Holiday Cheer |
“Happy Holidays Everybody”. We’re in a celebrating mood with this our 12th and Holiday E-brief of 2010. We hope during 2010 we have inspired you to trial and add some fun new plants from the PlantHaven portfolio to your product line up. We’d love to hear your stories and look forward to a fun year working with you in 2011.
While you are busy decorating your homes for the holiday season with all the traditional crops Poinsettias and Amaryllis bulbs, to bring some floral glory to your holiday homes, have a think about crops which could be brought indoors for the Holidays. With a little planning; crops like Helleborus Ivory Prince make a superb floral holiday show plant. Hellebore Nigra or the Christmas Rose, as it is commonly called, looks superb dressed up in seasonal pots and is a sure fire way to start you thinking of spring and all the new opportunities ahead in 2011.
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Helleborus 'Ivory Prince'
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New Years Travels |
January 2011 see’s the PlantHaven Team in full travel mode for a range of Industry National and International Trade shows. Plants Team and Shows below:
Keith will be at MANTS in Baltimore January 4 -7th www.mants.com
Robert will be visiting TPIE show January 20th www.fngla.org/tpie
Maureen and Geoff will be flying the Flag in the American Pavilion at the IPM Show in Essen Germany January 24th – 28th (Look out for the largest space heater at this notoriously cool location!!!)
http://www.ipm-messe.de/index.php?lang=en&content=000000000 |
PlantHaven Calendar
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Spring Trials 2011 |
The next show to pencil into your planners is California Spring Trials March 26th to April 1st. This year our PlantHaven Spring Trials 2011: is going to be a real Dianthus Extravaganza. If you are looking for early scented crops to add to your production mix we strongly recommend you visit.
PlantHaven will be showcasing “Whetman Pinks New USA Program: 2011 and Beyond”. During the trials you will be able to view all 8 series and the individual 34 selections which make up the groupings, grown out as side by side comparison. The highlights will include four brand new selections for Spring Trials 2011 as well as The Whetman Team running five dedicated workshops for USA growers. This is your opportunity to talk directly with the Breeder and Growing Team from Whetmans Pinks UK.
We actively encourage you to book this opportunity into your 2011 calendars and come and review all 34 Selections at your leisure. |
Dianthus 'Sugar Plum'
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Amazing Photos |
Last month we talked about RHS Award of Garden Merit and encouraged you to check out the UK RHS website. This month we thought we might inspire you to get your camera out during the cooler winter months and shoot some images of PlantHaven crops in your area.
To inspire you, here are some of the entries and category winners from the Royal Horticultural Society 2010 photography competition. You can check out all the entries and category winners on the RHS website (Hot links underneath the pictures)
We just love the picture captured by Laura Leyshon featuring a young gardener of tomorrow having fun watering his vegetable garden. Laura was the winner of the Gardening and Gardens category. Torie Chugg took first place in the Fruit and Veg category with her bountiful harvest shot of gorgeous apples. Endymion Bennett took first prize in The Seasonal Gardens category for his mood provoking shot of fall leaves. |
Endymion Bennett
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Good Eats |
This month’s good eats are brought to you by Michael Vosti our PlantHaven Accounts Manager. When in Carlsbad, Michael’s vote goes to King’s Fish House
Their Mexican Shrimp Cocktail with special house sauce is superb. When visiting November-March try the locally caught Pacific Swordfish, seared on the grill, simply amazing; accompanied by a nice ice cold Southern California beer, the perfect South California Experience. |
Good Eats
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Liriodendron Little Volunteer |
In our plant feature this month we thought we’d talk about our little tulip tree: Liriodendron ‘Little Volunteer’; discovered by Tennessee plantsmen Alex and Harold Neubauer from Hidden Hollow. ‘Little Volunteer’ may well become the ‘Little Gem’ Magnolia of the Liriodendron world.
The foliage is a full one third the size of the species. Grower friendly ‘Little Volunteer’ forms a tight pyramidal tree 12’ x 6’ in four years, with a 3” caliper in 3 years from a transplanted 3-5’ liner.
‘Little Volunteer’ is an ideal choice as a street tree or for the residential landscape. Finally; a tulip tree suited to the modern landscape.
Leaf Close-up
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Early Orders 2011 and Beyond |
December and January are great months to review your orders for the coming season. You’ll still have time to up your orders for 2011.
Hot Crops to ensure you have on order for 2011 include: Gaillardia ‘Fanfare Blaze’, Erysimum ‘Fragrant Star’, Abutilon Lucky Lantern ‘Tangerine’, Sedum ‘Elsie’s Gold’ and Euphorbia ‘Ascot Rainbow’ to name but a few.
Happy Planning!
From everyone here at PlantHaven have a Joyful and Festive Holiday Season.
Kind regards
Geoff, Maureen, and the Whole PlantHaven Team |
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