Bloom holiday2015

bloom 2015 HOLIDAY

Inspiration for your Garden, Home & Lifestyle from Al’s Garden Center

17 months of

Christmas Holiday Gift Guide

Winter Whites container gardening The Perfect

Prime Rib

Please join us for our 15th Annual

Al’s of Sherwood Thursday, Nov. 5th 4pm - 9pm Al’s of Woodburn Friday, Nov. 6th 4pm - 9pm Al’s of Gresham Saturday, Nov. 7th 4pm - 8pm

Stroll through designer decorated Christmas trees as you listen to live holiday music. Relax in the warm greenhouses filled with colorful, freshly grown poinsettias. Enter to win one of several festive prizes, and enjoy delicious food and wine for sale.

Let the holidays begin!

Admission is FREE

Arrive early in Gresham for our Poinsettia Greenhouse Tour!

3:30pm - Al’s of Gresham We’re opening up our growing greenhouses in Gresham and allowing tours through our thousands of beautiful poinsettias. The tour will be guided by Al’s very own Jack and Mark Bigej. This is a popular tour, and space is limited, so register now while there is still space.

Learn more and register at als-gardencenter.com/eol

bloom HOLIDAY 2015

In this issue: 4

Letter From Jack

5

8

A Season to Shine

17 Months of Christmas

with Al’s Purple People

Winter Whites

Container Gardening

12

Al’s Holiday Gift Guide

18

Holiday Decorating

20

Princettia Poinsettia:

21

‘Tis the Season

with Poinsettias and Houseplants

Unique variety for 2015

a PRIME-time for Grilling

Holiday 2015 |

3

A Season to Shine

T

he excitement of the holidays has been mounting for months and I can’t believe it is finally here! My youngest granddaughters who are 8 have been reminding me since early fall that Christmas is coming and the hustle and bustle at the retail stores confirms that this is true. Though I am looking forward to the sheer excitement of the season, I am also cherishing the small moments that make Christmas special to me…time spent with my three grandkids returning home from college for the break, the holiday choir concerts, the church plays, and time with my wife, kids and the other ten grandkids who are growing like weeds right before my eyes!

As we head into the holidays, my family and I would like to thank you for being a part of Al’s journey from a fruit stand into three full service garden centers and a grower over the past 67 years. Wherever you have joined us along our journey, we are thankful for your friendship and trust in our business as we have changed and evolved to serve your garden and landscape needs.

In this holiday issue of Bloom, we hope to share an insider look of what goes on at Al’s behind the scenes, share a preview of the several holiday treasures you can expect to discover in our magical Christmas displays and give you inspiration and new ideas for holiday-themed decorating with poinsettias and houseplants.

Set-up and preparations begin earlier than you would imagine for the holiday displays at Al’s Garden Centers. All it takes is a touch of magic and a whole lot of help from our purple crew! Read on for a glimpse into what is necessary to get Al’s holiday ready. Our Head Grower Jill West, Gift Buyer Candace Moffatt, and Visual Display Manager Barb Florig, have come together to share their process and purpose on the road to Al’s final holiday show.

Poinsettias are the signature plant of the holiday season and at Al’s, we have made it our mission to grow several different varieties and colors so that we can offer a plant that is perfect for every person’s palette and home décor.

Poinsettias also pair well with houseplants. In the article Holiday Decorating with Poinsettias and Indoor Houseplants (page 18), Al’s Houseplant Buyer Judy Alleruzzo shares three popular poinsettia and houseplant combinations that make

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decorating easy and give ideas to round out the displays in your home. The three themes, First Frost, Lux Lodge, and 12 Days of Christmas all offer unique looks that will accent three distinct and popular home decorating styles in the Pacific Northwest.

At Al’s, the holidays are a time to shine and to bring people together to share good spirit and cheer. The season wouldn’t be complete without special events and the gathering of friends and family that make it all worthwhile. Join us for Al’s premiere holiday kick-off, our Evening of Lights, at all three retail stores. Come along on our poinsettia greenhouse tour in Gresham and see what it takes to grow poinsettias from starts to finished plants. Don’t miss out on the magic of Storytime with Mrs. Claus and our Holiday Kids’ Club, where we will be planting magic beans with a message for the season. Check our event listing on page 22 for dates and times of special events per store.

As always, the end of another great year gives me the opportunity to reflect on all of my blessings and share my gratitude with you for making Al’s Garden Center and my family a part of your life and landscape. One of my favorite sayings is that I’ve never worked a day in my life.

When you do what you love, it isn’t work. Thank you for giving me the chance to share my passion with you.

God Bless and here’s to good health in the New Year!

Al’s Son & 2nd Generation Owner

17 Christmas H

bloom Purple People

Months of

ave you ever wondered how the heck we are able to produce such lovely Christmas displays? Head Grower Jill West, Gift Buyer Candace Moffatt, and Visual Display Manager, Barb Florig sit down to give you a glimpse behind the curtain.

Let’s Start with the Poinsettias ‘Tis the Season

Our actual preparation for Christmas starts in June the previous year.

It all starts with Jill West, head grower for Al’s, who receives trial plants from vendors and grows them alongside our regular crop to see if she would want to grow them next year.

While we are actually planning what to grow for next year, we’re also enjoying the current season and sharing it all with our customers at the Evening of Lights, the first week in November. The preparation for this event actually starts back in September, as it takes a while for the 4 person visual display team, lead by Barb Florig, to decorate all those beautiful trees for all three stores!

NOV. 2014

JUNE 2014

Let’s go Shopping!

Next comes our gift buyer Candace Moffatt. She’s looking ahead to next year’s Christmas the first week of December. She’ll have a good read on what customers are gravitating towards, and those ideas are what she uses when she goes to buy. It’s off to Amsterdam the 2nd week of December. Europeans tend to be a year ahead of the US as far as trends go – so we gladly take our lead from them! Candace will shop the showrooms of the Christmas market, taking lots of photos of the latest trends and creative ideas. Then it’s back home to come up with key trends that will be the tree themes for Al’s next year.

DEC. 2014 Holiday 2015 |

5

It’s all About the Themes

Candace and Barb spend 10 days in Atlanta market shopping for Christmas – can you imagine! From the pictures and notes collected in Amsterdam, they finalize our Christmas themes- about 20 in all. Since market showrooms are organized by theme, if Candace sees numerous showrooms featuring the same trend, then it’s sure to be a hit! For example, some themes may develop from a single color. This year white was very big, as was copper. Some themes can get very big depending on what is in market. The Salvage theme was getting really popular, and evolved into another theme all together called Country.

Some themes we enjoy each and every year, such as Traditional Christmas, Old World Ornaments, and Nativity. Many of these are collector items. A more trendy or fashionable theme may need a little time to develop and take off. We tested an Urban look last year, which was totally different than anything we’ve done before, and it did well. This year, we’re able to expand on that theme and bring in more options for you to enjoy.

Also in January, Head Grower Jill picks out poinsettia varieties for the following Christmas. She bases this decision on what was seen at trials, tours of other nurseries, as well as what happened throughout our own selling season.

JAN. 2015

Time’s Up! While you are purchasing vegetable starts and enjoying

spring, our Gift Buyer Candace is still working on Christmas, determining quantities and finalizing all orders for what she saw at the Christmas markets. Everything is purchased by the 1st of April to ensure that they are delivered by July 1st.

FEB./MARCH 2015

Christmas in June?

It’s like Christmas around here as new products start to arrive, and our receiving department separates them, with our themes in mind. Each receiving rack has a theme, so when each item is taken out of the box it’s placed on its corresponding rack. This helps streamline everything, when it comes time to display and set the floor.

Visual designers discuss the floor plans and the placement of each tree. We determine the props and added fixtures needed to create the complete feel of each theme.

JUNE/JULY 2015 Believe it or not, the poinsettias start arriving at the farm. Those that are destined for smaller pots (4” and 6”) are planted directly in the size they will finish in. Those that will eventually become larger pots (8” and 10”) are first planted in smaller pots until they root out and grow several inches. This allows them to be evenly matched when planted together later to ensure a well-shaped plant.

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Every Poinsettia gets Special Attention

The growers are hard at work tending to all those beautiful poinsettias. They are given liquid fertilizer to keep them strong and lean. In addition, they are repotted into larger containers. At the beginning of August they are pinched back by hand to ensure they produce multiple stems that are strong enough to support each beautiful blossom. They are hand watered and fertilized to develop good roots and strong branches. Larger plant sizes are potted up into their final containers, and everything is spaced to develop a nice plant shape. Each plant is also hand pinched, where the top of plant is trimmed and removed. Each size is pinched at a different height, and the number of leaves, or “breaks”, left behind determines how many blossoms each plant will have. The Gift Buyer and Visual Display team continue to refine the floor plan and actually start the installation of product that has arrived. There is an 8 week installation schedule for each store’s floor plan. At the same time everlasting trees are being fluffed and readied for their first appearance on the floor. Our team of visual designers are busy little elves!

Every Tree is Hand Picked Only Al’s is allowed into the groves to select each and every tree that we will sell this season. We look for only the healthiest and most beautifully shaped trees to grace your home. We take great pride in the Grand, Noble and Douglas Firs we offer. They are literally years in the making!

JULY/AUG. 2015

Time to Trim Some Trees

While the rest of us are thinking of Back to School and decorating our houses for Halloween, Barb and our visual designers start setting Christmas the day after Labor Day. We do have avid collectors that purchase Christmas items in September, but most of us are dreaming of Thanksgiving and pumpkin pie.

Tree decoration is our main focus. We start with the large dramatic pieces, and then add solids of all sizes, in close to the trunk to create depth. The finishing touch is all of the lovely specialty ornaments that are being showcased for that theme. This is a fun time for us, as there is lots to do but we also have the creative freedom to add our own touches to the floor set and vignettes.

SEP./OCT. 2015

Tucking In at Night

Back at the farm, the poinsettias that will be on display for the Evening of Lights are getting special attention. Poinsettias are triggered to bloom when the days become short - less than 12 hours of sunlight per day. This happens around the Fall Equinox (this year Sept. 23rd), and 8-10 weeks later they will come into bloom, typically right around Thanksgiving. To get them into bloom a month earlier, they are tricked into thinking the days are short by pulling shade cloth over them every day from 4pm to 7am during the month of September.

Planted at the same time, the poinsettia on the left was tricked with the shade cloth.

NOV. 2015

Finally...It’s Evening of Lights!

While the stores are ready, and poinsettias are arriving for our Evening of Lights, the growers are touring trials in the area to see what has been successful this growing season.

So when you join us this holiday season, take a minute to enjoy the fabulous results that were months in the making.

Holiday 2015 |

7

bloom

WinterWhites S

trolling down the street on a cool winter morning, the frost crunching beneath my feet always brings a smile to my face. There is something beautiful about seeing the world covered in that cool, crisp blanket that brings feelings of freshness, cleanliness and new beginnings after a long, hot summer.

Although frost can be elusive here in Oregon, there are some easy ways to bring it home and be reminded of its qualities daily. I’m talking about Winter Whites! You know, those plants that have frosty personalities and even colder appearances. Cypress, helleborus, dusty miller, and pansies are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to utilizing white in container gardening.

I’ve chosen Chamaecyparis ‘Snow White’ to anchor my containers this season. She’s a real lady that stands tall and has the most beautifully frosted tips I’ve seen. If I wanted, she could stay in this container for a few years, only growing more beautiful with age. I’ve used helleborus to fill in with color, both from her foliage and flowers that appear when the mercury drops.

Dusty miller rounds out the plant material with her silvery elegance. Flowering kale, white pine and fir fill in the gaps, while some wellplaced decorative picks and a few oversized silver ornaments tie it all together!

Winter whites were my inspiration when planting my containers for the colder months and I have to say, I’m more than happy with how they turned out. Color and texture play together and yet are like snowflakes, no two the same. Have fun with them, but if you’re looking for an elegant, cohesive look like I’ve created here, pick a theme and skate with it.

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by Josh Clarke Manager at Al’s of Sherwood

Chamaecyparis ‘Snow White’

Flowering Kale

Helleborus

Emerald Gaiety Euonymus

Holiday 2015 |

9

Decorate in style with

t u C h s e Fr

s n e e Gr

Al’s carries locally harvested and fresh-cut green products for adding holiday charm and warmth to your home!

Wreaths 8”-20” in stock. 24”-60” available by special order.

Garland Available by the foot or in 75’ rolls.

Fresh-Cut Greens Sold by the pound.

Centerpieces Pre-made. Available in small or large

sizes. Decorated or undecorated.

Decorative Accessories

Customize your colors with bows, picks, ornaments and candles.

has the perfect

Christmas Tree for your family!

Noble Fir Trees We head out to the tree farms in July to call “dibs” on these fresh, premium, locally-grown Christmas Trees.

Starting at $29.99 Limited quantities, please call stores for availability. See stores for other varieties, sizes and prices. Available at Al’s starting November 23.

Flocked Trees Add the look of recent snow to any fresh-cut tree with our flocking service. We can custom flock your tree just the way you want it! Light or heavy dustings, branch tips only... we can even add sparkles to replicate the glistening effect of fallen snow!

Please call our stores for flocking options & pricing.

Trees generally ready for pick-up between 48 - 72 hours. Size limitations apply.

Al’s proudly supports the

For every cut Christmas tree sold between November 26 and December 24, Al’s will donate $1 to this worthy cause.

Learn more at semperfifund.org

Holiday A

Gifts

for the Calm & Collected Hostess

b

A> 17” Gold Bead Topiary Cone by Allstate $39.95

c

B> Gold-dipped Ceramic Star Plate $6.99 C> 4” Ceramic JOY Star Ornament $3.50 D> Gold-wire Tree Placecard Holders by Tag set of 4 $19.95

d

E> 13’ Micro LED Lights by Starlight $12.95 F> Handmade Ceramic Mug with Gold Rim $9.99 G> Black Truffle Sea Salt by Fusion 4oz. $17.99

Gifts

e

for the Oregonian at Heart H> Oregon Cutting Board

by Totally Bamboo. $24 I> Bacon Pickles by Unbound Pickling $ 11.95 J> Dark Chocolate Hazelnuts by Columbia Empire Farms 4oz. $6.99

f

K> Oregon Marionberry Fruit Syrup by Columbia Empire Farms $7.95 L> Farm Kitchen Candle by Aggie’s $24 M> Soy Candle Tin by Aggie’s $10

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N> Marionberry Preserves by ♥Oregon $6.99

Gift Guide h

k j

l

i

N M

Holiday 2015 | 13

A

Gifts

for the Gardening Enthusiast A> Poinsettia Solar Stake by Evergreen $21.95

B

B> Beeswax Hand Cream by Savannah Bee $10

C

C> Beeswax Hand & Nail Salve by Savannah Bee $10 D> Soap Dish from Mudpie $16.95 E> Gazing Globe by Evergreen $60 F> Temple Bells Quintet by Woodstock $48 G> Christmas Flag by Evergreen $12.95

D

E

G

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f

Gifts

I

J

for the First Snow O> Flocked Mini Tree $24 P> Cable Knit Pillar Candle $14.95 Q> Birch Candle Holders set of two $29.95 R> Kaemingk Tealight Holder $6.95 S> White and Silver Ornament Ball by Sullivans $4.50

L

T> Snowflake Salt by SaltWorks $12.95

K

U> Let It Snow Aluminum Sign $15

O M N P

Gifts

for the Well-Accessorized I> Black Gloves by Echo $28

Q

J> Criss-cross Bagg by Baggallini $78 K> Mother of Pearl Drop Earrings by Tiger Mountain $36 L> German-made Cashmere Scarf (various patterns) $25 M> Large Bayberry Scented Candle

by Root Legacy $19.95 N> Noble Current Luxury Scented Candle by Illume $15

S

U

R

T Holiday 2015 |

15

A

B

H G

I

Gifts for the Lodge Lover

K

I> Coffee Caramel Sauce by Stonewall Kitchens $6.95 J> Silver Snowflake Christmas Tree $62 K> Antique Rustic NOEL Hanging Sign 25.5� $16.50 L> Laser-etched Tealight Holder $3 each M> Wooden Snowflake Ornament $4 N> Snowy Wooden Scene Ornament $7 O> Silver Mosaic Tealight Holder $7 each

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J

C

Gifts that Warm

D

A> Holiday Towels by TAG $7.50 B> Red Biacor Wisk $7

E

F

C> Green Biacor Spatula $7 D> Honey For Your Tea by Savannah Bee $11.95 E> Cranberry Blood Orange Tea

by Republic of Tea $12.95 F> Small Red Teapot with Infuser $16.99 G> Fir & Grapefruit Soap

by Barr-Co $12 H> Red Brie Baker by Gourmet Village $18

M N

O L Holiday 2015 |

17

T

he Christmas tree with all its twinkling lights is in place, the garland with colorful bows and pine cones is strung along the banister and the stockings are hanging from the mantle, but something is missing… holiday poinsettias and tropical indoor houseplants!

Are you getting your home ready for the holidays? Al’s Garden Centers have just the right living decorations to add to the festive mood.

Holiday

Decorating

Poinsettias & Houseplants • with

We have selected 3 holiday themes from our wide selection of imaginative Christmas decorations and paired them with colorful Grown by Al’s Poinsettias and tropical indoor plants from our houseplant atriums to give you ideas to round out the displays in your home.

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First Frost The combination of White Birch Cone and Poinsettia ‘Whitestar’ gives the idea of a snowy setting without the cold and ice. Hopefully the ZZ Plant lends a warming touch to this scene. ZZ Plants are an EZ care houseplant. Let the plants dry out between waterings and keep them in a low light area.

Luxe Lodge This woodsy theme pairs a non traditional Poinsettia ‘Cinnamon Star’ with buff pink colored bracts and dark carmine flecks with a glossy green foliage plant.

Emerald Gem houseplant loves low light and evenly moist soil. Add in the rustic feel of the twig reindeer and the theme is complete.

12 Days of

Christmas

Everyone’s favorite color scheme of red and green is apparent in this vignette. The bright red ‘Christmas Day’ Poinsettia is one of our favorites for the holidays.

It is a perfect contrast with the Chinese Evergreen houseplant of dark green foliage with silver markings.

This plant needs bright to medium light with evenly moist soil. The whimsy of the Christmas Tree shaped sign reminds everyone to “Have a Merry Christmas”!

Holiday 2015 |

19

Looking for something different? Check out

Princettia®

Princettias are a new type of poinsettia, developed from breeding two different types of Euphorbia and resulting in an unique habit and flower shape compared to traditional poinsettias. Over a dozen smaller blooms with large centers can be found on each plant in 3 unique colors:

Dark Pink

A bright, hot pink color for a nontraditional look.

Pink

A soft pastel pink that works well with a variety of décor, from white to silver to gold.

Max White ™ The brightest white on the market.

A true white not seen in standard poinsettia varieties

bloom Poinsettia Care Tips

Poinsettias are easy to keep beautiful and blooming throughout the holidays and beyond, as long as you follow a few simple tips: • Avoid exposing your poinsettia to freezing conditions. Do not leave it in the car while you finish shopping. Take it home and place it inside the house as soon as possible after purchasing it.

• Place your poinsettia in a spot with bright natural light, but do not expose it to direct sunlight.

• Do not place your poinsettia in an area where it will be exposed to drafts, heat from appliances, radiators, or ventilation ducts.

• The color of your poinsettia will last longer in temperatures about 65ºF during the day and 60º-65ºF at night.

• The soil should be kept moderately moist; check every few days and water when the soil feels dry to the touch. Before watering, remove the plant from the decorative pot cover or foil wrapping; water to saturate the soil. Allow the pot to drain completely. Do not let the plant sit in standing water.

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Al’s Poinsettia Recycling Program

December 28, 2015 – January 11, 2016 Al’s Sherwood & Al’s Woodburn

Bring in your holiday poinsettia, pot, plant and all, and let us do the recycling!

We’ll even give you a coupon for 30% OFF the regular price of up to 3 fresh houseplants. Houseplants are proven to improve air quality and reduce stress levels.

Start off the new year right with a fresh houseplant!

Houseplant Coupons expire January 11, 2016

’Tis the

Season a PRIME-time for grilling.

bloom

by Aaron Rivera Al’s Dry Goods Buyer

Here’s an easy, virtually foolproof method for cooking perfect, crustyon-the-outside, meltingly tender inside, prime rib... every time.

For the Beef  1 prime rib beef roast, tied at 2-inch intervals  6 cloves garlic, each clove peeled and cut lengthwise into 4 pieces  4 to 6 sprigs fresh rosemary

For the Rub  2 tablespoons black peppercorns  2 tablespoons dried rosemary  2 tablespoons coarse salt (kosher or sea)  2 tablespoons sweet paprika

Step 1: Prepare the beef Using the tip of a slender paring knife, make a series of 1/2-inch-deep holes in the roast, mostly in the sheath of fat on top, but also in the sides and bottom. The holes should be about 2 inches apart. Insert slivers of garlic in half of the holes.

Strip the leaves off one or two of the rosemary sprigs and insert them in the remaining holes. Slide the remaining sprigs of rosemary under the string used to tie up the roast.

Step 2: Make the rub Grind the peppercorns and dried rosemary to a fine powder in a spice mill or blender. Add the salt and paprika and grind to mix. Rub the mixture all over the roast, especially over the sheath of fat on top.

Step 3: Set up the Grill Set up the grill for indirect grilling, place a large drip pan in the center, and preheat the grill to medium. When ready to cook, brush and oil the grill grate.

Place the roast, fat side up, on the hot grate over the drip pan and cover the grill.

Step 4: It’s All About Timing     

Got a grill-master on your Christmas list?

Stop by any Al’s for a great selection of grills and grilling accessories!

Grill the roast, figuring on 12 to 14 (for a bone-in roast) minutes per pound.

If using a charcoal grill, you’ll need to add 10 to 12 fresh coals to each side every hour.

If using a gas grill, keep the cover closed at all times.

Use an instant-read meat thermometer to test for doneness.

Cook the roast to 145 degrees F for medium-rare, 160 degrees F for medium.

Step 5: Rest, Carve & Serve Transfer the roast to a platter or carving board and cover it loosely with aluminum foil. Let the roast rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving. The easiest way to carve the roast is to cut it into rib sections using a long, slender knife, then slice it into thin slices to serve.

Holiday 2015 | 21

Upcoming

Workshops, Events & Complimentary Classes

November

December

Composting Basics

Workshop: Holiday Centerpiece

Saturday, November 12 10am Woodburn Good compost is a fantastic mulch, a great soil conditioner, and a nutrient-rich additive for both flower and vegetable beds. This class will walk you through the basics for starting your own compost.

Registration: Not required Cost: FREE and open to the public.

Cost: Small: $25 Large: $35 Price includes fresh holiday greens, ornaments & candles.

Workshop: Mini Orchid Terrarium

Sunday, November 22 1pm Sherwood Sunday, November 22 1pm Woodburn Sunday, November 22 1pm Gresham This workshop will send you home with a terrarium containing a delicate orchid that can be used as a lovely decoration in your home, or a unique gift for others.

Cost: $35 - Price includes glass container, decorative stones, decorative stakes & a mini orchid.

Registration is required and space is limited. To register, please visit als-gardencenter.com/workshops

Send a gift from the

Saturday, December 5 10am & 2pm Sherwood Saturday, December 5 1pm Woodburn Saturday, December 5 1pm Gresham We will walk you through building and adding your own little flare to a wonderful centerpiece you can display in your home.

Registration is required and space is limited. To register, please visit als-gardencenter.com/workshops

Mrs. Claus is Coming to Al’s!

Saturday, December 5 1pm Woodburn Saturday, December 12 10am & 1pm Sherwood Saturday, December 19 1pm Gresham Mrs. Claus will be visiting each of our stores and young children are invited to come listen while she reads some of her favorite holiday books. Parents and grandparents, bring your cameras to capture the holiday memories!

Northwest !

Send a gift from the Northwest to someone across the miles with locally grown and harvested wreaths from Al’s

12” Wreath $24.99 14” Wreath $29.99 16” Wreath $34.99 Order in-store or online at

als-gardencenter.com/wreaths Available beginning November 18

Orders will be processed within two business days of order placement.

Shipping costs vary by location.

A $5.00 fee for the box and handling is included in the shipping fee.

Orders are subject to availability.

16920 SW Roy Rogers Road Sherwood, OR 97140 1220 N. Pacific Highway Woodburn, OR 97071 7505 SE Hogan Road Gresham, OR 97080 als-gardencenter.com

GIVE THE

with a GIFT CARD from

Purchase in stores or online at:

als-gardencenter.com/giftcards