Dear Hydrangea enthusiasts,

 

Welcome to the March 2009 newsletter for Hydrangea Plus®. 

 

What’s Happening…

Oh what a glorious pre spring we’re having here in the Willamette valley.  Temperatures are peaking in the high 50s and the plants are looking fabulous and begging to be purchased.  But, I should mention that our friends to the north (Washington State) are expecting sub 20 degrees.  All those in favor of spring now, please say aye.

 

We just finished the annual February inventory task.  Yes, I know its March but it always takes a little longer with all my normal distractions.  I’m working on the 1 year plants now and I should have that done by the end of this week. It’s so fun walking around the nursery and seeing the action (the growth of the plants that is).

 

The rebuilding is still slow.  I’ve got 4 houses built and was hoping to get another going this week.

 

Hydrangeas Plus® Catalog (IX)

The number 9 catalog is done and printed and it looks gorgeous.  Remember that I’m going to have to charge for them this year.  Because we are doing fewer, the cost is much much greater.  The charge is $5.  Order on line (at http://www.hydrangeasplus.com) or send me a check to

Hydrangeas Plus®

PO BOX 389

Aurora OR 97002

 

I did put the PDF on the website. 

 

In case you missed our last newsletters, we had some significant damage with a December storm and lost 20 cold frame greenhouses to the weight of snow and ice.  Our insurance company has denied our claim for the damage.  With the large cost to repair our cold frame greenhouses, we are not able to send out the catalog, at least for free this year.  I hope we can continue our free catalog practice in the future.  I’m so proud of the catalog each and every year and I want to share it with as many of you as possible.  It’s not just a sales tool, it’s good information for growing hydrangeas.  And, it has pretty pictures that I update a vast majority every year.

 

Spring Retail Hours – BIG BIG SALE

We are planning our retail weekend for March 20th and 21st.  Let’s hope for some good weather and hope I get the greenhouse repaired by then.  The 2 year and 3 year plants will be on sale.  As well as the Paniculata trees.

 

March 20th – 11am to 5pm

March 21st – 11am to 5pm

Our address is 6543 S. Zimmerman Road

Aurora OR 97002

Directions are on the website under Retail Hours and local

 

1 year plants on sale soon!

Yes, those little babies are looking good.  Because they are small, I want to make sure they are good and rooted before I put them on the website.  They are usually ready April 1st but I’m not even going to hope for that but definitely possible.  After the cool spring last year and the delay in growing, I tried to start them a little bit earlier last year in hopes of being ready sooner.  We’ve had a few beautiful days of 60 degrees and we’re doing the grow dance.

 

Sale – Free shipping

Free shipping off orders of $125 or greater. This offer is good just through March 31st.  Orders must ship before May 31st, 2009 and is good to US addresses only!  It’s a coupon code and if you have trouble using the coupon, just let me know.  Use the coupon code, FREE SHIPPING (below your shopping cart) once your order has reached $125.  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.

 

Spring tip – fertilizing and amendments

It’s getting close to that time again.  We recommend using a balanced, time release fertilizer that will last 3 to 4 months.  Start the fertilizing when you start to see leaves forming (a little past the budding stage) on your macrophylla hydrangeas.  It would also be a good time to do the soil amending to change the colors of the hydrangeas.  Remember, it’s aluminum sulfate to get more blue blooms and garden lime or super phosphate fertilizer to keep them more pink or red.

 

We do sell aluminum sulfate, fertilizer and lime.  If you order just amendments, I can ship them UPS ground or priority mail in a fixed price box (for cheaper than the shipping calculates, promise).  The aluminum sulfate $10.50, fertilizer and lime is $5.50.  I have it all in stock and ready to go now.

 

FaceBook

Yes, we are online and jumping into this new mode of information.  First YouTube and now this!  Join us for updates, information, interesting happenings and other hydrangea news.  Just search for Hydrangeas Plus or go to http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Hydrangeas-Plus/44628992397.  I’m waiting for those hydrangea leaves to peak out and I’ll get some new pictures.  In the meantime, all the newsletters and events will be posted.

 

Shipping and office schedule

We’re off and running.  Order early and often. Please leave a message, remember, I’m a working owner and I like to get my hands dirty.

 

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)

 

Hydrangea Festival in Douglasville, Georgia

This is the 2nd annual event.  It is in honor of our hydrangea matriarch, Penny McHenry.  For information about the events, see the website at http://www.pennymchydrangeafestival.com.  For tickets, see the website or call 1-800-661-0013.  Don’t miss out on this wonderful event.  Dates are Friday evening, June 5 to Sunday afternoon, June 7th, 2009.

 

Hydrangeas Plus® important dates for your calendar – more details on the website

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

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

 

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Sincerely,

Kristin VanHoose

Hydrangeas Plus®

http://www.hydrangeasplus.com