Star Nursery's Green Pages Summer 2020

GREEN pages Summer 2020

WATER ALL

IS ESSENTIAL FOR

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Your #1 Source for

DECORATIVE ROCK & HARDSCAPES • Pavers • Flagstone • Wall Block • Stepping Stones • River Rock • Boulders • Bulk Soil • Bulk Sand

•Create a Maintainable and Drought Tolerant Landscape •Use Flagstone for a Beautiful and Unique Walkway

Decorative Rock Yards Nevada

Arizona

Utah

Las Vegas

Kingman

Dixie

2600 West Ann Rd. (702) 216-STAR (7827)

4140 Stockton Hill Road (928) 757-STAR (7827)

1335 South Dixie Dr. (435) 414-5893

5380 Blue Diamond Rd. (702) 382-ROCK (7625)

Fort Mohave

8725 South Eastern Ave. (702) 407-2470

6325 Hwy 95 (928) 788-STAR (7827)

Pahrump

Lake Havasu

911 Buol Rd. (775) 727-5300

1141 N. Lake Havasu Ave. (928) 505-ROCK (7625)

St. George 1145 West Sunset Blvd.

(435) 688-STAR (7827)

DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE

Our Staff Editor-in-Chief Art/Design

Contributing Writers

Mackenzie Vesp Doug Ryan Taylor White Paul Noe (Dr Q) Joey Lynn Watt Mackenzie Vesp Christine MacRae

For a FREE copy of Green Pages subscribe @ www.starnursery.com Community Partners

Summer Calendar Exploring Above, Below and Beyond Water Is Essential For Everything Agaves Paloma Recipe Terrarium Houseplants Store Spotlight

Please help us set the record straight.

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Employee Spotlight

it’s survived a civil war skirmish, Five tOrNadOes, aNd eiGht GeNer atiONs OF Gr aNdkids.

But a siNGle BOrer iNFestatiON cOuld kill this tree iN 30 daYs.

Give your customers premium insect protection with ANNUAL Tree & Shrub drench. ANNUAL contains Systemaxx® to accelerate and improve uptake by the roots and provide the ultimate systemic protection for your customers’ most cherished plants. With ANNUAL, you can offer maximum protection without a budget-busting cost. Give your customers the protection and value they deserve.

See us online at bonide.com

BEST SOLUTIONS

Garden Centers Las Vegas, NV Ann Road & Simmons 2600 W. Ann Rd. North Las Vegas, NV 89031 (702) 216-STAR (7827) West Cheyenne & Tenaya 7330 W. Cheyenne Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89129 (702) 253-STAR (7827) W. Charleston Blvd. & Cimarron 8170 W. Charleston Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89117 (702) 360-STAR (7827) W. Tropicana & Fort Apache 9480 W. Tropicana Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89147 (702) 278-STAR (7827) Boulder Hwy. & E. Tropicana 5340 Boulder Highway Las Vegas, NV 89122 (702) 435-STAR (7827) S. Eastern & Pebble 8725 S. Eastern Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89123 (702) 333-STAR (7827) Blue Diamond & Lindell 5380 Blue Diamond Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89139 (702) 444-STAR (7827)

Pahrump, NV Buol Rd. & Hwy. 372 911 Buol Rd. Pahrump, NV 89048 (775) 727-5300

Star Nursery has been privately owned and operated for 36 years. We are proud to be the premier garden center for all your landscaping needs. Currently, we operate in Southern Nevada, Southern Utah and Northern Arizona with a total of 16 Garden Centers and 9 Decorative Rock Yards. We cater to both residential and commercial clientele.

Star Nursery offers the best in garden supplies. From a large assortment of trees to shrubbery, drought tolerant plants, succulents and houseplants, we have landscape material to suit anyone’s lifestyle. We offer the largest and most complete line of products that include irrigation supplies, gardening accessories, yard tools, succulents, houseplants, pottery and our very own exclusive line of Dr. Q’s Garden Products. This line of products consists of soils and fertilizers that are specifically formulated to help you succeed with your gardening efforts in the Southwest Region. We also carry a selection of hardscape products ranging from flagstone and pavers to decorative rock and bulk soils.

Find everything you need to maintain a beautiful landscape or garden space. We pride ourselves in giving our customers the right price and best advice.

Star Nursery -Your Garden’s Partner for Every Bloomin’ Thing Since 1983.

Lake Havasu, AZ Lake Havasu Ave. & College Dr. 1141 N. Lake Havasu Ave. Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403 (928) 505-ROCK (7625)

Kingman, AZ Stockton Hill Rd. & Gordon Dr. 4140 Stockton Hill Rd. Kingman, AZ 86409 (928) 757-STAR (7827)

Fort Mohave, AZ Hwy. 95 & Boundary Cone Rd. 6325 Hwy. 95 Fort Mohave, AZ 86426 (928) 788-STAR (7827)

Mesquite, NV

Bullhead City, AZ

Commerce Cir. & Pioneer 549 Commerce Cir. Mesquite, NV 89027 (702) 613-4770

Mohave Dr. & Miracle Mile 1579 Mohave Dr. Bullhead City, AZ 86442 (928) 758-STAR (7827)

St. George, UT Sunset Blvd. & Bluff St. 1145 W. Sunset Blvd.

St. George, UT 84770 (435) 688-STAR (7827) Dixie Dr. & Gubler Ln. 1335 S. Dixie Dr. St. George, UT 84770 (435) 674-STAR (7827)

Washington, UT Telegraph Rd. & 500 W. 385 W. Telegraph Rd. Washington, UT 84780 (435) 986-0820

SUMMER CALENDAR June - Did you say mulch? This is the time to replenish mulch layers in the garden, to cool the soil, suppress weeds and retain soil moisture. Cedar mulch can help keep insects away from your herbs and vegetables without the use of any pesticide. Dr. Q’s PAYDIRT™ is a premium grade, fully composted garden mulch. A good mulch layer is about two to three inches thick. Keep mulch away from the stems of flowers to avoid stem rot and the trunks of woody plants to avoid crown or root rot.

- Keep an eye out for Bermuda grass. This is an aggressive lawn that resembles a grassy weed. It can be difficult to control in many landscapes and it tends to grow rapidly this time of year. Removal and control methods vary with your situation. See your Star Nursery Plant Specialist for options.

- Tree pruning? Thinning only. If you did not prune your trees earlier and you are concerned that they may be damaged by summer winds or they inhibit access to parts of your yard, you can thin out your desert type trees that have grown too thick. Acacias, Mesquites, Olives, Sumacs and other evergreens can benefit from selective thinning of crossing and drooping branches. Do not perform heading cuts during the hot summer season, as this encourages new growth which is too stressful in the heat.

- Get Your Weeds under control. Using a pre-emergent like Amaze Weed and Grass Preventor can help deter the growth of new weeds. These products generally last for about four months. As February would have been a good time to do something about your spring weeds, now is a good time to begin the battle against summer weeds.

- Leaves sunburn too! Evidence of leaf burn is death in the middle of the leaf. This occurs when there is not enough water within the plant for moisture to evaporate, there for the leaf overheats then burns. Lack of water, too much water (soil that is lacking sufficient oxygen), wind and heat can all cause leaf burn.

- Treat for grubs. Whether you applied your first treatment for grubs in March or not, June is another active month for egg laying and growth. Bio Advanced Complete Insect Killer is a granular that is carefully spread at the base of susceptible or known to be infected plants. Read the label carefully for all safety and application instructions.

July - Smart Watering Practices. Avoid the temptation to drown your plants just because it’s hot outside! Our clay soils hold water for a long time. If you use a drip system, make sure you water no more than every other day (unless you have sandy, rapid draining soil).

Remember that deep, infrequent watering will help build strong roots and keep weeds down. Avoid top watering of vegetables to reduce the chance for disease.

- Pest Control. If you are dealing with pests as well as nutrition issues, try BioAdvanced Rose and Flower care. This product will deal with insects, disease and safely fertilize your plants all at once.

Treat squash bugs with Sevin® Dust.

- It’s Grasshopper and Cicada season, not the apocalypse. July 2019, the Southwest experienced record numbers of grasshoppers invading our streets and neighborhoods. Entomologists explained the over population was because of an unusually wet year. July is also when the mating calls of the male cicada can be heard buzzing.

Although both the grasshopper and cicadas are an annoyance, they are not harmful and don’t bite. Both can do damage to young leaves and twigs. Usually they do not do extensive damage or kill your plants.

- Plant summer vegetable seeds. Now is a great time to plant seeds for corn, beans and squash plants. It’s also a good time to plant tomato seeds for a fall crop. Plant now to have luscious garden produce all fall long.

August - Harvest vegetables and fruits. If you have squash or tomatoes in your garden, keep on top of the harvest. Failure to pick early will give you woody, overgrown squash and mushy tomatoes. Keep your eye on this month’s apples, pears, grapes, peaches and figs.

Continue to harvest zucchini, tomatoes and other prolific summer vegetables.

- Maintain roses. Roses are going through their roughest time; don’t worry, they’ll come back in fall. For now, you can make their life easier by keeping faded flowers cut, providing them with a cooling mulch layer and giving them a mild fertilizer like Dr. Q’s Rose & Flower Food.

- Watch lawn weeds. Keep an eye on broadleaf lawn weeds, such as spurge. Remove them by hand or with a broadleaf weed killer, such as Bio Advanced All-in-One Weed Killer. Preventative maintenance is a key point. If allowed to set seed, they will cause trouble for years to come.

- Deep soaking of pines and ash trees. Browning and dropping of needles from deep within the branches is normal for pines, especially in the summer. Occasionally, dead needles on the outer branches of Mondell Pine, (Pinus eldarica) is a sign of blight.

Laying a soaker hose in a spiral shape around the base of the trees, extending just outside the drip line and soaking for an hour will help reduce the late summer stress on these beautiful trees.

Besides deep soaking of pines, adding a deep soak to ash trees will help them stay hydrated to ward off sooty canker, a fungus called Hendersonula Toruloides, that causes wilting and death to branches. Now would also be an ideal time to clean out the inside branches of cypress, junipers and arborvitaes. Attach a highpowered spray nozzle to a hose and spray out all the dead needles within the canopy. This will help prevent spider mites from establishing webbing in the branches. An untreated spider mite infestation allows the mite to suck on the needles, stunting the plants growth and eventually killing the tree.

Do you ever wish you had more help in the garden?

Someone to turn the soil, help clean up all the leaves, keep unwanted pests and insects to a minimum, pollinate and even get down deep and clear out the decaying leftovers of vegetables from the season before?

We all need a little help in the garden and believe me, there’s a tight network of anxious critters willing to do their part to maintain a healthy garden in the most holistic way.

1st let’s dig below

and finally let’s look beyond

Earthworms are probably the most well known garden mate and equally the most reliable gauge for seeing if your soil is healthy.

Earthworms are known for being a building block for soil formation because their castings are the excretion of beneficial microbes, organic matter and soil. Think of earthworms as living blenders, processing up to 100% of total leaf fall during the year.

They can burrow as deep as three feet, pulling down leaves and garden debris, to hibernate until conditions are ideal for survival, sometimes up to 6 months. If there is not enough moisture in the soil, the earthworms will die. Conversely, should the soil become too wet and cold, they will surface to find sustainable oxygen. I’m sure we’ve all come outside in the morning to find little dried up worms on the hot concrete and wondered “why and how.” Well now you know, it’s possible you are over watering and there isn’t enough oxygen in the soil.

You’ve heard us talk a lot about ladybugs, if you don’t see ladybugs in your garden, don’t worry, Millions of ladybugs are at work throughout the community. You might not see them because they have already done their job in your garden and have moved on.

Ladybugs are only present in gardens that have aphids and other plant-eating insects. Once they devour all the insects, as many as 5 dozen per day, they move on to the next plant. So, not seeing a ladybug in the garden is a good sign that you are not struggling with an aphid or other plant-eating insect infestation.

2nd let’s explore above Common lizards, whiptails and geckos are another highly recognized and hard-working garden mate which need no introduction. They are commonly seen scurrying across your hardscape as you open the sliding screen door to enter your back yard. You might notice those little ones clinging to the cinder block wall, absorbing as much heat as possible before the sun goes down. What you might not know is that these ladies and gentlemen have their own integrated pest management method to help you manage pests in the garden. The presence of lizards in the garden means that nature is doing its part to control unwanted pests. Lizards not only eat insects, they eat spiders and other small bugs. This includes beetles (AKA cockroaches) ants, termites, flies and yes, scorpions. That’s right, they love them and they do a wonderful job keeping them and other small insects, spiders and bug populations at a manageable level.

Butterflies bring such life, beauty and inspiration to a garden.

Robert Frost’s first professionally published poem, which appeared on the front page of the New York newspaper The Independent, reads; “That fate had me thee for the pleasure of the wind, With those great careless wings”.

Oh, how freeing it would be to dance upon the wind and know that you were created for such a pleasure. Butterflies do more than just dance. They are a vital part in the pollination process, despite the fact they sometimes get overlooked. We all know that butterflies have an incredible journey before they transform into a butterfly. It’s no wonder we are fascinated by the potential of change that is indeed possible to occur in all living creatures.

And let’s not overlook the mighty and powerful hummingbird, who is not afraid to tell you when it’s time to refill the feeder. The hummingbird is another garden workhorse. They are constantly moving, bringing life to the canopy of not only green leafy shade trees, but to the beautiful majestic palms where they find safe refuge. Their constant need for food and movement sends vibrations throughout the garden, shaking loose pollen and sweet nectar that many other garden dwellers enjoy.

So have no fear, the burden of a picturesque garden is not on your shoulders alone. Just look beyond the flowers, veggies, shrubs and trees; there’s a whole network of hard-working insects and animals coexisting and making this world a beautiful place.

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WATER ALL

IS ESSENTIAL FOR LIVING THINGS

Let’s repeat that together..., Water is ESSENTIAL for all living things.

Regardless of whether you have a fruit tree orchard, vegetable garden, drought tolerant desert shrubs, shade trees, evergreens or lawn, they all require water. The question is, “how much?” This simple two-worded question is the single most asked question at the nursery and proves to be one of the most not-so-simple questions to answer.

There are many factors to consider when establishing a watering schedule for plants. The most important factors to consider are soil texture and plant specific requirements. Keep in mind, these factors are always changing, so a plants watering needs will also change.

Soil texture might be the most important factor to consider.

The makeup of the soil could vary from clay, silt and sand, or a combination of all three, in any given area of the yard. Knowing the difference will be key to proper irrigation.

Out of the three, sand has the largest particle size. Therefore, sand has the largest pore space between each grain of sand and water will drain the quickest. This is why, if you have mainly sandy soil, the plants will dry out quicker and more frequent watering is necessary.

Sandy soils do not keep a moisture level that holds enough water to benefit the fine absorbent roots that provide the plant with water and nutrient uptake.

Clay has the smallest particle size. It is extremely fine. This means the pore space between each grain is so small that water remains in the pore space, resulting in poor drainage. Water doesn’t easily percolate down and has the potential to flood. Once it finally penetrates, water stays too long in the soil, resulting in an imbalance between water and oxygen, choking the root system and causing death to the plant.

The size of silt is in between clay and sand. Although it might seem logical for it to be the perfect texture, it’s not. The ideal soil profile is a mix between the three textures, referred to as loam, which has an equal amount of water retention and oxygen.

The goal of irrigation is to provide an environment conducive to root growth. Once the balance between organic matter, minerals, water and oxygen have been established, the fine absorbing root hairs will grow. These roots take up water and minerals, supplying them to the rest of the plant. The result is a vigorously growing plant. As the plant grows, it is necessary to provide additional water by expanding and adding irrigation to the root system.

Moisture meters are wonderful tools to measure the amount of moisture in the soil. If you don’t have a moisture meter, it is possible to gauge if there is adequate soil moisture by hand. Simply grab a handful of soil from approximately 4-6 inches deep, close to the plant’s dripline. (The dripline is an imaginary line directly under the branch spread of a plant, where should it rain, the raindrops would fall from the outermost branches and create a dripline on top of the soil). Once you have a handful, give a squeeze. If water releases between your fingers or the sample is muddy, the soil is too wet. If you open your hand and the sample falls apart, the soil is too dry. If you release your grip and the soil keeps the shape of your hand, your moisture level in the soil is adequate. Another easy way

to gauge, is to observe the wetting patterns on the ground. Below the plant’s canopy should be an even wetting pattern extending, at minimum, to the edge of the plants drip line.

As the seasons change, the plant’s water requirements will change.

This is when it’s important to understand your plants requirements and sun exposure. All plants transpire. Transpiration is when water vapors are lost through the leaves of the plant. It’s the plant’s way of cooling its leaves, think of it as “plant perspiration”. A plant in full sun will transpire quicker than a plant in shade or partial shade. Therefore, a plant in an environment that is too harsh will be drawing water from the plant’s water reserves, causing it to expel water quicker than it can draw up from the soil, resulting in dieback.

This brings us back to the “right plant in the right place” motto. A drought tolerant plant will need less irrigation than a moderate water plant and will do much better in full sun exposure. These plants usually have smaller leaves and require less transpiration, needing less irrigation. Evergreen plants have thick waxy leaves that require more water and transpiration during the extreme heat of summer.

When choosing plants, consider creating “hydrozones.” These are plant groupings which have similar watering requirements. Which makes setting the irrigation timer simple and efficient.

For an in-depth breakdown of irrigation requirements for each type of tree and/or shrub during each season, please read STARNOTE 900A “How Much Should You Water Your Shrubs and Trees?” available at www.starnursery.com and the Star Nursery app.

Lawns have different irrigation requirements and soil texture plays an important role. Therefore, it’s essential to prepare the soil of your lawn in the early stages of planning. If the lawn is already established, add top dressing at the rate of ¼ inch coverage to improve the soil. Organic matter helps breakdown any compaction that might have bound up the soil just under the lawns root system.

In addition, it is advisable to implement a “soak cycle.” Newer model irrigation timers have this setting and are relatively easy to program. The purpose of the “soak cycle” is to run water for one minute to each zone or station, then immediately follow up with normal scheduled watering. This process “primes” the soil, helping the water absorb and improve infiltration, preventing runoff and encouraging better absorption.

For an in-depth breakdown of irrigation requirements for lawn, please read STARNOTE #900B “How Much Should You Water Your Lawn?” available at www.starnursery.com and the Star Nursery app.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority has established seasonal watering guidelines and restrictions for all residents. They can be viewed at https://www.snwa.com Irrigation is an important and ever-changing aspect of plant health, vitality and should be evaluated often. Until a plant has been established, it’s hard to determine optimum soil moisture against the needs of the plant. Should you need additional information, our skilled staff at all Star Nursery locations are always ready and available to help. For a service fee, Dr. Q will make a house call and you will receive up to one hour of consultation. To set up an appointment, call (702) 771-STAR (7827), email- housecalls@ starnursery.com or visit your local Star Nursery location.

AGAVE Agaves are beautiful, dramatic symbols of life and longevity that have survived for centuries in the harshest environments.

Originally from central Mexico, they have been recorded in history during the New World explorations as far back as the 14th century.

The Aztecs considered the agave “A gift from the God’s” for its fiber and sweet nectar, which they used to sweeten foods. Agave’s life span was once thought to be 100 years, lending them the name “Century Plant” but the truth is they live approximately 10-25 years. There are over 270 recognized species of agaves around the world. Cuba, Jamaica, Colombia, Venezuela, Morocco and Trinidad, just to mention a few, have naturalized specific species through human cultivation practices. Regardless of the country of origin, the common thread between species is the use of its sweet nectar and fiber. Many cultures over the centuries used the nectar to produce many kinds of alcoholic beverages, but the most recognized is the tequila agave, (Agave tequilana), also called blue agave, (Agave azul).

Agaves are monocarpic plants. Monocarpic plants are plants that flower, set seeds, and then die. Consider it the plant’s last effort to ensure reproduction. They spend their whole life growing and storing up energy for one beautiful towering flower with enough seeds to spread and give ample opportunity for offspring. So, when you see an established agave send up its magnificent flower stalk, take lots of pictures, collect seeds and start planning what will replace it once it dies. Some people’s opinion is that the agave would live longer if it could live in its native environment.

Inferring that the agave’s life has been shortened because of human intervention, that the fertilizers and irrigation used to promote growth, speeds up the aging process and shorten its lifespan. Some also believe if you cut the flower stalk deep within the plant once it becomes visible you can attempt to prolong the agave’s life, however, there is no definitive proof that this will save it.

Agaves are susceptible to “agave snout nose weevils” (Scyphophorus acupanctatus). Especially if the agave is on the verge of flowering.

Female weevils carry bacteria in their saliva. As the females lay their eggs, they chew on the plant, leaving the bacteria to break

down the plant. This makes it easier for the larvae, white c-shaped legless grubs, to feed on the plant, causing the plant to collapse. It is important to treat the weevil when they are in the grub stage and active, to prevent them from spreading to other plants. Once you see wilting, if you wish to save the plant, it is vital to treat with a systemic insect control. We recommend Bonide ANNUAL TREE & SHRUB Insect Control with SYSTEMAXX. Always read and follow the application instruction within the label.

Star Nursery carries an array of agave plants throughout the year.

Here is a sample of current agave plants available for purchase.

Contact the Star Nursery location in your area for species and availability.

Century Plant (Agave americana) - This massive, spiny succulent that grows to six feet is a real eye-catcher. After ten years or more it produces a 15-foot flower stalk with transplantable offsets at the base. Full sun, any well drained soil, infrequent water once established.

Variegated Century Plant (Agave americana marginata) - With the same structure and maintenance as the century plant, this agave is multicolored. It has a thick, dark green leaf with yellow edges. It is a perfect addition to any desert landscape.

Twin Flowering Agave (Agave geminiflora) - This unusual variety grows symmetrically to 3 feet in diameter and 3 feet tall with single yellow and red flower stalk. Softer tips make it superior for walkways and pedestrian areas.

Silver Queen Agave (Agave americana mediopicta) - Smaller variety of Century Plant shows white stripes. After several years it produces a tall flower stalk. It’s offsets at the base can be transplanted. This agave likes full sun, any well drained soil and infrequent watering once established.’

Perrys Agave (Agave parryi) - This massive variety grows to six feet and has patterned, sharp-spined leaves. After about ten years it produces a 15-foot flower stalk. Suckers at base of plant can be relocated. Give it full sun, any well drained soil and infrequent watering once established.

Variegated Caribbean Agave (Agave angustifolia marginata) This symmetrical, tropical agave has creamy white variegation on the edge of narrow, light green leaves. It grows to 4 feet in diameter and 4 feet tall and prefers some afternoon shade. This agave produces a single flowering stalk with greenish-yellow flowers. It needs infrequent watering once established.

Blue Glow Agave (Agave ‘Blue Glow’) - This beautiful, smaller agave has solitary rosettes slowly growing to 2 feet wide 3 feet tall.

It looks great in rockscapes and dry desert areas. Plant in full sun, amended well drained soil and deep infrequent watering.

Scabra Agave (Agave americana ‘Scavra’) - This medium to large sized plant grows 3 feet tall by 5 feet wide. Its gray leaves are very spiny and have a characteristic roughness that lends it its common name. Give it full sun, any well drained soil and infrequent watering once established.

Artichoke Agave (Agave parryi ‘Truncata)- It has a dense symmetrical form with blue-green leaves that unfold like an artichoke and shows tall yellow flower spikes. Underground rhizomes spread to eventually form extensive colonies. Plant in full sun with any well drained soil and deep infrequent watering for best results.

Mescal Agave (Agave colorata) - It grows broad, blue-grey leaves to 4 feet. Its decorated with intricate marking and edged with large dark teeth. It will produce a single flower stalk with reddish buds that open to become bright yellow flowers. This plat is water efficient and tolerates poor soil, high heat, drought and wind.

Octopus Agave (Agave vilmoriniana) - It grows arching twisted leaves, 3 to 4 feet long that resemble octopus’ arms. It produces a tall, yellow flower stalk through the year. It does best in morning sun, amended well drained soil and deep infrequent watering once established.

Shark Skin Agave (Agave Scabra ‘Sharkskin’) - This succulent grows to about 3 feet tall with evenly spaced, thick, triangular, dark gray-green leaves that have smooth edges and prominent sturdy terminal spines. It will ‘sucker’ to produce colonies of this beautiful plant. Plant in full sun and continue deep infrequent watering.

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Recycling is SMART! Do your part and be rewarded! Bring in your empty black plant pots and receive IN-STORE CREDIT toward future garden purchases.

We accept the following sizes: • 1 Gallon..........................5¢ per pot • 3 Gallon........................10¢ per pot • 5 Gallon........................25¢ per pot • 15 Gallon.......................60¢ per pot

cocktail hour THE PERFECT PALOMA

INGREDIENTS 2 oz. agave tequila juice from 1/2 of a grapefruit juice from 1/2 of a lime 1-1/2 tbs simple syrup 1/2 cup club soda 1 tbs kosher salt grapefruit & lime wedges sprig of fresh rosemary

Enjoy gathering fresh ingredients from your own garden to create a refreshing cocktail fit for a sunny summer afternoon.

TO MAKE Start by adding kosher salt to a shallow dish. Rub the rim of your glass with lime juice. Dip rim of glass in kosher salt.

Squeeze the juice from your lime and grapefruit into your glass. Add tequila and simple syrup. Give it a stir. Add ice.

Top with club soda. Garnish with wedges of lime, grapefruit, and sprig of fresh rosemary.

Repeat as needed.

DO-IT-YOURSELF

Step 1: Layer your foundation in order of charcoal, sand or gravel, sheet moss and

Succulent

Terrarium What you'll need: Pebbles Sand or gravel Accents, such as dried moss or decorative rocks Charcoal Sheet moss Dr. Q’s Cactus & Succulent Mix Assorted succulents

finally,

Dr. Q’s Succulent Mix.

Step 2: Gently remove your succulents from their pots and remove most of the soil from the roots.

Step 3: Decide on your arrangement.

Consider your root sizes and make room in the soil.

Step 4: Carefully place your succulents in their designated areas. Secure in place by adding a little soil as needed.

Step 5: Add stones, moss and any other embellishments you like.

Step 6: Using a water filled syringe or dropper, water your succulents only if the roots are dry

Small rocks

when you plant them.

Glass jar or bowl

Care Tip: Be careful not to overwater your

Optional: Chopstick for adjustments and/or paintbrush

succulents, this will lead to root rot which will

for dusting off dirt from succulents.

kill your plants. Only water when necessary, an average of 10-14 days for most varieties.

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STORE SPOT LIGHT Dixie Drive & Gubler Lane 1335 S. Dixie Drive St. George, UT 84770

The Star Nursery location on Dixie Drive in St. George is our third established location in Utah. It has a spacious 7+ acre parcel with a beautiful retail store that has a second story loft and a large rock yard.

The Lilywhite family from Northern Utah were the original owners and builders of the establishment. It was formally known as Lilywhites Plant World Nursery. This nursery was built to be a high-end garden center, but it struggled to serve the community.

The Lilywhite’s Northern Utah approach didn’t work as well in Southern Utah. In 2014, Star Nursery needed to expand due to the high demand for nurseries in the St. George area. The Dixie store perfectly complimented the other two Utah locations. The company wanted to have a store closer to the Bloomington area and the retirement communities. Due to the size of the store and the quantity of merchandise being sold, a large rock yard was added to existing space on the property. With the growing population in Southern Utah, Star Nursery was happy to

add another one-stop shop for customers to beautify their landscapes.

The nursery backs up to a city walking trail which is adjacent to the Santa Clara river. It is a remarkable setting and many times throughout the day you can hear the pastoral sounds of the horses, cattle and sheep. The river is home to all kinds of waterfowl, fishes and bullfrogs. The location creates a very natural setting which is buffeted from the city street and traffic noise.

The employees at Dixie Drive work hard and take pride in the store.

They have created a team of associates that work well together. They are an enthusiastic and energetic group that welcome customers with a smile. Please take the time to stop in and say “Hi” the next time you are in St. George.

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ricia Mower, otherwise known as TC, is the Assistant Manager at our Sunset location in St. George. She was born in California but spent most of her younger years growing up in the White Mountains of Shumway, Arizona. This is where she helped her mother nurture their half acre garden and apple orchard. It wasn’t until after high school that she and her family moved to St. George. She has always enjoyed being active. In school she played softball, volleyball and ran track. Today, she still enjoys being active and has also found a new love for pickleball. Living in St. George means she spends lots of time hiking, swimming and hanging out with her 10 grandchildren.

She enjoys working at Star Nursery and learning more about the different plant varieties. She also loves helping customers beautify their yards and giving advice on what plants will thrive in their living spaces. TC is known for her superior customer service and going above and beyond to make sure each customer walks out of the store happier than when they arrived. TC is looking forward to traveling more in retirement and enjoying all the beauty St. George has to offer.

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maree Griffin, a Lead Salesman at the Ann Road location is a Las Vegas native who loves being a part of the Star Nursery family. Growing up in a small family helped him learn the importance of hard work and independence. He applies the skills he learned as a young boy to his career. When he started at Star Nursery, his knowledge of horticulture was sparse. Over the years, he has learned so much from his peers and supervisors. Amaree has worked hard to advance to his current position. He will continue to work and grow within our company. We are lucky to have an employee like Amaree who wants to make this company better!

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elanie Lee is a Floor Supervisor at our Mesquite location. Born and raised in Mesquite and the surrounding area, Melanie has always loved the small town feel of her community.

She married her high school sweetheart and they have four children together. Family is the most important thing to Melanie, which is why she began working at Star in the first place. Melanie hasn’t always worked in the horticulture business; she was in the medical field for many years and was looking for a career that was more flexible with raising a family. Melanie has always loved gardening and being outside, so working at a plant nursery was sensible. She loves coming to work each day, learning about plants, being around happy customers and helping people. She has worked at Star for almost two years and has loved working with the Mesquite team. She is looking forward to more grandchildren and being able to travel with her husband. We appreciate all the hard work Melanie puts into making our Mesquite store so successful.

Mailing Address Space

Thank you

Essential Workers!

All of us here at Star Nursery would like to say thank you to all of the essential workers that are tirelessly fighting to keep our communities safe and healthy. As we stand together and continue social distancing, we want to express our appreciation to those that have jobs where social distancing is not an option.

We want to thank all the medical workers that are on the frontlines saving lives and combating COVID-19. We also want to thank police officers, firefighters, EMTs and all those who are actively responding to emergencies day in and day out. In times when it is safest to stay at home, these heroes are going to work to ensure our communities are protected. We thank them for all they are doing and won’t forget their heroic acts.