Dear Hydrangea enthusiasts,

 

Welcome to the January 2009 newsletter for Hydrangea Plus®.  We hope you had a wonderful holiday.  Now, let’s get planting!

 

What’s Happening…

Unfortunately, we had some serious damage here at the nursery.  Many of you probably saw or experienced the snow and ice storm that came to the Pacific Northwest in December.  Under the weight of the snow and ice, twenty of our cold frame greenhouses collapsed.  Most of the houses are not completely lost but we will need to replace some metal, wood, plastic and shade cloth to resume operations.

 

Fortunately, the plants are going to be alright.  We (luckily) had just watered the hydrangeas in the nursery before the snow and ice came and with all the moisture in the air and watering by hand, they are still looking just perfect.  When the cold frame collapses, the metal bow bends right in the middle of the peak.  We have no plants down the center of the houses so we can walk through the house and tend to the hydrangeas easily.  The houses collapsed perfectly right down the center of the house and no hydrangeas were harmed.  Our first good news of the year!

 

We are going to rebuild and so far, have temporary support in a few houses and we’re working on automatic irrigation in those houses.  Rebuilding will occur over the next several months and possibly into the rest of the year.  Our insurance will not cover the cost to replace which is totally baffling to me.  Why do I pay that big premium again?

 

Hydrangeas Plus® Catalog (IX)

I have some bad news.  With the large cost to repair our cold frame greenhouses, we are going to postpone and possibly eliminate the printing of our catalog this year.  The catalog is almost finished and we will make it available as a pdf (or some other format) on our website and Facebook and Youtube.  With the damage to the nursery and the anticipated cost to repair, we cannot afford to produce, print and send out the catalog at this time.  I have really been struggling with this because I know the catalog is our main marketing tool and a fan favorite.

 

Sale – Free shipping

Biggest deal, ever!  Free shipping off orders of $75 or greater. This offer is good just through January 31st.  Orders much ship before May 31st, 2009 and is good to US addresses only!  It’s a coupon code and if you have trouble, just let me know.  Use the coupon code, FREE SHIPPING (below your shopping cart) once your order has reached $75.  You won’t be able to see the coupon is accepted and in effect until your reach the check out stage.  If there is an error with the coupon, you will get a purple box at the top of your shopping cart that says ‘you have entered an incorrect coupon code!’.   But again, if you have trouble, just email or call and I can fix it for you.

 

FaceBook

Yes, we are online and jumping into this new age of information.  First YouTube and now this!  Join us for updates, information, interesting happenings and other hydrangea news.  Just search for Hydrangeas Plus.  We have a page all set up.  I’ve posted some pictures of the damage if you’d like to see.

 

Shipping and office schedule

I have scheduled to begin shipping again on February 2nd, 2009.

 

We are back to work at the nursery but I will be in the nursery supervising the construction and repairs so please, leave a message or send an email.  I’ll try to get back to you promptly.

 

2009 New Offerings

Don’t forget, we have these new offerings and they are fabulous! Order soon before I sell out.

 

Schizophragma Roseum (pink climber cousin of the hydrangea family)

Macrophylla Jogasaki (double lacecap just exploding with blooms)

Macrophylla Seafoam (lacecap that wants to grow up and be a mophead)

Macrophylla Brunette (dark red/purple blooms, you’ll have to order early on this one)

Macrophylla Gerda Steinger (best cut flower in the world!)

Macrophylla Merritt’s Beauty (reliable bloomer with strong flowers, strong colors)

Paniculata Pinky Winky ™ (Indeterminate flowering, new white blooms at tips while other keep red)

Serrata Painter’s Pallet (Dirr’s open pollinated seedling, glorious green and pink lacecap)

 

Hydrangeas Plus® important dates for your calendar

Here at the nursery

Open House - Retail Sale – March 20th & March 21st

Overstock Sale – April 25th – May 9th

LeTour des Plants – September 12th – September 20th

 

Markets and events where Hydrangeas Plus® will be selling plants

Gardenpalooza (Aurora OR) – April 4th

Gardening on the Edge (Newport OR)– June 26th & 27th (tentatively)

 

Speaking engagements

Yard, Garden & Patio Show (Portland OR)– February 27th, 11am

West Linn Garden Club (West Linn OR)– March 2nd, 7pm

Multnomah Garden Club (Portland OR)– March 12th, 7pm

Villa Garden Club (Portland OR)– March 26th, noon

Hardy Plants Society Genus Species (Portland OR)– August 11th, 6pm

 

Privacy Notice

We respect your privacy and want to be sure this is sent to those customers who have subscribed to the Hydrangeas Plus® newsletter.  Please reply to this email, with subject line UNSUBSCRIBE if you received this in error or no longer wish to subscribe to our newsletter.  We apologize if you have asked before and we’ve neglected to take your name and email off our list.

 

Sincerely,

Kristin VanHoose

Hydrangeas Plus®

http://www.hydrangeasplus.com