An "ANY" season message from David Ruf, Owner, Greenhouse Garden Center........

"I was standing at the cash register at Paul Schatt's Bakery the other morning. One of Greenhouse Garden Center's customers was standing right behind me and bought my breakfast roll for me. He told me how much he enjoyed shopping at the nursery and what a pleasure it was to shop somewhere where everyone was so helpful. He said he wasn't sure what our town would be like without the influence of family run, local businesses and hoped Greenhouse Garden Center was weathering our collective economic downturn and putting up a good fight. I thanked him for his kindness and headed off to work. Within an hour I had helped a couple find a tree and they expressed similar sentiments and added that this town really benefits from having Greenhouse Garden Center to go to for answers and to help them solve landscape and plant problems. Later that day I opened my email and the "Book Of The Month" was Linchpin- Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin. It made me stop and think how strange life can be. In these interesting and challenging times, I am pleased that this business means so much to so many and we will continue to do our very best to meet the needs of our customers and community here in Northern Nevada. Our wishes to you all for a peaceful and blessed holiday season and a great 2012 to come.

Happy Gardening,
David Ruf"

INSTRUCTOR: David Ruf, Owner, Greenhouse Garden Center

DATES: Saturdays, FEB. 4-5 and Session 5 by appointment

TIME: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm (Sessions 1 through 4)

COST: $100.00 - RESERVATIONS REQUIRED (class size limited to 16)

WOW: Any person attending the workshop will receive 20% off any landscape plants purchased during the 2012 season. Lunch will be provided on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5. All classroom materials will be provided.

SESSION 1: February 4 - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
This session will begin with landscape design decisions. The discussion will consider each homeowner's special circumstances and will include new landscape construction as well as renovating existing landscaped areas. Discussion and review of garden styles, home styles and existing landscape considerations specific to the individual homeowner's life style, home style and color and general likes and dislikes will be identified. The homeowner should be prepared with square footage of the area and photographs of the property.

LUNCH BREAK - 12:00 pm to 12:45 pm

SESSION 2: February 4 - 12:45 pm to 3:00 pm
This session will involve helping each homeowner develop a site plan. Topics will include site location, exposure, slopes, grading and drainage issues, irrigation installation and electrical requirements. Each homeowner will receive a Nevada Plant Guide as an aid to making good plant choices. Homework will involve plotting the hardscape on the site plan.

SESSION 3: February 5 - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
During this session drip and sprinkler considerations will be customized to each homeowner's needs. Also, lawn, soil condition and amendments, fertilizers, plant care and watering issues will be addressed. In addition, hardscape landscaping such as pavers, patios, ponds, lighting, statuary, and benches will be discussed. Homework will involve plotting irrigation lines on the site plan.

LUNCH BREAK - 12:00 pm to 12:45 pm

SESSION 4: February 5 - 12:45 pm to 3:00 pm
This session will revolve around tree and plant selection. There will be a tour of the nursery to view various trees and shrubs. In addition there will be pictures of plants in optimal seasonal situations. Decisions on where to place plant species in site plans will be made. Finally a cost analysis will be developed for the homeowner. Homework will involve placement of trees and planting beds on the site plan.

SESSION 5: By Appointment
The final session will be devoted to a review of the homeowner's personal landscape designs. Modifications will be made where necessary. This session will also be used as a catch-up session for those homeowners who need additional help.

While the poinsettia remains the most popular of the holiday plants, a healthy Christmas cactus in full bloom is a great gift idea for that special gardener. It is easy to care for and can be grown indoors throughout the year. The flowers range in color from yellow, orange, red, salmon, pink, fuchsia and white or combinations of those colors. Its pendulous stems make it a great choice for hanging baskets.

The "Christmas cactus" that is grown commercially is actually several closely related species of forest cacti that grow as epiphytes between 3,000 and 5,000 feet above sea level in the Organ Mountains north of Rio de Janeiro in southeast Brazil, South America.

We typically think of cacti as being heat tolerant, but Christmas cactuses will keep their blossoms longer in cooler temperatures. It is important to keep plants in a well-lit location away from drafts of heater vents, fireplaces or other sources of hot air. Drafts and temperature extremes can cause the flower buds to drop from the plant before they have a chance to open.

The Christmas cactus is a tropical type plant, not quite as drought tolerant as its desert relatives and, in fact, may drop flower buds if the soil gets too dry. Water thoroughly when the top inch or so of soil feels dry to the touch. The soil should be kept evenly moist for best growth.

Christmas cactuses will do best in bright indirect light. They don't need to be fertilized while in bloom, but most gardeners enjoy the challenge of keeping the plant after the holidays for re-bloom the following year. While plants are actively growing, use a blooming houseplant-type fertilizer and apply monthly until blooms set the following season. If taken care of properly, a single plant can last for many years, providing many seasons of enjoyment.

Greenhouse Garden Center has a great selection of Christmas cactus.

The Alberta Spruce is the perfect evergreen conifer for small spaces. It will grow to a height of 7-8 and 2-3 feet wide feet tall and retains it perfect Christmas tree shape with very little pruning required. This evergreen likes full sun and benefits from sulfur/iron additions in the spring and fall. It is deer resistant but is prone to spider mite infestations (which can be easily treated) so keep an eye out for that.

This could be a great choice for a living Christmas tree for a small apartment or in a container as a festive welcome on your front porch. Greenhouse Garden Center has a variety of sizes of Alberta Spruce to choose from.

$45.00/per kit
Produces 5 Pounds of Blue
Oyster Hiratake Mushrooms

Makes A Great Gift For The Gardener
Or Cook Who Has Everything!

Plant With Purpose - Environmental Solutions To Humanitarian Problems
David has become acquainted with a humanitarian effort to plant trees in poor villages in poor countries around the world. This organization is called Plant With Purpose. In addition to planting trees, "Plant with Purpose teaches sustainable agricultural development and provides cisterns, wood saving stoves and sanitary latrines to improve the health of the rural communities." If you are interested in learning more about this organization please click on the link or feel free to come in and talk to David.

It's time to get a Christmas tree and for many people that means a trip to Greenhouse Garden Center to select a living Christmas tree. With a few simple tips this can be done very easily. Most importantly, remember, unless you want a festive houseplant for the next several months only plan on have your living Christmas tree indoors for no more then 7 days. Water your tree thoroughly before bringing it into your home. Place a saucer under the tree to protect the floor or table. Decorate the tree carefully and use "Cool or Twinkle" lights. After Christmas put the tree outside and plant it as soon as possible. If the temperature is below 15 degrees put your tree in the garage until it warms up to above 15 degrees. If you cannot plant it, then place the tree on the East or North side of your home until it is planted Water your tree every 2-3 weeks. On a nice, warm day before Christmas dig the hole where the Christmas tree will be planted. Place the soil in the garage so it will be more manageable. Follow the instructions in the Greenhouse Garden Center Planting Guide. Remember, the tree will need water every 2-4 weeks in January and February if the weather is warm and dry.

1. Water outside at least once this month.
2. Christmas poinsettias, cactus and houseplants may have unwelcome insects. Watch your other houseplants for signs of insect infestation. Use Bonide Systemic Insect Houseplant Control once a month to control insects. Fertilize houseplants with Dr. Earth All Purpose Liquid Fertilizer. If you're traveling for the holidays, use a self watering system such as Plant Nanny or Plantastic to hydrate your in-door plants while you are gone.
3. Make your meals gourmet. Hiratake Mushroom Kits are available once again for personal use and make great Christmas gifts. The kit, with proper care, can produce 5 pounds of mushrooms over 8-16 weeks with the first harvest in 14-21 days.
4. Keep your poinsettias out of cold drafts. Don't over-water and give them bright light. Moving your Christmas cactus around may make the buds and blooms fall off.
5. Spray Cloud Cover on all broadleafed evergreens once a month during the winter. Cloud Cover can also be used on fresh wreaths and garland to help retain freshness.
6. Apply Kaput Combo Bait Pellet Packs for vole control and check them daily. Keep replacing the bait before it is empty - the anticoagulant agent is cumulative in the rodent's system and will lose its strength if the application is not repeated. If bait is not taken within two to three days, replace with fresh, or choose a more favorable site to place the bait. Birdseed attracts voles and can even cause voles to migrate into gardens, so restrict habitat around your bird feeder. Voles do not hibernate!
7. For an environmentally safe solution to ice buildup on driveways and sidewalks apply IceClear a few hours prior to a forcasted snow storm. This product prevents ice formation and bonding to driveways and walkways, making snow removal quick and easy. Best of all, IceClear will not damage trees, shrubs, lawns, or ornamentals.
8. Protect your luggage and contents from "unwanted" holiday travelers. Spray the inside and outside of your luggage with Bonide Bedbug Killer, allow it to dry prior to packing, and travel with confidence.
9. You can leave your waterfall running all winter. The running water will keep the pond from freezing over. If you have fish, an opening is necessary to allow toxic gasses to escape. If letting your pump run is not an option, use the energy efficient Pondmaster Floating Winter Pond De-Icer. It will allow an opening to be maintained so toxic gasses can escape with-out harming the fish or pond liner. It is suitable to use with ponds up to 2000 gallons.
10. Don't forget the birds. Fresh, clean water is a must and a birdbath heater will keep the water from freezing. Suet is a high energy food for birds when they are expending a lot of energy just to keep warm. Hang suet in suet feeders. Black Oil Sunflower seeds, peanuts and peanut butter, and Niger seed are all high energy food.