City of Ashland, Oregon Firewise class. It’s free.
Monday, February 12th at the Ashland Hills Hotel.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-firewise-class-tickets-42104678226
Dreaming of Spring
New Annuals for 2018
from Proven Winner
Golden Butterfly™ Marguerite Daisy Argyranthemum – https://goo.gl/wQpsCM
Plant Type: Annual
Flowers: Golden yellow
Exposure: Sun to Part sun.
Height: 18-36 “
Attributes: Blooms continuously into late fall, Self-cleaning, Heat tolerant.
Uses: landscape, Containers, Mass plantings.
USDA Zones: 10a-11b
Lady Godiva™ Orange Calendula – https://goo.gl/4koUjU
Plant Type: Annual
Flowers: Orange with darker centers
Exposure: Sun to Part sun.
Height: 10-16 “
Attributes: Large cut flowers, Blooms until a hard frost, No deadheading, Heat tolerant.
Uses: Containers, flower gardens, Cut flower garden.
USDA Zones: 7a-11b
Hippo™ Red Polka Dot Plant – https://goo.gl/h1JqLi
Plant Type: Annual
Flowers: none- grown for foliage
Exposure: Morning Sun, Afternoon shade.
Height: 16-22 “
Attributes: Interesting foliage.
Uses: Landscape, Containers, Mass plantings, Filler plant.
USDA Zones: 10a-11b
Dahlightful® Tupelo Honey Dahlia – https://goo.gl/UmCqey
Plant Type: Annual
Flowers: Yellow flowers with amber tones. Semi-double.
Exposure: Morning sun, afternoon shade. Heat tolerate but does not like hot afternoon sun.
Height: 24 – 30” tall,
Attributes: Does not form tubers (*see note) . Blooms early & continuously into late fall. Chocolate foliage. Resistant to powdery mildew.
Notes: *Breed to not form tubers, but it can form tubers. Dig tubers and store in the fall like other Dahlias.
Uses: Attracts Butterflies , Containers, Flower garden, Specimen plant.
USDA Zones: 8a-11b
Rockin’™ Deep Purple Salvia – https://goo.gl/7cpchr
Plant Type: Annual
Flowers: Purple & Black
Exposure: Sun to Partial Sun
Height: 30 – 40”
Attributes: Excellent plant for pollinators. Deer Resistant. Heat tolerant.
Uses: Containers, Flower garden, Border plant, Mass Plantings.
USDA Zones: 10a-11b
Watch a Proven Winner new 2018 annuals introduction video at Garden Answers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2oRyDfTqkw
Photos by: Proven Winner
Winterberry Holly
Plant Name: Ilex verticillata
Common Name: Winterberry Holly
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Height: 3-12 ft – depending on varieties
Spread: Same information as height
Bloom Time: Early summer
Flower Color: White, or cream – small
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Soil Requirements: Rich organic acidic soil, but grows in average garden soil.
Water Needs: Moist boggy areas
Native to: Eastern North America
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Attributes: Vibrant Red Winter Berries, Important food source for American Robins, Winter Interest.
Uses: Wetland habitats, Native gardens, Bird habitat, Rain garden, Firewise garden, Wildlife gardens, Cutting garden, Containers dwarf varieties, Floral arrangements.
Note: Plants are dioecious meaning male or female. A male plant is needed for female plants to produce berries. Plant a male shrub within 50 feet of female plants. One male plant can pollinate 6-10 female plants, but note blooming time must match when female’s bloom. Slow growers. Shrubs can sucker out into a dense thicket when planted in wet boggy areas.
A few varieties are listed below:
Berry Heavy: 6-8 ft (female)
Berry Nice: 6-8 ft (female)
Sparkleberry: 5-8 ft (female)
Southern Gentleman: 12 ft (male)
Apollo: 6-10 ft (male)
Raritan Chief: 7 ft T X 12 ft W (male)
Jim Dandy: 6-10 ft (male)
Dwarf varieties:
Afterglow: 3-6 ft (female)
Little Goblin: 3-5 ft (female)
Little Goblin Guy: 3-5 ft (male)
Red Sprite: 3-5 ft (female)
Berry Poppins: 3-4 ft (female)
Mr. Poppins: 3-4 ft (male)
by: Carlotta Lucas
Growing Holiday Greenery
photo by DoreenWynja.com for Monrovia
Article by Kate Karam | December 3, 2017 Monrovia website: http://growing-greenery-for-holiday-decorating
“Golden Mop Threadleaf False Cypress: Ground hugging little conifer that loves full sun. The golden color adds a midas touch to wreaths and garlands. Zone: 4 – 8
Majestic Beauty® Japanese Black Pine: Fast growing conifer with super dark green foliage. Bunches of needles look amazing in an evergreen runner. Zone: 5 – 9
Colorado Blue Spruce: Rigid tiered branches densely covered with stiff gray-blue needles. Good for wreaths, really good just in a vase. Zone: 2 – 8
Little Gem Dwarf Southern Magnolia: Smaller in scale than other Southern magnolias but with same fragrant blooms. Makes a seriously elegant garland. Zone: 7 – 9
Emerald Isle® Leyland Cypress: Tall and narrow, perfect tall screen. Soft texture makes for one of the best conifers for a mixed evergreen wreath. Zone: 5 – 9
Whipcord Western Red Cedar: Whimsical-yet-stately to plant in mass. Let branches spill over the sides of a vase of red roses for an unforgettable show. Zone: 5 – 7
Castle Spire® Blue Holly: Every garden needs a holly for its year-round good looks. Wreaths, trimming packages, napkin rings. You get the idea! Zone: 5 – 7
Quick Cinnamon Bread (egg-free)
Makes: 1 loaf
Preheat oven 3500 F
Ingredients:
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 Flax Egg = 1 Tablespoon ground flax seed soaked in 2 Tbl water
1 cup buttermilk,
[if needed make homemade buttermilk: 1 cup milk plus 1 Tbl vinegar]
2 cups flour [ white or fine whole wheat]
1 teaspoon baking soda
Cinnamon mixture:
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions:
Make flax egg: add 1 T ground flax in 2 T water, let it sit for 5 minutes.
Make Cinnamon Mixture: In a small dish combine 2 t cinnamon with 1/3 cup sugar.
In a mixing bowl: Combine 2 cups flour with 1 teaspoon baking soda.
In a separate bowl, cream together ½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar, and flax egg mixture.
Once this is creamed slowly add in flour mixture alternating with 1 cup buttermilk. Stir only until blended, do not over mix.
Place half the batter into an oiled loaf pan.
Sprinkle 3/4 of the cinnamon sugar mixture on this first layer of batter.
Add the remaining batter to the loaf pan, top with remaining cinnamon sugar.
Create swirls of cinnamon throughout the dough by using a knife inserted into the batter, then twisting and turning it throughout the batter.
Bake 45-50 min, [test with toothpick]
Cool before removing from pan.
Enjoy!
Holiday Poinsettia Plant Care
To keep you poinsettias looking good during the holidays, it’s a combination of light, moisture and location. Poinsettias need lots of light, so give them as much bright in-direct sunlight as possible inside your home. Proper watering is key to keeping poinsettias healthy. Water them thoroughly only when the pot feels light weight and dry on the top. Do not leave plants setting in a saucer of water, they do not like wet “feet”. Place your poinsettias in a semi-cool humid location away from a heating vent. For added humidity set a bowl or saucer of water in close proximity to the plant.
