Your Corte Bella Garden in December

Deborah “Ladybug” Lazear

• Not too late to plant pansies. • Hose aphids off roses. • Plant kohlrabi, lettuce, onion seedlings. • Sow seeds chives, collard greens, fennel, green onions, beets, parsnips.

Special Notes for Mexican Fan Palms

These will produce 5-6 new fronds per year and will grow 1-2 feet per year. (Information source: www.Paradisepalms.com (101 and Cave Creek); www.amwua.org/plants; aridzonetrees. com; davesgarden.com.) • Use soil probe to check in-between watering. Go 12” deep before hard soil hit. • New trees: Wait one month after planting for first “feeding.” • Fertilize: 6 times a year avoiding extreme heat months (June, July, August, September) or extreme cold months (December, January). Use 2 cups of 10-5-10 granuals per each 1” trunk diameter, except for new trees (1/2 cup per tree for first two years). Other web sites say Valentine’s Day,

Memorial Day, Labor Day • Citrus and palm watering needs are similar. • Palm roots don’t go deep; they have small weak roots. • Palms tolerate watering extremes. • Water deeply (1 hour) every 7-10 days for established palms.

Clay soil needs less watering (10-14 days). For a 45 gallon box = 45 gallons water each time. • Extra watering needed when windy. • Place emitters in an “X” pattern around the trunk. Move them to drip line at 3 feet from trunk. • January, February, and March: Fertilize palms (1st OF 6) with ½ cup 10-5-10 (Summer Winds) or 16-8-4 (Moon Valley)

Water. • April: 4 emitters @ 4 gallons (use adjustable type; each

“bump” is ½ gal. per hour) = 16 gallons per watering. Skip 3.

Move emitters to drip line, Fertilize with 1/2 cup (2nd of 6 total). • May: Prune fronds at 9:00 & 3:00. Trim brown tips with scissors. Fertilize 1/2 cup (3rd OF 6). • June: Change to summer watering. 4 emitters @ 6 gallons per hour = 24 gallons. Do Not Fertilize! • July: Do Not Fertilize! • August: Do Not Fertilize! • September: Fertilize palms 1/2 cup (4th OF 6). Change to fall watering 12 – 16 gallons (Moon Valley). • October: Fertilize with ½ cup (5th OF 6). • November: Last fertilizing until March with ½ cup (6th OF 6). • December: Enjoy the Holiday Season!

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

What Happened in Corte Bella continued

Jason Love Comedy Show

November 12

It was a packed house with more than 200 Corte Bella residents to view three very funny (and clean) comedians at our favorite comedy show. Everyone laughed and had a wonderful time. What a great way to spend a Friday night in our slice of paradise.

Verde Canyon Train Ride

November 13

A bus load of 51 Corte Bella residents traveled to historic Clarksdale to ride the Verde Canyon Train. For many, this was their first time on this annual Corte Bella day trip. The picture-perfect weather had almost everyone out on the open-air car enjoying the views of the river, the fall colors and the amazing red rock formations along the valley, known as the other Grand Canyon.