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There’s been a LOT going on at Sprucedale Gardens
the past few months!
FAMILY ADDITIONS
On a personal note, owners Paul and Joyce Larson traveled to Ukraine last summer to adopt twin eleven (now twelve) year old sons, Daniel and
Dmitri. They are blending very well into the family and you may see them around the nursery this year, possibly even helping with some work! One of our employees, Tanya, arrived in the U.S. from Ukraine over a year ago and has been a tremendous help and friend to the Larson family during the adjustment process. So don’t be surprised if you hear some Russian being spoken!
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Dima
and Daniel
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KUDOS TO SPRUCEDALE EMPLOYEES
Several Sprucedale employees took the Connecticut Accredited Nursery Professional course last fall at Southington high school. This 13 week course is designed for professionals working in the nursery industry and provides extensive teaching on a variety of subjects related to plants and nursery businesses. Employees who attended the course were: owner Joyce Larson, Micaela Boland, and Tanya
Lukyanchenko. Currently there are three accredited nurserymen on staff: Paul Larson, Joyce Larson, and Micaela Boland. We are proud of our employees for taking the course in order to be a better source of information for our customers.
Our employees also receive further training at New England Grows, a large annual conference/trade show for the greenhouse and nursery industry. Meetings like this (and others) help us keep updated on the latest plants, insect and disease pests, and new gardening products, so we can pass it all on to you!
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Joyce
and Micaela, 2007 CANP graduates
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MORE SPACE
The most obvious project we have had going on at Sprucedale Gardens is the construction of a new production area, which will allow us to use our retail space in a more efficient way. The new area has several new greenhouses, as well as future storage areas and outdoor growing areas for perennial flowers and nursery stock. Sorry, it is not open to the public, but you will see the fruits of this expansion over the next few years! It will allow us to have a larger retail area, as well as the ability to grow a greater variety of hanging baskets and annuals.
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Our
new production greenhouses
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NEW ‘OLD’ TOMATOES
For you heirloom tomato fans, we have expanded our selection with some “new” old varieties! Heirlooms are prized for their flavor and interesting colors. We have previously grown ‘Brandywine’ and ‘Mr. Stripey’, but this year we have added ‘Pineapple’, ‘Great White’ and ‘Black Prince’. Here’s a quick description of each:
Please click on the images of
the tomatoes, to see a larger image.
| 'Brandywine'
 Rich flavor, large fruits often over 1 lb. with deep pink skin and red flesh.
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'Mr. Stripey'
 Also called
‘Tigerella’, large 10-12 oz. fruits, skin has red and yellow stripes
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'Pineapple'
 Large beefsteak type weighing up to 2 lbs., rich yellow-gold with red stripes.
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'Great
White'
Mild taste, big yellow-white fruits
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'Black
Prince'
Unusual brown shoulders become orange-red at the blossom end. Three inch fruits with rich, fruity flavor.
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TAKE TIME
We hope you enjoy spring and the beginning of a new planting season. Even during our busy season at the nursery, we try to stop and appreciate the miracle of awakening life that is so amazing. It’s worth taking the time. See you at the nursery!
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