Houseplant of the Week - 2/19/19

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Mini Garden Plants

       Mini plants and mini gardens have become very popular. They have a cuteness factor that is hard to resist. Miniature plants can be used in a variety of ways. They work great in cute little containers, terrariums, and of course in miniature/fairy gardens.

       The joy of miniature gardening is combining crafting and gardening together to create a living masterpiece. There are so many options for creating mini gardens from fairy gardens to miniature landscape scenes. You can create a mini world containing plants and mini decor that reminds you of a favorite place or a place you'd like to be, or you can create a whimsical fantasy scene.

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       The crafting part is attaining an idea, and then putting it into a mini garden. The gardening part is choosing the plants that suit your idea and will grow well together in the location you have available. The same golden rule applies here as in landscape areas - choose the right plant for the right place. The associates at Hillermann Nursery & Florist are here to help you with design, selection and care tips.

 

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20% OFF
Mini Garden Plants

Good through 2/26/19. Not good with any other sale, coupon or discount or
on previous purchases. Print this page or mention offer at the checkout counter.

Code: 004

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Bird of the Week – 2/19/19

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White-Breasted Nuthatch

Basics: The nuthatch is often described as the upside-down bird! This species often climbs upside down on tree trunks and branches. These birds have clean black, gray, and white markings. Song is a rapid series of low-pitched nasal sounds: “whe-whe-whe-whe-whe.” The call is nasal yank or “yank-yank” and is lower-pitched than the red-breasted nuthatch. They can be found in mature deciduous trees, in forests, woodlands, parks, and suburban areas.

Housing: These birds typically nest in a natural tree cavity or in an old woodpecker hole, although they may use a birdhouse. Leaving some dead tree trunks in wooded areas can be helpful for nesting.

Food: In our backyards, Nuthatches will eat sunflower seeds, peanuts and peanut butter, and suet.

How to attract: Offer the foods mentioned above, water, shelter and nesting sites.

Fact: With a little patience, you can get nuthatches to eat from your hand.  Let them get used to you by a feeder, then hold out your hand with sunflower seeds in it.

Note: They can be quite aggressive at feeders. With wings spread, they will swing from side to side to keep other birds away.

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20% OFF
Bird Watering Wells 

Good through 2/26/19. Not good with any other sale, coupon or discount or
on previous purchases. Print this page or mention offer at the checkout counter.

Code: 004

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Bird of the Week - 2/13/19

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Black-Capped and Carolina Chickadee

Basics: These two birds are extremely similar in looks, but across most of eastern North America, chickadee identification is simple. Carolina Chickadee occurs in the south and Black-capped in the north. The black capped tends to have a brighter and more contrasting overall appearance. The Black-capped Chickadee is the chickadee you will most likely see here.

Housing: Consider putting up a nest box to attract a breeding pair. A wren house will work for chickadees. Place the house from 8 to 10 feet high into a wooded area well before breeding season. Attach a guard to keep predators from raiding eggs and young. Black-capped Chickadees are especially attracted to a box when it is filled with sawdust or wood shavings. They also prefer an unobstructed path to the entrance hole, without branches and leaves in the way.

Food: Offer suet, peanuts, peanut butter, black oil sunflower seeds and bread product kitchen scraps.

How to Attract: Provide food, water, and shelter. Keep cats and other pets indoors. Provide suitable perches near feeders so Chickadees can flit away to a safe spot to eat each seed.

Facts: Individual birds CAN become tame enough to hand feed. Black capped Chickadees are monogamous birds.

Tip:  Plant trees and shrubs of different sizes in mixed clumps to provide better foraging areas.

 

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20% OFF
Window Bird Feeders
 

Good through 2/19/19.
Not good with any other sale, coupon or discount or on previous purchases.
Mention offer at the checkout counter.

Code: 004 

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Houseplant of the Week - 2/13/19

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Philodendron

             For generations, philodendrons have served as a mainstay in interior gardens. Philodendron care is easy because if you watch for the signals, the plant will tell you exactly what it needs. This makes it easy to learn how to care for the plant. They will thrive indoors year round, but they enjoy an occasional stay outdoors in a shady spot in summer months.

            Sunlight – Set the plant in a location with bright, indirect sunlight near a window where the sun’s rays never actually touch the foliage. While it’s normal for older leaves to yellow, if this happens to several leaves at the same time, the plant may be getting too much light. On the other hand, if the stems are long and leggy with several inches between leaves, the plant probably isn’t getting enough light.

            Water – When growing philodendron plants, allow the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. Check the soil by inserting your finger an inch into the soil. If the soil is moist, wait a little longer to water the plant. Droopy leaves can mean that the plant is getting too much or not enough water. However, they recover quickly when you correct the watering schedule.

            Fertilizer – Water the plant with a balanced liquid foliage houseplant fertilizer monthly in spring and summer and every six to eight weeks in fall and winter. Slow growth and small leaf size is the plant’s way of telling you that it isn’t getting enough fertilizer. Pale new leaves usually indicate that the plant isn’t getting enough calcium and magnesium, which are essential micro-nutrients for philodendrons.

 

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20% OFF
Philodendron Plants

Good through 2/19/19. Not good with any other sale, coupon or discount or on previous purchases.
Print this page or mention this offer at the checkout counter.

Code: 004

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Garden Solutions - January 2019

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            February continues with dreary weather, but the anticipation of spring is closer every day.  Our daylight hours are getting a little longer, which holds the promise that spring will be here soon.  There are a few things to remind ourselves of, in preparation for this fabulous time of year.

            Seed sowing time is upon us!  Now is the time of year to start seeds indoors for slow growing annuals such as Ageratum, Petunias, Geraniums, Impatiens, Salvia and Coleus. Check out the great selections of seed varieties available. We may now also move into our gardens outside, if the weather permits, to start the seeds of Peas, Lettuce, Spinach and Radish. What a great feeling to work in the fresh air again!

            Keep an eye out for Chickweed and Henbit in your lawn.  These two early weeds have already emerged and will be thick this year.  Spot treat these areas with Fertilome Weed-Out weed killer to keep it from going to seed.

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            Amaryllis and Paperwhite bulbs can still be forced indoors this winter.  Make sure you keep the top 1/3 of the bulb out of the container, place into a sunny window, water and enjoy.  Houseplants will be coming out of their winter dormancy soon, so now is the time to consider repotting and trimming root bound plants.  This works best before vigorous growth occurs.  When transplanting, choose a container that is about 2” larger in diameter than the old pot your plant is in today.  This will make for an easier transition period for your plants.  Add a slow release fertilizer, such as Osmocote, at this time. We have a great selection of new and fun plant varieties.

            Service and repair your lawn and garden equipment if you haven’t already done so.  Sharpen and oil your hand tools, if this wasn’t done last December when you put your gardens to rest.  A bucket of sand and a quart of motor oil work great for cleaning and oiling our tools.  Pour the motor oil into the sand and insert your tool blades. This will help keep them clean and keep them from rusting.  Have your lawn mower tuned up and the blades sharpened this month also.

            Deep root feed all trees and shrubs once the soil thaws.  This gets the plants off to a great start for spring.  The fertilizer has a chance to flow up with the sap and directly to the new growth giving way for great green foliage and flowers.

            Dormant spray all fruits, berry plants and roses with a dormant oil spray when the temperature is above 40*.  This will help protect the plants from any over wintering fungus spores and insect eggs.

            It is time to go, so we will “See you in the garden!”
Sandi Hillermann McDonald


Bird of the Week - 2/6/19

Downy Woodpecker

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Basics: This bird can be identified by its white back, black nape, and black wings with white spotting. Another amusement on this species is its quick moves up and down the tree trunks.

Housing: Mount your wooden birdhouse to the trunks of mature trees. There should be about a 1¼" inch hole for your woodpeckers to enter/exit.

Food: You can get pretty close to these birds as they feed, due to their being quite brave. Add a Suet feeder, and Suet to get a close up view of these beauties feeding near your home! Suet is a great food source for all woodpecker species in our area.

How to attract: Downy Woodpeckers are attracted to places where food is abundant.

Fact: This is the smallest Woodpecker in North America.

Tip: Downy woodpeckers look very similar to hairy woodpeckers. However, remember that when distinguishing between the two, downy woodpeckers are smaller, with smaller bills.

 

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 8 Pack Woodpecker Suet Cakes

Regular $7.99, SKU: 79415

Sale $5.99

Good through 2/12/19. Not good with any other sale, coupon or discount or on previous purchases.
Print this page or mention offer at the checkout counter.

Code: 004

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