CHILDREN'S CLASSES - EVENING
QUESTION:  Would you ever consider having some children's class after school or later in the day on weekends?  The current schedule conflicts with our sports schedule and other school activities.

ANSWER:  I just wanted to let you know that we have added a children's gardening series to our calendar of events for 2008.  The series consists of one class per month from August to December.  The fee is $5.00 per class or $20.00 for the series of 5.  They run in the evening from 5:30 - 6:30.

Here are the topics: 
August - Building Soil/Decomposition
September - Finding, Gathering, Saving Seeds
October - Packaging the Harvest
November - Propagating House Plants
December - Coaxing Flower Bulbs

If any of these sound like something you may be interested in, you may find more information on our website at www.ashcombe.com.

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JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA
QUESTION: I'm looking for some specific plants and hope you can tell me if they are on your arrival list.  Juniperus virginiana Emerald Sentinel is a native I'm most anxious to find.  I'm also interested in Yak Rhododendron. 

ANSWER:  We do not carry Juniperus virginiana Emerald Sentinel because it is a carrier for Cedar Apple Rust.  We do not stock this plant in order to protect the quality and health of our Crabapples and other susceptible plants.  We will have some varieties of the Yak Rhododendron.  These will be available some time during April. 

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MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
QUESTION:  I have been reading about the Monarch butterfly and found out they need milkweed to survive.  Does Ashcombe sell this perennial plant? 

ANSWER:  Yes, we carry this perennial.  It is Asclepias Tuberosa "Butterfly Weed."  It is available May through July and sells in quarts for $4.99 and in gallons for $9.99.

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STRAWBERRIES
QUESTION:  I would like to start a new strawberry bed this spring and would like to know the best time to plant new plants?  And when you will have plants ready for sale?

ANSWER:  Our strawberries just started to come in this week (3/4/08) -- it will be another week to a week and a half before all of the varieties are here.  You may plant them outside as soon as the ground is workable.

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WHITE BIRCH
QUESTION:  My wife and I are looking to purchase a few trees to plant.  We want something that isn't going to grow too tall (like an oak, elm, etc.) and it would not necessarily have to flower.  I am fond of the white birth and would like to plant one of them in the yard.  Do you carry them?  If so, how small are they?  What is the normal mature height of the White Birch?  Also, are there any other smaller trees that you could recommend for the decoration which will not mature to be over say 20 feet.  I know a Dogwood would be one choice, but are there any others which are commonly used and fair well in this area?

ANSWER:  We do not recommend White Birch because it is susceptible to Birch Borer in our climate.  We recommend Heritage River Birch instead.  It grows about 30-40' tall and has beautiful white, salmon & cinnamon bark that flakes into big curls. 

Other trees you might want to try include the following:  Redbud (Cercis); Serviceberry (Amelanchier); Fringe Tree (Chionanthus); Crabapples (Malus); Flowering Cherries (Prunis; Paperback Maple (Acer griseum).