|
Have a Look
Around the Site:
|
|
|
|
Be a Guest Gardener:
Gardeners love to learn from other gardeners "over the fence." We would love to include a tour and/or an article from one of our readers!
|
|
|
Contact Information:
E-Mail:
Click
to contact us.
Telephone:
(518) 785-4210
Address:
240 Wade Road Extension
(opposite Target)
Latham, NY 12110
Hours:
7 Days A Week
8 AM to 6 PM
|
|
|
 |
FEATURED QUOTE:
"A garden is always a series of losses set against a few triumphs, like life itself."
~May Sarton |
|
 |
 |
|
Are you tired of purchasing a cut Christmas tree every year--just to throw it away after the holidays are over? Consider buying a living Christmas tree instead. Living Christmas trees are becoming more popular every year because of their many advantages over cut Christmas trees, which include a lower fire hazard, repeat use, and an increase in value once planted in the landscape, where they can become a yearly source of cut greens for each holiday season.
After the holidays, you can leave your tree outdoors in its original container for year-round beauty and bring it back in again for a second Christmas. However, because most living trees used for Christmas trees are fast growing, they should not remain in a container for more than two years. There are a few other things to consider when planning to use a living Christmas tree indoors.
Living trees can stay in the house for only a brief period, no more than 7 to 10 days. Prolonged exposure to warm household temperatures would force new growth to develop on the tree and this growth would be apt to suffer damage when the tree is transplanted outdoors after Christmas. Longer periods in a home can lead to death of the tree.
Be sure to water the tree regularly while it is being used in the home. Line the tub or container in which you place a living tree with plastic or place a larger saucer underneath the container to keep excess water from dripping through onto your floor or carpeting. One good way to water is to dump two trays of ice cubes on the soil--this waters the tree slowly and evenly. It also helps keep the roots cooler.
Use only the newer low watt lights on your tree to avoid burning or discoloring the needles, and do not spray your tree with colored Christmas paint or snow, even if the product says it is washable.
After Christmas, if the weather should happen to be very cold, place the living tree in the basement or garage where it is cool, but not below freezing, for a few days only: Then, when the weather improves, take the tree out of the container and plant it.
Make sure that the tree will fit into your landscape. Most trees used as Christmas trees will eventually reach heights of 40 to 60 feet. The tree will be inside for a very short time compared to the time that you will have it in your landscape.
We stock living Christmas trees that grow well in our local area. With care and planning, your Christmas tree will serve as a living memory for many years.
Click to print this article.
|
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Poinsettias are a wonderful worldwide holiday tradition. In fact, next to a Christmas tree, nothing else says Christmas quite like poinsettias. Displayed alone or in groups, they can add a festive splash of color to every decor. From a centerpiece on a holiday table to a miniature plant decorating the corner of an office desk, to a colorful hanging basket that can brighten any room, the poinsettia is the perfect holiday gift.
So how did poinsettias become so popular at Christmas--and where do they come from? According to Mexican legend, a poor Mexican girl named Pepita who could not afford a gift to offer to Christ on Christmas Eve picked some weeds from the side of a road. The child was told that even a humble gift, if given in love, would be acceptable in God's eyes. When she brought the weeds into the church and laid them at the feet of the Christ child, they bloomed into red and green flowers, and the congregation felt they had witnessed a Christmas miracle.
Poinsettias are native to the tropical forest at moderate elevations along the Pacific coast of Mexico and some parts of Guatemala. They are named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico, who introduced the plant in the U.S. in 1825.
Poinsettias have come a long way from their humble beginnings. For years only variations of red flowers were propagated and grown. But now there are hundreds of color varieties available ranging from traditional shades of red, pink and white to burgundy, peach, striped, flecked and hand-dyed varieties.
Poinsettias are fairly easy-going, and with proper care can last long past the holiday season. Just click on the link below for a complete care guide including tips for re-blooming the following season.
We have an outstanding selection of poinsettias in every color including a number of new varieties. The sooner you purchase your poinsettias, the sooner you and your friends will be able to enjoy the unique holiday beauty that only they can provide. So hurry in and pick some up today while supplies last!
Check out our Poinsettia Care Guide (click here). |
|
| |
 |
There's nothing that says Christmas quite like the fragrance of a fresh cut Christmas tree. Somehow, scented candles and air fresheners just don’t have the same natural aroma. Selecting and bringing home a fresh cut tree is just a natural part of the holiday tradition.
You can get the most out of your holiday tree by following a few simple guidelines.
When selecting your fresh cut tree, gently stroke the branches or pick up the tree a few inches and bounce the cut end on the ground; few needles should fall if the tree is fresh and has been properly cared for. Make sure to get the right size tree so you don’t have to do a lot of pruning. Measure the height of your ceilings and the width of the space you plan to display your tree in. Remember that a tree doesn’t need to be perfectly even if displayed in a corner.
Once you bring the tree home cut another inch off the base before setting the tree in its water stand. This will help the tree take up water more easily. Immediately fill the stand with water after setting up. Make sure to check the stand's basin daily and add water as needed. Display your tree away from heat sources such as heater vents, fireplaces, stereos and television sets which can promote premature drying.
Above all else, make sure you use only Christmas lights with a UL seal of approval. Inspect your lights each year for excessive wear such as frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking before putting them up. Never use candles near a tree. Remember to turn lights off before going to bed or when unattended. Finally make sure to use non-flammable decorations on your tree. Homemade paper ornaments are cute, but hang them somewhere else in the house for all to see.
Have a safe and Merry Christmas!
Click to print this article. |
|
|
|
By E.W. Forsyth
We all look forward to the many traditions of the Christmas season, in particular the arrival of the tree! We bundle up the family, drive out to the country to the tree farm that we visit each year, where every member of the family has a different opinion as to which tree to cut down, and bone-rattling cold usually drives us to go back to the tree lot by our house, which is where we should have gone in the first place to purchase our tree!
Then we look at each and every tree, carefully shaking them (as we've been instructed) to ensure that no needles fall off, and once our choice is made, home we head, dragging our wet tree behind us, or freezing as we've secured the unwieldy growth to the top of our car and the windows are open for the ropes. Before the act of trying to get it to remain upright in the stand, we carefully cut the base, and religiously replenish the water in it daily.
After what seems an incredibly short time, the season is over, our tree is dropping its needles all over the carpeting daily, and now it has become a fire hazard, due to the warmth of the home. So we drag it out to the curb or wrap it in an old sheet and take it to the nearest dump.
Say goodbye to the limit of Nature's designs.
Remove the hassle from this part of your holiday decorating; why not try an artificial tree? They have come a long way from the aluminum whimsies of our youth, with their rotating color wheels. Whether you live in an 8,000 square-foot mansion, or a 900 square-foot apartment, there's a perfectly sized artificial Christmas tree awaiting you. Gone are the hassles that twelve months made us forget. Also gone, for those with allergy and asthma sensitivities, are the sneezing and watery eyes.
Today's artificial trees are so realistic it's unlikely that your guests will even know the difference! And they come in such a vast array of choices; traditionalists can experience the extraordinary beauty of a decorated tree in their choice of 'species.'
Some contemporary LED trees come pre-lit, the tree stand housing the electric wires. They are not only fire-retardant, but because the LEDs produce more light per watt than traditional bulbs and can last up to 30 times as long, they are a welcome energy-saving choice. This writer's office is home to a 36" high fiber optic tree that employs the concept of the color wheels of the 1950s--softly shimmering multi-colored lights that please and inspire.
Which is not to say that you can't enjoy both! Place your new artificial tree by the fireplace or in front of the heating vent, where it dry out like a live tree, and coordinate the tree's decorations with those on your mantel! And add a cut tree to the family room, or place a table top cut or artificial tree in the dining room where all can enjoy the salubrious spirit of the season without being locked into remaining in one room. While the initial price may give you momentary pause, remember that today's artificial trees have a lifespan of a decade; compare that to the cost of purchasing a cut tree year after year.
With artificial trees that come pre-lit or ready for your own personal touch, slim and corner trees for homes with limited space, and flocked, gold, and even tuxedo black trees available, your only hassle remaining will be in deciding which ones to buy!
We wish you the happiest, and safest, of holidays!
Click to print this article.
|
 |
 |
- Purchase poinsettias early in the month.
- Protect new landscape plants from wind damage.
- Prune hardy dormant deciduous trees, shrubs, and vines, if you haven't already done so.
- Prune fall and winter-blooming shrubs and vines after bloom. Do not prune spring-blooming plants.
- Water living Christmas trees.
- Monitor houseplants for adequate water, fertilizer and humidity. Water and fertilizer requirements generally are less in winter; do not feed dormant houseplants at all.
- Make sure outside plants have adequate soil moisture. Plants need moisture in winter, too.
- Check stored bulbs for rot or fungus. Discard any that have problems.
- Make holiday decorations from outdoor shrubs and trees.
- Don't forget to turn your compost pile.
- Tie up limbs of evergreens to prevent snow or ice breakage.
- Start planning your spring garden!
Click to print this article.
|
 |
 |
|
Do I really need two fruit tree varieties to produce fruit?
Answer:
Yes and no. Citrus trees like lemons, limes, and oranges are self-fertile and require no pollinator. Most apricots, figs, nectarines, peaches and persimmons are self-fertile; only a few varieties need a second tree to help them produce fruit.
There are also a few varieties of apples, cherries, pears and plums that don't require a pollinator. But most other deciduous fruit trees do need a second pollinating tree, and most of those require specific varieties to pollinate with. The trees don't need to be right next to each other, but should be fairly near each other to promote the best pollinating results.
Our staff of garden experts knows which trees make the best "mates" for others, and will be happy to help you with any questions.
Click to print this article.
|
 |
Recipe of the Month: Chocolate, Hazelnut and Ginger Biscotti |
|
 |
|
Chocolate, Hazelnut and Ginger Biscotti
Adapted from Bon Apétit
Makes about 25
Ingredients:
- 1 2/3 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 2/3 cup hazelnuts, toasted, husked, chopped
- 1/3 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
- 6 oz. good-quality white chocolate (such as Baker's or Lindt)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper. Sift first 5 ingredients into mixing bowl. Add 3 eggs and vanilla; beat until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. nuts, and crystallized ginger (dough will be firm). Sprinkle a little cocoa powder on a work surface and either spray your hands with cooking spray, or run them under the faucet. Turn dough out onto work surface and divide in half. Form each half into a 12-inch log. Transfer logs to prepared baking sheet, spacing 3 inches apart. (DN: You can also use two separate sheets.) Flatten each to 2 1/2 inch wide log. Whisk remaining egg in small bowl to blend. Brush logs with some of the beaten egg.
Bake until logs are dry looking and firm to the touch, about 30-35 minutes. Cool logs on baking sheet(s) 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
Transfer logs to cutting board. Using serrated knife, cut logs crosswise into scant 1/2 inch slices. Place slices, cut side down, on large baking sheets. Bake until firm, about 15 minutes. Transfer biscotti to racks and cool completely.
Stir white chocolate in top of double boiler set over barely simmering water until melted and smooth. (DN: If you don't have a double boiler, just place chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set that over the water. Just be sure the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water.) Remove from over water. Place biscotti on rack over baking sheet. Dip one half of each biscotti in white chocolate. (Can be made up to 2 weeks ahead. Store in an airtight container.) |
 |
|
Please click here to read newsletter if not displayed below: http://www.georges-market.com/news/11/48 
click here for a printer friendly version of this page
