• Ricky and Lucy’s Greenhouse selected for Nebraska Passport program!
• 20% off All Hanging Baskets Mother’s day weekend ONLY
• Sign up for Veggie Boxes this summer
• 50% off Bird Baths while supply lasts
• We wait till Mother’s Day, what’s your way?
• We’ll design and plant your pots, new or old
• Fully stocked greenhouses and showroom
• Fertilize!
• Recipe of the Month:  Spring Asparagus

Visit Ricky and Lucy’s Greenhouse and get your Passport Stamp

The 2012 Nebraska Passport program encourages travelers to explore Nebraska and is sponsored by the Department of Economic Development’s Travel and Tourism department.

This is your chance to get out and explore the great state of Nebraska, create your own adventure and win prizes while your at it!

Travelers can choose over 80 Nebraska locations to visit and have their passports stamped which can be redeemed for prizes like T-shirts, a $25 Grow Nebraska gift card, a Canon Powershot digital camera and even an iPad drawing.  Travelers have until September 3o, 2012 to visit and redeem their stamps for prizes.

We are thrilled to be a part of this unique program.  Visit www.nebraskapassport.com for all the details, tour stops and prize information.  We’re looking forward to seeing you on your Nebraskan adventure!

P.S. If you have a passport book, our phone number needs to be corrected to 308-254-2204

20% off Hanging Baskets

Mother’s Day weekend only get 20% off all hanging baskets.  Impress mom this year with a gift that grows.

These two tiered baskets were designed for the Potter Museum this year.  If you’re interested in a basket like this, please let us know.

Call 308-254-2204 if you have any questions.

The greenhouses and showroom are fully stocked!

You’re sure to find what you’re looking for this spring for your gardening and landscaping projects.  Trees, shrubs, annuals, herbs, bedding plants, houseplants, new pottery, fertilizers, mulch and much more are filling our greenhouses and grounds.  If you want quality plants and organic choices, we have it.

Veggie Box Service Coming Soon…Sign up today!

Want to share in our garden bounty this summer? Sign up for your Veggie Box service soon.  Choose weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly service and get organic, homegrown, delicious produce as soon as it’s picked.  Our veggie boxes also contain fruit and herbs and sometimes even recipe ideas.

Monthly Special:  Get 50% off all Bird Baths while supply lasts.

2 piece concrete bird baths regularly $99.99 will be a beautiful addition to your garden and an inviting attraction for regional birds. Consider adding a beautiful permanent garden structure to your yard, that can provide enjoyment year round at a very affordable price.

Pots designed and planted for indoors or outdoors.

You can purchase a pot from our brand new inventory or bring in your old favorites.  Choose your plants, style and size and we’ll do all the re-potting work for you, giving your plants a great start in their new home.  GIFT IDEA! Personalized pots make gorgeous and thoughtful one of a kind gifts!

Wait till Mother’s Day is our way…what’s yours?

We have long been following the wait till Mother’s day advice for planting our tender veggies like tomatoes and beans.  Start earlier with root crops, peas and lettuce that can handle a little cold weather.  We have found that this works best for us in our crazy Nebraskan climate.  If you do things differently, tell us about it on FACEBOOK.

Fertilize

Have a plan.  We can help.

All of those new plants should be fertilized as soon as you plant them.  If you’re concerned about the soil, the environment, great tasting vegetables and beautiful healthy plants, then you should be using organic fertilizers and soil amendments.  Adding organic amendments to the soil provides a long term fertilizer that won’t wash away with watering, feeds the soil and the plants, and is made from all natural ingredients that belong in the soil.  Get faster absorption and quick results with organic liquid fertilizers like fish emulsion, liquid seaweed and Earth juice.  See our articles on fertilizing to see what we do and when you’re out, talk to us about YOUR plan.

• Fertilizing your new plants with Earth Juice Grow and Maxicrop liquid Fish
• Foliar feeding your plants with Earth Juice Microblast and Maxicrop Seaweed
• Using Earth Juice Bloom and Earth Juice Catalyst for Superior Production

Recipe of the Month:  Spring Asparagus Soup

Tender, fresh, spring asparagus is the focal point for this soup with tomato pasta and a hint of garlic!  View the recipe HERE.

Ingredients:

1 lb fresh asparagus

1 medium onion

1 large clove garlic

¼ cup olive oil

4 cups chicken broth

1 tsp dried oregano leaves

1 cup DeCio Tomato Spinach and Red Bell Rotini

1/8 tsp white pepper

½ tsp Lucy’s Krazy Sea Salt

4 TBSP Fresh grated parmesan or Asiago Cheese

The tips of the asparagus should be cooked separately and used to garnish the soup. Drop them into a skillet partially filled with rapidly boiling water and boil slowly until barely tender.

Preparations:

Wash asparagus and cut off the tough white bottom of the stalk.  Slice the asparagus coarsely.  Chop the onion and mince the garlic.

Heat olive oil in heavy saucepan, stir in onion and asparagus. Saute’ over medium high heat until the vegetables begin to soften.

Stir in garlic and saute’ a minute or two being careful not to burn it.

Add the broth and oregano. Bring to boil and lower heat. Simmer partially covered for 30 minutes.

Puree 2 cups of the mixture in a blender and return to saucepan. Bring back to boil and stir in pasta.

Simmer, covered for 12 minutes or until the pasta is cooked al dente.

Stir in 4 TBSP of cheese, pepper and Krazy Sea Salt. Add cooked asparagus.

Ingredients:

4 rib steaks 3/4 inch thick

1 TBSP cornstarch

2 Cloves garlic, minced

1 TBSP butter or margarine

1/4 cup sliced green onion

1/4 cup beef broth

1/4 cup red wine

Dash sea salt

Dash black pepper

2 TBSP Afrika Meat Rub

2 TBSP butter

Directions:

Rub steaks on both sides with cornstarch and sprinkle with garlic

Heat butter in a skillet.  Brown steaks quickly on both sides

Reduce heat.  Saute’ steaks until done to your liking, about 4 minutes on each side for rare, 7-9 minutes on each side for well done.

Remove steaks and keep warm

Add green onion to pan and saute’ a few minutes on medium high heat until soft but not browned.  Add beef broth, wine and spices and bring to a boil.

Add butter, small pieces at a time and whisk constantly until sauce is smooth. You may add 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with a little water to make the sauce smoother.

Pour over steaks and sprinkle with extra onion.

• Doors officially open on April 1, No Foolin’
• April Special: 20% Off all Garden Tools
• Seed potatoes and Onion sets are available.
• Clean and Plan you gardens
• Prepare your soil with Nature’s Prescription
• Organic and heirloom seed packets
• Vegetable starter plant orders
• Recipe of the Month: Roasted Root Vegetables with Sweet Heat

Open for the Summer on April 1st, 2012

We’ve really missed seeing you out here at the greenhouse and have been getting ready for opening day for months now.

We have all new, top quality pottery from Mexico, truck loads of new trees, shrubs, perennials and house plants arriving in April, and of course the spring time blooms all over the grounds for you to see.

Come out soon, say “hello”,and have a look around.

April Special: 20% Off all Garden Tools

NRG ergonomic hand and garden tools are a gardener’s best friend (along with a good pair of gloves). Take advantage of our April special to replace your worn out tools this spring. Treat yourself. You’ll be so glad you did.

Seed potatoes and onion sets

Available now. Plant on Good Friday. Both onions and potatoes are cold weather crops and should be among the first things planted each year. We carry organic  seed potatoes and a variety of onion sets.

Clean up your gardens, get ready for planting!

Cleaning out your garden beds before planting will help ensure healthy new growth and less competition for sun and water. Check out these before and after photos!  Not only does the clean up help out our new spring growth, but it looks great too!

Take some time to plot out your gardens.  Check out our companion planting guide here and make sure your plan includes rotation (don’t plant the same plant in the same place each year).  Crop rotation helps prevent disease and pest build up in the soil.  It also helps maintain soil fertility and soil erosion.

Prepare your garden beds with Nature’s Prescription

The key to great tasting healthy and organic vegetables is great soil. Nature’s Prescription is rich in organic matter and has the power to loosen clay soils and improve drought tolerance. This finely screened product is enhanced with one of the best forms of carbon, alfalfa, making it ideal for lawns. Use it in flower beds, and gardens, and as a fertilizer for trees and shrubs.
When you visit the greenhouse, ask us about our experience using Nature’s Prescription. We love it.

Organic and Heirloom seed packets

Looking for organic and heirloom seed this spring? We carry seed packets every year and are happy to share with you what we plant.
Why buy Organic Seed? There are numerous reasons for buying organic seed. Non-organic seed could be treated with fungicides to prevent mold and fungi from growing in the packets. These fungicides can end up in your vegetables. Chances are that non-organic seed comes from a corporation that receives most of its profits from genetically engineered crops. You may find this disturbing if you’re growing your own vegetables in order to avoid corporately controlled food supply. And, if you choose organic seed, you’re likely to get a better crop and a more nutritious vegetable.

Vegetable Starter Plant Orders

Did you know that we take orders for vegetable garden starter plants?  To guarantee you get the plants you want, when you want, call us to order you plants today.  We start your plants in the green house, using organic seed and potting soil.  By the time you’re ready to plant, you’ll have healthy, organic starter plants custom grown for your garden. We’re already working on ours, so we might as well be doing yours as well!   Call 866-254-2204 or 308-254-2204 to place your order today. Very reasonable prices–call for a quote.

Recipe of the Month:  Roasted Vegetables with Sweet Heat

We recently had some friends over for dinner and they RAVED about this dish.  It’s so easy, and amazingly delicious.  Click here to view the recipe for Roasted Vegetables with Sweet Heat. Call us today to order your jar of Sweet Heat, 866-254-2204 or 308-254-2204.

Ingredients:

Roasted Root Veggies like potatoes, beets, carrots, turnips.  I chose turnips with red and golden beets for this dish.

Slice vegetables and arrange on a cookie sheet.

Mix  1/2 cup of olive oil and 2 TBSP of Lucy’s Sweet Heat seasoning together.

Brush the seasoned oil on the vegetables.  Bake at 200 degrees for 15-20 minutes checking every five minutes with a fork for tenderness.

DELICIOUS!

• Holiday Event and Pottery Sale
• Live or Fake? The Christmas Tree Dilemma
• Stocking Stuffers for Everyone!
• Winter Tinctures
• How to Care for your live Christmas tree
• Recipe of the Month: Spicy Stuffed Squash

Holiday Event and Pottery Sale

Join us for some holiday cheer on Saturday, December 10^th from 9-7.

We will be showing all our new pottery from our recent buying trip.  Last years inventory will be on sale all day for 20% off…One Day Only!

We’ll be providing samples of our herb and spice blends and a wine tasting.

It will be a fun and festive day.  Bring the family, stay a while, and get some shopping done while you’re here.

Live or Fake? The Christmas Tree dilemma

Are you debating again this year whether to get a fake tree or live tree?  Perhaps these facts will sway your decision…

• Live trees are grown on tree farms that replant 1-3 saplings for every tree that is cut down for sale each year.
• Tree farms provide protection and habitat for wildlife.
• Trees provide oxygen while they are growing.
• Recycled trees provide mulch which decomposes and feeds the soil.
• On average, families will use their artificial trees (most likely manufactured in China from petroleum products) for 6 to 9 years after which they will remain in a land fill indefinitely.
• Live trees smell good and have more character!
• Picking out a live tree can be a fun and memorable family tradition each year.

Ricky and Lucy’s Greenhouse will have live Christmas trees for sale at the greenhouse and for sale at Sonny’s in Sidney.

Stocking Stuffers from the Greenhouse for Everyone!

We have some terrific stocking stuffer ideas for everyone on your list!

• Our gourmet hot chocolate mixes are on sale the entire month at 25% off.  They are super rich and delicious.  You won’t even know you’re drinking a mix!
• Buy herb and spice blends for the cooks in the family.  Some of our most popular blends can be used as seasonings and as dip mixes, like our Afrika Meat Rub and our Smoky Spicy Pepper Blend.  Come and sample them on December 10^th!

• Organic Chocolate in small packaging and unique flavors make a excellent stocking stuffer for the chocolate connoisseurs.

• And don’t forget gifts for the gardener!  Serious gardener’s gloves wear out, and our Atlas garden gloves are a superb choice.

• We also carry bath and body products that are good for the body and spirit.  Made with all natural ingredients and fragrances that enhance your mood as well as feeding your skin.

Winter Tintures

Stock up on our tinctures and be prepared for those winter ailments.

Our Cold Care Tincture fights the cold you have and builds your immunity to fight against new bugs you may encounter.

Our Echinacea tincture is a simple and quick way to deliver that time honored cold fighting herb into your system and begin your recovery.  If you’ve experienced the benefits of Echinacea in the past, you’ll love the way our Echinacea tincture works so quickly.

Ponderosa pine tincture is loaded with vitamin C and great for coughs.  Pine also has an antibacterial effect.

Ask us more about our tinctures when you visit, we’d love to explain more of the benefits and uses.

How to Care for your Live Christmas Tree

Cut off the bottom of the tree trunk and then soak in a bucket of water for several hours.  Water trees daily and add Keeps it Green which extends the life of cut Christmas trees, retards needle drop and provides the nutrients necessary for greener, fresher and safer (fire resistant) Christmas trees.

Recipe of the Month

Lucy’s recipe for Spicy Stuffed Squash calls for Hubbard squash, but your favorite squash can be substituted.  The recipe features one of our best selling spice blends:  Jamaica Me Crazy.  A great comfort food but also zesty and great for serving to company.  Try it this winter some time and let us know what you think!

If you’re planning holiday décor or gift giving on any scale large or small, be sure to pre-order your poinsettias and wreaths this month! Call us today at (308) 254-2204.

Custom wreaths come in 2 sizes, 14 inch ($30.95) and 20 inch ($40.95).

Additionally, our poinsettias come in 2  sizes: 4 inch pots ($9.95), 6 inch pots ($19.95).

Here’s what we have available for pre-order until October 31, 2011. Available in both 4 and 6 inch pots unless stated.

Marble available in 6 inch pot only

Winter Rose

Jingle Bells

Pink

Monet

Red and White will also be available.

Call today to place your order–877-254-2204

2 cups loosely packed basil

2 cloves garlic

¼ cup pine nuts

½ cup olive oil

½ cup parmesan cheese

2 TBSP romano cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine basil, garlic, pine nuts, cheese, salt and pepper and process in food processor until well mixed.  While machine is running slowly add the olive oil.  Stir and let stand 5 minutes.  Serve immediately or take a wax paper lined cookie sheet and drop by tablespoons full and place in freezer overnight.  Remove from liner and put in freezer bag.  When you want to use through the winter, just pop out of the bag and add to your favorite pasta, meat and vegetable dishes.

• September Special
• Spring Bulbs
• Mosquitoes still biting?
• Good Health Tinctures
• Grasshoppers bugging you?
• How to store your garden produce through the winter
• September Garden To Do List
• Recipe of the Month:  Pork Roast with Provincial Blend and Dijon Mustard.

September Special Buy 2 Get 1 Free!

All month long you can get a great BUY 2 GET 1 FREE deal on all trees, shrubs, houseplants, and perennials!  Everything in stock!

Fall is a great time to plant. While the plant is dormant, the roots continue to grow.  In the spring you’ll have a larger plant with more new growth than if you had waited till spring to plant. Click HERE to read our previous article on the benefits of fall planting.

Spring Bulbs

If you ordered spring bulbs, expect to pick them up by mid-September. If you didn’t order, no need to worry!  We ordered extras.  Spring bulbs are the first sign of life in the spring and provide beautiful color for your landscape long before perennials start blooming, so reap the rewards of planting bulbs this fall with gorgeous color in your yard in the spring.

See our article HERE on how to plant your bulbs.

See our article on design tips for planting bulbs HERE.

Mosquitoes still biting?

Get 20% off all natural mosquito repellents this month. We carry Liquid Net and citronella wristbands for children.  Natural bug repellents are safe to use and easy on the nose and skin.  Pick yours up today at a great savings!

Good Health Tinctures

Teri’s passion for organic herbs goes well beyond cooking and naturally

into the world of herb use for promoting healthy bodies and minds.

Her tinctures are a concentrated form of herbs and herb blends that can be taken easily,

absorbed into the body quickly, and have a long shelf life.

Call or visit the greenhouse for a complete list of all her good health tinctures.

Grasshoppers bugging you?

NoLo Bait grasshopper control is available at the greenhouse.  Feed the grasshoppers now to reduce next year’s infestation.  See the complete article HERE.

How to Store Your Garden Produce Through the Winter

Last year we provided information regarding produce storage through the winter.  To review that article, click HERE.

September Garden To Do List:

• Divide perennials and plant new ones
• Plant trees
• Lightly trim hedges
• Bring in tomatoes to ripen inside
• Store produce for use during the winter
• Collect seed from perennials and herbs
• Plant garlic and cover with mulch
• Plant spring bulbs cover with mulch
• Keep trees and shrubs well watered if there is not sufficient rain
• Plant mums

Recipe of the Month:  Pork Roast with Provincial herb and Dijon Mustard.

Provincial Herb blend is a traditional blend of aromatic herbs traditionally from the Provencal region in France.  Teri’s blend of rosemary, lavender, chervil and summer savory grown right here at the farm is a wonderful blend that enhances the savory flavors of grilled meats, vegetables and most Mediterranean style dishes.  Try her Pork Roast with Provincial Blend and Dijon Mustard…so easy and flavorful!

So easy and flavorful!  After browning the meat on all sides in a heavy bottomed pan or iron skillet, slather Dijon mustard over the top of the roast.  Scatter the Provencial blend generously and place fresh thyme branches on top.  Add one cup of water into the bottom of the pot. Cover the pork  and nudge into a preheated 425 degree oven, where it cooks for just 45 minutes. Basting every 15 minutes is essential.

Let the pork rest on the counter for fifteen minutes before carving.