ARE SURPRISES MY THING NOW?
It was supposed to be a pool party, but the rain changed that.
The crowd slowly built. The women congregated around the kitchen island, and the guys hung out on the back porch... both groups keeping dry and out of the rain. Eventually, we all came together and enjoyed a large potluck spread, and in between showers, we ventured out onto the patio and enjoyed the cool weather. The day didn’t go exactly as we planned, but you’ve got to be flexible with these things.
Of course, I’m talking about this past July 4… Independence Day… 250th edition.
I was disappointed the day was a rainout, but at the same time, I try really hard not to complain about getting rain this time of the year. When it’s dry- and it was- rain is a blessing… even on the 4th of July.
Despite the party “opportunity”, we still had a really good time. There was lots of food. Kim and I provide a few key items: smoked pork butt, grilled hot dogs, and roasted potatoes fresh from the garden. The rest of the spread is a potluck collection brought by the guests...
...and I love potlucks!
Besides all the great food, the highlight of the day is the people. It’s always fun to get together with everyone and catch up, especially with those we haven’t seen for a while.
And speaking of folks I haven’t seen for a while, I was surprised once again with an unexpected family visit! My wife is getting good at keeping these things “off grid”! The surprise this time?…Our daughter, who lives in St. Louis, and her boyfriend. They had talked about making the trek over to spend the weekend with us, but I’d thought those plans had fallen through. I was wrong!
The rain had its impact, but the day and the rest of the weekend all turned out pretty amazing.
I’ll take it.
But now that the 4th is behind us, hot and humid have settled in, and they will likely be here until fall. The good news is we’re still pretty green, and we’re still catching a timely rain.
We’ll see how long that lasts.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Things are slower at the store now, but we’re still out here, doing our thing. We’ve been doing a lot of rearranging. Misty just reloaded the greenhouse with all kinds of summer-blooming beauties, and we’re anxious to help in any way we can. You can continue adding annuals and containers throughout the summer, when you feel the need for some quick color. And we’ve got other plants ready to go, as well.
If you need something, just stop on by.
—Cameron Rees
WHAT’S NEW?… SUMMER COLOR!
We just restocked the greenhouse with lots of summer-blooming beauties! So many uses and places they can go!
“THYMELY'' ADVICE: DON’T LET SUMMERTIME PESTS WIN!
Summertime brings heat and humidity. It also tends to bring unwanted pests. Bagworms, Japanese Beetles, red spider mites, squash bugs, ants, and many more. If you’re running into issues and you’re not sure what to do, let us know. We can help.
Call us at 785-233-9657 and send us an email at info@skinnergardenstore.com. Or just stop into the store and talk to us in person.
We’ll get you fixed up!
—Cameron Rees
