Local orchid shops soon to be pushing up daisies

The Inside the Bay Area wrote about the truth of being in the flower business. – 

Three years ago, Dave Wright knew nothing about orchids, but he was filled with curiosity about the long rows of greenhouses he passed on his commute back home.

That sense of curiosity led him to stop at Fordyce Orchids on Isabel Avenue in Livermore and talk to the owners, who have been in the business for two generations.

These casual conversations and Wright’s own experiments led him to join a small but committed and thoroughly obsessed population that treasures orchids, a meaty flowering plant with streaks of purple, gray and red.

Fordyce has created scores of orchid fanatics over the years like Wright, who works as a food processing facility manager in the South Bay. He grows some 130 plants in his tiny Modesto apartment and spends two hours a day watering them.

Fordyce won’t be creating many new fans in the future.

After more than 26 years as part of the Orchid Ranch co-op in Livermore, Fordyce is closing, probably in February or March, making it another in the long list of mom-and-pop shops that have closed in part because of the abundance of mass produced orchids that are available cheaply at stores such as Costco.

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Written by Bobbie on January 10th, 2006 with comments disabled.
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New flower varieties

You gardeners out there will have some exciting new flowers to plant this year according to the Star Gazette:

Purchasing decisions often include selecting between “tried and true” and “new and improved” items. Where do gardeners get their information when it comes to plant seed varieties? Numerous universities provide suggestions based on research and trials. Seed variety developers report on their introductions. Another helpful source is All America Selections.

The organization’s members are firms engaged in seed variety improvement. AAS judges evaluate these varieties at test gardens throughout North America and AAS promotes superior selections with their “Winner” designation.

Recently added to the flower and vegetable categories are bedding flower and cool-season flower categories. For the year 2006 look for these award-winning, new bedding varieties from AAS:

# Dianthus “Supra Purple” bloomed early and exhibited exceptional garden performance in winning an AAS Bedding Plant Award. This interspecific cross results in hybrid vigor for improved heat tolerance and prolific bloom. The 1.5-inch single purple flowers are lacy, with highly fringed petal edges. In full sun, “Supra Purple” reaches 12 inches tall with an upright bouquet habit spreading 10 inches. The flowers may be cut for fresh arrangements or enjoyed in the garden during the long flowering period. From sowing seed to bloom, plan on about 10 to 12 weeks.

# Nicotiana “Perfume Deep Purple” is another bedding award winner. The name speaks to its delicate evening fragrance and color that charm the senses.

Fragrance is an often-overlooked characteristic in many breeding programs. Gardeners benefit greatly when nicotiana and Dianthus receive breeding attention for their aroma. The single, 2-inch star-shaped flowers of the variety are produced in abundance. Plants may reach 20 inches and spread 15 to 18 inches in a full sun garden location. The variety readily adapts to containers, or a semi-shade garden planting. Easy to grow and undemanding, “Perfume Deep Purple” seed and plants will be available this spring in seed racks, catalogs and at garden retailers.

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Written by Bobbie on January 9th, 2006 with comments disabled.
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Brushing up on your persimmons knowledge

Flowering trees are a great sight. Here is some great info on persimmons from the Free Press:

Persimmons are divided into two distinct groups - the native persimmon, which is Diospyros virginiana, and the Oriental persimmon, which is Diospyros kaki.

The fruit of native varieties is usually smaller, seedier and more astringent until the fruit is ripe. Many native persimmons are frequently seedling trees which result in a wide variability in the quality of the fruit. Native persimmon selections are available for purchase.

Oriental persimmons were introduced into the United States by M.C. Perry in 1856. In less than 20 years, the Department of Agriculture planted them throughout the southern states.

Considerable research and cultivar breeding has made the Oriental persimmon a great addition to the garden.

As a general rule, their fruit is superior in quality to native persimmons.

Native persimmons are more cold-hardy than Oriental varieties. The native varieties may survive temperatures of 20-25 degrees below zero, while Oriental varieties may be killed or injured when temperatures fall below about 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Oriental persimmon varieties Great Wall, Korean or Sheng are the most cold-tolerant of the Oriental varieties.

Oriental persimmons are subdivided into two classes: the astringent and the non-astringent.

The astringent type should be completely soft before eating or your mouth will pucker for hours. When fully ripe, the fruit is reddish-orange and is mellow flavored and very sweet.

The non-astringent types are firmer and can be eaten prior to softening. Oriental persimmon fruit may grow to the size of a peach, while native varieties produce fruit that is closer to the size of a plum.

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Written by Bobbie on January 9th, 2006 with comments disabled.
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