Crescent Hill hits the streets for three garden markets this July. Please join us at the De Anza College Market this Saturday July 7 in Cupertino, Ca. We will also be displaying the weekend of July 21-22 at RCR Fabrication in Santa Cruz, Ca. The month concludes with the always fun Moss Landing Antique Street Fair in Moss Landing, Ca on Sunday July 29th. Take a break from the heat and enjoy browsing antiques, collectables, and beautiful perennial plants in the foggy Central Coast fishing town. Maps and directions to all events are available on the CALENDAR page of the website linked below. www.crescenthillnursery.com

In response to the numerous requests by our gardening family and partners, we are pleased to announce that an E-NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE link is now available on our website www.crescenthillnursery.com. Please take a moment to check it out, and also tour the newly updated PLANTS section and increasing content of color photos for all our selections!!

Crescent Hill Nursery was recently accepted into UCSC's prestigious Koala Blooms program, where special Australian plant selections are imported to UCSC's arboretum, and then distributed to local nurseries for propagation. This collection includes the wildly popular Grevillea 'Coastal Gem' and Chorizema 'Bush Flame', as well as many new cultivars yet to hit the market. We are proud and honored to be a part of this group, and look forward to providing you with new plant material in the years to come. Look for a special on the Koala Blooms program, and a contest to decide which selections you would like to see us grow in the E-newsletter next month!!

New for 2012 We are proud to offer Digger's gopher baskets at our 2012 markets, and here at the nursery. The industry standard, these well made baskets last 6-10 years in the ground, and are the ONLY real solution to gopher problems. Why purchase expensive plants only to have them eaten by our friends from below? Protect your investment in three sizes: 1 gallon baskets are $3.50 each or 2 for $5, 5 gallon baskets are $5 each, and 15 gallon tree sized baskets are $8 each.

Nursery tours are encouraged. Please come out and see our 2 acre facility in Watsonville. With over 250 varieties grown, the growing grounds are turning into a little botanical park. Please call for an appointment. Groups are welcome.

Please remember Crescent Hill recycles all 1,2, and 5 gallon plastic containers. Drop off available at all markets, or here at the nursery. Thanks again!!

Thank You for all the pre-orders for our local garden markets. Please place orders by the Tuesday preceding your chosen market to insure that we can have them available for the weekend.

Coreopsis 'Cranberry Ice'

Crescent Hill Nursery's July Plant of the Month is the perfect accompaniment to the heat and fireworks of the season. Coreopsis 'Cranberry Ice' is a virtual explosion of bold and exciting summer color all set on a compact and tidy plant. Bred by Terra Nova Nurseries, this new selection features a seemingly endless bloom cycle, with peak color coming from June to September. The bright cranberry-stained petals are lightly edged in creamy white, appearing to be dipped by the most gentle of hands. Hundreds of blooms adorn each plant, and their variable opening times truly make this plant resemble the unfurling fourth of July fireworks display. Cranberry Ice also boasts a compact habit (20" tall X wide), which allows its inclusion in many garden pockets, even in those landscapes which seem "already full". Its delicate informal mounding habit leads to inclusion in the front to mid border, where the pillowy form can creep towards pathways or punctuate pre-existing shrubs/grasses. This Sunflower (Asteraceae) family member is especially effective when planted in mass, creating the endless summer of butterfly attracting color. In addition, the fast growing perennial is a perfect fit for patio containers, where the unusual blooms are sure to attract conversation all summer long. Hardy to USDA Zone 6 (-5 to -10 degrees F), the Crescent Hill July Plant of the Month seeks to embolden any Central Coast garden.

Special E-Newsletter Price; $5 per 1-gallon container. (Regular Price $7 each) Mass Planting Price: Five 1-gallon containers for $20!! Mention this ad to receive discount.

In this quarterly section, we will answer the question of the month. The customer chosen to ask the question of the month will receive a free one gallon sized pot of your choice!!

This month's "ask a nurseryman" question comes from Miss Moe of Mountain View. "I bought two Protea Pink Ice from Crescent Hill at a recent garden market, and planted them as you suggested in a well drained, phosphorus fertilizer-free soil. They have now been in the large ceramic containers for 2 weeks, and many of the leaves are turning grey/brown. I was so looking forward to having these plants. What is going wrong?"

Moe, thanks for giving us the opportunity to talk about a very commonly asked question. Container gardening is an excellent way to bring the garden closer and extend its range beyond the strictly terrestrial. What we must remember is that the principles of container gardening vary widely from those of conventional landscaping. While drought resistant plants like Grevillea, Protea, or Cordyline make forgiving container specimens due to their acceptance of irregular watering, they certainly cannot be on the same watering program as plants actually in the ground. Established Protea in the ground may be watered as little as once a month, even in the hottest summer weather. In the container, where the soil dries out quicker, the irrigation must be much more regular. Add to this the tendency of ceramic containers to quickly breathe out moisture, and we can see where the problems may have arisen. As Moe and I talked about the issue, I learned how fearful she was of over-watering these sensitive plants and rotting the central stalk. This valid concern led to a situation where the plants were under-watered, especially for a sensitive time like transplant. I let her know that we water all our drought resistant plants here at the nursery once every 2-3 days in the containers. The well drained soil mix, complete with lava rock for permanent air space, prevents water from pooling around the base and causing rot. Granted, black plastic 1 and 5 gallon containers are not 20 gallon ceramic planters, but the frequency of irrigation must be increased especially if containers are grown in full sun. As my Grandma always says, "Water once every 2 days for the first week or two, then listen to the plant afterwards." I think this advice holds true in this instance as well. We need to help the plants get through the natural "transplant shock" of moving from one location to another by providing a little excess care in the first few weeks. Afterwards we can slowly ween down to the desired weekly irrigation regiment. A location that shades the pot, and keeps the roots cool, will also help stupendously. True drought resistance will only be achieved by planting in the ground. Thankfully, Protea family are resilient little buggers, and Moe informed me that after she adjusted the water regiment new growth is already abound.

For participating in the Ask a Nurseryman section, Moe chose another Protea to complete the trifecta. Thanks again. Don't forget to keep those questions coming!!

phone: 831-246-1128
website: www.crescenthillnursery.com
email: nathan@crescenthillnursery.com