Just finished ordering $10,000 worth of perennials.  I hope people are in the mood to garden this spring!  (I’m a gamblin’ man…)  New this year to us:  Baptisia ‘Purple Smoke’, Campanula ‘Blue Waterfall’, Coreopsis ‘Heaven’s Gate’, Dianthus ‘Ruby’s Tuesday’, Helleborus ‘Regal Ruffles Strain’ and’ Royal Heritage’, Hosta ‘Orange Marmalade’, ‘Powder Blue & others, Rudbeckia hirta (several varieties), and some nursery grown wildflowers including Trillium, Asclepias, Solidago, and Poligonatum.  Please let me know if there is anything you particularly want or desire in any quantity, because in providing a large sampling I don’t buy deep on any one plant.

Preparing the bare-root order for spring… Grown on sandy ridge soils near Lake Erie in Perry, OH many fruit trees get a great start and transplant extremely well in soil-less condition.  They are vigorous and well-rooted, dug in December and kept in cold storage for the winter.  They should be planted in March or early April and have to be potted up if not planted by late April.  Bare-root trees/shrubs/vines are an economical way to get a decent size plant quickly.  I can get several different apples, pears, peaches, cherries, nectarines, plums, and apricot; blackberry, blueberry, elderberry, gooseberry, raspberry, strawberry, and currant; rhubarb, asparagus, and horseradish.  I sold out of some of these very quickly last year, and very slowly on the others.  I will be ordering accordingly for inventory, but welcome special orders (especially right now) if you know you want a bunch of asparagus or strawberries or several fruit trees…  Bare-root prices are of course cheaper than potted up prices (time and material costs); I can give you a quote on large orders and will need a deposit.  I know it’s cold out there, but a little planning now can save time and money in the spring.  Let me know if I can get you something.

Attended the Central Environmental Nursery Trade Show in Columbus this week.  Kind of like a really big home & flower show for landscapers/garden center retailers.  Ordered more pottery, a new seed line, Sweet Peat, Chickety DooDoo, hostas and hellebores, little leaf rhodies and more…  If you have specific needs or desires for this spring, just let me know.  I’m ordering daily.

January 2010- Good Ideas is pleased to announce the introduction of the new Compost Wizard Hybrid taking rain saving and composting to a new level. The fusion between the popular Compost Wizard Jr. and the Rain Wizard 50 gives our customers the choice to purchase one product and fulfill two needs: saving water and making compost.

The new product includes a tumbler composter which is specifically designed on top of a modified rain barrel. Once the media starts to become compost, all the excess liquids are designed to flow out from the composter and into the rain barrel, making the rain water “mineral rich” and ready to be used on your plants and gardens. It’s like making your own fertilizer water except this is organic and ready to use with no mixing required.

The foot print of the Compost Wizard Hybrid is half the size of the Rain Wizard 50 and the Compost Wizard Jr., thus taking up less space in the consumer’s backyard. It comes fully assembled in two separate boxes that have been specifically designed to be just under the oversized requirements of Federal Express and UPS. This product ships like a dream.

Finally, the hybrid is designed to retail at least 10% lower than the combined retail prices of the Rain Wizard 50 and the Compost Wizard Jr. Customers who were going to buy both a composter and a rain saver can now have it all in one easy to use hybrid. Made of LLDPE sturdy molded construction, a wide 12″ hard shell injection molded lid, wheels for easier turning, and many aeration holes for quicker drainage and compost making the Compost Wizard Hybrid is a must use for the homeowner interested in reducing their carbon footprint.

Best of all, the Compost Wizard Hybrid is made in the USA and comes with a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty.

$295 available now at Locke’s Green Side Up  ($50 Rebate available on composters from the City of Oberlin).

Last years vegetable and flower seed we’re selling 3 for the price of 1.  Considering germination drops by only 5-10% a year, that’s a pretty good deal.  Open Saturday 11-2.

We deliver bird seed for free in the Oberlin area during the winter months:

Suet: $1.75   11 oz. square,   $19  for a case of 12  (Nutty, High Energy, or Berry)

Thistle/Nijer :  $10  10#,  $45  50#

Sunflower: $6  10#  ,  $25  50#

Safflower: $10   10#

Wild Bird Mix:  $8.50  20 #,   $20  50#

Peanuts: $11  10#

Nuggets/Squirrellogs: $4.95

All subject to Ohio Sales Tax

Just call 774-6981 or reply below:  leave your order/address/phone #

We’ll return your call and set up a time for delivery

Winter Hours:  Saturdays only 11-2  beginning January 9th til Spring  (reopen mid-late March)

OR  By Appointment—Glad to meet you out there and sell you something!

Call for free bird seed or supplies delivery in Oberlin:  774-6981

Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla)

The indoor Christmas Tree.  Grown as an elegant houseplant in our climate, this evergreen tree likes bright light, humidity, and moist yet well-drained soil.  Water when the top inch of soil has dried, until it runs out the bottom; dump excess after draining for 15 minutes.  Consider giving it a shower monthly.  Does well outside in the summer (partial shade); return indoors before frost.  Use general purpose houseplant fertilizer only during the growing season.  We have 4 left at the GC (one fully decorated), that need homes for the winter.  25% off if you mention the Blog/Website or Facebook.

We take care of several plots at Oberlin’s Westwood Cemetery.  This time of year folks ask us to place a wreath, swag, or spray on the graves of their family members.  We do this for people across the country.  We have the stands and place them securely in the ground.  Let us know if we can help with your memorial, we consider it an honor.

Just got the spring shipment of Burley Clay pottery (they wanted me to take it now).   Really lovely designs, some in 3 or 4 pot sets.  Blues, greens, floral, vines.   New birdbaths and even a fountain.  These items are beautiful ornaments to any garden and would delight your gardener if found under their Christmas tree.  Mention this e-mail and receive 5% off any pottery purchase between now and Christmas.