Perennially cheerful, Cindi Ricca-Felde, has been a salesperson at Yamagami's Nursery for five and a half years. She came to us from Sunnyvale Nursery where she was also a salesperson for about five years. Shortly after starting here, Cindi earned her California Nursery Professional Certification by passing extensive testing. Her years of experience assisting customers with their gardens, her technical training and her upbeat personality make her one of our most helpful salespeople.

Cindi has lived and gardened here in Cupertino her entire life. She gardens extensively at home, where she has had to battle gangs of gophers. Because of them, she gardens primarily in containers and protects what goes into the ground with gopher cages. She enjoys working at bonsai and has created some nice specimens.

Beyond gardening, Cindi's interests include all things Hawaiian. She has studied hula dancing off and on for eight years and loves Hawaiian music. She also has a passion for Siberian Huskies and is currently looking for a new puppy.

Be sure to greet Cindi on your next visit. You'll recognize her by the hundreds of braids which hang below her waist. You'll find her a good listener and eager to help. It is Cindi's personal goal for all her customers to leave happy, knowing they have gotten all the help they need. Cindi wants you to succeed…the first time.

Don Gillogly Avocado has arrived! Never have we seen a fruit so hyped as the Don Gillogly Avocado. The claims are that you can grow this tree indoors and harvest 2 crops a year of tasty fruit. The tree is supposed to top out at 10 feet but able to be kept much smaller with pruning. I must admit to some skepticism and I’d love to see that all the claims hold true for our area.

What I do know from tasting the fruit is that it is very creamy with a mild flavor. The flesh slips right out of the skin, the seed is relatively small and it comes out easily. The flesh also did not discolor when cut open and exposed to air like that of most avocados. This indicates a high concentration of antioxidants, meaning Don G. is tasty and extra-healthy too!

If you have limited space and are looking for a dwarf avocado, this may be the one for you! We have only a limited supply in stock, so guacamole your way in for a Don Gillogly Avocado of your own!

Come to Yamagami’s Nursery for some great classes. They are all free and are the perfect opportunity to learn from the experts.

Saturday, September 23,
10 AM to 11 AM

"Bulb Combinations for a Long Season of Bloom" with Chris Maclaggan, Holland bulb expert.
With the right combination of bulbs, 100 days of color are possible. Chris can help you choose the best bulbs for your particular garden situation.

Saturday, September 23,
12 PM to 2 PM

Hands-On Workshop - Bulb Stacking in Containers.
Choose bulbs to layer in containers for an extended season of bloom. Top the bulbs with cool season color and you can have color from the day you plant through the fall, winter and spring. You buy the bulbs and pots and we provide the Gardener & Bloome Potting Soil and expert guidance with Chris Maclaggan of Langeveld Bulbs and Kerri Kemp from Gardner’s & Bloome Soil Products.

Sunday, September 24
at 11 AM

Free Garden Talk: "Succeeding with Fall Bulbs".
Terry Walter has extensive experience planting bulbs in our area and will share tips and suggestions for a spectacular spring. Learn how to “force” bulbs, which bulbs will naturalize, and more! Bring her all your bulb questions.

By Tamara Galbraith

Want to add some "wow!" as well as some "rrrowr!" to your fall landscape? Put a tiger in your garden.

Tiger Eyes™ Sumac (Rhus typhina Bailtiger) is a relatively new plant, as it was introduced to the gardening industry by Bailey Nurseries Inc. of St. Paul, Minn., in 2004. But don't cringe when you see "sumac"; this tiger needs nearly no training. A staghorn-leafed non-invasive variety, Tiger Eyes™ grows into an upright rounded shrub about six feet high and wide, and is extremely slow to spread.

Every part of this lovely plant is eye-catching, from the fuzzy, purplish-pink stems to the jagged-leafed yellow-green foliage that puts on a show most of the year. In late summer, the chartreuse coloring gives way to yellow, then a burning orange, gold and scarlet in fall.

Tiger Eyes™ is not picky about soil or sun conditions -- mine loves its spot in heavy clay and part sun -- and it is hardy to USDA zone 4.

This tough tiger is also both heat- and drought-tolerant once established, making it a near-perfect choice for gardeners who love fall's brilliant colors.