IT CAN’T MAKE UP ITS MIND
The weather in this part of the country is always...well...interesting.
We are the land of five seasons: too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry, and too windy. That pretty much sums it up. If you’ve lived in the area for any length of time, you know what I mean.
But every now and we catch a break.
The last few weeks have felt like that. We’re finally getting some rain after a brutally long dry spell. Lawns that had gone brown and dormant have greened back up giving the landscape the look of new life. And during this last stretch, the temperatures have been unseasonably mild which has been truly enjoyable. I’ll take both of those!
I was walking through the yard the other day snapping some pictures and I had a hard time believing what I was seeing, impressive fall color... and colorful summer annuals... AND it’s mid-November. Crazy!
Now, granted they are just in a few more protected places, but still, it’s pretty unusual. And in the veggie garden, we’ve still got a few peppers and tomatoes with fruits on them. It’s cooled off enough that they are producing very fast anymore, but still, fresh tomatoes in November... I’ll take ‘em!
Despite the extended growing season we’re still enjoying, things are definitely starting to wind down. Cooler temperatures in the extended forecast remind us the transition toward winter is still very much in progress. It’s not here yet, but we’re definitely headed that way.
And as one season winds down, another one ramps up. If you’re paying any attention to the ads on TV or the displays in the stores, the holiday season will soon be upon us.
It’s that time of the year, and we’re feeling it here at the Garden Center, too.
Over the last few days, our cooler has filled up with boxes and boxes of fresh-cut greens and just the other day, a truck from up north delivered us a forest of tightly bundled fresh-cut Christmas trees. Our cooler is packed full of fresh and green for the season. It smells like a walk in the mountains!
Out in the new greenhouse, the transition has begun as well. Mums and pumpkins have given way to holiday picks of bright red berries and pine cones of all sizes, all surrounded by tubs full of freshly harvested evergreens boughs, essential ingredients of one of my seasonal favorites, Winter Porch Pots.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
We’re in transition!
The holiday season will soon be upon us and we’ll be ready for it, but we’re still very much in the fall season, too. There is still time to wrap up fall projects. Get your fertilizer down, make sure everything is well-mulched, put the trunk protectors on all your young trees, and if you still need to do some planting... you have time to get that done, too. We’re moving our plants around in preparation for the winter, but they’re still here and they can still be planted as long as the ground isn’t frozen.
It looks like we’re going to have a couple of nice weeks as we head into Thanksgiving. Take advantage of the good days and make sure you’re ready for winter. And as you prepare for your own transition into the holidays, keep us in mind for that too, and come see us. We’ve got a lot of fresh and green to share.
For now, enjoy the fall while it’s still here!
—Cameron Rees
WHAT’S NEW?: FRESH GREENS & CHRISTMAS TREES!
It’s that time of the year again!
Winter porch pots and fresh-cut fir Christmas trees are here... the smell of fresh is in the air!
“THYMELY” ADVICE: THERE’S STILL TIME TO PLANT GARLIC!
Garlic is like spring-flowering bulbs, it likes to be planted in the fall... and there is still time!
Garlic is one of the easiest vegetables to grow. Plant it in the fall, cover it with a little mulch, and then sit back and relax for the next few months. In the spring you’ll see the garlic shoot up bright green leaves and by the time summer gets here, you’ll be enjoying freshly harvested, homegrown garlic!
Garlic doesn’t take much room in the garden and it easily stores for a long time after harvest, providing you with a dramatic culinary treat for your kitchen for many months to come.
If you haven’t grown it before, and you’re curious, come see us. We’ll answer all your garlic gardening questions!
WINTER PORCH POT WORKSHOPS WEEKEND!
It's time for a popular Skinner holiday tradition! It's time for our WINTER PORCH POT WORKSHOPS! That's right, the holidays are on their way, and what better way to spark joy than with a beautiful arrangement infused with your own personal style? Porch pots are a great way to decorate the welcome areas of your home, be it the front porch, walkway, or holiday table. They also make great gifts! And brighten up spaces through the winter months. We provide all the materials you'll need to create your pot - containers, cut greenery, pinecones, berries, and add-ons. Join a session on your own, or sign up with friends and family. Our workshops fill up fast! Registration is required, and space is limited, so don't miss out! Get signed up today!!
WORKSHOP DATES AND DETAILS:
Thursday, November 21st - 1 pm & 3 pm
Friday, November 22nd - 1 pm & 3 pm
Saturday, November 23rd - 11 am, 1 pm & 3 pm
Sunday, November 24th - 12 pm & 2 pm
Cost: $69.99/person
Time: Each workshop takes 30-45 minutes.
Registration: Call the store at 785-233-9657 or email Misty at mistyb@skinnergardenstore.com to register.
Let’s GET BULBS IN THE GROUND!
I can’t think of anything better than seeing all those big beautiful colors popping up in the garden in the spring. The wide range of colors, shapes, and unique blooms. Getting those planted at the right time will help make your spring beautiful too.
There is still some time to get those spring bulbs in the ground!
Fall is always the perfect time to plant bulbs. The cooler temperatures create the best conditions for them to create that period of dormancy and start getting ready for their big performance. I like to get those in as early as the beginning of October, but you can plant them all fall. You just want them to be in the ground to start establishing roots before the ground is frozen.
Melissa Anderson, Store Manager
The easiest beginner bulb is the Daffodil. Daffodils are deer-resistant, not bothered by squirrels, are reliable perennials, and tend to multiply slowly. You could always shoot for a big display of blooms, in this case, plant bulbs in big groupings in your planting area. We have lots of daffodils, as well as a wide variety of tulips, daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, and allium in the store, ready and waiting just for you.
Plant those bulbs pointy side up, add in a good bulb food, and cover with some mulch to keep them warm during the winter, and in just a few short months those beauties will be popping up. Stop in today and grab you a good bulb planter or some Dutch bulb food to make the process a bit easier. Our staff is available for any questions you may have along the way.
—Melissa Anderson
EVENTS, SALES & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Keep scrolling for all the important info and extras you don’t want to miss!
Winter Porch Pot Workshops are back!
It's time for a popular Skinner holiday tradition! It's time for our WINTER PORCH POT WORKSHOPS! That's right, the holidays are on their way, and what better way to spark joy than with a beautiful arrangement infused with your own personal style? Porch pots are a great way to decorate the welcome areas of your home, be it the front porch, walkway, or holiday table. They also make great gifts! And brighten up spaces through the winter months. We provide all the materials you'll need to create your pot - containers, cut greenery, pinecones, berries, and add-ons. Join a session on your own, or sign up with friends and family. Our workshops fill up fast! Registration is required, and space is limited, so don't miss out! Get signed up today!!
WORKSHOP DATES AND DETAILS:
Thursday, November 21st - 1 pm & 3 pm
Friday, November 22nd - 1 pm & 3 pm
Saturday, November 23rd - 11 am, 1 pm & 3 pm
Sunday, November 24th - 12 pm & 2 pm
Cost: $69.99/person
Time: Each workshop takes 30-45 minutes.
Registration: Call the store at 785-233-9657 or email Misty at mistyb@skinnergardenstore.com to register.
TIME FOR A CHANGE
Now that we are off Daylight Savings and darkness is settling in a little more quickly, we’ll be closing up a little earlier. From now until the end of winter, we’ll be closing at 5 pm, not 6 pm.
