Rhubarb is one of those crops that almost look after themselves, and if you have an established clump, forcing tender young stems is very easy. There are many methods of forcing rhubarb, and they all seem to work well. Just choose a technique that you find convenient.

Choose a method of excluding light. Special pots at one time were used for this, but now most people improvise. An old tea chest, bucket, or barrel is a simple but effective alternative. If you don’t have these, make a frame from wire-netting and canes.

Pile straw into the wire-netting cage, pressing it well down, to provide warmth and protection. Another simple way to make a rhubarb forcer is with a plastic dustbin. If you don’t mind cutting the bottom out of it, use it right way up with a lid on; otherwise use it inverted without a lid.

For really early crops many gardeners lift a well-established root and leave it on the surface for a few weeks. This gives the root a cold spell that makes it think winter is more advanced than it is.

Replant your chilled crown for outdoor forcing, or bring it into the greenhouse. If you have a warm greenhouse, place it under the bench, screened with black plastic. Alternatively, pot it up and put a plastic bag to take indoors. Make sure there is plenty of air in the bag by keeping it loose and making a few small air holes; then place the bag in a warm yet convenient place--under the stairs or in a kitchen cupboard. Check progress periodically.

“It’s the time of tiny leaves…delicate blossoms…and long graceful catkins…the time of fragile hues…gentle rains and the glowing days that sunshine brings.” Gwen Frostic

For those who live where the four seasons of the year are immensely distinctive, not subtle or subdued, do you realize your luckiness in how those seasons are expressed by the changes in each tree? The summer brings breezes rustling through the leaves and shade for hot sunny days. Fall brings vivid foliage colors and a sweet fragrance embedded in your memory banks throughout time. Winter is not barren – it is the time of year that a tree exposes itself fully demonstrating it boldness in structure and beauty all the while quietly regrouping.

And then Spring. A time of nature’s rebirth or reawakening, leaves budding and flowers blooming, birds singing, and bees returning. What could be more delightful to beckon you out into your garden but flowering tree, one of our first signs of spring? And that spring flowering tree is a delight in moderate climates as well.

Trees, spring flowering or not, come in a large variety of sizes and shapes, flower types and colors. When choosing a tree for your garden these characteristics are a large part of the consideration. Do you want a patio tree (up to 20 feet) or do you have room for a larger scale tree that may reach 30 to 40 feet. Is there a leaf shape that is attractive to you? Or maybe what is important is the flower shape and color. Perhaps your garden has room for more than one tree and your considerations are bloom times and bloom colors.

We have a number of suggestions for you to ponder. Keep in mind the space in your landscape, size of tree vs. proximity to your house or scale of your house. Patio trees allow us to look out of our window at the beauty of a tree, and see the structure, foliage and flowers from the first floor or second floor of your home. A larger tree might be best placed at a distance from your viewing window that will allow you to appreciate all that it has to offer from a distance, rather than placing is close to your house where your best view may be only the trunk and bark. We do not want to understate the beauty of bark, but in all likelihood, that is not all that you desire to appreciate about your tree.

Patio trees – Growth to 20 feet
The Redbud (Cercis) is a tree valued its heart-shaped leaves, flowers and seed pods. In the spring, the rosy blossoms are borne in a large profusion on bare branches. There are several species available; the most common being Cercis canadensis or the Eastern Redbud and a variety of this is the burgundy foliage Forest Pansy. The Cercis occidentalis or Western Redbud, a native of California, Arizona and Utah, is also available over a wide growing zone region. Cercis reniformis or Oklahoma Redbud have deep pink flowers and nice glossy green leaves.

Dogwood (Cornus) is another wonderful deciduous tree offering attractive foliage and spectacular mid and late spring blossoms. In reality, these showy petal-like structures are bracts or modified leaves. But never mind the botanical techno-lingo, they are a beautiful spring show and not to be missed! These are best planted in filtered shade. Consider placing these beauties underneath the shade of taller more mature trees.

Prunus is an enormous plant family of trees that includes not only beautiful flowering trees, but also flowering varieties that also bear edible fruits such as cherry, plum, peach, almond and many more of our stone fruits. For our gardens, we more often see the ornamental species which can be found in two main categories of deciduous or evergreen. Probably the flowering plum, with its midwinter/spring pink blossoms giving way to red to purple foliage is the most popular garden patio tree in the Prunus group. Talk to your nursery expert at White Forest Nursery for the best variety for your zone.

Midsize to Large Trees
Horse chestnut or Buckeye (Aesculus) trees are beautiful and showy in the spring. Another plus for these flowers is that hummingbirds just love them. The foliage is spectacular too, palmately compound. Ok, divided fanlike into 5-7 large, toothed leaflets. The ultimate tree height is dependant upon the variety horse chestnut that you have chosen but the range is 20 to 40 feet.

Magnolias are simply magnificent flowering plants. Open any book on trees, look up magnolia and you will find a list so long, you will wonder how to pick the best one for your garden. That is when you need to consult us, your local garden nurseryperson. Spring flowers can come in white, pink, red purple and even yellow. Magnolias can be either evergreen or deciduous. Probably the most common to all of us is Magnolia soulangeana or the Saucer Magnolia. However, the Southern Magnolia or Magnolia grandiflora is well known too. We could include Magnolia under the patio tree section as well. Some varieties grow to only 20 feet.

Ornamental Pear (Pyrus not Prunus) is known for their profusion of early spring white flowers. In the spring, stroll into your yard and just listen – you will hear a low din “hmmmmmmm”. This is the sound of the bees gorging themselves on the flowers. It is simple amazing. And by the way, don’t be alarmed if you are not a bee lover. These bees are busy with one task, collecting nectar and pollens. They really aren’t the least bit interested in you.
Jacaranda is one beautiful tree, in bloom or not. But springtime covers this tree with a lavender blue tubular flower show. The foliage is finely cut, fernlike leaves that fall in late fall/winter. These tiny leaves just disappear in the blades of your grass, so no raking! And the flower show, that will give a second beautiful show in the form of a beautiful lavender dusting of fallen flowers under the branches of the tree.

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Poppies have been getting a lot of press lately - bad press - likely under the title “Afghanistan, Opium, and Terrorists”. That’s right. Opium is derived from the opium poppy, a beautiful poppy in an ornamental sort of way.

But did you know if you walk into our garden center and simply ask “Do you have any poppies?” that we will, in all likelihood, ask you the following question: “What kind of poppy are you looking for?”

That’s right, there are many different flowers that are called poppies. And they are from several different plant genus. Just look at the list below:

• Eschscholzia californica California poppy
• Romneya coulteri Matilija poppy
• Papaver nudicaule Iceland Poppy
• Papaver orientale Ornamental Poppy
• Papaver somniferum opium poppy

There is yet another poppy, the Flanders Poppy (Papaver rhoeas). This is a red flower that sprung up in the soil of European battlefields of WWI. Now this poppy is a commemorative flower for the people who died in WWI.

The genus Papaver is the true poppy. The Papaver orientale is the species and hybrids that we most commonly see, especially in wildflower mixes. Though it was originally this scarlet red, hybrids give us colors from white to pink, salmon and maroon. The four purple blotches seem more like a smiling face amidst soft papery petals in several brilliant colors.

And then, of course, there is the Iceland Poppy (papaver nudicaule). This poppy loves the cool to cold weather, not the hot summer sun. These poppies devote their energy to bringing sun-shiny colors to an otherwise quiet, dull garden. They are most beautiful dancing above the pansy. Can’t you just picture this? Here let us help!

The Iceland poppy is available in 6-packs. Don’t they make an absolutely striking border? You bet they do. First amend your soil with Gardner & Bloome Harvest Supreme Soil Amendment.

Eschscholzia californica or the California poppy is a native wildflower. They are a vivid orange and are easily grown from seeds. Seeds should have been planted in November/December (in western zones) but are also found in 6-packs too. These poppies require little to no care and yet they reward you with abounding color. These wonderful poppies, if you leave the seeds to dry out on the plant, will reseed your gardens! You will probably end up with multiple crops of poppies from late spring into summer and fall.

And finally the Matilija (Ma-till-eee-ha) Poppy. What a spectacular poppy! This plant is actually more shrubby than the other poppies, as it can grow to 8 feet when really happy. It bears showy white flowers that are aptly described as ‘fried eggs’. Take a look and you’ll see what we mean! This is also a native of California.

These flower are sure to attract bees, butterflies and birds into your gardens. They bloom from spring into fall and have average water needs (don’t over water). Because they originate in the California coastal scrub in dry washes and canyons, they are not accustomed to lots of water in their native habitat. But they are garden friendly. If you have clay soil, don’t let it get too wet for this guy. If you have sandy, well draining soil regular water will suit this poppy just fine

So you have the brief insider information on poppies. Now when you stroll into our garden center you know to ask…"Do you have any poppies?" Maybe what you’ll really be asking for is all of them!


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