]

By Richard Flowers, ACCNP-Green Thumb Nursery-Ventura Looking up through the canopy I see the helical distribution of branches. Between the thick foliated stems I observe patches of blue sky. Attached to these branches and stems are what appears to be almost like thick plastic; russeted underneath with a “felty” feeling, dark green above giving them […]

Written by Sarah R. When you bring gardening indoors you can enjoy all of the beautiful benefits your plants have to offer year-round. Although houseplants can be a wonderful addition to your home décor, and in some cases can even improve the health of your home, most of us are limited in the amount of sunlight […]

Written by Alicia R. You don’t have to be a devotee of Zen Buddhism to appreciate the calming environment of a Zen garden based on simple yet artful arrangement of gravel, rocks, and plants.  It is a place to rest your mind and quietly release stress. Learning a little bit about Buddhist history helps in […]

Written by Alicia R. Winter rain and cooler soil temperatures make January a top month for planting dormant roses in Southern California. If you’ve never grown dormant stock, it comes planted in small paper pots filled with potting mix that are place in plastic sleeves. So Cal’s winter conditions encourage root growth so newly planted […]

Written by Alicia R. Decorating for the holidays brightens late autumn and early winter’s short hours of daylight. It’s a rare person who doesn’t welcome twinkling strands of lights that scallop rooflines and bejewel shrubbery and the bare branches of trees. Indoors, lights twine around Christmas trees, railings, windows, and wreaths. The heady fragrance of fresh evergreen branches […]