Master Gardeners: Flowers for a winter garden | Home and Garden

Master Gardeners: Flowers for a winter garden | Home and Garden

by Home And Garden

What flowers in the dead of winter in Napa County? With few pollinators active then, it’s not a great time to have flowers that need pollination. Also, the weather is dicey. It could be cold or icy or raining and blowing. But surprisingly, many plants do bloom between late fall and very early spring. So with a little planning. you can have flowers in your winter garden and fresh-cut flowers to bring indoors.

Camellias, cyclamen, primroses and pansies are all blooming in nurseries now. But don’t be fooled. Some of these plants have been forced into bloom using light or greenhouse conditions. They may not repeat that winter performance once naturalized in your garden.

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The camellia shrub’s glossy evergreen leaves provide a wonderful contrast to its flowers, which bloom in various shades of pink, red and white. The flowers come in many color patterns and bloom times and the shrubs take a variety of shapes. According to the American Camellia Society, there are more than 4,000 cultivars. You can search the society’s website for a camellia that suits you, basing your search on up to 14 plant characteristics.

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To find other hardy winter-blooming shrubs with low water needs, I turned to the UC Davis Arboretum All Star listing and the Sacramento Master Gardener’s website. The Arboretum All Star plants have been grown and evaluated at the UC Davis Arboretum and are designated as All Stars based on their ease of care and low water needs. Many are California natives but others are from locations around the world that have similar climates and seasonal drought.

Plants from areas that have a Mediterranean-type climate like ours, such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, often do well here. When choosing plants from these lists, pay attention to the specific cultivar or variety. The variety may have been developed for specific conditions, such as low water availability, low light or heavy soil. Or it may have other characteristics that distinguish it from the norm, such as smaller size or early bloom time.

Among the California native shrubs that bloom in winter, consider manzanita. It produces its small pink urn-shaped flowers in late winter through early spring. Bees love them. Mahonia is another possibility. It offers large sprays of small aromatic yellow flowers from fall through early winter. Witch hazel blooms from October through March and can tolerate temperatures in the single digits.

For low-growing plants in shade, consider hellebore, also known as Lenten rose, or Algerian iris (Iris ungulicuarus). Both bloom from late fall through early spring. Algerian iris make wonderful cut flowers for bringing indoors.

For bedding plants, you could choose primroses, which bloom in many colors. Make sure they are English primroses if you want winter bloom.

Cyclamen is another great bedding plant that flowers in many shades of pink, red and white. The plant themselves come in various sizes with leaves that may be variegated, rufflee or plain. If you’re looking for annuals, viola and pansies bloom all winter in a variety of colors.

Last but not least, there are many bulbs, corms and rhizomes that will bloom from winter through spring and into summer. Many of these can naturalize, given some summer shade under deciduous trees or shrubs. They provide a surprise in the garden each winter and spring when they reappear after being dormant all summer. Bright blue-purple crocus, white narcissus and yellow daffodils can create swaths of color over long periods if you plan well.

Winter does not have to be a dull, dreary, colorless time in the garden. Many easy-care plants can bring you flowers even in the dead of winter.

Library Talk: UC Master Gardeners of Napa County will host a free talk via Zoom on Thursday, January 6, from 7 pm to 8 pm, on “Introduction to Espalier.” The espalier technique is a great way to grow fruit in limited space and makes care and harvesting easier. Learn how to plan, plant and maintain an espaliered fruit tree in your landscape. Register at http://ucanr.edu/2022JanEspalier.

Got Garden Questions? Contact our Help Desk. The team is working remotely so please submit your questions through our diagnosis form, sending any photos to mastergardeners@countyofnapa.org or leave a detailed message at 707- 253-4143. A Master Gardener will get back to you by phone or email. For more information visit http://napamg.ucanr.edu or find us on Facebook or Instagram, UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.



Listen to the Sounds of Christmas Brass players perform “The Marie-Golde” by Anthony Holborne.



Seattle’s real estate year: historic, record-breaking and disturbing

Seattle’s real estate year: historic, record-breaking and disturbing

by Real Estate News

This year has been a record-breaking, historic, and occasionally quite worrying year for Seattle real estate. But what were the most striking trends of 2021, and what do they help us predict about 2022? 

As the year wraps up just as strangely as the one before it, real estate has again broken records all over the nation. The pandemic rages on, and in America, the concept of work from home has changed from a temporary measure to a permanent situation for many workers. This trend has changed where, how — and perhaps above all, why — people buy homes in this country.

The combination of virus-related home buying habits, a volatile stock market, low interest rates, a shortage of (and inflated prices on) building materials, rising home prices, general inflation, and a growing disparity in the distribution of wealth has added up to a crazy, unprecedented year for real estate — and that very much includes the Seattle market.

Prices


According to a study released by Seattle’s own Redfin, the typical U.S. home sold for nearly $400,000, up 24.4{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} from 2020. In Seattle, the typical home sold for $725,000, just under 3{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} higher than last year.

This may not seem like a lot, but remember that 2020 was the first year of the pandemic, and that real estate market behavior changed drastically then. To see the effect of the pandemic, which is obviously still affecting the market, comparisons to Seattle’s markets in 2019 and earlier are more illuminating — such as this one posted in the Seattle Times, based off the Case-Shiller Index.

This graph, based on the Case-Shiller index, better shows the remarkable gain in real estate values since before the pandemic. 

This graph, based on the Case-Shiller index, better shows the remarkable gain in real estate values since before the pandemic. 

Seattle Times

The increase in prices since 2019 is quite dramatic.

Incidentally, this year did bring double-digit increases to some Seattle areas: Norada Real Estate Investment’s year end blog tells us that in “the Eastside and Southeast King County map areas, prices jumped more than 26{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} from a year ago.”

What’s driving prices up? And will they come down in 2022? To answer that, we must consider other market indicators.

Inventory

Redfin reported that nationally, “home supply dropped to its lowest level in history — there were just 1.38 million homes for sale in June, down 23{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} year over year.” All over the nation, supply outstrips demand. 

Consider that since, 2010, Seattle’s population growth has increased by nearly 19{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9}, which according to the U.S. Census, makes it the fastest growing city among the 50 largest cities in the country.

The major coastal seaport of Seattle.

The major coastal seaport of Seattle.

Soltan Frédéric/Getty Images, Getty Images

Add to this influx the factors of a tech market paying the 2nd highest salaries in the country. Market performance in Seattle has kept pace with its increasing connection to big tech: 

“Over the past 10 years, Amazon has grown more than tenfold in the city of Seattle, from about 4,000 employees in its hometown to over 45,000,” wrote Norada Real Estate Investments. “During the same time, the median home price in the city has shot up from $420,000 to $720,000, according to the Northwest MLS.”

Big tech is big money, and Seattle has moved into second place, behind only the Silicon Valley, as a city for tech industry. 

Big tech is big money, and Seattle has moved into second place, behind only the Silicon Valley, as a city for tech industry. 

Kmatta/Getty Images, Getty Images

Days on the market

Redfin reported that the typical home in the U.S. sold in just 15 days, “the lowest median days on market in history and down from 39 days in June of 2020.” Over 60{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} of American homes went off the market in two weeks.  In Seattle, that number was cut in half: the typical Seattle home sold in just seven days. 

Bidding wars

The low number of days on the market correlates with a record number of over-bid offers this year. Why let a house linger on the MLS when someone offers you 20{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9}, 30{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} or 50{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} over asking the first day your home lists for sale? Indeed, Redfin data shows that nationally, more than half of homes sold above list price: “56.5{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} of homes went for above list price” in 2021, up 29.6{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} from 2020.

But what about Seattle? After the initial freeze the virus put on real estate in 2020, bidding wars picked up and by that year’s end, over-bids were common features of home sales. This year, the bidding wars intensified. In Seattle, 55.7{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} of homes sold above listing price in 2021. 

The luxury market

Luxury homes obviously command a premium price, but the pandemic put a premium on that existing premium. Because such homes include features like massive space, offices, gyms, compound/estate living, large lots with outdoor features like pools and sports courts, and are often located on or near the waterfront and/or open land, they can deliver a sanctuary. And lockdown can be quite pleasant in a sanctuary. 

Redfin data shows that “the median sale price of U.S. luxury homes jumped 25.8{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} year over year to $1,025,000” nationally. In Seattle, the typical luxury home sold for 12.58{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} more than the year before, and in this market, the most premium price of all went to waterfront property. Luxury single family homes in King County have increased as much as 50{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} in selling price since 2019, and the most expensive condo sales of 2021 either had waterfront or water views. 

17 story "Great Wheel" at Pier 57, Seattle Waterfront, Seattle, WA, USA

17 story “Great Wheel” at Pier 57, Seattle Waterfront, Seattle, WA, USA

Stuart Westmorland/Getty Images, Getty Images

What’s on tap for 2022?

We predict more of the same in 2022. Unless the Feds drastically raise mortgage rates, unless suddenly supply outpaces demand, and of course, barring (another) unforeseen catastrophe, the Seattle market is unlikely to cool off in the coming year. 

Anna Marie Erwert writes from both the renter and new buyer perspective, having (finally) achieved both statuses. She focuses on national real estate trends, specializing in the San Francisco Bay Area and Pacific Northwest. Follow Anna on Twitter: @AnnaMarieErwert. 



DFW luxury real estate experts predict strong market in 2022

DFW luxury real estate experts predict strong market in 2022

by Luxury Real Estate

With national genuine estate market place analysts predicting an easing in the lack of homes for sale in 2022, the expert brokers of Allie Beth Allman & Associates anticipate to see ongoing solid sales of luxurious households and estates throughout the Dallas-Fort Value area in the coming year.

“The market remains potent and purchasers are searching to update or incorporate to their features,” mentioned Susan Baldwin. “Land and area shut to dining establishments are always in need. Buyers respect shift-in-prepared houses that have to have minor updating, so staying a fantastic maintainer or generating updates to your residence adds to the price of your residence.”

According to Baldwin, the areas near to Highland Park Village and Dallas State Club, as effectively as the estate neighborhoods of Preston Hollow, proceed to be in superior demand amongst purchasers, so listing a home in these regions could provide an superb return on financial investment.

In Preston Hollow, attributes are offering quickly when priced correctly, even in this seller’s marketplace, brokers report. Overpriced attributes stay on the current market and entice much considerably less fascination.

“The important in today’s marketplace is to selling price what the market will permit and enable the consumers make the conclusion if they would like to spend a premium,” reported Kimberly Cocotos, who has offered multiple households in the Preston Hollow area this calendar year. ”Usually, a purchaser is extra eager to pay out a greater price tag if it is their idea.”

Agent Aaron Carroll said he doesn’t see the Park Cities sector slowing down at any time before long.

“Prices are bigger than quite a few yrs in the past, but with so numerous companies even now shifting to Dallas, desire in this spot will maintain soaring,” he explained. “There are however good options in the Park Metropolitan areas, but you have to perform with a excellent agent who is aware about residences in advance of they strike the current market.”

Anne Oliver echoes that suggestions and provides, “Investors are on the lookout to serious estate extra than ever just before, viewing one-household connected households and multifamily properties as currently being harmless investments with loads of upside probable.”

Meanwhile, the Dallas suburbs go on to catch the attention of purchasers from all about the region, increasing house costs to file concentrations. In the considerably north suburbs, for instance, “we’ve viewed offers for homes extra normally in the $300,000 to $500,000 variety, a trend that will go on into 2022,” she reported.

“Premium properties in this cost vary are looking at a number of gives,” explained Sue Krider. “But they have to be quality – superior affliction, fantastic site and terrific views.”

Allie Beth Allman & Associates sells far more properties priced at $2 million and over than any other brokerage, according to Several Listing Assistance studies. To connect with a luxury authentic estate specialist, go to alliebeth.com.

Pflugerville Rental Property Manager – Maintenance And Inspections Updated

Pflugerville Rental Property Manager – Maintenance And Inspections Updated

by Investment Property

Monte Davis House Administration Service (512-861-8089) (Monte Davis PM) has expanded its financial commitment assets administration providers for landlords in Pflugerville Tx, aiding traders in the regional actual estate market though getting treatment of all tenant-related responsibilities.

Austin, United States – December 26, 2021 —

The company’s most recent techniques can go over various house kinds, which includes solitary-family homes, duplexes, condominiums, town houses, and multi-spouse and children houses. They currently supply home proprietors with rental worth evaluations, in addition to giving comprehensive maintenance products and services to improve rental returns.

Extra info can be identified at: https://www.montedavispm.com

Progress in the Austin spot has designed it an interesting probability for professional and household house traders alike. With the most existing updates, Monte Davis Home Management incorporates twenty a long time of experience, with preventative upkeep strategies, to provide residence house owners with a transparent and honest resolution.

Similar to metropolitan areas across the US, the functions of 2020 induced financial obstructions for Austin. However, as the New York Moments reports, the location is now among the most attractive expenditure alternatives in the nation. An inflow of new companies has truly designed document figures of new positions, and rental properties are in superior demand from the broadening populace.

The growth has even led to elevated need for top quality residence management providers. Developing on an extremely strong track report, Monte Davis has not too long ago strengthened its group by forming new partnerships with a selection of experts, which includes contractors, HVAC, roofers, and master plumbing gurus and electrical contractors.

A new assets awareness solution makes use of images and movie to doc steady assets inspections, which homeowners can entry at any time. In addition, a 15-level ‘Move-In-Orientation’ guidebook is designed to teach new tenants on their tasks, guaranteeing that landlords do not incur unneeded fix expenditures.

About Monte Davis House Management

Set up by landlords with a extensive understanding of the issues and issues they had really professional, Monte Davis Assets Management bases its providers on genuine and transparent interactions that are not usually skilled in the household house management sector. Alongside with house management, the agency materials rental advertising and marketing, tenant screening, lease collection, and inspection services.

A absolutely joyful house owner declared: “I have labored with Monte’s workforce for 10 in addition a long time. They are finish experts, and dealt with a range of elaborate difficulties I had with my houses. I would hugely endorse them to anyone who demands a good quality home manager.”

Fascinated parties can uncover a lot more by browsing: https://www.montedavispm.com/upkeep-solutions

Speak to Info:
Identify: Monte Davis
Electronic mail: Ship E-mail
Group: Monte Davis Residence Administration Company, LLC
Tackle: 9600 Wonderful Hills Trail Suite 150 W, Austin, Texas 78759, United States
Phone: +1-512-861-8089
Site: https://www.montedavispm.com/

Release ID: 89057996

comtex tracking

COMTEX_399673833/2773/2021-12-26T21:04:15

Madison family decorates home for Christmas for nearly 30 years

Madison family decorates home for Christmas for nearly 30 years

by Home Decoration

Sisters Lindsey Rowe and Lauren Rowe-Hobbs are wellbeing treatment staff in Jackson and have noticed the actual physical and mental toll the COVID-19 pandemic has experienced on sufferers and other health and fitness care personnel. 

To minimize worry and rejoice the vacations, the girls have centered on a spouse and children tradition which is just about 30 decades in the making. They assistance their parents, John and Sheri Rowe, decorate their Madison residence with around 100,000 lights, inflatable decorations and handmade picket layouts of Disney people and other figures small children figure out from television and movies. 

“Coming dwelling and seeing all the lights coming up is normally inspirational and encouraging mainly because it’s a little something that we all completed with each other and we know it provides joy to men and women,”  Lindsey Rowe stated. 

The lights are on Indian Pines Lane in Madison. This 7 days, John Rowe is dressing up as Santa Claus and handing out candy canes to those people who go to.

Lindsey Rowe, from left, Lauren Rowe-Hobbs, Hollis Hobbs and Sheri Rowe pose for photograph with Santa near the Christmas lights on Indian Pines Lane in Madison, Miss., Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. The family has set up the holiday lights display at their home for nearly 30 years.

Lindsey Rowe treats grownups with COVID-19, and her sister is a pediatrician. 

Early in the pandemic, there have been fears about getting the virus at function and brining it house, explained Rowe-Hobbs, who failed to see her mom and dad or bring her son to see them for a several months to avert them from having sick.

Just about two many years into the pandemic, there is nevertheless worry, but Christmas lights and the holidays are a good distraction and a supply of contentment, she said. 

How to decorate your garden for Christmas

How to decorate your garden for Christmas

by Home And Garden





Home and Garden: How to decorate your garden for Christmas
































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