Local farmers' markets offer uncommon trees, herbs, plants
By Tony Tomeo
When my colleague Brent Green would visit me during a weekend, he would insist on visiting the Farmers' Market in downtown Los Gatos on Sunday morning. This tradition continues from when we were in college and would occasionally go to the San Luis Obispo Farmers' Market on Thursday nights.
These markets are a good source of quality produce, often organic, as well as some more exotic groceries. One of Brent's favorite vendors markets unusual herb plants in small containers. He and I both have acquired herbs, ranging from common to unusual, at very reasonable prices.
Although vendors who specialize in container-grown plants do not stock the range of material available in nurseries or garden centers, they often specialize in items that are very unique and rare. For example, Brent has purchased 2-inch pots of grapefruit mint, lemon grass and lemon verbena from his favorite vendor. Lemon grass and lemon verbena might be available in nurseries, but are normally found only in larger containers. I have not seen grapefruit mint anywhere else and do not expect to.
Although some vendors are affiliated with specialty wholesale nurseries, many are horticultural enthusiasts who grow only enough to sell at their specific markets. Of course, these are the sort of enthusiasts who grow some of the most unusual varieties, simply for the pleasure of it.
For example, Chi-Tao Yuan at the Mountain View and Saratoga Farmers' Markets does not operate a nursery, but grows many more cultivars of Japanese maples than nurseries that specialize in them. He does not promote many of the commonly available cultivars, but may be the only source for some of the very rare and exotic ones.
Another very interesting vendor that has recently appeared in Sunnyvale and Campbell is Black Bird Hill Nursery, which specializes in roses, camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas and unusual hydrangeas. Although the range of species is limited, the range of cultivars of the several specialty species is much more extensive than that available in even the most abundantly stocked retail nurseries. As a strictly wholesale establishment, however, Black Bird Hill Nursery limits retail sales to Farmers' Markets.
I have compiled a brief list of some of the local Farmers' Markets. A more complete list may be obtained online at farmersmarket.ucdavis.edu. Those interested in visiting the markets should be aware that the Cupertino market does not operate in December and the Willow Glen market operates only from April through November. From July through September, the Sunnyvale market will operate additional hours on Wednesdays, from 4 to 8 p.m., as well as regularly scheduled hours on Saturdays.
The Campbell market, located on Campbell Avenue between Central Avenue and Second Street, as well as the Mountain View market at 100 Castro Street at W. Evelyn Avenue are on Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.. The Cupertino market in the Vallco Mall is Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Los Gatos market is Sundays, from 8 a.m. to noon on Montebello Way at the Town Plaza. The Saratoga market, located at Saratoga High School, as well as the Sunnyvale market on Murphy Avenue between Evelyn and Washington avenues, are on Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Willow Glen market is on Saturdays, from 8 a.m. to noon and is located on Minnesota Avenue at Lincoln Avenue.
Tree of the Week: English hawthorn
The English hawthorn, Crataegus laevigata, is a small but classy tree. The trunk and rough bark attain a "seasoned" appearance at a young age, which some people find distasteful. Others, however, appreciate how hawthorns appear older than they are and how they can make a newer landscape seem more established. English hawthorns have been used in landscapes for centuries and are often seen in older, formal gardens.
English hawthorns are commonly called "mayflowers" because they bloom so regularly in May. Flowers may be single or double and have a color range of white, pink, rose and red. Small, bright red berries appear in autumn and attract birds. Trees which produce single flowers usually produce more abundant berries. Foliage is fine textured, both lobed and serrate (toothed) on thorny branches. Although hawthorn growth rate is moderate to slow, mature trees may grow to 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide.
Horticulturist Tony Tomeo may be contacted at 408.358.2574.
|
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
