Did you know that the single best thing you can do for your garden is also your best way to conserve water? A 2” to 3” layer of mulch can save up to 30 gallons of water per day in a 1,000 sq. ft. garden, according to a recent article in the San Jose Mercury News. Saving water is not only good for our planet, it saves dollars and cents, too!

What should be mulched? Start with all the plants that you regularly water. Not only will it reduce moisture loss from evaporation, it improves your soil as it breaks down and keeps that ugly crust from forming on the top of our clay soils. Another water-saving aspect is that 3” of mulch will keep weeds from stealing water and nutrients.

What to use as mulch? Homemade compost is great, but if you don’t have enough, there are lots of alternatives available at Yamagami’s Nursery:

• Shredded red cedar bark works well on slopes because it will mat and hold. It is not as fine in texture as “gorilla hair” so it looks less messy. Many insects do not appreciate red cedar bark and will avoid it.

• Gardner & Bloome™ Soil Building Compost® is a composted wood product with added beneficial microbes (microrhizae). Microrhizae are a group of fungi that have a symbiotic relationship with plant roots increasing the ability of plant roots to extract water from the soil. Soil Building Compost® is available in 3 cubic feet bales. Special offer through July 2009: Buy three, get one FREE!

• The Original Mulch Block® is the easiest and cleanest way to bring mulch home. It is made of coir (coconut fiber), a renewable resource. Coir lasts longer than wood products and holds its color longer, too. The Original Mulch Block® is an 8 pound block that fluffs into 2 cubic feet of beautiful mulch when 5 gallons of water is added. You can see it used in our low water-use landscape in front of and around Bobbi’s Coffee Shop.

• Organic materials--including Gardner & Bloome™ Planting Mix, Harvest Supreme® or Potting Soil--will all serve as mulch. So, if you have them, use them.

While mulching offers your most dramatic water savings, there are many other ways to save water in the landscape. Here are a few of the things you can do:

• Water before 6 AM to save up to 25 gallons of water a day.

• Watering only when plants need it, meaning the soil is barely damp 2” down, can save up to 250 gallons per week.

• Check sprinkler heads, valves and drip emitters monthly for leaks or blockages. Adjust to prevent overspray and run-off to save up to 25 gallons a day.

• Replace a portion of lawn with Natives or California Friendly plants to save 30 to 60 gallons of water per day per 1000 sq feet.

Soaker hoses, organic fertilizers and low water-using plants are all valuable for saving water in the landscape. Find all these and more at Yamagami’s. Let our nursery pros help you save water, and save dollars and cents with our mulch selection and valuable information. We are here to help you succeed …the first time!

It’s time to pop your peppers into your garden! Yamagami’s Nursery offers a great selection of pepper plants, from the very hot to sweet and mild. More than just for salsa, peppers are wonderful roasted, stuffed, pickled, or simply eaten fresh and crunchy. Yamagami’s Nursery is pleased to introduce the Villancho pepper. This tasty pepper won our "Pepper Taste Test" last year. It's a hybrid ancho pepper developed by staff member Carolyn Villa-Scott’s father, Phil Villa (hence the name Villancho). Moderately hot, it is the perfect pepper for chile rellenos, with thick, meaty walls. Roast them on your grill, peel them, then stuff them or simply serve on the side. They are yummy!

Corno di toro (horn of the bull) is an Italian heirloom pepper, sweet and flavorful. It is delicious roasted or sautéed and served as a side dish. It is an extremely productive plant over a long period. 8” to 10” long, these beautiful peppers curve like a horn and ripen to a glossy red. 

Fatali is an incredibly hot pepper, even hotter than most Habaneros. Ouch! We offered it at our tasting last year and, those that were bold enough to taste it, told us there was an interesting hint of lemon in addition to its intense heat. Fatali has a beautiful golden color and grows about 3” long. It’s from Africa and despite the resemblance, its name doesn’t really translate as fatal. You may want to argue that point after eating it! 

Peppers are really good for you, rich in anti-oxidant vitamins A and C, especially red peppers. Red peppers are also a good source of lycopene, which is linked to prevention of several cancers including prostate, pancreatic and cervical cancer. Hot peppers' fire comes from capsaicin, which acts on pain receptors, not taste buds, in our mouths. It has been shown to decrease cholesterol and triglycerides, boost immunity, and even reduce the risk of stomach ulcers(! hard to believe but true). 

No matter what your taste in peppers might be, we’ve got a pepper or two for you. Let the Nursery Pros at Yamagami’s help you choose peppers for your garden and health.

Live long and prosper by eating peppers! Pop your peppers into the garden right away and start reaping the benefits.

Start your own guacamole garden! Come to Yamagami’s for a terrific selection of avocado trees and get started on the road to great guacamole. We offer both Guatemalan ("Hass") and Mexican ("Mexicola") types so you can choose the tree that suits both your garden space and your gardening habits. The Guatemalan types will need extra frost protection while the Mexican varieties are more cold hardy and may only need protection during extreme frosts.

For those who wish to grow dwarf avocados, whether in containers or in the ground, we offer "Littlecado" and "Holiday" that stay under 15 feet. With pruning, they can be easily kept under 10 feet. Both are Guatemalan and will need to be protected from frost but it is a lot easier because of their small size. For a long harvest you can plant both, as "Holiday" ripens from fall into winter and "Littlecado" ripens from summer into fall.

For more avocado variety information, click here to see our Avocado Guide. We recommend following our Citrus and Avocado Planting Guide for guaranteed success. As to the rest of your guacamole garden, don’t forget the lime tree, peppers, onions and cilantro! Let the Nursery Pros at Yamagami’s get you "guacamol-ing!"

Wholly Guacamole

Ingredients:

• 4 ripe peeled and seeded avocados
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 seeded and diced 'Roma' type tomato
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 1 to 2 seeded and minced jalapeño peppers
• 4 Tbsp lime juice
• Optional: 1/4 cup minced cilantro, hot sauce, salt and pepper
  

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Cut avocados into chunks, then mash coarsely with a fork.
• Add remaining ingredients and gently blend together to desired texture.
• Season with cilantro, hot sauce, salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

This is your chance to get an amazing deal on azaleas from Monrovia®, home of Distinctively Better Plants™. Monrovia’s plants arrive in better condition and take off better once planted. Take advantage of this special offer while selection is still good. Offer is limited to stock on hand and expires on June 14th. Sorry, no further discounts apply.

The Camelot saga continues with growing of the giant pumpkin plants, Guinevere, Arthur and Lancelot. A fortnight ago, we told of the planting of seeds and the birth of the seedlings. The plants have since doubled in size and are hearty indeed, under the watchful eye of the Godfather and the Waterwench. Yes, there is great rejoicing in the land. The Godfather is now plucking the early flowers, so that the vines can increase. All are welcome to visit our Kingdom and follow the signs to Camelot (our Pumpkin Patch) to view the progress.

Please share your giant pumpkin pictures and updates. Email them to infocenter@YamagamisNursery.com. Check for weekly updates and pictures on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pages/Cupertino-CA/Yamagamis-Nursery-Garden-Center/63172657808. Stay tuned for further installments…

FREE Fuchsia Show and Talk.

Come see some beautiful fuchsia blossoms and learn how to grow your own. The show is from 10 AM to 2 PM with Fuchsia Care talks at 11 AM and 1 PM.

Space is limited so pre-registration is STRONGLY recommended. To reserve your spot, come in or call us at (408) 252-3347. Walk-ins will be allowed ONLY if space is available.

Saturday, June 6th - 10 AM to 2 PM
Fuchsia Care Talks at 11 AM and 1 PM

A Hot Gift for Dad!

We’re celebrating Father’s Day by giving away a FREE Villancho Pepper in a 4” pot with any purchase.

This tasty pepper won our Pepper Taste Test last year and is a Yamagami’s Introduction. It is the perfect pepper for chile rellenos, with thick, meaty walls of moderate heat. Yummy! Give it to a dad or keep the free Villancho for yourself. (Limit one free Villancho per purchase.)

Saturday, June 20th
Sunday, June 21st

Independence Day Hours

Yamagami’s Nursery
will be open 9 AM to 3 PM.
We wish you all a safe and fun July Fourth Celebration!

Saturday, July 4th - 9 AM to 3 PM

Yamagami’s Nursery
will be closed for staff training
on
Tuesday, July 7th

Bearded Iris Rhizome Sale by the Clara B. Rees Iris Society

Here’s your chance to get some remarkable deals on some remarkable Iris varieties!

Saturday, Aug. 1st - 10 AM to 2 PM

Steve Goto and Cool Tolerant Tomatoes for Your Fall into Winter Harvest!

Extend your tomato harvest with varieties that just keep going. Learn how to succeed in growing tomatoes for your Thanksgiving Day feast.

Back by popular demand!
Saturday, Aug. 15th - 10 AM to 3 PM
Sunday, Aug. 16th - 10 AM to 3 PM

Tomato and Pepper Tasting

Come find new favorites and help us choose varieties to offer in 2010. FREE.

Sunday, Aug. 16th - 10 AM to 12 Noon!

FREE Dahlia Show!

Come see some amazing blossoms, get inspired, and learn from the experts how to succeed in growing your own. FREE!

Saturday, Aug. 22nd - 10 AM to 3 PM
Sunday, Aug. 23rd - 10 AM to 3 PM