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In This Issue
Garden Club Privileges
SPECIALS
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WinterWith winter now upon us, the garden becomes a perfect retreat to enjoy the winter sunshine without overbearing heat or insects. It's also a perfect excuse to work off some of those winter calories that are gradually building up. This winter the nursery celebrates it's 29th birthday, with a big birthday bash organised for all our customers, their friends and families on the 7 & 8 August. Birthday Dollars are now in-store for you to start collecting, ready to make savings of up to 50% off your purchases over our birthday weekend. Colds & Flu Remedies
Banish those winter colds and sore throats with some healthy self-fix remedies, courtesy of your garden. We've all heard about Echinacea and it's proven medical benefits, but did you know there is a herb called an Arthritis Plant? Arthritis Plant, or 'centella asiatica' is often better known in it's cuisine preparation form as 'Gotu Kola', a Sri Lankan word for 'conical shaped leaf'. It's cooking uses are predominantly as accompaniments to curries and in asian salads. In Thailand gotu kola leaves are served as an afternoon pick me up and a detox; and the juice extract from the leaves is thought to relieve hypertension. This juice is also used as a general tonic for good health, whilst a poultice of the leaves can be used to treat open sores. Centella asiatica is used to re-vitalize the brain and nervous system, increase attention span and concentration, and combat aging. Tahitian Lime (citrus aurantifolia): Tahitian Lime trees offer an abundance of vitamins A, B & C, and are a soothing tonic for a sore throat when mixed with honey (served warm or cold). Lime is also recommended for headaches and fever, and the leaves may be used to relieve mosquito bites. Tahitian Lime trees bear fruit all year round, grow to approx 3m in height, and are easy to grow in a pot or garden setting. The fruit are seedless, small and green. Limes are a versatile and fashionable fruit, useful in cooking, desserts, and beverages. Echinacea purpurea: This renowned herb is medically proven to be beneficial in treating respiratory infections, as it helps to stimulate the immune system to help fight cold & flu symptoms. It is also used topically as an anti-inflammatory treatment for eczema, psoriasis, and herpes simplex. When freshly squeezed echinacea juice is used, the dose is 6 to 9 ml, or approximately 1½ teaspoons (= 7.5 ml). Short-term use (max 6-8 weeks) could boost cell-mediated immunity, but repeated use beyond that time may reduce the immune response. The herb should be stored away from light to maintain potency. Lemon Lemonade: The Lemonade looks like a lemon, but can be eaten straight from the tree, just like a mandarin or orange. It’s a lot sweeter than a shop-bought lemon with a refreshing tang. When juiced, the lemonade makes a cool refreshing drink in summer or can be added to hot water and honey as a soothing tonic for a winter cold. Packed with vitamins, the Lemonade fruit ripens in winter just in time to boost your immune system and bring a taste of summer to a cold day. Winter Garden-care
Now we are in the official dry season, new and flowering plants especially need moisture. Deep water plants weekly, adding a layer of mulch afterwards to prolong the need to re-water (don't mulch too thickly or rain won't penetrate soil as effectively) . Without regular water plants become stressed and need extra assistance at keeping pests and diseases at bay. Pests & diseases often begin from a dead plant, so ensure plant area is kept healthy by removing dead plants, fallen leaves and fruit. At this time of year it's important to feed winter crops and flowering annuals but it's preferable to move away from a high nitrogen feed to a low nitrogen one. This promotes strong growth and reduces the risk of fungal diseases. Spiking the lawn alleviates compaction and maximises the penetration of water deep into the root zone of the turf. Try watering in some lime and Eco 88 for added growth and lustre. Performing winter maintenance tasks allows you to keep a garden healthy and to prepare the soil for whatever rain may fall. Purple Carrots
Most of us are brought up believing carrots to be 'help-you-see-in-the-dark' orange, a staple vegetable for most roast dinners we take for granted. But as long ago as 2000 BC temple drawings from Egypt show a plant believed to be a purple carrot. The darker shade of carrot is highly nutritious and promotes many health benefits to consumers. It is also becoming more popular as a substitute for chemical and synthetic colouring as the purple of this carrot makes a natural dye product. Purple carrots offer more health benefits than orange carrots, such as double the quantity of beta-carotene proven to reduce cancer risks, vitamin A for healthy eye-sight and skin, and phytochemicals with their anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Purple carrots have the added benefit of anthocyanins that are naturally bred in purple carrots and are great antioxidants. Antioxidants work to protect the body’s cells from free radicals which are unstable molecules with potentially destructive side effects. Anthocyanins are antioxidants and they give many vegetables their red, purple, and blue coloring. In fact, purple carrots have 28 times more of these anthocyanins than an orange carrot. Anthocyanins were put to the test in 2007 and lab-based results indicated that these pigments were helpful against a variety of health concerns including cancer, diabetes, neurological diseases and bacterial infections. Of the many biological enhancements, anthocyanins include anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and antimicrobial properties. Purple carrot roots have been used to treat intestinal parasites, constipation, indigestion and tonsil issues. In ancient times, the purple carrot was used as medicine to treat everything from dog bites to syphilis. While the purple carrot may not be easy to come across in the supermarket, you can grow your own very easily (they are easier to grow than orange carrots), with our purple carrots seedlings ready for planting in a pot or garden. These carrots are fat free, low sodium, a good source of fibre, high in Vitamin A, cholesterol free, and DELICIOUS! Nutritionists and farmers everywhere are starting to get wise to the purple carrot’s appeal. While the colour at first may be off putting or exotically interesting, the purple carrot is more than just a visual show stopper. It can also be a healthy person’s best friend. SPECIALS
FREE 50L bag mulch of your choice when you spend just $25 or more in the nursery (excludes 'Aussie Red Chip'). See conditions. SAVE 50% off selected Dipladenias. WAS $8.95, NOW $4.99 (140ml pot). Only while stocks last. SAVE 10% off Bamboo Screens: Bamboo Screens come in 2.4m wide x 1.8m high lengths. BUY 3, SAVE 10% OFF. Sango-Kaku
Sango-Kaku is a cultivar of the Acer Palmatum species of Maple trees, and a popular variety in Japan. The wonderful brilliant yellow and apricot autumnal leaves have now fallen to reveal a very unusual vivid coral-red bark, making for a real statement piece in any stylish garden. New leaves emerge as red, turning green during the spring/summer. This plant grows to 6m tall and 5m wide. Thrives in partial shade and moist soil. Only while stocks last. What's New?
Fine Gifts & Homewares: Introducing a new range of glazed terracotta gifts and homewares to the nursery, from decorative rabbits & ducks to hurricane lamps & cherubs, these 'shabby chic' goodies will bring a country feel to your home.
Getaway Garden ClubStella Hospitality are offering Garden Club members specials at selected Mantra Resorts, Peppers Retreats, and Breakfree Resorts. NSW Winter Coastal Specials: Stay at Mantra On Salt Beach, Kingscliff for just $83 per night (min 2 ngts), a saving of 44%, PLUS Receive 2 breakfasts for the price of 1 daily. Escape the chill: SAVE up to 55% off when you stay at selected Mantra resorts in Cairns, Port Douglas, and Airlie Beach. Margaret WINS $100!Congratulations to Margaret Ward from Tweed Heads who won our weekly Lucky Drawer prize this week. Margaret took home our supplementary $100 gift voucher to spend at Boyds Bay Garden World when she checked her receipt number with our weekly drawer numbers. Each week that a prize goes unclaimed, the prize jackpots (up to $400). There are always 2 prizes to be won, this week the Main prize was a $200 gift voucher, PLUS a $100 supplementary voucher. The Lucky Drawer is drawn every Monday, you can check your receipt numbers either in-store or online. Final Word
It may seem like there is little to do in the garden during winter, but prepartion is the key to a succesful start on spring gardening. With that in mind, start by treating the lawn to a quick makeover: Lawn:
Plants:
Winter is a fantastic time of year here in the south-east, as not only is the weather cooler, the plants are not so stressed with the heat. The warm winter sun should entice you out in the garden to lap up a few rays of vitamin D, and enjoy your efforts from last season. If that isn't motivation enough, then the power of exercise that comes from gardening cannot be over-estimated in terms well-being. For personal winter gardening advice, ask one of our trained horticulturalists in-store. Happy Winter Gardening! |
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