Downy mildew is a highly destructive disease. Although best known as a rose disease, downy mildew will attack vegetables, other ornamentals, and fruit plants. It can completely defoliate a plant in 4-7 days and can kill the plant.

In general, high humidity and moderate temperatures favor downy mildew. Moist air from puddles, rain or overhead watering is enough to allow the pathogen to germinate. The optimum temperature for downy mildew to spread is 65 degrees, but the spores are killed at 81 degrees or higher.

Downy mildew will first appear on upper surfaces of leaves as patches or spots. On the underside of the leaves directly below each spot, a downy or furry growth is produced. The fungus is made up of numerous branched stalks with spores on the end. Downy mildew needs a film of water on the leaves for spores to germinate.

Regular watering from overhead and thick growth from close spacing create ideal conditions for this disease, which can spread very quickly under such conditions.

Control:
Remove all infected leaves and dispose of carefully, in closed containers so the spores cannot spread.
Spray infected plants every 7 days with Aliette until temperatures go above 81 degrees and/or unblemished new growth appears.
Avoid overhead irrigation at the end of the day. Try to leave enough time for the plants to dry off before nightfall.
Thin out undergrowth of plants if necessary.

Your garden is now ripe for a devastating invasion of aphids, slugs and snails. Before we devise our battle plan to rid your garden of these pests, let's look at the inter-relationships in your backyard!

Aphids are to ants what cows are to humans. Ants actually protect and herd aphids for the honeydew nectar they secrete. Ants use their antennae to stroke the aphids, thereby activating the secretion cycle. Thusly, ant control should be part of the preventative cycle regarding aphid infestation. Get rid of the ants and it is much easier to get rid of their herds!

Aphids can be brought under control culturally if the infestation is moderate. Often a thorough hosing of the afflicted plants will wash aphids away.

Biological controls include lady bugs and praying mantis colonies. Organic solutions include insecticidal soaps or pyrethrums. Another combination ingredient might be a 3-1 fertilizer, fungus control and systemic insecticide.

Should you have a severe infestation, a radical control would be malathion. Come on in and we'll show you the options that best suit your needs.

Snails are also active with our combination of heat and moisture. In most cases, snails are easily controlled with bait products. We recommend Sluggo or Master Nursery Slug & Snail Control. For the more exotic approach, there is a biological control for the common brown snail by utilizing a distant cousin, the Decollate snail. The Decollate snail species is carnivorous and will feast on the common brown snail. Should they run out of the snail entrée, they become herbaceous and eat trimming and waste.

In summary, now is the time to commence your control programs. Come on in and we'll assist in every way!

Few plants are tougher, more persistent, or more pest-free than day lilies. They will adapt to almost any kind of soil, and grow happily in full sun or partial shade locations. Native to the Mediterranean, Central Europe and Japan, day lilies are easily grown perennials that form large fountain-like clumps of arching, folded leaves. From late spring to early fall, they display large clusters of lily-type blooms.

With over 130 varieties to choose from, Almaden Valley Nursery has one of the largest selections in California. We continually upgrade our selection each year, and we stock exclusively varieties that perform well here. Our day lilies are special because they either have larger blooms, fragrant blooms, better flower color, and extended blooming season, improved flower substance, improved plant vigor, dwarf growing habits or a combination of the above!

We have more than 30 new introductions this year and will be featuring a couple of them in each week in our newsletter. As always, these new varieties tend to sell out quickly, so make sure and come in early for the greatest selection. For more information, pictures and a complete description of every variety we stock, visit our online Day Lily Catalog at www.almadenvalleynursery.com or pick up your free copy of our 2005 Day Lily Catalog.

Indian Giver heads our list of newcomers this year. This dwarf variety grows up to 20 inches high and produces stunning 4½ inch purple flowers with a distinct lavender edge, medium purple eyezone and a flaring yellow throat. It is an excellent repeat bloomer.

New Clown Face is a stunning variety that grows 26 inches high and produces large 6 inch blooms of bright harvest yellow with a massive maroon eye, yellow mid-ribs and slightly ruffled edges.

There are lots of places where beauty can grow and Miracle-Gro Nursery Select Growth Foods are made for them all.

These two new plant foods will help you achieve beautiful results in your garden, and each one is specially formulated to meet the needs of both potted and in-ground flowers and vegetables.

As the growing season continues, it's important to feed your plants regularly. Nursery Select for Containers provides your container plants with a proper supply of nutrition and micronutrients, giving you beautiful, lush results throughout the season.

Nursery Select for Gardens is specially formulated to provide your garden plants with steady nutrition keeping those plants looking great too.

Nursery Select Plant Foods are perfect for annuals, perennials, vegetables and groundcovers, and container plants which can burn from granular type food. They can be applied with a watering bucket or the Miracle-Gro Hose End Feeder. Just wet the leaves, then soak the soil to feed the roots.

For great results we recommend you apply Nursery Select Growth Foods every 3-4 weeks to give your plants steady nutrition for vigorous growth and beauty all season long.

Steve Mihelitch — Assistant Manager

Steve was born in Bakersfield, raised in Los Gatos. In 2nd grade he broke his Catholic school's strict dress code by not wearing a belt, and was promptly banished to playing hopscotch with the girls. When he moved in 3rd grade, the same nun moved to his new school also to keep an eye on him. Ever the one with women, he eventually charmed the ruthless nun into liking him and he became her teacher's pet.

His closest brush with fame was having his picture taken with Willie Mays in Pony League.

Not ones to shy away from an adventure, Steve and his high school buddies snuck into the high school Ag-science department at night to ride the giant pig and were promptly thrown into the fence.

Steve has been in the nursery and landscape industry for the past 14 years, having previously managed another garden center in San Jose. He has been a part of our family for the past 5 years.

Steve loves to play golf, go fishing and camping. He once got a hole in one while playing golf, which he followed up by landing the "big" one on the banks of the Klamath River. (Neither episode has ever been documented). Steve has lived with his best friend Jeanne for the past three years.