February's Happy Hours Sale At Hester & Zipperer

Who Doesn't Love A Good Mystery?
In Las Vegas there is a slot machine that won me over a few years back. It had the normal three spinning slots, but then an extra fourth held the possibility of landing on "mystery nudge". A voice sounding like Vincent Price would even say it like, "Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisteeeeeeery Nuuuuuuuuuudge." Basically-it meant more money.

Hester & Zipperer on Wilmington Island is bringing you a mystery sale item every day during the month of February. From 3 until close one item in the store will be 30% off! It could be anything. Will it be those bushes you want for the back yard? Will it be those clippers that you've wanted?

Come in and find out for yourself and save.

Julie's Question Answered-Inexpensive Raised Beds

Pat Veretto's Frugal Living Blog
Metal Raised Bed
How about a raised bed of itty-bitty greens?

Come in and take a look at our new organic seeds. There are some interesting things that you can get started inside while the weather is still cool.

Inflatable Judy At The Low Country Living Home & Garden Show

Inflatable Judy and I wooped it up with Erica Glasener from HGTV's "A Gardener's Diary".
Erica's blow-up doll didn't make the show, because she had a nasty incident with a Knock Out Rose.



After catching up with Erica, Judy decided she wanted to see what the rest of the show had to offer. This riding lawnmower sure made Judy smile.It's always nice to have a cocktail after mowing the lawn. Judy found a nice Margarita to quench her thirst. Judy also found a nice man to hold her up while she drank them.







We've all been there, right? You have a few too many at a trade show and boom right on the tookus! Judy was so embarrassed, but I tried to console her. "Nobody saw," I said. She knew though. Even in her drunken state, she knew.











I suggested she get some water. You know how drinking cocktails dehydrates the body.

She was feeling a little deflated.

















And, well, after you've had a lot of water, there is nothing better then a toilet with an automatically closing lid.















They couldn't fill it with water, because she would just float out-I mean the hot tub, not the toilet. Actually, it might be a problem in either situation.

Judy is nothing if not a social butterfly. Here she is visiting the Orkin man. Apparently, Judy was one pest that he rather enjoyed. They talked for hours about bugs. Okay, just a few minutes.

Judy has a sweet tooth, so we had to visit the Girl Scout booth and pick up some Thin Mints. This young lady was taken with Judy right away. I think Judy might like to be a den mother some day. The camp fires could be dangerous though.








Judy had a nice chat with the guy from the "Shamwow" booth. His product couldn't be photographed because of some copyright issue. He was more than happy to put his arm around Judy's shoulder though. I wondered if they had met before.


Hope you have enjoyed Judy's trip to the trade show. Judy is available for public speaking engagements and is much less likely to have a panic attack then me.

That Was A Close One-Pheeeeew.

Speaking at Home & Garden Show Almost Kills

I was so ready. I wasn't nervous before going on. "Gardening is about people, not plants," I would say. It would be fine, I just knew it. For the uncensored version of my speaking gig, just click here. To type it all out here would break Mary-Ann's rule about cussing behind the counter.

At the end of the day, I was happy with my talk. It was my first public speaking, and I feel like I was able to pass on some good information. A lady from Michigan said that she really liked what I said, and that she was going to look at her yard differently from now on. So, it makes the post-traumatic-stress disorder worth it.




Plants Should Fit You Like A Glove
Back to the gardening is about people thing. Choosing
plants isn't about picking cool plants and then swearing on a copy of Southern Living that you will
take care of them.

Don't pledge to change your behavior for your plants. Choose plants that fit your behavior. Below I have a list of questions. If you show up to buy plants with the answers written down, you'll be in great shape.

1. I enjoy working in the yard. Y / N
2. How many hours can I easily spend hand watering, grooming, and fertilizing plants?
3. The area that I'm looking to plant has _____hours of direct sunlight.
4. I would call my style: funky formal tropical cottage
5. I have ______dogs. Specify breeds.
6. I have ______kids. Specify ages.
7. The best vacation I ever took was________________________.
   

This Saturday!

Customizing Your Yard To YOUR
L I F E S T Y L E

You may have seen plenty of presentations about gardening, but I feel pretty safe in saying that you haven't seen one like I'm planning to give this Saturday at the Low Country Living Home & Garden Show.

You may have seen plenty of blow-up dolls in your life (I'm not judging.), but I feel pretty safe in saying that you haven't seen one used the way I plan to use one Saturday at the Low Country Living Home & Garden Show. Inflatable Judy and I will by on stage at 1:00 P.M. at the International Trade & Convention Center. Be there, or Judy might be deflated.

The Savannah Garden Expo-Exhibition Garden Competition

We at the Wilmington Island Hester & Zipperer are extremely flattered to have been invited to compete in the Exhibition Garden Competition at The Savannah Garden Expo this Spring. We eagerly accepted, and by eagerly I mean that I said:

"Come on Mary-Ann! I know it's Spring and we are going to be busier than ever and have to design something fantastic on top of that. Come on! Please! Can we? Can we? You know you want to! What is stress to two old pros like us? "

She agreed before I could resort to a sorority-sister-like hug with more sacriny-sweetness than Annette Funicello. Incidentally, those of you looking to barter on plants might try this approach with her. That's how we successfully instituted "Naked Fridays" at the store.

Seeds - The Next Big Thing

At the risk of sounding like an after school special, seeds are cool. If you want to be cool, you have to get some. Seeds are the magic morsels of gardening. I mean who would believe that a pumpkin could come from one of those seeds on the right side of this page? It's no less wondrous than Jack's bean stalk!

Stop by our Wilmington Island local and pick up a few packs. There are many edibles that can be started directly in the ground this time of year. How about some green onions, sugar snap peas, or parsley? Get thee to seed store at once!

Mary-Ann Gives Garden As Gift

Outdoor spaces are always on my mind. I live and work in them and I try to help others do the same. For me, gardening is about creating an outdoor space that suits your own needs and lifestyle. It's not just making the house look pretty from the street, it's making the yard inviting and useful. A large yard can be a challenge to design, but if you select a small area and allow the space to guide you, you can create wonderful outdoor rooms that are low maintenance and suit your needs.

My closest friend, Renata, owns a home two doors down from mine. It's awesome. We share meals, TV watching and hanging out, and, my favorite, trading talents. As you know, I am a gardener, and pretty handy in general, and Renata is the best hairstylist in Savannah. Works for me. I cut her grass and rake her leaves and she does my hair.

This year I wanted to do something special for her for Christmas. She has an enormous back yard, and it's full of trees so very shady. Renata is not much of a gardener and she has a big dog named Chuck who loves to poop everywhere. So I sat down to try and figure out how to create a space for her outside that would be easy to maintain and Chuck friendly. I began with the site.

I chose a small area just outside the kitchen door between the house and the side fence. It's private and cozy with good views from inside and it's dominated by a beautiful old crepe myrtle. The tree became the centerpiece for the project, and I designed the space around it. A bit of luck created the next element. I found a pallet of tumbled Pennsylvania Bluestone at Earth & Stone for 75% off. What a deal and solution for a poop-free zone! I knew that I wanted to create beds around the perimeter of the space, so I allowed the natural shapes of the stone define my borders. It's sort of like putting together a puzzle, a very heavy puzzle.

Once the stones were in place, I went through and set them with topsoil. Each stone must be set so that it doesn't move when you step on it. Finally, I filled all the cracks with topsoil and packed it down, then watered the whole thing in to settle. I was careful to work around the protruding roots of the crepe myrtle. It's not perfectly flat, but once we get some moss going in the cracks it should create a really pretty naturalized patio that looks like it's been there for a long time.

When the hardscape was complete I chose my plants. I needed shade plants that are tough and easy, but I wanted the area to have a calm feel. Renata loves Confederate Jasmine, so that was a must. I then chose three nice Tea Olives for more sweet fragrance, and a Fatsia and Philodendron for evergreen tropical-looking foliage. A fresh layer of pine straw and some white lights to accent the tree and my job was done. I did it alone in two days, and it was hard work. That's okay, because the result is a whole new room for Renata. She loves it, and is already making plans for a barbecue.

Take a little time this month to think about your outdoor space and what it could do for you. Maybe you want to grow food or cutting flowers, create an outdoor entertainment area, or just find a secret spot to escape. Your new outdoor room is waiting.

Christine Speaking At Low Country Living Home & Garden Show

Presentation: Customizing Your Yard To Your Lifestyle
Location: Savannah International Trade & Convention Center
Date: Saturday, January 24th
Time: 1-1:30 P.M.

If you would like your yard to reflect you and your family, then you must not miss my talk. If you need plants that don't suck the life out of you every weekend, you must not miss my talk! If you want to save money by purchasing the right plants, then you must show up at the Low Country Living Home & Garden Show at 1:00P.M. on January 24th to hear my talk!

Oh, by the way, this is my first public speaking engagement, so I WILL be picturing each and every one of you naked during my talk. Cute people up front!

Happy New Year!!!

It's Time To Get Out There Again

I can hardly type this, because I spent my last day of vacation working hard in my yard. There were so many little areas that needed to be cleaned up before any creativity that might come later. This is when you look at the plants in your landscape with a critical eye. If they don't make the grade, send them packing now. Don't wait for Spring. Wouldn't you rather be planting then?

Of course, you can and should plant trees and shrubs this month. They will thank you for doing so. Not only will they can established before heat arrives, but there is little worry over insect issues at this time of year. Things can get off to a good start.

Christmas Tree Coupon Time

Those of you that have 25% off coupons from when you purchased your H&Z Christmas tree need to start making a list. That is the only way that you can be sure to save as much as possible, because the discount is off your total purchase.

1. All Season's Spray Oil For Citrus
2. Liquid Iron For Citrus
3. Fertilizers Of All Kinds
4. New Coco-Liners For Planters
5. Hoses
6. Sprinklers
7. Soil Amendments

Let Us Help!!!

Bring us your questions, along with your photos, about your yard. We can help you design areas of your property to better suit your needs. If you would like further assistance, please give Mary-Ann or Christine a call to set up a time for an in-store consultation. 912-897-5581