November - December Newsletter

As I rake up the leaves that have fallen from the trees and shrubs, I wonder what should be done with all this collected debris. I could bag it up for trash pickup, but with the high demand on our landfill, that doesn’t seem to be a good plan. So if bagging up the leave is out, what do you do? Composting it would be a good idea!

Since this is the beginning of a busy time, with the holidays coming up, a slow pile will be a good choice since you basically build it once and let nature take over. Location is the next decision that will have to be made. I like to tuck mine away out of sight in a shady place that has easy access. Once this decision has been made, I can begin.

With a slow pile, I like to build a platform out of branches and twigs to help with air circulation; it will make the pile more efficient. To help speed up the time it will take the leaves to break down, it is a good idea to run the lawn mower over them, cutting then into smaller pieces.

Then out comes the wheelbarrow as I take a walk around the yard and gather up other debris from the flower beds that will also be good additions to the pile. Now that I have a collection of weeds and plant clippings I can start my next layer. The pile needs to be built in layers alternating between brown (leaves, straw, pine needles) and green (fresh grass clippings) materials.

Since so many people now use mulching lawn mowers, having enough green materials can be hard to come up with. I like to use cottonseed meal, as a replacement for the grass since it is a high nitrogen source. I like to add twigs and branches throughout the pile to increase the air that can get into the pile. In building the pile you can add several organic materials including seaweed, molasses, organic lawn fertilizers, soil and even manure though stay away from using dog or cat.

Several months later, when my pile is finished, in time for spring planting, I will have one of the best ingredients to add to my soil. Compost helps your plants to survive by loosening up our native soil, along with adding needed nutrients at the same time. Remember we all need to re-cycle, reuse and reduce.

Plant: Plant pansies, Violas, Primrose and Cyclamen now. Plant Dutch Hyacinth and Tulips in mid-December. Plant shrubs that will give fruit color such as hollies, nandinas, Indian Hawthornes and mahonias. Finish planting fescue or ryegrass for overseeding.

Fertilize: Pansies and other winter color plants with Buds and Blooms Plant Food or any of the fine high phosphorous water soluables. Cut back on fertilizing indoor plants. Water is critical immediately prior to hard freezes to lessen cold injury.

Winterize: Dormant trees and summer flowering shrubs. Remove any weak or dead wood. Keep mowing your lawn until the first frost stops its growth.

Protect: All tender annuals or Flowering shrubs with frost cloth during severe cold spells.

Fall and Winter are wonderful times to redo your landscape.

Our Metroplex soil never freezes. Plants grow roots all winter. Our Garden Center is known for the best selection of quality trees and shrubs. North Haven also offers a planting service. Stop by and let our expert sales staff help you with the right selections for your landscape.

by Betty Hargrave

Come step into our winter wonderland of Holiday shopping. We have transformed the store into a Holiday gift gallery of surprises.

In our Bridgewater candle collection we’ve added holiday scents to complete the delightful selection. We have only recently brought this product in and the response to it has been great. The Gingerbread cookie scent is certainly a favorite. Light a few of these, through out the house and everyone will think you have been baking all day. But, of course, they will be expecting to be served those ginger cookies.

A new collection that has just come in is Seasons Potpourri which include both scented-decorated candles in two sizes and a wonderful potpourri to place in bowls or baskets. The scents include Vanilla Bean, Red Hot Cinnamon, Patchouli Pine and Casa Blanca Lily.

Festive ribbons by the yard and by the bolt will add the finishing touch to all your gifts. Be sure and look through the new selections being offered. Shop early for the best selection.

We will offer a wonderful collection of pre-lit Christmas trees in sizes 3ft to 8 1/2 feet. In addition, we have added a really lush 9ft. garland that is also pre-lit and is 14 inches in diameter. The crowning touch is a matching pre-lit wreath in a variety of sizes will complete this Oregon Fir group.

To add the finishing touch to the trees, garland or wreath we have beautiful beaded fruit that looks fresh enough to eat. These will be perfect for the della Robbia design.

The Polonaise Collection of hand blown and hand painted ornaments has been enlarged. They add the old world touch to any tree. The special 12 days of Christmas offering for 1999 is 6 geese a laying. This ornament is quite large and is really exquisite.

To add a special touch to the decor, check out the gold glittered wire reindeer and trees in a variety of sizes.

The gold magnolia balls and topiaries will also add that bit of glitter everyone loves during the holiday season.

If you know someone planning a "Garden Theme" be sure to look for the Plum Garden collection. This collection offers birdhouses, wreaths and swags all in this wonderful garden motif. Add a few of the small gold wire ornaments in the shape of Ladybugs, Dragon Flies or Humming Birds and the garden theme will be complete.

A wonderful surprise gift would be several of the lighted grapevine balls for the garden. These are available in 12 inches, 18 inches, 24 inches and a giant 36 inch size. You can wrap these with lights and transform a garden into a wonderland of sparkling light. For an additional charge we will be happy to add the lights for you.

Of course a wonderful Poinsettia, fresh or silk, in a great basket or one of our beautiful ceramic containers is always a welcome gift. New ceramic containers arrive almost weekly so be sure to browse the collections often.

Our Book Nook offers many gift book choices and the cool months are a great time for dreaming about next years garden.

A basket or a clay pot of spring bulbs gives the gardener a special gift to enjoy now and in the future when the bulbs are blooming. We have huge selection of bulbs this season several new varieties of Narcissus and of course our pre-chilled tulips and hyacinths.  Add trowels, gloves or maybe some bulb food. Tie with a beautiful ribbon and your gift is complete.

A piece of the beautiful teak furniture draped with a lighted garland would certainly be a great gift for the garden.

This holiday season is a great time to give a piece of statuary or a fountain that some one has been hinting about for months.

Never forget the great North Haven Gift Certificate. Everyone is so happy when they are using one to pay for their personal selection.

We at North Haven want to wish each of you the Very Happiest of Holidays as we say good bye to the year and to the century and get ready to welcome the 21st. century.

See you soon and often during this Joyous Season.

The most important way to assure that your tree stays fresh and green is to get a tree that has been properly handled before you get it — by buying your tree at North Haven Gardens.

Our trees are shipped straight to us by the grower. As soon as they arrive, we make a ¼ inch cut across the trunk base to improve water absorption. We then carefully spray each tree with an anti-transpirant product. This seals the foliage to help it stay green and moist. Each North Haven tree is individually displayed in it’s own pail of water. Selection is easy – and pleasurable.

Here are a few tips on caring for your tree:

• Water regularly. Trees will absorb several quarts of water each week.
• Test the lights and check for frayed cords before trimming the tree.
• Situate the tree away from heat sources like television sets, fireplaces and heaters.

More people are buying our fresh cut trees every year. Many travel long distances to get here. They know that getting a top quality tree adds to holiday pleasure.

Poinsettia Care

Well, winter is just around the corner and all those begonias and periwinkle are soon to be gone. Now is the time to be thinking about what to do for winter color.

For the sunny garden, North Haven has lots to choose from to keep the garden looking its best. The most popular plant for winter color is the pansy. Colors range from white to every color of the rainbow. Viola are similar to pansies but have smaller flowers and lots of them. They take both cold and heat a little better than pansies and will bloom their for you. Another cool season plant for North Texas is dianthus which comes in reds, pinks, and whites. North Haven also has snapdragons, ornamental cabbage and kale, alyssum and dusty miller. These plants all thrive in cooler weather and plenty of sun.

The shady garden is a little more problematic winter situation, but there are a couple of choices. Primrose are the most commonly used shade winter annual. These are fragrant, showy flowers that need less light to thrive. Cyclamen make nice potted plants, as they are less cold hardy and may need to be moved into the garage for protection below 28 degrees. Both primrose and cyclamen make nice additions to the garden.

So just because the temperature has dropped doesn’t mean that our yards should be gloomy. Plant cool season flowers and have some fun in the winter time.

We at North Haven would like to thank all of those responsible for the continued success and growth of the special events we offer to the public. On September 25 and 26 we held our annual fall herb event and it was a wonderful success, largely thanks to our customers and the participation of local herb associations in the Dallas area. We would like to thank members from the Herb society of Dallas, North Texas Herb Club, the Heritage Herb Club and the Good Thyme Herb Gathering. Members from these clubs helped customers with questions on the growing, selecting and using herbs and shared pictures of their garden success.

We would also like to thank all of those giving lectures and demonstrations for their part. Thanks to Beth Patterson for her work on Gifts from the Herb Garden and Judy Griffin, PhD for a talk on herbs for fragrance and health and for signing her book Mother Natures Herbal.

Below are the winning recipes from our Herbal Tea-Off, we hope you enjoy them and look forward to seeing you at future North Haven events.

1st Place Tea
Entered By Edith Hiett

Mint Surprise
To make one gallon,
bring water to a boil;
remove from heat and stir in equal parts mint
(your choice — peppermint, spearmint, applemint, etc.) and Mexican mint Marigold.
Stir with wooden spoon to bruise the herbs.
Cover and allow to steep 12-15 minutes.
Strain and sweeten with honey. Serve hot or cold.

1st Place Desert
Entered by Linda McKay

Rosemary—Orange Rum Cake
1(18oz.) pkg. Yellow cake mix
1(3oz.) pkg. Instant vanilla pudding
1 T. minced fresh rosemary
Grated zest of 1 orange
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. canola oil
1/2 c. rum
4 extra large eggs
1 c. chopped pecans or walnuts

Glorious Glaze
1/2 c. unsalted butter
1 c. sugar
1/4 c water
1/4 c. rum
Fresh rosemary (optional)
Pansy blooms (optional)

Adapted from Along the garden path by Bill and Sylvia Varney, of the Fredricksberg Herb Farm

2nd Place Tea
Entered by Debbie Brooks

Multi-Mint Tea
1cup mixed Chocolate mint & double mint
1cup local organic honey

Place in a blender with 1 gallon cold water. Mix well, then refrigerate for 2 hours. Strain and drink.

2nd Place Dessert
Entered by Gladys Denham

Pineapple Coconut Cake with pineapple Mint
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
2 eggs
1 20oz can crushed pineapple
Mix together.

Then add:
1 cup Coconut
1 cup chopped Pecans
Grease a 9x13 pan, no flour. Bake at 350˚ for 45 minutes. Let cool.

Mix together until smooth. Then add finely chopped pineapple about 1 tbl.

Windowsill Gardening

By Beth Patterson

Now that winter is approaching and the herb garden has been harvested and preserved, a windowsill garden will provide you with ample fresh herbs to use in cooking and for herb teas.

Not all herbs do well indoors so selection is important. Listed below are herbs that will function well with a bright sunny window, a pot with good drainage and quality potting soil, such as Garden-Ville potting soil.

My favorite herbs for window boxes include: Lemon Thyme, Onion Chives, Greek Oregano, Lemon Balm and Mint. Lemon thyme is a delicious citrusy flavor that makes a great addition to baked chicken, herb tea as well as potpourri. Onion Chives are not just for baked potatoes and sour cream but they add a mild onion flavor to soups and salads. Greek Oregano compliments pork as well as sautéed veggies. Lemon Balm is another lemon herb that makes a great tea especially good for sore throats during cold and flu season. And finally mint, this refreshing addition to herb tea as well as green peas. We have numerous varieties of mint, my current favorite is Ricola mint. Yes, this is the mint that flavors those famous Ricola throat lozenges.

Herbs are not heavy feeders so feed every other week or so with a weak solution of plant food. We recommend Maestro Gro Sea Mist for indoor plants. The second key to a healthy window box is in proper watering. During the winter you will notice that your plants do not dry out as fast. It is important to allow your windowsill garden dry out between waterings. Remember they are used to being in a hot, dry environment.

By following these few recommendations you will have months of enjoyment of your window box garden that will lead you into the spring when your herb garden begins to return to life. For more ideas on growing herbs in containers refer to "Herbs in Pots" by Rob Proctor and David Macke available in the North Haven Gardens book section.