He seemed annoyed by my indifference to his presence and began to buzz about more aggressively. As I was rolling up some newspaper to send him on his way, I remembered where I had seen him before. He looked just like the hummingbird tasting the currant flowers depicted on the letterhead of Yerba Buena Nursery News! Oh no! I can't believe I have neglected my mail for so long!

I quickly found the Yerba Buena newsletter that I received a few weeks ago, inspected the fall and winter plant availability list and determined there is way too much information for me to fit into just a few paragraphs. Fortunately, I don't need to, because it can all be found at the nursery's website, www.yerbabuenanursery.com.

Perhaps the most important information included in this newsletter that I should mention, for those who have not yet dropped this newspaper in a rush to get online, is a reminder that reservations are now being taken for the Farmhouse Christmas Tea Lunches, which will be served in the Great Room of the circa-1905 farmhouse at the nursery.

The Tea Lunches will be served at noon and followed by tea served at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 4, 5, 6 and 7, and the following week on Dec. 11, 12, 13 and 14. Reservations must be arranged in advance by credit card and cost is $35 per guest. Each luncheon is limited to 50 guests. Groups preferring their own table should bring 10 guests. More information may be obtained at the website or by telephoning 650.851.1668. Guests are, of course, welcome to visit the nursery and arboretum before or after the luncheons.

Yerba Buena Nursery grows exclusively species that are native to California and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Mondays and holidays. Located at 19500 Skyline Blvd., it can be found by following the gravel road and "Nursery" signs for two miles after turning west at that address (across from Fogarty Winery), which is 4 ¹/2 miles south of the interchange of Highways 84 and 35, the latter being Skyline Boulevard.

After visiting www.yerbabuenanursery.com, garden enthusiasts might want to visit the website for Annie's Annuals at www.anniesannuals.com to see what annuals, biennials and perennials bloom through autumn and winter or should be installed about now. Many of the four-inch plants (plants in four-inch pots) at Annie's are discounted 30 percent through November.

Flower of the Week: Lipstick plant

Brent Green, my former college roommate, who is often discredited within the context of this column, looked dumbfounded as a flower fell into his coffee from a lipstick plant, Aeschynanthus radicans, which was suspended in a hanging basket above the counter at a restaurant we were visiting while still in college in perhaps 1989. He was just telling me to quit my whining about finding lipstick markings on my mug of coffee. I couldn't help but laugh.

Lipstick plant is a somewhat rare houseplant, but is ideal for hanging baskets and can be grown in sheltered lanais or porches. The glossy foliage is finely textured and suspended by limber stems. The bright red, tubular flowers emerge from dark purple sepals like lipstick emerges from its casing. When completely emerged, flowers are only about two inches long and don't contribute much to the flavor of freshly brewed coffee.

Warmth, humidity and bright ambient light without direct exposure are preferred. Potting media should be rich and very well drained. Application of mild fertilizer promotes vegetative growth but may inhibit bloom. Although it is not commonly found in nurseries, it can be easily propagated from cuttings from specimens in the gardens of friends or neighbors.

Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408.358.2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com.