New For 2012:

All Of Our Poinsettias Come With A Basket.

Cortez Burgundy	Flame	Ice Punch
Mars Pink	Mars Red	Mars White
Polly's Pink	Premium Picasso	Prestige Red
Prestige Maroon	Ruby Frost	Silver Star Red
	Photo Not Available
Sonora White Glitter	Tapestry

Are Poinsettias Poisonous
to Cats, Dogs and Children?

Poinsettias are not poisonous after all, causing nothing more than perhaps a mild stomach upset if a part of the plant is eaten. Eating a large amount of Poinsettias may luckily be very unlikely due to the plant's taste: very bitter and not very edible at all. So usually, a leaf or two will give the message to a curious toddler or rambunctious pet.

According to Poinsindex, "a 50 pound child would have to ingest 500-600 leaves to exceed experimental doses that found no toxicity." The white sticky sap however, may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. Pet owners can rely on findings from the ASPCA. According to ASPCA, "In reality, Poinsettia ingestion's typically produce only mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation. Keeping this plant out of the reach of your pet to avoid stomach upset is still a good idea, but you need not banish the poinsettia from your home for fear of a fatal exposure."

Poinsettia Care

Poinsettias like bright, indirect sunlight and prefer humid conditions. Let the soil dry out between waterings. Poinsettias are sensitive to extreme temperatures, so don’t place your plant next to a heater or near a drafty window or doorway. A daytime temp of around 65° and nights around 60° will provide a perfect condition for your Poinsettia.

The Secret To Using Cut Poinsettias
For Arrangements

Sear The Cut Stems With A Candle Flame

This will help keep your flowers fresh. Poinsettias excrete a milky sap when the leaves or stems are broken. You need to stop the flow of that sap to prevent drooping flowers. The sap isn’t poisonous, but it can irritate your skin, so you might want to wear gloves while searing your cuts and making your arrangement.

How To Sear The Stems

Sear stems with a pillar candle to keep your hands free. Once you cut a stem, sear it quickly to avoid letting too much sap drip out. The sap will boil or bubble under the candle flame. If you remove leaves, you’ll also need to sear the points where the leaves were attached.

If, within an hour or so the blossoms remain upright, you’ve seared it correctly. If it starts to droop, the easiest remedy is to cut a fresh flower and try again.

Place seared stems in tepid water treated with a floral preservative to condition and extend the life of the blooms. The stems are hollow and will absorb water after they’re seared. Poinsettias get thirsty once they’re cut, so check their water level often. Add more floral preservative each time you change the water.

It’s Easy!
Here Is What You Do:

1. Fill Container with Rice Hulls
   • Rice Hulls are simply the shell of rice and a bi-product of the rice industry.
   • We use Rice Hulls instead of soil or sand to anchor our spruce-tops because of the density and water holding capacity.

2. For a 12” Pot, Use 8-10, 3’ Spruce-Tops

• Make a fresh cut at the base of each spruce-top; trim off any stray greens and save.
• Insert with the tallest spruce-top in the middle of your pot.
• Fill around with remaining spruce-tops, insert at an angle and stager heights for interest and fullness.

3. Insert Any Stray Greens or Scraps Around The Edge of the Pot for Fullness and Drape

4. Use 3-5 Red Twig Dogwood Stems to Add Color and Interest
• Make a fresh cut.
• Divide up the pot into thirds, insert 1-2 twigs in each section.

5. Add Mixed Evergreens for Color, Interest and Drape

6. Spray with Wilt-Stop™

— a natural pine resin that will keep your greens from drying out. You can use this product on your prized evergreen shrubs too!

• Helps reduce transplant shock.
• Reduces moisture loss when plants are under stress.

STOP winter kill, wind burn, sunscald, salt damage and drying out.

7. Now It’s Time to Decorate
• Use shiny balls, cones on a stick, ribbon, outdoor berries, feathers…
• Really, the sky is the limit!

8. Make Sure to Water Your Pots Thoroughly Until They Freeze Solid.
   The greens need to soak up as much water as they can get!
   

Each winter, Tonkadale donates a “Winter Scene” which includes fresh evergreens, cones, berries and expert design talent to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretums’ “Windows on Winter” display. Stop by the Arboretum and see Tonkadale’s creation in front of the
Oswald Visitor Center.

The 15’ Tree
at the
Minnetonka Arts Center

Each holiday season, Tonkadale donates and decorates a 15’ Fraser Fir Christmas tree to the Minnetonka Arts Center as part of their annual art show.

We are proud to showcase our beautiful tree for so many talented artists and community members!

We also donate and design other Holiday decorations that adorn the Arts Center: