And just a little more lasting than a Starbucks gift card
Another shameless self-promotion. Next week, I’ll return to gardening….promise!
It’s four weeks before Christmas
And all through my brain
Stir thoughts of the white stuff
But I’ll settle for rain….
Ok. That’s all I’ve got. Allow me to steer this sled back toward my passion, gardening. As the holidays plow towards us like a bobsled on ice (can you tell I’m ready for winter?), most have turned off that portion of their brain that says “dig”. I gave a talk recently at Knoxville’s premier garden center, Stanley’s Greenhouse, and a lady asked me a question I’ve fielded multiple times, “when is the best time to plant trees?” I’ll bet you’ve heard the cleaver answer before. “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time to plant a tree is today.”
In my typical roundabout style of writing, I wander into the weeds but I’ll always come back to the main point. Don’t let a drop in temperature stop you from planting. Trees and shrubs love to be put in the ground between late fall and early winter. Here in Tennessee, winter is the perfect time for plants’ roots to find a footing and establish the new plant before they endure the stress and dry months of late spring and summer.
Steering this train of thought in a completely different direction, do you know what else should be on your “to do” list in November? Finding that perfect gift for that hard to please gardener on your list. I can help! Now hear me out. I know some are tired of hearing my endless self-promotion for my new book, A Home for Your Gnome, but considering most probably only read every third or fourth article I crank out, I don’t feel too guilty.
Given the choice between a past-due fruitcake and a whimsical, practical, AND fun to read coffee table book touting the benefits of composting, garden sustainability, and planting to attract wildlife, which do you think Uncle Rob would like best? Maybe a trick question for some. (Personally, I love a rum-soaked Trappist fruitcake!) If you live in Knoxville, you can find my book at Stanley’s Greenhouse, The Knoxville Botanic Garden gift shop, Thress Nursery, and Union Ave. books. If you fall outside that travel radius, please contact me ASAP if you’d like a book or two delivered by Christmas.
The cost of these gems including tax and shipping are $46 each. Just Venmo (@garry-menendez) or email me at menendez@utk.edu to see how you can get one sent. Once I receive payment, I’ll send it right out. You can also tag me at menendez@ahomeforyourgnome.com
If your giftee isn’t a hardcore gardener or hates gnomes, that’s cool. Maybe they can use it to level up the short leg of their coffee table!
