York, Pennsylvania may have Punxsutawney Phil, but High-Hand Nursery has Petunia. Surely, there are other rodents predicting winter, but he is obviously the most famous and his opinion seems to be the only one that counts. Well, he saw his shadow and now we are blessed with six more weeks of winter. I have my own way of testing whether we’re going to have six more weeks of winter. High-Hand Nursery has its own tradition. We have Petunia, the cat.

Every February, I go looking for Petunia. You see, here’s how it works. If Petunia is found sleeping in a box of wool at Tin Thimble, we can expect six more weeks of winter. If Petunia is found sleeping on the rugs at Truckee Mountain Rug Company, we can expect six more weeks of winter. If Petunia is found in a High-Hand fruit crate tucked over a warm vent in the floor, we can expect six more weeks of winter. However, when Petunia is found on a stack of terrariums at the High-Hand gift store, she’s kind of dropping a hint. It’s time to start gardening. Winter is over.

When Petunia is found sleeping on a stack of garden terrarium planters, completely oblivious to all the passersby, Spring has sprung.

However, as we know the hog is not always correct and for that matter Petunia tends to make her own rules around here as the matriarch of the nursery. So, I went looking for signs of Spring.

I saw the occasional early blooming tree and shrub and then I walked by something I thought I would never see. A deciduous plant that has ALWAYS gone dormant at High-Hand was not dormant. Could this be a sign that not only has Spring sprung, but summer never left in the first place?

The petunias are still up. Not Petunia the cat and not the petunia you know. If you’ve been to High-Hand Cafe in the summer you will notice a voluptuous purple flowering hedge along the street. It has come and gone through summer and winter religiously, except this year. It is a plant that naturally wants to go dormant, but it didn’t. Ground temperatures didn’t change enough. So this plant, Ruellia, or Mexican petunia, is right on par with High Hand Nursery’s Petunia. There you go. Spring has sprung.

So, what does all this mean? A lot. What it doesn’t mean is to run out and buy your beach toys, or plant your tomatoes. I saw tomatoes at the box store. Plant all you want. You might be replanting or a little north breeze will take them out and you will be forced to replant. The good news is that you’ll have a plentiful harvest of green tomatoes for fall.

Fruit trees have not gotten the chill hours they should. You might expect less fruit. Be prepared for rising fruit costs. I am a little curious as to how the peonies at Maple Rock are going to handle it. Farmer Fred is always amazed that I can grow peonies. Well, Farmer Fred, if there was ever a year to test the veracity of Maple Rock’s peony grove, this is it. They require some chill hours. It’s already a bit marginal in our area, but Maple Rock is a magical place. So, Farmer Fred, we will see. I will report back to you.

Cut it out

This Saturday, February 10th, at 10:00 a.m. I am going to take you on a casual, simple journey into the world of pruning. You can try to register online, but it will probably indicate our class is full. So, here’s what I suggest you do. Go ahead and show up. Here’s a little secret. We have room for about 150 people. There’s always 15-20 who sign up that forgot about the golf game they had scheduled. If we are flowing over capacity I will just go get you a chair and we will sit down and have a conversation about pruning. You can try to register by clicking here. But if the class is full, try anyway.

THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT AT HIGH-HAND CAFE

Celebrate Valentine’s Day in style

February 9th and 10th (that’s a Friday and Saturday) join us for Valentine’s Dinner. To make reservations, call High-Hand Cafe at (916) 652-2064, Ext. 2 and make your dinner reservations.

DON’T FORGET, THIS SUNDAY

The Galleries They Are A-Changing’

Did you know that we have two art galleries? So, let me fill you in on a little secret. Here’s what’s coming up at the High-Hand Art Gallery in 2018. A year full of great events and art.

February 11th join us at the High-Hand Art Gallery. It’s customer appreciation day. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

IN CASE YOU DID NOT MEMORIZE HIGH-HAND ART GALLERY’S EVENTS COMING UP THIS YEAR, HERE’S ONE MORE SHOT AT IT

I had to memorize the Gettysburg Address in third grade, so I’m sure you can memorize this.

Gallery Two is an ever changing world. Every few months, out with the old and in with the new. Calendar the dates. Stick it in your iPhone and join us for a year of creativity and inspiration.

Have you met crazy Dori yet at the High-Hand Mercantile store? I think she’s crazy. All she does is think about cool classes and projects for folks to exercise their creative brain muscles. Did you know you have creative brain muscles?

Get Your Creative Brain Muscles Going

February 17th 10am-12pm
February 18th 10am-12pm

Beat the winter blues by joining us in making a beautiful Botanical Collage. This 16×20 work of art will be created by you using vintage images to layer and design with. You will go home with a lovely masterpiece ready to display. All materials and supplies are provided and includes delicious Mimosas and tasty baked treats from our amazing Cafe. The cost is $65, plus tax. Class will be held in the High-Hand Fruit Sheds. Dress warm and dress for mess. To sign up, click on the date below that you are interested in attending:

February 17th 10am-12pm

February 18th 10am-12pm

Petunia, we have a problem. I thought we were okay because the hog said we had six more weeks, but as Petunia has predicted, Spring has sprung and our Mr. Ruellia Mexican Petunia has verified that Spring never left, I was a bit concerned about the migratory path of our Wings & Wine guests. I am happy to report the eagle will be landing.

Join us March 3, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. for an adventure into the world of our most revered birds. Tickets sell out fast. Proceeds benefit the Wildlife Care Association and their rehabilitation efforts. Be sure to join us for an evening as we soar with the owls and be in reverence with the eagle. Purchase your tickets by clicking here.

Let’s get creative.

See you at High-Hand Nursery.

Scott

Did you know that Spring has sprung? Well, not really. Every year we get lulled into running out and buying our beach wear. This reminds me of something funny. A few years ago I was in Ireland with my daughter, Tara, and my son, Collin. We asked the gentleman at the hotel if the sun comes out and when it does, what happens. With glee in his eye, he said, “Whoo hoo!. The sun! Whoo hoo! Last year the sun came out one day. I ran to the store and spent $300 on beach wear and beach toys. I took the day off work and ran to the beach. Two hours later, the sun was gone. It was a fantastic day at the beach. Whoo hoo!”

Enjoy the sun while we have it and be thankful you’re not in Ireland.

Here’s what I do suggest you do. First of all, don’t buy beach wear. I realize it’s California, but the water is cold. Take advantage of the sun and get some cleaning done in your yard. Now is an excellent time to apply your dormant spray on your trees. Neem Oil with a touch of Copper will do just fine. Don’t waste the spray. Apply before the rain.

Why don’t you take the opportunity of warm days to turn your irrigation systems on and test them. Get ready for Spring. Winter will come back and you can go back in your hole satisfied with being ahead of the game.

OMG. Did you know? I heard the story on the radio the other day that allocations of water are being reduced. The slow drumbeat of the drought. Don’t worry. Don’t worry at all. You got this. You’ve been there. You’ve done that. And if things don’t improve we got this with you. So, stay tuned.

Cut it out

February 10th, Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until whenever your questions stop, we still have a few seats remaining in our Tips & Tricks of Pruning. We’ll talk a little about that and a little bit about this. I have to warn you. This class is not a hard core journey into the scientific world of pruning. It’s a conversation about the simplicity of it and the rules that I have learned throughout 30 years of pruning in my own garden. Register online by clicking here.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day in style

February 9th and 10th (that’s a Friday and Saturday) join us for Valentine’s Dinner. To make reservations, call High-Hand Cafe at (916) 652-2064, Ext. 2 and make your dinner reservations.

The Galleries They Are A-Changing’

Did you know that we have two art galleries? So, let me fill you in on a little secret. Here’s what’s coming up at the High-Hand Art Gallery in 2018. A year full of great events and art.

February 11th join us at the High-Hand Art Gallery. It’s customer appreciation day. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Gallery Two is an ever changing world. Every few months, out with the old and in with the new. Calendar the dates. Stick it in your iPhone and join us for a year of creativity and inspiration.

Did you know that you might have a creative side?

February 17th 10am-12pm
February 18th 10am-12pm

Beat the winter blues by joining us in making a beautiful Botanical Collage. This 16×20 work of art will be created by you using vintage images to layer and design with. You will go home with a lovely masterpiece ready to display. All materials and supplies are provided and includes delicious Mimosas and tasty baked treats from our amazing Cafe. The cost is $65, plus tax. Class will be held in the High-Hand Fruit Sheds. Dress warm and dress for mess. To sign up, click on the date below that you are interested in attending:

February 17th 10am-12pm

February 18th 10am-12pm

Join us March 3, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. for an adventure into the world of our most revered birds. Tickets sell out fast. Proceeds benefit the Wildlife Care Association and their rehabilitation efforts. Be sure to join us for an evening as we soar with the owls and be in reverence with the eagle. Purchase your tickets by clicking here.

Did you know? Now you do.

See you at High-Hand Nursery.

Scott