Santa’s got his groove on!
We always celebrated Christmas Eve at my grandparents’ house.
The evening would start with a table full of appetizers and lots of hot spiced cider. It progressed from there to the dining room for a massive Christmas dinner and eventually, when the table had been cleared and the food was all put away, we opened presents. It happened this way every year, and I loved it.
One Christmas, probably about the time I was finishing up high school, my brother traveled back from his home in Montana with a gift for granddad that would change Christmas Eves from that point forward... the dancing Santa Claus.
Now, there was nothing “Hallmark Channel” special about this dancing Santa Claus. It was just kind of funny, and it made us all laugh, especially my granddad. And I loved to watch my granddad laugh.
From then on, the dancing Santa Claus was always on display for the Holidays. Grandpa loved it! I’m sure Grandma wasn’t overly excited about that “classy” addition to the Christmas decor, but I never heard her complain. Every Christmas Eve, he’d shake his hips and sing his song, and we’d all laugh.
I was close to my granddad and have a lot of fond memories of time spent with him. He was a great guy. He had a good sense of humor and liked to laugh. I loved that about him.
Well, it turned out that dancing Santa’s arrival started something.
After that year, Grandpa always ended up with a “special” gift from someone. It would always be something a little silly, and we would all watch his reaction, as he figured out what it was. Then, we’d all share in the laughter. We loved it, Grandpa loved it, and Grandma...well, she would just shake her head and roll her eyes...and then she’d crack a smile, too.
There are a lot of good memories there.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Something I learned as I got older is the value of time spent with family and friends, and the memories those times create. As we head into this last stretch of the Season, I hope you all enjoy it and create some wonderful holiday memories, as well.
From all of us out here at Skinner’s, thank you for your business, and we want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
— Cameron Rees
P.S. Dancing Santa is still with us! After my granddad passed away, my sister took him to her home. Every Christmas, he’s back out on display, shaking those hips...and he’s still making us laugh. Merry Christmas!
“thymely” advice: living christmas trees
During this time of year, some folks come to our store looking for an evergreen tree that they can use for the Holidays and then plant in their garden later. This is called a living Christmas tree, and it can be a great way to celebrate the season while, at the same time, landscaping the yard and planting a special memory.
However, there are a few cautions you must take, or your tree might end up as a distant memory, rather than a special one, and none of us want that!
Here are some tips to help your living Christmas tree project be more successful:
Limit your tree's time indoors – Our evergreen trees have been outside in the cold weather all season and they are acclimated to recent lower temperatures. When plants get exposed to colder temperatures, they develop cold hardiness, which helps them survive even the coldest winter temperatures. However, if they spend too much time in the warmth of your home, their cold hardiness decreases, and they may not survive. To prevent this, limit your tree's stay in your home to 3-5 days. -
Store your tree appropriately – This means keep it cold, but not too cold. Don't forget that excessive temperatures can kill the roots. Aim to protect your tree from temperatures below 20 degrees by putting it in an unheated garage or leaving it here at our nursery, until you’re ready to pick it up.
Reacclimate your tree – After you remove your tree from your home, give it some time to reacclimate to the cold temperatures of winter. Plan on transitioning your tree to an unheated garage for at least a few weeks before planting it outside, or longer, if our winter dictates it.
Be prepared to plant it – If you are hoping to plant your tree out in the yard following the reacclimating period, it's a good idea to dig the hole now, while there is no frost in the ground. Also, make sure the soil you dig out is stored in a way to prevent it from freezing. Think about burying it deep in straw and tarping it or putting it into a wheel barrel and moving it into the garage.
Be sure to keep it watered – Evergreen trees aren’t hard to keep alive through the winter, but you must make sure you keep them watered. Whether it’s in your garage or planted out in your landscape, check them regularly and then water them thoroughly when they start to feel a little dry.
who doesn’t love a free gift?
Get more for your money, when you do your Holiday shopping with us. From now till Christmas, you’ll receive a FREE $20 GIFT CARD with the purchase of $100 in gift cards. That’s an extra gift card for a plant lover on your list, a special teacher, a white elephant exchange… or treat yourself! It just makes “cents.”
don’t miss our christmas sale!
QUESTION:
What’s better than all the festive Christmas decorations that Skinner Garden Store is offering for the Holidays this year?
ANSWER:
50% OFF on all those decorations! Sale going on now!
