We're glad to see so many of you returning to your garden activities now that the weather has cooled ever so slightly. We've gotten some new plants to inspire. For those of you looking for some unique mixed containers or hanging baskets, try combining Diamond Frost Euphorbia, Coral Red Trailing Verbena, and purple Sweet Potato Vine. This sunny combo would also be gorgeous spilling out of a window box. Snap Dragons will be in tomorrow, and they are perfect for those looking to put something in that will last all through the Winter. Mix with Ponytail Ferns for a cold-hardy container.

One of the most underused categories of plants is grasses. They are perfect for accenting containers and beds, but grasses can also be used without any flowers at all for a stunning display. They offer structure, drama, and low maintenance. Simply add some slow-release nitrogen like blood meal in the soil and groom occasionally to keep them looking their best.

Shrubs and trees can be put in now. Many of you are working on privacy screens. This can be so much more interesting than a line of plants. Let us help you select plants of various textures and sizes that compliment each other. We can also suggest soil amendments to help them get established faster.

There have been a lot of bug questions lately, and we're always happy to educate people on responsible pest management. One of the most interesting came from a gentleman struggling with caterpillars on his Cabbage Palm. After a bit of searching, I learned that it was the Palm Skeletonizer, Homaledra sabalella. Most sites suggest Dipel Dust or Carbaryl on this stubborn pest. Dipel is a biological control and has the advantage of only killing caterpillars.

Got some news to share? Let us know what's happening in your yard? Email us photos to share on our blog at hesterandzipperer@hotmail.com

H&Z Customers Dig Deep

On behalf of Hester & Zipperer, I want to send thanks out to those of you that have donated to our Clothing Etc. drive benefiting the Metter family whose trailer burned. For those of you that would still like to contribute, please see my previous post on this blog for size information.

Thanks again! -Christine

Fourth Of July-Hours Change

Hester & Zipperer will be closed Saturday, July 4th, but Yoshi and Travis have signed up to work on Sunday while the rest of us are taking a break! No kidding.
They volunteered! It's fishy, I know.
Visit them on Sunday from 11AM-4PM at Hester & Zipperer on Wilmington Island.

Memorial Day Sales!

Can you believe this chilly May weather in Savannah? Well, Summer is coming no matter how far the mercury may fall. We've got some exciting new merchandise in stock, and some hot sales.

Those of you that loved those brightly colored metal lizards and crabs we had last summer need to stop by! Not only are they back, but they've brought along huge fish friends! I'm thinking of picking something up for my dad for Father's Day!

While you're here, check out our 50% off section including:

Small Fountains
Solar Lighting
Mood Light Bug Repellent
Rechargeable Candles
Wine Bottle Holders
Motion-Activated Croaking Frogs

Of course, listed on the right side of this page, are still on sale. Don't miss out. We couldn't be having better weather to get them in the ground!

Lets Talk About Us-Or Our Gardens Anyway

Mary-Ann's Garden
You've all seen her at the store, and I bet a fat lot of you have wished you could follow her home just to see what her yard looks like. Ssssshhhh. Get down! She'll see you. Okay, let's take a look at what this H&Z Nursery Manager has going on.



Well, would you look at those Snap Dragons and Violas! They are gorgeous. Cool season annuals play a big role in a Spring landscape. The trick is planting them in Fall, fertilizing them, and making sure to amend your beds with compost. Oh, and water helps too.

Herbs are fantastic in containers, but check out her use of a Buddha! You, of course, could add any object of your choosing.

Also note that she has chosen two herbs (Rosemary and Sage) that prefer the same dry soil conditions.

Choosing plants that have contrasting leaf shapes, like these, makes the container look less busy. It's what makes it pop-that and the sleeping guy.

When you choose a container, look for one that is big enough for your plants and some interesting found object. Found objects play a big part in Mary-Ann's garden aesthetic.



Getting The Look In Your Garden

You've got to have courage. Fear will have you saying, "A Phrenology head doesn't go in a garden! What will ______ say when she sees?"

Those of you who enjoy yard sales and flea markets should look for cool finds like:

chipped pots, sculptures, bowling balls, bottles, rusted whatever, and, most definitely, the bizarre!

It's not about being perfect. It's about collecting specimens and showing them off like a natural history museum!

Room For Edibles
If you'd love to have a Burpless Cucumber patch, here is a way to do it on the cheap! Select a sunny area against your privacy fence and staple up some trellis netting. Dig out a bed just below and amend the soil with good organic mushroom compost or cow manure. Finally, a front edge of your choosing gives the cucumber area a finished look.

Use this idea for other vines too!







Christine's Garden
I started a vegetable garden in my side yard last year with the addition of a raised bed made by my husband, Superman.


I grew frustrated by only getting a few cherry tomatoes and peppers at a time, so I decided to expand the bed this Winter.















I made a border of brick pavers around my raised bed so that I could easily make my way around. After that I dug another bed directly into the ground.

To amend the soil, I used a mixture of things. On the side visible hear I used mushroom compost and top soil. My Blackseeded Simpson and Romaine seem to be enjoying it.

On the other side I chose to try chicken manure for the first time. It has more nitrogen, and boy does it back a punch to the ol' nose. Peee-yew. While putting it out I thought, "This stuff is crap! It's all gummy and nasty." Ahh, but my egg plants are thriving now. (No photo-but trust me.)


Take a gander at this Squash plant underworld. They grew so quickly, and some have started setting fruit. I don't mind telling you that I've got some problems.

1. Blossom End Rot-I've started using a calcium spray that we carry at the store to try and put an end to it. I'll use it on the zucchini and tomatoes soon as well.

2. I've noticed some bacterial disease on the leaves of my zucchini. This is becoming a royal pain in the tookus, because I was going to try and remain organic. I may have to resort to spraying something. It starts in the soil, so replacing the plant probably wouldn't do any good. The best I can do is clip out bad leaves, avoid watering from the top, and cuss.

The Good News

I got some tasty strawberries to put in a salad the other night. They're shaded from the squash leaves, and I think this is helping them develop some size before they ripen.

We happen to be out of strawberry plants at our Wilmington Island store, at this very second, but call 897-5581 to see if some arrive on today's delivery. We'll get more in soon, if not.

Got some blueberries. In all fairness, these bushes are in another bed, but I couldn't resist showing off these beauties. I saw a few missing recently. I may end up having to cover them with netting.

We have blueberry plants at the store. Just remember to pick up two different varieties so that you will have cross pollination.



Let this photo on the right be a little thumb to the nose for all of you who complain about not having enough blooms. Not a single one in this picture, and yet look at all of the appeal. These Swiss Chard leaves (in the center) are great to put in a vase. I did so recently for our anniversary party. Joining them were some Loropetalum branches, and my older sister was quite impressed.




Finally, I must give a shout-out to the Sugar Snap Pea. They have been performing so well for me. I've made teepees out of bamboo and twine, and it seems to be working nicely. I prefer these babies raw. The whole pod can be eaten as a healthy snack.


Got garden photos? Email us your ups and downs at hesterandzipperer@hotmail.com

Customer News

Hester & Zipperer is your local plant nursery. We are part of your community, and we love hearing about our customers.

This is Carol Foster and her daughter Megan. They are in training for a half marathon that will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!

Raising money for such a cause is a big challenge, never mind the actual running, so we are going to help spread the word for them.

You can visit Carol's fund-raising page for more information by clicking here. Carol has also been kind enough to drop off some of those delicious Tangelos at our Wilmington Island store. You can drop by and pick up one for yourself.

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.

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.

Hester & Zipperer Grieves The Passing Of Feline Friend

We are sad to report that our dear Mr. B has passed away. He was found Tuesday, amongst the Encore Azaleas, looking as if he'd just decided to take a nap. Although deeply upset over our loss, we were thankful that he appeared not to have suffered any trauma.

He was around thirteen-years-old, and had spent the greater part of his life with Hester & Zipperer employees and customers. Always the gentleman, Mister B made friends with all, even those who might not offer affection to a cat. He was a little shy around children, but , if scooped up unexpectedly, would never put up a fight.

We are thankful that he was a part of our nursery and lives for such a long time, and hope that he has found acres of catnip thriving through an eternal Spring.

Wilmington Island Holiday Action

The Wilmington Island Garden Club is sponsoring the
Island Homes For the Holidays tour.

Saturday, December 13, 2008
10:00 AM to 3:00 P.M.

Begin at the Wilmington Island United Methodist Church
195 Wilmington Island Road (Entrance on Cromwell)
Refreshments will be served and decorations sold!

Advance Tickets $10.00 (Sold at Hester & Zipperer)
$12.00 at the door

Map is provided on the back of tickets.

Will Work For Whitman's Sampler

I had a nice time with the ladies of the May Fair Garden Club last night. The topic of conversation was bugs. Do they need killin' all the time? If so, what is the best way to do it?

Products Discussed

Flea Destroyer-For Mole Crickets, Grubs, Fire Ants, Fleas, etc.

Mole Go-Castor Oil Mole Repellent

All Seasons Spray Oil-Kills by smothering

We also talked about the value of the National Pesticide Information Center! What a terrific resource for people looking to make educated decisions about their chemical usage.

Thanks for the chocolates! My husband and I "sampled" quite a few!

Do-It-Yourself Success In Wilmington Park

Dave and Susan Sherman, of Wilmington Park, came to H & Z a few weeks back with ink jet photos of their yard in hand. They were like a lot of homeowners. They had a landscape that was completely outdated, and they needed some help reworking it.

The Shermans picked the perfect time of year to update their front bed, because the cool weather of Fall allows plants to get established with ease. There is also a wide variety of shrubs available now, so it's not hard to put together really attractive combinations.

First things first, however. The Sherman's front bed needed some changes before one plant was purchased. A glance at the photo above reveals a narrow bed that would situate plants right beneath the roof's drip line. Suicide for any shrub. Dave was not to be discouraged though, and he sure wasn't going to be lazy about his project.

David and Susan returned with ink jet proof that they had followed my advice and expanded their bed to a suitable depth. They earned another star from me by amending their soil with organic matter like Mushroom Compost and Cow Manure! Oh...and check out the nice edging! Notice how the color brings out the brick in their house! A++

With the bed prepared, it was then time to choose plants. The Shermans wanted a low maintenance bed that had interest. They wanted to get away from the Loaf of Shrubs Chic behind which so many houses of that neighborhood still hide. The bed also receives a good deal of sun, so we chose plants that were ready for it!

Drought-tolerant selections like Dwarf New Zealand Flax, Autumn Joy Stonecrop, and Yucca
were used with the rich-colored Lorapetalum "pom-pom" topiary, Firepower Nandina, Purple Fountain Grass, and Ice Blue Yews (seen below).



There is still plenty of room for things to grow. By showing a little restraint now, the Shermans will eliminate the need for constant pruning later. The significant air circulation will also help prevent fungus from attacking their new plants. Finally, the attractive cypress mulch that they've added will help conserve water. Well done, guys!

H&Z Customers Can Now Choose What's On Sale

Dirt Bags love flowers! Of course we are talking about the Hester & Zipperer Garden Variety Dirt Bag! It's our new reusable shopping bag that will save you money. How? Let me break it down for you.

Buy our bag for $3.99 and get 5% off your bill when you
bring it back to Hester & Zipperer (on Wilmington Island) to shop.

There are a lot of reusable shopping bags, but ours will help you save money and make your yard look good!

Cha-Ching

Our Fall Sale Will Make Fall Planting Easier
Gas may be expensive. Milk may be right up there too. Making your yard pretty this season does not have to break the bank though. Come in and fill your car with these bargains!

1. Deciduous Trees 40% off
2. Hydrangeas 40% off
3. Vines 40% off (excluding Confederate/Star Jasmine)
4. Hibiscus 40% off
5. Select Perennials 50% off

While you're here, check out the hot new combinations of Fall flowers. Buy them already planted or purchase separately!

H&Z Hits Green Fest 2008

Mary-Ann and I got the chance to show off our expanding selection of environmentally responsible garden products this Saturday at Green Fest. The Trustees Garden event took place on an incredibly hot day, but it didn't affect the enthusiasm of the "shiny, happy, people" eager to demonstrate how small actions mean big results when protecting the environment.

Our biggest response no doubt came from our Flea Destroyer. You have heard me chatter on about it in our store and on this blog. It is an extremely effective way to solve problems with mole crickets, grubs, fire ants, fleas, and more. Other vendors like Coastal Pet rescue will be putting it to the test, and we hope to bring you more about their results in future posts.

The Black Pearl Pepper also stopped traffic quite a bit. The perfectly round fruit capable of burning your face off is surprisingly good at attracting beneficial insects to your garden. It's deep purple foliage compliments about anything you could put in the dirt next to it, so don't discard it if you're simply into fleurs.

Happily, Mary-Ann and I made some cool contacts that just might be showing up at our Fall Fest this year. In some cases, we are working on material for new classes to be held at other times. If there are certain topics that you would like to see covered, please post on this blog and let us know. We are anxious to start a dialogue with our customers to better serve your needs.

One More Reason To Stop By Our Blog!

Holy Power Pellets! PAC-MAN IS HERE!

I thought you all could use a little blast from the past, so enjoy!

This Saturday's Free Class

Your Garden's Balancing Act
This Saturday's free class will deal with the delicate balance of your garden's plants, insects, and other environmental factors. This class will be taught by Alex!

Class begins at 10:00 A.M. at the Wilmington Island location.

Remember, as always, students will receive a discount associated with the classes topic!

Papyrus In The House

You've Seen Them Before...

Many of you have spun a cool display of Papyrus greeting cards at locations across town. You may not have committed the brand name to memory, but you likely remember the cards. Now, you don't have to leave the island for these babies. Whether you are looking to reconnect with an old friend, neighbor, relative, or even your partner, these cards are perfect.

Hester & Zipperer, on Wilmington Island, has also started carrying a small selection of gift bags and tissue papers from Papyrus. Now when you find that perfect gift at our store, there is no need for a second stop before your function.

How To Get Your Buzz

Hester and Zipperer's new and improved monthly e-newsletter, The Buzz, went out to about one hundred of you recently. We are delighted to say that we've already received positive feedback from customers. We're using software called "Email Brain" to create our newsletters, and so far, it has enabled us to make leaps and bounds in our creative expression.

Those of you who read this blog may be wondering what The Buzz will have to offer. My answer is that the newsletter and blog will work together. For example, the newsletter will give you a month's glance at what we're up to at the store. It will contain our Wilmington Island location's schedule for its Saturday morning classes. It will suggest issues that should be addressed in the garden during that month. It will also offer information on new products and plants.

Our blog will offer more detail on the topics mentioned in The Buzz. It will provide links to other sites dealing with those topics. It will contain all sorts of photos (some more entertaining than informative), and it will illustrate all that gardening has to offer us.

Do YOU get The Buzz? Send your email address to: hesterandzipperer@hotmail.com