Our customers' response to this 60 year landmark was overwhelming and gratifying to me and our staff. On Saturday over 300 of our loyal friends and customers enjoyed blueberry tasting, free hot dogs, watermelon, and cake while enjoying mellow music played by a live band. For the young, and the young at heart, there was face painting and a table where they could plant their own flowerpots to take home. I personally enjoyed talking with many of our long time customers, reminiscing about my parents. Sid and Mary, and the many memories spanning 60 years of nursery days as we celebrated together on a beautiful 85 degree day. There were picture albums and framed photos showing the nursery, as well as the Rogers family, over these 60 years.

Looking at pictures from the beginning--a small nursery with a paint and feed store--it's obvious how much this place has changed over the years. We lived on the property for years, playing as my parents worked, then working alongside them. I have slight memories of the very beginning but do have strong memories of the "growing years" when nursery plants weaved their way through the family houses, greenhouses were developed, and fruit trees grew under the huge elm and walnut trees.

Our first remodeling was when I was a horticulture student at MJC in the early 1960s. We got rid of the greenhouses and most of the old trees (ginkgo excepted) and built what is now the business office. Our really big change was when the city widened Scenic Drive and we responded with a total renovation of Scenic Nursery. We moved the parking lot to the side, erected the tent shade structures in the front, built the existing store and installed the brick walkway through the nursery, creating the “bones” of the Scenic Nursery you see today.

We continue to make changes, always striving to improve your shopping experience. The one thing that never changes is our commitment to providing the very best plants and information to our customers--that hasn’t changed since my mom and dad opened Scenic Nursery in 1949. My parents would have been amazed at this celebration and would have loved being able to visit with their many friends. Those of us who knew them, missed them. We appreciate and honor their legacy, and thank you, our customers, for allowing us to serve you over the past 60 years and into the future.

Click here to view more pictures!

As your plant’s root system matures, your hydrangea will become more resilient when located in a sunny spot with winter exposure, making them perfect as single plants, massed together, or in containers on the patio (use regular planting mix). Hydrangea variety will help determine growth habits, pruning requirements, and sun tolerance. Soil pH determines color and provides insight into soil acidity--to alter color intensity to blue, use Master Nursery’s Hydra Blue because it contains aluminum sulfate. This is accomplished by mixing 4 tablespoons of aluminum sulfate to a gallon of water and applying to the base of the plant. Repeat this process in three weeks. If you want to intensify pinks, add a superphosphate. If soil is alkaline, then blooms will naturally be pink. Soil additives do not affect white flower color. Soil additives should be added four to six months before blooming begins as these processes take time.

There are several major varieties of hydrangea ranging in height from a petite three feet to an imposing twelve. To simplify, I will refer to these as mopheads (round clustered blooms), lacecaps (flowers on edge, insignificant blooms in center), and climbers. Unless a hydrangea has reached a mature age and the blooms have become small, there is no need to prune; however, feel free to cut blooms for use, neaten plant at any time, or to control size and shape, by removing bloom clusters after flowering. Simply cut out stems that have flowered leaving room for new blooms. For big blooms, reduce the number of stems deep within the plant or for medium-size flower clusters, keep more stems. Sometimes plant reduction through extensive pruning is necessary to revitalize big blooms. Here are a few guidelines. One important thing to consider when pruning is whether your hydrangea blooms on old or new wood. Most hydrangeas, like the mophead, lacecap, climber, or oakleaf bloom on new wood and should be pruned in late winter or early spring while the plant is still dormant, and when the most danger of hard freezes has passed like early March. Simply remove any dead or crossing branches to achieve a healthy framework or, more drastically, cut it almost back to the ground. Old wood bloomers like hydrangea paniculatas and H. arborescens like “Annabelle” should be lightly trimmed in May through July to shape. Paula Theno, you are the winner!

Finally, make sure you feed your hydrangeas in the spring and fall with a good acidic fertilizer to keep plant stems strong and blooms plentiful. In winter apply a low nitrogen fertilizer such as Master Bloom to store energy for bigger, brighter blooms. Mark every fertilization application on your calendar to help you keep track. Fertilizing all acid loving plants (such as your azaleas, camellias, gardenias, ferns, conifers, and Japanese maples) at once makes it easier to keep track of. Hydrangeas are a favorite of so many because they are so versatile and beautiful. With these tips in mind, you should have absolute success with this fabulous plant.

Written by Tally

Central Valley living can be very trying to both people and their plants during complex summer realities. In times such as these we seem to receive a bit of all four seasons in each day. Both mysterious and challenging, Nature’s environmental mood patterns are awakening a profound need to connect with what is real and what helps us most in both ourselves and the garden realms that we tend to.
To foster positive change in our natural surroundings we need only try to nurture our soils and plants in the same way that we would wish to be nourished: with honest, wholesome nature-based ingredients to stabilize and stimulate well-being in all aspects of the ever-connected ecosystem that we all share. The following tips may improve your time with Nature significantly as well as elevate your mood and bring shine to your soul.

Tip 1 ~ Preparation of Soil
Concentrate on diverse and organic amendments blended to accommodate various plant forms. Good drainage is a beautiful beginning for a successful planting area. Building a foundation to enrich fertility and prosperity is accelerated greatly with the use of compost, which enlivens, strengthens, and enhances color and taste of all plantings. Organic powdered meal or granular fertilizers are wonderful additions to “fluff” the environment of beneficial microbes which interact with the complex microcosm of infinite activity within the structures of soil and enable positive performance of production during all seasons.

Tip 2 ~ Foliar Feeding/Root Drenching
A mix of sea kelp and fish emulsion diluted in water and applied to the leaves and roots/soil of plants proves to be very beneficial in preventing transplant shock, heat and cold trauma, sunburn, windburn and environmental stress. Doing so allows the plant to feel rejuvenated and refreshed as if receiving a “spa” treatment. Please apply after sufficient hydration has been achieved by watering the entire area to be coated with thus luxurious infusion. As the sun settles down and relaxes for the evening, it is then generally a good time to apply this treatment so the nutrients have the entire evening to fuse and bond to the cells of the plant by moonlight . If “sea aroma” is an issue, create a delicate “rain” of water over foliage and the treated area after the product has absorbed sufficiently into the surface of the plant (30 to 60 minutes). By the following morning the environment should shimmer in soft smiles of nature.

Tip 3 ~ Mulch
Numerous options and choices are available according to setting, style, and function. Mulch allows soil activities to continue rebuilding and restructuring while outer atmospheric pressures are kept at a distance, unable to deconstruct the protected soil realm, the same realm that produces all of the beautiful bounty of nature!

Happy Nature Nurturing! Your garden will appreciate it.
Best Wishes,
Pauline

Blue hydrangeas require aluminum sulfate every month from July until October to support blue color for next year.

Earwigs are becoming more active this month. Effective pest control includes Sevin Dust, or more organic controls are Spinosad or Sluggo Plus, which is also effective on snails and slugs and shouldn’t be harmful to pets or beneficial insects.

Exhibition roses should continue to be pruned and fertilized to support repeat blooming

If you haven’t already mulched, now is the time. A 1.5” layer of mulch helps protect your plants root system from heat damage, locks moisture in, and prevents weeds from growing as readily.