Color Made in the Shade!

Tired of relying on annual plantings of Impatiens and Begonias for color in your shade garden? Consider using plants with colorful foliage instead or as a multi-level, permanent background with textural contrast to spots of annual color. Aucuba, a broadleafed evergreen shrub, glows with gold markings to bring warmth to those cool, shady spots. Grassy, evergreen Liriopes, both 'Silver Dragon' and 'Silvery Sunproof,' add both color and texture to shade plantings and even bloom with spikes of lavender flowers. Several Loropetalums, including 'Razzleberri' and 'Sizzling Pink,' offer purple to bronze foliage with bright pink flowers.

There are also some very showy deciduous shrubs and perennials that offer leaf color. Consider Hydrangea mariesii variegata. Even if it didn't offer beautiful lacecap blossoms, it would be desirable for its creamy leaf margins. Some of the showiest perennials for the summer garden are the Hostas. They come with different patterns of color in cream, yellow and white. They even bloom with spikes of pale lavender bells. Black Taro (Alocasia) is a very dramatic dark leafed bulb that gives any garden a tropical feel.

All of these plants can be used in combination with each other and with colorful leafed annuals. Mix them in container gardens and add colorful annuals and groundcovers for impact. Next time you visit the nursery, instead of just looking for flowers, take a look at all the colorful foliage plants we offer. Let one of our CCN Pros help you add long lasting color with foliage to your garden. Next newsletter we‘ll look at color for your sunny spots!

As most of you are aware, the water situation is getting tight. Santa Clara Valley Water District is requesting a 10% voluntary water use reduction. The first thing we suggest is that you mulch everything! Many of you have never mulched before and are not sure how, what, and why you mulch. Part of the SCV Water District’s ongoing educational efforts is their publication of the very handy “A BayFriendly Landscaping Guide to MULCH”. This 16 page glossy guide covers all the basics in a easy to understand language accompanied by beautiful photographs. It is FREE and available now at Yamagami’s Nursery. Pick one up today and get mulching!

While you are here, be sure to take a look, a feel, and (especially in the case of Cocoa Mulch) a sniff of all your mulch choices. If lugging around big heavy bags is a problem for you, be sure to see the Original Mulch Blocks. Let one of our CCN Pros help you succeed in saving water and keeping your garden healthy and stressfree.

Saturday, July 14th - Statuary Order Day
From 10 AM to 2 PM - 1 Day Only

All items from A. Silvestri Statuary ordered and paid for that day will receive a 20% discount. Joe Milner, Factory Rep, will have color samples and answer questions to help you place your orders. A. Silvestri offers fountains, benches, birdbaths and animal statuary. View their catalog at www.asilvestri.com to see their extensive selection. Enhance your landscape with statuary from A. Silvestri and get a 20% discount too!

No doubt you're seeing these riotous shrubs and trees in bloom right now! Sunny and hot will continue to be the forecast over the next couple of months, and that's when these beauties are at their best. Look for them all over Los Gatos.

Some plants grow tired and stressed when high temperatures persist day after day. Crape myrtles, on the other hand, thrive under these conditions, making them valuable flowering shrubs or small trees in the summer landscape. Whether trained as standard or multitrunk trees, crape myrtles make beautiful specimen or accent plants. Showy crinkled flowers are abundant throughout summer, with colors ranging from the reds to pinks, purples, and white.

Plant these lovely shrubs in any sunny spot where summer color is needed. Planting is best done in late spring or summer, when they are actively growing. For desired size and shape, prune in early spring. Don't worry too much about your pruning skills, as they bloom on new wood. Try to deadhead as blossoms fade in order to encourage continuous bloom. Crape myrtles are long-lived, drought tolerant (once established) and relatively pest free, although sometimes aphids and powdery mildew can be a problem. We offer mostly the Faueriei strain which are mildew resistant. Good air circulation is key to preventing mildew.

As if that weren't enough, they offer gorgeous fall leaf color and handsome “peely” bark to an already stunning plant! Add one or more to your landscape, then just sit back and enjoy the year round changing show! Let one of our experienced and friendly staff help you choose the perfect one for your garden.

With summer here, garden herbs are kicking into high gear, producing lots of pleasing, aromatic, foliage that is great for cooking and potpourris. Freshly harvested leaves are wonderful for cooking, but you might want to preserve some to use later in the year or to create satchels that will fill your home with wonderful scents.

There are two ways to air-dry your crop. The first is to hang them up. With large-leafed herbs such as basil, rosemary, and sage, snip off the leafy stems, then tie the cut ends together with string and hang the bundle upside down in a warm, dry place (out of direct sunlight) with good air circulation. The herbs should be dry and crisp in two to three weeks. You can then strip the leaves off the stems and store them in airtight container for later use. This method is also a great way to dry lavender.

The second way to dry herbs is to spread them out to dry. With fine-leafed herbs such as oregano and thyme, simply remove the foliage from stems and spread the leaves on a cookie sheet or piece of clean window screen and set in a warm, dry, airy place away from direct sun. Stir them up every few days to turn them over. Once the leaves feel crisp, you can store them in an airtight container for later use.