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Holiday Cash
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Holiday Cash is redeemable Thanksgiving through December 24th on all purchases. Holiday Cash may be used for up to half your purchase.
Example: If you have 10 Holiday Cash Dollars, you may use all 10 on a purchase of $20 or more.
Holiday Dollars are not valid with other discounts or coupons, not valid on sale items, sod or special orders. Sales limited to stock on hand. Not redeemable for cash, nor for gift certificates.
November and December are filled with lots of holiday events. Watch our Newsletter for a schedule of events.
Holiday Cash is distributed October 1st through October 31st.
You earn 10% of your total purchases and are paid in Holiday Cash.
Enjoy the following coupon for 1 free Holiday Dollar
Bulbs for a Dry Climate
California climate loving bulbs are an easy suggestion to add a splash of color in the garden without needing a lot of water. They are also good because unlike many traditional bulbs, they do not need to be refrigerated before planting or dug up and stored.
Originating in climates similar to ours, these bulbs are accustomed to dry summers and moderate climate. They are often dormant in summer. Plant in drifts now for spring rewards with a lasting effect.
Anemone
Also known as Wind Flowers, these are some of the first to bloom in spring. Soak your bulbs for a few hours in lukewarm water to “wake them up”. Dig area and plant the anemones 1″-2″ down. Water well, soaking the area.
Freesia
Known for their fragrance, freesias are nice when planted among low groundcover plants where their floppy nature can be well supported. They also work well in containers. Plants bloom at about a foot high in late spring. Full sun.
Watsonia
Bold, spikes of small Gladiolus type flowers. Makes a great cut flower. Looks best when allowed to develop large clumps
Plant in full sun or morning sun.
Reaches 3′ or 4′
Sparaxis
Clusters of kaleidoscope-like patterned and colored flowers up to 2″ wide. A spectacular addition to borders, rock gardens, and container plantings.
Amaryllis belladonna
(Belladonna Lily) has just finished blooming around the valley. Now is the time to plant them as bulbs & we have them! They bloom with no additional water.
Funshops are like Workshops
NEW! – FUNSHOP for Kids – Like a workshop, but more fun.
Introducing a new way to have fun at Alden Lane! You can book an awesome activity like building a Fairy Garden, making a Fairy Door, decorating a pot and planting it, and our newest activity- making Fossils.
Choose an activity, get a herd of youngsters together and we will provide the materials and instruction for all.
We don’t call it a WORKshop- because it is so much FUN. Here’s the best part! If you want to make the Funshop into a Birthday Party or other celebration, we can add a party setup with tables and chairs, and have your party right here!
Add on a Fairy Door Hunt and you have got yourself one amazing celebration.
Put away your cell phones and game devices and let your kids experience the joy of creativity in such a lovely environment as Alden Lane.
More detailed information can be found in our Garden Store or contact Sue (sue@aldenlane.com) (925) 447-0280 to get info or book a Funshop.
Move Houseplants Outdoors for Summer
Summertime R & R is beneficial not just for the humans, houseplants and orchids revel in a little outdoor vacation of their own.
In summer and even into fall conditions are perfect for moving some of your houseplants onto the porch or into an area where they get shade and shelter from the sun and strong drying winds.
Even in the shade, outdoor light gives your houseplants and especially your indoor orchids, an extra shot of light to refresh them and give them extra energy for the winter ahead.
Remember, outdoors the plants will need a bit more regular watering as they will dry out quickly. When it comes time to bring them indoors, check them over carefully so you don’t transfer unwanted pests inside.
Statuary Maintenance
Now is a great time to renew your investment in your statuary and fountain collection. Just like your car, routine maintenance is the most important part of enjoying a fountain year round.Clean out the filter on your pump and do so at least once a month or every two weeks. Don’t know where your pump is? Now’s the time to find out!
Drain or siphon out the water in your fountain or birdbath every two weeks. This will help with mosquito abatement too. Wash with mild soap and water and refill with fresh, clean water. Don’t use abrasive cleaners, brushes, or bleach or you could damage the finish. Never run your fountain without the submersible pump being completely under water so you may need to top off every day if it’s hot or windy.
Having algae problems? In addition to cleaning, try a few drops of Physan. It’s safe for birds. Always read directions on the label.
Check for damage on your GFI outlet for your fountain and make sure you’re not using extension cords to plug your fountain in (this will prevent fires due to differences in electrical surges).
Remember, statuary is concrete that is made from natural products including sand and rocks. Your statuary will age and wear. This adds a natural beauty and life to the piece and is not considered detrimental to the value. Hairline cracks often develop and patinas form with natural stains, mineral buildup, and wear.
If you would like to reduce, or postpone this aging, cover and empty your statuary of water in the winter to protect from rain and frost and annually seal with a clear masonry sealer. Otherwise, enjoy the individualized antiquing of your cherished statuary pieces year round.
Add a new statuary piece to your collection and photograph it through the seasons documenting the effects of time and nature. Celebrate aging! It really is beautiful.
Savory Ways with Clementines
Ripening in gardens now, Clementines and other tangerines can be used in unexpected, delicious ways. They also look great in the garden!
Make a tempting winter salad of endive, frisée, or radicchio (or a mix), and clementine sections and toss with a vinaigrette made with a little clementine juice. Top with a thin slab of Roquefort and some toasted almonds.
For a tangy clementine sauce, simmer and reduce clementine juice by half, add just a touch of white wine vinegar and a little lemon juice. Season and serve over steamed vegetables, such as asparagus or artichokes.
Jazz up a salad of Bulgar, orzo, or wild rice with chopped clementines, scallions, toasted pecans, and lots of parsley. Dress it with a vinaigrette made with olive oil and lemon and clementine juices.
Give an unexpected twist to a pot roast or braised short-ribs by adding the juice of one clementine and a little bit of grated zest when you begin the braise.
Your Edible Landscape – By Nancy McNeish
My neighbor’s tree has large, dark green, leathery leaves which are deeply lobed. It is a smallish tree, more like a dense, full bush, and graces the walkway up to the front door. Best of all are the rich black fruits with a sweet strawberry-colored interior which ripen twice a year and are eagerly collected by another neighbor. It is a ‘Black Mission’ fig, a tree cultivated in California since the Spanish settled here.
Mission Fig is but one of many varieties of attractive, productive, edible plants suitable for growing in your front yard. Following my neighbor’s lead, I now have a ‘Violette de Bordeaux’ fig growing in my front yard. It produced its first fruits the autumn after I planted it.
I also have a glossy-leaved navel orange, a multi-graft pluot, and a dwarf peach/nectarine growing among my other front yard landscape plants. And why not? My south and west exposures are ideal, and the fruit trees are just as attractive as more traditional landscape plants. Sweet homegrown fruits are the reward.
Mid to late January is the ideal time to select and plant your favorite fruit tree from our abundant selection. Roots establish more quickly in winter moist soils, and new green shoots will quickly follow. Alden Lane’s “Fruit Picks” for delicious and beautiful deciduous (leafless in winter) fruit trees:
Apple – Columnar ‘Northpole’ and ‘Scarlet Sentinel’ are strikingly handsome accents for small spaces.
Cherry – Frothy late white flowers yield early fruits. Try all around champ ‘Lapins’.
Peach – Cute as a bug dwarf ‘Garden Sun’ or ‘Pix Zee’ forms lush, tropical looking bushes.
Pear – Choose disease resistant ‘Harrow Delight’ or ‘Warren’ for clouds of white spring blossoms and heavenly flavor
Persimmon – Easy to grow with showy fruits which light up the autumn landscape. Enjoy the large fruits of ‘Giant Fuyu’
Plum – Gorgeous ‘Weeping Santa Rosa’ combines flowing fountain form and classic, rich, dark fruits
Pluot – Kick the sweet up a notch with ‘Flavor King’, a naturally smaller tree or ‘Splash’, with very sweet orange-colored fruit
Art Under the Oaks 2016 Recap
For information about Art Under the Oaks in 2017, click here.
Enjoy a collection of photos below which capture some of the beauty of the 2016 Art Under the Oaks.
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Jacquie for Zone 7 Board
Vote “Williams for Water” on June 7th
if you live in Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, or Sunol.
Our own Jacquie Williams-Courtright will run for a seat on the Zone 7 Water Board. She served from 1980-1984 and was moved to run again to advocate for valley gardeners. See her Candidates Statement.
Zone 7 Candidates Statement 2016
Jacqueline (Jacquie) Williams-Courtright
As a Livermore native and 2nd generation garden center owner, water has always played a key role. My family came to Livermore in 1919. We grew walnuts commercially and founded Alden Lane Nursery in 1955. After graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor degree in Agriculture and major in Horticulture, I joined my parents in operating both the orchard and garden center.
I would like to be the community’s gardening advocate. Gardening and water conservation are not mutually exclusive. Together we can meet the needs of preserving our water resource while enabling homeowners to protect their landscape assets, grow their own food, garden and establish water wise plants.
Water availability, storage and quality along with sustainable use are key ingredients to our collective success. It would be an honor to represent you as a member of the Board.