THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER, THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!

INCOME TAXES MAKES MORE LIARS THAN GOLF

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WOW.........THE WEBSITE IS SMOKING......OVER 36,XXX WEBSITE HITS SINCE EARLY LAST YEAR. OVER 1329 HITS IN LESS THAN A WEEK. HOW ABOUT THESE NUMBERS.......133,XXX WEBSITE PAGES HAVE BEEN VIEW SINCE EARLY LAST YEAR.....AND THIS WEEK 6850 PAGE VIEWS IN LESS THAN A WEEK. THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST. WATCH FOR THIS WEEK'S COUPON.

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THANK YOU ST. LOUIS........TODAY WE RECIEVED ANOTHER ZILLION FLOWERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND. THE ANNUAL FLOWERS LOOK AWESOME. OUR HANGING BASKETS ARE LOOKING SHARP AND MANY ARE READY FOR SALE. CHECK OUT THE 'GREENSCAPE GROWN' PERENNIALS NOW SHOWING IN THE PERENNIAL HOUSE. REMEMBER THE NORTH SIDE IS SHADE PERENNIALS AND THE SOUTH SIDE ARE SUN LOVING. WE HAVE VEGETABLES GALORE WITH SOME OF THE LARGEST TOMATOES WITH SOME WITH FLOWERS ALREADY.

THE FLOWERING DOGWOODS ARE SHOWING COLOR AS WELL AS THE FLOWERING CRABS AND CHERRIES. OUR SELECTION OF TREES AND SHRUBS IS ONE OF THE FINEST IN ST. LOUIS. PLUS WE DEFINITELY HAVE THE LARGEST SELECTION OF JAPANESSE MAPLES IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA. THIS WEEKEND WE WILL HAVE 800 SHEETS OF FESCUE AVAILABLE....FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.

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THE GREENSCAPE GARDENS TREE TEST.

Gardeners beware, you're going to be amazed at this corny test but you'll be surprised at the answers.

What tree did you fall from? Find your birthday, find your tree and then scroll down... This is really cool and somewhat accurate, also in line with Celtic astrology.

• Jan 01 to Jan 11 - Fir Tree
• Jan 12 to Jan 24 - Elm Tree
• Jan 25 to Feb 03 - Cypress Tree
• Feb 04 to Feb 08 - Poplar Tree
• Feb 09 to Feb 18 - Cedar Tree
• Feb 19 to Feb 28 - Pine Tree
• Mar 01 to Mar 10 - Weeping Willow Tree
• Mar 11 to Mar 20 - Lime Tree
• Mar 21 - Oak Tree
• Mar 22 to Mar 31 - Hazelnut Tree
• Apr 01 to Apr 10 - Spruce
• Apr 11 to Apr 20 - Maple Tree
• Apr 21 to Apr 30 - Walnut Tree
• May 01 to May 14 - Poplar Tree
• May 15 to May 24 - Chestnut Tree
• May 25 to Jun 03 - Ash Tree
• Jun 04 to Jun 13 - Hornbeam Tree
• Jun 14 to Jun 23 - Fig Tree
• Jun 24 - Birch Tree
• Jun 25 to Jul 04 - Apple Tree
• Jul 05 to Jul 14 - Fir Tree
• Jul 15 to Jul 25 - Elm Tree
• Jul 26 to Aug 04 - Cypress Tree
• Aug 05 to Aug 13 - Poplar Tree
• Aug 14 to Aug 23 - Cedar Tree
• Aug 24 to Sep 02 - Pine Tree
• Sep 03 to Sep 12 - Weeping Willow Tree
• Sep 13 to Sep 22 - Lime Tree
• Sep 23 - Olive Tree
• Sep 24 to Oct 03 - Hazelnut Tree
• Oct 04 to Oct 13 - Spruce
• Oct 14 to Oct 23 - Maple Tree
• Oct 24 to Nov 11 - Walnut Tree
• Nov 12 to Nov 21 - Chestnut Tree
• Nov 22 to Dec 01 - Ash Tree
• Dec 02 to Dec 11 - Hornbeam Tree
• Dec 12 to Dec 21 - Fig Tree
• Dec 22 - Beech Tree
• Dec 23 to Dec 31 - Apple Tree

APPLE TREE (Love) - of slight build, lots of charm, appeal, and attraction, pleasant aura, flirtatious, adventurous, sensitive, always in love, wants to love and be loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, scientific talents, lives for today, a carefree philosopher with imagination.

ASH TREE (Ambition) - uncommonly attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate, can be egotistic, very reliable and trustworthy, faithful and prudent lover, sometimes brains rule over the heart, but takes partnership very seriously.

BEECH TREE (Creative) - has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical, good leader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on keeping fit (diets, sports, etc.)

BIRCH TREE (Inspiration) - vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly,pretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.

CEDAR TREE (Confidence) - of rare beauty, knows how to adapt, likes luxury, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others,self-confident, determined, impatient, likes to impress others, many talents, industrious, healthy optimism, waiting for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

CHESTNUT TREE (Honesty) - of unusual beauty, does not want to impress, well-developed sense of justice, vivacious, interested, a born diplomat, but irritates easily and sensitive in company, often due to a lack of self confidence, acts sometimes superior, feels not understood, loves only once, has difficulties in finding a partner.

CYPRESS TREE (Faithfulness) - strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give, content, optimistic, craves money and acknowledgment, hates loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered, unruly, pedantic, and careless.

ELM TREE (Noble-Minded) - pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, loudest demands, tends not to forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humor, practical.

FIG TREE (Sensibility) - very strong, a bit self-willed,independent, does not allow contradiction or arguments, loves life, its family, children and animals, a bit of a social butterfly, good sense of humor, likes idleness and laziness, of practical talent and intelligence.

FIR TREE (Mysterious) - extraordinary taste, dignity, sophisticated, loves anything beautiful, moody, stubborn, tends to egoism but cares for those close to them, rather modest, very ambitious, talented, industrious, uncontested lover, many friends, many foes, very reliable.

HAZELNUT TREE (Extraordinary) - charming, undemanding, very understanding, knows how to make an impression, active fighter for social cause, popular, moody, and capricious lover, honest, and tolerant partner, precise sense of judgment.

HORNBEAM TREE (Good Taste) - of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egoistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgment in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.

LIME TREE (Doubt) - accepts what life dishes out in a composed way, hates fighting, stress, and labor, dislikes laziness and idleness, soft and relenting, makes sacrifices for friends, many talents but not tenacious enough to make them blossom, often wailing and complaining, very jealous but loyal.

MAPLE TREE (Independent) - no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.

OAK TREE (Brave) - robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.

OLIVE TREE (Wisdom) - loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced, avoids aggression and violence, tolerant, cheerful, calm, well-developed sense of justice, sensitive, empathetic, free of jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.

PINE TREE (Particular) - loves agreeable company, very robust, knows how to make life comfortable, very active, natural, good companion, but seldom friendly, falls easily in love but its passion burns out quickly, gives up easily, everything disappointments until it finds its ideal, trustworthy, practical.

POPLAR TREE (Uncertainty) - looks very decorative, not very self-confident, only courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.

SPRUCE (Sensitivity) - full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.

WALNUT TREE (Passion) - unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, often egotistic, aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous, unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist, very jealous and passionate, no compromise.

WEEPING WILLOW (Melancholy) - beautiful but full of melancholy, attractive, very empathetic, loves anything beautiful and tasteful, loves to travel, dreamer, restless, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with, demanding, good intuition, suffers in love but finds sometimes an anchoring partner.

Minature conifers from Iseli Nursery in Oregon.

Greenscape Gardens

Jennifer and Chris on an Oregon buying and tagging trip this past year. The plants that they purchased last year have been coming in and they look awesome. Check out the fine nursery stock that they reserved.

Greenscape Gardens

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER, THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!

Winter isn’t over until it's over. Think Denver

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Even the rain didn't stop the garden center traffic. We also had 3 truck loads of nursery stock arrive today. Its fun unloading trucks in the rain but the rain is greatly needed.
The driver bringing the roses called today and hybrid roses will be at the garden center on Tuesday.....sorry for the delay.

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PERENNIALS FOR SEMI-SHADE CONDITIONS

Aconitum Fischeri (Azure Monkshood)
Ajuga (Bugle)
Anemone japonica (Japanese Anemone)
Anemonella thalictroides (Rue Anemone)
Asperula (Woodruff)
Convallaria majalis (Lily-of-the-Valley)
Cornus canadensis (Bunchberry)
Dicentra eximia (Fringed Bleeding-heart)
Dicentra spectabilis (Bleeding-heart)
Dictamnus (Dittany or Gas Plant)
Epimedium alpinus (Barrenwort)
Eupatorium (Thoroughwort)
Geranium sanguineum (Blood Red Cranesbill)
Helleborus niger (Christmas-rose)
Hemerocallis flava (Daylily)
Heuchera sanguinea (Coral-bells)
Hibiscus Moscheutos (Swamp Rose-Mallow)
Hosta, in variety (Plantain Lily)
Hypericum (St. John's-Wort)
Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft)
Liatris pycnostachya (Cattail Gayfeather)
Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal flower)
Lychnis chalcedonica (Maltese Cross)
Mertensia virginica (Virginia Bluebells)
Myosotis palustris semperflorens (Dwarf Perpetual Forget-me-not)
Phlox divaricata
Platycodon (Balloon Flower)
Polygonatum biflorum (Smaller Solomon's-seal)
Primula, in variety (Primrose)
Thalictrum, in variety (Meadow Rue)
Trillium (Trillium)
Trollius europxus (Globeflower)
Veronica rupestris (Creeping Speedwell)

Check out the perennials available at Greenscape Gardens. Remember that our perennials are "GREENSCAPE GROWN" and acclimated for the St. Louis area.

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At 85 years of age, Morris marries LouAnne, a lovely 25-year-old. Because her new husband is so old, LouAnne decides that on their wedding night, she and Morris are to have separate bedrooms. The newlywed is concerned that her new husband may overexert himself if they spend the entire night together.

After the wedding festivities, LouAnne prepares herself for bed, and for the expected "knock" on the door. Sure enough, the knock comes, the door opens, and there is her 85-year-old groom, ready for action. They unite as one. All goes well, whereupon Morris takes leave of LouAnne, and she prepares to go to sleep.

After a few minutes, LouAnne hears another knock on her bedroom door. It's Morris! And he's again ready for more action! Somewhat surprised, LouAnne consents to further coupling. When the newlyweds are done, Morris kisses LouAnne, bids her a fond good night, and leaves.

LouAnne is set to go to sleep again. However, after a few short minutes, there is another knock at her door, and there he is again. Morris, as fresh as a 25-year-old and ready for a bit more action. And again they enjoy one another.

As Morris is once again set to leave, the young bride says to him, "I am thoroughly impressed that at your age, honey, I've been with guys less than a third your age who were only good once! You're a great lover, Morris."

Morris, somewhat embarrassed, turns to LouAnne and says, "You mean I was here already?"

ANOTHER SENIOR MOMENT FROM GREENSCAPE GARDENS

THE FOUNTAIN IN THE SHADE HOUSE

Greenscape Gardens

THE COLORS OF SPRING

Greenscape Gardens

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER, THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!

5 OUT OF 4 GARDENERS.......SHOP HERE
WE SELL MULCH......NOT OVERPRICED GAS

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The website has incredible traffic lately......spring is in St. Louis and many of the gardeners are gardening on the website. Over 35,xxx web visits in 14 months, over 1200 web visits the past week and over 129,xxx web pages viewed. Not bad for a locally owned garden center's website. We have been very surprised by the amount of customers commenting about the website and we therefore intend to keep updating.

Speaking of updates.............This past Saturday was the heaviest volume at the garden center EVER. Plus, this weekend was the highest volume in our brief 12 years. The garden center is stuffed. We have more nursery stock still coming plus multiple shipments of annuals flowers weekly.

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SHASTA DAISY, PERENNIAL PLANT SPOTLIGHT

Shasta daisy 'Becky' is the Perennial Plant of the week. Known botanically as Leucanthemum, Shasta daisies have long been popular in the perennial garden because they are so easy to grow.

The cultivar 'Becky' was selected for its long-blooming, 3-inch, bright white flowers with yellow centers. The numerous blossoms are held well above the foliage on sturdy stems that reach about 3 feet tall.

Shasta daisies can be used as either a specimen plant or in groupings for more impact. Although Shasta daisy is a hybrid, it has a wildflower type appearance and can also be used in more natural plantings. It is also a good choice for container gardens, cut flower plantings and butterfly gardens. The white blossoms with yellow centers are harmonious with just about any color combination.

Shasta daisy performs best in full sun, though it will adapt to partial shade, and demands moist, but well-drained soil. Shasta daisies can be propagated using stem cuttings in summer or by division in early spring or late summer. 'Becky' is dependably hardy and provides excellent color from July to September, especially if old flowers are removed to encourage rebloom.

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WISTERIA.....THE COLORFUL VINE

Nothing rivals a wisteria arbor in full bloom, but unfortunately, the quest to grow these lovely vines eludes most Midwestern gardeners.

There are two types of wisteria that are most commonly planted in our area; Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) and Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis). Japanese wisteria is well known for its fragrant violet blossoms borne in 8- to 20-inch-long clusters. The individual flowers of a cluster open gradually, beginning at the base. Chinese wisteria has slightly larger individual blooms, and the clusters are generally less than 12 inches long. The flowers of a cluster tend to all open at the same time. Chinese wisteria is not quite as hardy as the Japanese and also is not as fragrant. There are cultivars of both species that have white blossoms.

The vine itself is quite vigorous and will need a strong support to keep up with its fast growth. Wisteria can grow up to 10 feet a year, especially once it's established in the proper environment. Wisteria performs best in deep, moist, but well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline.
Since most gardeners are drawn to this plant for its blossoms, they are quite frustrated by the plant's notorious tendency to produce only vegetation. There are many potential explanations for this annoying problem, including immaturity of the plant, too much nitrogen, insufficient phosphorus, poor-quality plants, and too much shade. Wisteria need to reach a degree of maturity before they are able to produce flowers. In fact, in can take up to 15 years or longer for the blooming stage to arrive.

Those who have succeeded in raising wisteria often recommend root pruning, application of superphosphate, rigorous pruning of the shoots, and planting in full sun. And most importantly, start with good-quality plants that have been propagated from cuttings of plants known to flower while relatively young. If you know someone willing to share a great specimen, take cuttings of the stem tips in July. Avoid planting seedling vines because the genetic variability of seed reproduction makes it impossible to predict their blooming habit.

Wisteria produces its flowers on last year's wood in mid- to late May, so wait until late spring or early summer to prune the vine. Some experts recommend severe pruning, back to three or four buds, to keep the plant manageable and renewed. Even armed with this knowledge you aren't guaranteed success in raising wisteria. You can do everything just right and still end up waiting many years for the plant to bloom. Or it may bloom well some years and poorly or not at all in other years. But gardeners know that the elusive wisteria is well worth the effort when it does put on its show.