One of the most beautiful spring blooming California native plants, the Pacific Coast Iris Hybrids, have just arrived. They bloom in a kaleidoscope of blues, maroon, indigo, yellow and white with contrasting veins and splotches. They are easy to grow and like full to half sun. Once established they only need watering a couple of times a month in the summer but appreciate weekly watering in the fall. They are in bloom now so come in quickly for best color choice.

If you have wanted a fountain in your garden but have never seen just the right one or the right color, join us for a one-day Spring Fountain Fling on Saturday, April 28 from 10 AM to 2 PM. Statuary rep Annette Kinney will be here armed with catalogs and color samples to help you choose and order the perfect fountain. She represents Trevi, a very modern fountain manufacturer, and Florence & New Italian Art, a more traditional manufacturer. Between the two sources there will be the perfect choice for you. All orders placed by Annette will receive a 20% discount! Bring Annette your color needs, space availability and even photos so she can help you most effectively.

Attention Limoncello Lovers! Sorrento (Femminello) Lemons have just arrived. For years we have gotten requests for the fabulous tasting lemons from the Amalfi Coast of Italy used for making Limoncello, the sweet elixir of sunshine. The trees flower and set fruit throughout the year and have few thorns. The fruit is a pale greenish yellow with few seeds, very juicy and quite acidic. Try one for a taste of Italy in your own garden and attempt your own Limoncello for a taste of heaven.

Aphids come in many sizes and colors, winged and non-winged. All are pesky little insects to gardeners because they are "suckers" – they suck juices from the plant leaves and stems. They can also transmit plant viruses via that sucking mouthpiece.

As they suck juices from our plants they excrete a clear sugary liquid that we call "honeydew." Frequently, you will see ants working busily around the aphids on your plants. They are farming and protecting the aphids to harvest their honeydew. The honeydew is a sticky mess that can drip down on to everything below whether it is foliage or your driveway. Worse, a black sooty substance forms on it called sooty mold. It too is an ugly mess.

The good news is that Aphids have many natural enemies in our gardens. Adult and larval forms of ladybugs and lacewings, soldier beetles and parasitoid wasps (these guys are tiny, not your average wasp); all love to eat aphids. Many people mistake the soldier beetle for a pest when it is a “good” bug. Feel free to bring samples of bugs in jars to the Info Center for ID. A good approach to aphid management begins with maintaining a healthy garden (using organic fertilizers) and encouraging these beneficial insects to make your garden their home.

One very easy method of aphid removal is simply using a Bug Blaster nozzle to knock them off an infected plant with the water from your garden hose. Bug Blasters shatter aphids’ soft bodies or at the very least knock them to the ground where earwigs and other ground dwellers love to feast on them. The attendant ants will also be knocked off. To keep them from climbing back into your plants, use Tanglefoot. Ask us how!

We offer Ladybugs for sale with instructions for their release. We also offer spray oils and other safe and natural insecticides that can be used for more severe infestations. Talk with one of our California Certified Nursery Professionals for the best ways to handle your garden pest problems.