HELLO APRIL!!!  Well, we knew Spring would eventually win….even if it took a beating this year.  We have the most amazing selection of Flowering trees in the store right now...  Multiple varieties of Red buds; Lavender Twist, (a weeping variety), Merlot…(Purple leaves!), Oklahoma and Chinese.  We have Higan Cherry, a lovely weeping variety, Yoshino Cherry, and Kwanzan Cherry.  

We have Korean Stewartia, which only gets more amazing in the fall…...

Paperbark Maples, Krauter’s Vesuvius Plums, (one of my favorites), White Fringetrees, Dogwoods, Genie Magnolias,

and terrific looking River Birch….(I know not really a flowering tree but worth mentioning none the less)…..                  

We are so excited about our tree selection, we just needed to share it!  See you soon!

COLD, COLD GO AWAY....

Well, we saw a glimmer of Spring and just like that it vanished....but there is always a silver lining.....and that good news is that this weather is so absolutely wonderful for your Cool Weather Vegetables!  They are here and full and ready for your garden and soon for your table.......at $1.50 / cell pack of 4 its hard to argue with home grown, fresh vegetables grown in your own yard.  Collards, lettuce...4 different varieties, pak choi, swiss chard, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, oh and perennial strawberries that are so wonderful, onions, leeks, beets, arugula, spinach and lettuce pots...mixed greens in one container! And our fresh herbs are coming in everyday!  We are here 7 days a week now and can't wait to see you.  Don't forget to check out our website, www.pineconeperennials.com for a list of all the fun classes and activities going on at the Garden Center.  We are so looking forward to a beautiful Spring, we have certainly earned it!

                                                                                 






                                                         

Co-Op Information

Pinecone Perennials

Co-Op information

• We will be offering two basket sizes

            1.  $18 medium

            2. $ 23 large

• We will be asking for you to purchase 2 of the baskets at our cost (each) $4.50 medium and $5.00 large
• We will be rotating the baskets each week….you bring us the empty one and you pick up the filled one…..we will fill the empty one the next week and so on….
• We will be collecting 50% as you sign up for 10 weeks May through July.  There are 12 weeks and we presume folks will need to pass on a couple of weeks throughout the season, thus the 10 vs the 12.  If you do not have a conflict and would like all 12 weeks that will be fine as well, we will collect accordingly.

               $180 / $90 for medium    $216 / $108 (12 weeks)

              $ 230 / $115 for large      $276 / $138 (12 weeks)

• the remaining 50% will be due the first week of May on the first pick up day, TBD
• We will start Session 2, August 1st, and do the same payment schedule.  First payment due the week of June 15th, balance due first pick up in August
• We have asked for volunteers to come sort the vegetables and herbs on Friday mornings 10-12.  This is not obligatory, it would just make it more efficient and create that community feel we are going for.....if we have enough folks then we can split up the weeks....
• Pick up will be Friday by noon and we close at 6 on Fridays. Of course the sooner you pick them up and get them home the fresher they will be....Saturday pick up is always available, we are working on finding and buying a walk-in cooler....anyone out there have one? :)

We are already taking sign ups. The basket money and the 50% comes to $99 for the medium basket and $125 for the large.

We have the baskets here if you want to take a look.....

Please forward this info to friends who may not have heard....we have room to grow more crops!

A brief list of vegetables we know we will be offering......

Early May crops will include:

   lettuce

   bok choi

swiss chard

broccoli

cabbage

cauliflower

and possibly a few surprises....never know......

June crops will include:

brussels sprouts

squashes

early peppers

early tomatoes

eggplant

herbs....variable each week

July and August

corn

more squash varieties

more tomatoes

peppers

cucumbers

herbs

Happy Harvest!

Au Revoir Winter, Our Veggies are Here!

I am sure that those who know me, have heard me say from time to time in the winter months, that I have not moved far enough south. This winter has exemplified that statement ten fold!

But as we all know, there is nothing we can do to rearrange Mother Nature's plans, so we grow ...

We continue to grow our seasonal plants whatever they may be...

Today, March 4th, our tender, young and beautiful, vitamin packed vegetables are ready for planting. All these wonderful "greens" are waiting patiently for sunshine, seasonal temperatures and of course you, our friends to join us in raucously cheering on the arrival of spring and saying Au Revoir to winter.

On the "Cool Weather Vegetable " availibilty menu is :

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Collards

4 Lettuce varieties

Arugula

2 Onion varieties

Spinach

Leeks 

Swiss Chard

Brussels Sprouts

Beets

These are also the varieties that we will be growing for our new Vegetable CO-Op Project this spring as soon as the weather allows us to start playing in the dirt.

Reminder to all planning on participating in our Co-Op: You are invited to join our "Talk and Tea"* on Wednesday, March 12th at 9:30 am. We will explain the details of the project and be asking for your input to assist us in making our Vegetable Co-Op a tremendous success.

* Different teas and veggie quiche bites will be served. (food and drink always helps the gray matter be more productive!)

Another new Pinecone Addition...

Weekly we will publish 1 or 2 "Awesome Veggie" recipes that will highlight the ingredients including seasonal vegetables available through our Co-Op. Rob and I love to cook what we grow so these recipes will have already be sampled and rated awesomely good to share. We gladly welcome any favorites of yours that you are willing to pass on...

Bok Choy has become Wendy and Rob's new favorite green veggie. It is extremely versatile, loaded with nutrients, great in soups, salads and stir fries and is easy to grow! Try it, you will add it to your favorite list too.

Bok Choy and Mushrooms   

2 lbs bok choy
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 green onions, chopped
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3/4 teaspoon salt
fresh ground black pepper
3 tablespoons vegetable broth
Directions:

1
Cut off the base of the bok choy stalks; discard. Separate the stalks and leaves. If the stems of the bok choy leaves are large, chop finely. Wash the leaves and stalks; drain in a colander.
2
Heat the oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in the green onions, mushrooms, garlic, crushed red pepper, salt and black pepper; cook, stirring often, 5 minutes. Stir in the bok choy and vegetable broth; cook, stirring until the leaves are tender and stalks are still crunchy, 3-6 minutes. Awesome!