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| Blog weB LOG (for the curious) |
| Jan 02 2007 --Note from the Webmaster (hybrid sport of Allan Koch and Shirley Koch) It's a brand new year, and this is a brand new website. Have patience with us as we work the "bugs" out. Aphids, slugs, and earwigs can be easy to deal with in comparison to some of the digital pests we might need to eradicate Send us a quick note with suggestions or comments. What's happening at Riverbend Gardens right now? Mom and Dad are getting ready for the Stratford show in early March. Check it out at the Stratford Garden Festival website. The show is March 01 through March 04 at the Stratford Coliseum (driving directions available on their website). The folks have been at the show for three years now, and it's one of the very first gardening shows of the year -- a welcome splash of colour and warmth to help push winter out the door. Mom and Dad will be offering hostas and lilium at the show, and are working hard to secure their favorite varieties for you from their summer of 2006. It's been a very strange winter -- it's early January, the temperature climbed to seven degrees Celsius, and the primulas are in bloom. Mom has heard reports that some magnolias are beginning to bloom, although the beautiful Star magnolia in front of their house has been smart enough to hold off. The picture on the top of this page is what Riverbend looked like last year in early January. What should be happening in your garden right now? It's a good time to prune most orchards and vines, and a great time to remove detritus from the garden. Cut back and remove dried stalks and stems to prevent pests that may be hibernating in the dead material from reinfecting new shoots in the spring. You still have time to mulch the sensitive plants that you might not have had time for in November. And, of course, the seed catalogues have started to arrive. Spend some quality time at the kitchen table dreaming and making plans with a loved one. Mom will update this blog at least once a month with advice on seasonal gardening, or to share her latest discovery at Riverbend Gardens. Check back now and again if you're interested in keeping in touch. Regards to all, and best wishes for 2007. RBG |
| Jan 26 2007 --Note from the Webmaster Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!! Although many would prefer a green Christmas (and a green New Years Eve, and a green Groundhog Day, etc), the foot of snow that has accumulated in the last week in this area is doing a wonderful job of insulating and protecting the "not-so-hardy" perennials that we all know and love, but that badly need a warm winter coat to survive the minus 20 Celsius temperatures and the vicious winds that can sweep through Huron County this time of year. Many plants that are shrubs and bushes in more temperate zones (eg Butterfly Bushes) die back to the root every year in our area and start fresh in the spring. Exposure to intense cold and wind can be harmful, or even fatal, to sensitive plants. Other plants can use a foot or two of snow to prevent predation from the hundreds of rabbits and dozens of deer that pass through rural gardens. One deer can strip a rhododendron of buds in minutes, and rabbits can quickly girdle young fruit trees or shrubs like Purple-Leaf Sandcherry or Blueberry (from repetitive and frustrating personal experience). Protect them now if you haven't already. From a horticultural perspective, it ain't all bad. Not only does the snow give us a chance to truly anticipate and appreciate the first crocus and magnolia blossoms, but it also slows us down and gives us a chance to dream. Doctors say Vitamin D and fluorescent light can treat Seasonal Affective Disorder. Personally, I think a great picture of a James Marsh daylily or a June hosta is an excellent supplement to more traditional therapy ;-) . What can be done, horticulturally speaking, this time of year? It's a good time for urban gardeners to take a look at salt distribution on streets and sidewalks, and measure how far urban snowplows are throwing salt-laden slush into flowerbeds. Most plants won't do well in high-salt settings, but there are a number of plants that shrug it off well -- including some daylilies and hostas. Google "zone 5 salt tolerant plants" or give us a call in the spring for solutions to salt problems. It's also a good time to start planning major early-spring work in the gardens. A number of shrubs and perennials, including some garden perennials, can be moved in early spring without disrupting their annual growth cycles. In addition, springtime often offers some of the best deals on potted trees, shrubs, and perennials as independent nurseries (including Riverbend) bring in large quantities of wholesale material and want to turn some inventory into cash-flow. Planting hardy perennials, shrubs, and trees in early spring also (typically) promotes better growth and bloom than buying pot-bound plants in the middle of their growth cycle over the summer. If none of that helps, look for an old "ditch-apple" tree or an overgrown forsythia, cut some long, thin year old branches and bring them inside to force them into bloom As advertised and promised, Riverbend will be doing a major "run" early this spring for shrubs, trees, and perennials. If you know what you're looking for and want a great deal, call us or email us with a list of what you're looking for. We'll get back to you with a detailed quote. Regards to all -- and enjoy the snow! RBG |
| April 19 2007 -- Note from the Webmaster Spring has Sprung!!! What's up at RBG? The Stratford Show was a success for us, and we would like to thank everyone who came and either purchased product or gave us a wink and a nod for moral support. It's not surprising how people who share a passion for gardening become friends as the years go by. We've already received a number of our wholesale orders, and we've potted up hundreds and hundreds of lilies, astilbes, and hostas. Last year's astilbe sales were excellent, and we've expanded our selection. Our main sales area is still heavily mulched to protect our second year plants, but when the mulch comes off the pots will be full of crowns, fans, and shoots. If you're looking for a great deal on hostas, try and get a crack at our second (or third) year plants before we realize the pots are twice as full as they should be for the price and we split them. If you get to them before we do, you get an amazing deal (instead of a great deal during the rest of the season). We should have the mulch off by the end of April or very early May, weather permitting. We've updated our product lists, which you can find on our Product Lists page. Upcoming shows include the small but excellent show in Harriston on Saturday, June 02, 2007. Link to our Promotions page for details. We'll be making our annual run to Connon Nurseries very shortly, before the end of April. If you want simply outstanding deals on perennials, shrubs, and small trees, NOW is the time to call us and let us know what you need. Link to our Contact Us page for an email address or phone number. All work aside, we're simply enjoying the longer days and the swelling buds on the magnolias, and the promise of spring. If you get a chance, come out and enjoy it with us!. Regards to all, RBG |
| July 12 2007 -- Note from the Webmaster We can write, or we can weed... Bear with us. When we have a moment to spare from stalking sowthistles, destroying dandelions, and plucking pigweed, we'll get back to blogging. In the interim, visit our "Bloom Alert" on the main page. We put updates there at least once every week. Regards to all, RGB |