Some news from the latest Reems Creek Nursery (70 Monticello Road) newsletter. You can sign up for their e-newsletter here:

GARDEN SEEDS have arrived.  Our Livingston Seed shipment of vegetable, flowers, and wildflowers is here in force.  Local seed company, Sow True Seed, has delivered most of their 2010 rack of 100% open-pollinated seeds.  Seeds of Change organic seeds are expected any moment.  Buying seeds always encourages us that SPRINGTIME is near.

Our Landscape Department offers BRUSH REMOVAL.  Call David Penland at 828-776-6050 to schedule brush removal services, or to discuss landscape design and installation, or landscape maintenance.

SALE:  Bulbs are 50% Off including amaryllis and paperwhites.

Winter Hours:
8-5, Monday thru Friday
9-4, Saturday
Closed Sunday, and occasionally during inclement weather.

The Weaverville Tailgate Market wraps up the 2009 season tomorrow, Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 2:30-6:30 p.m. at the Community Center above Lake Louise. Here’s the info from this week’s Market newsletter:

Hello One Final Time For The Season!

This week will be our final market for this year, and we’re gonna do our best to end on a high note…

We’ll have kids’ activities from 3-5 p.m. or so:
– pumpkin painting
– cookie decorating
– scarecrow stuffing (farmer couldn’t get the interns to do this for him…)
– trick or treating
– wash your favorite vendor’s car

We’ll also have Sustainable Chef Michael Gentry on hand sampling tasty treats made with market ingredients, and live music (sorry, don’t know who but it is bound to be nice).  Face painting and a free pie pumpkin while they last.

The lovely pumpkins from last week will return, as will fresh greens, grass-fed beef, seafood, gluten-free baked goods, eggs, pork, and fall candies.  Maybe caramel apples unless someone decides they are too lazy to make them or can’t find the popsicle sticks.

So come see us one last time — spring is a long way away, you know you’ll miss us.  We will certainly miss you.  Thanks so much for making our first year in Weaverville really great, we look forward to celebrating the season with you Wednesday!

Pumpkins at the Weaverville Tailgate Market. They’re good for carving or baking, and cost $3-8. They’ll have them on sale again next Wednesday at the last market of the season.

Main Street Nature Park workday on Saturday, October 24, 2009. Info from the town newsletter:

A workday in the Main Street Nature Park is scheduled for Saturday, October 24.  Volunteers are needed. We will meet in the parking lot behind the Town Hall at 9:30 a.m. Landscape Architect Randy Burroughs will be on hand to direct the work. For additional information about the workday, call Mayor Bett Stroud at 645-3912 or Town Hall at 645-7116.  This park workday is provided by the Weaverville Tree Board and the Weaverville Garden Club.

This year’s Weaverville Tailgate Market is winding down, with only 2 weeks left before they’re done for the season.  Here’s the news from this week’s Market newsletter. The market is held 2:30-6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, April-October, at the community center behind Lake Louise.

We will have pumpkins this week at Weaverville!  They are an heirloom variety - dark tan rather than bright orange, but they are quite lovely and are suitable for carving or cooking.  We’ll have a good selection of shapes and sizes.

Also fresh (well, it’s all fresh of course but I guess I mean making a new appearance) this week:  leaf lettuce, mesclun mix and radishes.

We will also have the return of pies and fish!  Okay, doesn’t sound that exciting put that way, but for any of you who have tried the pies and/or fish, you know how exciting that truly is…

Continuing to appear:  kale, chard & cabbage
head lettuce, carrots, potatoes
eggs, pork, beef, cheese
jams, jellies, pesto & pasta sauce

Next week will be our big season finale, but this week sounds pretty good – might as well shop with us until the very end. As always, thanks for your support, and we look forward to seeing you Wednesday!

Fall 2009 seminars at Reems Creek Nursery (70 Monticello Road). All are free, but please pre-register by calling them at (828) 645-3937.

FALL SEMINAR SERIES
These classes are free, just pre-register at (828) 645-3937.

• SEASON EXTENSION
  Friday, October 9 at 3 p.m. ~ with Ruth Gonzalez
• HOME ORCHARDS
  Saturday, October 10 at 10 a.m. ~ with Andrew Goodheart Brown
• BULBS ARE BEAUTIFUL!
  Saturday, October 10 at 2 p.m. ~ with Wilma Penland

Join us for any or all of these awesome seminars.  We love to share our knowledge and enthusiasm.

It’s official. In September Weaverville became the 33rd community in the country and only the second in North Carolina (the first is Montreat) to become a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat.  To be awarded the community certification, the Weaverville Wildlife Habitat team worked with 65 homes, 10 businesses/common areas, and 1 school to have each certified as wildlife habitats.  Each certification garnerned points for Weaverville as a community, and in the end the town earned 422 points towards certification, exceeding the necessary requirements by172 points.

The following letter was sent to the Habitat Team from Roxanne Nersesian Paul, Senior Coordinator of the National Wildlife Federation Habitat Programs, who gave me permission to publish it. Sounds like we made quite an impression.  Congratulations to the team members and community members who worked to help Weaverville achieve this.

I am please to announce that Weaverville, North Carolina has just become the nation’s 33rd certified Community Wildlife Habitat.

Weaverville is a town of about 2850 people located 10 miles north of Asheville and 2300 feet above sea level in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Their team of volunteers was an extremely strong one, with two leaders both having their PhD’s and one of them a Habitat Steward as well.  Weaverville also received support from their local chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, one of our affiliates most actively engaged in education.

Having gone through their project notebook, I wish I could convey to you what an extraordinary project this was for such a small town.  In addition to getting their local elementary school certified, they certified 9 other community sites, including the Fire Station, a local funeral home (!), 3 inns, and a demonstration garden called Main Street Nature Park.  Sixty-five individual homes were also certified.

The team worked with the town government to modify the local weed ordinance to allow only native plants and well-behaved exotics.  The weed ordinance also prohibits the planting of invasives from the North Carolina noxious weed list.  A CVS will soon be opening in town and the team made specific recommendations about native plantings to replace the existing vegetation and the CVS management agreed!

In addition, one of the team leaders created a CD with a 161 page pdf with photos and descriptions of specific plants native to western North Carolina.  The CD was made available to town residents for a nominal fee, which helped support the project’s efforts.

Please join me in congratulating the Weaverville Community Wildlife Habitat team and the North Carolina Wildlife Federation.

Weaverville Tree Board member and Reems Creek Nursery owner Wilma Penland will lead a free tree walk at Lake Louise on Saturday, September 26, 2009, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Details:

Lake Louise Tree Walk, with Wilma Penland

Join Wilma Penland, horticulturist/owner of Reems Creek Nursery and Weaverville Tree Board Member, for an informative walk around Lake Louise.  We will observe trees growing in their natural habitat as well as approximately 100 other trees planted by the Tree Board.  Many of these trees are native species that attract wildlife, some are unusual varieties, and some have been planted in memory or honor of someone.

Tips on using these tree species in the home landscape will be discussed.  An updated map/brochure of Lake Louise Park will be available for this walk.

Wear comfortable shoes and meet between the children’s playground and the picnic shelters at Lake Louise Park in Weaverville. Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. For further information call Wilma Penland at (828) 645-3937.  Sponsored by the Weaverville Tree Board.

Seminar at Reems Creek Nursery (70 Monticello Road) at 10 a.m., Saturday, September 12.  It’s free, but please pre-register by calling the nursery at (828) 645-3937. Details:

SEED SAVING FOR THE HOME GARDENER
Saturday, September 12 at 10 a.m. with seed-saving expert, Lee Barnes

Learn how to save your open-pollinated seed to use for planting your vegetable garden next year.  Lee will show you techniques that you can use to harvest seeds at home with simple tools.  When you save your own seed you always have next years seed supply on hand.  Plus you can gradually improve your own seed through natural selection.

Lee Barnes received the Southern Seed Legacy Award in 2001, advocates regionally for seed-saving, and operates a seed exchange.  A permaculturist and naturalist, Lee also has a Ph.D. in Plant Ecology.

Please pre-register by calling the nursery at (828) 645-3937.

Sale news from the latest Reems Creek Nursery (70 Monticello Road) e-newsletter:

Just a quick heads up to our favorite customers ~ Today we start a 50% OFF Sale on ALL ROSES, Selected TREES & SHRUBS (marked with white flagging tags), and Selected HOUSEPLANTS and Container Gardens (marked with white flagging tags).  Additionally, our GLAZED POTTERY, birdbaths, and decorative ironware will be 30% OFF.  This sale runs through August 31, but of course the sooner you come, the better the selection!  We are clearing out inventory before our fall shipments arrive.

To subscribe to their e-newsletter, go to www.reemscreek.com/email.php

Planting Your Fall Vegetable Garden seminar Saturday, August 15 at Reems Creek Nursery (70 Monticello Road ). Details:

Planting Your Fall Vegetable Garden: Harvest and enjoy eating homegrown vegetables throughout the fall. This free seminar with Ruth Gonzalez will address successful fall gardening, what to plant, and when to plant it. Cover crops and general gardening will also be briefly discussed. Join us on Saturday, August 15 at 10 a.m. at Reems Creek Nursery & Landscaping. Free, but please pre-register at (828) 645-3937.

A few notes of interest from the latest Reems Creek Nursery (70 Monticello Road ) e-newsletter:

New Summer Hours
8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday
9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday

Recycling Nursery Pots
Reems Creek Nursery does RECYCLE black plastic nursery pots.  These are the guidelines:  We can take intact black pots ONLY, with no labels or staples.  The pots must be 1 gallon size or larger.  Out of consideration for our neighbors, please be sure to bring them in during regular nursery hours.  Recently someone dropped pots off after hours and the wind blew them around the neighborhood.  We will give you a 5 cent credit per pot, up to $10.

Just got word of this seminar to be held at Reems Creek Nursery (70 Monticello Road ) tomorrow. It’s free, but remember to pre-register:

Join us this Saturday, August 1, 2009 at 10 a.m. for a free seminar, Winged Wonders, Gardening for Butterflies with Ruth Gonzalez. Learn how to create a butterfly-friendly habitat in your yard that will attract these winged beauties.  Loss of habitat is one of the main reasons for diminished butterfly populations.  Creating a butterfly garden brings one of nature’s most beautiful creatures into your yard.  Even a container on your porch can be filled with the nectar-producing flowers butterflies adore, and they look pretty too!  Please pre-register at 828-645-3937.

At this week’s Weaverville Tailgate Market:

Weaverville Tailgate Market Celebrates the Flavors of Summer!
July 29, 2009
2:30-6 p.m.
Community Center at Lake Louise

• Pepper and Corn roasting
• Michael Gentry of the Sustainable Gourmet
• Tomato tastings
• Music
• Scavenger Hunt for Kids, 3-4:30 p.m.

Come celebrate the bountiful flavors of summer with us!

At the Weaverville Tailgate Market today (Wednesday, July 22, 2009):

This week’s Weaverville Tailgate Market will be held on Wednesday July 22, 2009 from 2:30- 6:30 p.m. on the hill at Lake Louise . This week our musical guest will be “French Row Actives”. There will also be blueberries, a new vendor selling honey and a face painter!

Market products this week include: fresh seafood, fruit preserves, breads, a selection of summer produce including squash, lettuce, carrots, beets, green beans, basil, greens, tomatoes, garlic, and blueberries, also, meats, molasses, honey, cheese, arts/crafts and landscape plants.

It’s time for the Summer edition of the Bloomin’ Bucks Sale at Reems Creek Nursery (70 Monticello Road ). If you have them, you can start using them this Friday, July 17, 2009 thru Monday, July 27, 2009. Details from their latest newsletter:

Gather up all your BLOOMIN’ BUCKS® and head on over!  Our Bloomin’ Buck® Sale STARTS FRIDAY, JULY 17 and runs through Monday, July 27.  This is the time to splurge since you can pay for up to half your purchase with Bloomin’ Bucks®.  We have wonderful choices in every department, and your Bloomin’ Bucks® are good on any in-stock merchandise, even things like mulch, potting soil, and fertilizer.  The Bloomin’ Bucks® sale is first come-first serve, so the sooner you come the broader your choice will be.  Out of consideration for all our customers, we are unable to hold items prior to & during Bloomin’ Bucks® unless they are paid in full.  Sorry, Bloomin’ Bucks® cannot be used toward consignment items or special order items, but you can use them on ANYTHING else in-stock.

Here’s what you’ll find at today’s Weaverville Tailgate Market, 2:30-6:30 p.m. at the Weaverville Community Center parking lot (up the hill from Lake Louise ). Info from their weekly newsletter:

This week’s market will be held on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 from 2:30-6:30 p.m. on the hill at Lake Louise in beautiful Weaverville. This week our musical guest will be “Honey Holler Girls”. Come on by and cut a rug. Mackey Farms will be Roasting Fresh Corn. Stop on by for a taste. There will also be Blueberries and a new vendor selling honey. The Face Painting Lady will be on hand to do some painting of the face on all your loved ones. Stop on buy for a new look. You know you want to. A friendly reminder on parking. Please do not park on the street next to the market. It is not wide enough for the Fire and Rescue vehicles to get by in case of emergency. We will do everything to make sure that you can park in the market parking lot and have a wonderful tailgate experience. So come one and come all. Remember to support your local Farmers, Food Value, and artisans.

Some of the selections available at the market this week are: NC seafood, eggs, cheese, fresh roasted coffee and coffee beans, new potatoes, okra, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, squash, beets, okra, green beans, basil, chard, greens, kale, onions, cauliflower, peas, turnips, garlic, tomatoes, cabbage, blueberries, mushrooms, plant starts, molasses, honey, pork, chicken, lamb, beef, chevre, breads, pastries, sauces, preserves, salad dressings, dipping oils, soaps, jewelry, carved glass, Hypertufa planters, candles, Japanese maples and other shrubs/perennials.

Reems Creek Nursery (70 Monticello Road ) is hosting a Water Gardening Seminar Saturday, July 11 at 10 a.m. It’s free, but you should pre-register by calling them at 645-3937.

Water Gardening Seminar
Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m.
Free

Watching fish is entertaining for everyone, and the sound of water adds tranquility to any spot. Pond expert Marc Montell will introduce you to various water gardening plants and fish, and he will discuss year-round pond, fish, and water plant care. Marc’s talk will include design considerations, water gardening through the seasons, and he will demystify pond care products and pond maintenance devices. Saturday, July 11 at 10 a.m. Free, but please pre-register at 645-3937. 

It’s true, there’s a frost warning tonight.

From the National Weather Service:

Frost advisory in effect from 3 am to 9 am EDT Tuesday
The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a frost advisory which is in effect from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. EDT Tuesday. Areas of frost will develop over the North Carolina mountains tonight. A few locations will likely fall to around freezing, especially over the interior valleys of the southwest mountains. However, freezing temperatures are not expected to be widespread enough to warrant a freeze warning. The eastern and southern slopes of the mountains are not expected to see as much frost as winds will stay up much of the night and there may be a little high cloud cover.

Precautionary/Preparedness actions
A frost advisory means that frost is possible. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.

Some advice from Reems Creek Nursery:

There is a FROST WARNING tonight, especially for the higher elevations.  You should keep your eye on the local weather and be prepared to protect any tender plants.  For VEGETABLES that would include tomatoes, peppers, squash, eggplant, cucumbers, melons, basil, dill, etc. (any heat loving veggie or herb).  Protect any ANNUAL FLOWERS you have planted, and bring houseplants inside.

We have floating row cover (Reemay) for sale at the nursery.  It is a lightweight spun fabric that is designed to provide frost protection for plants.  We also have lightweight, but sturdy, fiberglass rods that you can use to support the row cover.  Sheets, bedspreads, and cardboard boxes can also be used to protect your plants from frost.  Do not use plastic to cover your plants.  REMOVE your frost protection tomorrow in early morning.

The new garden center at the Weaverville Ingles (140 Weaver Blvd. ) is open. Took a quick look around and they have perennials, annuals, bushes, trees, pots, soil, mulch and some gardening supplies. There’s undoubtedly a few things I missed – it’s quite a big space they’ve put together. The Garden Center is open 8 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

I’m told, with all the additions, the Weaverville store is now the largest of all Ingles locations. Walk the loop around the store and you’ve gone 1/4 mile.

If you’ve planted tomatoes around here, you’ve possibly run into problems with blight, a fairly common problem with tomato crops in this region. To help combat it, try this Tomato Blight Buster Recipe, courtesy of Reems Creek Nursery:

Tomato Blight Buster Recipe
(courtesy of Reems Creek Nursery)
1 Cup Compost
1/2 Cup Powdered Nonfat Milk
1/2 Cup Epsom Salt

Mix together and add a generous handful to each planting hole.  Worm compost is excellent to use because of its high microbial activity, but any compost will do.