Plant Profile: Euphorbia pulcherrima, Poinsettia

Euphorbia pulcherrima (pulcherrima meaning pretty) is native to the tropical areas of Mexico and Central America, where they grow without care, even reaching roof height! In our climate (Sacramento), the freezes turn them to mush, so they never really get the chance to grow that tall. It takes some cunning and work to keep them alive, but it is not impossible. Essentially, like other frost-tender perennials, you need to protect them from those low temperatures ... by bringing them indoors, or by creating an outdoor frost-protected area until the last frost for your area. When they finally drop their leaves, cut stems back to 2 buds and reduce water. They will soon start putting out new growth, preparing for their next blooming season, which is late winter to early spring (late January thru March). Breeders force them into an earlier bloom in December by jump starting winter and you can try it, too. In early Oct, get those faux, long-night winter nights started. Confine your poinsettia to a darkened space, like a dark closet, in the evening for 14 hours, then bring into the light for 10 hours. Do this for 10 weeks.

Since your outdoor poinsettias will probably be too large by next December, you may want to propagate new plants by making late-summer cuttings of stems with 4 - 5 eyes (joints). Then, start your winter! (See what I mean about the cunning and work?)

Here's an interesting video about the creation of a huge Poinsettia ball, from the Chicago Botanic Garden's Wonderland Express...


At this point, this is all book-learning to me. Must admit, I've never done it. But, I do have my little poinsettia pictured at the top, and I'm going to give it a go this year. How 'bout you? I've just given a brief outline of the procedure...read more in the two great references I used, Sunset Western Garden Book, and the horticultural website, Floridata.

Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help! Call me at (916) 764-5243, or email hansonja@aol.com. For more information on our services, click here.

The Green Gardener: November Wrap-up

Today's the last day of my month-long green gardening posting project. But...stay tuned, as there are lots of things happening in the green world that will affect how we landscape. In my neck of the woods, there are big changes as of January 1. In general, I'm not for big, sweeping mandated governmental programs, but, I'm excited about this new legislation! From what I understand, it will mostly affect commercial and larger landscaping projects, which will have to have their irrigation system approved and their planting plan as well, so that there's a balance of high, low and medium water requiring plants. This, in itself, will raise awareness regarding our plants "water budget" requirements, and I expect, will introduce a new landscape style...casual and natural and (gasp!) lawn-free  where there's life occurring in the front yard!  I also understand there will be some sexy rebate programs for the smart irrigation controllers, including installation.

Do you like my cow? Me, too! It was painted by my friend, Silvia. I would like this cow in my front yard! Of course, I'd also like a few acres and a barn!

Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help! Call me at (916) 764-5243, or email hansonja@aol.com. For more information on our services, click here.

The Green Gardener: How Green Saves You Work

I do seasonal maintenance for many people and I can tell you the most obvious time and money waster is the wrong plant in the wrong place. The most noticeable culprit, shrubs that need to be pruned regularly to keep their size in check. At one home, a huge photinia was pruned by the gardener weekly (!), probably costing the homeowners $1000 per year. Another homeowner had a new expensive swiming pool installed with specialty hardscaping and a pergola. Then, the plants were installed ... Feijoa sellowiana, or Pineapple Guava, which normally grows 18 - 25 feet, surrounded the hot tub, and Pittosporum tennuifolium, which again grows really big, under the windows. This homeowner, btw, likes things tidy, ahem. She would not want a wild, overgrown garden! So, it's now "Pruning Time - All the Time!" at her house.

Look at all the squared off shapes and globes, especially in commercial landscapes. Why not plant something that is the appropriate size and let it be, like this blue fescue planting?
If you have trees or shrubs that you have to continually hack at, or trees or shrubs that routinely "get out of control", why not pull them out and find an appropriate plant. There are lots of them out there. A tree or shrub that is the right plant for the right place is one you'll get to know and appreciate thru the seasons for its own unique characteristics.

Note: sometimes people like to putter in their gardens and this is cool, sometimes people like plants that require specialty pruning or care(veg gardens, topiary, roses, grasses (yum), whatever). I know I do. I'm just tired of seeing ugly pruning jobs and want people to have gardens that speak more to their hearts, and where time spent taking care of the garden is a joy.

Call me if you need help picking your plants!

Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help! Call me at (916) 764-5243, or email hansonja@aol.com. For more information on our services, click here.

The Green Gardener: You Take What You Have

A while ago, a blogger I admire in Sweden (Tyra in Vaxholm) posted a saying from an old Swedish cookbook, "Man tager vad man haver". I'm keen on Swedish stuff, so it caught my fancy and the saying is now on my fridge. I thought of that while looking at the gorgeous Thanksgiving centerpieces at Flora Grubb Gardens. While I do not have much of the plant material used in these masterpieces, I have some, and in the picture above, I have the strawberry tree, Arbutus unido, branches that lean outwards on either side, I have a Scarlet Oak, Quercus coccinea, which looks close to those beautiful red leaves, I might even have some hydrangea. But, rather than copying, I can go explore, and "take what I have."

(here's the link to Tyra's post...Man tager vad man haver.)

Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help! Call me at (916) 764-5243, or email hansonja@aol.com. For more information on our services, click here.

The Green Gardener: For the Love of Wildlife

If you haven't visited a wildlife refuge, you may be missing delights like the scene pictured here at the Vic Fazio Yolo Wildlife Area. For a long time it was just some naturalized area along the freeway going from Sacramento to Davis. But, after I was introduced to the national wildlife refuge up near Willits, off of I-5, I began to appreciate the magic of these worlds, and when I noticed that familiar pattern of birds taking off and settling back down, I got excited. It's like Disneyland, but for the birds. It's hard to describe how lovely it is. (I must tell the truth...I found this photo on someone's site...and I'm still trying to re-find the original photographer so I can give credit.)

Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help! Call me at (916) 764-5243, or email hansonja@aol.com. For more information on our services, click here.

The Green Gardener: Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Year! Happy Families!

Happy Prosperity!

SWEET-POTATO GNOCCHI with MUSHROOMS AND SPINACH

The Ingredients:
1 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
3 pounds orange-flesh sweet potatoes (often labeled "yams"), boiled until tender, peeled, and flesh puréed
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
About 3 cups flour

The Directions...now, over to Sunset Magazine for the rest of it, but before you go, here's my pictorial tutorial:

The gnocchi "rope"...

The gnocchi cut into 1" pieces (I froze some...so, now I can Gnocchi whenever I want!)

The gnocchi boil until they rise to the top of water...

I also in my recent Gnocchi-mania, found and tried a recipe for Pumpkin Gnocchi with Gorgonzola Sauce! Tried it with some of my frozen gnocchi! Yea, I'm good.

Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help! Call me at (916) 764-5243, or email hansonja@aol.com. For more information on our services, click here.

The Green Gardener: Vegetarian Thanksgiving - Greens!

I'm learning to cook some really great vegetarian meals... and using the produce in my CSA boxes for inspiration. Today's recipe makes great use of my new-found favorite vegetable, greens (which grow well in the winter garden). If you're having vegetarian guests at your table tomorrow, this recipe is quick, fast, and great!

The recipe is from Martha Stewart ... she uses onions, I don't ... I add pecans, she doesn't ... she uses escarole, I use whatever greens I have! Other than those differences, both are great.

WHOLE WHEAT SPAGHETTI W/ ESCAROLE AND GORGONZOLA

(Serves 4)
coarse salt and ground pepper
8 ounces whole-wheat spaghetti
3 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium heads escarole (12 ounces each), ends trimmed, leaves cut crosswise into bite-size pieces, washed (but not dried)
4 ounces Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled (1 cup)

... now head on over to Martha's for the rest of the story!

Tomorrow will be Sweet Potato Gnocchi Day... with two different treatments, Gorgonzola Cream Sauce and Spinach and Mushrooms.

Whether you need garden design, coaching, seasonal maintenance or planting, Geno's Garden can help! Call me at (916) 764-5243, or email hansonja@aol.com. For more information on our services, click here.