LEAVE IT TO A BEATLE
I don’t know if George Harrison was a gardener, but even if he wasn’t, his lyrics speak a lot of truth for those of us who are... All Things Must Pass.
Plants come and go in a garden. That’s one of the unavoidable lessons we all have to learn…and yes, we ALL experience these unfortunate losses.
Case in point. A few weeks ago, I noticed a slight discoloration on one of my favorite specimens in our conifer garden, a Weeping Serbian Spruce I helped plant twenty-plus years ago.
When I first spotted the slight discoloration on the first needles, I knew right away things weren’t good. I’ve seen this happen too many times.
I’ve watched a lot of needle-type evergreens make it through the worst of summer, only to go belly-up once we hit September. Over the years, I’ve also heard of a lot of these situations in our customers’ gardens as well. Things look fine, and then suddenly, bam… dead.
It’s a frustrating situation. Things appear to be fine, and then suddenly, without warning… not so much. And the really frustrating part, by the time you notice things looking bad, there’s nothing you can do about it. In almost all of these situations, the roots have died in the weeks previous, and only now is the top actually drying out enough to tell the whole story. At this point, no amount of water or TLC is going to make a difference.
Like I said, it’s frustrating.
So, all I could do was watch this spruce turn brown over the course of a very short week and wish it wasn’t so.
It sucks… but it also happens. Nothing in a garden lasts forever, and if you’ve gardened for very long, you’ve figured that out. And after it’s happened enough times, you also learn things like this are not just losses, they’re also opportunities… opportunities for something new and different.
It’s the whole glass-half-empty or half-full thing.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
I tend to be a glass-half-full guy. So, although I’m disappointed to see this magnificent tree gone, I’m already moving and contemplating the chance for something new and different. The dead tree is down, the stump has been pulled out and the space is ready for something new. I don’t know what it’s going to be yet, but I know I’m excited for the opportunity to be planting something new.
And, of course, we’re in a great time of year to plant!
Fall is now officially upon us. The rain has finally returned, and the temperatures have cooled down… it’s definitely fall planting time!
Maybe you’ve lost something out of your garden this year too… but hopefully not! Either way, we’re out here, making sure things are ready for your planting projects. I hope you’ll come see us!
—Cameron Rees
P.S. - This is a pretty good version of George’s song, too. It’s from the tribute, Concert For George. Both are worth checking out!
GRASS SEEDING RELIEF
Choosing high-quality grass seed, and planting it correctly are important for seeding success. But like most planting projects, ultimate success is only as good as the post-planting care. And with planting projects… and especially planting grass seed… that translates to watering.
Watering makes or breaks a seeding project… and the weather has a lot to do with that.
When the temps are high and the rainfall is nowhere to be seen… keeping things adequately wet can be challenging. That’s where natural rainfall and cooler air temperatures come in handy… like what we’ve just seen.
If you have a grass seeding project on your “to-do” list, but you’ve been waiting for the right time, then now’s the time to get started! We’re still in a prime window of opportunity for planting grass seed.
And of course, we still have lots of high-quality grass seed and starter fertilizer on hand to help you out. If you need help figuring out how much of each you need, we can help. We can also explain what you need to do to get your seed planted correctly as well. We want you to be successful too!
inside skinner’s employee gardens: PEGGY STRATTON
Have you ever wondered what the employees at Skinner Garden Store do with all the beautiful plants they buy and take home? With each different gardener comes a different personality, different style, and different techniques. We thought you might enjoy getting a sneak peek at some of the work that the Skinner employees do, tending to their own gardening passions.
Today, it’s the home garden handiwork of greenhouse sales associate, Peggy Stratton. Does Peggy know container gardening, or what?!?! We love her use of natural elements like the bamboo screen and the moss hanging planter. Those details, along with stones and concrete statuary containers, really create a magical, secret garden feel and an old-world charm. Peggy has really gone all out on these key features around her home exterior! This is definitely a great inspiration! And the best part of container gardening is that it can change with the seasons. Stop by and our staff can help you select the right elements for a fall or winter porch pot.
If you have questions about any of Peggy’s plants call, email, or message us… or just stop by the store and Peggy or another team member would be happy to talk with you. Enjoy!
events & announcements
Keep an eye on this section of our newsletter for information on sales, special events, changes to store hours and more!
