Playing with Blocks

Hello again,

KCB returns! KCB is a professional gardener and friend who does wonderful work in the Greater Portland area. KCB is also an accredited Master Gardener by the Cooperative Extension Service and we are honored to have KCB as part of our Skillin's Garden Log family.

What is this? My fingers are tapping which is resulting in my thoughts appearing before me. Wow! It feels, oh, so foreign; uncomfortably exciting. I have thoughts and I am expressing them. Well, not exactly. This machine is expressing them. I’ve missed this. Writing for you. Will you still welcome me? Writing for me. Will I be able to produce?

So exactly where did I go? Why didn’t I write?

Initially I was too busy with my gardening business, then I began experiencing pain of wrist, shoulder then whole arm. Turns out it was my elbow, minor surgery and wha la! Arm better. Still no writing. Nothing.

This forever thinking, imagining, dreaming and creating stories in my head person was totally blocked. No blockage of thoughts, imagination, dreams and creation they just wouldn’t pass from head to fingers to page. Writer’s Block? More like motivation block. Expression block. Blocks of blocks.

Some of you may relate to this phenomenon. Perhaps you’re hungry, ravenous, actually. Nevertheless, you do not want to prepare a meal, order take out or even leave the task at hand to forage the fridge or comb your cupboards. Alternatively, what about the time you were bored, wanted to go for a walk, check e-mail, play solitaire. Something, anything yet the most challenging event is surfing the hundreds of TV channels and realizing there is nothing on. Or horrors upon horrors, your garden needs serious tending and you just can’t get out of your own way to dead one head, weed a blade of grass. Now can you relate?

Let’s see if I am able to unlock the block. What to talk about? First, I want to relay a belated Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas Season. If this makes it to print, I hope that I will not be too late to wish all a happy, healthy, loving year to come. I often include ‘successful’ in my good year wishes, which I equate to the financial kind. Yet, in an effort not to sound too syrupy, the gifts of good health, happiness, being loved and offering love can be more rewarding than a bountiful bank account. Another ‘WOW!’. Did I just say that? Guess my heart willed my fingers to say what I rarely ever voice. This material girl is feeling a little less so. Perhaps there is a story in this.

I’ll go for it…

Many of us had to be a little less materialistic this year. Some received the financial blow personally, others prepared based on media meanderings. I wish I could say it felt good, that it was easy. What does feel good is the rising to the challenge. Clipping coupons, comparative shopping, off-price, bargain, surplus, salvage stores abound! Recently I was asked my favorite clothing store(s) without even a hint of hesitation I exclaimed, ‘Goodwill & Salvation Army’. Try it. A true win win situation. Purchasing at these ‘chains’ indeed does feel good.

Still, my favorite shopping of all is just around the corner; yesterday 4 seed catalogs found their way through my mail slot. I’m feeling inspired already.

Always leave them wanting more, some do say…

So long for now, to return soon. I feel the blocks have tumbled…

KCB for Skillin's Greenhouses
December 31, 2009

Strangers in the Hospital

Kind friend Dale Lincoln returns to the Skillin's Garden Log with a true story about family that will give us advice about our own lives:


Members of “The Greatest Generation,” as described by Tom Brokaw, were those American men and women who came of age in the Great Depression, served at home and abroad during World War II, and then built the nation we have today. Edgar Ward , of Pembroke, Maine, born in 1919, was a member of that group. Before and during the Great Depression he worked on the family farm and was known as one of the smart kids in the Pembroke schools.

To my wife (and children) he was always “Uncle Edgar.” For me it took a few years for him to become family. I first met Edgar as a customer in my parents store a few years after World War II ended. In my pre-teen years I didn’t understand his condition any more than I recognized the condition of the customer that said very few words and stared as he leaned on the candy showcase. Both men were seriously injured during the war. Their health would make improvements but they would never return to the good health they enjoyed before the war.

After the war Edgar Ward helped build America by cutting pulp wood. During the years my family lived in Perry he lived four miles from our home. “Uncle” Edgar and I shared many memories. Edgar loved to tell sea stories and they centered around happy experiences when he served aboard the battleship USS WYOMING. It was after his death, four years ago, when I learned he served aboard other Navy vessels during World War II. While he was a crew member, those ships engaged in battles. Edgar and his shipmates encountered bad experiences, but he could not, or did not mention them.

The following story helps describe Edgar’s condition near the time the war ended, and may encourage us to visit people that are hospitalized:
Parents and siblings lost communications with Edgar for a long period of time. They thought they would never see him again, but one day a man from Pembroke, Maine was in the Washington, D. C. area. He went to a nearby Veterans Hospital to see a friend. At the hospital a nurse was escorting the visitor to his friend’s room. As they passed an open door a young man was sitting on the bed. The nurse said: “Nobody knows who that man is.” The visitor quickly replied; I know him. That’s Edgar Ward. I went to school with him in Pembroke, Maine.” Edgar and family members were soon reunited.

In all wars, there have been deaths and at the end of each war many people find their health is not as good as it was before the war began. Many of those people spend the rest of their lives in hospitals and seldom have visitors. Our routines are too busy and those people are forgotten. We have to make special arrangements just to see our closest friends.

During our path of life we seldom acknowledge that we are constantly affecting the lives of other people. During the Christmas season we have to watch Jimmy Stewart in the movie: ”It’s a Wonderful Life,” to remind us of those important facts.

As this article is written, veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, plus countless other people, are continuously entering hospitals and nursing homes. Although we seldom make a trip to visit a stranger in a hospital, visiting family members and other friends is the right thing to do. It is not unusual for us to arrive at the hospital, as a visitor, feeling tired, sad, and weary. To our surprise we have found that the patient, or the “stranger “ sharing the same room, cheers us up.

More than six decades ago the man from Pembroke that went to the Veterans Hospital to see his friend was doing something good. At that time he may have been feeling tired, weary and sad. If “the stranger in the hospital” didn’t cheer him up, he certainly brightened the day for Edgar Ward and his family. It all happened with one caring person’s visit to a hospital. Today is the day to visit our friend in the hospital. If we’re “too busy,” we can at least send a card.

Dale C. Lincoln of Perry ME
currently in Zephyrhills FL
for the Skillin's Garden Log
December 6, 2009

Wet bird seed in the feeder!

Hello again,

Just a quick note to remind you fellow birders that with the soaking and wind driven rain we received the other day that it is likely the bird seed in the open areas of your bird feeder could be quite wet. My feeders sure had some wet food.

Take a few moments out of your busy day and scoop as much of the wet seed out as you can. Our feathered friends do not prefer wet food and they will let it lie and go to other feeding areas.

After awhile the wet food can even get a little mildewy but again all this can be averted by simply scooping out the wet food. The birds will be back in business and feeding happily!

Also with the weather taking a turn for the colder, it is more important than ever to give the birds some suet. We sell good quality suet here at Skillin's along with suet pellets that can be used in any regular feeder. I use the pellets in my Squirrel Buster feeders and the birds really appreciate that.

If you need more food we have plenty on sale here at Skillin's for 20% off! Great quality food for our feathered friends!

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
December 5, 2009

Norfolk Island Pine

Hello again,

Good gardening friend Paul Parent of the Paul Parent Garden Club (http://www.paulparent.com/) sends out a great newsletter every week with pertinent gardening topics. I encourage you to go to his website (http://www.paulparent.com/) to sign up for his newsletter. Paul can also be heard every Sunday morning from 6 AM to 10 AM at his website or at WBACH (104.7 FM) every Sunday morning from 6 AM to 9 AM.

Here is some of what Paul had to say this past week:

One of the most beautiful evergreen trees for the South is the Norfolk Island Pine. For those of us that live in the North this plant is a wonderful indoor plant. It was discovered by the early explorers who were searching the South Pacific Ocean for new lands. Yes, the one and only Captain Cook made it possible for us to enjoy this plant in our homes today. In the wild, it grows to almost 200 feet, but in our home, just to the ceiling.

As a potted tree, it will grow in a room with a lot of light and if you put it in a corner it will grow slanting towards the light, so keep it near a window and turn it periodically. House temperatures 60 to 70 degrees are best; it also needs good air circulation. It will tolerate 50 degrees during the winter as long as there is no draft from the door or windows.

Water as needed and keep soil moist but not wet. Be sure there are drainage holes in the pot to help drain excess water. If you see lower branches turning brown and falling from the plant, cut back on the water. Feed monthly with Neptune Harvest or Miracle Grow fertilizer. If you often forget to feed, use Osmocote spring and fall. This plant loves humidity. During the winter, when the heat is on, mist the foliage daily. If you can, fill the saucer the pot is on with stones and add water daily; it will help greatly.

Repot every 2 to 3 years or when you notice that the roots are beginning to fill the pot. Use a light-weight potting soil--never soil from the garden. Drainage is the key to success.

If the plant droops and needles drop off it could be that the room is too hot and has poor air circulation. Do not place other plants around this plant--it likes room to grow and no competition for air and light.

If the plant loses lower branches, they will not be replaced by the plant, as it's a tree.

The Norfolk Island Pine will make a great tree at Christmas for apartments, or for people who do not like the mess that cut trees make. Decorate with LED lights, as they create NO heat on the branches, and add a few red bows.

When spring arrives and it is safe to put out your flowers, place the tree in a shady area on your porch or deck for the summer. They have few bugs and disease problems. Enjoy!

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
December 5, 2009

The Story of the Cut Christmas Tree

Hello again,

Good gardening friend Paul Parent of the Paul Parent Garden Club (http://www.paulparent.com/) sends out a great newsletter every week with pertinent gardening topics. I encourage you to go to his website (http://www.paulparent.com/) to sign up for his newsletter. Paul can also be heard every Sunday morning from 6 AM to 10 AM at his website or at WBACH (104.7 FM) every Sunday morning from 6 AM to 9 AM.

Here is some of what Paul had to say this past week:

It is the time to visit your local nursery to select your fresh-cut Christmas tree. Most of us take the Christmas tree for granted each year, buying it and decorating it without much thought. This year I want you to know the story of the Christmas tree; it will change how you see your tree.

This is a once-upon-a-time story. It starts far away in the mountains of Germany, where the tradition of bringing a evergreen tree into house for Christmas began. The evergreen tree was brought into the house to ensure health and happiness through the season and the spring greening of Mother Earth. As people emigrated to other parts of the world they took the tradition with them and the popularity grew.

In America the tree grew from a table tree to a full-size floor-to-ceiling tree. As its popularity increased each year, problems rose due to unrestricted cutting of the tree in the forested areas. Conservationists warned then-President Theodore Roosevelt that if he did not act fast, the nation's forests would be depleted in just a few years. By 1900, roughly half of our timber had been cut--not, of course, all for Christmas trees. The topsoil was washing away and many birds were approaching extinction.

Fearing that our great forests would be destroyed, the President banned the Christmas tree from his home and urged everyone to do the same. Unfortunately for theP resident, his two children did not listen to their father and smuggled a tree into the closet of their room. As punishment for their deeds, the children were sent to the office of the National Forest and Parks Service to hear the explanation of the problem. To the President's surprise they came back with a plan that would help thin the forest selectively and save the tradition of Christmas trees. New conservation practices helped to relieve the strain of the tree shortages, and the forests were saved from unnecessary destruction.

Some years later, his cousin President Franklin D. Roosevelt had a farm in Hyde Park N.Y., and in an effort to encourage soil conservation he experimented with growing Christmas trees commercially. He chose land that was too stony to farm, too steep to plow or otherwise unsuitable for cultivation crops. The project was a success and he encouraged others to do the same.

The Christmas tree farmer became a American hero. Tree farming helped relieve the pressure on our forest, preventing erosion of our soils, helped prevent the extinction of some wildlife and created thousands of new jobs on land unsuitable for farming. The Christmas tree of today is possible because of two children, Archie and Quentin Roosevelt, who wanted something badly enough to work for it and their father, who helped make it possible. So you see, there is more to our president than the teddy bear and the Rough Riders.

By the way, the state of Maine was the home of the Christmas tree for America. The first Christmas trees sold in Boston came from Maine--and many still do. Maine had the best growing conditions, soil and climate for the balsam fir tree. Then and today the balsam fir is the number one selling Christmas tree in America from Maine to Florida and west to California. The tree has everything we want for the house--fragrance, color, hardiness, shape and affordability.

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
December 4, 2009

Blooming bulbs don't have to be a spring thing!

Hello again,

Following is a great article written by Susan Reimer in the Baltimore Sun dated December 3, 2009. I think the timing of the article is great and we have these forcing bulbs in plentiful supply here at Skillin's!

"I am not sure whether it's gardeners anxious to extend the growing season - or those who market to gardeners - but paperwhite and amaryllis bulb kits are stacked for sale like fruitcakes at this time of year.

These are the bulbs that can be "forced" to bloom out of season without the months-long hibernation required by tulips, hyacinths and their kin, and they provide a welcome alternative to the ubiquitous poinsettia. According to the National Garden Association, 4.9 million households purchased bulbs for forcing last year - up from 4.1 million in 2007.

The kits sell for a few dollars and come with bulbs, a pot, soil of some kind and instructions a child could follow. As a matter of fact, the speed with which these bulbs grow and bloom make them a good project for children, especially when grown in glass, where the roots can be seen.

I received my first amaryllis from a neighbor last year for Christmas, and I was so encouraged by the easy results that I am forcing paperwhites this year, staggering their start so I will have new blooms every couple of weeks. It is cheaper than a bouquet of fresh flowers and lasts longer.

According to Scott Kunst, owner of Old House Gardens in Michigan, which specializes in heirloom bulbs and their history, paperwhites are descendants of the Chinese Sacred Lily, which was not actually a lily and blooms as part of the Asian New Year celebration.

Brought to this country by Chinese immigrants in the late 1800s, they soon found their way into the parlors of Americans, who were fascinated at the time with anything Chinese.

Kunst says hyacinths were among the first bulbs to be forced because they responded well to the process. Forcing was easy in the 1800s, too, because houses were so cold that the hibernation period was easy to reproduce.

"You read in diaries from that time that the glass vases broke because it was so cold in the bedroom. Or all the bulbs froze because they left them on the windowsill overnight," said Kunst.

It takes a little more resourcefulness to force bulbs today - or a spare refrigerator where temperatures can be kept under 48 degrees but above freezing for eight to 12 weeks. There are varieties of tulip, daffodils, crocus and hyacinth that are particularly good for forcing - Kunst recommends Lady Derby and Linnocence hyacinths - but if you are trying it for the first time, you can use any of the bargain-basement bulbs available at this time of year.

Here are some things to remember:

•Plant bulbs close together but not touching, and with the tips pointing up and exposed. Plant in regular potting soil with plenty of drainage pebbles. Water thoroughly and then again perhaps once a month. Mark the pot with the date and the contents and place it in a cool place between 35 and 50 degrees. (A kitchen refrigerator is not a good choice. Fresh fruits and vegetables emit a gas that inhibits blooming.)

•Hyacinths can be planted in the traditional hyacinth vase, with the bulb cradle, narrow neck, and water or water and pebbles below. Water should just touch the base of the bulb.

•Depending on the recommended hibernation time (10 to 16 weeks), remove the pot and place it in a cool spot in the house, allowing it to warm slowly. Blooms should appear in two to eight weeks. Keep it out of direct sunlight so blooms will last longer. Do not overwater!

•Though most bulbs can not be forced a second year because forcing requires so much energy, you can transplant the bulbs in the garden in March, with some fertilizer, and they should bloom the next year. "

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
December 3, 2009

Christmas Cactus and Kalanchoe

(above picture from Paul Parent Garden Club)

Hello again,

Good gardening friend Paul Parent of the Paul Parent Garden Club (http://www.paulparent.com/) sends out a great newsletter every week with pertinent gardening topics. I encourage you to go to his website (www.paulparent.com) to sign up for his newsletter. Paul can also be heard every Sunday morning from 6 AM to 10 AM at his website or at WBACH (104.7 FM) every Sunday morning from 6 AM to 9 AM.

Here is some of what Paul had to say this past week:

The Beauty of Christmas Cactus

While the poinsettia remains the most popular of the holiday plants, a healthy Christmas cactus in full bloom is a great gift idea for that special gardener. It is easy to care for and can be grown indoors throughout the year. The flowers range in color from yellow, orange, red, salmon, pink, fuchsia and white to combinations of those colors. Its pendulous stems make it a great choice for hanging baskets.

The "Christmas cactus" is a closely related species of forest cacti that grow as epiphytes between 3,000 and 5,000 feet above sea level in the Organ Mountains north of Rio de Janeiro in southeast Brazil, South America. Epiphytes need structural support from the trees where they live to survive, not nutrition, since they make their own food. Similar plants are orchids, ferns and mosses. That is why their slender stems weep over, filling your pot.

We typically think of cacti as being heat tolerant, but Christmas cactuses will keep their blossoms longer in cooler temperatures, 55 or cooler. It is important to keep plants in a well-lit location away from drafts of heater vents, fireplaces or other sources of hot air. Drafts and temperature extremes can cause the flower buds to drop from the plant before they have a chance to open. Over-watering turns the stems purple.

So, if you have a plant without flowers put it in the basement window for about a month and the flowers will soon appear. Christmas cactus, if put outside for the summer, will set flowers for you. As the weather changes in September the cactus will set flower buds all by itself. Cool temperatures, around 55 degrees F., are the trigger, along with short days. If it is in a room that the lights stay on until the 11:00 o’clock news, that could also inhibit flowering. The day never gets short enough to change from vegetative growth to flower bud production. Move it to a north-facing window.

The Christmas cactus is a tropical-type plant, not quite as drought tolerant as its desert relatives and, in fact, may drop flower buds if the soil gets too dry. Water thoroughly when the top inch or so of soil feels dry to the touch. The soil, should be kept evenly moist for best growth. I water about every 2 weeks.

Christmas cactuses will do best in bright indirect light. They do not need to be fertilized while in bloom, but most gardeners enjoy the challenge of keeping the plant after the holidays for re-bloom the following year. When they finish flowering, fertilize every 2 weeks with Miracle-Gro fertilizer, while the plants are actively growing. If taken care of properly, a single plant can last for many years, providing many seasons of enjoyment. If you repeat the cold process in the basement or cool room, it will flower again in February.

Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) is a naturally blooming succulent that offers up an array of blooms in many festive colors. Kalanchoe [kal-an-KO-ee or kal-LAN-cho] is a perky little plant that is easy to care for. Whether planted in a decorative basket or grouped together in a basket on the kitchen windowsill, kalanchoes will not disappoint you. In Florida, they are also called "Palm Beach Bells."

Kalanchoes, become increasingly popular as a gift plant, feature dark-green succulent leaves topped by masses of miniature, brightly colored blossoms in shades of red, orange, yellow, or salmon-pink. In their native Madagascar, the plants bloom only during the spring months, but with a little attention, they can produce blooms in any season. Bright light all year, and warmth during the summer, cooler during the winter.

Kalanchoes are similar to poinsettias and chrysanthemums, which initiate their flowering in response to short days. Growers pull opaque shade fabric over their plants for 14 hours each night until the plants initiate flower buds. You can accomplish the same thing by placing a box over your plant for the same "short day" period. I put them in the basement window like the Christmas cactus and they will bloom again. Normal flowering time is 6 to 8 weeks if kept cool.

Kalanchoes prefer to be watered deeply, but like to dry out between waterings. Keep moist in the spring to fall, and almost dry during the winter. Feel the soil with your finger and if it is moist leave it alone.

If leaves start to yellow, you are overwatering. If they look like they are shriveling up, your plant might be dehydrated and in need of water. If this happens, remove spent foliage and water thoroughly. Kalanchoes look best when fed every two weeks with a water-soluble plant food, like Miracle-Gro or Neptune Harvest.

Mike Skillin

Skillin's Greenhouses

November 30, 2009

Christmas Tree! Oh Christmas Tree!

Hello again,

Terry Skillin writes a great informative piece about caring for Christmas trees and the different types we have to offer here at Skillin's.

The most common varieties of Christmas Tree is the Balsam fir (Abies balsamea), Fraser fir (Abies fraseri), Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) and White pine (Pinus strobes). We grow all of these trees in southern and central Maine for our customers in Skillin’s Country.

Out of all of these the Balsam Fir is in my opinion the most fragrant followed by the Fraser Fir. Fraser Fir and Scotch Pine are the most sturdy, Fraser Fir may stay more fresh for the longest period of time by most reports from our customers; however, with proper care all of our varieties will be beautiful throughout the Holiday season. Balsam fir and Fraser fir have the more traditional formal Christmas Tree shape while the Pines are usually a little less formal.

The firs and white pine are native to Maine and all through North America. Scotch Pine’s range originally spanned from Norway to western Asia and Siberia and has naturalized in New England. Scotch Pine has been cultivated as a landscape tree and a Christmas tree for a long time. (these facts from Dr Michael Dirr’s “Woody Plant Manual”).

The first step to keeping a tree fresh is selecting a spot in the house that is away from any heat source. Then you cut off about 2” from the butt of the tree just before standing it. (We will cut the tree for you if you like).As soon as the tree is straight in the stand (this could take15 minutes or so) add as much water as the stand will hold. Adding a Christmas Tree preservative (like Prolong—sold right here at Skillin’s) as directed to the tree water does assist the tree in picking up water. Check the water level at least twice a day and add more water up to the maximum level. If a tree is allowed to dry out during the season all of these steps may need to be repeated. (This would mean taking the tree down and re-cutting the base.) A tree will stay fresher in a cooler room. We do offer Christmas Tree setup services at a reasonable price!

When you regularly water your Christmas Tree you are going a long way to keeping the tree safe from any fire hazards. If a full size tree is used in a home with young children and active pets make sure the tree stand is a suitable size to match the tree it is holding. Bigger is better, and a quality tree stand will last many years so the purchase can often be a “onetime life event” if your quality tree stand is stored properly with all its parts. We have found the need some years to tie the top of the tree to two small eyelets that we put into the ceiling molding because the tree stand is not big enough! Better to have a big enough tree stand! We can help you with that right here at Skillin’s!

Many customers like to decorate their homes with living evergreens as their Christmas Tree. This can be done and there are many “pro’s” to this proposition. With each tree you are adding a valuable plant to your yard that can have a lasting effect on your home. These trees can serve multiple purposes such as nesting and feed areas for birds and creating wind blocks against strong winter winds. They also create a visual record of the Holidays and great family moments. Here is a key point: Live trees should only be indoors for 5 to 7 days and then returned outdoors. The process of returning them outdoors is better if the tree can go from the warm home to a cool garage or breezeway for two days before going outside. Live trees are heavy because of the earth root ball and a 3 to 4 foot tree is usually all customers want to handle. (60-90 pounds) On the “con side of the coin” live trees are usually smaller than fresh cut Christmas trees but heavier and as we just stated they can only remain indoors for 5 to 7 days. The tree should be planted once it returns outdoors and with snow fall and frozen ground this too can be a challenge. It is best to dig the hole while the weather is still fair and then to store the soil from the hole indoors so it won’t freeze.

Terry Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
November 29, 2009

Skillin's Thanks to You Thanksgiving Weekend Sale!

Hello again,

We are holding our First Annual Thanks to You Thanksgiving Weekend Sale and here are the exciting details:

*6” Poinsettia (630002) reg $14.99
Buy 2, Get 1 Free!!

*Bird Food includes Black Oil, Meaties and Lyric Brands
20% off

*Byers Choice Carolers
20% off

*Christmas Lights
20% off

*Fresh Maine made Roping—a great decorating weekend!
Reg $2.40 per foot, on sale for $1.49 per foot

*Christmas Tree Ornaments
Buy 5 or more, save 10%

*Living Evergreen Trees
20% off

*Fresh Cut Flowers—all weekend
30% off (not including Market Bouquets, Carnations)

*Christmas Tree Stands
20% off w/ purchase of Skillin’s Christmas tree (receipt req’d)

*Colonial Candes
10% off w/purchase of 1 box
20% off w/purchase of 2 boxes


Sale ongoing “Black” Friday Nov27 through SundayFunday Nov 29!!!!



*Thank You! *Thank You! *Thank You! *Thank You! *Thank You!

(very few restrictions may apply; prices for instock items only; while supplies last)

Skillin's Ships Fresh Maine Christmas Wreaths!!

Holiday Greetings to one and all!

We ship lovely and fresh Maine made Christmas wreaths anywhere in the continental USA! We suggest a beautiful State of Maine wreath—a 24” balsam wreath decorated with a red bow, cones and red berries! It smells so delightful, so much like Christmas in Maine!

Go to http://www.skillins.com/mainewreaths.html to place your Skillin's State of Maine Christmas Wreath order!

Ship a State of Maine wreath to family, friends, business associates anywhere in the continental USA for $36.99! Call us with an order, visit us at http://www.skillins.com/ or come in to see us!


Skillin's State of Maine Christmas Wreath

But your freshly made Skillin's Maine made Christmas wreath choices are NOT limited to only the State of Maine Christmas wreath. Just scroll below for some more exciting choices!

There is a great Acadian tradition in Maine and our fresh made Maine wreaths have been a traditional part of the Christmas holiday for many Maine families for many Christmas season!

We can ship the awesome Skillin's Acadian wreath!

(Go to http://www.skillins.com/acadiawreath.html to place your order!)

(Skillin's Acadian Wreath)

As awe inspiring as Mt. Katahdin is to see, well let me tell you the Skillin's Katahdin wreath is "way up there" on the stunning scale as well! We would love to ship the Katahdin wreath for you!

(Go to http://www.skillins.com/katahdinwreath.html to place your order for the Katahdin wreath!)

(Skillin's Katahdin Wreath)

Here it is! The ornate yet "saucy in its own way" Skillin's Casco Bay wreath! We would love to ship this wreath for you!

(Go to http://www.skillins.com/cascobaywreath.html to place your order for the Casco Bay Wreath!)

(Skillin's Casco Bay Wreath)

Elegant; yet straightforward and affordable! Our Skillin's Foreside Wreath decorated here at Skillin's and ready to ship for you today!
Go to http://www.skillins.com/foresidewreath.html to place your order for the Foreside Wreath!

(Skillin's Foreside Wreath)

Finally, check out the fresh needled Skillin's Northwoods Swag wreath. Swags are growing in popularity and we can ship this easily anywhere in the USA!

(Go to http://www.skillins.com/evergreenswags.html to place your order for the Northwoods Swag!)

(Skillin's Northwoods Swag)



Check out our fresh Maine made Skillin's Christmas wreaths that we can ship to you or your friends and family today! Check them all out at http://www.skillins.com/ or call us at 1-800-244-3860 to place an order by phone!

Think spring – even now!

Hello again,

I found this following article in the Worcester MA Telegram Gazette and I think it contains some nice gardening advice for this time of year in Skillin's Country. The writer is Paul Rogers and here goes!:

The New England winter season is long and bleak. Spring is brief and busy. Do we gardeners have the means to brighten the one and extend the other?

Indeed, we do. The key is to start spring activities now. How do we realistically accomplish this enviable goal? With a full understanding that the days begin to lengthen in 35 days, we spend as much time as possible preparing for spring.

Start out by cleaning up all trash and debris from your gardens every day that you can be outdoors. Sanitizing the garden clears the slate and removes untold numbers of potential weeds and pests from the property.

Spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost over the vegetable and annual flower gardens. A dusting of ground limestone on everything from boundary line to boundary line would not be amiss.

Dig in the lime and compost in all bare soil areas. Leave the soil rough. You will be exposing grubs, beetle larvae, and other soil pests to voracious birds and other predators. The soil insects will also be exposed to killing cold temperatures.

By leaving the surface unraked, rain and melting snow will penetrate freely into the soil rather than eroding away. In addition, the soil surface will warm and dry quickly in the spring and allow earlier planting than usual.

Perennial beds and lawns will accept a 1- to 2-inch application of compost that will improve nutrient levels and soil structure, which will accelerate green-up in the spring.

Woody plants — trees, shrubs, hedges and vines — that were installed this year will benefit from a layer of compost placed under the pine bark mulch that surrounds these plants. If you planted roses or fruit trees, you have an added task for the former and two jobs for the latter. To deter rodents and rabbits from feeding on the nutritious stems of the rose or fruit trees, spread Milorganite, an organic fertilizer. The odor of Milorganite often keeps animals, including deer, from dining on the plants.

As to the fruit trees, their stems are susceptible to bark damage (sunscald and bark splitting) from the warming sun of February. From the ground up to the first or second tier of branches, the stem should be spiral wrapped using Tree-Wrap — a Kraft paper available in rolls. Apply it now and remove it in March. It is the best and cheapest insurance that you can use to prevent thin-barked trees from winter injury.

Make sure that your windowsills and plant shelves are well stocked with foliage and flowering plants. From indoors, when you are looking at a snow-covered landscape, it helps the view if the outdoor snow is framed by indoor flowers.

Kalanchoes offer long-lasting red, orange or yellow flowers above dark-green firm foliage. Holiday cacti are showing color right now. Pay a visit to your local plant place to augment your winter garden with attractive plants. Harvest or purchase stems of berried shrubs, branches of colored or contorted shrubs and use them in arrangements. Purchase an amaryllis bulb, some paper white narcissus, or a bouquet of cut flowers. Make your days brighter.

Skillin's Holiday Open House! Nov 14 & 15!

Hello again,

This weekend brings our Holiday Kick Off to Thanksgiving and Christmas--also known as our Skillin's Holiday Open House!

If you are a member of our Skillin's Email List you should have received a "Special Holiday Open House Invitation for Savings" via email. If you are not a member of the Email List, drop us a quick note at info@skillins.com AND just say Sign Me Up and we will send you that Special Invitation plus you will be sure to receive Special Skillin's Invitations and Gardening Advice in the future!

Here are some exciting details about Skillin's Holiday Open House:

Hours

Saturday November 14 8 AM to 5 PM

Sunday November 15 9 AM to 5 PM

Refreshments

Coffee
Tea
Cider
Cookies
And Fruit

Door Prizes

$25, $50 and $75 Gift Certificates
7’ Fresh Cut Skillin’s Grown Christmas Tree
7.5” Skillin’s grown Poinsettia Pinched/3 plants per pot!
18” State of Maine Wreath
Gardening Gift Basket
Gift Basket with Edible Products from our Gift Shop

Work Shop demonstrations (no set time--most of day)

Wreath decorating-customers will be able to decorate their own wreath with the help from us. They will be charged according to the value of the wreath and decorations they choose.
Boxwood Tree making demonstration
Bow Tying demonstration
Kissing Ball making demonstration





Specials saving on great Christmas Gifts

We are offering some great specials this year that really seem to fit the gardener’s holiday list.

Garden Center

20% Off Droll Yankee Bird Feeders & Droll Yankee Supplies
All Bird Food 20% Off
Amaryllis Bulbs 1pkg box reg 8.99 Sale 6.99

Gift Shop

20% Off Holiday Ornaments
20% Off Windchimes
20% Off Frames
10% Off 1 box and 20% Off 2 or more Boxes of Colonial Candles
20% Off Bean Pod Candles
20% Off Christmas Lights

Floral

20% Off Vases
Carnations reg .79 Sale .49
30% Off Silk Stem Stock
Thanksgiving Market Bouquet $10.99

Greenhouse

African Violets Sale reg. $4.99 save $2.00 Sale 2.99

6” Poinsettias reg. $

14.99 save $3.00 Sale 11.99
Potted and Blooming Paperwhites Galore for the Weekend
6” Orchids reg. $36.99 save $5.00 Sale $31.99
6” Azaleas reg. $18.99 save $4.00 Sale $14.99

Nursery

20% Off live B&B and Container Christmas Trees
18” Wreath with Red Bow reg.16.99 save $4.00 Sale 12.99

….. want more Holiday Savings?

Remember you can use your No Questions Asked Skillin’s Seed Money on all your purchases even items on sale. Our typical exclusions do apply (can not be used for wedding flowers funeral flowers, purchase of gift certificates, landscape designs or with redemption of Spring Bonds. )

If you have any question about this years event please ask us at info@skillins.com or call us at 781-3860.

We can't wait to see you this weekend!

Mike Skillin

Skillin's Greenhouses

November Garden Chores

Hello again,

I found these helpful garden tips at http://awaytogarden.com/my-november-garden-chores.

The advice given is based on a zone 5B situation in very northeastern NY state and western MA so the gardening info given is quite appropriate to our conditions in Skillin's Country which probably averages zone 5A. I like a lot of the information they present. So I am listing some of what they have to say (their advice is in quotes) and I comment "somewhat" briefly (in italics) as to how we hardy gardeners in Skillin's Country can follow this gardening advice to our benefit.

"THE WINDING DOWN is well under way in my cold zone, and a beautiful time of reflection and rest lies ahead…if only we can get the place cleaned up before really harsh weather says “stop.” Target extra-thorough cleanup first to areas where rodents and moles might do winter damage, not leaving any heavy buildup of fallen plants and wet leaves in place. I set out mousetraps under boxes, buckets or cans where I see any activity, to rid them from my beds and borders. The garlic is in; the spinach (true!) will be the last thing I sow. And that’s not all I try to get done this month: "


"If you had areas where something didn’t fare well—an unproductive vegetable or fruit crop, an unwillingness of some shrub to flower for no apparent reason—quickly gather a soil sample before the ground freezes and take it in for analysis to your local Cooperative Extension service. Some amendments can be spread or tilled in before heavy frost to start to mellow over the coming months." We have plenty of compost left for you to spread over your vacated vegetable and flower gardens or around your fruit trees. November is a great month to do this; one of the great jobs to get done and out of the way before the rushed and exciting Spring days. We also have soil test kits here at Skillin's for you to send to the local Cooperative Extension service.

"If it all seems too hectic, remember: Seed catalogs in the easy chair are just ahead. Position it to point out the window, where there are still riches: berries, or perhaps bark, and new birds. Did you join Project Feederwatch yet? Recording of data starts mid-month, through April. Other ways to help the birds are here. "

TREES & SHRUBS

"PRIME TRANSPLANTING TIME for deciduous trees and shrubs continues into this month, sometimes longer if weather permits and the ground show no signs of freezing. Make that work include some focus on the addition of fall and winter plants to the landscape." Most trees and shrubs can be planted for many weeks yet; until that ground freezes. And the cool weather is great to work in! We have trees and shrubs still ON SALE and we offer free planting advice and tips 7 days per week!

"SCOUTING FOR VIBURNUM BEETLE begins later this month, when leaves fall and their egg cases are easier to see. Remove egg cases by pruning off affected wood, between then and April-ish, to reduce larvae and beetle issues in the coming year. The bump-like cases are usually on the underside of youngest twigs. I also watch in May for larvae hatch and rub the twigs then to squash the emerging pests."

"CLEAR TURF OR WEEDS from the area right around the trunks of fruit trees and ornamentals to reduce winter damage by rodents. Hardware cloth collars should be in place year-round as well." In general much weeding can and should be done--not only around trees but also in the garden. We have had much rain and the ground is moist, moist which makes for easy weed pulling. More weed pulling now, MUCH less weeds this coming Spring and summer! Back to the rodents, the deep snows of the last two winters have meant much rodent damage around vulnerable tender fruit trees; so keeping those areas clean and protected is essential!

"BE EXTRA-VIGILANT cleaning up under fruit trees, as fallen fruit and foliage allowed to overwinter invites added troubles next season. Technically mummies (fruit still hanging) should be removed, too, but I like to leave it for the birds." Fallen fruit and foliage serves as a great harbor for disease. The hanging fruit also serves as food for deer at night; if you keep that fruit hanging you may well want to consult with us about how to protect some of your tasty evergreens from those deer!

"KEEP WATERING woody plants until frost is in the ground if conditions are dry, so that they enter dormancy in a well-hydrated state. Evergreens (needled ones and broadleaf types like rhododendron, too) are particularly vulnerable to desiccation and winterburn otherwise." Yes, yes, yes! Almost none of us water our plants enough in the fall. This is solid advice.

"ALWAYS BE on the lookout for dead, damaged, diseased wood in trees and shrubs and prune them out as discovered. This is especially important before winter arrives with its harsher weather, where weaknesses left in place invite tearing and unnecessary extra damage. Remove suckers and water sprouts, too. " This is good everyday gardening advice but with probable wild winter weather approaching the timing of this point is right on!

VEGETABLE, FRUIT & HERBS

"MULCH STRAWBERRY PLANTS with a couple of inches of (guess what?) straw." I would not put the straw down yet. I would put it down much later this month or early next month when the ground gets cold and crunchy. If you put straw down too early the soft straw becomes too attractive for rodents as a nest. They will gnaw on the strawberries or whatever you mulch with the straw. Plus the purpose of the mulch is to KEEP THE GROUND COLD so the ground needs to be a lot colder and crunchier before you lay straw or any mulch down.

"PREPARE A SEEDBED NOW for peas and spinach for next spring, to get a headstart on such early crops. Spinach can even be sown this month, for super-early spring harvest; not the peas, of course." I am not sure whether I will get to it but I would like to get some spinach sown. Great advice here.

"PARSLEY AND CHIVES can be potted up and brought indoors for offseason use. A few garlic cloves in a pot will yield a supply of chive-like (but spicier) garlic greens all winter for garnish. Determined types with really sunny windowsills can sow seeds of bush basil in a pot, too. I rely on frozen pesto cubes instead, and you can store many green herbs over the winter like this." I LOVE the frozen pesto cube idea! We also keep fresh culinary herbs available all winter long here at Skillin's for your growing and seasoning pleasure.

FLOWER GARDEN

"PROTECT ROSES FROM WINTER damage by mounding up their crowns with a 6- to 12-inch layer of soil before the ground freezes. After all is frozen, add a layer of leaf mulch to further insulate." Great advice. In just a few weeks it will be time to pile that soil or compost right around the crowns of the roses. Don't get too caught up on pruning roses right now. In late March or early April when the soil or compost is pulled back from those crowns then you will have plenty of dead rose branches to prune away. Check out this link at the Skillin's Garden Log for more advice about putting Beds To Rest!

"PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION to areas around peonies, roses, irises and other flowers that are prone to fungal diseases. Cut down iris foliage and rake well under roses." This is the same concept as keeping the ground around your trees and shrubs clean at this time of year. We talked about this near the beginning of the post.

"CANNAS, DAHLIAS AND OTHER tender bulb-like things including elephant ears need to be dug carefully for indoor storage. There are many methods, but the basics: Once frost blackens the foliage, cut back the tops to 6 inches and dig carefully, then brush or wash off soil and let dry for two weeks or so to cure. Stash in a dry spot like unheated basement or crawl space around 40-50 degrees, in boxes or pots filled with bark chips or peat moss. " In many areas around Skillin's Country the time is now to do this.

"DON’T DEADHEAD FADED perennials, biennials and annuals if you want self-sowns, or make sure to shake pods around before removing plant carcasses. Nicotiana, poppies, larkspur, clary sage and many others fall into this leave-alone group. So do plants with showy or bird-friendly seedheads, like grasses and coneflowers." I did prune some coneflower the other day but the seed heads looked pretty empty so I don't think I was depriving my beloved feathered friends.

"PREPARE NEW beds for future planting by smothering grass or weeds with layers of recycled corrugated cardboard or thick layers of newspaper, then put mulch on top." The cardboard or newspaper method definitely works--and quickly! Check out More Discussion on Newspaper as Garden Mulch!

HOUSEPLANTS

"START A POT OF PAPERWHITES in potting soil or pebbles and water, and stagger forcing of another batch every couple of weeks for a winterlong display." We are all about paperwhites here at Skillin's. We also feature their close cousins, Chinese Sacred Lilies and Soleil D'Or indoor narcissus as well as bagged pebbles and neat containers to use for this purpose. Paperwhites are bright and cheery and make inexpensive and easy winter flowers! (And great holiday gifts!)

"CONTINUE RESTING AMARYLLIS BULBS in a dry, dark place where they will have no water at all for a couple of months total. I put mine in a little-used closet, and they will come out late this month, since they went in around mid- to late September. Pot up new ones now." New ones! We have gorgeous and huge new amaryllis bulbs available at Skillin's. The flowers will be striking and make long lasting winter companions!

LAWNS

"KEEP MOWING TILL THE GRASS stops growing, and make the last cut a short one. Let clippings lie on the lawn to return Nitrogen to the soil, and mow over fallen leaves to shred if not too thick, or rake them off before snow comes." Don't hesitate to grind those fallen leaves with your mower into the lawn. If you feed your lawn organically the healthy microbes in the soil will grab those ground up leaves and break them down fairly quickly over time so that the leaves will just become nice organic matter for your lawn. Lawn soil fed chemically do not have those plentiful microbe levels and so then too many ground up leaves turn to thatch and then layer or shut off the soil from air and sun. SO feed your lawn organically and grind those leaves and grass blades. For good organic feeding we recommend Espoma Lawn Food or the Organica lawn products (all sold right here at Skillin's).

COMPOST HEAP & MULCH

"START A LEAVES-ONLY PILE alongside your other heap as a future source of soil-improving leaf mold, or when partly rotted for use as mulch. To save space and speed decomposition, run it over with the mower to pre-shred. "See I told you so about grinding the leaves! Good advice about the separate pile as partly rotted leaves make great mulch. Oak and maple leaves take a long time to break down so we don't really recommend them for your own compost pile. I send most of my raked leaves to the town landfill where the leaves are then sold to various agricultural farms and returned to the soil that way.

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
November 2, 2009

Pumpkin Carving at Skillin's!!

Hello again,

We are hosting an awesome event this Saturday and we hope you can make it to one of our “locales”. We are calling the event Pumpkin Carving with Skillin’s and it is going on this Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. Bring family and friends, purchase pumpkins for half price and let us help you carve the coolest, scariest, funniest and “ghouliest” pumpkins ever. Pumpkin carving is great family fun and we have some tricks and treats (yes refreshments for you!) up our sleeve! The weather is not supposed to be that great this Saturday so this should be a perfect time to have some pumpkin and Halloween fun!

ALL THE LEAVES ARE NOT BROWN…………

KCB is a professional gardener (http://finishingtouchesgardendesign.com/) and friend who does wonderful work in the Greater Portland area. KCB is also an accredited Master Gardener by the Cooperative Extension Service and we are proud to tell you that KCB will always be on record as the 2008-09 Maine Master Gardener of the Year. We are honored to have KCB as part of our Skillin's Garden Log family.

The following post is a reprint from October 2008 but we find it very timely, shall we say "timeless" and with the approval of KCB here we go!

Inhale. Deeply! Now hold it. Isn’t that just the sweetest fragrance? Perhaps I should have told you to step outside first. Go to a window even, open wide then stick our head out and perform the aforementioned exercise.

Something about the aroma of the decaying leaves, coupled with the air that almost bounds your nostrils together during these chilly mornings, feels like home. Not only does it smell like a found memory it sounds like one too. Everyone in New England surely knows the slight bristling sound of dried leaves as they blow across the pavement. What of the sound as you purposely drag them with your feet while you shuffle along? The tinny sound as a metal rake grabs for all the leaves it can in one pass? Followed by the sound of laughter as children and adults alike jump into that waiting pile? Perhaps the in audible murmurings of the creator of such a pile who is trying to watch his words in mixed company? On the other hand, they may be stifling a laugh and vows to make the next pile big enough for the whole family to enjoy.

In my world, another sound can be heard. Clomp, clomp, clomp! Interspersed with the grinding of metal on metal. It is a sound that became all too familiar at the end of last week and will follow me at least through the end of October. What method of machine or tool makes this sound? Well, I do, that is when I am using my hedge sheers. I love my hedge sheers. Not as much as I adore my Felco pruners or my Soil Scoop®. Oh, and I cannot forget my buckets.

You know the kind; they are round, about 2 ½ ft tall, 3 ft wide, with handles of the same material and very flexible as well as versatile. I’ll have you know I have converted several people to being bucket users. I’ve done the same for the scoop. Why a bucket? Invaluable. I use it to put my weeds as I walk on my knees around the various beds. No little piles to pick up later. I use it to mix my soil and composted planting mix when installing any plant into the ground. It is used in the same manner except with potting soil for container time. It can be used for watering though I would only fill it about 3-4 inches. Water is heavy.

During this transplanting/dividing time of year, my bucket(s) are like my sentries. One awaiting the weeds and cut foliage, the other filled with my soil/compost combination. And since I am dividing, a third bucket is added; filled one –quarter to one-third with water. A necessity when separating different plants that have grown together. Also useful if a plant to be divided has extensive weeds growing within and around. Simply dig up the clump, gently shake away the loose dirt, begin to spread the roots w/your hand, and gently place root ball in the waiting water. Wait a few minutes or longer depending on the extent of the entanglement, your patience, and what ever else you may be doing while the plant soaks. It has not been unusual for me to have several different plants soaking in the tub together. I imagine it as a hot tub session for a bunch of plants that rarely have time to get together to simply unwind. It will make for easy work for the separation of plant or weeds from your target. Life is good.

Since I began this writing as a love song to my hedge sheers let me now expound on their virtues. Quick and Easy...that is if the blades are sharp enough. I always have 2 sets, one to use when the other is being professionally sharpened. Moreover, to serve as a back-up for the many occasions I have left my shears behind or simply lost them. It is at this time of year they get the most strenuous of workouts. The work-out I get cannot be denied as well.

Faded Veronica, clomp. Shastas, clomp, Daylilies, Hosta, Coreopsis, clomp, clomp, clomp. With one quick motion it is done. While this exercise may seem random, it is not. It is important to take just enough off but not too much; cut the plants down to within 2-3 inches of the crown. Cutting too close can result in winter injury or even some the buds for next year’s growth being lost as they may be right at the surface or higher and not below the soil line. For the often-temperamental Peony, be careful not to cut or damage the little ‘pink eye’.

I find it vital to remove the foliage and other decaying material that may have accumulated under and around the plant. To do so will help lessen the hiding place for rodents and pests. If you are worried and feel some winter protection is needed then replace all the damp and gooey (I can be so technical) leaves and decaying matter with a dark bark mulch/compost mixture, such as Coast of Maine Fundy Blend, or a mulch of freshly raked dry leaves. If pine needles are available, a mulch would be so enjoyed by all our acid loving plants and shrubs.

So, what has changed with me since I last wrote? Oh, I am still confused, a natural state of affairs for me. Yet less so. The seasons change and so must I. The leaves have made a mass exodus from the stately trees they called home; the foliage and stems are withering and become less attractive with each day. So much more to do. So until the next time…………

KCB for Skillin's Greenhouses

Good Frosty Morning

Hello again,

Good frosty morning Skillin's Country!

There is fairly widespread frost this early morning in Skillin's Country. If you have some favorite tender flowering or vegetable plant material that has not been protected by a sheet or some device, then I would suggest getting right out there and spraying those plants with a spray of water.

This fresh water can knock off any frost particles that might rupture the cells of your plants when the sun gets warm enough to melt those sharp little particles.

It is going to be a cold week this week but tender material is "saveable" with a covering of a sheet or frost blankets that we sell right here at Skillin's. As I just wrote it is possible to save exposed plant material with a quick shower as well.

Contact us at info@skillins.com or 1-800-244-3860 or leave a comment here with any questions!

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
October 13, 2009

The Common Thread That Sows Us Together

KCB is a professional gardener (http://finishingtouchesgardendesign.com/) and friend who does wonderful work in the Greater Portland area. KCB is also an accredited Master Gardener by the Cooperative Extension Service and we are proud to tell you that KCB will always be on record as the 2008-09 Maine Master Gardener of the Year. We are honored to have KCB as part of our Skillin's Garden Log family.

So, Portland, Maine and Chicago, Illinois have something in common, neither will be hosting the 2016 Olympics. At least the citizens of the greater Portland Area are not surprised by not being awarded the coveted host status. I for one am kind of relieved. The streets of Portland are already clogged during the summer months. Tour busses, trollies and the cute and loveable Duck make frequent journeys up and around the Eastern Prom/Old Port, the Western Prom and back. September/October has seen an increase in Cruise Ship berthings, all passengers eager to get a glimpse of New England Fall Foliage or an LL Bean flannel shirt.

On warmer days you can find me at any one of the Old Port Restaurant's open decks, cavorting with the tourists, sipping an ice tea or chomping a burger as we listen to a local musician. I enjoy playing tour guide when asked for “a favorite watering hole”, “the best lobster”, even “is there is a sandy beach nearby?”. A frequent query and perhaps one of my favorites ‘does any bar sell regular, old fashioned mass produced beer?’ I am able to offer answers for the most part but the latter does pose a problem. I do not know as I do not imbibe. With all the micro brews offered I guess it is name recognition (Did you say Bud) that those from away are looking for.

Having traveled, I enjoy chatting with the locals. I want them to experience what the guidebooks neglect to mention. I hope those who I do engage find my suggestions as satisfying.

With my slight hint of a Brooklyn (NY) accent I often am asked where I am from. Why couldn’t I be from Maine? I don’t sound like I’m from Maine, but what does the average Mainer sound like? Most of us do not have the accent that the Maine Humorist and Storytellers portray. There is no Cabot Cove in Maine and for those who admittedly were fans of the show, know there is no train to Augusta from Portland.

Our accents and origins may differ but over the years I always find common ground. Gardening!

Early summer, with the first flux of cruise ship passengers, I met a couple from Bristol, England that had just enjoyed a trolley ride around Portland and to “The Portland House Light” as it was called. They voiced surprise at witnessing the full bloom of our azalea and rhododendrons as those in their hometown had come and gone 6 weeks earlier. The British Isles boast hardiness zones from 7a in the extreme north to 10b on the SW coast. I remember my first visit to St. Ives. At first I wasn’t sure if the palm trees I saw were growing from the earth or potted pawns. Believe; palm trees are abundant in the SW of the British Isles. Further north, they may be, but it’s all about the Gulf Stream.

This past weekend a group from Texas was my table mates. One woman in the group shared it had always been a dream of hers to visit Maine. I’m not sure if by sea is the best viewing, I commented and she agreed. What was her favorite sight so far? The hydrangeas! There is a house on the Eastern Prom that boasts 2 mature PeeGee trees standing as sentries to the wraparound porch. PeeGee and Limelights are staples along the Western Prom. The panicle shaped flower head mellow from cream to dusty mauve they truly are specimen to envy. It seems the grandiflora; in order to shine is in need of a frosty winter. After, all, with blooms this showy it does need a rest. Their excursion to the very same light house visited by the Brits displayed landscapes now dotted with hydrangea. She was very jealous of the outstanding show that was created when combining this longed for shrub with Black-eyed Susans and Autumn Joy Sedum. Her husband and other traveling companions didn’t notice. Not everyone would. It is as if we gardeners have a secret. Yet these displays are there for everyone to behold.

Not sure how; BUT conversations with visitors, whether it be them on my turf or me on theirs, always comes around to gardening.

The common thread that sows us together.

KCB for Skillin's Greenhouses
October 7, 2009

Confusion!

KCB is a professional gardener and friend who does wonderful work in the Greater Portland area(www.finishingtouchesgardendesign.com). KCB is also an accredited Master Gardener by the Cooperative Extension Service and we are honored to have KCB as part of our Skillin's Garden Log family.

The following post is a reprint from October 2008 but we find it very timely, shall we say "timeless" and with the approval of KCB here we go!

It happens this time every year. Wine; white or red? Do I pull out the fleece and put away the flimsy? Flannel or cotton? Shorts? Capris? Long pants? While these are not earth shattering quandaries, each day is begun with this group of questions. Coupled with the fact that my right-hand man, Ryan, will be leaving me to pursue another career, I feel so lost I become stuck. In not making a decision, nothing is accomplished. Even before I learned that I only had Ryan for another week, I faced each day in puzzlement. It is as if I asked the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz for directions and he points both ways.

What has me at such crossroads? The weather. In checking my records of the past 2 years, mid-October seemed to have been the best window for perennial division. Years before it was mid to late September. The record high for September 25th was set in 1891 @ 89 º, the low of 29 º in 1963, with the average temperature of 66 º it should be the perfect time. The weather is comfortable, relatively few pesky insects and the need for daily watering moderately minimal. What am I waiting for?

Other than Hosta, daylilies, Shasta and Iris, I wait to divide most of my other perennials until all fear of potential new growth has subsided. I want to be assured that all the plant’s energies are given to the roots. I no longer prune or dead-head my roses, I allow the Stokes Aster and Dianthus to put forth their final sporadic pops of blooms without fear I will behead their fruits.

Perhaps I will feel better when the average temperature is 64 º?! What if I wait too long? My tools are ready, newly sharpened, and eager to feel their shiny improved selves against the stems of the fading flora.

The gardens I tend to will soon be pockets of space and stubs. Some old stand-by plants will remain upright for as long as they can hold their heads up high. Joe Pye Weed, Echinacea, Ornamental Grasses, and even Astilbe keep their vertical presence for that ever-important wildlife and winter interest.

Each chomp and split of clumps of roots is a rite of passage. I envision sighs as I separate and divide as if the plant knows that they will face the new spring in less crowded conditions. Or perhaps it is the contentment that they realize they can continue their work below the ground. They have given all they have for this season by offering beauty and fragrance while contributing food for bugs and birds. Oh, how could we forget the deer and ground hog? However, I feel this less thrills my plants as for the pain it causes me.

Am I selfish in my wanting the best for my plants? Or is it all about my need to prolong the season? But wait, does the gardening season ever end? There is so much more to do. Division is just one aspect of our duties, there are bulbs to plant, mums are at their fiery peak, pumpkins, gourds, and other seasonal decorative elements to add. Where do I begin? Oh, I am so confused………..

KCB for Skillin's Greenhouses

October Garden Chores

Hello again,

I found these helpful garden tips at http://awaytogarden.com/my-october-garden-chores when I was noodling around BloominKrazy one of the sites we follow at www.twitter.com/skillins. The advice given is based on a zone 5B situation in very northeastern NY state and western MA so the gardening info given is quite appropriate to our conditions in Skillin's Country which probably averages zone 5A. I like a lot of the information they present. So I am listing some of what they have to say (their advice is in quotes) and I comment briefly (in italics) as to how we hardy gardeners in Skillin's Country can follow this gardening advice to our benefit.

"FALL IS HEATING UP, at least visually, even as temperatures trend downward. Cleanup is (hopefully) under way in earnest, with time out to cook up the last bits from the vegetable garden into a batch of ‘Tomato Junk’ or soup, or local apples into applesauce, checking on the kettles between rounds of raking and cutbacks outdoors. With such delicious reminders of summer and fall in the freezer, and the right plants in the garden, there’s no “end” to fear. Some of us even feel happy about the coming riches: berries and other fruits, bark, new birds.

Peak planting time for bulbs and for many woody things continues through month’s end or so; make that work include some focus on the addition of fall and winter plants to the landscape.
Garden cleanup, though, is the primary order of the day—and don’t forget: quickly stash your tender things as frost threatens or just after, depending on the plant, to carry them through the winter. Here we go:

TREES & SHRUBS

"CLEAR TURF OR WEEDS from the area right around the trunks of fruit trees and ornamentals to reduce winter damage by rodents. Hardware cloth collars should be in place year-round as well." Great advice here. We hear quite a few heart breaking stories in early Spring about rodent damage to tasty trunks of fruit trees--especially young fruit trees. It doesn't take much eating to girdle the young trunks and that can be fatal. IF we get a plentiful amount of early Snow get a coffee can with some rodent bait down around the trunk to quickly ward off those pests. Let us know if you have any questions--this is important if you have young fruit trees on your property.

"BE EXTRA-VIGILANT cleaning up under fruit trees, as fallen fruit and foliage allowed to overwinter invites added troubles next season. So will mummies (shriveled fruit hanging on the trees). Best to pick and remove (though I confess to leaving mine hanging for the birds, who adore it)." Yes, I would leave the hanging fruit for the birds; this fruit along with some well placed feeders can make your yard a Leader Among Feeders! Speaking of that we have an awesome Bird Feeding class coming up on Saturday, October 17 @ 10 AM. Email us at info@skillins.com if interested. Back to the fallen fruit and foliage; these fallen items make a great harbor for diseases and also a great place for insects to overwinter. Clean it up and keep it clean!

"SCOUTING FOR VIBURNUM BEETLE begins later this month, when leaves fall and their egg cases are easier to see. Remove egg cases by pruning off affected wood, between then and April-ish, to reduce larvae and beetle issues in the coming year. The bump-like cases are usually on the underside of youngest twigs. I also watch in May for larvae hatch and rub the twigs then to squash the emerging pests." We talk about this in our nurseries BUT we don't write about this much and I am glad this is here for you to read.

"BE SURE TO WATER trees now through hard frost if conditions are dry, so that they enter dormancy in a well-hydrated state. Evergreens (needled ones and broadleaf types like rhododendron, too) are particularly vulnerable to desiccation and winterburn otherwise." Conditions ARE dry so this watering plan is needed. As Tim, our nursery manager, reminded me a week ago we have not forgotten the 20" of rain of the summer BUT our plants forgot that rain a long time ago. It appears that watering 2009 planted trees and shrubs will be very important this fall. The same goes for any plant material you consider vulnerable. I have some long established Pee Gee hydrangeas that are doing great BUT they are in a well draining area so they get pretty limp in dry conditions. I make sure they get good slow soakings during dry stretches. Check out Time to Water! or more watering tips.

"DON’T PANIC IF EVERGREENS continue to show some browning or yellowing of needles this month and next. The oldest, innermost ones typically shed after a few years on the tree." Again with the relatively dry conditions we have seen earlier browning or yellowing of needles than usual.

"ALWAYS BE on the lookout for dead, damaged, diseased wood in trees and shrubs and prune them out as discovered. This is especially important before winter arrives with its harsher weather, where weaknesses left in place invite tearing and unnecessary extra damage. Remove suckers and water sprouts, too." Again insects and even diseases LOVE to overwinter in or on dead wood. Prune out those suckers, etc--keep the plant focused on healthy productive growth. Show that tree or shrub who the boss is!

VEGETABLE, FRUIT & HERBS

"DID YOU SOW COVER CROPS? Green manures help build soil tilth and fertility. There are varieties for each season and region; I use winter rye and medium red clover through mid-fall here." We recommend winter rye and have it available in plentiful supply. Good gardening friend David K of A Garden in Maine uses unused legume seeds if he has them. I have some pea seeds I did not use so I think I will sow some later on this fall and let the cold kill it off. If you don't get to the green manure then plentifully lay some compost (we have great compost for the job if you need some) on your open vegetable spaces.

"PREPARE A SEEDBED NOW for peas and spinach for next spring, to get a headstart on such early crops. Spinach can even be sown now through Thanksgiving, for super-early spring harvest; not the peas, of course." Yes spinach sown or seeded this fall can quite often survive the winter as seed or even young plants for a very early harvest. I have not done this but I am wondering if row covers might be needed to shelter any young plants through the real cold parts of winter? If you have done this project drop us a quick comment at this post or send us a quick email at info@skillins.com if you have any practical info to share!

"AS VEGETABLE PLANTS (and annual flowers) fade, pull them to get a start on garden cleanup. Before composting the remains, cut them up a bit with a pruning shears or shred, to speed decomposition." Great advice. September has been a glorious month for so many of my annuals but the cold of October will inevitably take "the starch" out of these valiant plants. Yes, the worm is turning my friends.

"PARSLEY AND CHIVES can be potted up and brought indoors for offseason use. A few garlic cloves in a pot will yield a supply of chive-like (but spicier) garlic greens all winter for garnish. Determined types with really sunny windowsills can sow seeds of bush basil in a pot, too. I rely on frozen pesto cubes instead. I also freeze a lot of green herbs, from sage to parsley, this way. " Frozen pesto cubes? Okay....We make a point of keeping a healthy amount of good edible herbs available (at a low price of $3.99 a pot!) through the winter. Two aims achieved here: one to give you some fresh herb options; two to give you a "taste" of a garden plant during the winter!

"IF NEXT YEAR’S GARDEN plans include a patch of strawberries or asparagus or cane fruits like raspberries, do the tilling and soil preparation now so the bare-root plants ordered over the winter can be planted extra early come spring." First of all we have all these plants available for you in the Spring so save the shipping costs and support your fellow Mainers by purchasing these great plants from Skillin's or several of the fine garden centers in southern Maine. The soil prep referred to would be much the same as the green manure or compost layering that we talked about above.

"REPLANT YOUR BIGGEST CLOVES from your best heads of harvested garlic for best yield, or hurry and order a supply and plant now (about a month before frost is in the ground). Prepare a sunny spot, and plant each clove 1-2 inches deep and 6 inches apart in the row, with about 12 inches between rows. Green growth will happen this fall, which is great; don’t panic. It’s a hardy thing." You will have a great harvest in the Spring!

FLOWER GARDEN

"PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION to areas to cleanup around peonies, roses and other flowers that are prone to fungal diseases; don’t leave any debris in place." Cleanup! Cleanup! The same truth exists here as to cleaning up around trees and shrubs. Dead leaves can easily mildew and disease and that mildew and disease can literally jump to vulnerable live plants. Include tall phlox, bee balm and lilacs as very vulnerable plants as well.

"CANNAS, DAHLIAS AND OTHER tender bulb-like things including elephant ears need to be dug carefully for indoor storage. There are many methods, but the basics: Once frost blackens the foliage, cut back the tops to 6 inches and dig carefully, then brush or wash off soil and let dry for two weeks or so to cure. Stash in a dry spot like unheated basement or crawl space around 40-50 degrees, in boxes or pots filled with bark chips or peat moss." Well said although with begonias I have noticed they wither pretty quickly once left to dry or cure. Two weeks seems to be awhile; I would go shorter and keep an eye on these bulbs to make sure they don't begin to wither too much from the open air.

"DON’T COMPLETELY DEADHEAD FADED perennials, biennials and annuals if you want to collect seed (non-hybrids only) or wish to let them self-sow for next year’s show. Nicotiana, poppies, larkspur, clary sage and many others fall into this leave-alone group; some plants must be left in place or seeds shaken around during cleanup to insure the next generation. Plants with showy or bird-friendly seedheads, like coneflowers, also get a stay of execution." I pruned some of my coneflower this year to try and get more flowers; I am not sure I will do that again. I like the seedheads they have a certain glow to them! The birds like them too. Cleome should fall into this leave-alone group if you want some free plants for next year!

"LAST CALL FOR BULB ORDERS (see Sources), and plant as they arrive (lilies most urgently). Remember our “early, middle, late” mantra when ordering. And think drifts, not onesies and threesies." Why order and pay shipping when Skillin's has an awesome selection? But I do agree: if you can think "early, middle, late" and by "drifts" we mean focus on LESS varieties for MORE color impact!

"PREPARE NEW beds for future planting by smothering grass or weeds with layers of recycled corrugated cardboard or thick layers of newspaper, then put mulch on top." The cardboard or newspaper method definitely works--and quickly! Check out More Discussion on Newspaper as Garden Mulch!

HOUSEPLANTS

"START A FIRST POT of paperwhites, and stagger forcing more every couple of weeks for a continuing winterlong indoor display." Great advice and what a fast enjoyable way to enjoy fresh flowers through the winter! We have paperwhites available as well as their close cousins, Soleil D'Or and Chinese Sacred Lily narcissus.

"REST AMARYLLIS BULBS by putting them in a dry, dark place where they will have no water at all for a couple of months. In September, I put mine in a little-used closet; do it now if you haven’t." Amaryllis--one of the best winter companions you can have! Amaryllis also make a great gift and we will soon have a beautiful supply here at Skillin's!

"IF HOUSEPLANTS NEED repotting, do it before they come inside (less messy than in the house!). Ideally, I do this in spring just as they go outside, but if someone’s in need, do now. Don’t step up more than an inch (on small pots) or a couple (on large ones). Most plants don’t like to swim in their containers." Also check your plants carefully for any pests. IF you suspect the presence of little creatures then come see us for some very effective and safe to use Systemic Houseplant Granules by Bonide.

LAWNS

"KEEP MOWING TILL THE GRASS stops growing, and make the last cut a short one. Let clippings lie on the lawn to return Nitrogen to the soil, unless they are long and wet, in which case, rake and compost." Also later on this month, don't hesitate to grind those fallen leaves with your mower into the lawn. If you feed your lawn organically the healthy microbes in the soil will grab those ground up leaves and break them down fairly quickly over time so that the leaves will just become nice organic matter for your lawn. Lawn soil fed chemically do not have those plentiful microbe levels and so then too many ground up leaves turn to thatch and then layer or shut off the soil from air and sun. SO feed your lawn organically and grind those leaves and grass blades. For good organic feeding we recommend Espoma Lawn Food or the Organica lawn products (all sold right here at Skillin's).

COMPOST HEAP & MULCH

"START A LEAVES-ONLY PILE alongside your other heap as a future source of soil-improving leaf mold, or when partly rotted for use as mulch. Running over dry leaves (and other dry non-woody material) with the mower to shred will reduce the area needed for such piles." See I told you so about grinding the leaves! Good advice about the separate pile as partly rotted leaves make great mulch. Oak and maple leaves take a long time to break down so we don't really recommend them for your own compost pile. I send most of my raked leaves to the town landfill where the leaves are then sold to various agricultural farms and returned to the soil that way.

"ORDER A SUPPLY of bulk mulch, which is cheaper than the packaged kind and also eliminates the waste of all those heavyweight plastic bags. Many local nurseries deliver. Top up mulch in all garden beds as they get cleaned up gradually in fall." I actually prefer using composts for most of my garden beds and we do sell bulk compost that can be easily delivered. We also deliver bulk mulch as well! If you don't need a tremendous amount of mulch it makes more sense to buy by the bag (Skillin's offers great locally bagged mulch by Jolly Gardener at competitive prices) and the bags can be recycled.

"I’ll recut the messiest of my bed edges, too, if there is time." Show me an active yard with gardens and there will always be eding needed. Another gift idea? We sell ergonomically excellent edgers by Radius tools. Your favorite diligent gardener will adore it!

Drop us a comment below with any questions or email us at info@skillins.com! We look forward to seeing you soon at Skillin's!

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
October 1, 2009