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Olney
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Contact Information:
E-Mail:
geolney@verizon.net
Telephone:
(301) 774-2631
Address:
18130 Georgia Avenue
Olney, MD 20832
Hours:
Mon-Sat 8 am - 7 pm
Sunday 8 am - 6 pm
Landscape Services
11650 Falls Rd.
Potomac, MD 20854
301-765-0086
301-765-2080
gelandscaping@verizon.net
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Welcome everyone to the first issue of Good Dirt newsletter. We
thank you all for signing up and are very excited about all the information
this newsletter will offer.
Our goal is for you, our valued customer, to use the newsletter as
a tool to answer many of your gardening questions. As we at The Good
Earth Garden Market celebrate another year, we look to you and say
thanks for helping our business thrive.
Even though we have been busy over the winter completing facility
changes, which include a new nursery layout at our Olney store location
and renovations at our Potomac store location, the Potomac store will
be open on a limited basis starting March 8. Call store for details.
Many exciting changes await you!
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Are
you a new member of our allegiance Rewards program? Your rewards gift
card will be available starting March 3 at 9 am. This card will be valued
at 10% of your purchases from August-February 28, 2007. Stop in soon-cards
will only be available thru March. Call 301-774-2631 (Olney) or 301-764-0224
(Potomac) for questions. Hurry into one of our locations to pick up
yours and let us help you make your gardening dreams come true.
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We are introducing a new soil and mulch pre-order program this season.
The program allows you to order and pay for your soil and mulch and
schedule delivery or pick-up anytime in March, while saving you up
to 20% off. Simply click
here to print and fill out the form
and drop it off at any Good Earth location. You may indicate a delivery
week you would like (which can be changed) and we will call that week
to set a day that is best for you.
Hurry - sale ends this Sunday, March 4th! Free delivery on all orders
over $100 if taken by March 15th.
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Summertime, summertime, sum-sum summertime….Summertime Bulbs! Now
is the time to plant summer season bulbs for that Summertime Sizzle!
Tuberous Begonia (tuber)
There are many varieties of begonias from single or double flower, ruffled petal
flowers, to camellia- or carnation-form flowers. Their colors are extremely vivid,
from reds and red-orange to orange, yellow, white and hot pink; there are even
bi-colored varieties. A highly versatile bulb, they are wonderful in flowerbeds,
patio containers, window boxes, or hanging baskets.
Plant begonias in well-draining soil in an indirect light or dappled shade
location. They also like regular watering and prefer to stay moist. Don't let
them dry out. Begonias will bloom for you from summer into early fall.
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Caladium (tuber)
These tropical plants are native to South America and are grown for their beautiful
foliage. Caladiums are ideal border plants, lovely in window boxes and stunning
when planted in a random mix in beds. The size of the heart-shaped leaves can
be from 6 inches to 2 feet in length. The colors vary from green and white, green
and red, white with red blotches or green veins - and some even have lavender
spots.
Caladiums thrive in partial sun and shade; some varieties are more sun tolerant
and can be planted in full sun or low shade conditions. They like a warm and
moist atmosphere with a minimum summer temperature of 75 degrees and a minimum
winter temperature of 55 degrees. If the bulbs are planted in deep shade, the
green color will dominate. If planted in highly acidic soil, the darker colors
will then dominate.
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Crocosmia (corm)
Crocosmia, a corm from South Africa, has sword-shaped, arching foliage and red/red-orange,
orange, or yellow tubular flowers in a raceme configuration. (Raceme: a long
flower cluster on which individual flowers each bloom on small stalks from a
common, larger, central stalk.)
Croscosmias love full sun and well-drained soil. These flowers look beautiful
if clustered en masse toward the back of your perennial border, as the foliage
can be as high as 5 feet. They are spreading, so from time to time, you may want
to divide. This is best done immediately after flowering.
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Dahlia (tuber)
This wonderful flower (a tuber) was discovered by the Spanish when they arrived
in the mountains of Mexico. There are many, many flower forms, sizes and colors.
Dahlias are divided into a number of types based upon the shape of the flower:
cactus, decorative (large, medium, small and miniature), ball pompoms, anemone,
collerettes and paeony flower shapes.
Dahlias should be planted in your garden beds and borders in rich, well-drained
soil. They are heavy feeders and like to remain moist. Mulch your garden beds
to hold in the moisture. Also, for best results, clip off dead flowers to encourage
further blooming. By the way, the dahlia is a wonderful cut flower.
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Gladiolus (corm)
Another bulb originating in South Africa, the hybrids of today offer a wide range
of colors covering almost the entire color spectrum!
Most frequently grown to be a cut flower, they occupy any number of areas of
our gardens. They might be given a spot in the perennial border, but often they
are given their own little plot.
They require full sun and well-drained soil, and may need staking. Try staggering
the bulb plantings over a period of time to give you blooms throughout the summer
into the fall.
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Japanese iris (bulb - Iris ensata)
The Japanese iris is of Asian origin. This sun- and water-loving plant is an
excellent marginal plant for bog water features. Japanese irises are beautiful
blue bloomers with sword-like (ensata means sword) foliage.
Plant your Japanese irises in a spot that gets at least six hours of full
sun and has plenty of humus-rich soil. They are heavy feeders but water is their
most important requirement. Also, the Japanese iris is a rapid spreader but easy
to divide if it becomes too populated.
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Peony (rhizomes - Paeonia)
Peonies can be herbaceous or perennial shrubs originally from China, Japan and
Europe. Flower colors range from white to pink, purple, red, and more! Some peonies
have single flower forms and others a double form, all extremely beautiful.
Plant your peonies in full sun to part shade. Plant the roots so the "eyes" (nubs
where new growth emerges) are facing upward. If peonies are planted too deep,
they will not flower. Peonies sometimes do not flower until their second or third
year after planting, but they will greatly reward your patience when they do
flower. Take care to leave plenty of space between your plantings to allow for
air circulation. And be sure to mulch once they are planted.
Herbaceous peonies bloom well only where they experience extended winter chill
- and we certainly can offer that to this beautiful plant. These will die to
the ground in late fall, only to burst back in the spring, flowering in the summer.
Tree peonies can grow up to 6 feet tall. They are also deciduous, but maintain
their woody form in winter, with annual pruning in fall to control plant size.
The tree peony's woody branches will bear gorgeous flowers from spring into summer.
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Ranunculus (tuber)
This bulb is from the Mediterranean and Middle East regions. The flower colors
range from bright yellow with pink, orange and white.
Ranunculus love sun but need a sheltered area of your garden beds (among shrubs).
They like well-drained soil and regular watering. They perform best from year
to year if you dig up the claw-like tuber and store in a frost-free location.
Plant the bulb with the fingers of the claw pointing downward.
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Canna (rhizome)
If you love bold flower and foliage colors, cannas are for you. They will bloom
spring, summer, and fall. There are many varieties and can add color pizzazz
to any flower border. Although they are native to tropical and subtropical regions,
you can add this wonderful plant to any perennial flower bed or border. There
are a large number of varieties to pick from, giving you many choices in size,
flower color, and foliage color.
Plant in full sun with well-draining soil, after the last frost in the spring.
Dig up the rhizome before winter frosts and store in a dry, frost-free location.
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Corn Lily (corm - Ixia)
Another contribution from South Africa, Ixia blooms from spring through summer.
Flower colors range from red, violet, pink, yellow, or white with dark colored
centers.
These bulbs do well in sandy soil and will naturalize under the right conditions.
They also do quite well in containers. Plant these en-masse for the best effect
in your garden.
Ixia likes full sun and regular watering until the end of their bloom time.
Then withhold water.
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Spider Lilies (bulb - Lycorus)
These are native of China and Japan and are perfect in your gardens to give you
the late summer-early fall blooms. The flowers are beautiful, with petals that
often 'recurve,' or curl open and back on themselves.
Plant in sun/part shade and give regular water. The flower stem will emerge
first and the foliage will follow.
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Aztec Lily (large bulb - Sprekelia)
Sprekelia is in the amaryllis family and is a native of Mexico. The red flowers
are simply striking and last a long time. The Aztec lily is a must in any flower
border!
Plant these with the bulb at soil level in a sunny location with well-drained
soil.
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Calla Lily (rhizome - Zantedeschia)
The calla lily is yet another native of South Africa. This flower has been popularized
by florists, and it is a wonderful addition to any shade garden. There are many
varieties of calla from the common white to green with white, yellow, and pink.
By the way, the most attractive part of the calla is actually not a large petal
- it is a spathe.
Callas like moist shady locations. They need to be removed before winter and
overwintered in a dry, frost-free location.
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Preparing your soil for bulb planting is simple. Use Gardener & Bloome
Bulb Planting Mix at a 50/50 ratio in the areas that you intend to plant
your bulbs. As you dig each hole for the bulbs, add Dr. Earth's Bone
Meal Bulb Food. Following this preparation and giving your bulbs the
sun/shade and watering that they require will bring you a vividly colorful impressionist
summer garden. Just imagine, your gardens will have an unbelievable, sizzling 'WOW'
factor.
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What You'll Need:
- 1/2 lb. crabmeat
- ground ginger
- lime juice
- mayonnaise
- 1 stalk lemongrass
- panko bread crumbs
- mixed baby greens
- carrots
- a daikon radish
- rice wine vinegar
- toasted sesame oil
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Step by Step: |
| Preparation Time:
30 minutes - 1 hour
Cooking Time: 30 minutes - 1 hour
First, make the crab cakes. Shred your crab in a bowl. Mince a stalk
of lemongrass – remove the tough outer leaves until you get to the
tender innards- and add to crab. Add about 1/4 cup mayonnaise, about 2
teaspoons lime juice, salt and pepper, and a few tablespoons of panko.
Form into firm patties, coat both sides in more panko bread crumbs, and
put in the fridge to firm up. The picture does not show firm patties;
mold them firmer than this, or they will fall apart!
While these are firming, julienne your carrot and daikon into pieces
about 4-5 inches long. Make sure to make them equal length.
Plate your salad by setting down a small bed of baby greens and a row
of daikon. Sprinkle with rice wine vinegar and toasted sesame oil.
Finish with a row of carrots.
Set aside. Now, add about 2 tbsp. oil in a skillet on medium-high heat.
When hot, add the crab cakes. Cook until golden brown, and flip.
Remove the crab cakes and let drain on a paper towel to absorb excess
oil. Plate on top of the salad, and serve!
Yield: 4 servings
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