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.

Made to Order: Deciduous, 26" high, with 31/2" blooms.
Wonderful rose-pink flowers, with a deep rose eye zone and a lighter pink halo and yellow throat.

Sue Rothbauer:Evergreen, 20" high, , with 61/2" blooms.
Rose-pink flowers with frosted mid-ribs, and a green throat with a glowing yellow watermark. Repeat bloomer.

She began the tradition of wearing red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation, also selling poppies and giving the money to a charity benefitting servicemen in need. The tradition of wearing poppies spread and is now practiced in many countries on their own days of remembrance.

Not only did Ms. Michael start the tradition of wearing poppies, she also seems to be responsible for the tradition of selling them to benefit servicemen in need. Many veterans' organizations will be selling them for this Memorial Day. They aren't expensive but they are very valuable. Buy one, wear it at the barbecue or party, and remember what our freedom costs.

Hostas are popular perennials in today's gardens due to their versatility in the landscape. Their subtle colors, tall flower scapes, and broad, coarse leaves fill a niche in garden designs that few other plants can achieve. Long considered an East Coast plant because of their vulnerability to snails, hostas make exceptional statements in the garden. These unique plants never disappoint, as they provide a soft, tropical elegance to any garden. And the last time we checked, snails aren't very happy campers when snail bait is set out. Because hostas go dormant in the winter, you never need to worry about frost damage.

Homeowner Growing & Maintenance Tips:

Hostas grow best in moist, well-drained, highly organic soils, with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. They are most at home in shady, woodland settings and often work well as specimen or edging plants. Morning sun is tolerable and will help to intensify the leaf colors, but hot afternoon sun is usually deadly to hostas. Mulch is beneficial, because it retains moisture around the plant's roots, and also helps cool the soil temperature.

Eskimo Pie: This Hosta is a true work of art! Each leaf looks hand-painted. The puckered leaves emerge with pale yellow centers, chartreuse streaking, and blue-green margins. As the season progresses, the centers fade to cream and the streaking becomes apple-green. White flowers appear on 30" scapes in midsummer.

Striptease: Striptease is the 2005 American Hosta Growers Group Hosta of the Year! The pointy, ovate leaves have sharply contrasting dark green, 2" wide margins and narrow, gold centers; looks like a gold leaf within another leaf. A thin, slip-like, white line is occasionally present along the edge of the gold silhouette, hence the name 'Striptease'. Pale violet flowers appear on 30" scapes in mid to late summer.

Thunderbolt: This vigorous hosta has rubbery, corrugated, blue-green leaves that have a narrow, yellow thunderbolt down the center; this flash turns creamy-white by midsummer. Near-white flowers appear on 26" scapes in midsummer.

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.