A warm, heartfelt THANK YOU to our fabulous customers for voting us Modesto’s Favorite Garden Center this year. Our staff is honored to be chosen Modesto’s favorite again, for the ninth year straight! We are so proud to have provided 60 years of quality merchandise and personalized service to our community. We will continue to work diligently and strive to bring in an interesting selection of high quality plants, pottery, fountains, statuary, gardening tools and more.

See you soon!

~SCENIC STAFF

November is almost over and December is around the corner. The holidays are a special time, for family and atmosphere. The aromas and overall ambiance are what makes Christmas such a wonderful time of year. Here at Scenic Nursery we have a number of wreaths to suit your holiday needs, as well as an array of edible berries. All of our berries just arrived in bareroot (not potted) form and include blackberries, boysenberries, raspberries, loganberries, and tayberries.

Other inedible, ornamental berries exist and are perfect for the holiday season. The dwarf Buford holly is an excellent choice if you’re looking to get into the holiday spirit or just add a lovely shrub to your yard. It is a compact evergreen shrub and holds red berries through the winter in contrast to its dark green foliage. Another excellent choice for December shrub is the red pyracantha. Also known as firethorn, this evergreen shrub is named for its huge clusters of large red berries that last well into the winter. This shrub is considered the best California berry and can be used as a background shrub, hedge, or espalier. Try using the holly and pyracantha to jazz up your wreath arrangement.

The arbutus or ‘strawberry’ tree is a fantastic tree or bush year round especially during winter months. All these trees have unique ornamental value though the bark and the clusters or little urn-shaped flowers in pink and white. In addition, this tree bears decorative edible fruit along with its handsome ever-present foliage.

~Brandon (Shrubs)

Winter is here. Rain, cold weather clouds and even a little fog. I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving. Donna and I went to visit Donna’s son in Colorado Springs for four days. He is a Captain in the Air force and has been stationed their for the last four years.

This was my first visit to Colorado Springs and I really enjoyed the scenery. The mountains to the west, including Pikes Peak, are a spectacular view when you go outside.

The weather Ryan and Deanna provided was in the sixties so our coats weren’t necessary.

However, as a nurseryman, I missed all the various plantings we have here. I think I saw about six to eight different kinds of trees my whole time there. I saw a half dozen evergreen shrubs as we drove through the city. There is no agriculture I could see, so there were no almonds, peaches, walnuts, dairy.

I have to admit that we were there at the worst time of the year: all the deciduous trees bare, the lawn brown and just the remnants of the earlier snow. Still would miss all the gardening opportunities we enjoy here. No camellias in bloom, no cyclamen, no pansies in bloom. I think we should enjoy and take advantage of the opportunities we have.

Right now, we can still plant some sasanquas to take advantage of the winter color. They take sun (with some protection from the reflected sun) to filtered shade and provide flowers November through December into January in shades of white, pink to red.

Cyclamens make a spectacular pot of color by the front door or where they can be seen through the family room windows. Pansies can brighten up spots and can still be added to your garden. Bright yellows are my favorite winter pansy color.

Planting time is all year in our climate. We need to take advantage of it!

Need some bright, beautiful winter color in those shady areas? Cyclamen might just be the flower for you. In shades of pink, purple, red and white, cyclamen pack a big color punch of color with delightful fragrance to accompany. Great for borders, bare spots, barrels, pots, and planters, these beauties cost more than your standard annual, so don’t toss them when dormant in summer or you will not be able to fall for this tuberous root when they again flower the next year. Jonathan Polto, you are the winner!

To me, cyclamen make the perfect winter pot. Add a tall spiking grass for the thrill, lovely silver leaf wine cyclamen to frill, and white lamium for soft sophisticated spill. Cyclamen with shooting star atop slender stems will bring sparkle to your holiday season and beyond. Bring holiday cheer with a colorful creation from your favorite garden center.

~Katie

Time to deck the halls with gorgeous Christmas greens. Wreaths, swags, and garland will help to make your season bright. Just an ornament or two and a touch of decorative ribbon will spice up your Christmas swag. If the fresh aroma of pine and cedar doesn’t put you in the holiday spirit, try our Aspen Mulling Spice goods. Hot cider fills the air with sweet and spicy scents throughout the season...it happens to be delicious too! So let the holiday cheer fill your heart and start decorating and filling you home with all the beauty and scents of the season.

~Katie

This year simplify the season...enjoy the reason. Our sensational Scenic store has something for everyone at a great price. Pick up a little something for Mom/Dad, Grandpa to Grandma, the kids, friends, or even your favorite pooch or kitty. Check out some of these gift ideas for under $20.