Chives are the most petite member of the onion family. They are related to green onions (aka, scallions) and grow in little clumps of long, thin, hollow green leaves. Two types of chives are available, depending on your taste. The most common type is the onion chive which has an onion flavor. A second variety, the Chinese Chive, has a hint of garlic flavor to it. You can save a lot of money by growing your own herbs! Definitely swing by to pick up your chives!

Planting Tips:

• An area with full sun is best, but a significant amount of shade will also be tolerated by this hardy plant.
• An area that provides good drainage will produce the best quality chive plants.
• Chive plants produce beautiful flowers which makes them a perfect addition to landscaping.
• Chives can be grown almost anywhere. They thrive in both window boxes, indoor and out, as well as in gardens.
• To promote new growth, cut back whenever the height exceeds six inches.

You can also plant chives in a container! Thinking about starting a container garden this spring? Our vegetable container class is Sunday 5/27 from 9:30-10:30am. Stop by the nursery or call 732.530.3838 to sign-up! The class is $10 and you will leave with your own lettuce bowl containing 4 vegetable or herb plants. Don’t hesitate to contact us at the nursery if you have further questions. We are here to help you!

Garlic Chive Pesto (From The Gardener and the Grill) Makes about 1 cup

• 2 cups chopped fresh garlic chives
•  1/2 cup toasted walnuts
•  1 garlic clove, crushed or roughly chopped
• 3/4 cup regular or extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
• Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

In a food processor, process the chives, walnuts and garlic until they form a smooth paste. With the processor running, drizzle in the olive oil in a slow, steady stream until the pesto solidifies. Add the Parmesan and season to taste with salt and pepper, pulsing just to combine. Use immediately or spoon into a small jar with a tight-fitting lid. This pesto will keep in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days or in the freezer for up to 6 to 9 months.

*For basil pesto, substitute fresh packed basil leaves for chives and toasted pine nuts for walnuts.

While parsley is a wonderfully nutritious and healing food, it is often under-appreciated. Most people do not realize that this vegetable has more uses than just being a decorative garnish that accompanies restaurant meals. They do not know that parsley has a ton of nutrients (rich source of anti-oxidants, helps for a healthy heart, and protects against rheumatoid arthritis) and that it features a delicious green and vibrant taste.

The two most popular types of parsley are curly parsley and Italian flat leaf parsley. The Italian variety has a more fragrant and less bitter taste than the curly variety.

You can save a lot of money by growing your own herbs! Definitely swing by to pick up your parsley plants!

Planting Tips:

• Fresh parsley grows really well in both indoors and out. You can certainly choose to plant them directly in the ground or you can opt to use large containers to control the growth.
• Planting parsley in areas with full sun to partial shade is recommended.
• This easy-care herb requires little maintenance, other than occasional watering or weeding, once established. These tasks, however, can be reduced by applying mulch around the plants.
• For optimal flavor, pick parsley early in the day (morning hours) when the plant’s oil is strongest.
• You can also plant parsley in a container! Thinking about starting a container garden this spring? Our vegetable container class is Sunday 5/27 from 9:30-10:30am. Stop by the nursery or call 732.530.3838 to sign-up! The class is $10 and you will leave with your own lettuce bowl containing 4 vegetable or herb plants.

Don’t hesitate to contact us at the nursery if you have further questions. We are here to help you!

Sue’s Lemon Chicken

• 8 thin-sliced chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 lb.)
• Salt & Pepper
• 1/3 c. all-purpose flour
• 4 tb. butter, divided
• 2 tb. olive oil, divided
• 1/3 c. chicken broth
• 1/4 c. fresh lemon juice
• 8 lemon slices
• 1/4 c. fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

• Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper and dredge in flour.
• Melt 1 tb. oil in skillet over medium heat and cook breasts until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer chicken to serving platter and keep warm. Cook the remainder of chicken with the remaining olive oil and butter. Transfer to platter
• Add broth and lemon juice to skillet and cook 1-2 minutes until thicker, stirring to loosen particles from the bottom of the skillet. Add lemon slices.
• Remove skillet from heat, add remaining 2 tb. butter and stir until melted.
• Pour sauce, including lemon slices, over chicken and top with parsley. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Holland Grill Demo this Saturday!

From 9:00am-2:00pm, we will have a representative from Holland Grills. Stop by to learn more about these grills as well as sample the wide-selection of food they will be grilling throughout the day!

Not sure what to do for a Mother’s Day gift? We have plenty of options for you on Saturday!

10:00am-11:00am (ages 6-8) Paint a Pot Class

11:00am-12:00pm (ages 9-12)
Paint a Pot Class

1:00pm-2:00pm (ages 10-17)
Make your own stepping stone

2:00pm-3:00pm (under 10)
Make your own stepping stone

9:00am-2:00pm
Holland Grill Demonstration

3:00-6:00pm
Tomato Fest!

Basil

For the May Tuesday Tips, we will be focusing on one herb tip each week and including a recipe! This week we will focus on Basil. Basil is best known as the culinary herb mostly used in Italian cooking. Leaves can taste similar to anise and have a with a strong often sweet smell.

You can save a lot of money by growing your own herbs! Definitely swing by to pick up your basil plant!

Planting Tips:

• Fresh basil grows really well in both indoors and out. You can certainly choose to plant them directly in the ground or you can opt to use large containers to control the growth.
• Basil requires full sunlight to flourish.
• Pick single leaves for quick garnishes. When harvesting whole stems, cut just above a joint in the plant where two stems are starting to grow. This step helps the plant to grow bushier, thus creating even more leaves.
• Be careful to not allow your plant to grow buds or flowers. That means the basil is ready to go to seed and causes the leaves to become bitter. Clip the buds as soon as you see them.
• The best way to store freshly clipped basil is in a glass of water in a shady place, much like flowers.
• Watch for pests – bugs can like basil as much as we do. Keep an eye out if the plant looks wilted or has white specs.
• You can also plant basil in a container! Thinking about starting a container garden this spring? Our vegetable container class is Sunday 5/27 from 9:30-10:30am. Stop by the nursery or call 732.530.3838 to sign-up! The class is $10 and you will leave with your own lettuce bowl containing 4 vegetable or herb plants.

Don’t hesitate to contact us at the nursery if you have further questions. We are here to help you!

Roasted-Tomato Basil Soup
(From The Barefoot Contessa)

• 3 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons good olive oil
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 onions)
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 28 oz. canned plum tomatoes with their juice
• 4 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 quart chicken stock or water
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Toss together the tomatoes, 1/4 cup of olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread the tomatoes in one layer on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes.

In an 8 quart stockpot on medium heat, saute the onions and garlic with the 2 tablespoons of olive oil, butter and red pepper flakes for 10 minutes, until the onions start to brown. Add the canned tomatoes, basil, thyme, and chicken stock. Add the oven-roasted tomatoes, including the liquid on the baking sheet. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Pass through a food mill fitted with the coarsest blade. Taste for seasonings. Serve hot or cold.
Enjoy!

For the April Tuesday Tips, we have been focusing on one veggie tip each week and including a recipe! This week we will focus on Romaine Lettuce.

If you grow only one vegetable other than tomatoes, it should be lettuce. Lettuce is so easy, takes up little space, and you can even grow it among flowers. Lettuce grows for many weeks in the mild weather of spring and fall.

Planting Tips:

• Although lettuce grows fastest in full sun, it is one of the few vegetables that tolerates some shade. In fact, a spring crop often lasts longer if shaded from the afternoon sun as the season warms.
• You can grow lots of lettuce in a small space, even a container. Mix it with other taller plants, such as tomatoes in the spring, or grow a mix of different varieties for a living salad bowl.
• Give lettuce fertile, well-drained, moist soil with plenty of rich organic matter and a pH between 6.0 and 7.0
• Many gardeners plant lettuce much closer together, preferring to harvest leaves continuously before they reach full size.
• For the most tender, succulent leaves, water regularly during dry weather. Also mulch to keep the soil cool and moist. Mulch also prevents weeds.

You can also plant lettuce in a container! Thinking about starting a container garden this spring? It’s not too late! Our container garden class is this morning from 10-11:30. Stop by the nursery or call 732.530.3838 to sign-up! The class is $10 and you will leave with your own lettuce bowl containing 4 vegetable plants.

Don’t hesitate to contact us at the nursery if you have further questions. We are here to help you!

Bacon Glazed Carrots on Wilted Romaine
(From The Blackberry Farm Cookbook)

• 4-6 carrots, peeled and cut on the bias into 1/3 inch thick slices to measure 6 cups
• 3 strips of thick-cut bacon, finely diced
• 2 teaspoons of fresh thyme leaves
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 head of romaine lettuce, coursely chopped
• 1/2 fresh lemon

In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the carrots, bring back to a boil and cook for 5-6 minutes until tender. Drain the carrots in a colander and rinse under cold running water until cool. Drain and set aside.

Place a medium skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 7 minutes, until crispy. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside. Stir the thyme and honey into the fat in the skillet, return to medium heat and let cook for 1 minute. Add the carrots and cook for another 2-3 minutes, tossing them in the pan so that they are well-coated. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Remove the carrots from the pan and add the lettuce. Cook, stirring, for about 1 minute, until the lettuce is just wilted. Transfer to a platter or divide among plates, top with the carrots, add a light squeeze of fresh lemon over the carrots, then sprinkle with the reserved bacon bits and serve.

Enjoy!

Lush House Plants: Beautiful Lush House Plants that give off Oxygen all Winter Long. Pick some up and get some fresh air into the house. They help filter the impurities out of the air.

Landscape Design Services: Give us a call and find out how we can help you with your next project. Colonial Nursery offers Landscape Design and Build Services for all size projects. Now is the time to start the planing before you start the pool or patio.

]]> http://www.colonialnurserynj.com/uncategorized/attention-giants-fan/feed/ 0 http://www.colonialnurserynj.com/specials/25-00-at-colonial-nursery/ http://www.colonialnurserynj.com/specials/25-00-at-colonial-nursery/#comments Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:20:31 +0000 Dan http://www.colonialnurserynj.com/?p=479

There is a lot going on at this time of the year. Please take the time to read through this email and find all of the special money saving offers. Our Jersey Fresh Farmers Marketwill hopefully begin this year on or before July 2nd. Due to the rainy April our local farms are behind by 1-2 weeks. I’m told the crops are looking great, we will have Sweet Jersey Corn soon. Holland Grill Demo **** Friday from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm Stop by and check out these amazing grills. Bring your questions and try some great food at the same time. See the special offer below for some awesome grill savings.    June is Perennial Month!  & its also allergy season.   We sell Local Honey that helps ward off the allergies that we all suffer from. Take a spoon full a day to help clear your allergy symptoms. Try our Gourmet Honey Spreads on your toast, its better then butter and good for you. See the special offer below for our Jersey Fresh honey.    LOYALTY POINT REDEMPTION IS ON!! Don’t forget; June 15th. through August 31st. is when you redeem your rewards points. Just come in and use them towards any purchase. Ask to redeem your loyalty points when checking out.      Save $25.00 OFF any Perennial Purchase - just print and bring in the coupon below. If you have a friend or neighbor that is planting a garden then share this coupon with them.

Holland Grill Holland Grill Cooking Demo - this Friday1:00 pm - 6:00 pm.Check out the Special Grill Offers below.

1 Gallon Perennials Save $25 Bucks on any Perennial Purchase – see below.

Local NJ Honey Gourmet Honey Spread10% Off now through June 30th.

Gardening Tip: Now is a good time of year to prune your spring flowering shrubs and trees. Azaleas and Rhododendrons will also like to be feed after pruning.   Take advantage of our savings below - print it and bring it.

]]> http://www.colonialnurserynj.com/specials/25-00-at-colonial-nursery/feed/ 0 http://www.colonialnurserynj.com/specials/huge-sale-at-colonial-nursery/ http://www.colonialnurserynj.com/specials/huge-sale-at-colonial-nursery/#comments Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:49:37 +0000 Dan http://www.colonialnurserynj.com/?p=471 Check out these prices below. If you still have a few areas to fill now is the time to do it. If you have not yet started then now is definitely the time to get in and buy. These prices will stay in effect until it is all gone. Come early for best selection.

CURRENT SALE ITEMS AS OF June 16, 2011

ANNUALS ON SALE:

• GERANIUMS – $1.99 EACH – BUY 20 OR MORE FOR $1.69 EACH
• 6″ POTTED ANNUALS – $3.99 EACH – BUY 20 OR MORE $2.49 EACH
• 4″ POTTED ANNUALS – $1.99 EACH – BUY 20 OR MORE 1.69 EACH
• ALL – 10″ DECO POTS – $9.99 EACH
• 12″ DECO COMBO POTS – $17.99 EACH
• ALL 606 FLATS – $7.99 EACH
• All Hanging Baskets – Buy 3 get 1 FREE

HERBS & VEGGIES ON SALE:

• ALL TOMATO’S:
• 804 PACKS – $1.69 EACH BUY 8 OR MORE FOR $.99 EACH
• 4″ POTS – $1.49 EACH – BUY 10 OR MORE $.99 EACH
• ASSORTED PEPPERS, ZUCCHINI, ETC. – $1.49 EACH – 10+ $.99 EACH

ALL HERBS:

• 804 PACKS – $1.69 EACH BUY 8 OR MORE FOR $.99 EACH
• 4″ POTS – $1.49 EACH – BUY 10 OR MORE $.99 EACH

All Sales are Final. Sale prices are final and can not be combined with any coupons or other offers.

We need you to help us best meet your needs by providing feedback about your shopping experience here at Colonial Nursery. All responces are kept confidential and are only used to help improve our products and services for you. Thank You for taking the time to fill out this survey. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Take The Survey Now >>

Monmouth Counties Colonial Nursery Perennial Sale

Fall is an excellent time of year to plant your perennial garden. Your plants will have plenty of time to establish there roots before the winter and when they wake up in the early spring you will be able to enjoy the beautiful color they give you.

Ask about our Landscape Design Services. We Plan You Plant is a simple way to get you started to a successful landscape. Use the coupon below for some great savings on our perennials.

The Holland Grill is not an “ordinary” gas grill. Made right here in the USA, Holland Grills cook better food and do it more easily than any gas BBQ grill made. Period. Many have tried to copy Holland Grills unique indirect grilling system but none have succeeded. If you’re looking for a gas grill that’s easy to use and grills the most tender, juicy food you’ll ever taste, you’re looking for a Holland Grill.

NO-FLARE UP GUARANTEE.

Tired of fighting the fire on an ordinary gas grill? Our exclusive drip pan is between the food and the flame, so food won’t catch on fire. Drippings strike the drip pan and sizzle and smoke, giving the food its distinctive Holland Grill juicy flavor. The Holland is the only grill made which offers a No Flare-Up Guarantee–in writing!

You can contact Colonial Nursery, Monmouth County about more information on Holland Grills or you can visit there website at http://www.hollandgrill.com