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www.touchofnature.com
Dahlia Special Deal
Caladium
Offer - 3 varieties on special from our vendors!
Music CD's
Garden PHOTO Contest
- Spring
2001 Catalog
- Download NOW!
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Function
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raise money for your non-profit organization? 55% profit!
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Contact us at:
- Touch of Nature, Inc.
- www.touchofnature.com
- 1475 Buford Drive
- Suite 403-306
- Lawrenceville, GA 30043
- Phone: 770-237-0993
- 800-438-9309 Code 02
- Fax: 770-237-0993
- info@touchofnature.com
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Hello Happy Gardeners,
Dahlias...one of the most popular show flowers at Garden Clubs &
Shows. Read more below about the history of these spectacular
flowers and how to ensure your success with these rewarding plants.
Our special for this newsletter is dedicated to Dahlias...order
one at Regular price and get a second of the SAME variety at 50%
discount (we will confirm your discount when we send your order
confirmation)! In addition, we have received a special
offer for 3 varieties of Caladiums
(Florida Elise, Florida Calypso and Mrs. Arno Nehrling). Also, a
new group of CD's featuring music from artist Renee Smith and our photo
contest winner for the month of March! Finally, our
tip to get lasting performance for your
bulbs!
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Dahlias - the Who, What, Where,
Why, When & How! |
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Dahlias came to Europe from Central
America (Mexico) at the end of the 18th century. They were
VERY popular in England, France, Germany and Holland and soon
became an exhibition flower in these countries as well as in
America, Australia and New Zealand. Elsewhere, they are
primarily a garden flower.
There are 10 groups of Dahlias with the Decorative, Ball and
Cactus types being the most popular. Within these groups,
you have an additional categorization based on flower
size: Giant, Large, Medium and Small.
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- Cactus
- Bloemswaart
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- Decorative
- Kelvin Floodlight
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- Decorative
- Nonnette
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- Cactus
- April Dawn
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Dahlias should be planted in a well-drained, organic rich
soil in a sunny or semi-sunny area where the plants will be in
direct sunlight for at least part of the day. Be sure to
plant them after the danger of frost is over. If there is
a chance of a late night frost, cover the young shoots with a
newspaper for protection. Plant Dahlias approximately 1
per 2 square feet in a hole which is slightly larger than the
clump and 6" deep in sandy soil or 4" deep in heavy
soil. Leave an impression in the soil so that when you
water, it does not run off.
After planting, be sure to water well during the growing
season. A handful of slug pallets around the plants will
help deter there critters. Topping (pinch out the growing
top after 4 to 6 pairs of leaves are showing) should be done to
promote the side shoots. Also, in windy areas, it is
advisable to tie the Dahlias to a stake for support.
Finally a high potash fertilizer needs to be applied when the
first buds are showing.
In the fall, as soon as the danger of frost is present, you should dig up the
clumps being extremely careful while digging by staying a foot
away from the base so as not to cut the roots. Remove much
of the dirt and cut the old stems about 6 inches from the
base. Store upside down so the water can drain and to
prevent stem rot. Keep the temperature between 40-48
degrees Fahrenheit away from drafts as this promotes rot as
well. Start clumps into growth in early spring, and when
shoots are 2 cm long, divide the clumps into 2 or more pieces,
each with a shoot, and plant again after danger of frost has
passed.
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CD's Featuring Artist Renee Smith |
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Beautiful
Music to Quiet the Mind, Soothe the Soul and Awaken the Child
Within...this music was created by Renee Smith, a composer, poet,
psychiatrist, and mom in response to her deep love for children and to
her observation of the healing and beneficial effects that creativity
has on the whole person. Order
one for yourself or use as a great gift for a friend or
loved one. |
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Garden PHOTO Contest: (How
to Enter) |
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Our second winner in Touch of Nature's
Garden PHOTO Contest is Jonathan Thomas from North Carolina.
Click here to see
his photo and read his thoughts about gardening. By the way,
Jonathan wins a $20.00 gift
certificate redeemable for any items in our catalogs...you can
too...just send in your photos today! |
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Touch
of Nature's Gardening
Tip |
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Be sure to deadhead the flowers of the
tulips and the daffodils so they will not form seedpods that
take away nutrients necessary for the bulb's next year's
performance. Also, be sure to fertilize them for the last
time right after they have bloomed with a 10-10-10 fertilizer or
bulb food. |
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Spring 2001 Catalog - Ready
to Download!!!
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We have added a feature that will
allow you to download our entire Spring 2001 Bulb &
Perennial Catalog complete with pricing information and growing
instructions. This feature uses the Adobe Acrobat Reader
which you can download for free if you don't already have it.
As always, all orders over $50.00 receive 10
FREE Gladiolus and, when you sign our guestbook, you will get
a 10% discount on your first
online order.
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We hope that some of these items will find a home in your garden, on
your patio, on your balcony or in your home. You can rest assured
that your order will have our fullest attention and we know that you
will be pleased with the quality results.
Until next time when our newsletter will feature Hostas, the 'Emperor
of the Shade Garden', Happy Gardening!
- Bert Leek
- Touch of Nature, Inc.
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