picket fences A garden | lifestyle | environment magazine
spring 2015
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Living Off the Land
doylestown food co-op talks ‘farm to table’ planting cole crops you asked, we answered composting 101 organic garden pharmacy
Welcome Back Spring!
tried & true in outdoor furniture garden inspiration: photography
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plus living large in small spaces watering...is it an art or a science? kids in the garden
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Welcoming travelers looking for a night out on the town, a quiet romantic evening or a family dinner with the kids.
Inside the Doylestown Inn
Located in the Heart of Doylestown Boro Two-story Restaurant & Bar with edgy design & elegant ambiance Breakfast & Brunch Served Daily Open 7 Days a Week
18 West State Street, Doylestown, PA | 215.345.6610
Boutique Hotel established in1902 11 Quaint and Inviting Guest Rooms, where we welcome you like family
Meeting Room for Corporate Clientele Perfect for Family Gatherings & Celebrations, Rehearsal Dinners & Wedding Receptions
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Visit www.HatteryDoylestown.com today & make your reservations for Mother’s Day!
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A Full Service Private Banquet Room
Welcome... For the last six years, we’ve put a ton of projects on hold as we weathered the storm of economic uncertainty, the absence of a new housing market and the evolving retail landscape dominated by discounting big box stores and e-commerce. Thanks to all of our loyal customers who have been with us all along. We appreciate your support and we will work hard every day to continue to earn your business. You’ve always told us you appreciate our comfortable environment and the Bucks Country Gardens experience and we’ve been working over the last few months to make that even better. Here’s what we’ve been up to: New Boulder Retaining Walls… Perfect complement to our Barn Gardens New Greenhouse Roof… Better light and no more leaks Renovated Reception Area… Just enough room for Mary Relocated Lifestyle and Hardgoods Work Stations…Donna & Nancy are happy New Landscape Presentation Studio… A little privacy in the Greenhouse New Covered Cart Return… Conveniently located by the front door New Shopping Carts… Please pick one up on your way in New Paint on all Garden Center Buildings… Fresh and clean at last New Concrete and Asphalt Walkways in the Nursery…Smooth and solid New Display Benching throughout the Nursery…Filled with your favorite flowers
You’ve been asking about some new product lines and we’ve been listening. Meadowcraft Wrought Iron Furniture is back and so are lightweight Fiber Clay Containers. New in the Boutique are Chavez for Charity Bracelets, Jacqueline Kent Angels, Samoe Handbags, there’s a new Men’s Section and yes, Baby too! Who would have thought I’d be shopping the January Atlanta Market for handbags, jewelry and baby clothes? My, how things have changed! There are some new faces at Bucks Country Gardens as well. Ed Briel, Lifestyle Assistant and creative Christmas merchandizer, isn’t exactly new, but he’s new to spring. You’ll notice his creative touch throughout the garden center. Amy Sanchez-Hamilton, Landscape Design/ Sales professional, has joined our award winning team, bringing a blend of experience, creativity and a passion for customer service. Dustin Kratochwill, Webmaster/Hardgoods Assistant and Jessie Tanski, Marketing Assistant both bring a youthful energy, enthusiasm, creativity and fresh perspective to our team. The youngest and most important addition, however, is Lucas Edwin Hebel, son of Gregory & Lindsay, born October 4, about eight weeks ahead of schedule. I think he looks a lot like me. What do you think?
New Shade House covering the Annual Yard…What a difference a roof makes New Lifestyle Graphics…Inspiration to us all
Tom Hebel, President
picket fences spring 2015 • Issue 16
Thomas L. Hebel
publisher
Adriene Vesci Rice
graphic designer dalissa reeder
production assistant Ryan hebel Adriene Vesci Rice jennifer robinson
advertising sales alfresco home bucks county designer house patti carr donna dentner doylestown food co-op Espoma Company marilyn fanning becky jones david jones ryan hebel Tom Hebel jeanne mantell nancy mcilvaine michener art museum gregory orme tiffany rausch dalissa reeder safe paws amy sanchez–hamilton lisa valetta
contributing writers
advertising To request a media kit, call 215.766.7800 or email info@buckscountrygardens.com.
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1057 N. Easton Road | Doylestown, PA 18902
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buckscountrygardens.com
215.766.7800 | #PA020339
COntents spring 2015
Features
10 New Product Alerts 10 Boutique & Baby 20 Garden Plants 30 Garden-taining 14 In Your Own Backyard Living Large in Small Spaces 24 Tried & True with a Touch of New 2015 Outdoor Furniture Collection 34 Living Off the Land 35 Farm to Table 39 Cole Crops 43 You Asked...We Answered! 47 Composting 101 49 Garden Pharmacy 53 Best Watering Practices Is it an Art or a Science? 55 Pond & Water Garden Care 6 Essential Products for Water Features 61 What’s All the Buzz About? Hot Topic Bees in the Garden
Departments
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6 Spring at Bucks Country Gardens Save These Dates! 9 Keeping It Contained Now Trending Succulent Container Gardens 17 Garden Inspiration 17 The Artist in the Garden Exhibit 23 Take Better Garden Photos 49 Did You Know? Bucks Country Gardens’ Extra Services 29 Employee Achievements Fun Employee Trivia Game 59 Kids in the Garden The Beauty of Beans
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g n i r p S s i at Bucks Country Gardens Th april
Spring Store Hours: Thru April 12
9–6 Daily • 10–5 Sunday
April 13–June 14
8:30–6 Daily • 8:30–8 Friday
Earn Bonus Bucks ongoing thru june 24 Earn $1 for every $10 spent!
Girls’ Thyme april 2 • 4–7pm
may
May Store Hours:
8:30–6 Daily • 8:30–8 Friday • memorial day 9–3
Earn Bonus Bucks ongoing thru june 24
Mother’s Day may 10 • Open 8:30–6
Earn $1 for every $10 spent!
Official “Frost-Free” Date may 15
Girls’ Thyme may 7 • 4–7pm
Please Come to Boston may 21–27
Ladies, grab your girlfriends and join us on the first Thursday of month for specials, sweet treats & more.
It’s all about Ferns & Tropical Plants! Specials, Featured Products & More.
Ladies, grab your girlfriends and join us on the first Thursday of every month for specials, sweet treats & more.
Edible Extravaganza may 14–20
Specials, Featured Products & More!
Memorial Day may 25 • Open 9–3
Easter Sunday april 5 • Open 10am–3pm
Just Hangin’ Around may 7–13
Perennial Festival may 28–june 10
Outdoor Furniture Preseason Sale ends april 15
It’s all about Mom & Hanging Baskets! Specials, Featured Products & More.
$ave on a fantastic selection of Perennials– Fresh plants arriving daily!
Take an EXTRA 10% off everyday savings of 15%–40% List Price. Final Days!
Festival of Flower Flats april 16–29
Specials, Featured Products & More!
june
Earth Day • april 22 Safe Paws Expo Event april 25 • 11am–2pm
Bring your dog and learn more about pet-safe lawn care products from The Espoma Company. More info on page 65. Local businesses participating.
Impatient for Impatiens Fest april 30–MAY 6
Specials, Featured Products & More!
Stay Informed!
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Sign up for our weekly eNewsletter, follow us on social media and visit buckscountrygardens.com to stay update on upcoming events all year long!
Store Hours:
july
thru june 14 8:30–6 Daily • 8:30–8 Friday june 15–nov 1 9–6 Daily • 10–5 Sunday
Girls’ Thyme June 4 • 4–7pm
Ladies, grab your girlfriends and join us on the first Thursday of month for specials, sweet treats & more.
Perennial Festival ongoing thru june 10
&
Redeem Bonus Bucks june 25 thru july 8
Pay up to 50% of your purchase with Bonus Bucks earned all spring!
Girls’ Thyme July 2 • 4–7pm
$ave on a fantastic selection of Perennials– Fresh plants arriving daily!
Ladies, grab your girlfriends and join us on the first Thursday of month for specials, sweet treats & more.
Earn Bonus Bucks ongoing thru june 24
Independence Day july 4 • Open 9–3
Earn $1 for every $10 spent!
Father’s Day june 21 • Open 8:30–6
FINAL DAY to Redeem Bonus Bucks july 8
Pay up to 50% of your purchase with Bonus Bucks earned all spring!
Meg Roth 215-280-4899
Todd McCarty 267-261-8448
Heather Walton 215-272-2632
John Stachel 267-481-0763
Sherri Belfus 267-614-3911
You’re buying much more than a home...
You’re buying a lifestyle! Linda Kilroy 215-760-0943
Janice Iaquinto 215-262-0045
Dorothy Miller-Gledhill 267-210-0559
Marie Kovach 215-651-3909
Class-Harlan real estate 15 W. State Street, Doylestown, PA • www.ClassHarlan.com 215-348-8111
JoAnn Maroney 215-601-6046
Call Us Today to Begin the Process!
Derek John 910-269-7921 buckscountrygardens.com
Pat Foley 215-350-2721
Scott Strasburg 215-262-0332
Linda Strasburg 215-262-0324
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Candi Van Wagner 215-431-8226
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k a m e l e o n Interchangeable Jewel Pops & Fine Jewelry • Available at Bucks Country Gardens
Container Gardening with Succulents
Succulents are plants that store water in juicy tissues and whether displayed outside or in the home, they seem to have picked up in popularity lately. Just a glance at the pins of succulents on Pinterest will have you mesmerized for hours–including Bucks Country Gardens’ very own Succulents Board! Perhaps it is the interesting shapes of the succulents–more structural and solid–or their colors from darkest green to grays often lined in contrasting colors, or perhaps those prickly needles that grab and hold our attention… or maybe it is just how easy they are to care for. Their boldness lends itself to beautiful and unique container gardens, with little fuss or care.
clumping moss to create a tumbleweed look. Then add several different plants that complement each other or simply a few of the same. Vary the size or keep them uniform. Another idea is to use just a few plants or even just one and add gravel or pebbles to fill to the edges of the container.
In planting a container garden, start your design plan with the container or the plant material. I generally start with the container. When selecting a container, I recommend using a shallow one (succulents’ root systems are usually quite small) with drainage if possible. If the perfect container you find doesn’t have a drainage hole you can always line the bottom with pebbles. If you choose a large container for the outdoors and you want to over winter the plants inside, I would suggest using a filler pot to slip right into your larger container and then slip out to bring indoors.
Many cacti (a sub-group of succulents) do produce blooms. However, they usually wait until they are 3 or 4 years old inside to show flowers. If you would like to add vibrant live colors to your container immediately, consider Kalanchoe and many flowering and colorful sedum. In fact, there are a number of sedum that will over winter in our area and they are great to have around to use for seasonal accents. For instance, in the fall you can simply remove the pups growing around the main plant and add them to seasonal favorites such as planted pumpkin tops or hanging pinecones.
If you’re looking for a unique way to display you succulents, try looking beyond the usual garden pots. I have seen succulents planted in fountains, bird baths and cages, old shoes, tea cups, wheel barrels, seashells, old lanterns and picture frames, as well as wall hangings and wreaths. Once you’ve found that perfect container, choose your plants to complement or contrast with the container; paying attention to the shape, color and texture of the container. For example, if you have chosen a rounded container you might want to choose rounded plants, such as the Echeveria subsessilis, to create a softer look. Complementing that shape, add some
Once you have completed your unique container, caring for it is really easy, I mean really easy. Think of the desert, where you find such plants naturally. If you have a bright spot, inside or out (in the summer), you are good to go. Your container will require very little watering. It is a great choice for the neglectful gardener, the vacationer or just someone who needs a little less on their to-do list. Happy gardening!
Or perhaps you may prefer to start your container garden design with the plant. Because of the geometric shape of succulents, the plants can often suggest a feeling or place to us. Use that suggestion to tell a story. Create a fairy garden with succulents. You can easily find succulents in very small sizes. Or go larger with the century plant (Agave Americana) alone or in combination with other succulents to create that Southwest, Aztec feeling. When handling the prickly plants (ouch!) I find a little bubble wrap or thick paper rolled around the base of the plant prevents stickers from becoming lodged in your fingers or hand. I also suggest using cactus soil in your containers. The cactus soil is more porous than most and allows for better drainage.
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Marilyn Fanning, Greenhouse
New Product Alert:
Boutique & Baby
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Spartina 449 Handbags Linen and leather marry with colorful patterns and timeless style to create a beautifully coordinated handbag collection beloved by women everywhere. Just arrived is an amazing selection of new spring and summer patterns and styles. Featuring wallets, clutches, satchels, totes and more including jewlery.
Bourbon and Boweties Each handcrafted bracelet is a wearable piece of eye-catching art. Unique stones, coins and even shotgun shells are transformed into rich, luxorious bangles.
Cheeky Chompers This neckerchew is a bib and teething ring all in one. A must-have to help your little ones look stylish and keep their shirts dry through the teething period.
Thymes Goldleaf Gardenia This new fragrance from Thymes Home Fragrances blends gardenia, rose, jasmine, amber, patchouli and praline to create a oneof-a-kind scent with fresh floral notes.
Cinda b Bags You won’t misplace your bags at the airport with this season’s fantastic new tote bags in bright hues of pink and blue patterns.
Chavez for Charity bracelets Every bracelet purchase benefits one of 20 different charities and wearing them can bring awareness.
Silver Spoon jewelry Inspired by heirloom silverware from the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s, choose from necklaces, bracelets, rings and more.
Charlie Paige Maxi-dress The black and white geometric pattern and beaded halter style make it a perfect go-to for any summer occasion.
Samoe Style handbags Classically inspired yet modernized with fun linings, zippered details and embossed and perforated vegan leather exteriors.
K&K baby clothes Be the hit of the playground in these fashion forward shorts and colorful button down shirt. Darling selection for girls, too.
Charlie Paige cotton sweater Dress up or down, this lightweight cotton sweater takes you from the office to dinner to an evening stroll on the beach.
Charlie Paige sandals With a wedge heel and available in five fantastic flirty colors, these sandals are guaranteed to be a summer staple for work and for fun.
Jacqueline Kent angels Sweet, handcrafted angels that can be used as a zipper pull on a purse or luggage or as a statement necklace.
Yo Sox Fashionable and fun. Available for men and women in fun colors and patterns, its time to express yourself from the ground up.
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Kameleon jewelry The original interchangeable sterling jewelry collection continues to create classic rings, pendants, earring and more.
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Charlie Paige Tunic Billowing and lightweight, this appliquéd tunic would be equally great with a pair of jeans and sandals or even as a beach cover-up.
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2015
As a Gardener’s Gold Club Member, earn $1 for every $10 purchased from March 1–June 24, 2015. Then simply use your Bonus Bucks to pay up to 50% of your purchase anytime from June 25–July 8, 2015.
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Gro Something Greater
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In Your Own Backyard l i v i n g l a rg e i n s m a l l s pa c e s
Bigger doesn’t always mean better when it comes to outdoor living or garden areas.
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Down sized, eco-efficient spaces are on the rise. Not only do these spaces have a more intimate feel, but can also transition from the home in such a way that it feels more like another room of your house instead of a separate entity. Whether you have a petite property or a modest undeveloped area, we can help you get the biggest impact with your small space!
Our readers and clients that have more spacious properties needn’t feel left out as these ideas can pertain to you as well. Geological or structural constraints can help delineate your new smaller, more user-friendly garden rooms. Some examples of these features include streams, swales, steep slopes, rocky outcroppings, a woods’ edge, a driveway, wall, fence, or neighboring building.
As with any garden area, you are still attempting to fit your needed functions and entertaining areas into the space. Therefore, the basic questions still remain: *
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How much entertaining space do I need? Style preference. Do we need a portion (or all) of the space to be covered? Are there children or pets? Accessibility for contractor/ flow through for client.
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What other functions are needed within the space? i.e. trash, shed, edibles, cooking, pool/Jacuzzi, etc. What is the budget?
Above: Small backyards of
A. Go Vertical If the space is enclosed by walls or fences, use them! Wall mounted planters, outdoor art, hanging baskets, and climbing plant material can all help give you a lush green look while maximizing usable entertaining space. Some other ways of going vertical are using small trees, as well as lattices, trellises, and pergolas as support structures for plants and other items.
B. Integrated Planting If edibles are a must have, mix them in with your ornamentals. Want the most yield from your space? Try a permaculture type planting making all your plant material produce something edible. If your edible needs are limited, try planting the few items required in planters.
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Wish lists come in all sizes, but smaller spaces have a budget of their own, so priorities must be clearly identified. Since you can only fit so much into an area, this is where you can get creative!
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today’s cluster developments artfully include all of the elements of a functional outdoor living space.
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C. Multifunctional Areas/Furniture
F. Utility Areas
If we have learned one thing from the small living movement, it is that real estate in these environments is valuable and only the essentials make the cut, so make sure you get the most effective use from your items.
This may be something you cannot get away from depending on where g your new space is or the size of your property. Because of the close quarters, it is even more imperative for these structures to be aesthetic as well as functional. Small cedar storage areas and enclosures can have a timeless natural beauty and can blend easily with a natural, formal or contemporary garden. Don’t take a chance at loosing planting space with your structure, build it with a green roof! This may also help filter any offensive odors from a trash area as well.
Use outdoor furniture with storage capabilities. Use a table that can convert to a gas fire pit or perhaps a shed/playhouse combo for the kids. If adding a cook station, make sure to incorporate drawers or use a floating island for additional counter space that can double as a potting bench. Use your pergola or trees to hang lights or other ornaments. Rain chains and water barrels can be decorative and can help provide needed water for the dry summer months.
D. Natural Focal Point Use a geological border or constraint as a focal point in your new space. Plant a stone outcropping with trailing plant material. Use a steep slope as a basis for your terrace garden. Accentuate a stream, or create a dry stream from an existing swale.
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E. Sight View Whether you are starting with a large or small property, you may have some sight views or vistas that you like. Use these views to your advantage by keeping them unobstructed or even framing them. These extended views can help make your space feel larger.
G. Fill the Senses Now that we have our pretty plants to look at, our fire pit to feel warm, our cook station to grill our edibles, the rain chain or wind chimes for some natural chatter, we are missing only one thing–the wonderful scents that fill the air. There are many trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals that can be integrated into the planting areas to fill the air with romantic allure in spring, summer, and fall, putting the finishing touches on your new gathering area. Amy Sanchez–Hamilton, Landscape Design/Sales
You asked for it...
All B&B Flower and Shade Tree prices include planting! ALL. THE. TIME.
NO MORE LIMITED VARIETIES NO MORE “LIMITED TIME ONLY” NO MORE DISAPPOINTMENT
The Artist in the Garden The James A. Michener Art Museum is pleased to present the exhibition The Artist in the Garden which explores the relationship between artists and the garden landscape—frequently gardens of their own, but occasionally the mythological, magical, or intimate realms of their imagination. On view through August 9, 2015, it is a companion exhibition to The Artist’s Garden: American Impressionism and the Garden Movement, 1887–1920, on view at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) through May 24, 2015. Divided into three thematic sections, “The Back Yard,” “The Mythic Garden,” and “Intimate Spaces/ Private Worlds,” the installation explores artists’ responses to social, environmental, and cultural changes affecting the natural world through the 20th century and into the 21st. We invite you to stroll through our visual homage to the beauty of the garden as curated by Kirsten M. Jensen, Ph.D., Senior Curator of Exhibitions. Michener Museum of Art Above: Rae Sloan Bredin (1880–1933), Barbara, ca. 1920, oil on canvas, 36 x 36 in. (sight), Collection of Carol and Louis E. Della Penna BELOW: Daniel Garber (1880–1958), Mother and Son, 1933, oil on canvas, 80 1/8 x 70 1/4 in., Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Gift of the Artist. 1953.20
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Available only at Bucks Country Gardens
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We’ve combined the cost of the tree and planting service, lowering the retail price. Now the price you see includes professional planting and our two year guarantee. Delivery fees may apply.
Save These Dates! Grab your girlfriends and join us on the first Thursday of every month from 4–7pm for new product introductions, one-night-only specials, sweet treats and more!
Spotlight: Spartina 449 Handbags & Jewelry May 7 • 4–7pm Charlie Paige Summer Boutique Products June 4 • 4–7pm Outdoor Living July 2 • 4–7pm Outdoor Entertaining April 2 • 4–7pm
stay informed. follow us.
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APRIL 30 – MAY 6 • FEATURING NEW GUNIEA IMPATIENS G
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At Home
with Alfresco Home
Alfresco Home designs, manufactures and distributes a wide range of outdoor living products including casual furniture, pottery, fountains and specialty garden accessories for the discerning consumer who wants to enjoy the lifestyle of outdoor living.
From a humble beginning in a local Bucks County garden center more than 40 years ago, the Cilio family developed a nationally recognized pottery importing, manufacturing and distribution company. In 2004, Joseph and Kimberly Cilio launched Alfresco Home, focusing on the development of fresh, functional and fashionable products that are based on consistent quality and tremendous value. With their headquarters in Pottstown, PA and national showrooms in Atlanta and Chicago, Joseph, his brother Anthony and the entire Alfresco Home team continue every day developing products that insure the most
The Alfresco Home team is first and foremost a great group of individuals who work together daily to bring thier customers the finest service in the industry.
important thing we can do is spend time with our family and friends in the peace and tranquility of our own backyards. Visit Bucks Country Gardens today and see for yourself why we are so proud to offer Alfresco Home. We think you’ll agree... Alfresco Home makes outdoor living easy!
Available at Bucks Country Gardens buckscountrygardens.com 19
New Product Alert:
garden plants
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hydrangea ‘Licorice Lollypop’ Wow! This reblooming hydrangea has huge, full, double flowers of electric pink! But wait…be sure to check out their thick glossy black stems. This hydrangea will make a fantastic addition to your landscape or garden beds and also makes a great cut flower to fill your glass jars and vases. What a beauty!
Coleus Sun? Shade? Or something in between? There is a coleus variety for you! A popular annual due to its impressive color palette and wide range of sizes–perfect for containers or garden beds.
‘Fat Albert’ Spruce This evergreen, with a true blue color, make a versatile backdrop for shrubs and perennials. A slower grower, with a physique similar to its cartoon character– short and wide–requires little maintenance.
Tropical Bougainvilleas Prolific and showy…what’s not to love about this tropical that thrives in hot dry conditions? Plant in a pretty glazed container for a statement piece.
Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ This popular coneflower offers an attractive display of yellow, red, orange, and magenta all on one single plant!
Paperbark Maple From its noteworthy peeling orange-cinnamon bark to its brilliant orange-red fall foliage color, this maple is stunning.
‘Flamingo’ Willow This fast growing shrub has new pink color leaves at the tips of its branches. Can be planted in a moist to wet location...bonus!
Lantana This hardworking annual loves a hot and dry location and produces an abundance of brightly colored flowers all summer and fall.
David Austin Roses They are an old style bloom combined with a repeat flowering characteristic and a wide color range of fragrant roses.
Tropical Hibiscus Large, beautiful, exotic, showy, tropical flowers in bright colors stand out against their glossy dark green leaves. Perfect in poolside pots.
Hydrangea ‘Vanilla Strawberry’ This sun-loving hydrangea is a true stunner. Its unique color changes from white to blush pink to dark rose.
Heuchera ‘Carnival Peach Parfait’ Its ruffled foliage adds texture, while its peachy-pink color brightens up any shady spot in the garden or container.
Phlox ‘Red Riding Hood’ Cherry Red color and fragrant, this ‘Riding Hood’ will bring hummingbirds and butterflies to Grandma’s house. Avail. in May.
Buddleia ‘True Blue’ Butterfly lovers are sure to adore this shrub. Fragrant bright powder blue/lavender flowers bloom all summer long.
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Salvia ‘Black & Blue’ This annual has rich cobalt blue blossoms with near-black stems. Plant with white, yellow, orange or pink flowering annuals or perennials.
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Torenia Got shade? This annual does great in shade to part-shade gardens. Plant in containers for its trailing habit; available in blue, purple, white and even yellow!
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1007 N. EastoN Road • doylEstowN, Pa tEl: 215.348.2665 • fax: 215.348.2685 ~located just 1/4 mile south of Bucks country Gardens~
Home Fragrance
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Our nature-inspired home fragrances help you conjure a mood, reflect your unique personality and welcome all who enter. Thymes decorative scented candles and votive candles; room sprays, reed diffusers, potpourri and refresher oils; and home care and décor are all positively enlightening. Lovely enough for giving, yet practical enough for using.
So... Better Garden Photos? You Want to Take
You love to garden and you want to
capture shots just like the ones you see on Pinterest and Instagram, but you aren’t sure what to do to start getting better shots… If this sounds like you, then read further for tips and tricks in taking your photos from ordinary to extraordinary. No, you don’t need fancy equipment, all you need is a passion to learn and experiment. Don’t be shy about taking a zillion different photos of one subject to discover new angles and points of focus.
C omposition When photographing their favorite flower or plant, most people tend to place the subject right in the center of the photo, but if you study the composition of your favorite photographs you’ll notice that usually the subject is off center. Imagine a grid over your photo, some phones and cameras even have grids you can turn on the screen, and play with placing the subject on the intersections. Also, while composing a photo, take into consideration what is in the background so that you don’t ruin a great shot of your favorite sunflower with a utility pole or other distracting object sticking out from behind. If the background is cluttered and can’t be changed, try getting a close up shot that lessens the impact.
L ig h ting
For computers and tablets, websites such as BeFunky.com and Pixlr.com have online tools that let you play with filters, focus and more without overwhelming you with more advanced photo editing tools. And for those wanting more control over the editing process, Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements provide excellent solutions for amateur photographers–there’s also a version for camera phones called Photoshop Touch. Want to learn even more about photography, as well as news about the latest gadgets to hit the photo market? Visit www.Photojojo. com where you can find everything from lenses for your cell phone to online classes for “phoneography.” And, if you want to take your photography to the next level, consider taking a workshop with a local photographer or enrolling in a class at the community college.
S h a r e wit h U s! We’d love to see your garden, landscape and outdoor living images and feature them on our in-store bulletin board and on our website. Share your favorite images with us: • On Instagram, use #BCGgardenphotos • On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ buckscountrygardens • Or email them to us at the Garden Center: submit@buckscountrygardens.com We look forward to seeing how you spend your gardening season!
E diting Dalissa Reeder, Social Media & Photography Photography by Dalissa Reeder
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Novice photographers can have fun editing pictures with many of the low cost and free apps available on the internet and for camera
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The best time of day to capture the beauty of your garden is either sunrise or sunset. The warm glow from the sun at those times of day naturally makes colors look more saturated so that even the most basic cell phone camera has a good chance of capturing something wonderful. Overcast days also provide optimal light because there are less harsh shadows.
phones. One of the most popular apps for phones is Instagram, which not only provides tools for adding cool effects to your photos and doing basic editing, but is also a social sharing network enabling you to show off your favorite pictures to your friends and family. You may also want to check out PhotoWonder, Snapseed and Hipstamatic Oggl.
ratana portfino
Tried & True with a Touch of New The world of outdoor furniture is constantly changing. Each year, many furniture companies try to create the next big thing or trend. That’s great, but sometimes it’s best to just stick to the basics and make those basics even better and current for today’s design trends. And looking at three top-selling categories in the industry from last season–wrought iron, wicker and fire pits–that’s exactly
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what many companies did.
All-Weather Wicker All-weather wicker patio furniture has been a staple material in casual furniture for many years. That is largely in part to its versatility: its suitable for both indoor and outdoor spaces alike. It has really come a long way over the years both in durability and design. Gone are the days of wicker being made from natural materials that dry out, break and need repainting. Today’s wicker is made from resins and woven onto metal (steel or aluminum) frames. These newer materials are much stronger and more durable than ever. And style, let’s talk about style. You name it, you can find it. Sure you can still find the classic and traditional looks your grandparents made popular, but there are so many contemporary styles to choose from as well. One such offering is the Portfino collection from Ratana. We introduced this group last spring and have expanded to include a true rounded sectional. Not a curved corner but round enough that you could make a complete circle if you so desired. Along with the rounded pieces,
PillowE
Perfect
A. ratana portfino preseason sale event thru april 15! 4pc Corner Sectional above REG: $5895 Sale Price $4499 LOVESEAT w/Chaise not shown REG: $3856 SALe Price $2699 2pc curved sofa w/wedge end table opposite page REG: $3600 SALe Price $2599 5pc dining Group (48” Sq. Table) not shown REG: $3839 SALe Price $2499
there are various loveseat, chair, chaise and wedge table options available to create the sectional of your dreams.
Fire Pit Tables What’s really hot in outdoor furniture this year? The answer is fire. That’s right, fire is hot–really hot–and so are outdoor firepits in all shapes and sizes. Probably the most common type of freestanding firepit over the last few years has been chat or coffee table height, be it wood burning or propane burning. These days almost every casual furniture company is offering firepit tables in all shapes: rectangles, squares, ovals, circles, oh my… and all sizes: from small coffee tables up to dining tables that can seat 10–12 people.
Pillows, pillows and more pillows! This is the Year of the Pillow at Bucks Country Gardens as we have the finest and most unique selection of decorative accent pillows anywhere! Whether you are redecorating or just want something new to freshen up your space, our collection of indoor and outdoor pillows will bring out the designer in you.
Bucks Country Gardens offers a variety of firepit tables and seating groups this season. There are two in particular that we are really excited about because we haven’t offered anything like these before. The first is Xavier by Alfresco Home. This grouping is a counter height table with swivel stools making it a great set for entertaining. The other is an addition to our already
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more featured sets from our 2015 collection
We believe that a fabulous accent pillow has the power to transform your home by adding a unique vibe and your own personal touch. A mix and match approach to color, pattern, texture and current trends are essential for creating the “right look” for your home with these indispensable functional works of art.
Don’t see exactly what you’re looking for? No problem! Any one of our talented and knowledgeable Lifestyle team members can help you custom order to create your own unique look.
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b. alfresco home xavier preseason sale event thru april 15! 5pc dining Group (45” Fire Pit Table) shown REG: $6595 Sale Price $4499
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And don’t forget your patio when it comes to accent pillows, too. We have an impressive selection of fantastic, on-trend outdoor-safe pillows as well for a quick and easy way to update the look of your patio. Of course, if your outdoor cushions are in need of refreshing, we offer a wide range of replacement cushions that’ll really change the look of your furniture. You may even fool everyone into thinking you’ve purchased all new furniture!
c. gensun bel air preseason sale event thru april 15! 7pc dining Group (72” Oval Fire Pit Table) shown REG: $8880 Sale Price $6029 Also Available: Great selection of non-fire pit Dining Tables & Deep Seating Sets
popular Bel Air collection by Gensun. This set features a 42” x 72” oval firepit dining table paired with exquisitely designed cast aluminum dining chairs.
Wrought Iron Wrought iron furniture has been around for many years and its often traditional appearance tends to pair well with most home styles. There was a time when iron was the choice for outdoor patios because its sturdy steel construction is virtually impervious to the weather and its style truly stands the test of time. Because of its durability, and very little upkeep, wrought iron furniture will easily last fifty years or even more. I guess that’s where the expression ‘It wears like iron’ originated from because it just does not wear out! For all these reasons, iron is back at Bucks Country Gardens and we are pleased to welcome Meadowcraft furniture back as well! For many years, Meadowcraft has been one of the leading manufacturers of quality wrought iron. Their products are manufactured right here in the USA and continue to be offered at a true value to the consumer. Joining our outdoor furniture selection for 2015 are three distinct collections this year: Victoria, Peninsula and Chardonnay. These are all new collections for Meadowcraft, so not only are they new to you, they’re new to us as well! Each of these complete sets is in-stock now and ready to be picked up or delivered. But, if you prefer a different style or need complementing pieces, special ordering is available. The stylish and durable iron furniture that Meadowcraft is known for comes with an added bonus–a 20-year warranty! The garden center has over 50 different styles of premium outdoor dining and lounge furniture groups available in stock everyday. So stop in and see what’s new for 2015 at Bucks Country Gardens. Don’t wait too long! Save an EXTRA 10% OFF our everyday discounted prices during our Preseason Furniture Sale Event. But hurry, it ends April 15! Shop the best selection at the best prices of the season today. You’ll be glad you did.
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Gregory Orme & Donna Dentner, Lifestyle e. meadowcraft peninsula 5pc dining Group (44” Mesh Dining Table) shown REG: $1245 Sale Price $899 preseason sale event thru april 15!
D. Meadowcraft Victoria club chair each; shown End table shown Fire Pit not shown
preseason sale event thru april 15!
REG: $799 Sale Price $539 REG: $259 Sale Price $179 REG: $1099 Sale Price $809
silver spoon jewelry
Explore Villa d’Braccia
745 Stump Road, Chalfont, PA 18914
Inspired by classic silverware patterns from the late 1800s–early 1900s, Silver Spoon Jewelry is sophisticated in design and modern in style. View our collection in The Boutique at Bucks Country Gardens, featuring: Earrings, Necklaces, Rings, Pendants and more.
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Investing in our community is business as usual. Changing outdoor environments one property at a time~ Since 1996
At National Penn, we care about our customers and the communities in which they live. Everyday we strive to make our towns a better place to do business and raise a family. We look beyond the everyday transactions to help you get one step closer to your dreams.
Estate Property Maintenance Mowing | Pruning | Mulching Shrub & Bed Maintenance Spring & Fall Cleanup
1.800.822.3321 www.nationalpenn.com
215.249.1299 • 215.262.6006
Box 226 • Fountainville, Pa 18923
Member FDIC
Recipe for Success It’s a Guaranteed 1–2 Punch!
Follow these easy steps to grow thriving trees and shrubs as well as extend the warranty on your plant material to two full years!
STEP 1
1CUFT
Bumper Crop
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STEP 2
2CUFT
or PLANT STARTER
Plus
bio-tone starter
Questions? Ask for our Planting Guide or view it on our website at buckscountrygardens.com/ask-an-expert!
Employee Achievements
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Test your knowledge of our employees in this simple matching game. Pair the one-sentence description with the picture of the employee. Every sentence and picture is used once. Find the answers on page 58 .
Dustin K.
Tyler D.
Julie S.
Spotlight
Amy S-H.
A. 15 years of service at BCG. B. Engaged in 2014.
Thomas D.
C. Won a Mexico trip at our Employee Christmas Party. D. 10 years of service at BCG.
Ed B.
E. Foster parent to 37 kids. F. Mother of the Bride, July 2015. G. Married in 2014.
Tiffany R.
H. BCG’s Most Eligible Bachelor. I. Returning to BCG after an 8 yr hiatus.
Zarrus W.
J. Former Store Manager at Crate & Barrel in King of Prussia. K. Mission work every summer.
Donna D.
L. 2014 Horticulture graduate of Upper Bucks Technical School.
Greg H.
M. This fall, will be playing trumpet for the President of the United States. N. Was a longtime employee at Peddler’s Village.
Frank P.
O. Designing local landscapes for over 12 years.
Dalton L.
P. Has lived in MN, FL, CA, IL. Q. Current Horticulture major at Temple University.
Becky J.
Alexis B.
Sean P.
Briton R.
Chad K.
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Mary K.
R. Graduated college with a 4.0 GPA in December, 2014.
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Kew Royal Botanical Gardens Collection Kew Gardens, in London, was created more than 250 years ago and is one of the world’s most famous gardens. Funds are contributed to the gardens and its important, ongoing work with the purchase of every container. These beautiful, pastel hued, ceramic pots are stunning when potted up with a flowering plant, lush foliage or simply left as an empty container placed on a bookshelf.
Rewined candles Each candle has been handcrafted from a repurposed wine bottle and the fragrance has been carefully blended to mimic the flavors and aromas found in your favorite wines. New scent for Spring: Mimosa
nuttery helix feeder Strong, beautifully designed feeders featuring a lockable lid and “chaff� catcher, which helps prevent waste from falling onto the ground. Easy to fill and clean and squirrel resistant.
nora fleming serving pieces Ceramic platters to tissue boxes to cutting boards, simply adding a decorative mini makes each event a dreamscape of happiness, smiles and unforgettable memories.
solar seagrass lumisphere Light up the night with solar Lumispheres. Hang at different heights from a tree limb or pergola for a romantic ambiance.
think outside® t-shirts Super comfy T-shirts made from 100% organic cotton featuring fun, outdoors-related quotes and graphics. Unisex sizes XS–XL.
primitive bird houses Reuse, recycle, repurposed... Rustic, functioning bird houses outfitted with vintage hardware that are perfect for outdoor use.
La Candela torches Beautiful, high quality, table top and staked ceramic artisan torches, hand-made by local artisans in central México.
sunflower fence 49” l x 61” h Add a touch of whimsy to your garden or use as a trellis for your climbing vines and flowering plants.
merritt tableware PBA-free, heat resistant melamine tableware in creative designs that add a sense of warmth and joy to your outdoor dining experience.
mason bee houses Boost your garden’s productivity by providing a bamboo house to attract pollinating peaceful, non-stinging Mason bees.
FiberClay containers Eco-friendly, handcrafted pots combining the light weight of fiberglass with the durability of high-quality ceramics.
vw bus solar planter Vintage-inspired planters features a solar panel which illuminates the vehicle’s headlights. Perfect for the garden or patio.
animal pillows Handmade and screenprinted pillows and totes from Perkasie, PA. Featuring fun animal and wildlife imagery.
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magnolia hammock swings With seating for one, this twopillow hammock swings is a great place to rest after a productive day in the garden.
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steel heart wall art Quality, handcrafted metal wall art designed and fabricated for the home and garden.
Patio Furniture Preseason Event
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sale prices on all dining & deep seating outdoor furniture! G
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Great Gardens Begin Here! All Natural Ingredients!
ORGANIC
SOIL BUILDER Especially formulated for vegetable crops, flowers, lawns and all general garden use
CONTAINS MYCORRHIZAE!
Coast of Maine
Mycorrhizae Worm castings Lobster & crab shells Kelp meal Dehydrated hen manure Peat humus Sphagnum peat moss Aged bark Composted cow manure Dolomitic lime
The Lobster Compost Company www.coastofmaine.com
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Living Off the Land “I remember childhood visits to my grandfather’s farm in Hunters Valley, Perry County, just north of Harrisburg. It was great fun to help with the chores and pitch in doing farm work where we could. Nothing was better than riding on the tractor, plowing fields, making hay or just going from here to there sitting on my father’s knee…I’m sure that’s an OSHA violation today.
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Grandpa raised lots of animals–milk cows and beef cows, chickens and pigs– and grandma was in charge of the garden, growing every vegetable imaginable…or so it seemed to me. Best of all, every meal came right from the farm.
That was more than fifty years ago and we’re now two generations removed from the farm. Over those years, farming and gardening has gradually disappeared from our countryside and our back yards…until recently. Today, there is a powerful and growing movement to grow more of what we eat from the local CSA farms and grass fed beef ranches to backyard chickens, raised vegetable gardens and potted herbs on our patios. We always have and always will live off the land, but it’s great to see so many of us participating personally…just like Grandpa Hebel taught me many years ago.” Tom Hebel
Growing your own veggies is just a small part of living healthily, organically, and off of the land. Fortunately, there is a food co-op right here in Central Bucks to complement your gardening activities. At the Doylestown Food Co-op, you can find poultry, beef, fruit, cleaning supplies, coffee, and snacks that meet the locally grown and organic standard you’ve set with your vegetable garden. Our local producers include: Bill’s Best BBQ Sauces (Glenside, Pa), Buckingham Valley Honey (Doylestown, Pa), Castle Valley Mill (Doylestown, Pa), Bucks County Preserves (Fountainville, Pa), Crossroads Bake Shop (Doylestown, Pa), Giggling Goat Dairy (Perkasie, Pa), Landis Poultry Farm (Watsontown, Pa), Laurie’s Chocolates (Doylestown, Pa), and The Coffee Scoop (Pipersville, Pa), to name just a portion. Paired with your home-grown veggies, these producers make it possible to live almost completely off the land without leaving Central Bucks.
Farm to table has been a much buzzed about term in the restaurant industry for almost a decade now. In rebellion against “processed this”, and “frozen that”, restaurants realized there was a large number of people who were interested in a dining experience which included fresh, local products that tasted like they had been picked right off the vine the day before. However, this experience doesn’t have to be a rare dining out treat...you can serve farm to table products right in your own kitchen. “How can I do this?” you ask? Simple. Start your own vegetable garden in that corner of the yard you’re not using! The benefits of starting your own veggie garden are numerous. The most important benefit is that you know exactly where your food is coming from. You know what’s in the soil the vegetable is planted in (because you picked it out!), you know what kind of fertilizer, if any, has touched the plant, you know how often it’s been watered. This is a great comfort to many people, and also a way to take ownership of what you put in your body. That shiny, perfect, unblemished green pepper you bought at the supermarket? There’s no way of knowing how long it’s been there, what pesticides/fungicides it contains, how long it’s been off the vine (thus, losing nutrients), or in what conditions it was shipped to the supermarket.
Growing your own vegetables is a realistic endeavor; however raising your own chickens and milking your own cows...maybe not. Think of the Co-op as a safe, responsible, nurturing resting place for your products in-between the farm and your table. Visit today to help foster a healthy and economically viable environment for your local farmers and your community. All are welcome, members and non-members alike. The Doylestown Food Co-op is located at 29 West State Street in the center of Doylestown.
Farm To Table:
Not Just for Restaurants– You Can Do It, Too! Doylestown Food Co-op
A less realized benefit of growing your own vegetables is the exercise aspect. Now, this shouldn’t be considered as a free pass to cancel your gym membership, but gardening can be a major (not to mention pleasant and rewarding) workout. If you do most of the work with your hands and simple garden tools, 45 minutes worth of gardening can burn as many calories as 30 minutes of aerobics! Women can burn up to 300 calories during an hour of moderately strenuous gardening. Chopping wood, laying sod, digging, spading, tilling, weeding, planting, watering...all count as physical exercise.
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Tending to your veggies also acts as a source of stress relief and relaxation. Getting outside and away from your desk, laptop, cell phone, tablet, or TV is a way to decompress and reset the “attention fatigue” caused by our constant connection to electronics. Humans have a limit to the amount of attention they can dedicate to these things before they become maxed out. Spending time outside in your garden is a way to reset when constant connectivity makes you irritable, error-prone, distracted, and stressed out. Growing veggies can also improve brain health. Two separate studies have found evidence that those who gardened regularly had a 36% and 47% lower risk of dementia than non-gardeners.
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Imagine cauliflower from your garden
Generally speaking, rich, flavorful dishes call for powerful wines. For example, dishes prepared with cream, butter or cheese tend to balance well with oaky wines, such as Peace Valley Winery’s (Chalfont) New Britain Red or Alfa & Omega’s (Doylestown) Chardonnay. To achieve that same level of richness in a vegan dish, you may want to use seitan, nuts or olive oil. You can also add richness by roasting vegetables, which caramelizes the sugar in vegetables.
sprinkled with green curry powder, drizzled with olive oil, roasted in your oven and paired with a Cabernet Sauvignon… doesn’t that sound divine? Though wine is usually paired with meat, it’s just as fun to create dishes with vegetables from your garden to pair with your favorite reds and whites. If you are the adventurous type, experiment with the five basic tastes detected by the tongue–sweetness sourness, saltiness, bitterness and umami to find flavors that contrast with each other, providing a delicate balance.
On the flipside, lighter dishes like summer salads and cool soups call for lighter bodied wines. Pinot Grigio from Wycombe Vineyard in Furlong would fit the bill, or if you prefer blush wines you may want to try Cuvee Blush from Sand Castle Winery (Erwinna). “For any light grilled vegetable dishes, pastas and salads, our Joshua’s Choice Rose or Pinot Gris would make a perfect match. They are both light and refreshing. The crispness of their Dalissa Reeder, Social Media & Photography flavors pair well with the smoky sear from the grill,” says a representative from Buckingham Valley Vineyards and Winery.
Farm To Table:
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Pairing Local Wines with Garden Veggies
Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed with the possibilities. There is no right or wrong way to pair wine with vegetables. “So many people think you can only drink white wine with tofu or roasted vegetables and red wine with pasta, which is really crazy,” says Gary Vaynerchuk, host of Wine Library TV (winelibrarytv. com). With so many local wineries in the Bucks County area, don’t be shy about attending a wine tasting and asking the wine steward for recommendations for specific dishes.
When asked about her favorite summer pairing, she answered, “Fresh from the garden, lightly grilled sliced eggplant, layered with mozzarella, beefsteak tomatoes and finished off with a drizzle of balsamic reduction, olive oil, sea salt and basil. Our Brut Sparkling would compliment this dish for the perfect summer afternoon. Because, there’s nothing better than a cold glass of sparkling on a hot summer day–or any day for that matter!” As you play with ingredients and wines, it’s a good idea to keep a journal of your favorites and what worked and what didn’t. Share your success stories with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/buckscountrygardens or Instagram at #BCGVeggies&Wine.
How you spice your dish can also have an impact on which wines complement the flavors best. Here’s a handy cheat sheet from Vegetarian Times to help you match different types of seasoned cuisine with wines. Mix and match locally sourced wines with your favorites from around the world to take advantage of the different flavors that the various regions produce. Japanese Try growing: Daikon, Leeks, Bok Choy, Napa Cabbage WHITE: Grüener Veltliner, Riesling RED: Shiraz, Viognier SPARKLING: Cava, Champagne, Prosecco Italian Try growing: Roma Tomatoes, Radicchio, Basil, Fennel WHITE: Arneis, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdicchio, Viognier RED: Barbera, Barolo, Beaujolais, Chianti, Gamay, Nebbiolo Mexican Try growing: Cilantro, Ancho Poblano Peppers, Garlic, Corn WHITE: California Riesling, Chenin Blanc RED: Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Malbec, Tempranillo Thai & Indian Try growing: Eggplants, Thai Chili Peppers, Lentils, Sweet Basil WHITE: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Sylvaner, Viognier RED: Beaujolais, Mourvèdre, Pinot Noir Eastern Mediterranean (Greek, Israeli, North African, and Lebanese) Try growing: Chickpeas, Zucchini, Cucumber, Mint WHITE: Chenin Blanc, Roussanne, Verdicchio, Viognier RED: Pinot Noir, Syrah SPARKLING: Crémant d’Alsace, Crémant de Bourgogne
Give Your Fish a Fresh Start
Save the Date for the
DOYLESTOWN FOOD CO-OP’s third annual
Microbe-Lift PL The #1 requested pond product on the market creates a cleaner environment while promoting faster fish growth. Beneficial bacteria will reduce pond maintenance, ammonia nitrogen levels and hydrogen sulfide while dissolving organic sludge.
Saturday, August 22, 2015 — 6:00 to 9:00 pm Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow
Microbe-Lift Legacy Growth & Energy Food
2877 Creamery Road, New Hope, PA 18938
When warmer temperatures arrive in late Spring, Koi and Goldfish need a protein boost for growth due to fat depletion during the winter, just as they bulk up for winter preparation with added protein before the cold months arrive. Contains stabilized Vitamin C and is a great source of live, naturally occurring microorganisms.
$70 member-owners and $80 potential member-owners
Purchase tickets at the Doylestown Food Co-op or go to the events page on our website.
You
Store Hours
Mon – Fri: 10:00 – 7:00 Sat: 10:00 – 6:00; Sun: 11:00 – 5:00
www.mircobelift.com
Microbe-Lift Products are available at Bucks Country Gardens.
29 W. State St., Doylestown, PA • 215-348-4548 • www.doylestown.coop
Homes & Garages Pergolas & Decks Additions & Renovations Kitchen & Bath Remodeling
ExpEriEnCE • SErviCE • Quality John S. McIlvaine • General Contractor PA HIC# 053541 |
215.859.7187
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Ottsville, PA
buckscountrygardens.com
BefOre
Celebrate every Day. birthdays / weddings / anniversaries / special moments
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collectable vintage-inspired heirloom charms & jewelry
help prevent chronic illnesses such as heart and blood vessel disease, cancer and diabetes. There’s evidence that eating cruciferous vegetables–including cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower–can reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Eating cruciferous vegetables has been linked to reduction in risk of breast cancer, stomach cancer and lung cancer, too. “In addition, higher intakes of phytochemical-rich foods are associated with a lower risk of abdominal obesity. They’re also associated with healthier blood lipid profiles and higher HDL “good” cholesterol and lower blood pressure.”
After a winter like we have had, I bet you’re anxious to get your vegetable garden going. Although the weather is continuing to warm up a bit in the daytime, the evenings are still quite cool. It is much too early to plant tender plants like tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers– those are best saved for mid-May, after the threat of frost has passed. But right now, you can start with cold-tolerant cole crops, sometimes called cruciferous vegetables, scientifically known as Brassicas. This family of vegetables includes brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, broccoli, turnips and watercress. Although these vegetables appear to be different from each other, they are descendants of wild cabbage that originated in the areas of the Mediterranean and Asia Minor. But cruciferous vegetables aren’t your only choice for early season planting. There are leafy greens and root vegetables that are cold-tolerant and can be planted relatively early. Spinach, leaf lettuce, endive and escarole are options; Plus root vegetables including beets, carrots, parsnips, radishes and turnips which can be grown for their greens as well as their root. And don’t forget peas–those full, round snap peas that fill the pod or the flat, edible podded snow peas that are popular in stir fries.
So let’s get gardening! Loose, fertile, moist, sandy loam soils are ideal. It’s always wise to do a soil test to ensure good nutrition and proper pH levels (usually between 6.5 and 6.8). And organic mulch is a wise addition. You may choose to use black plastic in addition to help control weeds. Setting out transplants that you’ve grown from seed or obtained from Bucks County Gardens is recommended for most cole crops. Some of the leafy greens can be direct sown into the gardens and carrots and peas actually prefer this method.
Cole Crops:
Cauliflower, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts...Oh My! Jeanne Mantell, Greenhouse
With all these choices, where do you start? If you’re lucky enough to have unlimited space, plant them all! On the other hand, if you’re like most of us who have limited space and possibly even more limited time, choose the ones you like to eat. And think about how you like to eat them. Has the green smoothie trend caught on in your household? Or are you more of a traditionalist when it comes to your fresh greens? Whether you prefer your spinach and kale in a blender or a salad bowl, you can grow your own for great taste and health benefits. According to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter, cruciferous vegetables belong to a group of foods “that have a potentially positive effect on health beyond basic nutrition.” These foods are sometimes referred to as functional foods.
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As a general planting guide, plant broccoli and cauliflower between April 1 and April 15 but delay cabbage until April 15. Keep an eye on the weather forecast for all three cole crops. Bolting and small heads can occur when temperatures dip below 50 degrees and stay there
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“There’s growing evidence that phytochemicals, a broad range of naturally occurring compounds found in plants, may be essential to the body’s ability to ward off disease and heal itself. It’s these phytochemicals, with complicated-sounding names such as beta carotene, isothiocyanates, glucosinolates, lignans and luteins, that put foods in the functional category. While research is still preliminary, phytochemicals appear to
Pea seeds are direct sown in early spring– the exact date is driven by tradition in some gardens with options including St. Patrick’s Day and Good Friday. It’s probably safe to sow seeds in the latter half of March through April. Beets–you either love them or hate them! If it’s the former, consider harvesting some beets when the roots are small for a gourmet touch and to enjoy their greens that are best when young. Some people would argue that the best way to enjoy and reap the most health benefits from cruciferous vegetables is to eat them raw. Most experts do agree that lightly steaming also preserves the vitamins and nutrients that are so beneficial to our health. So put them in your blender, salad or stir fry or try one of these recipes as a reward for all your efforts. Enjoy! for ten days. Broccoli should be harvested when the heads are dark green or even have a purple or bluish hue. Leaf lettuce, spinach, kale, endive and escarole plus root vegetables including beets, carrots, radishes and turnips can be planted during this same time period.
You may want to protect your broccoli and cauliflower from pests by installing floating row covers immediately after planting until you’re ready to harvest. This material allows water and sun to pass through to the plants and protects from winds and light frost in addition to excluding harmful insects.
Total Time: 1 hr 20 min Prep: 15 min Inactive: 1 hr Cook: 5 min Yield: 10 servings Level: Easy
Trisha Yearwood’s Broccoli Salad
Anne Burrell’s Sautèed Kale
You’ll need: 8 oz bacon Salt 5 c small broccoli florets 1 c mayonnaise
You’ll need: Extra-virgin olive oil 3 cloves garlic, smashed Pinch crushed red pepper 1 bunch baby kale, stems removed, cut into ½” lengths
1 tbs cider vinegar ⅓ c chopped onion ¼ c sugar ¾ c raisins ½ c sunflower kernels
Directions: • Cut the bacon into small pieces and cook over medium heat just until crisp; drain on paper towels. • Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli and blanch until bright green and slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Drain well, run under cold water to stop the cooking, and drain again. • In a mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, vinegar, onion, sugar and raisins. Add the broccoli and toss to coat with the dressing. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
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Total Time: 15 min Prep: 5 min Cook: 10 min Yield: 4–6 servings Level: Easy
1 bunch black kale, stems removed, cut into ½” lengths Kosher salt ¼ c chicken stock 1 tbs sherry vinegar
Directions • Coat a large sautè pan with olive oil and add the garlic cloves and crushed red pepper. Bring the pan to a medium heat and cook the garlic until it gets golden and very aromatic. Remove the garlic and discard. • Add the 2 types of kale and stir to coat with the oil. Season with salt and add the chicken stock. Cover and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Just before servings, fold in the sunflower kernels and the bacon pieces. Serve immediately.
• Uncover and stir to be sure that the kale is cooked evenly. Let the liquid evaporate. Sprinkle with sherry vinegar. Taste to make sure that the kale is seasoned perfectly. Serve immediately.
Recipe adapted from Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen by Trisha Yearwood (c) Clarkson Potter 2008
Recipe courtesy Anne Burrell
buckscountrygardens.com 41
Shop the new Spartina 449 Spring/Summer 2015 Collection now at Bucks Country Gardens!
We put it all together with Doylestown Health: A seamless alignment of healthcare professionals and services that puts you at the center of health and wellness. Simplified, coordinated, accessible health care. That’s Doylestown Health.
outpatient services, wellness centers, retirement living communities and more. Where our goal is to get you well and help you stay well, before, during and after care.
We chose this name as it represents the expert care you’ve come to expect from Doylestown Hospital– the flagship of our health system for over 90 years.
It’s a comprehensive, coordinated network, integrated with physicians and community resources - creating new ways to simplify your health care choices and improve access to care.
Doylestown Health includes Doylestown Hospital and our expert physicians, home health and hospice care,
You’re well connected
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Doylestown Hospital | Doylestown Health Physicians | Pine Run Health Center 215.345.2121 | dh.org/well-connected
Have you ever stared at your garden and wondered how to control that ugly weed popping up in between plants? Or found yourself searching for more information on how to grow bigger, better tomatoes? Well, you have questions? We have answers! We are here to answer your gardening questions and whether you prefer to visit with one of our sales associates in-store or submit a question through email (submit@buckscountrygardens.com), our knowledgeable staff is happy to assist you. Here are a few of our customer questions recently submitted and answered by resident Horticulturist and Arborist David Jones.
Q: What are good plants to put in the garden that won’t attract deer or what is a good way to deter deer from eating your prized possessions? ~ Brian C. A: For spraying directly on foliage, Liquid Fence Deer Repellent does an excellent job keeping deer away. We also have Deer Scram which is granular and is applied around the area of the plants. Sweeney’s Deer Repellent comes in capsules that you hang around the garden where they give off a scent unpleasing to deer. Planting deer resistant plants in combination with one of these products will give you the one-two punch you need to keep deer at bay. Visit buckscountrygardens.com/ask-anexpert.html for a useful guide to planting deer resistant annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs.
A: The best time to prune spring flowering shrubs is after they have finished blooming. Summer flowering shrubs should be pruned from late winter to early spring, and no later than the first week of April. Q: We need to move our fig tree to a different spot–what’s the best way to do this without damaging the tree and roots? ~ Kimberly M.
A: The growing habit of carpet roses are more A: Assuming the fig tree is in the ground, tie compact and clumped in form and do not the plant up gently with string so as to avoid have long stems characteristic of traditional damage to the branches. Use a spade to push rose bushes. Stop into the garden center anytime and we will gladly show you other types of long-stem rose bushes. General care to keep roses performing at their best: They need 6 to David Jones, Horticulturist and 8 hours of sun daily Dalissa Reeder, Social Media & Photography and they are heavy
You Asked... We Answered.
In the Garden with David
feeders. Try fertilizing with Espoma Rose-tone once a month from April–September. Also, check the condition of your soil and consider top dressing it with organic matter such as Bumper Crop soil amendment. This will help to improve the soil structure, giving you a healthier plant overall. Remember to prune regularly to help promote new growth.
Q: When is the best time to trim Lilac bushes? ~ Louise W. A: The best time to prune Lilac is after flowering. Prune out any dead, diseased or damaged wood. Also, prune out any branches that are crossing or rubbing onto other wood. Do not remove more than 25% on normal cuts.
vertically into the soil, approximately 6–8” away from the base of the plant. Dig a trench around the plant; do not to cut roots larger than your pinky finger. If larger, use pruners to make a clean cut. Once the trench has been dug around the plant, crack the underside of the root ball away from the existing soil using the spade and place a piece of burlap under the root ball. Tie the burlap around the root ball; proceed with care in moving the plant to the new location.
s
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A: Based on the size of the orchid pot and your current light conditions, try a foliage or flowering plant in a plastic pot and place it directly into the orchid pot, then decorate the pot with moss. I do not recommend planting directly into the orchid pot since
Q: I have two 24”–30” x 20’ long flower beds that border my cement pool deck, and both have carpet roses planted in them. They were planted in May 2013. There are no other plants in the beds and the bed is backed by a 20” high EP Henry wall. This past year, the roses did not get the traditional long stems and flowers but were in fact more of a clumpy bunch of leaves with tiny roses on the clump. Any ideas? ~ Lisa R.
Q: When is the best time to trim back flowering shrubs? ~ Kimberly M.
buckscountrygardens.com
Q: I recently received a beautiful terra cotta glazed pot with holes, and I’ve come to learn that it’s actually an orchid pot. I don’t have any luck with orchids. What else would thrive in this pot, indoors or outdoors?~ Elizabeth R.
it is specifically made for orchids. You can then remove the moss to water the plant as needed. We have a wonderful selection of plants to choose from.
and late September, when the thistle is taking sugars to the root system. The herbicide will travel down to kill the roots with the sugars. Since it is a registered herbicide, you need a commercial license to apply it. We would be happy to give you pricing on applications.
Next, remove the burlap from the root ball gently and plant. Make sure the top of the root ball is flush with the existing soil level and backfill with a mixture of 80% soil and 20% compost or Bumper Crop soil amendment. Tamp soil as you backfill so as to avoid air pockets. Finish up with a layer of mulch, keeping it 2’’ away from the stem. Finally, water the plant thoroughly and then check weekly. Q: I have two Angel Trumpet plants that have a white substance on their limbs. I have sprayed them with a 3-in-1 fungicide and it hasn’t worked. I have also cut the plants back. Any suggestions would be appreciated. ~ Karen A: It could be either powdery mildew or scale. Powdery mildew is a fungus normally found on the underside of the leaves, while scale is usually found on the stems. I suggest using Espoma Earth-tone Insect Control that contains natural pyrethrins. Spray directly on to the stems and avoid spraying in full sun.
Q: What’s the best way to get rid of poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac? ~ Kimberly M.
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A: To control poison ivy, oak and sumac, make up a solution of Ortho Poison Ivy Max. Apply to the foliage and stems once small leaves emerge. Or, try Bonide Poison Oak & Ivy ready-to-use spray. Make sure to avoid your desirable plants. Q: I have a rather large, very old schefflera that came from a dish garden many years ago. It is just lovely; over-winters in the house in its own little nook in the living room, and during the summer spends from mid-May until September under the eaves on the deck. It’s very happy, but during the winter I noticed that the leaves and some of the branches get
scale on them. I’ve wiped off as much as I can see, but it still persists. I’ve used an insecticidal soap, and once even treated systemically with a mild malathion solution. I guess the only solution is total repotting, but I am going to need a small crane to get it out of the existing pot. I’d like to keep the pot the same size–don’t really want it getting any larger. Suggestions? ~ Rockie W. A: If the plant is very pot bound, I suggest breaking the pot in order to get the plant out safely and to minimize damage to the root system. Next, I would move it into the new pot making sure you remove some of the old potting soil from the sides and the top. If you decide not to re-pot, I would remove about 2”–3” of old soil from the top of the root ball and replace with new potting soil. Resume feeding with Bonide Liquid Plant Food 10-10-10. Also, spray the plant with water using a plastic mist bottle weekly. This will help to keep the humidity level up. For the scale, continue your program until the plant can be put outside, then spray with Bonide Malathion again. I suggest using Bonide Systemic Insect Control every 8 weeks. Apply to the top of the soil and water lightly. Q: I have a question that I am assuming many local gardeners struggle with... How on earth does one get rid of the dreaded Thistle weed? We have tried Round Up, a mix of Round Up and Weed Be Gone, digging them out deeply, and heavy layers of triple bark mulch. What would your recommendation be?~ Lisa R. A: Canadian Thistle is very difficult to control, however, our Landscape Design/ Build division uses a product called Lontrel, which is listed specifically for thistle. It is a post emergent herbicide that means it has to be applied when foliage is present in late spring, when seedlings are just emerging,
Q: I would like to know why some years my tomato plants grow well and have a lot of tomatoes and other years they do not do well, like last year. I fertilize them properly and give them soaking water during drought with a soaker hose. I am wondering if it is atmospheric conditions (humidity in the air which causes a disease early) or if it is soil conditions. Please advise. ~ Carolyn C. A: Tomatoes issues are becoming very common now due to weather conditions of the last few years: cold wet springs followed by heat with more rain and humidity. For optimal tomato health, follow these guidelines: Light 8 hours or more, otherwise you can have a reduction in harvest. Soil A rich well-drained soil, slightly acidic with a pH of 6.4-6.8 if in the ground. Spacing Plant 2’ apart minimum for good air circulation, otherwise fungal diseases can be an issue. Water 1” per week and 2” during the hot summer. Keep an even moisture level to avoid fruit cracking and also avoid water splashing onto the leaves. Mulch Helps to maintain soil moisture, prevent Blossom End Rot and soil borne diseases, and minimizes spores splashing onto leaves during watering. Fertilizer Use Espoma Tomato-tone organic fertilizer twice per month from May– September. And, don’t over fertilize as too much nitrogen promotes leaf growth at the expense of fruit. Crop Rotation Relocate plants every year to stay ahead of soil borne diseases and pests. Select a location where tomatoes, peppers and potatoes have not grown for three or more years. Fall Clean Up After frost, pull up the plants by the roots and rake up any fallen leaves and fruit. Plants that stayed healthy can be composted, otherwise remove diseased ones and avoid the compost pile.
Picture Perfect Pots!
Fiber Clay
buckscountrygardens.com
Glazed
Terra Cotta 45
STOP WEEDS... IN THEIR CRACKS!
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SAVE TE A THE D G
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Perennial Festival MAY 28 – JUNE 10
There’s an on-going trend these days to
live a greener, cleaner life. Leave a smaller footprint; reduce, reuse and recycle; upcycle household goods and furniture; use alternative energy and so on. It makes sense. With more people on this Earth than ever before producing more waste and trash than needed, it’s wise to take steps now to reduce what we leave behind long after we are gone. One of the easiest and most beneficial ways we can make a difference is to compost. Composting reduces the amount of waste each of us sends to the landfill. In fact, up to 30% of the material we send to landfill is organic and could be composted at home. Composting has other benefits, too. Applying finished compost returns nutrients to the land, holds moisture in gardens and on lawns, contributes to watershed health by controlling run-off and naturally fertilizes and provides structure to the soil. Here is a basic introduction to composting and it can be fun when the whole family participates. Give it a try–your garden, and trash collector, will thank you for it!
Compost is the rich-humus material that results from composting.
There is an old saying that refers to crude oil as “Black Gold”. For serious gardeners, the term “Black Gold” better describes well-aged compost. Compost contributes nutrients and beneficial life to the soil and improves soil structure. It also helps the soil absorb and retain moisture and protects plants from diseases and pests. Use it to enrich the flower and vegetable garden and the soil around shrubs and trees. Better moisture retention means less watering, allowing you to conserve water and reduce runoff pollution. Compost can be added to your garden soil at anytime of the year.
All living things need a certain amount of water and air to sustain itself. The microbes in the compost pile are no different. They function best when the compost materials are about as moist as a wrung-out sponge and are provided with many air passages. Extremes of sun or rain can adversely affect this moisture balance in your pile. For compost sooner than later, turn the pile over with a pitchfork once every ten days to two weeks. Composting consumes large amounts of oxygen and if oxygen is limited, the decaying process slows down. Offensive odors are usually a good indication of a need for more aeration. To resolve, be sure to turn the compost pile every couple of days and add coarser material. Once your pile has finished breaking down, the end result will be a dark brown/black soil. At this point, your new soil, or “Black Gold” according to avid gardeners, is ready to add to your garden. If you start building your compost pile in spring, adding to it over the summer, mixing and lifting the materials to add air and keep the moisture level similar to that of a wrung-out sponge, you can have compost before the snow flies! And if not, you will at least have finished compost by the following spring. While materials will not readily break down in cold weather, they will quickly decompose as soon as the weather warms in the spring. So, keep adding compostables year-round. As we dig compost into our gardens and spread it thinly on our lawns, our land becomes nutrientrich and better able to hold moisture!
Composting 101: The Basics & The Benefits Nancy McIlvaine, Gardening and David Jones, Horticulturist
Composting is the controlled decomposition (decay) of organic ma-
terials such as yard trimmings, manure, kitchen scraps, wood shavings, cardboard, and paper. Proper care must be taken when composting kitchen scraps: leftover food and scraps can be composted but meat, bones and fatty foods (such as cheese, salad dressing, and leftover cooking oil) should be put in the garbage. Other materials can be used such as weeds, flower or vegetable garden waste (disease-free). Layering of materials can be useful, but a complete mixing of ingredients is preferable for the composting process.
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A large compost pile will insulate itself and hold the heat of microbial activity. Its center will be warmer than its edges so maintain a pile that is between 3–5 cubic feet. Piles smaller than 3 cubic feet, will have trouble holding this heat, while piles larger than 5 cubic feet don’t allow enough air to reach the microbes at the center.
buckscountrygardens.com
To create a compost pile, choose a spot on your property that is convenient so you’ll use it, has good sun exposure, and is in a well-drained area. Next, build or buy a bin to keep the compost pile neat and tidy. Purchase a tumbler composter to make aeration as easy as a turn of the crank. Then begin adding your collected organic materials and some moisture. To help the decaying process a bit, add Espoma Organic Compost Starter. It is an all-natural composting aid that helps break down hard to compost items.
Anita Gronendahl
Retrospective Art Show & Sale
Opening Reception: Friday, May 1, 2015 • 5pm to 8pm Additional Dates: May 2 & 3 • May 9 & 10 • 12pm to 5pm or by appointment. The Barn Studio Gallery
(1 MILE FROM RT 413, PLUMSTEAD TWP)
4783 Landisville Road Doylestown, PA 18902
The Retrospective Art Show and Sale will be held at the Barn Studio Gallery in Plumsteadville. This will be the last viewing and sale of Anita Gronedahl’s art work and will include original water colors, sold out limited edition serigraphs and Anita’s most popular serigraphs in limited supply.
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Anita Gronendahl was a lifelong resident of the Delaware Valley until her passing in January of 1994. She attended the Philadelphia College of Art where she cultivated her natural talents in graphic design and illustration. Anita eventually focused on hand-pulled, limited edition serigraphs which she created in her Barn Studio Gallery, a converted eighteenth century barn. Anita achieved a number of effects with the medium from subtle realism to highly graphic, with colors ranging from brilliant to pastel, portraying her favorite images of coastal scenes, florals, landscapes, and animals. These serigraphs and several watercolors won Anita over 100 awards throughout her career.
With a wealth of information available on the internet, it is easy to get lost trying to figure out what the best products are to use safely in your garden and landscape. While proper watering and ventilation go a long way in protecting your beloved plants from disease and insects, sometimes you need extra help. When disease and insects strike, early detection plays a key role in returning your plants to full health. Check your plants weekly for spots, yellowing and signs of insect infestation, and use our guide to help diagnose and treat your garden for anything you find. For those who are organic-minded, this list is for you! Your garden will stay in tip-top shape from season to season with these useful tips. Black Spots on Roses Roses are particularly susceptible for developing black spots on their leaves. Caused by a fungus, black spot is primarily spread by rainfall and the problem increases as the weather becomes more humid. Early on, the leaves will develop spots and yellowing and will eventually fall off if left untreated. The best way to treat this disease is to be proactive. At the beginning of the season, treat roses with Bonide Copper Fungicide or Espoma Earth-tone Garden Fungicide. Both of these organic products go a long way in promoting good health in your plants.
Powdery Mildew Many perennials, ornamentals and vegetables are susceptible to this fungus which reveals itself as a white coating on the surface of leaves and sometimes buds. Every gardener wants to squeeze in as many plants as possible into their garden to maximize space, but cramming plants close together can cause poor air circulation, which can then lead to powdery mildew. And, while overhead irrigation is an easy solution to watering your garden and landscape, this method can sometimes lead to leaves staying wet for longer periods of time than usual, giving powdery mildew an opportunity to set in. Organic products such as Bonide Copper Fungicide and Espoma Earth-tone 3n1 Disease Control are both excellent choices for treating this disease, along with proper garden sanitation and watering practices.
Leaf Spot
These little pests love warmth, meaning they love to congregate in your houseplants, though they can also be found outside. Inside your home, you want to use the safest treatment possible for ridding yourself of these insects. An organic product such as Espoma Earth-tone Insect Control helps control various stages of aphids and white flies that are present on the leaves of your plants. When using this product outside, do your best to spray early in the morning or in the evening, and avoid spraying on scorching hot days.
Scale Insects If you’ve ever observed a sticky substance on the leaves of your houseplants, trees or shrubs, it may very well be the tell-tale sign of a scale insect infestation. These insects suck the nutrients out of your plants, leaving behind a sticky substance, better known as honey dew. This honey dew, in turn, attracts even more scale insects to your plant. The obvious first step in combatting a scale insect
Garden Pharmacy: The Organic Way
David Jones, Horticulturist and Dalissa Reeder, Social Media & Photography infestation is to be vigilant in checking your plants for an outbreak. Not only will the underside of your leaves have a sticky substance on them, but the leaves may also start to turn yellow or black, and eventually drop. Bonide Bon-Neem and Espoma Earth-tone Insect Control are organic products that can be sprayed onto plants to help keep the insect level low, thus minimizing damage.
Caterpillars
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Caterpillars aren’t all bad, but they are unwanted when trying to grow a vegetable garden or prize winning flowers or shrubs. Moth and butterfly caterpillars love to chew through leaves, especially on tomato plants, cabbage and kale. Young seedlings are especially prone to decimation. A preventative measure that can help protect your garden is proper clean up of garden beds before each winter. Some moths can overwinter in garden debris. Watch your garden weekly for signs of infestation to help in catching the problem before it becomes a major issue. Organic Bonide Thuricide can be sprayed onto plant leaves safely to deter caterpillars, yet leave beneficial insects unharmed. Also organic is Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew. If you are attracting butterflies with a butterfly garden but also want a healthy vegetable garden, locate your gardens in separate areas of your property. You can also hand pick caterpillars you find in your vegetable garden and relocate them to your butterfly garden.
buckscountrygardens.com
More common on house plants, tomatoes, shrubs and some perennials, leaf spot appears as black or yellowish patches on leaves. The spots tend to start on the outer edge of the leaf and work their way in, sometimes creating a circular pattern. If left untreated, the leaves eventually wither and drop off. Weather conditions such as heavy rain and high humidity can rapidly increase the occurrence of leaf spot. Spray organic fungicide such as Espoma Earth-tone 3n1 Disease Control or Bonide Copper Fungicide onto your plants as a preventative measure, and monitor them regularly for signs of disease.
Aphids & White Flies
Keep the Birds Singing... with
lyr i c s u p r e m e w i l d b i r d f o o d
DID You Know? Providing outstanding customer service for over thirty years, Bucks Country Gardens delivers what we promise. Every day. All year long. Here are a few services you might not know we offer: Furniture Delivery & Setup We don’t just deliver, we will also assemble and arrange your new furniture–ready for you to enjoy! Gardener’s Gold Club members enjoy FREE Delivery. See purchase requirements below. Delivery fees for non-members vary depending upon the purchase and destination for your delivery. Plant & Bulk Delivery Whether it’s bulk materials, a large tree or a one-gallon perennial, we will deliver it to your door. Gardener’s Gold Club members enjoy FREE Delivery. See purchase requirements below. FREE DELIVERY DETAILS Requires Gardener’s Gold Club membership with qualifying minimum purchase: For Patio Furniture, Nursery, Greenhouse & Garden Supply: Free Delivery up to 10 miles with $500 min. purchase; after 10 miles, regular rates apply. Lehigh Valley & Main Line: Free Delivery with $2500 min. purchase. New Jersey Shore: Free Delivery with $5000 min. purchase. For Bulk Mulch & Materials: Free Delivery up to 5 miles with purchase of 5 yards or 5 tons; Free Delivery up to 10 miles with purchase of 10 yards.
Lyric WiLd Bird Food Contains only the finest & freshest ingredients Scientifically tested, developed & marketed to appeal to a wide variety of wild birds Free of filler & waste Better quality seeds mean more birds at your feeder–again & again!
Planting Let us do the dirty work! We plant trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals–plus, we extend our plant guarantee to two full years! Soil Testing Bring a sample of your soil (equivalent to a coffee can size) to our garden pharmacy for pH testing and advice, free of charge. If you require additional information, take-home soil testing kits and Penn State University mail-in tests are also available. House Calls One of our garden experts will come to your home and discuss aby garden questions. Horticultural House Call fee is $99 which includes a one hour consultation or assessment. Landscape Design/Build Our professional Landscape Division will knock your socks off with the most talented designers, experienced technicians and award-winning projects. Our commitment to our clients and the success of each of project, from the drafting table to the final touches, is unsurpassed. Gardener’s Gold Club members considering a landscape installation enjoy a complimentary one-hour site visit from one of our designers.
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walpole installation From a simple mailbox to an extensive pergola, Bucks Country Gardens’ crews can install all Walpole Outdoors Products as a specific project or part of a larger landscape installation.
Available at Bucks
Country Gardens
Fountain Setup Purchase one of our fountains and we will deliver and set it up for you. Prices for delivery and set-up vary based upon fountain purchase and delivery distance.
Visit buckscountrygardens.com or call us at 215.766.7800 for more information.
Celebrate Our Impact
In 1971, Wheelbarrow Hill
in Holicong became the Village Improvement Association (VIA) of Doylestown’s first designer house. The tradition has continued for 40 years because of tremendous community support. Without this support, this yearly fundraising event would not be possible.
Formation
After a VIA member attended a West Coast designer showhouse, the VIA decided to launch a similar event. Her experience and suggestions made the first Bucks County Designer House become a reality. Committee members donated their services by ironing curtains and painting walls. Funds from the VIA’s first designer house, Wheelbarrow Hill, were contributed to the building fund for the new Doylestown Hospital on West State Street and set the stage for the annual contribution to the hospital.
Since 1971, the VIA has contributed a significant portion of Designer House proceeds to support Doylestown Hospital providing funding for projects such as the Children’s Village childcare facility, Special Care Nursery, Transitional Care Unit, new Critical Care Unit, the Heart Center, Radiology services, mammography services, facility renovations, Women’s Services, and the Maternity Department. Funds raised from 2006 through 2010 benefited the Emergency Department Campaign. In 2011, the VIA committed to a $1,000,000 multi-year pledge for a new VIA Maternity Center at Doylestown Hospital. This commitment will be completed in 2015. Since 1971, the VIA has donated in excess of $3 million dollars to Doylestown Hospital. Beginning in the mid-1990s, the Designer House Committee expanded its reach by using some event proceeds to further benefit the local community and meet the VIA mission. As a result the Community Response was created and funding was also provided to the James-Lorah Memorial Home, Welfare and Women’s Scholarship Committees. More than $460,000 has been donated to these efforts.
Designer House Gala
Empty House Party
VIA Designer House Committee members should be very proud of these accomplishments and their positive impact on the community. ~Written by dedicated committee member, Jackie Kennedy.
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In 1991, the idea of bringing back the “bare bones party” led to what is now the Empty House Party. At the first Empty House Party held at Mill Creek Farm, guests enjoyed writing and drawing on the walls that were to be refinished starting the next day. Refreshments were supplied by Doylestown Hospital.
This grand staircase will welcome visitors at the 2015 Designer House, April 26–May 30.
buckscountrygardens.com
Initially, the opening event was only a “bare bones” party inviting guests to view the house before the designers went to work. Sawhorses were the base of a big makeshift wooden table put in place to accommodate the refreshments, which were supplied by the committee. A more normal preview party was organized in the late1970s, but, for the first four or five designer houses, the VIA members provided the food from their own kitchens for the party, and their husbands tended bar.
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I suggest watering is 90% art and 10% science. Many of you will disagree and I’m ok with that. If watering were all science, then there would only be one way…a right way. There are actually many ways to water plants–some better than others–but no one way that is the only way. Just ask any of us at Bucks Country and you’ll likely get different answers. Sounds like art to me. This is my art of watering.
A.
B.
Start with the proper tools.
Watering science.
A. Heavy Duty Hose Kink-free hoses are expensive but are so easy to use and reduce watering time. #64918 $89.99
➥ Deep watering encourages deep roots. Deep roots equals stronger, healthier plants.
B. Watering Wand w/diffuser & shut-off valve Lots to choose from. Find one you like. #81789 (16”) $19.99 • #82757 (30”) $39.99
➥ Most important time to water is when plants are dry…ANYTIME!
C. Watering Can I mix my own fertilizer for best results so a two-gallon can is the only way to go. #86528 $9.99
➥ Worst time to water is the evening.
D. Oscillating Metal Sprinkler Sprinklers are for lawns. Water plants and shrubs with a hose and wand. #46994 $34.99 E. Gator Bags The best and easiest way to water young trees…especially ones far from a source of water. #17605 (20 Gal) $39.99
Water when needed.
C.
Immediately after planting. To help settle the soil and sooth the roots.
➥ Check top 2”–3‘’ of root ball for moisture. Water if dry. ➥ Water around the drip line of the plant, not on the crown or trunk. ➥ Nature normally provides enough water for established trees, shrubs, perennials and lawns. ➥ More plants are killed by irrigation overwatering than underwatering. Tom Hebel and David Jones, Horticulturist
Weekly for trees, twice weekly for shrubs, every other day for planters and new lawns, daily for baskets. More frequently during hot dry weather and less frequently during cool wet weather. Before the onset of winter. The last watering in the fall is the most critical of the year.
Water as much as needed. ➥ 10–20 gallons for trees ➥ 1–10 gallons for shrubs ➥ 30–60 minutes for lawns ➥ Until the water drips out the bottom for planters and baskets
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E.
➥ Measure gallons from a hose by clocking the time it takes to fill a one-gallon container.
buckscountrygardens.com
D.
Immediately when you get your plant home! Unless it dripped all over your car, it is likely dry and thirsty.
➥ Best time to water is early morning.
Fac t:
the trig eff ger ect s a ive nat nes en u Liq i this prestigious s d ral fe udorsement! oes ar d Fen not inst ce D dim inct eer inis in d & R h, i eer abb t ne & r it R ver abb epe nee its llen ds . Be t to b cau e ro se tat ed.
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Pond & Water Garden Care 6 e s s e n t i a l p r o d u c t s fo r wate r featu r es
Unlike natural ponds, man-made water gardens and koi ponds require proper care and maintenance to remain healthy and beautiful. While water gardens look “natural,” they could never survive without the help from a few necessary products that can keep a successful, well-functioning pond year after year! Here are just a few products designed to work synergistically with the natural process that will keep you on the right track for starting and/or maintaining your pond or water feature. MICROBE-LIFT PL This is a wonderful, natural product to help keep your pond looking clean and clear by creating a healthy pond environment. It is safe for household pets that may drink from the pond. One of the most important things the Microbe Lift PL does is that it seeds and maintains the biological filter with beneficial bacteria, which is extremely important to do when starting a new pond. It also aids in reducing ammonia and nitrogen levels, breaks down dead algae, improves dissolved oxygen levels and digests organic sludge reducing the frequency of cleaning. Microbe Lift PL is definitely a staple product to have when building a brand new pond or starting your pond back up in the spring.
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ACCU-CLEAR Pond water may become discolored from suspended soil, sludge, run-off after a heavy rain, or when the pond filter needs maintenance. In most cases the water will clear naturally in a few days. A pond clarifier like Accu-Clear works by causing the
ALGAE FIX Excess algae growth is the water gardener’s number one complaint. Many ponds develop some form of unsightly algae growth during the water gardening season. This product will effectively control “green water” algae blooms, string algae and blanket weed. It will keep ornamental ponds, fountains and water gardens clean and clear and will not harm your live plants. Please Note: Before adding Algeafix, make certain that your pond or fountain has vigorous aeration to avoid fish loss due to low oxygen levels.
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SIMPLY-CLEAR Simply-Clear is a wonderful, fast-acting bacterial pond clarifier. It consumes ingredients such as phosphates and nitrates that cloud the water. This product works through natural bacterial action. Simply-Clear is a bacteria that feeds on small-size organic materials that often cause cloudy water compounds. Simply-Clear bacteria will quickly clear pond water and digest and eliminate the floating particles. You can also use Simply-Clear in your fountain or bird bath as this product is noncorrosive and non-staining. Also safe for use around pets.
tiny suspended particles to clump together and settle to the bottom of the pond or be removed by the filter. Accu-clear will help keep pond water clear during peak summer months and help your filters work more efficiently. You may also use whenever a cloudy haze appears after cleaning the pond to maintain crystal clear water! Accu-Clear can be used once every week to keep filters performing at maximum efficiency.
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STRESS COAT Stress Coat is a special formula containing a slime coat replenisher and Aloe Vera, nature’s own liquid bandage. This unique formula not only eases stress but also promotes the healing of damaged fish tissue. Stress Coat also contains electrolytes, such as sodium, magnesium and chloride, that helps reduce the loss of electrolytes through the skin and damaged tissue. The inclusion of Aloe Vera reduces inflammation of damaged fish tissue. This product is recommended for use when establishing a new pond, when adding new fish to a pond and when changing pond water. Stress Coat also removes chlorine from the water, breaks the chloramines bond and removes heavy metals from tap water. POND SALT Pond Salt is not just a table salt (sodium chloride). It is made from evaporated seawater and is allnatural. Pond Salt helps immensely at improving gill function to reduce stress and nitrate toxicity as well as adds essential electrolytes that can be lost during times of capture and fish handling. These electrolytes are essential for the uptake of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide and ammonium across gill membranes. Additionally, we have an assortment of pumps and filters that may be extremely beneficial to any water feature in keeping it clean and clear. Visit the Pond Department, located in our covered atrium, for all of your pond, fish, water garden and fountain needs.
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Bucks Country Gardens also offers free pond water testing at our Garden Pharmacy. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your water feature!
Tiffany Rausch, Greenhouse & Pond
Our veteran staff is knowledgeable in the real estate business and understands the surrounding community. Even better – we will save you money while you do it by earning a 20% rebate on your realtor’s commission! See the example below of what you could earn!
Home Sale Price $100,000 $200,000 $300,000 $600,000
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For more information on buying a new home or selling your current home, call today at 267-525-7900!
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From Garden to Table Grow Your own VeGGies & Herbs
Basil • Thyme • OreganO • Parsley • minT • rOsemary • sage heirlOOm TOmaTOes • PePPers • eggPlanT • squash • melOns • CuCumBers • leTTuCe rasPBerries • BlueBerries • sTrawBerries & mOre!
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Shop the new Spartina 449 Spring/Summer 2015 Collection now at Bucks Country Gardens!
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Grow fresh & delicious veggies, herbs & fruit in your garden or on your patio in containers. From seeds to starter plants to organic fertilizers, we have everything you need to get growing! Available today at bucks Country Gardens.
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Blankets, Teething Toys, Shoes & Hats, Picture Frames and more!
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Answers for Employee Matching Game on Page 29: A = Greg H B = Becky J C = Tiffany R D = Donna D E = Frank P F = Mary K G = Zarrus W H = Tyler D I = Sean P J = Julie S K = Briton R L = Dalton L M = Thomas D N = Ed B O = Amy S-H P = Chad K Q = Alexis B R = Dustin K
Kids in the Garden The Art of Beans Create a bean mosaic! WHAT YOU’LL NEED cardboard pencil ruler
small paint brush craft glue dried beans
SAFETY NOTE: Raw kidney beans are poisonous if ingested. If you do choose to use kidney beans, make sure a child does not eat them.
Beautiful Beans
Beans…you probably never give beans much thought except maybe when grownups ask you to finish your lima beans at dinner. A bean is actually an edible seed called a legume. The legume parent plant grows its seeds–the beans–inside a pod. Bean plants are often divided by their growing habits. Some plants climb tall and attach to a structure like a pole or trellis, while others are bushy. Just as the bean plants vary, edible beans differ greatly in size, shape, and color. Some beans are black. Some are white. Some are dark red to pink. Others are even speckled all over! You likely know the names of several common beans like green beans, kidney beans, lima beans, and pinto beans.
3. “Paint” one section of the design with craft glue. 4. Adhere one color of beans to the glue. 5. Select another section of the design and repeat steps 3 and 4. Repeat until the cardboard is covered. Project courtesy of: http://www.marthastewart.com/268952/magical-beans-mosaic
If you’re looking for a good book about beans, visit your local library and seek out this awesome book!
One Bean
by Anne Rockwell This is the story of one little bean and what happens when you add a wet paper towel. One Bean illustrates how to sprout a bean seed and observe plant growth. The book includes additional bean activities and facts.
Try This!
Think beans are as cool as we do? Grab a grownup and try these additional ideas… • • • •
Explore “germination”. Sprout a bean in a glass jar. Try an easy sewing project and make bean bags. Throw on your kitchen apron and whip up some White Bean Dip. Grow a bean teepee in your garden as a wonderful secret hiding place. Lisa Valetta, Customer Service
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Because beans are larger than many seeds, it’s fun and easy to watch them sprout. With a bean seed, a little water, a little help from a grownup and lots of sunlight, anyone can grow some beautiful beans!
2. Draw your design on the cardboard.
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Beans aren’t ordinary though; they’re extraordinary, really. They provide your body with protein, fiber, and iron. Beans can be eaten fresh from the garden or purchased dried for cooking. And did you know that beans also have an important role in history? Beans were grown together with corn and squash (known as the “Three Sisters”) by Native Americans.
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Choose a design for your mosaic. Be creative! You can use your ruler to make geometric patterns or draw your favorite still life like a fish or flower. Think of your design like a paint-by-numbers painting.
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Haring Brothers, Inc country butcher shop
quality meats personalized service everything cut-to-order 5484 haring
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mon thru fri 7am–6pm sat 7am–5pm
What’s All the Buzz About? Bees in the Garden How to create a Bee-Friendly Garden Bees are extremely important insects that pollinate many of our favorite edibles and ornamental plants. Approximately 4,000 described bee species exist in North America with more than 300 species in Pennsylvania alone. Creating a bee garden is fun and exciting and a great project for kids! Children love sunflowers, as do bees and birds. Create diversity with color. Some creatures may be color blind, but not bees. The more color and variety of flowers in your garden, the more bees you’ll attract. In fact, bees are particularly fond of blue, purple, yellow and white flowers. Native plants are always a great choice for attracting native bees, but many ornamental flowers will also help feed and support the bee population. Plant your flowers in clusters. Larger groupings of flowers attract more bees. Even if you only have a small garden or a few containers to plant in, it will be beneficial to local foraging bees. When selecting your plants, plan for a succession of blooms–spring, summer and fall. This will ensure that bees have a reason to return to your backyard month after month. Bees also prefer to forage in sunny areas protected from wind. Sunny spots produce the most prolific flowers as well. You can also plant flowers in the vegetable garden as it will help increase pollination of your vegetables for a better crop. You can also help by placing a Mason Bee House in your garden to boost pollination levels. Mason bees are incredible pollinators. Each one visits as many as 1,000 blooms per day. And finally, it is important for the bees to have a water source so add a birdbath, shallow bowl with water or a fountain to your bee garden.
Ten Most Favorite Plants of Bees: Crocus Foxglove Heliotrope Lavender Sedum
Neonicotinoids are a Pennsylvania gardener’s main line of defense against invasive species such as Japanese Beetles and Asian Longhorned Beetles, so being aware of proper use is important in finding the balance between supporting the bee population while combatting pests. Another problem that the world is facing in regard to bees is Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Colony Collapse Disorder is defined as a dead colony with no adult bees but with a live queen and usually honey and immature bees still present. According to the US Department of Agriculture, no scientific cause for CCD has been proven but there are many different theories ranging from deformed wing virus to incorrect pesticide use to nutrition problems from lack of diversity in pollen and nectar sources. More likely than not, “the condition may be a result of a combination of two or more of these factors and not necessarily the same factors in the same order in every instance,” as noted on their website. Without knowing the direct cause of CCD, taking precautionary measures in your garden and landscape can go a long way in ensuring a bee population for future generations. If honey bees are present in your garden and landscape, do not use a neonicotinoid pesticide on flowering plants or blooming weeds. And, before applying any pesticide, read the directions carefully. Make sure to apply chemicals in the evening when bees are less active and many flower buds are closed. Consider creating a separate garden specifically to attract bees, and include a wide range of flowers and plants to support the nutritional needs of the bees.
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Nancy McIlvaine, Gardening and David Jones, Horticulturalist
buckscountrygardens.com
Anise hyssop Bee balm Borage Calendula Catmint
Pesticides & Pollinators Lately there has been a lot of commentary in the media over the declining bee population and how that problem relates to the use of pesticides, and more specifically neonicotinoids. Dr. Joe Bischoff of American Hort says, “Growing plants, tending crops, and managing greenhouses and landscapes are roles for responsible stewards, and our industry’s access to and use of insecticides must be approached with the same level of respect. Neonicotinoids are insecticides, capable of killing various insects, and, when used appropriately and as directed by the approved EPA labels, they are useful tools in the fight against invasive insect species and in ongoing efforts to manage pests.”
Lime as Fast as Lightning Your lawn...You fertilize it. You water and mow it to the right height but it still looks pale and thin. It’s frustrating...you wonder how other people can have success in growing a deep green and thick stand of grass. What you may be missing might be your soil’s pH. Now we know the mere mention of ‘pH’ brings back often unpleasant memories of high school chemistry class, but it’s not complex at all. Simply put, pH refers to how acidic or alkaline your soil is. Its measured on a scale from 1 to 14: 7 is considered neutral with lower numbers being more acidic and higher numbers alkaline. Most turf grass prefers to grow in soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7 –very slightly acidic. Outside this range, the grass can’t efficiently use the nutrients in fertilizer. Think of it this way, if pH is too low or high you’re wasting much of the fertilizer you apply. Get it right and grass can use all of the fertilizer and reward your efforts with a deep green color and thick dense turf. In the mid-Atlantic region, where rainfall is abundant, soils tend to be acidic. While this is good for pine and oak trees, it is not ideal for growing a high quality lawn. You might have heard that correcting this is very easy by applying lime. You may have even tried it and been put off by handling hundreds of pounds of dusty material that turned your driveway white. It doesn’t need to be that way.
At Bucks Country Gardens, we have a new product called Espoma Organic Lightning Lime and it is no ordinary lime product! A single 30lb. bag can cover up to 5,000 sq. ft., meaning you save the effort of spreading up to 500 lbs. of ordinary lime over your lawn. Lightning Lime is virtually dust-free and granulated for easy applications. And it can correct acid soils in as little as six weeks so your lawn can look its best. Lightning Lime is enhanced with natural humic acid that helps the soil and plants convert the lime into an immediately available form. It’s ultra-fast and often a single application in the early spring is often all that is required to get things right. Apply Lightning Lime any time the ground is not frozen–ideally in the early spring. Use it in conjunction with the Espoma Organic Annual Feeding Program. All Espoma Organic Lawn Products are part of our #safepaws program so kids and pets can romp and roll on the lawn without concern and you can have the thick, green vigorous lawn you’ve always wanted.
Contain Yourself
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In a hurry? Go planter Pick up a Ready-toer designers. created by our Contain
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Create your own container garden~ the perfect patio accent piece or colorful mini garden.
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buckscountrygardens.com
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Bucks Country Gardens
Landscape Design/Build
Outdoor Seating Always Available. Reservations never required.
It’s simple. We design. We build. We manage. We guarantee. Outdoor spaces created just for you. Garden PlantinGs Color PlantinGs sPeCimen trees Water Gardens Container Gardens PerGolas, arbors & deCks Custom Garden FenCinG seasonal maintenanCe landsCaPe liGhtinG stone, briCk & FlaGstone Walks, Walls & Patios FirePits & FirePlaCes feAturIng WalPole outdoors® arChiteCtural ProduCts
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1057 N. Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18902 | 215.766.7800 | buckscountrygardens.com | #PA020339
sat. , ap r il 2 5 Dog owners with their pets in tow are invited to learn about a new outdoor pet safety initiative on Saturday, April 25 at Bucks Country Gardens in Doylestown. Wagging tails will enjoy the first-ever Safe Paws event at the garden center from 11am–2pm. Safe Paws, sponsored in partnership with Espoma and Bucks Country Gardens, will include on-site adoptions, a Safe Paws photo booth, treats and more from over a dozen local vendors. All dogs in attendance must be leashed, tagged and properly vaccinated.
1 1 am – 2 pm The event runs from 11am–2pm and will be held at Bucks Country Gardens, 1057 N Easton Road, Doylestown, PA. Please call 215.766.7800 for more information. To download a Safe Paws Guide Book, visit www.espoma.com.
buc k s count r y ga r dens About the Espoma Company The Espoma Company is a fourth generation, family-owned business that has been the pioneer in organic gardening since 1929. Espoma products work in harmony with nature to grow beautiful lawns & gardens, preserve natural resources, and make a greener world for future generations. Espoma offers a complete selection of natural plant foods, lawn foods, control products, and potting mixes that are available nationwide. For additional information, visit www.espoma.com or find them on Facebook.
The Espoma Company, a pioneer in natural gardening solutions since 1929, recently launched Safe Paws at The Philadelphia Flower Show and received an overwhelming response. The Safe Paws campaign aims to equip responsible pet owners with tips to keep pets safe outdoors by avoiding the dangers of common lawn hazards. “We’re taking the lead to help pet owners learn how to have a safe outdoor environment for their pets,” says Jeremy Brunner, vice president of Espoma. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates some 90 million pounds of pesticides are applied to lawns each year. It’s common to see flags and signs warning people to ‘keep pets and children off’ lawns to which chemical fertilizers and pesticides have been applied by landscaping and lawn maintenance companies. When homeowners apply these chemicals on their own, they typically won’t post any flags, warning neighbors and other dogs walking nearby.
Brunner recommends switching to organic, pet-safe lawn foods, like the Espoma Organic Annual Feeding Program, to grow lush, green grass. Organic lawn food keeps paws clean from harmful lawn chemicals that can easily be ingested or tracked into homes.
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Lawn chemicals are potentially harmful to both cats and dogs that run and play in yards, neighborhoods and parks, and may be a contributing factor in the increase of cancer in pets. According to the National Canine Cancer Foundation, an alarming one out of every three dogs is diagnosed with cancer.
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Gardener’s Gold Club G
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Are You a Member Yet? Shopping at Bucks Country Gardens has never been more rewarding! Join our Gardener’s Gold Club and enjoy fantastic benefits today. Simply fill out the form below. If you were a member of our now-retired Garden Rewards Club, re-register by providing us with your address, phone number and email. Validate your membership and reap the benefits of being a Gardener’s Gold Club member!
Exclusive Benefits, Just for You! FREE DELIVERY
Patio Furniture • Nursery • Greenhouse Garden Supply • Bulk Mulch & Materials See page 49 for minimum purchase requirements.
FREE consultation
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daily specials enewsletter Blog post alerts sales & events & more!
SPECIAL sales & EVENTS bonus bucks Monthly eCoupons picket fences magazine with a Gardener’s Gold Club members-only coupon
Become a Gardener’s Gold Club member today! Simply provide us with your name, address, phone number and email address. *Required fields.
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Gardener’s Gold Club Number
may 1–31
20% OFF Any One Item* G
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*For B&B Shade and Flowering Trees: 20% OFF thru 4/30/15; 10% OFF 5/1–5/31/15. Must be a Gardener’s Gold Club member to receive savings. Must present coupon at time of purchase. Excludes clearance items, manufacturer-protected products, delivery and Landscape Design/Build services, previous purchases and gift cards. Cannot combine with any other offer, coupon or sale. Limit one coupon per person per day.
bucks country gardens 1057 N. Easton Road | Doylestown, PA 18902 | 215.766.7800 | buckscountrygardens.com
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Spring House 215-646-5730
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BROOKS & BARBER
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