A new addition to the newsletters will be monthly Web Specials.  You will also find occasional coupon codes for a variety of great offers through the year. Special pricing, free plant offers, shipping discounts and contest prizes will only be available to newsletter subscribers so tell a fellow gardener to sign up!  Newsletter special offers will be removed from the archived newsletters before being posted here.  We WILL NOT EVER sell, share, rent or otherwise abuse your inbox.

The Promise of Spring...  A philosophy well known to gardeners... whatever didn't go well this year we can forgive and forget, because we get a fresh start every spring. Many of us will be focusing on that over these remaining weeks of 2009 as we look forward to the promise of a new year with optimistic enthusiasm. Perhaps it's the year to start that vegetable garden you always wanted.  May you and your family hold each other up through these interesting times, enjoy Christmas and all the holidays together, and lets get to planning a beautiful, bountiful spring 2010!

Happy Holidays & Garden on!
-Deidre Finley, Big Dipper Farm

Still have someone left on your list?

Free Shipping Offer on Spring Orders!

Due to the HUGE response last year, we are repeating the free shipping offer. All Spring 2010 delivery orders placed on or before December 31, 2009, and paid for using PayPal, will receive FREE shipping.

Choose the “Free Spring Shipping offer…” shipping option in checkout, and then complete the order through PayPal.

Thank You for my order. Everything arrived in great, healthy condition and are just a beautiful addition to my garden.
I really love that they're not your everyday garden plants. Thanks Again!! Sincerely, Irene D – Strongsville, Ohio 9-08-09

Doves and Hawks

The Fall shipping season continues for West Coasties and Southerners and Spring order taking is in full swing!

The Perfect Edible Ornamental?

This blueberry is so different, and has so many excellent qualities that it almost deserves a category of its own!

When we first received it here along with our other 15 blueberry varieties, ‘Sunshine Blue’ immediately stood out. Among all the naked branches of bareroot Dukes, Patriots, and Earliblues was this gorgeous foliage, covered with small flowers! This charming little semi-dwarf variety grows to be only 3 to 4 feet tall and wide, with a very nice rounded habit. Its dense, glossy foliage is silvery-green, turning in autumn to rich shades of red and purple. Sunshine Blue is evergreen on the west coast and in the south, semi-evergreen in colder climes.

In early spring, masses of pink (rather than typical white) flowers cover the shrub, followed by lots and lots of scrumptious blueberries for an unusually long crop period – the yield is up to 10 pounds from a normal mature plant. Its fruit is delicious, appearing as dime-sized, dark-blue berries with a flavor that is sweet and juicy. No more tasteless supermarket berries for you!
Vaccinium ‘Sunshine Blue’s size and attractive qualities should encourage you to grow it in pots by the porch for easy harvesting. True four-season usefulness makes this a shrub you can plant anywhere. Containers, mixed borders, hedges, native plant gardens, open woodlands, and almost anywhere but a full sun site will produce the most fruit.

‘Sunshine Blue’ is of the southern highbush variety, self-pollinating and surprisingly hardy. It can be grown from Southern California to Chicago! In warmer climates, this low-chill variety can be pruned after the first flush of fruit to induce a second crop later in the year.

An exceptionally easy berry to grow, Vaccinium ‘Sunshine Blue’ thrives best in slightly acidic, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, and is more tolerant of high pH than most blueberries. This is a real cutie! Will grow almost anywhere in the USA in zones 5-9.  See all of our Blueberries

Did You Know?

• A packet of 500 lettuce seeds costs about the same as a single head of Romaine, and produces 500 bags of those supermarket salad greens! Lettuce is super easy to grow in containers by your kitchen door, and can be filling your salad bowl beginning in about six weeks for the entire spring and summer ahead!
   
• Cranberries are one of just 3 major fruits native to North America. Blueberries and Concord grapes are the other two.
   
• The term xeriscape gardening was developed and trademarked by the Denver Water Dept in Colorado.

Seeds, We have seeds!

New Plant Spotlight

Helleborus ‘Sparkling Diamond’- Hellebore
An unusual, heavy-flowering variety, Helleborus × hybridus ‘Sparkling Diamond’ is a must-have addition to any winter garden. To most Hellebore hounds this new hybrid is reminiscent of 'Mrs. Betty Ranicar'.  The cup-shaped, double white blooms gently nod downwards and are offset by lush evergreen foliage. Flowering from winter through early spring, it might even pop up while snow is still on the ground. The large stunning blooms are held above glossy, dark evergreen foliage at the most color challenged time in the garden! Deer-proof, slug-proof, evergreen and incredible flowers in the dead of winter. What more can possible ask? You will LOVE this plant!
Zone: 5-8 Height: 12” $22.99   See the Hellebores

Top 10 Winterization Tips for the Garden Right Now:

1. Protect built-in sprinkler systems. Blow the water out with a compressor. Get the lawnmower inside and put fuel stabilizer in it. Get all wagons, carts and all garden equipment in for winter storage. Drain and store hoses carefully to avoid damage from freezing. (I always forget at least one)
2. Keep fountains or waterfalls continuously running throughout the winter. A second option is to shut down your water feature. Remove the pump and store it in a bucket of water (where it won't freeze) to prevent seals from cracking.
3. This is a good time to move landscape trees and shrubs that could be in a better place.
4. Rake and destroy leaves from fruit trees that may have been diseased this year. Weed your perennial beds and renew the mulch.
5. Take the bowls off the birdbaths, freezing water can destroy them.
6. Mulch your dormant vegetable garden area with manure. A 3-4” layer of leaves spread over the garden plot prevents soil compaction and rain runoff. Then order some seeds and start planning a wonderful spring garden. Have you grown an organic vegetable garden yet?  Catalog page - Seeds
7. In warmer zones, bait the garden for slugs during the warmer, rainy periods. Use traps or Sluggo to be wildlife and pet-safe. The slugs you can see represent only about 10 percent of the slug population.
8. Watch for wet soil and drainage problems in yard during heavy rains. Ditching, and French drains are possible solutions.
9. Tie up evergreen shrubs to keep the snow from pulling them open and breaking branches.
10. Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.

A Very Special Christmas Gift

The Legend of the Christmas Rose
With the gift purchase of any Hellebore, we’ll send a lovely letter the same day announcing your gift along with the charming picture and Legend of the Christmas Rose. The garden ready plant will be shipped in the spring at the right time for planting in their growing zone. An especially great gift for the young gardeners on your list.  See the Hellebores  Just buy any Hellebore and put “Legend of the Christmas Rose Letter” into the comments box along with your personal message, and we’ll do the rest!

Legend of the Christmas Rose
A little shepherd girl named Madelon tended to her sheep one cold and wintry night. Wise men and shepherds passed by her snow-covered field bearing gifts for the Christ Child. Following, Madelon saw the Magi present gold, myrrh and frankincense to the baby...even the humble shepherds had brought fruits, honey and doves to give to the blessed babe...but the little shepherdess had nothing, not even a simple flower for the Newborn King. Standing outside the stable where Jesus had been born, poor Madelon wished that she had a gift she could give to the infant. She wept, her tears falling onto the snow. An Angel, taking pity on Madelon, made the innocent child’s tears turn into beautiful white flowers whose petals were tipped with pink.  Overjoyed, Madelon presented her gift at the manger of the baby Jesus...
Her gift of the Christmas Rose.

Butternut Cranberry Crisp

From our official ‘Effie Test Kitchen’ comes this yummy seasonal treat.
So the kids don’t like squash? Guess again! We absolutely loved this.

Filling:
1 large butternut squash (2 cups mashed and 2 cups diced)
4 eggs
1 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
½ tsp salt
½ cup butter, melted
½ cup dried cranberries

Topping:
½ cup flour
½ tsp salt
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup graham cracker crumbs
½ cup oatmeal (not instant)
1 cup chopped pecans
½ cup (1 stick) butter, cold or room temperature

Preheat oven to 375°

Cut the squash in half and clean out the seeds. Leaving the skin on, cut each half into quarters. You should have a total of 8 pieces. Cover the bottom of a large, microwave safe bowl with about ½ inch of water. Put the pieces of squash skin side down into the bowl and cover loosely. Microwave in increments of 5 min, until squash is soft enough to mash. Scoop and mash 2 cups. Peel and dice 2 cups.

In a mixing bowl, beat eggs with an electric blender. Beat in the rest of the filling ingredients except diced squash and cranberries. Spread diced squash and cranberries evenly in a 9x13” pan. Pour in filling.

In another bowl, stir together all topping ingredients except the butter. With your hands, work in the butter until small, even clumps begin to form. Sprinkle mixture evenly over filling.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until topping is dark golden and sides are bubbly. Serve warm, plain or with whipped cream. For a twist, whip a cup of whipping cream with a tablespoon of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg and a 1/2-teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Makes about a dozen yummy servings.

Possibly the most unique and surprising gift that special person will ever receive; one that will keep giving for many years to come.

Have someone on your list that’s always difficult to buy for? For the person that has almost everything… give the unique and unforgettable gift of Custom Landscape Design this Christmas!

As an introductory special offered ONLY to our newsletter subscribers, our Online Custom Landscape Design Packages are 50% off through the end of December 2009. Just enter the newsletter code of “Love Your Garden” in the comments box at the end of checkout and we’ll cut the listed design fees in half before charging. Allow 7 days for the design process. It will be delivered electronically to your gift recipient, or to you, if you prefer to make and present hard copies. Full 24” x 36” color design master plans can be mailed and are available with a separate printing and shipping charge.

Just take some pictures of your existing yard, fill out the survey for the subject property, get the rough measurements and our talented designer Jason Scott will create your dream garden design. Jason can blend in special requests and has decades of experience in a wide variety of designs.

Your custom design will be tailored to your growing zone and climate conditions no matter where you live in North America.

Your Online Custom Landscape Design Package will include a telephone consultation, a detailed master design plan, and a fully customized plant list and any special installation instructions. We guarantee that you will love your design.

Lighting designs, Pool designs and Irrigation designs are also available. A computer generated, color picture of what your mature landscape will look like is also listed in the design offerings.

See all of the Design packages and options we’re offering here: Custom Landscape Design, to choose the plan that's right for you or that special loved one.
Remember to enter the newsletter subscriber code of “Love Your Garden” in the comments box at the end of checkout and we’ll cut the listed design fees in half before charging.

Easy Winter Edibles

• Rejuvenate potted chives by cutting them back to one inch above the soil. Place in the refrigerator for 2 weeks and then back in a sunny window.
• Start a ginger root at home. Buy a fat, un-shriveled ginger root. Plant it just under the surface in a 6-8 inch pot filled with light soil. Grow in a sunny west or south window. In about 8 months you will be harvesting.

The Common Cold and Echinacea: Does it really work?

Bird species show sharp declines

A study by Nat'l. Audubon Society shows sharp declines in 20 American Bird Species.  Whippoorwills and the Rufous hummingbird populations have declined by more than half in the past 40 years. Some drops have been even more dramatic. Northern bobwhite populations declined by 82%; Eastern meadowlark saw a decline of 71%.

What can you do to help?
Don’t let your cats roam outdoors. They are extremely effective predators and many have been known to kill hundreds of songbirds every single year.  Plant more native species of plants. Big Dipper Farm ships 195 Native American plants. Click on the icon on the catalog page to see them all.
Put out a hummingbird feeder, birdbaths, birdfeeders, birdhouses and grow dense hedges of habitat trees shrubs and perennials that are good foodsource varieties. Join your local Audubon society for a steady stream of help and ideas to get this frightening trend under control and hopefully reversed. Follow this link to the Nat'l. Audubon Society’s page, “Creating a Healthy Yard”:
http://www.audubon.org/HealthyYard

Mutiny on the Zone map

Naturally Native – American of the Month

Gaultheria procumbens - Wintergreen
This is a wonderful, native, extremely low-growing, evergreen shrub. The glossy leaves have the fragrance of wintergreen when crushed and it has extensive historical medicinal uses. Pretty, small white flowers are followed by scarlet berries from late fall into winter which are a good food source for wildlife and the foliage develops an attractive reddish tinge in cold weather. A great plant choice for new bonsai students as well.

Across the country over the centuries Gaultheria procumbens has been given many common names: Box Berry, Canadian Mint, Checkerberry, Deerberry, Leatherleaf, Ground-tea or Groundberry, Hillberry, Mountainberry, Wintergreen, Patridgeberry, Spiceberry, Teaberry, Wax Cluster and more. It is loved by an extremely wide range wildlife and is edible for humans as well. The fermented leaves of Wintergreen were used as a tea and the Native Americans taught European immigrants to use the leaves medicinally.

Wintergreen can be difficult to grow, as it doesn’t adapt readily to anything but its preferred growing conditions. It dislikes heat and humidity and grows best in areas with cool summers. Trying to grow it in heavy clay or limey soil is a death sentence. It likes very acid soil. Make it happy however and you’d be hard-pressed to find a more lovely, carefree and interesting evergreen groundcover. Partial to Full Shade - Stays under 6” - Zones 3-8
Effie took this Wintergreen photo on a frosty morning just last week.
See the Gaultherias

Ten Great Cabin Fever Cures for the Kids

During the winter holiday break when the kids are home and getting bored, here are some fun winter ‘gardening’ activities you can enjoy with your children:

1. Plant a windowsill garden of herbs. Have your children paint or decorate the pots first.
2. ‘Plant’ the tops of Pineapples, Carrots & sliced Potatoes in a saucer of water. Start an Avocado tree with a pit held in water with toothpicks.
3. Make a “Chia” puppet out of an old sock. Place grass seed in the toe along with some soil. Tie it off with a rubber band and draw a face. Keep the sock moist in a well lit area and watch it grow hair!
4. Build a bird house or a bird feeder.
5. Make a terrarium out of an old mayonnaise jar or aquarium.
6. Make “ornaments” out of pinecones rolled in peanut butter and then birdseed. Hang them on shrubs or evergreens as edible decorations outside.
7. Grill nasturtium flowers onto grilled cheese sandwiches and watch their surprise!
8. Make mini tabletop gardens with the kids, a cactus / desert theme or a fern & clubmoss garden with little gravel walkways and miniature furniture.
9. Put a Hummingbird feeder outside a window and enjoy the little winged jewels with the kids. Keep those feeders up & maintained as long as you can. You will not prevent a hummingbird from migrating, but your efforts might help a hummingbird survive.
10. Make row markers and plan the spring vegetable & herb garden to get the kids excited about the upcoming season.

Newsletter Specials

From all of us here at Big Dipper Farm,
Have a Magical & Merry Christmas!