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October
2016 Issue #82
Sigh... September is history, the kids are long since back in school, the stores are filled to the gills with candy, witches and reindeer, the politicians will NOT shut up, and another summer's smashed to smithereens. And as usual, I wasn't finished with it: So many things still on the To Do list, so much fun un-had, so many trips un-taken and weeds un-pulled. But ready or not, it's time to don long pants and real shoes again. Which brings up the age-old question: What the heck is a smithereen?
DOWN ON THE FARMS
Florida:
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| Pennisetum 'Cherry Sparkler' |
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| Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue' |
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| Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus' |
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Pennsylvania:
A good thing about October: Japanese beetle season ends. Five years ago, we elected to erect screening around our PA greenhouses, a wall to keep out undesirables like JB. Keeping them
out makes our liners welcome
in every State of this great nation, and Canada, too. Even places with fussy phytosanitary regs are in range from our ranges, in both FL and PA.
Our sealed Northern border has a fresh seal of approval from the PA Ag Dept. It's like a plant passport! It's huge! And we have a secret plan to make the beetles pay for it!
Fellow North Americans, wherever you are, get a load of our starters! Thank you! Excuse us, we have to go kiss babies now.
RANDOM USELESS FACTS DEPARTMENT
Japanese beetles first appeared in the US in 1916, at a New Jersey nursery. They have, alas, prospered here, living in our lawns and eating everything from asparagus to zinnias,
Canna to
Cannabis. Adults live only 40 days, but they make the most of it, chowing down on fruits and/or foliage of 300+ species, especially roses and members of
Malvaceae, like
Hibiscus. Damn them! Deportation isn't an option, but jot this down: Beetle traps make great Christmas gifts for your upwind neighbors.
TRAY BON!
In Hollywood, darkness has image issues. Think
Film Noir,
Creature From the Black Lagoon, The Dark Side. Luckily, the garden isn't cinema. In real life, the dark side provides dramatic contrast. Played against a supporting cast of deep, rich-hued foliage, bright colors really pop. Some of our favorite co-stars:
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| Leptinella 'Platt's Black' |
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| Pennisetum 'First Knight' - The Royal Collection |
When you need to create a scene, embrace the dark side. It's downright brilliant!
HORTISCOPE
Libra: Friends need your steady hand and level head to balance their beds, borders and budgets. Weigh your options and recommend Sedum. It always pans out.
Scorpio: Your waspish ways are wearing thin. Try to stay out from underfoot.
Lipio: Just stop it with the plastic surgery, you're skinny enough already.
 WHAT'S HOT
Production of
Sempervivum Chick Charms® is well underway in Florida. This new series from Chris Hansen includes 12 varieties, with novel forms and exciting colors.
They come as two collections of six varieties, in two forms:
-- One tray containing 12 plants each of six varieties, or
-- Six trays, one solid tray each of six varieties.
Collection A consists of
Appletini™, Berry Blues™, Cherry Berry™, Cranberry Cocktail™, Fringed Frosting™ and
Key Lime Kiss™.
Collection B includes
Bing Cherry™, Chocolate Kiss™, Cinnamon Starburst™, Mint Marvel™, Plum Parfait™ and
Watermelon Ripple™.
We expect our first availability of
Chick Charms® in time for the first week of January. We can't wait - and neither should you. Interest is high, so book ASAP.
EPILOGUE
Smithereens comes from old Irish
smidríní, meaning "little bits." It's the diminutive of
smiodar, i.e., "fragments." Smithereens is also a rock band who contributed to the score of the baseball film, "Bull Durham." Like our Japanese beetle infestation, they originated in New Jersey. Aren't you glad we asked?
Happy October. May you have your fair share of fun, freedom from political arguments, and leftover shards of summer, even if you have to enjoy them a smithereen at a time.
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