April 2011 Newsletter
Viola’s News
We are back for another season. I know that we say it every year but this year is truly going to be a fantastic year. We have changed some things in the store and we have great events planned this year. One of these events you will read more about later on in this newsletter. A truly exciting year for Viola’s. We have been getting shipments in since March so we have lots for you to choose from. All of your cold hardy annuals are in, pansies, violas, stock and Iceland poppies. We also have organic potatoes, organic garlic, organic onion sets, rhubarb and asparagus, not to mention a new line of organic seeds from an Arizona Company. They carry a ton of cool vegetables that we haven’t carried before, many are heirloom varieties that produce quicker for our short season.. We have had two perennial deliveries already and another on the way. Wake up from your winter slumber SPRING IS HERE!
We have changed our website service so we will be able to do more things our old system wouldn’t let us. I was busy transferring the old website all winter. I think that you will really like it. I still have a lot of work to do to it but it’s coming along. Please forgive the little hiccups.
Shaniqua is back for another season. For being eleven years old she is doing great. She can’t wait to greet everyone back. She gets a little sad during the winter not getting the attention that she gets during the season.
Those of you that follow my “Life Is Better” Blog it’s coming back next week! I’m a little afraid to get started in the yard it’s a mess. The hardest part is starting. We can’t wait to see you at The Garden.
Tomato Fest
Tomato Fest is the celebration of everything that is great about the all mighty tomato. We will have free speakers all weekend long. We ask that you sign up for the talks because space is limited. More info will be on our website and Facebook page later this week. You can of course come into the store. We will have close to if not more than one hundred varieties of tomato plants which with Wall-O-Waters will be safe to plant by the 1st of May. We will have live demonstrations of Wall- O -Waters during the weekend. A must for the cold climate that we live in.
John Conley from Salsa Brava will be doing a talk about Salsa. He will also be unveiling his new Wood Fired Artisan And Neapolitan Pizza. They are awesome and very affordable. He will be baking them fresh at Viola’s.
Tomato Fest Schedule
Retro What's Buggin? 2010
We ARE coming to thrips time of year if you are interested in reading more about them checkout our April 2009 Newsletter. Walking through the neighborhood I've noticed a lot of the tips on the spruces were brown and limp like. The cause is a gall that is produced by insects called Cooley spruce gall adelgids (woolly aphids). The galls are light green during late spring and early summer then dry out turning brown in mid summer. The galls are filled with eggs from the adelgids. People often confuse the galls for seed cones.
The adelgids usually don't cause the tree much harm, but it can cause the tree to grow abnormally in the case of heavy infestations.
What to do? In minor cases on smaller trees you can just cut off the infected part of the branch and then dispose of it.In heavier cases or on taller trees you can spray with insecticidal soap or dormant oil.
Back To Basics
It is time to fertilize the lawn, we have a pure corn gluten fertilizer. Corn gluten is an organic source of nitrogen that is also a pre-emergent. It will last from 4 to 6 weeks. Corn gluten can be used on your lawn and in your garden.It is important not to put in areas where you want seed to germinate.It will not kill weeds, it just prevents them from coming up.
Don't forget it is time to fertilize trees, shrubs and perennials with Yum Yum.Yum Yum has been getting good reviews from customers not to mention Dr. Dirt. If you have any questions we will be happy to help you. We are happy to announce that we are now carrying Michael Melendrez Soil Secrets. I haven’t used it yet but I have heard great things about it. For those of you that have taken Kim Costion soil classes you know what this product is all about. We will talk more about it in future newsletters.
Water Wise
Winter was good to us water wise. Depending on how long it has been since you have had snow pack you will have to start watering soon, especially if it warms up. Make sure that you have your sprinkler systems checked, to make sure that they are watering correctly.
You should also get out there and freshen up your mulch to help retain moisture. Just remember keep it off the trunks of your trees and shrubs.
What to do?
This is the time of year that you should be fertilizing your shrubs, trees, and grass. You should also be pruning your winter damage, and anything else that needs pruning.
It is time to mulch your trees, shrubs, and perennials for the hot season that will be here anytime now.
If you have not done it yet is is time to put down corn gluten an organic way to prevent weeds in the flower bed. You should also cut back your perennials if you have not done that yet.
Now is one of the best times to plant.Plants transplant a lot easier when the temperatures are cool. So get out there and plant.
Get some spring color.Nothing will get you out of that winter funk like the color of our spring annuals and pots.
