WEEKLY GARDENS PRODUCT UPDATE

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WEEKLY GARDENS PRODUCT UPDATE December 10, 2007 I. GREEN GOODS " Annie 9s Annuals 3 We have received a great shipment of plants from Annie 9s this week, including an outstanding selection of poppies. Here is some information on a number of the plants we have received.

3RY Aquilegia vulgaris 8Magpie 9 - This much in demand yet hard to come by Columbine, is adorned with beautiful bi-colored petals. The upper half is white & the lower half is the darkest purple. 24 inches tall.

Coreopsis tinctoria 8Tiger Stripes 9 - A delightful heirloom variety of cCalliopis d first reported in 1885. The radiating star- like flowers come in shades from orange to mahogany, and are fascinatingly striped & spotted with gold. cCalliopsis d is super EASY to grow.

Just sun, some water, and average garden soil will do it. This one grows to 10 d tall and is very multi- branching. Long bloom season and an exciting cut flower.

Echium hybrid 8Mr. Happy 9 - So EASY & INCREDIBLY long blooming, this incredibly rare hybrid of Echium wildprettii & E. pininana grows into an impressive tower 15 9 tall & 20 d across with a bulbous base easily 3 9 across above ... more. less.

a stunning group of large, velvety looking silver-green rosettes. cMr. Happy d thrilled us with an overall mass of pink bloom & long, sparkling stamens from MAY to SEPTEMBER! WOW! In summer he spawned new & gorgeous rosettes, so we know he 9ll bloom again next year, too 3 unlike Echium wildprettii cTower of Jewels d, which dies after blooming. Just give this fascinating focal point full sun & well drained soil. He 9s drought tolerant, deer proof and snail proof too! Hollyhock (Alcea) 8Chater 9s Moonlight 9 - The newest of the separate colors in the Chater's series. Semi-double or "peony shaped" flowers in pale yellow. Grows to 5 feet. Reseeds! Nigella hispanica 8Curiosity 9 - Is tall (24-30") with large 2 /2" single flowers that open up pale blue with green veins, but soon darken to deep blue-violet. A stand of this flower is breathtaking in all its dark blueness. The seed capsule does not inflate like the usual "Love-in-a-Mist", but becomes a deeply grooved cylinder topped with twelve filaments which grow down & twist, giving the impression of a jester's hat. It's super easy to grow & will self sow in your garden. Papaver 8Danebrog 9 - If you love poppies, this one's a heart-stopper! Bright red, fringed petals with a pure white cross, make a spectacular display. Very Easy! Give rich soil, average water and full sun. Remove spent flowers. 3' tall - 4" blooms. Reseeds! Papaver 8Drama Queen 9 - Luscious & like, beyond stunning, this wonderful single & shaggy-edged poppy bears the usual 4 d to 5 d across, huge flowers. Extra dramatic with its rich ruby-purple-black coloring & showy white stamens. Guaranteed spectacular! Poppies like rich soil, average water & full sun. Reseeds! Papaver 8Lauren 9s Grape 9 - This is a newly available poppy that has been separated out by Lauren Springer author of The Undaunted Garden. Much like cLavender Breadseed Poppy d except that it's more consistently a rich purple (no light lavenders). Grey-blue foliage makes this one different too. Papaver setigerum 8Poppy of Troy 9 - A rarely seen poppy we are most delighted with! Related to the Lavender Breadseed Poppy but SHORTER & NEATER with pretty, deeply lobed, rich green, low foliage. When growing in groups, the plants will be extremely uniform, all growing to exactly 30 d tall with shiny, lavender, single blooms bearing dark purple blotches. The good news is, unlike breadseed poppies, it doesn 9t flop over or need staking when grown in rich soil. Reseeds! Solanum quitoense 8Naranjilla 9 - Exotic fruit fans take note! This rare, perennial tomato relative bears round 2 d to 3 d orange-yellow fruit with green pulp and a unique delicious flavor. In the Andes, where it is the most popular fruit, the juice is called cNectar of the Gods. d This striking, robust perennial grows 3 9 to 5 9 with huge (to 20 d), fuzzy leaves decorated with purple veins, making an excellent foliage plant. Verbascum sp. 8Cotswold King 9 - A phenomenal cmust have d Verbascum! The huge, bright, lemon yellow blooms have beautiful maroon markings that upon inspection form a face. The long stamens below the cface d curve dramatically upwards. The 4 9-5 9 erect spikes appear in late spring & if cut back after bloom is spent, it will send up secondary spikes in Mid-Summer. Soft, rich green foliage forms a basal rosette to 30 d across. Verbascum sp. 8Cotswold King 9 appears biennial, but self sows easily, coming true from seed. " New plants this week 3 Here is a bit of information on some of the new or rarely stocked plant material we have received this week. Alstroemeria 8Inca Classic 9 - A compact semi-dwarf variety with bright scarlet red flowers with clear golden centers. " Camellia 9s 3 Our first large shipment of camellias has arrived. Lots more will arrive over the next couple of months. Special orders are also available. " CAMELLIA 'APPLE BLOSSOM' " CAMELLIA 'APRIL REMEMBERED' " CAMELLIA 'BOB HOPE' " CAMELLIA 'CARTER'S SUNBURST' " CAMELLIA 'CHANDLERI ELEGANS' " CAMELLIA 'CHANSONETTE' " CAMELLIA 'DEBUTANTE' " CAMELLIA 'FAIRY BLUSH' " CAMELLIA 'KANJIRO' " CAMELLIA 'KRAMER'S SUPREME' " CAMELLIA 'MARGE MILLER' " CAMELLIA 'NUCCIO'S GEM' " CAMELLIA 'NUCCIO'S PEARL' " CAMELLIA 'SETSUGEKKA' " CAMELLIA 'SHISHI GASHIRA' " CAMELLIA 'SILVER WAVES' " CAMELLIA 'SPRING'S PROMISE' " CAMELLIA 'WINTER'S SNOWMAN' " CAMELLIA 'YULETIDE' " Amaryllis 3 We have received our main shipment of Amaryllis (Hippeastrum), which has been stocked to the bulb tent. Encourage our guests to shop now while selection is at its peak. All Amaryllis are priced at $12.99.Our selection includes Charisma, Lemon Lime, Picotee, Appleblossom, Benfica, Clown, Minerva, Nagano, Royal Velvet, Vera, White Christmas, Aphrodite, Blossom Peacock, Dancing Queen, Dragon, Elvas, Lady Jane, Pasadena, Red Peacock, Scarlet Baby and Jewel. 3RY II. POTTING SHED " Enki Watering System 3 This chemical free plant enhancer produces more flowers and blooms when used, compared to regular tap water. Indoor plants develop more vivid color in their foliage, fruits yield more harvest, orchids bloom more and plants grow more vigorously. Used as directed, it super-oxygenates water well over 100% dissolved oxygen and results in stronger, healthier plants, compared to oxygen levels in tap water. " cModular d Garden Set 3 Create your own gardenscape with this new modular bench/ planter/ fountain system. These sleek contemporary components can be arranged in a wide variety of configurations to suit your garden space. Each component is ordered individually. Every planter box can be used as a fountain. So don 9t forget to order the fountain assembly unit. The components also work well as single benches, planters or fountains. The Modular system is ONLY available in the VERDE finish. 3 S.C. " Monterey Aliette 3 We are carrying Aliette 2E once again. Aliette is the only fungicide to deliver systemic protection against Phytophthora root rot, downy mildew and a few other diseases. With multiple modes of action, Aliette attacks the fungi at different stages for better overall disease control. Aliette also stimulates the plant's own defense mechanisms. Bottom line: Aliette is the only treatment available to home gardeners to treat root rot.- RV " New Concrete Tables 3 The new, long tables in Central Park, are sold as long tables only. Not by the section. There are support brackets for the 124 d table, and the 84 d table, in the Potting Shed garage. They are intended to keep the table sections from separating. The tables are for sale. And special orders are available. There is back stock on the smaller tables. There is only one each of the long tables. 3 S.C. " Outdoor Chairs 3 The new chairs, that are around the concrete table in Central Park, are for sale. They are all tagged individually. Not sold as sets or fours,&etc. Made of iron and wood. Very rustic looking furniture for the yard. Special orders are also available. 3 S.C. " New Lightweight Fountains 3 The new fountains across from booth 1 and in the cactus area, are made of a glassfibre reinforced cement. It is 75% lighter than concrete, and 2 times the weight of fiberglass. Rust proof, fireproof, free of petrochemicals and environmentally friendly. These five fountains are for sale. There are no special orders, yet. These five are a ctest run d, to see how they do. Then we will make a decision. No catalogs on the sales floor please. The buyers will appreciate any feedback from the staff. 3 S.C. " Gardenstone Pottery 3 The new brown pottery, in Central Park, is hand crafted, stained and polished. The natural process results in minor variations; each piece attains its own unique character. The acid-based stains chemically react with the lime in the concrete to form a permanent bond. This is high quality concrete. Ok in freezes and extreme heat. There is an unconditional guarantee on these concrete products for 5 years, against frost and weather damage. The timeline on orders is 4 weeks. 3 S.C. " Rapid Reel 8Triton 9 3 The new hose reels are rustproof, die-cast aluminum. We have a parallel wall reel, and a perpendicular wall reel available. They mount to masonry or wood. Hardware is included. 150 ft hose capacity with a 5/8 d hose. d hose has a 100 ft capacity. Back stock available in the garage. 3 S.C. III. ACADEMIES, LECTURES, EVENTS 12/19/2007 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Twas the night before Christmas "Twas the night before Christmas and all through Roger's Gardens not a creature or plant were stirring, not even Roger or a mouse..." Bring the family to Roger's Gardens and enjoy an Old Fashion reading of the ageless poem "Twas the Night before Christmas" and take a leisurely stroll through our candlelit gardens while enjoying the quartet of Bell Ringers as the children have time with Santa before he heads back to the North Pole for final check in and loading of gifts on his sleigh. 2 Readings will be offered: 6:00 pm & 7:30 pm as well as light refreshments and cookies. Top Ten Gifts for Gardeners (Currently showing at RogersGardens.com) AeroGarden The AeroGarden is the world's first indoor smart garden - It's so easy to use that anyone, with or without gardening experience can grow lush, beautiful gardens right in your home! The computerized AeroGarden tells you when to add water and nutrients. The built-in micro-processor automatically adjusts nutrient delivery and water flow and turns grow lights on and off to simulate the sun. Perfect for condominiums, townhomes and offices. See our working model at Roger 9s Gardens 3 currently planted with lush tomatoes. Available in Black or white. 249.00 ENKI Water Technology Grow green, bigger and brighter with the Enki Super Water Oxygenating System. This chemical-free plant enhancer produces more flowers and blooms when used compared to regular tap water. Indoor plants develop more vivid color in their foliage, fruits yield more harvest, orchids bloom more and plants grow more vigorously. Used as directed, it super-oxygenates water well over 100% dissolved oxygen and results in stronger, healthier plants compared to oxygen levels of tap water. 99.99 Collector 9s Edition Felco Pruners In celebration of Felco Switzerland's 60th anniversary in 2005. Felco is the maker of the finest pruning tools in the world. This was a once only offering 3 never to be repeated. 80 pairs of these shears were produced for North America, and Roger's Gardens has secured the last 20. *Each shear is a strictly limited production. *Each shear comes with hand stitched gold leather handles. *Each shear is individually numbered on the blade. *Each shear comes with a signed individually numbered Felco Certificate of Authenticity. *Each shear comes with a unique hand sewn roll case included. Two models are available: #6 is for slightly smaller hands, with a cloth and leather case. #8 is the standard model with an all leather case. 169.00 Garden Stations This is one of the highest quality potting stations made. Solid, craftsmen quality. The conventional design of a potting bench for serious gardeners to operate on. The main body is made of teak. A zinc top, two big spaces underneath and three hooks for hanging tools. Specifically designed for gardening's needs. Available with a single drawer: 24" deep x 30" wide Or a double drawer: 24" deep x 47" wide. Assembled. $1199.00 Crabtree and Evelyn Gardener 9s Caddy Set The Gardeners Hand Therapy Caddy is a handy gift! Attractive coated-wire sink-side caddy holds Gardeners Liquid Hand Wash and Gardeners Hand Therapy hand cream - both in generous 8.5 oz sizes, with convenient pump dispensers. The refreshing scent is of fresh green clover, lavender, sage rosemary and thyme. Many other Crabtree and Evelyn gardeners 9 lotions soaps and creams are also available. 39.99 Garden Tools Sets This Garden Angels garden tool set is one of our most popular gardener 9s gifts. Attractively packaged, the heavy duty tool bag comes complete with: An aluminum transplanter Branch & thicker stem secateurs An aluminum fork Flower & stem secateurs An aluminum trowel. Green bag (shown) or red bag available. Several other Garden Angel Sets are also available. 79.99 Organic Rice Hull Gardens Our organic lemon basil or garlic chive gardens reside in classic nurseryman pots with matching saucers. These utilitarian pots and plants are united with an elegantly simple design to invoke an old-world aesthetic that is distinctly modern in expression. USDA Organic Certified. These are USDA Certified Organic seeds and the pots are eco-friendly biodegradable, made of rice hulls. 19.99 Wind Bells A hanging musical sculpture as delightful to the eyes as it is to the ears. Unlike traditional wind chimes (we have lots of those as well) no striker is necessary with this design. The bells ring when the wind pushes them against each other. The triple arch design adds a lovely accent to any garden or home. Nicely boxed. 49.99 Dancing Water Bowl Discover the secret of the Dancing Water Bowl! Bronze bowls like this one have been found in China that date back to the 5th century B.C. When filled with water and when the handles are rubbed in just the right way, the bowl will sing in a low-pitched tone. The sound vibrations, in turn, disturb the surface of the water so it shoots up in spouts 3 really! Stop in and we will demonstrate it for you. In just a short amount of time, you can learn to make the water dance! Makes a wonderful aid in meditation or just a great conversation piece. Muck Boots The Muck Boot brand defines a standard of comfort and quality that goes beyond the expectations of customers around the country. Every shoe in the line delivers 100% waterproof quality and comfort. Rogers Gardens features the Edgewater Camp Shoe line and several of our gardening staff wear them in their own gardens. We love them. Breathable airmesh lining and natural rubber upper reinforcement for added durability. Stretch-fit topline binding snugs ankles to keep out unwanted dirt and pebbles out. These lightweight shoes are very comfortable to wear in the garden, or just around town. Men 9s or Women 9s sizes. Moss or Navy. Nicely boxed. 79.99 THE COASTAL GARDENER: Chilly Nights Mean Different Things to Different Plants Three weeks ago nighttime low temperatures fluctuated between 50 and 56 degrees. Two weeks ago night temperatures were 43 to 46 degrees. A little chilly. Last week, the mercury dropped further and hit a low of 37 degrees. Downright cold. That 9s almost a twenty degree change in nighttime temperature in only three weeks. For the plants in your garden, that 9s a bit like taking a drive from Palm Springs to Idyllwild. In my own potted plant collection I have divided each plant as either a cool-season grower or warm-season grower. Cool-season plants are happy from fall through spring, while warm- season plants prefer spring to fall. I even insert a blue plastic plant tag into the pots of my cool-season plants and a red tag into the edge of the warm-season pots. This helps remind me when to water, when to fertilize, when to expect growth and flowers and when not to. Just a couple of weeks ago I was noticing how most of my warm-season plants were still looking quite happy. The leaves were even then green, strong and sturdy. My summer flowers, bulbs, perennials and shrubs we still quite happy. This is the illusion that Orange County non-gardeners fall victim to, believing that all their plants should be glorious, vibrant and blooming, every day of the year; watering and fertilizing, regardless of season, in an errant attempt to trick nature and the plants themselves. Yes, we are blessed with fabulous gardens that could very easily be in flower all year. However, on closer inspection we find that it is not the same plants that are forever the stars of the show. A well crafted garden, like a well crafted stage production, features different performers at different moments throughout its performance. Now, back in my garden, just a few weeks after marveling at my warm-season plants, these same performers have developed yellow leaves and limp foliage. New growth has stopped and flower buds, if there were any, have fallen. Night temperatures, having dropped from the fifties into the thirties, are the culprit. The curtain has closed on the warm-season act. Saturda y, December 8 , 2007 Obviously, temperature affects the productivity and growth of plants, but this varies depending upon whether the plant is a warm-season or cool-season variety. For instance, if temperatures are high and day length is long, cool-season plants like cabbage, lettuce and spinach will go to flower, rather than produce leaves. If temperatures are too low, warm- season crops like tomatoes and peppers will not set fruit. During mid summer, temperatures could actually be too high for warm-season plants like tomatoes or peppers, causing pollen to become sterile and stopping flower pollination. By mid December our dilemma is low temperatures, which results in poor growth of warm- season plants. Photosynthesis slows at these lower temperatures. When photosynthesis is slowed, growth is slowed. With no new growth there are no flowers and leaves yellow. But in some cases, even warm-season plants need a cool period to grow properly. This is true of crops growing in cold regions of the world and explains why we cannot grow a decent peony, lilac or pear tree in Newport Beach or Costa Mesa. Consider popular market fruits like Elberta Peach, Red Delicious Apple and Bartlett Pear. All of these require about 800 or 900 hours of temperatures below 45°F and above 32°F before they break their rest period and begin flowering. If this cold requirement is not met then sparse, small and misshapen leaves will result and the trees will not set fruit. Other warm- season plants that need a long winter chill are peonies, lilacs, forsythia, crabapples, flowering cherries, rhubarb and most tulips. As curious coastal gardeners, when we understand the unbendable rhythms and cycles of the plants in our gardens we also find increased satisfaction in our efforts. Our nights have quickly turned cool, there a now yellow leaves on some plants and some others have ceased flowering. But others have awoken, are growing quickly and are in glorious bloom. Coastal gardeners are fortunate. Yes, our gardens are beautiful all year. We just need to understand them a little better. Ron Vanderhoff is the Nursery Manager at Roger 9s Gardens, Corona del Mar Questions from Readers December 8, 2007 What is the best time to broadcast seeds of California Poppies in my garden? Vicky Newport Beach Answer: The months of November or December are perfect. I suggest mixing the seed with a cup or so of sharp sand, like silica. Shake the mixture for a minute or two and then broadcast evenly. The sand will scratch the seed a bit, improving germination and will make it easier to distribute the small seeds. I also suggest sowing the poppies just before a slow moving storm that will offer several days of moisture and clouds. Nature will germinate most of the seeds for you and reduce your need to water as much.

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