It's time to plant, but what's available?

By now you all are aware of the fruit tree shortage. It's happening all over America. Apple, peach, nectarine, apricot, cherry and pear trees are hard to find this spring for a couple of reasons. First, two of the three bare root companies have closed for good! These three companies sold to all 50 states and Canada. You can see what a dent it has made in nursery stock. Second, the pandemic. How can this affect the nursery business, you ask. Well, everyone has been home looking for something to do and many have taken up working in their yards, planting gardens and orchards. So, yes, supply and demand has played a large part in this problem.

We still have some apple and peach trees. We bought all the stock one of our suppliers had. In fact, we reserved them long ago so we would have them and they are almost gone. Unfortunately, nut trees are gone, as well.

As far as veggies, Los Angeles and Orange County nurseries bought up most of them early, but now I have a good supply including tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, Armenian cucumbers, beans and more.

Five nursery trucks will be delivering soon, so a lot of neat plants are arriving.

Blueberries are in stock and they do well in Tehachapi. Also, blackberries and strawberries were in short supply last year, but this year we have plenty.

Flowers, there really is no shortage, so plant now for a colorful summer and fall.

Check out our perennial bed; Susan, Kennedy, Judah, Kevin and Leah have done a lot of work on it this spring. We have many varieties of perennials; perennials are plants that bloom most of the year, though they go dormant during winter and return in the spring, larger and more vibrant than the year before. This includes delphinium, coreopsis, Jupiter's beard and Russian sage.

Shrubs are also in good supply right now. Come on in and take a relaxing stroll through our garden. Lilacs are back in stock.

We are happy to continue our tradition of decorating the stage at the Tehachapi High School graduation with trees and plants. We have helped the school for about the past 30 years by helping make a nice presentation for the event.

So make this the year to get that yard looking great. Don't procrastinate any longer. It's always nice to have something new and beautiful in your yard. Mountain Gardens Nursery is located at 503 S. Curry St. in Tehachapi and is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.