Mother’s Day: A little history…

The earliest Mother's Day celebrations we know of were ancient Greek spring celebrations in honor of Rhea, the mother of the gods. But those were in honor of one particular mother. England's "Mothering Sunday," begun in the 1600's, is closer to what we think of as "Mother's Day." Celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, "Mothering Sunday" honored the mothers of England.

In 1907 Anna Jarvis started a drive to establish a national Mother's Day. In 1907 she passed out 500 white carnations at her mother's church in West Virginia--one for each mother in the congregation. In 1908, her mother's church held the first Mother's Day service, on May 10th (the second Sunday in May). That same day a special service was held at the Wanamaker Auditorium in Philadelphia, where Anna was from, which could seat no more than a third of the 15,000 people who showed up.

By 1909, churches in 46 states, Canada and Mexico were holding Mother's Day services. In the meantime, Ms. Jarvis had quit her job to campaign full time. She managed to get the World's Sunday School Association to help; they were a big factor in convincing legislators to support the idea. In 1912, West Virginia was the first state to designate an official Mother's Day. By 1914, the campaign had convinced Congress, which passed a joint resolution. President Woodrow Wilson signed the resolution, establishing an official national Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May.

Many countries of the world now have their own Mother's Day at different times of the year, but Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Japan, and Turkey join the US in celebrating Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May. Britain still celebrates Mothering Day on the fourth Sunday of Lent--but they now call it Mother's Day. By any name, and at any date, it's a special day to honor a special person. 

Mother’s Day 2008…

Instead of the traditional dozen long-stemmed roses for Mom, why not give her a rose bush that will supply her with dozens of roses for years to come? You know that what she really wants is time with you, so why not bring her to Yamagami’s to wander our colorful displays and choose her own blooming rose bush. 

If your love is like a red, red rose, we offer some beautiful choices. 'Janice Kellogg' is a beautiful long- stemmed burgundy red rose that cuts beautifully. The bush itself is stately and disease resistant. If you visit on Saturday, May 10th from 10 AM to 2 PM you can meet Mrs. Janice Kellogg herself, the matriarch of Kellogg Garden Products. Kellogg is our supplier for the very best organic gardening supplies, namely Dr, Earth Fertilizers and Gardner & Bloome soils. Every purchaser of a 'Janice Kellogg' rose that day will receive a FREE bud vase and a FREE bag of Gardner & Bloome Rose Planting Mix!  

Can anyone really have too many red roses? In addition to Janice Kellogg, we are pleased to offer 'Legends', another stunning red rose. 'Legends' is the rose Oprah Winfrey helped develop to honor 18 African American Women. Oprah called them “The Legends” and named the rose after them. It is one of the largest hybrid tea roses ever hybridized. Its huge buds of dark red swirl open to display black tips on ruffled petals. 

Give your mother something special this year, time together in our gardens, a chance to meet an amazing mother and businesswoman and last but hardly least, a beautiful rose bush for years of bouquets. Visit Yamagami’s Nursery for even more Mother’s Day ideas.

Yamagami’s Nursery is pleased to announce and welcome landscape designer and consultant Joyce Okumura to our company. Joyce is a skilled professional whom we will be recommending to our customers.

Many of you may recognize Joyce as the former owner/proprietor of El Real Nursery where she started designing practical gardens for busy Silicon Valley residents.  She is an experienced plantswoman with a working knowledge of what will grow and thrive in our area. Joyce is a Licensed Landscape Contractor, a California Certified Nursery Professional and an accomplished speaker recently featured at the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show.

Combine her eye for pleasing plant combinations with her working knowledge of plant communities and you'll get the garden you have always wanted: a harmonious blend of beauty and practicality.

Joyce offers services ranging from a simple on-site consultation to a blueprinted landscape design. In addition to Joyce's considerable landscape design skills, she also has installation partners who work wonders with hardscapes as well as plantscapes. Walkways, decks, irrigation, raised beds and all the things that make a garden uniquely yours are expertly installed in addition to your plants.

Contact Joyce at (408) 482-1586 for more information.

Yamagami’s Nursery is pleased to be a part of the Watershed Watch Campaign in a program sponsored by KBAY 94.5 FM. The Watershed Watch Campaign is dedicated to educating the public about the importance of protecting our creeks and bay, by being careful what goes down your drains. Everyone can make a difference!  Yamagami’s part includes featuring a “Green Product of the Month” on our website. People can go to the Watershed Watch Campaign on KBAY’s website and learn more about the program AND print a Watershed Watch Card which will entitle you to a 25% discount on our featured “Green Product of the Month” as well as discounts from other green conscious local merchants. All the information about our Featured Green Product of the Month, the Bug Blaster, and links to the Watershed Watch Card are on our website, yamagamisnursery.com.

Yamagami’s is excited to introduce the latest, greatest soil from Gardner & Bloome: Blue Ribbon Blend® Organic Potting Soil. It’s hard to believe that their original Potting Soil could be improved but it has! The Blue Ribbon Blend® Organic Potting Soil is improved in three big ways.

First, it is peat-based instead of bark-based. It will hold more water, lengthening the time between waterings. Just as important, peat is already broken down so it will not break down much further. This means that your plants will not slowly sink deeper and deeper into their pots as their soil breaks down and runs out the drain. It also contains coir (coconut fiber), which is also long lasting and helps make the drainage superior to that of other peat-based soils..

Another improvement is that instead of perlite (those crunchy white particles that slowly rise to the top of your soil), Blue Ribbon Blend® Organic Potting Soil contains pumice. Pumice doesn’t crumble easily, so it helps maintain the porosity better and longer, and stays mixed in the soil around the roots where it is needed.  Roots like the moisture the peat provides but also need the air that the pumice provides.

Finally, Blue Ribbon Blend® Organic Potting Soil also contains mycorrhizae, which are beneficial soil fungi. Mycorrhizae set up shop in a plant’s root system, helping them get the most from the water and nutrients in the soil and also warding off any soil borne diseases like root rot.

Gardner & Bloome Blue Ribbon Blend® Organic Potting Soil is the very best potting soil you can buy. So, when potting or repotting your containers ask for Blue Ribbon Blend® Organic Potting Soil--now available at Yamagami’s Nursery.

Special introductory offer for the month of May! Buy three bags of Gardner & Bloome Blue Ribbon Blend® Organic Potting Soil and get the fourth bag FREE!

Yamagami’s Water Garden Department is back! Create an oasis in your own garden. Don’t feel like digging in a permanent pond? Take the easy way out using one of our Water Garden containers or our Frame It All modular above-ground raised bed system. Water gardens provide life and color and, with the addition of one of our recirculating pumps, add music too!

We offer many lovely plants and a FREE "'Success With Water Gardens Guide" explaining how they are combined in a successful water garden. To help you grow and maintain your oasis, we also offer the soil, fertilizer and water treatments necessary for pond health.

As the weather warms, a water garden offers a cool sanctuary. Come to Yamagami’s this spring for inspiration. Let our knowledgeable staff help you create an oasis in your own garden.

Check out our great selection of glazed ceramic pottery suitable for water gardens!