Saturday, May 4 is Opening Day!
Happy Spring! Bassetti’s Crooked Arbor Gardens will open for the season on Saturday, May 4, 2024, from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm, and will remain open every Saturday through the end of September. Read on for my spring update.
Blossoms & birdwatching
Spring has been cool, and the blossoms on our flowering cherries have lasted longer than usual. The good news is, I’ve noticed an increase in bird activity this year. To bring them closer to the gardens for better observation, I set up a feeder with Nyjer seed to attract finches. Now, I enjoy sightings of goldfinches, Pine Siskins, House Finches, and the ever-cheeky Chickadees. Additionally, I’ve deployed another feeder with chili flakes in suet to deter squirrels and “large mice.” Surprisingly, I’ve attracted birds of various sizes, including Oregon Juncos, Chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers (both male and female), and my personal favorite, the Nuthatch. This bold bird sits, or I should say, hangs from the feeder and even dozes for over 20 minutes after it eats and dares other birds to approach. Earlier in the season, I had the pleasure of witnessing a beautiful flock of Bushtits lingering around the feeder for at least half an hour. Despite these delightful encounters, I’ve yet to learn the scientific names of these avian visitors.
Classes, art, socks, and the Garden Gallery
We’ll be hosting some classes on Saturdays and hope you can attend. Stay tuned for specific dates within the next two weeks. Some of the planned classes include “How to propagate perennials,” “Caring for your garden tools,” and “Creating a table display with dwarf plants.” Also, on August 10th, we’re excited to host an art event in collaboration with AOTB (Artists Outside The Box), featuring local professional artists showcasing their giclee prints, greeting cards, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, and metalwork. They’ll also be selling art supplies, including frames, canvases, and both new and used materials from their personal collections.
Bassetti’s has a new stock of Solemate socks for sale, and soon we’ll be offering San Diego hats for spring, summer, and fall. Keep an eye out for a fresh batch of glass art from Andrew Holmberg, as well as metal sculptures, ceramic artwork, cards, carved wood bowls, and glass dishes, all crafted by local artists. This year, we’re introducing a display of tropical plants in the Garden Gallery, some of which will be available for purchase.
Plants for sale
Our nursery stock is expanding, thanks to Owen’s hard work helping me propagate and pot up various plants. We have propagated selections from our alpine collection, perennial border, and cuttings from significant rhododendrons in our surrounding gardens. Additionally, our collection of dwarf conifers from the original nursery is now ready for sale, with some still maturing under protective covers. Here’s a partial list of what will be available:
Trees and Shrubs:
- Abies species
- Chamaecyparis pisifera sp.
- Cryptomeria japonica
- Picea sp.
- Tsuga sp.
- Hypericum
- Vaccinium sp.
Perennials:
- Mukdenia rosii
- Various cultivars of Hosta
- Lysimachia clethroides
- Phlomis fruticosa
- Erythronium revolutum
- Cyclamen coum
Alpine Plants:
- Several species of Saxifraga
- Sempervivum tectorum
- Haberlea rhodopensis
- Cultivars of Primula auricula
- Salix nakamurana var. yezoalpina
- Abies lasiocarpa ‘DuFlon’
- Tsuga canadensis ‘Minuta’
A heartfelt thank you to Benny, Dana, Owen, and Vicki for their invaluable help and hard work in the gardens and garden gallery. And to all of you who follow this blog, take care, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
– Leanette
