Growing or WHAT we do and WHEN we do it using pictures from my picture-newsletter. If these pictures don't open click here. Clicking the picture will sometimes open a bigger version. All kinds of information is noted here; not just for customers but for employees too. Some of it is a little confusing so check out the pictures first then read around them. Caption for each picture is in red.
Growing and selling; Disease Resistant Roses including; Rosa alba varieties, Rosa gallica varieties, centifolia varieties, spinosissima varieties, rugosa varieties and wichurianna varieties. Lilac varieties that have purple, lavender, violet or magenta flowers with a few of other colors. American Azaleas like the Pinxterbloom Azalea, Swamp Azalea or Flame Azalea. Blueberry bushes, Vaccineum corymbosum 'Bluecrop', 'Bluejay' and 'Blueray'.
Lilac Plant Sale in May (from May Newsletter) & Old Rose Plant Sale June 11 (from June Newsletter).
WHEN I FIRST POT THEM UP I TAKE A PICTURE OF THE INVENTORY NUMBER LABEL AND THE PLANT LABEL.
ONCE THEY FLOWER AND MAY BE READY TO BE SOLD I OVERWRITE THIS PICTURE OF LABELS WITH A CLOSEUP OF THE ACTUAL FLOWER ON THAT ACTUAL PLANT. I would probably save this picture as 11184albamaxima.jpg or 11184picture.jpg
THESE CLOSEUPS OF THE FLOWER AND LABEL AS PLANTS BLOOM ARE POSTED IN MY PICTURE-NEWSLETTER.
LINKS ARE SENT REGULARLY TO MY SUBSCRIBERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. A Potential customer, looking for a particular plant we grow subscribes. During the plants flowering time I take a picture of it and in the caption say it will be available at the plant sale. The subscriber sees the picture and caption in the newsletter. The subscriber notifies me what they want to buy and when they plan to be at the plant sale via email (also providing a phone number so I can call back).
IF YOU WISH TO SUBSCRIBE EMAIL ME.
I LEARNED LONG AGO THAT "SMART BUYERS BUY IT IN BLOOM!" THAT WAY THERE ARE NO SURPRISES.
YOU CAN SEE THE COLOR with your own eyes AND SMELL THE FRAGRANCE with your own nose BEFORE BUYING.
SO I SET UP THE FLOWERING SHRUB FARM IN VOORHEESVILLE, NY TO BE OPEN WHEN MOST OF THE PLANTS WE GROW AND SELL RETAIL ARE IN BLOOM.
MY PICTURE-NEWSLETTER, SHOWS MY SUBSCRIBERS THROUGH PICTURES, WHEN THEY ARE IN BLOOM.
THE INVENTORY NUMBERS ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO DETERMINE HOW MANY I HAVE IN STOCK OF EACH VARIETY. Its also an easy way to pull up a picture once a plant flowers. If you know the inventory number you can use my domain name, the inventory number and the words "picture.jpg" in the address line of your browser to pull up an available picture. Try this one at; www.floweringshrubfarm.com/11184picture.jpg
OUR RETAIL PLANT SALE IS FROM MAY 15 TO JULY 4.
AFTER JULY 4 WE'RE OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY WHILE I PROPAGATE MORE PLANTS.
I also take pictures of the different crops I have in the field. A crop is 50 or more plants all of the same variety growing in the field. These crops are usually shown here, in a picture collection or in the newsletter. Click on this picture.
On the left is the 'Monge' Lilac crop and on the right is the 'Aucubaefolia' Lilac crop (00510rowofaucubaefolia051009.jpg). I try to show each crop in its row (or grouping) each month in the newsletter. PICTURES TAKEN from May 10, 2009 Newsletter.
THE PLANT SALE LOCATION IS NEAR THE GREENHOUSE BUT FAR FROM THE FIELDS WHERE I OFTEN HAVE TO BE WATERING, FEEDING OR TAKING CUTTINGS.
SO AFTER JULY 4 EVERYBODY HAS TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT VIA EMAIL SO I CAN BE WAITING FOR YOU. YOU CAN ALSO CALL 518-765-2574 AND LEAVE A MESSAGE ON THE ANSWERING MACHINE SO I CAN CALL YOU BACK AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
My office is through the red door that you see in the shade in this shot. Click it for a larger version. Picture taken from newsletter for JULY 17, 2009.
MY OFFICE IS BEYOND THE RED DOOR.
IN THE FOREGROUND I'VE ARRANGED THE OLD GARDEN ROSES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
I'M PAINTING THE BARN BUT ONLY THE ONE DOOR WILL BE RED.
BEYOND I HAVE A PLACE I CAN LIE DOWN AND REST WITH A FRIG TO KEEP MY DRINKS COLD.
MY CELL PHONE NUMBER IS ON THE RED DOOR & ON THE GARAGE DOOR SO IF IM NOT IN MY OFFICE YOU CAN CALL ME.
IN MAY WE SELL NATIVE AZALEAS THAT ARE BLOOMING OR HAVE PREVIOUSLY BLOOMED.
PINXTERBLOOM AZALEA (R. NUDIFLORUM), SWAMP AZALEA (R. VISCOSUM), ROSEBAY RHODODENDRON (R. MAXIMUM). IN MAY I MAY ADD A PICTURE OF THE PINXTERBLOOM AZALEA CROP.
I PLANT THREE SEED GROWN RHODODENDRON PERICLYMENOIDES IN A SINGLE 3 GALLON POT AND TRAIN THEM AS A SINGLE PLANT.
I FERTILIZE WITH ESPOMA HOLLYTONE BEFORE THEY FLOWER AND FERTILIZE ONCE MORE AFTER THEY FINISH FLOWERING.
I COLLECT RAINWATER FROM THE BARN ROOF TO WATER THEM WITH BECAUSE OUR LOCAL WATER HAS TO HIGH A pH.
CHECK THE RHODODENDRON & AZALEA CATALOG LINKED TO MY HOMEPAGE.
IN MAY & EARLY JUNE WE SELL LILACS THAT ARE FLOWERING OR HAVE PREVIOUSLY FLOWERED.
I BUY ROOTED CUTTINGS AND PLANT THEM IN FIVE INCH POTS, THEN CUT THEM BACK SO THEY FORM MULTIPLE STEMS. I ALSO PROPAGATE SOME VARIETIES OF LILAC USING STOOL LAYERING (AN 19th CENTURY TECHNIQUE THAT ISNT USED VERY OFTEN.
We removed the rooted cuttings of Lilacs 'Paul Thirion' & 'Rochester' from the table and placed them underneath in contact with the ground for winter (01021lilacbabies102109.jpg). PICTURES TAKEN FROM OCTOBER 21, 2009 NEWSLETTER.
THE FOLLOWING YEAR I PUT THEM IN A THREE GALLON POT AND PLACE THEM UNDER A DRIP LINE IN THE FIELDS.
Here is a group of lilacs pushed together for the winter as of April 18, 2008 (041808growthonaucubaefolialilac1.jpg).
EVERY SPRING WE FERTILIZE LILACS WITH DEHYDRATED MANURE.
WE WEED THE POTS BUT LEAVE THE AREA BETWEEN THE POTS UNWEEDED EXCEPT TO REMOVE SPECIFIC WEEDS THAT HAVE SEEDS THAT STICK TO CLOTHING.
THE WEEDS MAKE IT HARDER FOR INSECTS TO FIND WHAT THEY WANT TO EAT (SO THE WEEDS BREAK UP THE MONOCULTURE) WHEN THE PLANTS ARE SMALL THE WEEDS OVERSHADOW THEM A BIT SO THEY DONT DRY OUT AS QUICKLY.
New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae) growing in the lilac fields (00009asternewengland091609). PICTURES TAKEN FROM SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 NEWSLETTER.
WHEN THE PLANTS GET BIG THEY OVERSHADOW THE WEEDS AND THE WEEDS DIE BACK.
WHEN THE PLANTS FLOWER I LABEL THEM AND PHOTOGRAPH THE FLOWER TOGETHER WITH AN INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED LABEL FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL PLANT.
IF THEY HAVE FEWER THAN THREE STEMS I CUT THEM BACK (I LEAVE ENOUGH STEM TO ATTACH THE INVENTORY NUMBER LABEL SO THE PLANT CAN EASILY BE IDENTIFIED FROM ITS PICTURE THAT WILL BE SAVED AS THE INVENTORY NUMBER ON MY WEB SITE.
Lilacs in field showing a lilac that was tagged this previous May to be transplanted next March. If you click this picture you can read the number on the inventory label (11_337). It will be saved as 11337picture.jpg or www.floweringshrubfarm.com/11337picture.jpg
A CUSTOMER CAN VERIFY THAT THE PLANT THEY WANT IS THE VARIETY IT IS LABELED AS BY NOTEing THE NUMBER AND FINDing the PICTURE OF IT AMONG THE INVENTORY PICTURES EVEN THOUGH ITS NOT FLOWERING AT THE TIME.
IF IT HAS FEWER THAN 3 STEMS WHEN ITS LABELED, WE CUT IT BACK AND REPOT IN A 7 GALLON POT. IT WILL BE FOR SALE AT $30 UNTIL IT BLOOMS AND HAS TO BE REPOTTED AGAIN.
THESE ARE ALSO BEST FOR MAILORDER AS THEY SHIP MORE EASILY.
AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN CUT BACK THEY USUALLY REFLOWER WITHIN TWO YEARS AT WHICH TIME THEY WILL BE REPOTTED INTO A 15 GALLON FOR $50 OR $60.
THEY WONT BE REPHOTOGRAPHED UNTIL THEY FLOWER AGAIN SO IF YOU WANT TO BUY A $30 LILAC NOTE DOWN A BUNCH OF POSSIBLE INVENTORY NUMBERS TO COMPARE WITH THE LABELS ON THE PLANTS.
CHECK THE LILAC CATALOG LINKED TO MY HOMEPAGE.
Lilac pruned back to 12 inches on August 8 and fertilized with manure current growth as of September 4.
Picture above taken of Lilac #11-151 (pruned back to 12 inches on August 9, 2009) on October 2, 2009 (11151prunedto12inch100209.jpg). PICTURES TAKEN FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009 NEWSLETTER
IN JUNE & JULY WE SELL ROSES.
I GET ROSES GRAFTED ON ROSA MULTIFLORA (GUARENTEED VIRUS FREE ROOTSTOCK REPRODUCED FROM SEED) TO PROPAGATE FROM (AFTER I'VE ROOTED CUTTINGS THE GRAFTED ROSES WILL BE FOR SALE TOO). CHECK THE CATALOG LINKED FROM MY HOME PAGE.
I TAKE CUTTINGS JULY THROUGH NOVEMBER.
THE CUTTINGS ARE STUCK IN A MOISTENED ROOTING MEDIUM (FERTILIZED WITH A SPECIAL FERTILIZER THAT STIMULATES ROOTS BUT HAS LITTLE OR NO NITROGEN) IN ONE OF MY THREE GALLON POTS CLEARLY LABELED ON THE SIDE OF THE POT WITH THE VARIETY NAME AND THE DAY THE CUTTINGS WERE TAKEN.
EACH THREE GALLON POT IS PLACED IN A CLEAR PLASTIC BAG THAT IS SEALED TO RETAIN MOISTURE AND PLACED IN A COLDFRAME TO FURTHER PROTECT IT FROM DIRECT SUNLIGHT (THAT COULD COOK THE CUTTINGS) OR WILD ANIMALS.
I take cuttings, July through December, and insert them in a 3 gallon pot labeled with the days date (01119cuttingscityofyork111909.jpg). PICTURE TAKEN FROM NOVEMBER 19, 2009 NEWSLETTER
AFTER SIX WEEKS THE BAGS ARE REMOVED. I HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED THREE GALLONS WITH ANYWHERE FROM ONE TO FOURTEEN CUTTINGS GROWING IN EACH.
Cuttings from 'New Dawn', after being uncovered and removed from the cold frame. Note the date these cuttings were taken; July 9, 2009. They were just recently uncovered after six weeks. PICTURE TAKEN FROM AUGUST, 2009 NEWSLETTER
THEY ARE REMOVED FROM THE COLD FRAME EACH SPRING AND THEN KEPT WEEDED, WATERED AND FERTILIZED.
THEY MAY BE REPOTTED IN THE SPRING IF THEY BECOME TOO ROOTBOUND BUT USUALLY SHARE A POT WITH SEVERAL OTHERS FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE THEY WILL BE MOVED TO THEIR OWN POT AND CUT BACK.
WHEN THEY FLOWER I ATTACH AN INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED INVENTORY LABEL BUT WONT MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR SALE UNTIL ITS WELL BRANCHED AND LARGE.
CHECK THE ROSE CATALOG LINKED TO MY HOMEPAGE.
MOST OF OUR LILACS ARE DIFFERENT SHADES OF PURPLE, VIOLET, MAGENTA & LAVENDER.
'PRESIDENT POINCAIRE', 'SARAH SANDS', 'MONGE', DARK NIGHT', 'SENSATION', 'ANDENKEN AN LUDWIG SPAETH', 'FOREST KRESSER SMITH', 'LAVENDER LADY',
Above is an inventory picture of the lilac 'Andenken an Ludwig Spaeth' usually shortened to just 'Ludwig Spaeth' (11069picture.jpg). The label in my hand shows the date the picture was taken. Future pictures can be saved as this same file name (11069picture) and you can tell its still in stock. Those that aren't updated have probably been sold or they aren't flowering.
INVENTORY LISTS ARE LINKED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.
BUT I ALSO HAVE SOME WHITE FLOWERED 'KRASAVITSA MOSKVY', 'PRIMROSE' AND 'ROCHESTER'
BLUE FLOWERED 'AUCUBAEFOLIA', 'PRESIDENT GREVY'
Above is a picture of President Grevy Lilac ( 051208presidentgrevyflower5120104.jpg )
PINK FLOWERED 'EDWARD J GARDNER', 'MISS CANADA', 'JAMES MACFARLAND'
This 'Edward J Gardner' French lilac picture is saved as 11318edwardgardner051409. 051409 is the date the picture was taken.
I'm always trying to find old lilacs from the 1880's and 1890's to propagate but I'm willing to add almost any purple, magenta, violet or lavender lilac to the inventory.
The other colors we'll have are only those I consider to be truly outstanding or one or two we're trying out.
Wild flowers are promoted at all locations to provide nectar for beneficial insects and scent screening from damaging insects (00010upperfieldrow01_100109). Scent screening breaks up monoculture making it difficult for damaging insects to find their targets. Click this picture and save as a screen saver.
Above is a picture of one of the few weeds we remove that produces an oval seed with a pair of horns that stick to all hair and clothing they come in contact with. This picture shows it in flower.
JULY THROUGH NOVEMBER I'M LOOKING FOR GOOD NODES SO THAT I CAN ROOT SEMI-MATURE CUTTINGS OR LATER IN THE YEAR HARDWOOD CUTTINGS.
I FILL A THREE GALLON POT (LABELED ON THE SIDE WITH THE PLANT VARIETY AND THE DAYS DATE) ABOUT THREE QUARTERS FULL WITH A ROOTING SOIL MIX THAT HAS A FERTILIZER THAT SUPPORTS ROOT GROWTH BUT HAS NO NITROGEN THAT MIGHT FEED COMPETING ORGANISMS.
I THOROUGHLY WET THE SOIL MIX. THEN MAKE HOLES IN IT WITH A PENCIL.
I TRIM THE BASE OF THE STEM BACK TO VERY CLOSE TO THE NODE AND REDUCE EACH SIDE BRANCH OF THE CUTTING TO ONE OR TWO LEAVES SO ITS EASIER TO PACK THE CUTTINGS CLOSE TOGETHER.
I DABBLE THE NODE AT THE TIP OF EACH CUTTING IN A HORMONE THAT TELLS THE NODE TO GROW ROOTS NOT LEAF, STEM OR FLOWER.
TAPPING OFF THE EXCESS I INSERT IT IN THE HOLE AND TRY TO COLLAPSE THE HOLE AROUND THE STEM SO ITS IN POSITIVE CONTACT.
AROUND 14 CUTTINGS CAN USUALLY BE INSERTED IN EACH 3 GALLON POT.
THE POT IS THEN INSERTED IN A CLEAR PLASTIC BAG AND THE TOP TIED SEVERAL TIMES WITH CORD SO IT WONT DEFLATE ON THE CUTTINGS AND MOISTURE WONT GET OUT.
EACH BAGGED 3 GALLON POT IS PLACED IN MY COLDFRAME TO PROTECT IT FROM TO MUCH SUN THAT COULD BAKE THE CONTENTS OR ANIMALS THAT MIGHT MALICIOUSLY BREAK INTO THE BAG.
AFTER 6 WEEKS I CAREFULLY REMOVE THE BAG AND FERTILIZE WITH ESPOMA FERTILIZER PLACING THE ROOTED CUTTINGS WITH OTHERS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS.
DURING THE WINTER ALL MY CUTTINGS GO IN THE COLD FRAME AND THEN GET TAKEN OUT AGAIN IN SPRING. THOSE CUTTINGS THAT PRODUCE NEW GROWTH IN SPRING MAY BE GROWN FOR SEVERAL YEARS UNDISTURBED OR IF I NEED SOME OF THAT VARIETY GET DEVIDED INTO THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL THREE GALLON POT, FERTILIZED AND CUT BACK.
The canes are cut into several pieces with three nodes each on top middle and bottom (01204cuttings120409.jpg). The variety and its vigor of growth usually determines the length of cutting, but each should have a top node slightly above soil to form leaves and two other nodes beneath soil that will form roots in spring (DECEMBER NEWSLETTER).
The pencil is used to create the holes in which to insert the cuttings (DECEMBER NEWSLETTER 01204lookingin120409.jpg).
I encase the pot in a clear plastic bag and tie it so that vapor will not escape (DECEMBER NEWSLETTER 01204balloning120409.jpg).
After carrying the ballooned pot to the cold frame I remove excess plastic bag from above the tie and pull the bag down the sides until the top is taut (01204covered120409.jpg). I hold it there with a bungee cord and cut drainage holes around the bottom so excess water can drain. The date label is attached directly above a drainage hole and so I cut holes in the bag around the outside where the holes in the pot are. The bag still maintains its integrity as a bag and so if its picked up by the bag top it will still hold the pot inside (DECEMBER NEWSLETTER).
Further information may be noted on a sticky label attached to the side.
The following spring, I fertilize with an organic fertilizer and set the pot somewhere it can get adequate water and drainage.
Two years later it may be available for sale at not less than $30 for the entire 3 gallon pot of cuttings though generally not more than $10 per surviving rooted cutting.
Many of these will be divided after two years and grown in their own three gallon pot with an individually numbered yellow inventory label attached instead of this date label.
I sell them during my plant sale.
Those interested in wholesale quantities are usually interested in the undivided pot full of cuttings that often contain between two and twenty rooted cuttings for the $30 3 gallon pot cost.
Most of these are rooted cuttings of old or classic disease resistant roses.
In the picture above All of our 15 gallon potted plants are located along this path in winter, climbers and ramblers trained on the chain link fence to the left (01101rosehedge110109.jpg). In June The chain link fence is something to see when the climbers and ramblers are in bloom.
As soon as foliage has fallen from roses in 7 gallon pots they will be inserted in these 7 gallon sleaves that are buried in mulch (01021rosestorage102109.jpg). The mulch keeps the roots from freezing without having to actually plant each one.
PLANTS BLOOM, I TAKE PICTURES, PUT THEM IN THE NEWSLETTER AND SEND A LINK TO MY SUBSCRIBERS.
IN THE FALL I LOOK FOR DISTINCTIVE FALL FOLIAGE AND PUBLISH IT IN THE NEWSLETTER.
Above is fall foliage on Vaccineum corymbosum (01101blueberry110109.jpg). More information on blueberry bushes we grow is at http://www.floweringshrubfarm.com/bluebuy.htm PICTURE TAKEN FROM NOVEMBER 1, 2009 NEWSLETTER
MY SUBSCRIBERS SEE SOMETHING FLOWERING THEY WANT AND COME TO THE PLANT SALE IMMEDIATELY.
WHEN A CUSTOMER SEES A RECENT PICTURE OF A PLANT THEY WANT TO BUY THEY MAKE PLANS TO COME TO THE PLANT SALE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO HAVE THE BEST SELECTION.
IF YOU DONT SUBCRIBE YOUR AT A DISADVANTAGE.
SOMETIMES AVAILABLE PLANTS OF VARIETIES PICTURED IN THE NEWSLETTER WILL SELL OUT WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS. OTHER TIMES OF COURSE, ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET RID OF THEM.
I RENT OUT THE APARTMENTS IN THE HOUSE TO PEOPLE WHO DONT MIND BEING SURROUNDED BY A MICRO NURSERY OPERATION.
MY OFFICE IS IN THE BARN BEHIND THE HOUSE.
SOMETIMES YOU'LL FIND ME SITTING ON THE PORCH IN SUMMER WITH A COOL DRINK. BUSINESS CARDS CAN BE FOUND HERE TOO.
I PLACE THE PINXTERBLOOM AZALEA, SWAMP AZALEA AND ROSEBAY RHODODENDRON IN THE SHADE OF TREES.
061707plantsale0172.jpg
I ATTACH A YELLOW INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED INVENTORY LABEL TO EACH PLANT.
WHEN I TAKE A PICTURE OF A PLANT FOR SALE I ALSO TAKE A PICTURE OF ITS INVENTORY LABEL.
THESE DAYS I ALWAYS SAVE THE PICTURE AS THE INVENTORY NUMBER FOLLOWED BY THE VARIETY AND DATE THE PICTURE WAS TAKEN (11184albamaxima051509.jpg) or BY THE MONTH AND DAY FOLLOWED BY THE VARIETY NAME FOLLOWED BY MONTH, DAY AND YEAR (00515albamaxima051509.jpg).
SOMETIMES THAT ORDER IS REVERSED (THE DATE IS ALWAYS 6 NUMERALS THE INVENTORY NUMBER IS 5).
062008 IS JUNE 20, 2008, IT'S A CELESTIAL ALBA ROSE & 10605 IS THE INVENTORY #.
THE SAME INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IN PICTURE PROPERTIES FOR THOSE WHO CAN RIGHT CLICK THE PICTURE.
I ALO "SAVE AS" THE PICTURE WITH THE INVENTORY NUMBER FIRST SO AS TO HAVE A PARALEL RECORD BY INVENTORY #.
062008celestialalba10605_0026.jpg
I used to save pictures using all kinds of formats including this one MONTH, DAY, YEAR FOLLOWED BY VARIETY NAME, INVENTORY NUMBER_ AND ADDITIONAL NUMBER WHEN THERE IS MORE THAN ONE (062008celestialalba10605_0034.jpg). THESE DAYS IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PICTURES THAT NUMBER IS AFTER THE VARIETY NAME (this one would be 10605celestialalba26_062008.jpg).
LATER IN THE SEASON I TAKE PICTURES OF THE FRUIT, FALL FOLIAGE, AND MAINTENENCE AND POST THOSE PICTURES IN A COLLECTION.
AS I SELL PLANTS, SOMETIMES I HIGHLIGHT THE INVENTORY NUMBER IN RED.
USUALLY THOUGH PEOPLE ASK ME IN AN EMAIL WHICH NUMBERED PLANTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE AND I GO NOTE THEM DOWN AND EMAIL THE INFORMATION BACK.
WHEN A PLANT IS SOLD THE INVENTORY NUMBER IN THE CATALOG IS sometimes HIGHLIGHTED IN RED WITH THE DATE SOLD, but the best way is to check with me via email.
CHECK THE CATALOGS OUT LINKED TO MY HOME PAGE AT www.floweringshrubfarm.com
EACH PICTURE IN THE NEWSLETTER AND ENTRY IN A CATALOG LINKS TO A COLLECTION OF PICTURES.
IF YOU CLICK THESE PICTURES IT WILL TAKE YOU TO EACH COLLECTION AND A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY WITH LINKS TO INVENTORY INFORMATION ETC.
Above is 'Crested Moss' also called 'Chapeau de Napoleon' ( 061508crestedmossrose.jpg )
THE TOP LEFT HAND PICTURE IN EACH COLLECTION WHEN CLICKED WILL OPEN A BIGGER PICTURE.
THE COLLECTION OF PICTURES HAS A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE ZONES HARDY TO, HEIGHT, WIDTH AND FLOWERING PERIOD ALONG WITH THE BEST PICTURES FROM THE NEWSLETTER OF FLOWER, FALL FOLIAGE, FRUIT AND THE PLANT IN WINTER.
THE TOP LEFT PICTURE IS USUALLY A PICTURE OF THE FLOWER AND THE ABILITY TO CLICK IT AND OPEN A LARGER VERSION ALLOWS YOU TO "CRAWL IN AND LOOK AROUND A BIT".
YOU CAN ALSO SAVE THE PICTURE AS WALLPAPER.
I TRY TO MAKE THESE LARGE PICTURES AS "CLASSY" AS POSSIBLE.
THE BEST PICTURES IN THE NEWSLETTER ARE ADDED TO THE COLLECTION.
IN MARCH, AS SOON AS THE SOIL CAN BE WORKED, WE DIG LILACS FROM THE FIELD WHILE STILL DORMANT.
THIS PICTURE, TAKEN IN THE FIELDS IN AUGUST, SHOWS THE LILAC BEDS.
IN MARCH, AS SOON AS THE SOIL CAN BE WORKED, WE TAKE PREVIOUSLY LABELED LILACS FROM THE FIELD (LABELED THE PREVIOUS YEAR WITH A YELLOW INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED INVENTORY LABEL WHEN THEY WERE IN BLOOM AND PHOTOGRAPHED), AND MOVE THEM TO OUR SALES LOCATION.
EACH ONE THAT HAS TO FEW STEMS HAS ALREADY BEEN CUT BACK WHEN IT WAS LABELED (AND ITS FLOWER AND LLABEL PHOTOGRAPHED) OR WILL BE NOW.
THEY WILL BE REPOTTED TO A 7 GALLON POT.
Kurt transplanting 'Ludwig Spaeth' Lilac into 7 gallon size (031709lilactransplanting0016.jpg). PICTURE TAKEN FROM MARCH 17, 2009 NEWSLETTER
BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY PHOTOGRAPHED IN BLOOM WE ARE SURE OF THE FLOWER.
SO IF IT HAS FEWER THAN 3 STEMS WE CAN CUT IT BACK AND SHAPE IT WHILE MAKING IT AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT $30.
IN A COUPLE MORE YEARS WHEN IT STARTS FLOWERING AGAIN WE CAN REPOT INTO A 15 GALLON AND IT WILL BE FOR SALE AT $60.
IN SPRING I RECEIVE #1 SIZED OLD GARDEN ROSES AND POT THEM INTO 7 GALLON POTS.
EACH YEAR IN SPRING I RECEIVE #1 SIZED ROSES GRAFTED ON ROSA MULTIFLORA OF MANY OLD GARDEN ROSES.
I PLANT THEM IN 7 GALLON POTS WITH THE GRAFT TWO INCHES BENEATH SOIL.
ONCE THEY BEGIN TO BLOOM THEY'LL BE FOR SALE.
OTHERWISE I'LL TAKE CUTTINGS FROM THEM IN JULY FOR PROPAGATION.
THREE YEARS LATER WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SELL OWN ROOT PLANTS OF THAT VARIETY.
I GROW THEM IN A SUSTAINABLE FASHION SO AS NOT TO POLLUTE SOIL, AIR OR WATER.
I SPRAY ONLY WITH INSECTICIDAL SOAP AND DONT USE FUNGICIDE AT ALL.
WE FEED PLANTS WITH ESPOMA ORGANIC FERTILIZERS AND WATER THEM VIA DRIP LINE.
072607insecticidalsoap0008.jpg
IN JULY I TAKE CUTTINGS SO THAT WE WILL HAVE OWN ROOT PLANTS OF THOSE VARIETIES SOME DAY.
ROOTED CUTTINGS ARE PLANTED 3 OR MORE TOGETHER INTO A 3 GALLON POT (WE CALL A THREESOME) AND GROWN TOGETHER FOR TWO YEARS.
IN MARCH OR APRIL OF THE THIRD YEAR I DIVIDE THEM EACH INTO THEIR OWN THREE GALLON POT AND CUT BACK.
WHEN THEY OUTGROW THE THREE GALLON POT I REPOT THEM INTO A 7 GALLON AND WHEN THEY START TO FLOWER THEY'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE.
WHEN THEY OUT GROW THE 7 GALLON THEY ARE REPOTTED IN A 15 GALLON (FOR $50 OR MORE) AND WHEN THEY OUTGROW THE 15 GALLON THEY ARE POTTED INTO A 45 GALLON (FOR $90 OR MORE).
MOST OF WHAT WE SELL ARE IN 7 AND 15 GALLON POTS WHILE THOSE IN 45'S ARE USED TO DISPLAY EXAMPLES OF MATURE PLANTS AND PLANTS FOR PROPAGATION.
WE TRANSPLANT THEM INTO 45 GALLON POTS AND LINE THEM UP ALONG THE FRONT NEAR THE SIDEWALK FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF PASSERS BY.
Plants in 45 gallon pots are for propagation of more plants and display (10691rosamundi060909).PICTURE WAS TAKEN FROM June 9, 2009 NEWSLETTER
THIS SIZE WHEN SOLD OFTEN HAVE A RAISED BED BUILT UP AROUND THE POT SIMLAR TO A VERSAILLES BOX.
THE RIM OF THE PLASTIC 45 GALLON POT IS THEN CUT OFF AND MULCH INSERTED SO YOU CANT SEE THE POT.
LILACS CAN BE PRUNED TO THE GROUND, TO SIX INCHES TALL, TO ONE FOOT TALL, TO TWO FEET TALL OR THREE FEET TALL.
THE MOST COMMON QUESTION IS HOW FAR BACK TO PRUNE WHEN RENOVATING A LILAC AND THE BEST ANSWER IS TO SHOW IT IN PICTURES.
SO THATS WHAT I DID.
I'LL ADD PICTURES SHOWING ALL FOUR CUT BACKS AND THEN TAKE NEW PICTURES A YEAR LATER, TWO YEARS LATER ETC.
WE WATER USING SEVERAL DIFFERENT METHODS BUT THIS ONE ALLOWS ME TO WATER, FERTILIZE OR SPRAY INSECTICIDAL SOAP AND IM USING A VARIATION TO TRAIN ESPALIER.
FOUR FOOT TALL POSTS BURIED IN SAND IN 7 GALLON POTS.
ONE INCH PVC WITH SPRAY EMITERS INSERTED IN DRILLED HOLES.
I SWITCH THE HOSE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
EACH LINE WATERS THREE LINES OF PLANTS.
IN FALL WE HANG THE PVC ON THE SIDE OF THE BARN, COIL UP THE HOSE AND PUT ALL THE POSTS TOGETHER OUT OF THE WAY.
SOME THREESOMES ARE NOT DIVIDED.
SOME THREESOMES ARE NOT DIVIDED BUT INSTEAD THE ROOTED CUTTINGS ARE TRAINED AS ONE PLANT.
A LILAC THREESOME WILL GROW INTO A MULTISTEMMED TREE WITHOUT BEING CUT BACK (AND THEREFORE THEY WONT HAVE THE PRUNING SCARS THAT THOSE THAT ARE CUT BACK HAVE.
tHIS TYPE OF GROWING ALSO GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO MIX VARIETIES TOGETHER.
MY FAVORITE IS THE ONE WE CALL THREE AMIGOS; 'SARAH SANDS', 'MONGE' AND 'SENSATION' BUT WE'RE ALSO TRYING 'PRIMROSE' AND 'KRASAVITSA MOSKVY' COMBINATIONS TOO.
WITH RHODODENDRONS WE ARE COMBINING THE PINXTERBLOOM AZALEA WITH THE ROSEBAY RHODODENDRON. WITH BLUEBERRY BUSHES WE'RE COMBINING 'BLUEJAY', 'BLUERAY', AND 'BLUECROP' ALL NATIVE VACCINEUM
CORYMBOSUM AND THREE IN COMBINATION PROVIDES OPTIMAL CROSS POLLINATION.
SEVERAL OF US WORK IN THE NURSERY AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR.
RICH NORMALLY WORKS IN ALABAMA BUT WORKS WITH ME WHEN ON VACATION.
DON WORKS IN LA BUT TAKES TIME OFF IN SPRING AND FALL TO HELP OUT.
I TAKE THE PICTURES, DO THE NEWSLETTER, WATER, FERTILIZE AND TRAIN THE PLANTS.
REPOT, PROPAGATE AND A BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF THAT WHILE TIME CONSUMING DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY HEAVY LIFTING (I HAVE A BACK & NECK PROBLEM THAT REDUCES MY ABILITY TO LIFT AND USE MY HANDS).
Above is Rich taking cuttings (072607richpropagation0059.jpg).
Don storing the roses away for winter (aaa102608donstoringroses0050.jpg).
Above is Kurt weeding the Devils Horns weed from a bed where we will bury roses later in the year (00008kurtweeding091509). PICTURE TAKEN FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER
We over winter plants in 7, 15 and 45 gallon pots outside. 7 and 15 gallon pots are surrounded with mulch. 45 gallon pots are left unmulched.
In January old garden roses with their pots mulched and covered with snow (011809plantsinwinter0005.jpg ).
The dog is maggy. Her mother was a German Shepherd-Labrador, her father a husky-collie.
athumbmaggy.jpg Our dog maggy is often with me when I'm traveling around or in the nursery.
Above is my 1978 pickup truck in the driveway. 225 slant 6 (2 barrel carb) with 3 on the tree, 3 speed standard on the column. I store it in the winter and drive my red 4 wheel drive truck instead but the red truck gets 8 mpg and the green gets 28. If they would just start making full size pickups with 6 cylinder and standard trnsmissions with overdrive and a two speed rear end for power.
It has always been my contention that nurseries; water to much, fertilize to much, use to much pesticide and just plain work to much. I am developing my own "One Straw Revolution" at the Flowering Shrub Farm in Voorheesville, NY. As I am disabled but still want to do what I love (growing hard to find ornamental plants, showing others how easy it is to grow them and then selling them), its a required step.
Contact me by email for an appointment as I probably wont answer my home phone at 518-765-2574.
Homepage Check my past picture-newsletters.
Check out my incomplete journal that I usually complete in winter.
Inventory pages
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