SEASONS CHANGE
Well, we knew it was coming but that still didn’t make it any easier. We had to put our dog down.
His name was Potter, and he was a faithful...and somewhat stubborn...family addition for over fifteen years.
He joined our family when our kids were still fairly young. Our kids, like so many others, were obsessed with Harry Potter and his magical world. They devoured the books and watched his movies over and over, so I’ll give you one guess as to what prompted his name.
That’s right, he was our very special “hairy” Potter. The name was fitting.
He was just a tiny young pup when we got him... like really tiny. He was a small breed they call a Shorkie... another name for a Shih Tzu/Yorkshire Terrier cross. That meant he was small, but also fuzzy, brown, and super cute.
Growing up, my family mainly had bigger dogs, so I never paid much attention to the smaller breeds. After getting Potter though, I began to notice them everywhere, and quite a few that looked a lot like
him. I remember asking our vet, who was also a family friend, about him during one of his early checkups. I asked him if Potter belonged to a popular breed. He smiled and politely told me, “No,
not really”. He went on to explain that Shorkies weren’t really an “officially” defined breed, then he smiled and he told me Potter was really just a high-priced mutt!
Potter represented his “high-priced mutt status” well.
Despite his less-than-noble pedigree, Potter served our family well. He brought comfort to my mom during her battle with cancer, to my dad through his health challenges late in his life, and to all of us on a daily basis for many years. Like loyal pets everywhere, he brought a lot of love into the family.
And like so many other small dogs, he was only nine and a half pounds, but he thought he was big and tough. He barked like nobody’s business and put on a good show, but once he realized you weren’t a threat, he was turned into a softie... especially if you had treats!
The kids are all grown up now and they’ve been out of the house for a number of years, so it’s just been Kim, myself, and until this latest event, Potter. Now with him gone, the house feels a lot more empty.
Kim and I are still catching ourselves stepping cautiously when we get up in the middle of the night. He frequently slept in the middle of the floor and stepping on him was always a very real concern. And even still, for a few brief moments every time we walk in the door, we catch ourselves waiting for the distinctive jingle of his nametag as he came to greet us so often before. But now the path across the bedroom is clear and the house is eerily silent. This is going to take some getting used to.
Cameron Rees, General Manager
Sorry for a sad one this time.
Back here at the nursery, we’re still plugging along. Some plants have dropped their leaves, but a lot are still colored up and looking nice. We’ve finally gotten some much-needed rain and the temperatures continue to remain relatively mild. We’re still enjoying the fall.
The bottom line is there’s still time to do some planting, still time to do some fertilizing, and still time to do some mulching, or whatever is left on your fall project list. Keep plugging along, and if you need some help with any of those, stop on by and let us lend a hand.
—Cameron Rees
TRUNK PROTECTION… DON’T MESS THIS ONE UP!
As we move slowly closer to colder weather, it’s time to think about trunk protection for young trees.
Newly planted trees are vulnerable to winter sunscald damage, as well as feeding damage from rabbits and small rodents. Damage from these things can easily ruin a tree.
The solution is quick and it’s easy... trunk guards!
These are protective plastic guards, usually white in color, that can easily be put onto a tree trunk for the winter and then just as easily removed in the spring after they are no longer needed. It’s really that simple! Store them in your garage after you take them off so you can put them back on the following winter. Plan on doing this for at least the first few winters.
Both winter sunscald and pest damage can ruin a perfectly good tree. The damage left behind may not kill a tree outright, but typically it sets the tree up for a slow downward spiral until years later, failure is the end result. By then, you’re not only out a tree, you’re also out several years of growth.
Trunk guards are cheap insurance, they’re easy to use... and it’s time to put them on.
We’ve got lots of them available in a variety of sizes depending on your tree’s needs. Just come see us!
“THYMELY” ADVICE: IT’S TIME FOR WINTERIZER!
Now that Halloween is behind us and we’ve finally seen some rain, it’s time to apply the third step in our 3-Step Lawn Program, Fertilome Winterizer.
Even the most established grass benefits from a little “kick” once in a while, and Fertilome Winterizer is just the kick your lawn needs at this time of the year. It is a late fall application designed to help lawns store more food for winter survival and to encourage thick and rapid growth next spring.
Think of it as paving the way for a lush, healthy lawn.
And while you’re “winterizing” your lawn, keep in mind, it’s time to do the same for the other plants in our landscape. Apply Fertilome Tree and Shrub Food according to label directions to trees, shrubs, and evergreens now.
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.
