Ashcombe Farm and Greenhouses

UPCOMING EVENTS AT ASHCOMBE!

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Chase away those winter blues with some quality time at Ashcombe. Stroll through our 70° greenhouses, explore our beautiful gift shop, browse our extensive selection of seeds and start planning your dream garden for the upcoming growng season!

Ashcombe makes it easy with all the supplies you need to get started and keep your garden growing all season long.

Below is a list of classes we are offering for the winter months. Adults, children and homeschool families can join in the fun.

And don't forget - Tuesdays are Senior Citizen day at Ashcombe. All customers who are 55 and better receive 10% OFF all non-sale items.

UPCOMING EVENTS...

Adult Suet Making Workshop ~ Saturday, January 28th, 10am Each participant will make and mold their own suet to take along home for the birds. Pre-registration required. Fee $10.00

Every Friday in January and February is Bring A Friend Friday. Buy one lunch entree from our Farm Kitchen and get a second lunch entree at half price!

Children’s Class: Making Gourd Birdhouses ~ Saturday, February 11th, 9-10am Each child will make a birdhouse from a long neck gourd. We will sand, paint and decorate the houses. Please wear old clothes. Ages 5 and up. Pre-registration and payment is required. Fee: $5.00

Learn How To Start Your Own Seeds ~ Saturday, February 11th, 10am-2pm Stop by our Garden Supplies department between 10am and 2pm and get some great tips on starting your seeds indoors.

Homeschool Garden Craft Club: Making Soft Scrub Soap ~ Wednesday,

February 15th, 1-2pm We will make hand soap from household ingredients. Each child will take some along home. Please wear old clothes. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $5.00

“Landscape Ideas Worth Stealing” with George Weigel ~ Saturday, February 18th, 10am Ready to spruce up the boring ol’ landscape? No need to reinvent the wheel when lots of great gardeners have gone before and come up with all sorts of creative improvements. This program takes a look at some of the interesting things uber-gardeners have done that might be worth “borrowing” in your own yard. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $8.00

Soup & Bread Luncheon ~ Thursday, February 23rd, 11am Enjoy a warm and tasty lunch featuring several different kinds of soups and breads - all made right here in our kitchen. Dessert and drinks are included. Recipes will be available. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $10.00

Homeschool Garden Craft Club: Papermaking ~ Wednesday, February 29th, 1-2pm Each child will make 2 pieces of paper using recycled paper scraps and other embellishments. Please wear old clothes. Ages 5 and up. Pre-registration and payment is required. Fee: $5.00

Stop In For Lunch!

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As the cold winter winds start to howl, it's time to get warm and cozy inside. Visit our Gift Shop for lots of winter pampering ideas! Quilted throws & place mats; candles in glorious scents; lotions and soaps; and many beautiful home decor items. While you're here have lunch in our farm kitchen - we have daily lunch specials and 2 great soups every day. Top it off with a sweet treat from our in-store bakery. Check out our daily lunch specials here: December Lunch Specials // January Lunch Specials.

Fruit, Gourmet & Gift Baskets - The Perfect Gift!

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CREATE YOUR OWN THEME BASKET - Just choose from our wide selection of gourmet foods, fruit and baked goods and let us arrange and package it for you! Great for office parties!

ASHCOMBE CORNUCOPIA - A perfect gift for a family or office staff. A mixture of fruit and bakery goods from our farm kitchen combined with gourmet food and candy.

FRUITS OF PLENTY - Our largest "just fruit" basket. Includes apples, pears, citrus, bananas, grapes and candy.

SNACK BASKET - Great for an all-occasion party or a housewarming gift. Includes salsas, chips, snack mix, pretzels and mustards.

HOME & HEARTH BASKET - Our most popular basket. Includes a 5" fruit pie, muffins, cookies and assorted fruit garnished with candy. This basket is an excellent choice for all gift giving occasions.

BREAKFAST BASKET - This eye opener basket includes pancake mix, syrup, preserves, coffee or tea and a muffin mix.

BAKER'S SPECIAL - Includes a 10" fruit of the season pie surrounded by muffins, cookies and whoopie pies on a wicker tray.

FRESH GREENS ARE HERE!!

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Ahhh...the glorious smell of fresh greens! Get ready to deck your halls because our greens have arrived for this holiday season. We offer a lot of variety including:

• Mix and Match Loose Greens by the pound: Coned Cedar, Douglas Fir, Boxwood, Incense Cedar, Juniper, Noble Fir, White Pine, Princess Pine, Balsam, Red Cedar, Port Orford Cedar, Holly

• 5 varieties of roping: Heavy White Pine, Princess Pine, Douglas Fir, Cedar and Mixed Greens

• Plain & decorated wreaths and swags

• Kissing Balls

• Mistletoe

• Decorated Sugar Cones

• Bundles of mixed greens

• Decorated potted evergreens

And more! Come check out our Gift Department for holiday arrangements, wreaths and swags. Our designers can custom design a piece to fit into your home decor. Enjoy the scents of candles and potpourri and decorate your tree with our complete selection of Old World Ornaments.

HOLIDAY BAKED GOODS AT ASHCOMBE

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If you are looking for the best baked goods in the area - look no further!! Order your holiday cakes, pies, cookies and breads soon - our deadline for Thanksgiving orders is Saturday, November 19th.

CHECK OUT THESE EXCITING UPCOMING EVENTS...

Pine Wreath Workshop & Luncheon ~ Thursday, December 1st , 11am. Enjoy a delicious lunch of

assorted salad sandwiches, chips, macaroni salad, a bakery tray and drinks; then make a

beautiful fresh wreath from assorted greens, pine cones, flowers holiday embellishments and a bow. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $35.00

Bow Making Workshop - Monday, December 5th, 11am. Learn how to make fabulous bows with our floral designer, Nedra. Each participant will take home several hand made bows.

Refreshments will be served. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $25.00

Pine Wreath Workshop & Luncheon ~ Tuesday, December 6th , 11am. Enjoy a delicious lunch of

assorted salad sandwiches, chips, macaroni salad, a bakery tray and drinks; then make a

beautiful fresh wreath from assorted greens, pine cones, flowers holiday embellishments and a bow. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $35.00

Children’s Homeschool Class: Pine & Candy Wreath Workshop ~ Wednesday, December 7th, 10-11am.

Each child will make a pine wreath from scratch and decorate it with candy, pine cones and more. Please wear old clothes. Ages 5 and up. Pre-registration required. Register at

Ashcombe or online at hahaofpa.org. Fee: $8.00

Glass Ornament Workshop (for adults) ~ Wednesday, December 7th, 2pm Each participant will

decorate a set of 6 glass ball ornaments with paints and flowers. Tons of fun! Great gift idea. Refreshments will be served. Pre-registration required. Fee: $25.00

Pine Wreath Workshop ~ Thursday, December 8th, 6pm. Each participant will make a beautiful fresh wreath from assorted greens, pine cones, flowers, holiday embellishments and a bow.

Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $25.00

Pine Swag Workshop ~ Tuesday, December 13th, 1pm. Hand-craft a beautiful mixed green swag

you’ll be proud to hang. We’ll use assorted fresh greens, large pine cones, berries and ribbon.

Refreshments will be served. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $25.00

Children’s Homeschool Class: Glass Ornament Workshop ~ Wednesday, December 14th, 1-2pm.

Each child will decorate a glass ball ornament with paints and flowers. Please wear old clothes. Ages 5 and up. Pre-registration required. Register at Ashcombe or online at hahaofpa.org. Fee: $5.00

Boxwood Tree Workshop ~ Thursday, December 15th, 1pm. Make a beautiful, decorative boxwood

tree to display on a table for the upcoming holidays. Refreshments will be served.

Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $28.00

We're Gearing Up For Our Holiday Open House!

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I can't believe the holidays are right around the corner!!! Come check out our beautiful displays throughout the store -- they changed rapidly from fall to Christmas the day after Halloween. Saturday, November 12th is our annual Holiday Open House event and we have a great line up this year. Check out our complete schedule...

SPECIAL GUESTS

ADAMS COUNTY WINERY

Samples available, wine and gift certificates for sale.

POZY BEARS SIGNING - Meet Dave Miller - the artist of the country “Pozy Bears”, beautifully crafted bears with tons of character. These resin bears have a hand-carved look of days gone by and make great holiday gifts.

WHEAT WEAVING BY BEKKA

with Bekka Rousek 9-4

THE NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Share train history, trivia and information and

see a 14’x10’ historical model railroad. 9-4

THE STATION 10-4. Share train history and information with members of this New Cumberland based organization

Vegetable & Fruit Garnishing

with caterer Ed Byrem. 9-4

Michael Larkin garden design

Hypertufa garden containers, concrete leaf art. 9-4

JEWELRY BY JILL

Felted wool flowers, zipper flowers, watch part pins. 9-4

MANAN’S BEADWEAVING by Christine Mann

Hand made beaded Christmas ornaments & Jewelry 9-4

LIGHTS BY J.R. & TOM

Square ice lights with bows, ribbon and glass blocks. 9-4

KNIT HATS

Knit hats by Brenda Albert 9-4

SHADOWBERRY FARM ALPACAS by Nancy Imphona

Felted hats, purses, hand knit caps. 9-4

OH WOW! THE COLORS!

Clay jewelry works by David Fisher. Handcrafted jewelry make of polymer clay. 9-4

Artistic Expressions In Photography by JOann

Photographs of nature

Custom Silk Floral Wreaths & Arrangements

Our floral designer can make the perfect accents for your home!

Christmas Decor At Ashcombe

Mountain Retreat

Pheasant, quail, brown bear and deer combine with rustic pines to bring the majesty of the mountains to life.

The Crimson Peacock

Long sought after as a sign of prestige, these red peacocks are available in a variety of sizes, shades and textures. Make a unique holiday decorating statement.

Vintage Frosty & St. Nick

Classic reproductions of 50’s & 60’s inspired Santas and snowmen are available in a variety of ornaments and holiday decor. Sure to be a nostalgic favorite.

The Hunt Club

Tartan plaids, German pointer dogs, English riding boots, horses and fox bring to life the sophistication of a country estate.

Fall Harvest Days!

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Still 2 more weekends of Fall Harvest activities.

Come join in the fun!!!

Friday, October 21st

• Apple Butter Making

• Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins & Hayrides

• Visiting Nigerian Dwarf Goats

• Free games & children’s activities

Saturday, October 22nd

• Apple Butter Making

• Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins & Hayrides

• Kettle Korn

• Big Rock Alpaca Farm

• Face Painting

• Visiting Nigerian Dwarf Goats

• Special harvest foods

• Free games & children’s activities

Sunday, October 23rd

• Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins & Hayrides 11-4

• Special harvest foods 11-3

• Visiting Nigerian Dwarf Goats

• Free games & children’s activities 11-4

Monday, October 24th - Friday, October 28th

• Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins & Hayrides

• Visiting Nigerian Dwarf Goats

• Free games & children’s activities

Saturday, October 29th

• Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins & Hayrides

• Big Rock Alpaca Farm

• Visiting Nigerian Dwarf Goats

• Face Painting

• Special harvest foods

• Free games & children’s activities

Fall Harvest Events This Weekend!

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Make plans to join us for our Fall Harvest Days, October 7th through 29th daily.

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 9-6

Wednesday 9-5

Sunday 11-4

(weather permitting)

Hayrides: $3

Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins ($3 and up)

Field Games & Hayworld (Free)

ADDITIONAL EVENTS THIS WEEK:

Saturday, October 8th

• Fire Safety & Awareness Day ~ Local fire companies and rescue services will be

here to educate children and families on life saving techniques and equipment. Fire and ambulance apparatus will be on display for viewing and demonstrations.

• Monroe Fire Dept. Chicken Barbecue

• Scarecrow Making 9-3: For $10 we’ll supply the head & straw, for $15 we will

supply everything!

• Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins & Hayrides

• Big Rock Alpaca Farm

• Face Painting

• Visiting Nigerian Dwarf Goats

• Special harvest foods

• Free games & children’s activities

Sunday, October 9th

• Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins 11-4

• Hayrides 11-4

• Special harvest foods 11-3

• Visiting Nigerian Dwarf Goats

• Free games & children’s activities 11-4

Monday, October 10th

• Scarecrow Making 10-4- For $10 we’ll supply the head & straw, for $15 we will

supply everything!

• Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins & Hayrides

• Visiting Nigerian Dwarf Goats

• Free games & children’s activities

Tuesday, October 11th - Friday, October 14th

• Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins & Hayrides

• Visiting Nigerian Dwarf Goats

• Free games & children’s activities

UPCOMING EVENTS AT ASHCOMBE

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Can you believe summer is coming to a close, the kids have headed back to school and it's already time to start thinking about fall? I can't!!! It just seems like yesterday that we were starting our seeds for the perfect garden (before it was taken over by weeds!) Anyway...fall is just around the corner and so are some great activities at Ashcombe. We have activities for kids and adults -- always something for everyone to enjoy.

Here are some upcoming events for September....

Hypertufa Workshop ~ Saturday, September 10, 10:30-12 noon Host Michael Larkin will guide each

participant to create a round container (made of peat moss, perlite and Portland cement) that can be used on a patio or in the garden year round. Each participant will take home one 14” container and detailed instructions on how to create many more. Please bring a pair of sturdy rubber gloves and dress to get dirty! Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $30.00

Children’s Homeschool Class: “Garden Bugs” ~ Wednesday, September 14th, 10-11am In this fun class, each child will make adorable decorative bugs from paper, pipe cleaners, beads and magazine pages. Please wear old clothes. Ages 5 and up. Pre-registration required. Register at Ashcombe or online at hahaofpa.org. Fee: $5.00

Basic Orchid Care ~ Thursday, September 15th, 6pm Patti Suhocki will lead this informative program

on orchids. Be sure to bring your questions! Each participant will receive a starter orchid.

Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $15.00

Birdscaping In Your Backyard - Creating A Habitat ~ Monday, September 19th 6-7:30pm with Michael

Larkin. In this session, we will discuss how to create a bird habitat in your yard. Learn which plants are needed in your landscape to create a place for the entire life-cycle of a species, from fledgling to adult, what foods are necessary, water sources and how to provide a place for raising young. Also learn some helpful hints for winter cover. You will take home instructions on how to create a backyard bird habitat and a recipe to make your own suet. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $5.00

“Gardening For All Four Seasons” with George Weigel ~ Satu

rday, September 24th, 10am It takes some planning to have a yard that looks good in all four seasons. This program gives strategies and ideas, then takes a season-by-season closeup look at some of the best plants that peak in each season as well as top plants that give more than one season of interest. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $5.00

Children’s Homeschool Class: “Using Herbs In Recipes” ~ Wednesday, September 28th, 1-2m In thistasty class we will whip up some herbal dishes and have fun tasting them. Please wear old clothes. Ages 5 and up. Pre-registration required. Register at Ashcombe or online at hahaofpa.org. Fee: $5.00

Adult Terrarium Workshop ~ Thursday, September 29th, 6pm Learn how to make your own

terrarium from start to finish. Bring your own container or purchase one here. Pre-registration required. Class fee is dependent on supplies used.

TOMATO FESTIVAL

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Tomato Festival

Saturday, August 13th, 9am - 3pm

Due to inclement weather and hail damage, tomato and pepper tasting will be extremely limited. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience.

(Programs will be held under the pavillion in the garden area.)

PROGRAMS

Canning Basics with Nina Redding from the Cumberland County Extension

Office 9:00am. FREE. Pre-registration required.

Saucy Salsa Class with Dennis Mawhinney. Learn how to grow tomatoes and make your own salsa. 11:00am. FREE. Pre-registration is required.

Taste test over 30 varieties of tomatoes all day long!

Pepper taste testing all day long!

The Largest Tomato Contest Judging will be at 2pm. Pre-registration

required to compete.

THE BEAUTY OF BUTTERFLIES - Saturday, August 6th

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Remember -- this Saturday is Ashcombe's annual BUTTERFLY DAY! Enjoy great displays, special guests and a long-awaited butterfly release at 12 noon. If you're hungry, support our local fire company...Monroe Fire Company will be here selling their delicious barbecue chicken dinner. Come enjoy all the fun!!!

THE BEAUTY OF BUTTERFLIES

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Mark your calendars for 'The Beauty Of Butterflies" - our annual butterfly event that is hugely popular and a lot of fun for the entire family. The event will be held this year on Saturday, August 6th from 9am-3pm.

There will be special displays set up throughout the store including displays on:

- PA butterflies and caterpillars

- host plants

- plants for attracting butterflies

- the migratory cycle of the Monarch butterfly

- the differences between moths and butterflies

- the anatomy of a buttery

- our living butterfly house!

We are offering 2 programs as well:

- Tour of our butterfly gardens at 11am and 2pm. These are free tours.

- Book sale and signing with Ron Richael, author of "Attracting Butterflies - A Handbook for Butterfly Gardening"

Our much anticipated butterfly release is scheduled for 12:00 noon

We can't forget the little ones! Our children's activities this year are:

- butterfly and caterpillar crafts

- face painting

- make your own antennae

If you're hungy, Monroe Fire Company will be here serving up their delicious chicken barbecue meal!

YOU CAN RESERVE YOUR OWN BUTTERFLY TO RELEASE (EITHER HERE OR AT HOME) BY CALLING AND ASKING FOR KERRI OR DEB. THEY ARE $10 EACH. DEADLINE TO ORDER IS JULY 16th.

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Proper watering techniques for garden plants, shrubs, and trees.

One of the most commonly asked questions, especially during a time of hot temperatures and infrequent rains, is how long and how often should I water my plants? Unfortunately, there is not one simple answer to this question. The correct answer is that it depends on a number of things and will vary depending on them. The one constant is that you want the soil to remain somewhat moist, like a damp paper towel, not crumbly dry and not dripping wet. When watering, you want the plants to receive enough water to replenish the moisture throughout the plant into the root zone. Your answers to the questions below will help determine what constitutes proper watering in your unique situation.

Are the plants in the sun or the shade? If in the sun, is it morning sun or midday and afternoon sun?

Are the plants receiving reflected light and heat from structures, rock mulch, and paved surfaces?

What type of soil are they planted in - poor draining clay, fast draining sand, loamy, highly organic soil?

What type of watering systems are you using – in-ground irrigation set for the lawn; in-ground irrigation with appropriate heads for watering shrubs and perennials and on a separate zone from the lawn; overhead, oscillating sprinklers hooked to a hose; soaker or drip hoses; hand watering?

What type of plants – perennials, trees or shrubs; deciduous or evergreen?

When were they planted (this year, many years ago)?

Do you have mulch down - what type – bark, pine needles, rock, straw, compost?

The same plant in different conditions will require different watering practices. You must tailor your watering to the conditions AND the plant. Obviously, a location that receives afternoon sun and wind (west side) will dry out faster then something that only receives morning sun or no sun. Clay soil holds onto moisture and drains slowly. Sandy soils drain quickly and do not hold onto moisture. Loamy soils have a high concentration of organic material in them, drain appropriately and stay moist longer. If you are uncertain the type of soil you have, dig a hole and fill it with water. If the water does not stay in the hole at all but drains almost as quickly as you fill it, you have sandy soil. If the water stands for a long time in the hole, taking hours to over a day to drain, you have clay soil. Amending clay or sandy soil annually with organic materials such as compost, peat moss, topsoil will help add nutrients as well as change its composition, over time, so it drains more appropriately. Simply amending the hole you plant in does not make a significant enough change to dramatically affect watering technique.
The best way to determine when to water is by checking a few of the plants in each type of condition. Push the mulch away from the base of the plant and dig down a few inches with a trowel. If the soil is crumbly, you need to water. If it is squishy no need to water for awhile. If it is lightly moist, check again in a day or two. You will find you need to water some areas more frequently then other areas – as stated above, there is no “one answer fits all conditions” in terms of watering. Keep in mind too that if you have clay soil, even if the soil near the top of the plant feels dry, the base of the plant may be very wet. It would really help to test how quickly things drain in your yard and utilize that to help you determine the optimal watering schedule.

Plants benefit most from slow, deep watering. This is most effectively achieved via soaker hoses or drip irrigation. Overhead watering is less effective, can promote disease and fungal problems and wastes water. On hot, windy days, you can lose over 50% of the water due to evaporation and runoff before it even gets to your plants. In ground irrigation systems that are set to water your lawn are not appropriate to water most perennials, shrubs and trees. The perennials usually get too much water, and the shrubs and trees usually do not get enough. You run into similar problems with hand watering. You are very likely not giving the trees and shrubs enough water. If your only option is to water by hand, for trees and shrubs it is better to just place the hose at the base of the plant and turn the water down to a trickle, then leave it on each plant for 15-30 minute (depending on the type of soil you have). That will allow the water to fully saturate the plant’s roots. If you are using soaker hoses or a drip system, the type of soil you have will also be important in determining how long to leave them on. If you have well draining soils, several hours is okay; for poorly draining soils 1 hour. If you are using overhead sprinklers, put them on for a set length of time (30 minutes or 1 hour) and check a few plants to determine how deeply watered they are. Use this to set up an appropriate schedule.

Plants that are newly planted require more consistency in watering. It takes about 3 years for perennials and most shrubs to get to their mature size. It takes trees, depending on the species many years. During the initial year(s), the plant is putting a lot of energy into root formation. In order to remain healthy and flourish, they need to be getting adequate water down to the roots. Evergreens require watering until the ground freezes. After the perennials have gone dormant and the leaves dropped off your deciduous trees and shrubs, you will still need to water evergreens. If you have an in-ground system, have a plan in place to get water to your evergreens once the system has been shut off. Because evergreens have needles, they lose moisture through them during the winter. If they do not have an adequate store of water going into the winter, come spring, they will be dead.

Mulching your plants with bark, straws, compost products will help retain moisture and thus reduce the amount of watering you will need to do.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT ASHCOMBE

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Concrete Leaf Workshop ~ Tuesday, July 5th, 6-7:30pm Leaf casting is great fun and easy to do! Join Michael Larkin in creating cement hosta leaves for your garden. Learn the tricks to create a

cement mold of a plant leaf. The leaf’s natural depressions and veins are captured in cement mix. They can be painted and used as art for on a wall, stepping stones or bird baths. In this class we’ll make 2 leaves and discuss ways they can be painted later at home. Please bring a pair of sturdy rubber gloves. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $20.00

Wednesday, July 6th ~ Canning - Home Grown Goodness. 1-2:30pm Preserving and canning fresh fruits and vegetables is healthy, gratifying and fun! In this class, we will teach some basic canning techniques as well as some new tricks. Whether you are a beginner or want to brush up on your canning skills...this class is for you! The class will be led by Ashcombe’s own kitchen chefs. Each participant will receive a “Ball Canning Starter Kit”. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $30.00

Yard Sale ~ Saturday, July 9th Beginning at 7am. Make plans to join us for this annual event.

Children’s Class: “Make Your Own Bird Bath” ~ Saturday, July 9th, 9-10am Each child will make a bird bath for their patio or garden at home. Please wear old clothes. Ages 5 and up.

Pre-registration required. Fee: $8.00

Herbal Luncheon ~ Thursday, July 21st, 11am Our chef will prepare a delicious lunch using different varieties of herbs. Come hungry! Recipes and handouts will be available. Each participant will receive an herb plant. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $15.00

“Gardening with Mother Nature” with George Weigel ~ Saturday, July 23rd, 10am Sometimes we make things harder on ourselves in the garden than necessary. By taking cues from the world’s best gardener – Mother Nature – we can become kinder, gentler and better gardeners and save ourselves unnecessary work. Presented by George Weigel. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $5.00

GREAT SAVINGS AT ASHCOMBE THIS WEEK!

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Chocolate In The Garden

Chocolate is the new black, it goes with virtually everything especially in the garden. What makes this color so appealing? Deep maroons and warm browns make bright colors pop. And there’s a primal connection “people Love Chocolate”. The yummy melt in your mouth type! There are literally Hundreds of dark chocolate colored foliages that are ready to excite and comfort the gardener. Combine these plants with earth tones, greens and grays, combined with chocolate “coco bean mulch” and you will either be in heaven or checking yourself back into “chocolates anonymous”!

Here are some of our favorite plants (some of them with mouth watering names) that use rich brown foliage to excite.Center Glow Ninebark

'Summer Wine' Ninebark
'Center Glow' Ninebark
'Grace' Smokebush
'Royal Purple' Smokebush
'Chocolate Swirls' Coral Bell
'Peach Flame' Coral Bell
'Caramel' Coral Bell
'Obsidian' Coral Bell
'Kopper King' Hibiscus
'Black Jack' Sedum
'Chocolate Chip' Ajuga
'Bronze' Sweet Potato Vine
Purple Fountain Grass
'Coco Loco' Coleus

Grow Your Own Peanuts!

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Ever thought about growing peanuts in your own garden? It's fun for the whole family and relatively simple.

Here are some pointers to get you headed on the right track!

Peanuts are also known as goobers, goober peas, groundpeas, ground nuts, and earth nuts. The peanut is a legume with compound leaves similar to clover and yellow, pea-like flowers. Peanut varieties can be classified by growth habit (bunch or runner) and nut type (Virginia or Spanish). Virginia types are large podded and usually contain 1 or 2 large kernels per pod. Spanish types are smaller podded and contain 2 or 3 small kernels per pod.

Peanuts grow best in loose, well-drained soils. Avoid poorly drained, clay type soils. Plant peanuts after the danger of frost is past. Peanuts require a soil temperature of 65 F for germination. Sow peanut seeds 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep and 6 to 8 inches apart. Row spacing for bunch types should be 24 inches and 36 inches for runner types. Suggested varieties for home gardens include ‘Spanish,’ ‘Early Spanish,’ ‘Virginia Improved,’ and ‘Jumbo Virginia.’ Peanuts are warm-season annuals that require a minimum of 120 frost free days to reach maturity.

The flowering and fruiting of peanuts are unique. Plants flower above ground, but the pods develop below ground. Peanut plants begin to bloom about 30 to 40 days after emergence. The flowers are small, bright yellow, and pea-like in appearance. After pollination and fertilization occurs, the stalk (peg) below the fertilized ovary elongates and curves downward. It takes about 10 days for the peg to penetrate into the soil. A week after soil penetration, the peg tip enlarges and pod and seed development begin. The fruit mature in 9 to 10 weeks with favorable temperatures and moisture conditions. Since the peanut plant flowers over several weeks, all the pods do not mature at the same time. Cultivate the soil around peanut plants to control weeds and to keep the soil loose so the pegs can easily penetrate the soil surface. Cultivate shallowly to prevent damage to the peanut roots. Stop cultivation in the immediate vicinity of the plants when the pegs begin to penetrate into the soil. A 1 or 2 inch layer of mulch can be placed around plants in early June to control weeds. Any weeds that do appear can be hand pulled.

Harvest the peanuts when the foliage begins to yellow in late summer or early fall. Dig up the plants with a spading fork and carefully shake off the loose soil. Cure the peanuts by hanging the plants in a warm, dry shed or garage. Beware of mice. After the plants have dried for 1 or 2 weeks, shake off any remaining soil and pull the peanut pods from the plants. Continue to air dry the peanuts for an additional 1 or 2 weeks. Once dried, place the peanuts in mesh bags and store them in cool, well-ventilated place until roasted.

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Tips on When to Mow Your Lawn

It's such a basic question: When should you mow your lawn? Yet people commonly get it wrong. Here are a few pointers:

•Don't mow your grass when it's wet, whether due to weather or watering. That damages the blades and your lawn alike.

•Don't buzz cut an overgrown lawn to "get back on schedule." Instead, cut the grass back in increments, never by more than a third of its current length.

•Do cut your lawn "high", as in about three inches. That length helps limit weed growth, reduces the need for watering and promotes a strong root structures.

•Don't cut your lawn obsessively. Like any plant, grass needs time to recover from being cut. Plus, it's bad for your mower.

Springtime At Ashcombe!

2011-04-28T10:30:00.000-07:00

Check out what's happening this spring at Ashcombe!

Our greenhouses are filled with fresh, beautiful blooming annuals, perennials, nursery stock, herbs and vegetable plants. Let us help make your yard and garden a beautiful retreat!

Weeping Plants

2011-04-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

Weeping trees and shrubs are great assets in the landscape and can perform different functions.

Weeping trees can highlight a particular area of your landscape.
Weeping plants add a graceful, soothing tone to your landscape.
Weeping forms can complement water features and other boulder landscapes.
It's always good to add something fun and different to your home landscape.

The following is a list of beautiful weeping plant specimens:

Molten Lava Crabapple - Weeping Crabapple with red buds opening to single white flowers. 12-15' high.
Weeping Mulberry - Graceful, small weeping tree with glossy green foliage. 10'h x 15's
Weeping Pussy Willow - Beautiful weeping form with traditional pussy willow flowers. 5-6' x 5-6'.
Weeping Arctic Blue Willow - Excellent small specimen for patios or water features. 12-15' x 10-12'.
Weeping Nishiki Willow - Elegant and different looking features tri-colored leaves. Requires winter protection!
Weeping White Spruce - Narrow cone shaped weeper excellent specimen and a good plant for a narrow space. 20'h x 4'w.
Pendula Bruns Spruce - A type of serbian spruce with a weeping habit, beautiful foliage, and cones. 35'h x 15'w.
Weeping Hemlock 'Gracilis' - A premier evergreen for shade gardens, rockeries, and water features.
Weeping Larch - Luminous lime green needles on a weeping form. Yellow fall color. 10-12'h.

2011-04-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

Azaleas & Rhododendrons

Rhododendrons are usually evergreen, meaning they retain their leaves throughout the winter, where azaleas are in the genus rhododendron but they are deciduous. They both bloom in early spring and are a vibrant display for that time of year.

Azaleas:

Bloom in spring in a variety of colors. The University of Minnesota developed the lights series for our climate. They are dependable bloomers and have a good fall color. The Weston Hybrid azaleas bloom in June and July and have a great fall color. They are a thicker plant, but needs winter protection. All of these azaleas come in colors of yellow, pink, white, red, orange, and purple.

Care:

Azaleas enjoy full sun or partial sun. They do not have the winter sun issues that the rhododendrons do. They also enjoy an acidic environment and peat moss should be added at planting.

Fertilizer:

Fertilizer in spring like the rhododendrons with an acidic fertilizer.

Insects and Disease:

They have the same possible problems as rhododendrons.

Pruning:

Prune the same as rhododendrons.

Rhododendron:

Rhododendrons come in small leafed varieties and large leafed varieties. The small leafed varieties have a greater tolerance to the winter sun and are more winter hardy than large leafed varieties. They flower in pastels of pinks and purples for the small-leafed varieties, whereas the large-leafed varieties come in white, red, and pink. They keep their leaves all winter which turn a deep purple in the fall. (PJM Rhododendron pictured above).

Care:

Rhododendrons are sensitive to extreme heat therefore they would not do well on the south side up against a building. They are sensitive to winter sun as well as winter winds therefore it is best to place them on an east side. They do enjoy a well-drained soil and need consistent water as their roots are so close to the surface and can dry out faster.

Fertilizer:

At planting it is best to add organic matter such as compost and peat moss, which will raise the soil pH slightly. They enjoy an acidic soil so, fertilize with an acidic fertilizer, such as ammonium sulfate, in spring or early summer. A pH of 4.0-5.5 is optimum for growth.

Insects and Disease:

They can get a root rot fungus if the soil is not well drained. They can also get a powdery mildew if the summer is hot and humid, any general fungicide can be used. If leaves are turning chlorotic, the soil may be too alkaline and further acidification is needed. They do not have many insects. Rabbits and other rodents tend to feed on these plants. It is best to protect them with a deterrent.

Pruning:

Prune in the spring immediately after they are done flowering. Do not prune any more than 1/3 of the plant’s height.

Things To Consider Before Buying A Tree

2011-03-31T09:01:00.000-07:00

1. What size and type of tree am I looking for?

Shade Tree:
40-60' x 40-60'
Bur Oak, Hackberry, Siouxland Poplar

Ornamental:
10-30' x 10-30'
Japanese Tree Lilac, Crabapple, Amur Chokecherry

Boulevard
20-40' x 20-40'
Maple, Ash, Linden

Evergreen
All year interest!
Pine, Spruce, Arborvitae

Fruit Trees
10-15' x 10-15'
Apple, Pear, Cherry, etc.

2. What if I have mostly shade?

Trees for wooded or shaded areas: Pagoda Dogwood, Eastern Redbud, Ash, or Hemlock.

3. Is it a very wet or very dry area?

Trees for wet areas: Swamp White Oak, Pagoda Dogwood, Willow, or River Birch.

Trees for dry area: Green Ash, Amur Maple, Theves Poplar, or Pin Oak.

4. Any obstacles in the way of tree growth?

Consider power lines, house, other trees, neighbors property line, fence line, etc.

5. Fall color, fruit, flowering?

Trees for fall color: Red Maple, Sugar Maple, Honey Locust, Pagoda Dogwood, Red Oak.

Trees with ornamental fruit: Serviceberry, Hawthorn, Crabappel, Mountain Ash.

Trees with ornamental flowers: Catalpa, Newport Plum, Eastern Redbud, Amur Chokecherry.

Tree Planting Checklist

Long handled digging shovel
Root stimulator
Peat Moss
Mulch
Hose for watering
Staking Kit for potted trees
Tree wrap for fall

Handling

When moving trees and shrubs, handle the plant by the container or root ball. Never lift plants by the trunk or branches. Never drag plants by the trunk or branches. Do not drop plants.

Fun Events For The Whole Family!!

2011-03-30T13:13:00.001-07:00

APRIL

“Grow It Right!” Perennial Mini-Seminars ~ Planting Strawberries - Saturday, April 2nd Learn

everything you need to know about planting strawberries. Informal presentations at 10am and 2pm in the Perennial Courtyard. Free!

Learn To Plant A Tree ~ Saturday, April 9th Learn the proper way to plant trees for a long, healthy life. This free demonstration will be held in the Nursery at 11am and 1pm.

“Grow It Right!” Perennial Mini-Seminars ~ Planting Asparagus - Saturday, April 9th ~ Learn

everything you need to know about planting asparagus. Informal presentations at 10am and 2pm in the Perennial Courtyard. Free!

Butterfly Container Garden Seminar ~ Saturday, April 9th, 10:30-12noon You can attract butterflies to your garden, even if you do not have a large backyard. Local landscape designer, Michael Larkin, will show how to create a butterfly container garden (for a yard or patio), with plants that attract all stages of life from larva to adult butterflies. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $5.00

Herbal Luncheon ~ Thursday, April 7th, 11am Our chef will prepare a delicious lunch using different varieties of herbs. Come hungry! Recipes and handouts will be available. Each participant will receive an herb plant. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $15.00

Children’s Homeschool Class: “Easter Egg Critters” ~ Wednesday, April 13th, 10-11am In this class, we

will make fun Easter egg critters. Please wear old clothes. Ages 5 and up. Pre-registration

required. Register at Ashcombe or online at hahaofpa.org. Fee: $5.00

All About Herbs Series, Class I - Thursday, April 14th This is the first class in a series of four. Get to know some essential herbs and learn how to grow and use them. Discussion for this class include: culinary, craft and ornamental uses of herbs; planting the 10 most popular herbs; introduction of some special favorites. We will learn as we go -- keep in mind that failure can be as educational as success! Pre-registration and payment required. 6pm. Fee: $5.00

Planting A Culinary Herbal Strawberry Jar ~ Saturday, April 16th, 10am Bring your own jar or

purchase one from us - soil is free. Herbs must be purchased at Ashcombe. 10am.

Pre-registration required.

“Grow It Right!” Perennial Mini-Seminars ~ Dividing Perennials ~ Saturday, April 16th Learn

everything you need to know about dividing perennials. Informal presentations at 10am and 2pm in the Perennial Courtyard. Free!

Children’s Class: “Plant An Herb Garden” ~ Saturday, April 16th, 9-10am In this class, each child will

select herbs, plant their container, then make decorative garden markers for the plants. Please wear old clothes. Ages 5 and up. Pre-registration required. Fee: $8.00

SPRING OPEN HOUSE IS NEAR!

2011-03-03T12:53:00.000-08:00

Saturday, March 19th & Saturday, March 26th

SATURDAY, MARCH 19th

How Not To Mess Up Your Landscape with George Weigel ~ Saturday, March 19th, 10am George Weigel will present this program that takes a fun look at some of the common foul-ups that your average person makes in the landscape. The point is to show the right way to care for the yard by looking at the wrong way. About half deals with design and half with maintenance. Includes handouts on “George’s Top 10 Gardening Foul-Ups” and “George’s Top 10 Tips for Better Gardens.” Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $5.00

Let’s Get Ready For Spring! ~ Saturday, March 19th, 1-2:30pm Horticulturist and landscape designer, Michael Larkin will help you get your landscape ready for spring. Learn how to clean and sharpen your tools, when and how to properly fertilize your plants, how to successfully transplant and correctly plant your trees and shrubs, how to increase the size of your garden

by dividing your perennials and seasonal pruning tips to keep your plants blooming. Bring your questions. Pre-registration and payment are required. Fee: $5.00

“Grow It Right!” Perennial Mini-Seminars ~ Cutting Perennial Grasses ~ Saturday, March 19th Learn everything you need to know about cutting back perennial grasses. Informal presentations at 10am and 2pm in the

Perennial Courtyard. Free!

Children’s Garden Craft - Plant A Pizza Garden - children can plant a pizza garden to take along home. 10am-3pm. Free!

SATURDAY, MARCH 26th

Cutting Edge Plants To Try In Your 2011 Gardens with George Weigel ~ Saturday, March 26th, 10am Are you still planting the same old bug-prone, boring plants year after year? George will help you to get out of your rut and try some of the latest, greatest newcomers that are light years ahead of yesteryear’s plain-Jane shrubs and flowers. This program takes a look both at some of the best plants debuting in 2011 as well as some super recent introductions. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $5.00

“Grow It Right!” Perennial Mini-Seminars ~ Pruning Evergreens ~ Saturday, March 26th Learn everything you need to know about pruning evergreens. Informal

presentations at 10am and 2pm in the Perennial

Courtyard. Free!

Plant Your Own Pansy Strawberry Jar 10am-2pm Bring in your own jar or purchase one from us. Soil is free. Must purchase pansies at Ashcombe.

Children’s Garden Craft - Plant A Cat Garden - children can plant a cat garden to take along home. 10am-3pm. Free!

Getting Seeds Started In Your Garden

2011-02-23T11:52:00.001-08:00

Naturally gardeners want to be timely in planting for the summer harvest and there are things one can do to be on schedule. Besides making a list of things you want in your garden, you will need to know how much space each one take. Plants like carrots and beets make most of their growth underground while summer squash can take a couple of feet for one plant.

If you’re starting from seed the spacing requirements likely will be found on the instructions on the back of the packet. A good thing to do would be to list all the things you want to grow and then in the column next to it put amounts desired and a column space in rows, row width,& planting dates. Next look on the seed packet to see how long it takes to grow a plant to transplant date. You will then be ready to sow your seeds.

To make the job easier and grow a sturdier plant the system above can accomplish this for you. Pictured on the left above is heat mat that will hold the germinating flat and on the right a light set up that will keep your plants growing with out stretching. Most plants respond to bottom heat to germinate at soil temps of about 70 degrees. In your window or basement it may not be that temperature consistently, or you may run your home cooler than that. Once the plants are germinated it is important to get them into good light so they don't stretch. The light should be about 8 to 10 inches above the plants for best results.

Water sparingly but don't let the seedlings dry out, and once the seedlings are up keep them just slightly moist so the roots will go down for moisture. Once established the water can be reduced and temperatures cooled down to keep the plants sturdy and growing.

Bulk Seeds Heirloom Seeds Unusual seeds
You may be an organic garden and want to use organic seeds. They are available in the Burpee selection of our seed dept. Some to-go-withs are shown below for early gardeners.

Red, Yellow & White Sets Jiffy pots and other pots Shallots and garlic
With seven seed companies providing seeds, one should be able to find just what they need but if something is missing ask Greg and he will try to get it for you. Gardening vegetables was our forte about fifty years ago and we are glad to share any ideas or information you may need to be successful in your garden. And if you don't have time to grow your own plants our greenhouse will be filled with plants in April May and June to make your work easier.

THINK SPRING
Visit our Springtime Greenhouse

SEEDS ARE HERE!!

2011-02-15T10:06:00.000-08:00

Check out our great selection of seeds from:

Lake Valley

P.L. Rohrer

Botanical Interests

Thompson Morgan

Livingston

Burpee

Seeds of Choice (organic)

Old Seeds

Many unusual and hard to find varieties available!

Start Right End Right

Light is the life of your plants and can either

make you successful or not. An investment in

gro-lights is truly one of the best investments

you’ll make as a start from seed grower. Along

a heat mat your rate of success will improve

greatly. At Ashcombe for more than forty years

we have been starting seeds under lights with

great success.

See our web page for more info. on growing

plants from seeds. www.ashcombe.com

Fill Your Winter With Color!

2011-01-12T10:20:00.000-08:00

Few indoor flowering plants offer the charm of the beautiful, delicate African Violet. With a little bit of care and patience, they will reward you with unsurpassed beauty!

The African Violet (saintpaulia) has become the most popular member of the Gesnariad family because of its ease of culture, continuous flowering habit, variety of blossom forms, range of colors and leaf patterns.

If there is any magic formula for culture, it is a faithfully followed program of care. Watering, fertilizing, and repotting must be done with regularity and promptness if beautiful flowering plants are desired year round. “Hit-or-miss” attention will give only mediocre results.

LIGHT: Protection from the hot rays of the sun must be given, in spring, summer and fall, while during the dark days of January and February direct mild winter sunshine will promote flowering. To find the best place in the house for correct lighting, place plants in various windows and observe results. They will soon be evident. For symmetrical foliage, window grown plants need to be turned regularly so that the entire plant will get equal amounts of light.

ARTIFICIAL LIGHT: Artificial light is a satisfactory way to grow African violets for they receive evenly balanced illumination. Lights should be placed approximately 10-14 inches over the plant table and kept on from 12-14 hours per day.

WATER: Check soil daily and water if soil feels slightly dry to the touch. Always use warm or room temperature water, never cold. They will grow best if soil is kept slightly moist at all times. They do not like soggy soil and shouldn’t be left standing in water. Water from top or bottom, but from top - water under the leaves, never over.

SOIL: As a rule, these plants do best in soils which are loose in texture, porous and well drained, with a high percentage or organic matter. Because of their fine hair roots they need a substance that can be easily penetrated. There are several good commercial mixes especially made for saintpaulias.

TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY: Best temperatures range from 65 to 75°F. with 50 to 60% relative humidity. They can endure higher or lower temperatures but they will not prosper if the air is excessively dry. If the temperature is too low, growth slows down, flowers will be sparse and of poor quality and the foliage will curl down around the rim of the pot instead of lying flat and neat. Air that is too hot and dry can cause the buds to fall off or the blossoms to drop soon after opening.

Maintaining adequate humidity during winter without the aid of a humidifier is difficult. Otherwise, grouping the plants close together, placing them on a surface of moist pebbles in shallow tray, placing open containers of water among them will heighten the humidity.

FERTILIZING: It is better to feed very small amounts of plant food each time the plant is watered. Use a complete water-soluable fertilizer recommended for saintpaulias and read the manufacturer’s instructions printed on the label before applying. Do not over-fertilize and always be sure the soil is not too dry before using plant food.

PROPAGATION: New African violets are easily grown by three different methods; leaf cuttings are most frequently used (there are a number of satisfactory ways of rooting them), plant division and seeds.

PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

√ Scorching and yellowing of leaf edges, due to too much direct sun in summer. Filter the

light with a curtain or move to a less bright spot.

√ Yellowing of foliage. Often caused by excess fertilizer, or lack of humidity. In clay pots,

salts build up on pots and the plant should be drenched once or twice to flush away as

many salts as possible. Look at roots; if they are brown it could mean severe salt build-up

and re-potting will be necessary. Violets are not heavy feeders so don’t overfeed. To raise

the humidity follow above directions.

√ Irregular, yellow mottling on leaves, called chlorosis. This is caused by the soil being too

alkaline. use an acid-rich plant food to off-set the alkalinity.

√ Spots, colored markings, yellow leaves. Caused by under-watering. Remove any damaged

foliage and water over the soil surface slowly until excess water drains out. Don’t let plants

sit in a saucer of water more than an hour.

√ Brown spots on leaves, caused by using cold water chilling the plant or splashed on foliage.

Use room temperature water.

√ Browned centers of the plant caused by overfeeding. Feed less.

√ Wilted plants and rotting at main stem. This is a fungus disease (crown rot) aggravated by

over watering, excess humidity or temperature extremes. Cut off damaged foliage and

re-pot.

√ Jelly-like leaves which droop over the rim of the pot. Caused by excess fertilizer. Flush out

the roots and coat the rims of clay pots with paraffin.

√ Flower buds that dry up, caused by lack of humidity, or a sudden shift in the plant’s location.

Set the pots on a bed of moist pebbles in a tray.

2010-12-23T11:47:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone here at Ashcombe! Thanks to our loyal customers for making this year a success. We look forward to seeing you and serving your gardening needs in 2011.

New Poinsettias!!!

2010-11-24T11:51:00.000-08:00

Check out these 2 new gorgeous varieties of poinsettias:

Ice Crystals

and Ice Punch

UPCOMING EVENTS AT ASHCOMBE

2010-11-18T12:47:00.001-08:00

Pine Wreath Workshop ~ Tuesday, December 7th, 6pm. Each participant will make a beautiful fresh wreath from assorted greens, pine cones, flowers, holiday embellishments and a bow.

Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $25.00

Children’s Homeschool Class: Pine & Candy Wreath Workshop ~ Wednesday, December 8th, 12:30-1:30pm.

Each child will make a pine wreath from scratch and decorate it with candy, pine cones and more. Ages 5-12+. Pre-registration required. Register at Ashcombe or online at

hahaofpa.org. Fee: $8.00

Pine Swag Workshop ~ Thursday, December 9th, 1pm. Hand-craft a beautiful mixed green swag for your window or porch. We’ll use assorted fresh greens, cones, pods, flowers and finish it off with a bow. Refreshments will be served. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $20.00

Children’s Class: Make Your Own Snow Globe ~ Saturday, December 11th, 9-10am. Each child will make a snow globe. Ages 5-12+. Pre-registration is required. Fee: $5.00

Victorian Kissing Ball Workshop & Luncheon ~ Tuesday, December 14th, 12:30pm. We’ll start with a

delicious lunch of assorted salad sandwiches, chips, macaroni salad, a bakery tray and drinks. Each participant will then make a beautiful kissing ball to hang for the holidays. We’ll use sprigs of mistletoe, pine, rosemary and lavender and more. Pre-registration and payment

required. Fee: $30.00

Children’s Homeschool Class: Glass Ornament Workshop ~ Wednesday, December 15th, 1-2pm.

Each child will decorate a glass ball ornament with paints and flowers. Ages 5-12+.

Pre-registration required. Register at Ashcombe or online at hahaofpa.org. Fee: $5.00

Boxwood Wreath Workshop ~ Thursday, December 16th, 6pm. Make a beautiful, full boxwood

wreath for the upcoming holidays. We’ll finish it off with a bow. Pre-registration and payment required. Fee: $25.00

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE at Ashcombe

2010-11-11T12:26:00.000-08:00

Saturday, November 13th

Special Guests:

CAROL FAIR - MONOGRAMS

Beautiful and creative monogrammed products 9-4.

RON FINKENBINDER - CARVINGS

Duck & Santa Claus Carvings 9-4

WHEAT WEAVING BY BEKKA

with Bekka Rousek 9-4

THE NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 9-4.

Share train history, trivia and information and

see a 14’x10’ historical model railroad.

THE STATION 10-4. Share train history and information with members of this New Cumberland based organization

Vegetable & Fruit Garnishing

with caterer Ed Byrem. 9-4

COLLATE PINS & FELTED WOOL

FLOWER PINS 9-4 with Jill Smith.

SUMMERS ARTWORKS

Unique art for unique people, with Renee Summers 9-4

NOTE CARDS & JEWELRY

Framed dried flower note cards & jewelry by Janice Bowen 9-4

KNIT HATS

Knit hats by Brenda Albert 9-4

BOOK SIGNING

with Catalano Brown, author of “My Way” -

a scrumptious cookbook with beautiful photography

Karen Galbraith

Jumping Junebug Jewelry

Adams County Winery

Tasting and sales

Custom Silk Floral Wreaths & Arrangements

Our floral designer can make the perfect

accents for your home!

Christmas Decor At Ashcombe

Gingerbread & Gumdrops

Festive holiday faux candy, cookies and baked goods make this tree deliciously colorful.

Enchanted Forest

Fairies, gnomes and unicorns abound in this

woodland world of whimsy.

Williamsburg

Clove studded oranges with berry and pine

accents create the classic touch of colonial Christmas

Snow & Ice, Twice As Nice

Icecicles, snowballs, ice garland, flocked mini trees and ice trees create an ultra-cool winter look.

Majestic Winter

Platinum, greys, silvers and golds are highlighted in exquisite glass ornament.

Beauty Of The Red Bird

Cardinal ornaments, home decor, pottery and more.

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Check out our gift area for Old World Ornaments; Beanpod, Yankee & Crossroads Candles;

beautiful stained glass; quilted placemats, throws & quality linens; bath & body scents, soaps & lotions; women’s jewelry, scarves & handbags; over 20 Christmas tree themes and so much more!

Fall Harvest Comes To A Close

2010-10-28T11:27:00.001-07:00

Well, I can't believe it, but Fall Harvest is coming to close. This Saturday will be our last day of events. Come send out the season with a horse drawn wagon ride, pick your own pumpkin and have some fun on our family-friendly field games.

If you like to plan ahead, reserve Saturday, November 13th on your calendar for Ashcombe's Holiday Open House. We will have lots of special guests, beautiful displays, great ideas for holiday decorating, and of course...lots of taste testing.

For some helpful hints on pruning, join our expert, Mike Larkin on Saturday, November 13th for a program on Pruning Basics - 10:30am-12noon. Learn the right time and the proper way to make the best pruning cuts to enhance your trees and shrubs. Pre-registration is required. Fee: $5.00.

FALL HARVEST DAYS!

2010-10-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

It's not too late to enjoy Ashcombe's Fall Harvest Days! Join us daily through the 30th of October for great family fun!

Hours for Fall Harvest Events are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 9-6

Wednesday: 9-5 and Sunday 11-4 (weather permitting of course)

Hayrides ($3.00) • Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins ($3.00 and up) • Field Games & Hayworld (FREE)

Here is what's happening this weekend:

Saturday, October 23rd

• Apple Butter Making

• Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins

• Hayrides

• Big Rock Alpaca Farm 9am-3pm

• Visiting Nigerian Dwarf Goats

• Special harvest foods

• Free games & children’s activities

FALL HARVEST DAYS in Full Swing!!

2010-10-12T10:24:00.000-07:00

FALL HARVEST DAYS!

Our special fall harvest celebration is in full swing. Join us daily through the 30th of October for great family fun! For the first time ever we will be also be open on Sundays from 11-4!

Hours for Fall Harvest Events are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 9-6

Wednesday: 9-5 and Sunday 11-4 (weather permitting of course)

Hayrides ($3.00) • Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins ($3.00 and up) • Field Games & Hayworld (FREE)

Each weekend will feature some additional events, so check our website for a complete schedule. Here is what's happening this weekend:

Saturday, October 16th

• Scarecrow Making 10-4- For $10 we’ll

supply the head & straw, for $15 we will

supply everything!

• Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins

• Hayrides

• Big Rock Alpaca Farm 9am-3pm

• Visiting Nigerian Dwarf Goats

• Special harvest foods (& Sunday)

• Free games & children’s activities

FALL HARVEST DAYS!

2010-09-30T09:12:00.000-07:00

Do you know what Fall means at Ashcombe? Fall Harvest Days! This year our month long event will take place October 1, 2, 3 and daily from the 8th through the 30th. For the first time ever we will be also be open on Sundays from 11-4!

Hours for Fall Harvest Events are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 9-6

Wednesday: 9-5 and Sunday 11-4 (weather permitting of course)

Hayrides ($3.00) • Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins ($3.00 and up) • Field Games & Hayworld (FREE)

Each weekend will feature some additional events, so check our website for a complete schedule. Here is what's happening this weekend:

Friday, October 1st

• Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins, Hayrides

• Visiting Nigerian Dwarf Goats

• Free games & children’s activities

Saturday, October 2nd

• Fire Safety & Awareness Day ~ Local fire companies and rescue services will be here to educate children and families on life saving techniques and equipment. Fire and ambulance apparatus will be on display for viewing and demonstrations.

• Baltimore Life Insurance Co. will be on hand to provide FREE child photo IDs

• Monroe Chicken Barbecue

• Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins

• Hayrides

• Big Rock Alpaca Farm 9am-3pm

• Visiting Nigerian Dwarf Goats

• Special harvest foods

• Free games & children’s activities

Sunday, October 3rd

• Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins

• Hayrides 11-4

• Special harvest foods 11-3

• Visiting Nigerian Dwarf Goats

• Free games & children’s activities 11-4

CHRYSANTHEMUMS

2010-09-16T12:43:00.000-07:00

Mum Care

Chrysanthemums are lovely, semi-hardy perennials that bring color to the late summer and early fall garden. Here are a few tips to help insure growing success. Plant early to establish good roots. It’s fine to keep mums in their pots for display, but for successful over-wintering, they should be planted in the ground as soon as possible. Plant garden mums in full sun and well-drained soil. Add humus, leaf mold, and manures to help loosen compacted soil.

Mums bloom at different times throughout the fall. Some in September and some in October. Blooms last for about 4 weeks. Cool weather can extend this and rainy warm weather can shorten bloom time. Most mums will be done blooming in the beginning of November.

Plant mums 24 inches apart or more. You will be surprised at how much growth they put on the second year. Keep moist throughout the fall so they do not suffer stress and can get well

established before winter arrives.

Do not cut stems off after mums have finished blooming or leaves turn brown.

At the holidays, cut the branches off your Christmas tree when you are done with it. Lay them across the mums about two layers thick. If you don’t have a tree, many tree lots will give you trees after the holidays free of charge. A layer of straw can be used if it is not applied too heavily. The idea is to keep the mums at an even, cold temperature. Cold doesn’t usually kill mums, heaving from frost does. Leave your mums covered until mid March or about the time the crocus bloom.

In the spring after uncovering and new growth has appeared, trim back dead stems to the ground and feed the plants with a 5-10-10 formula fertilizer.

To keep the small, compact bushy shape that typifies your mums the first year, cut them back to a height of 8 inches until mid-July or as late as August. They grow quickly and you may have to cut them back several times through the season. After mid-July, let the stems grow and form flower buds. Do not trim stems once buds have formed. Without the “haircuts” your mums will still bloom but they will be taller and may need support when in flower.

Mum plants can be divided every other year. To divide, wait until early spring, dig up the clump and cut into sections. Make each section at least 6x6 inches to be sure you have a good number of rooted stems.

FLOWERING BULBS

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Bulbs are planted mostly 2 times a year. Spring and fall. Spring bulbs include Gladiolas, Tigridia, Canna, Dahlias and Begonias are usually not hardy in our climate but make a long blooming show during their season, which is summer.

Gladiolas and Dahlias make nice cut flowers for the summer table and Cannas are the show of the garden from July until frost. Begonias do nicely in dappled shade. Tigridia or Tiger Flower is a beautiful and curious shell-like flower, giving abundance of bloom for a long season. Individual flowers last only a day but more seem to come on as the season progresses.

A rule of thumb for planting bulbs is they should be planted at a depth of about three times their length or at least two inches deep.

Their hardy cousins on the other hand, which include Tulips, Hyacinths, Daffodils, Crocus, Iris, Alliums, Snowdrops are planted in the fall before a hard freeze and bloom in the spring months beginning with Snowdrops and Crocus in February/March and continuing with late blooming Tulips in May.

Often people people come into the garden center and want to get the bulbs for these hardy flowering plants and we must tell them to come back in September. Planting instructions are usually on each package or box of bulbs as to th time of bloom and the depth to plant them.

Research has shown that bulbs planted at incorrect depths will usually move up or down in the soil to adjust. Our experience here at Ashcombe has verified this. It is always wise to do your best at planting properly, but don't worry when you have a lot of them to put in. They will adapt.

Bulbs can be planting in the fall as long as the ground isn't frozen. Sometimes here in Central PA we can plant up until the end of the year safely. It's best to mass color to get the most striking effect. Some years ago a gardener of ours removed about 8 inches of soil from an entire bed, then set bulbs on the ground and covered them. He also mixed various seasonal types so the bed blended well for the entire blooming season April and May. What a show this was for a few years!

Tulip bulbs will do well for two years and begin to fade the third year. Daffodils almost continue endlessly but will fill in and take over your bed if not dug up and thinned. The best investment in bulbs in the minis (snowdrops, iris, crocus and hyacinths) as they seem to self-maintain and appear again each year in robust fashion.

GARDENING WITH GRASSES

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Grasses have a beauty all their own from the Giant Miscanthus to the Festuca or Blue Oat Grass .
The first picture above shows grasses as they emerge spring and early summer and the next two are late season pictures with their blooms and showing how they fit into the landscape.
Grasses need to be cut back in the early spring and have a winter character that few other perennials have. They are a shelter for birds, can be a wind break for tender shrubs and have a special accent in the winter landscape. Give them plenty of room, as they will spread in a few years and can be divided late fall but preferably early spring.
Their plumes are very impressive and occur from August through the fall. There are literally hundreds of varieties of grasses both for sun and part shade and many tolerate dry conditions so those who want to save water would do well to consider grasses in their gardens. They require very little care and if you buy them from a reputable source they will winter over nicely. One variety that will not winter is the red fountain grass (Pennisetum Rubrum) so beware of this one if you want a hardy grass. Other nice grasses are pictured below.

Color & Texture In The Garden

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All of the above are perennials and shrubs that have been in this garden for years. This picture was taken on June 22, 2010 showing the color and texture that happens with just a little planning. It is located in our Ashcombe American garden adjacent to our parking lot.
Pictured above are yellow Euonymus, front and center, blooming white yucca amidst grasses, and behind are Perovskia, (Russian Sage) and Salvias’ May Night and Caradonna. The background for this garden is evergreens, which give a soft touch to the garden. This is of course a sun garden and a dry garden. For a shade garden the one pictured below is a combination Hostas, grasses and a water feature that attracts birds. It is located in our bird garden in the same area as the picture above but with shade from bushes and trees.

Ashcombe Dog Days

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Make plans to join us at Ashcombe for our annual "Dog Days"... a morning dedicated to dogs and organizations that work hard to help them. Our list of special guests keeps growing, but currently we will have these organizations on hand:

Brookline Lab Rescue

Canine Rescue of Central PA

Cocker Spaniel Adoption Center, Inc.

Miss Lucy's Dog Treats

Harrisburg Kennel Club

1 Life Rescue

Carlisle Area Dog Parks

K-9 Kozeez - Hand Made Fleeceware

Furry Friends Animal Network

Basset Rescue of Old Dominion

"Chill-Outz" Cooling Neck Scarves

Compassionate Hearts Animal Rescue

Bring your loyal companion for a dog wash between the hours of 10am and noon.

We will be giving away door prizes every half hour and will host a "dress your dog" contest and pagent. If you're hungry -- we will have a lunch special: Hot Dog and Soda for $2.00 at our indoor deli.

2010-08-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

How To Prevent Blossom End Rot In Tomatoes

Blossom end rot is a disorder commonly found on tomatoes that is caused by a lack of calcium in the plant. This occurs when the tomato plant experiences periods of wet soil and periods of very dry soil. A balance needs to be maintained for roots to properly absorb calcium from the soil. You will recognize blossom end rot by the nasty looking brown spots that may begin as small spots on the blossom end (opposite the stem) of the green tomato. As the fruit matures, the spot spreads to cover larger areas and deepens in color. At maturity blossom end rot may take over nearly the whole tomato and appear black and leathery. Preventing blossom end rot takes a little time and effort, but the results are well worth the effort.

1. Choose soil that has good drainage. Tomatoes need to be kept evenly moist to properly absorb the calcium needed to promote fruit production.

2. Add plenty of composted materials to the soil before transplanting your tomatoes. These organic additions to the soil will help retain moisture and prevent the roots being exposed to overly dry soil.

3. Mulch tomatoes with straw, newspaper or black plastic to retain moisture. This will keep the soil moist even when the weather is hot and dry.

4. Water regularly. Even tomatoes that are mulched need to be watered on a regular basis. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely between waterings. Uneven watering seems to be the biggest contributor of blossom end rot.

5. Maintain a PH of 6.5 for optimum calcium absorption. You can purchase an inexpensive soil test to determine the PH level of your soil at your local gardening supply store. Follow the instructions with the kit to raise or lower the PH.

6. Bone meal or manure will increase the calcium in the soil, but this is seldom necessary. Generally low calcium content in the soil is not the cause of blossom end rot. It is the inability of the plant's roots to absorb calcium due to uneven watering that is actually the culprit.

Beautify Your Patio or Garden!

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Does your garden or patio need a boost? Our greenhouses, nursery and courtyard are still stocked full with fresh, beautiful plants - ready to brighten and area with an instant splash of color.

Help your garden to survive this exhausting heat spell we are having...

1. Water sparingly, but also when the ground is best able to absorb the most moisture. Watering is best done in the early morning hours or in the late afternoon. When watering during the heat of the day, evaporation will steal much of the water.

2. If you mulched your garden this spring, this ground cover will help to hold in moisture until the rain comes.

3. If you have a large area to water, trickle irrigation puts the water right where it's needed...at the root of the plant. This saves much water and is also labor efficient. You can make your own trickle irrigation system by using old plastic gallon jugs and punching holes in them. Soaker hoses also work well. Be creative and your garden will flourish.

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Seeding and Planting

There are array of varieties one can plant of any one category of vegetables. Read carefully the number of days from seed to ha

rvest so you have an idea when to expect picking your favorites. Often the long season ones will be larger and more productive, Good things take time. Also to insure a continuous harvest you may want to make staggered plantings. For example green beans can be seeded from May to late July ensuring you have some to harvest every week from late June until late September. The same can apply to Summer Squash, C

antaloupes and Sweet Corn. Cool crops like Leaf Lettuce, Peas, Radishes, Cabbage and Broccoli can be planted early spring and then again in August for a fall crop.

Bugs and Drought

The likelihood of disease, insects and drought are much less in highly organic loose soils. A soil that is healthy and rich will produce plants

that the insects and diseases aren’t interested in. Like a healthy body is less likely to be affected, plants growing in the right soil will fend off diseases and insects.

If however you do find problems with insects there are products that will control them. Pictured above is one of the most difficult ones the Japanese beetle which appears at the onset of hot weather mid to late June. They are attracted to certain trees and plants and usually over winter in the soil near these plants. To control the adult beetles in summer (when they feed on foliage and flowers) use Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Rose & Flower Insect Killer Concentrate according to label directions. And to control the Grubs a one time application of Bayer Grub Control

Irrigation Most garden crops can make it on normal rainfall but you want to be sure to water your plants the first ten days or two weeks until their roots become established and then taper off to once a week when there is no rain, soaking the plants well and letting them get dry between waterings. The roots will go deeper to find moisture and nutrients to sustain them. Of course if your growing in containers this will vary somewhat and you need to look at your plants for signs of wilting.

2010-03-13T07:34:00.000-08:00

PEAS, POTATOES & ONIONS

These mouth watering vegetables can be easily grown in your garden this year and will add to the healthy diet you want for yourself and your family. The nice thing about them is they are cold tolerant and can be planted in late March and April before your warm veggies need to go in.

Onions come as sets and should be planted about 5 inches apart in rows or solid square foot plantings. The reason they are called sets is because of the way you plant them, setting them just an inch or less under the surface of the soil pointing up toward the sky. There are four varieties of Onion sets we carry white, red, yellow and Stuttgarter.The first three can be pulled as “spring onions” or left to grow larger and the Stuttgarter can be also or left to mature into a larger onion because it keeps better than the other varieties.

Peas come in regular Hull Peas, Edible Sugar Snap, and Sugar Peas. At Ashcombe we carry a number of varieties in packets as well as bulk seed for the serious gardener. The earliest Sugar pea we carry in bulk is Dwarf White Blossom or 50 days from seed to harvest. The Hull peas are Progress # 9 at 62 days and Little marvel at 63 days. As a rule harvest begins late May from an early April sowing. All peas can be sown at 1 inch spacing’s in rows covering seeds with 1⁄2 to 1 inch of soil. For best results and easier picking provide support for them as they get six inches tall by putting a bamboo pole every six feet or so along the row and using sturdy twine in an X pattern along both sides of the row.

Harvest both hull and sugar peas before they become too mature for the sweetest flavor. Best way is to pick a few and taste them when their small. Potatoes a healthy root crop. Nutrients without skins (156 g) (% RDA) With skin (173 g) (% RDA) Vitamin C 33 28 Thiamin 11 7 Niacin 11 12 Vitamin B6 23 27 Folate 4 12 Pantothenic Acid 9 7 Iron 3 10 Magnesium 10 12 Potassium 17 26 Copper 17 10 Dietary Fiber 9 15

Potatoes A root crop that comes as a surprise several months later when you dig up the dead vines and find ten times as many potatoes as the seed you put in the ground in April. This is exciting as well as rewarding and you can have a choice of nine varieties here at Ashcombe--- reds. whites, blues and yellows. We carry the old fashioned Irish Cobbler , Katahdin and Kennebec all white varieties as well as the Norland and Pontiac Red varieties, and the new favorite Yukon Gold.

For those who want to grow Russets we carry the Russet Norkotah a long, smooth, shallow-eyed, russet-skinned potato cultivar with wide adaptation. It has a smooth golden russet-skin and produces a high percent of medium sized U.S. No. 1 tubers.

Planting guide: Be sure to use certified seed potatoes as store potatoes may have a sprout inhibitor sprayed on them and will not sprout for you.

Harvesting:

Days to Harvest: 2 - 4 Months.

The entire crop is ready to harvest once the tops of the plants die off. You can leave the potatoes in the ground for a few weeks longer, as long as the ground is not wet. New potatoes are small, immature potatoes. You can harvest a few of these without harm to the plant, by gently feeling around in the soil near the plant, once the plant reaches about a foot in height.

Harvest carefully, by hand or with a shovel. Turn the soil over and search through for treasure. The tubers can branch out and digging in with a fork is a sure fire way of stabbing a potato or two.

Pest & Diseases:

Beetles & aphids defoliate. Monitor early in season, before they become a major problem. The Colorado potato beetle larva, at left, is easy to spot. Also check for egg masses on the undersides of leaves.

Thin, red wire worms attack underground. I wish I had a better solution, but rotating crops is the only thing that has worked for me. A low pH will help control scab. Late blight, the cause of the Irish potato famine, turns the foliage black, then moldy. Burn the foliage. The potatoes can still be harvested, but you should wait several weeks. Use certified disease-resistant seed potatoes.

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SPRING 2010

It’s that time of year when lettuce will soon be ready to put out and Pansies will cheer us up (with their bright faces) after a long cold winter. Onion sets and seed potatoes can soon be put in the ground and were thinking about warmer weather. Visit our web site at www.ashcombe.com for lots of good gardening information you can use this season.

And be sure to visit our Spring Open House Saturday March 20^th & 27th to see a preview of the wonderful season ahead. Seminars and displays and children’s crafts both Saturdays.

You not want to miss this event as it kicks off Spring here at Ashcombe. And see the beautiful selection of bulbs and flowers for Easter which is early this season. April 4th.

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TRENDS IN GARDENING 2010

1. There is a return to home and growing your own organically. Children can become a part of this and are fascinated by seeing their seeds and plants produce flowers and edibles in a short time. Here at Ashcombe we have found our children's classes fill up fast as parents see the value of doing things together without a great expense. Gardening is a lifelong process...it's a journey, not a destination.

3. Small space gardening is still very much "in". Containers can be placed in proper sun or shade locations and make growing easier. People see the benefits of growing tomatoes, peppers, herbs and other vegetables all on their own...then using them in culinary dishes.

4. The opportunity to increase property value is becoming a major factor in the use of shrubs, perennials and flowers. A few dollars spent on landscaping can make all the different to a potential buyer.

Holiday Open House at Ashcombe

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HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, November 14th 2009

Make plans to join us for our annual Holiday Open House.

WHEAT WEAVING BY BEKKA 10-4 with Bekka Rousek

THE NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 9-4.

Share train history, trivia and information and see a 14’x10’ historical model railroad.

THE STATION 10-4. Share train history and information with members of this New Cumberland based organization

VEGETABLE AND FRUIT GARNISHING 9-4 with caterer Ed Byrem.

COLLATE PINS & FELTED WOOL FLOWER PINS 10-4 with Jill Smith.

CAROL FAIR - MONOGRAMS Beautiful and creative monogrammed products 10-4.

SUSAN BLAIR - 9-4. Hand made place mats, scarfs, hand towels. Tote bags made from recycled plastic bags.

SUMMERS ARTWORKS 9-4. Unique art for unique people.

CHILDREN’S PROJECT - 10-4. Trim a tree for the birds! Make a bird ornament with peanut butter, cardboard, bread and pinecones.

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You've heard, "An apple a day will keep the doctor away." While it will certainly take more than a daily apple to keep you healthy, it is a step in the right direction. Apples are delicious, easy to carry for snacking, low in calories, a natural mouth freshener and they are still very inexpensive.

Apples are a source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber such as pectin actually helps to prevent cholesterol buildup in the lining of blood vessel walls, thus reducing the incident of atherosclerosis and heart disease. The insoluble fiber in apples provides bulk in the intestinal tract, holding water to cleanse and move food quickly through the digestive system.

It is a good idea to eat apples with their skin. Almost half of the vitamin C content is just underneath the skin. Eating the skin also increases the insoluble fiber content. Most of an apple's fragrance cells are also concentrated in the skin and as they ripen, the skin cells develop more aroma and flavor.

There are hundreds of varieties of apples on the market today, although most people have only tasted one or two of the most popular such as Red Delicious, Gala or Granny Smith. Apples can be sweet, tart, soft and smooth or crisp and crunchy. There is an apple to suit almost everyone's taste, so have an apple today!

Apple nutrition facts for one medium apple - fresh, raw, with skin:

calories 81

carbohydrates 21 grams

dietary fiber 4 grams

soluble fiber

insoluble fiber

calcium 10 mg

phosphorus 10mg

iron .25 mg

sodium 0.00 mg

potassium 159 mg

vitamin C 8 mg

vitamin A 73 IU

folate 4 mcg

Fall Is For Planting

2009-09-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

Can you believe Autumn is on its way? Mums, Kale and Pansies make a big splash in the fall garden and are ready now for planting. These selections offer a great way to spruce up dull, overgrown areas of your garden and will extend your flowering season another month or two.

Chrysanthemums

are lovely, semi-hardy perennials that bring color to the late summer garden. Here are a few tips to help insure growing success.

Plant early to establish good roots. Plant garden mums in a spot where they get full sun, in peat moss, per

lite, or organic matter (humus, leaf mold, manures will help to loosen it.)

Plant mums 24 inches apart or more. You will be surprised at how much growth they put on the second year. Keep moist throughout the fall so they do not suffer stress and can get well established before winter arrives.

At the holidays, cut the branches off your Christmas tree when you are done with it. Lay them across the mums about two layers thick. If you don’t have a tree, many tree lots will give you trees after the holidays free of charge. A layer of straw can be used if it is not applied too heavily. The idea is to keep the mums at an even, cold temperature. Cold doesn’t usually kill mums, heaving from the frost does. Leave your mums covered until mid March, or about when the crocus bloom.

Ornamental Kale makes a beautiful display in the fall garden.

Planted in rows, grouped or dotted through the garden, it definitely offers an attraction to talk about.

Another Fall favorite are Pansies. These colorful beauties add a brilliant splash to the fall garden! Many times when pansies are planted in the fall, they will come up again in the spring for early season color.

CREATE A FAIRY GARDEN

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CREATE A FAIRY GARDEN!

Fairy gardens are all the rage this summer. They are fun, magical and easy to create. Follow these easy guidelines to make one for your own home or patio. The only limitation is your imagination!

To design and plant a garden for fairies, begin by thinking small. You’ll need a small container like a terrarium, box or basket; a selection of small plants that fairies like; and small ornaments and treasures to tempt and please the fairies.

Arrange your plants and ornaments like a natural landscape keeping the tiny fairies in mind. Create pathways and beaches; even a water feature in your miniature garden. Fairies love places to hide so be sure to include fairy houses and other hide-a-ways to entice fairies to settle in your enchanted garden. Fairies will want a place to hide and will tend to make their homes in gardens that provide outlets to quickly disappear from the prying attention of human eyes.

The gardens can be kept inside near a window or outside in a protected area, preferably in partial shade with dancing rays of sun and moonlight. Water as needed remembering that often the container has no drainage. Fertilizers make plants grow bigger and faster and since we won’t want to over-crowd our fairy friends, we don’t recommend it. Trim your plants as needed unless the fairies do it first.

Each fairy garden is unique depending on the person who creates it and the fairies who move into it.

Outdoor Fairy Gardens

Fairies love fragrant flowers like Honeysuckle, Roses, Sweet Peas and Lavender.

Appropriately name ‘Elfin’ Thyme and ‘Baby Tears’ are two fairy favorites and make a great ground cover for your garden.

Foxgloves make nice fairy dresses; Columbine used for bonnets; Lady Slippers for shoes; Lamb’s Ear for soft beds; Milkweed pods for baby fairy cradles, walnut shells make nice little boats for sailing and acorn shells for bowls.

Fairies love taking rides on butterflies and hummingbirds, so plants that attract these beauties are fairy friendly too!

After you create your magical miniature fairy garden, enjoy taking time to relax in your gardens trying to catch a glimpse of the magical fairies as they pass through your enchanted garden.

2009-08-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

SPRUCE UP YOUR PATIO

Your deck or patio can look great with a giant Elephant Ear Plant or a Baby King Tut Pot of grasses. We have at least two months of frost free weather to enjoy them. They are now 50% off regular price. Be different and tropical plants will do it for you.

Keeping Those Plants Beautiful In Summer Heat

2009-08-05T11:14:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow gardeners,

Summer can be a challenging time for growing plants. Whether you have a large garden plot or containers on your porch or patio, they need a little TLC this time of the season. Although we have been getting a good bit of rain in most local areas this summer, plants grown in containers will still dry out very quickly. Be sure to check them every day for moisture. Water when the soil is dry one inch below the surface. When watering, water the soil, not the leaves as this may cause the plant

to be susceptible to disease.

Mulch is a great way to keep moisture around plants longer. Try adding mulch to your containers. A neat trick is to mass your containers and cover the bottom of the pots with mulch. This will help to keep them cool and moist.

Hold off on over-fertilizing during the hot summer months. Many plants will slow their growth during the hot days to fight off heat and shouldn't be encouraged to grow.

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Ashcombe would like to invite you to join us for Dog Days, scheduled for Saturday, August 22nd. Grab your dog and come enjoy a morning of fun! We will have visiting rescue organizations, adoption opportunities, hot dog and soda special, flyball relay races for dogs, dress your dog contest and pagent, prizes and more!