Star Roses supplies many of our most popular roses including our David Austin (English) roses. Romantica roses, like staff favorite 'Abbaye de Cluny,' also come from Star Roses. Look for these gorgeous new Star roses for 2010:

'Secret's Out' is a pure white hybrid tea, a sport of long time favorite, 'Secret.' What it offers that its parent lacks is a strong, spicy fragrance. It grows 3 to 4 feet tall by 2 to 3 feet wide.

'Apricot Drift' and 'Sweet Drift' are the newest members of the Drift series of groundcover roses from Star. They grow 1 to 2 feet tall and about 2½ feet wide, perfect for borders. These beauties bloom profusely spring through fall with none of the fussing of most roses.

Both offer fully double blossoms, 'Apricot Drift' in apricot and 'Sweet Drift' in clear pink. These roses are tough, disease resistant and really showy!

'Climbing Orange Crush' has bright orange double blossoms dancing up its glossy green foliage. It holds that color even in the heat of summer.

Long blooming and showy, 'Climbing Orange Crush' grows to 15 ft tall.

Nothing is better for spreading fungus problems on fruit trees than windy wet winters and springs. Dormant sprays are critical to protect your peach and nectarine trees from the dreaded Peach Leaf Curl! Peach leaf curl is more than just a cosmetic problem, your fruit will be disfigured and drop off the tree.

Yamagami's recommends spraying with LIQUI-COP this month after pruning, while your trees are at their most dormant. We also recommend spraying again when buds are swelling, but not quite opened. Timing is very important. Ideally, you should have 48 dry hours after spraying. If it should rain hard within that period, you should spray again.

If you have not yet pruned your apricot trees--DON'T! They are susceptible to a fungal disease, Eutypa dieback, which is spread in cool wet weather when there are open wounds. Your tree will be better off left unpruned than left susceptible. There is no cure so prevention is the way. The best time to prune apricots is in late summer.

Another dose of preventative medicine is a dormant oil spray. The oil smothers over-wintering aphids, eggs and other insect pests to keep them from attacking the brand new spring growth. Plums and cherries, both fruiting and flowering, are especially susceptible to early aphid damage. Yamagami's offers two OMRI-approved choices of sprays, petroleum-based Bonide Horticultural Oil, and canola oil-based Lilly-Miller Vegol. Spray once during the dormant season with a window of 48 rain-free hours. If you spray once your LIQUI-COP spray is dry, it helps seal it onto the limbs.

For more fruit tree information, click here for our Fruit Tree Care Calendar or pick up a copy in the nursery. Attend one of our Winter Fruit Tree Care Classes to learn about pruning as well as dormant spraying and general fruit tree care. See Coming Events for times and dates. Trust Yamagami's Nursery to help you succeed with your garden of eatin'.

Fueled by an increased interest in healthy living and a desire to grow their own food, many home gardeners are planting their own vegetable gardeners. From city dwellers to country folk, the movement to live healthier and grow your own food is alive and well.

Yamagami's seed buyer, Amy Root, has selected a large assortment of seed from several new seed companies, so we can offer offers many new varieties of both flower and vegetable seed this year. Many of these had previously been available only by mail order or through seed catalogs.

One newer source is Pagano Seed, which offers a terrific selection of Italian vegetable seed. Italian seed growers are known for their delicious, gourmet varieties of vegetables. This 100-year-old seed company offers over 50 varieties of Italian vegetables and herbs for the home garden. Look for artichokes, beans (fagiolo nano), leaf lettuces (lattuga), onions (cipolla), peppers (peperone ), squash, (zucchino), tomatoes (pomodoro), and melons . Pagano seeds are packaged in extra large, bright and colorful seed packets .

We'll be featuring other newer offerings in newsletters to come. Come visit Yamagami's newly expanded seed department and see for yourself. We believe we have the largest selection of flower and vegetable seed in the Santa Clara Valley. Incorporating flowers into veggie gardens and edibles into flower gardens satisfies birds, bees and, ultimately, you! Let our Nursery Pros show you how to transform your garden.

It's the perfect time to plan your spring garden or add to your winter garden. If you want your children to be involved, here's how to plan accordingly--not all plants are created equal in the eyes of kids. Even container gardens can be very rewarding for you and your kids. Although they don't differentiate when it comes to flowers and vegetables or annuals and perennials, kids have their hands-down favorites.

They prefer large flowers like marigolds, petunias, and sunflowers and small vegetables like cherry tomatoes, dwarf carrots, and radishes.

Kids love colors, so make sure to include bright or multi-colored flowers such as zinnias, pansies, snapdragons and striped impatiens. Vegetables such as purple carrots, 'Easter Egg' radishes, striped beets and red, yellow and orange cherry tomatoes intrigue and delight kids.

Textured plants are also irresistible. Include fuzzy woolly thyme and lambs' ears, and dusty miller in sunny areas and foxtail fern and columbine in part shade.

Fragrant plants transport the imagination. If you grow them now, your child will always remember the scents of gardenia, heliotrope, roses, peonies and lilacs. If you show them which plants to rub between their fingers, they'll never forget lavender, chocolate and pineapple mint, lemon balm, rosemary, basil, and scented geraniums.

Butterflies fascinate children, and there are many colorful plants that that will attract them. Consider including buddljea (butterfly bush), lantanas, asclepias (butterfly weed), salvias and passionflowers. Include carrots, dill, fennel and parsley to round out their diet.

Don't overlook spring and summer flowering bulbs that hold the promise and surprise of things to come. Use the guidelines above when selecting colors and varieties.

Gardening can truly be a fun experience for children. Even if you only plant in containers, you and your children can experience the joy of gardening together. Start planning your kid-friendly garden today. You'll be getting started on creating memories and maybe even a passion for gardening that will last their lifetime. Let the Nursery Pros at Yamagami's show you how to get started and succeed.

Sunday, January 10th at 11 AM.
Winter Rose Care with Lorena Gorsche. Class covers pruning, disease and pest prevention, and general care with an emphasis on earth-friendly practices. See fee information above.

Saturday, January 16th at 10 AM. and again at 1 PM.
Exciting Roses for 2010 with Steve Bening of Star Roses. Learn about the latest trends in rose breeding and which varieties will be “Stars” in your garden. See fee information above.

Sunday, January 17th at 11 AM.
Pruning 101 with Alan Tagami, Landscape Consultant. Learn what, how and how much to prune in winter. See fee information above.

Saturday, January 23rd at 10 AM.
Winter Fruit Tree Care with Bradley Strawhorn. Class covers pruning, dormant sprays and general care. See fee information above.

Saturday, January 23 at 1 PM.
Grafting Fruit Trees with Bradley Strawhorn. Bradley will demonstrate whip grafting of apples and cherries. Supplies will be available for sale. See fee information above.

Saturday, February 20th at 10 AM.
Japanese Maple Pruning Class with Alan Tagami, Landscape Consultant. Learn how to bring out the natural beauty in your maples. See fee information above.

Sunday, February 21st at 11 AM.
Japanese Maple Pruning Class with Alan Tagami, Landscape Consultant. Learn how to bring out the natural beauty in your maples. See fee information above.

Saturday, February 27th at 1 PM.
Japanese Maple Pruning Class with Alan Tagami, Landscape Consultant. Learn how to bring out the natural beauty in your maples. See fee information above.

Sunday, February 28th at 11 AM.
Japanese Maple Pruning with Alan Tagami, Landscape Consultant. Learn how to bring out the natural beauty in your maples. See fee information above.