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And We Have A Winner!
Barb Trenter was the first to correctly answer last month's quiz question. In case you missed the August issue of Wedel's News, the question was, "There is something that all but one of the floral images above (the exception, the beautiful white roses) have in common. Can you spot it?" Barb's correct answer was, "They all grow from bulbs that need to be planted in the fall." For knowing that, Barb received a $15.00 gift certificate from Wedel's.
Pretty Garden?
If you have a garden, a feeding station or bird pictures that you are proud of, send them to us. We'll share your picture with our readers. Send pictures to:
Best $5.49 You Ever Spent...
...for your flowering annuals.
 
Schultz Houseplant Fertilizer is the Best! It is great  for houseplants and super for your outdoor flowering annuals. All it takes is seven drops in a quart of water.
 
A word of advice:  Never fertilize a dry plant. Water first, then give your annual a good shot of Schultz's Houseplant Fertilizer and watch it flourish!
  
A Thought
 from the Garden
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"Kind hearts are the gardens;
kind thoughts are the roots;
kind words are the flowers;
kind deeds are the fruits."
-   English Proverb
Fall-proof
Your
Roof 
 
  
 
As fall blows into town, take a look at your roof and see what needs to be pruned from nearby trees. Limbs that grew during the summer may be hanging down too close. If branches are actually hitting the roof, they can trap moisture and cause mildew. Even if branches are not actually touching but just hanging over the roof they could be dangerous since they will shed leaves and clog gutters--or worse yet, snap during storms and damage the roof. To help with this often tricky pruning, try a telescoping pole pruner. Stop by Wedel's and have a look at your options.
 
Just for Grins... 
 
 
 
A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining,
the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing,
and the lawn mower is broken.
-   James Dent
 
 
Dividing Perennials 
With the weather still nice and the soil still not too hard, this is the ideal month to dig up your perennials, separate the roots and replant them. Not only does this keep them healthy, but it is a good way to make more plants. If they have fibrous roots (that kind of look like hair), just pull them apart. If they have a thick root, simply cut it with a knife, but make sure you have buds on each side. The only problem now that you have twice as many plants, is finding new spots to plant them. If you can't plant them all, share some with friends and neighbors and spread the beauty.
 
Drying Herbs 
 
If you started growing herbs outside in the spring, you may suddenly find yourself inundated with an overflow crop. You might enjoy a summer menu made up exclusively of rosemary bread with chive butter, followed by dill soup and pasta with fresh basil pesto, washed down with camomile tea. Or... you might want to save some of those herbs for the future. It's simple: To dry short-stemmed herbs, lay them on a screen away from direct sunlight. Long-stemmed herbs should be tied together and hung upside down. Once the herbs have dried fully, simply chop them up and put them away for winter.
 

Wedel's News

Volume 1, Number 6                                  September, 2008
Work Aplenty in September
by George Wedel
 
The rain God sent this week was a blessing and a relief. Just amazing the storm, Gustav, originating off the coast of Africa, was sent here to Michigan where we needed the moisture so very much. It was a blessing to see drought-stricken trees, flowers, shrubs and fields of soybeans and hay revived. What a relief from the daily chore of watering our container plants and irrigating lawns and landscape plantings.
 

Now that we have some soil moisture in our gardens and landscapes, most "green thumbers" will turn their attention to planting new plants, dividing older perennials and fertilizing gardens. The following are some important September lawn, landscape and garden projects.

  • Plant trees, shrubs, perennials, pansy plants and evergreens. Be sure to plant correctly by using a mixture of Plant Sure Plus, composted cow manure, sphagnum peat moss and the top soil from the planting site.
  • Divide and replant peonies and irises.
  • Aerate and de-thatch lawns.
  • Fertilize lawns now with Super Turf Builder or Super WinterGuard.
  • September is the best time of year to seed a new lawn or fill in bare spots.
  • Remove tired, old annual flowers and cut back perennials that are going dormant. Then fill in these areas with beautiful autumn blooming chrysanthemums, asters, pansies, ornamental kale, Swiss chard and cabbage.
  • Kill lawn broadleaf weeds now with Weed Free Zone. Weed Free Zone contains carfentrazone and works well in cool weather. Fewer weeds now means fewer seeds and weeds next spring.
  • Hang and fill bird feeders and suet holders to encourage wild birds to visit your landscape in all seasons.
  • Plant spring flowering bulbs in September. Set out daffodils, crocus, tulips, narcissus, hyacinths and a host of minor bulbs. Enjoy the "greatest show on earth" next spring in your landscape by planting flower bulbs in September.
  • Harvest winter squash, pumpkins, gourds and potatoes real soon. As soil cools and moisture becomes more abundant, many garden vegetables will deteriorate.

This is just a short list of the many garden and landscape possibilities that should be considered this month. When you exhaust this list, visit Wedel's for more great ideas that will excite every "green thumber."

 
 
 
Ask Roger:
9 to 9 bannerQ. Every night, when I travel out West Main Street going home, I see a flock of birds in the same place and all or most facing the same direction. Why?

A. I've seen that same flock of starlings. They roost at night in the pines that surround the MDOT facility so that's why they gather there. They like to perch together and power lines are convenient for this purpose. Birds usually sit facing into the wind because it's easier for them to keep their balance if their feathers aren't blowing the wrong way. 
 
Q. Will throwing rice at a wedding cause birds to explode?

A. These days it's become common practice not to throw rice at weddings. There is concern that birds would eat the rice, which would expand in their stomachs and cause them to explode! Obviously, this theory makes perfect sense since all of us see birds exploding pretty much all the time, right? In reality, rice farmers wish that rice-eating birds blew up; but to put it simply, they don't. So how'd this ridiculous theory gain so much momentum anyway? It all started in 1988, when Ann Landers discouraged readers from the practice of rice throwing. Of course, the USA Rice Federation - evidently, a group on top of its game - immediately debunked Landers' story. Unfortunately, however, it seems that not many people had read their USA Rice Federation newsletter that week because the information never really got circulated.
 
Q. How long do birds live?
 
A. Below are the maximum longevity records for a few of the species of birds seen in southwest Michigan. The average life expectancy is significantly shorter.
Canada Goose - 23 years 3 months
Robin - 13 years 11 months
Black-capped Chickadee - 12 years 5 months
Hummingbird - 11 years
Hairy Woodpecker - 15 years 10 months
House Sparrow - 13 years 4 months
Great Blue Heron - 23 years 3 months
 
Q. I've seen thistle seed referred to as nyjer. Are they the same thing?
 
A. No, they are not the same plant. Thistle is a wildflower unless it is growing in your yard, where it is considered a weed. Even though there is little human affection for the plant, many birds love it. Goldfinches are often seen pulling seeds from the ripe heads of the plant or using the downy material from the head for nest building.
 
Niger, on the other hand, is a relative of the sunflower that is grown in semitropical climates. Recently some nyjer has been grown in the U.S. but the majority of it in this country comes from Burma, India, Nepal and Ethiopia. It has been mistakenly called "thistle" for so long that the term has become common usage. Niger enters the U.S. through two ports, one in New Jersey and the other in Louisiana. All imported niger is sterilized at the port to kill the parasitic doder plant that is associated with niger. The heart to shell ratio is very favorable and tends to offset the price paid for this seed.
 
Children's Days
at
Wedel's 
Set aside some time on Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27 to bring your kids to Wedel's for a day of fun activities. A big attraction will be our Petting Zoo. We will have a mini horse, bunnies, chickens, baby goats, dogs, calves, baby ducks, cats, quail and a mini donkey for everyone to see and pet. And that's just the beginning! Other activities include:
  • Catapult launching a pumpkin missile across the parking lot every 1/2 hour.
  • Grass seed planting in a pot with a face on it. Take it home and watch the "hair" grow.
  • Pumpkin seed spitting contest for kids to try to win one of three prizes.
  •  
  •  
  • Texas Township Fire Department will be here; kids will get to spray the house at the "House-a-Fire." 
  • Play in the big loader bucket sand box.
  • Get picture taken in our flower background. (Bring your own camera, too!)
  • Midwest Fire Safety here to teach families fire safety.
  • 2nd Chance Greyhounds here to pet and to consider adopting. 

Our Garden Party Cafe' will have a hot dog, chips, fruit and milk deal for $3.00 and cookie and milk for $1.25. Call Terrie at Wedel's - 345-1195 - with any questions or if you would like to schedule a group. This is an event everyone in the family will enjoy!

Do We Have Bulbs!!

 

Wedel's Garden Center will have, in stock, well over 135,000 bulbs! Just to give you an idea, we will have 66,000 tulips in over 150 varieties; 39,000 daffodils in 65 varieties; 5,500 hyacinths in 24 varieties; 22,000 crocuses in 22 varieties as well as 20 varieties of allium, 8 varieties of muscari, 6 varieties of fritillaria, 3 varieties of colchicum and 15 varieties of iris. And that's not all.  
 
Come to Wedel's for expert advice, soil amendments, fertilizer, tools and the largest selection of fresh-from-Holland bulbs anywhere in the area; everything you need to ensure your success. All of our bulbs will be in stock and ready for your selections by the end of next week. Plant soon and experience a simply amazing spring! As always, Wedel's Nursery, Florist and Garden Center is here to help you develop an outstanding outdoor living space for you, your family and friends to enjoy for years to come.
wkzo
Saturday Mornings
 
Birdwatch
8:00
with host Roger Taylor answering all of your birding questions
Call in at 382-4280 or 800-742-6590.
 
Over the Garden Fence
9:07
with host Andy Wedel answering all of your landscape and gardening questions
Call in at 382-4280 or 800-742-6590.
 

  Note from the Editor

Some of you have told us that you are having a little difficulty using our web site and that the store hours posted there were inaccurate. We are trying to keep the information there current but have fallen behind from time to time. The reason our site has been neglected some is that we are in the process of building an entirely new, very robust web site that will be loaded with new features and opportunities for everyone in the Wedel community. This is a long, labor intensive process that is nearly at the point where we can "go live" with the new site. I'll let you know just as soon as we flip the switch and make it available to you. We are all very excited and are hoping you will be too once you are able to visit it and navigate your way down all of the aisles.
 
Life lessons, it seems, sometimes present themselves unexpectedly. And that's a good thing. I'll freely admit that I am often a little short on patience in the sense that when I've decided that I want something it is difficult for me to wait for it. We used to have mail delivery twice a day when I was a kid and I was one of those many kids who sent away to Kellogg's for toy premiums that cost a few box tops and a few cents. Beginning the day after I put my order in the mail I was on the porch, by the mail box, every day, impatiently waiting for the mailman to arrive with the treasure until he finally showed up with it. That's changed, a little, since then but not a lot.
 
A couple of falls ago, my sister, Marguerite, my wife, Sue and I planted well over 600 bulbs. I had not been greatly interested in bulbs previously because they involve patience... waiting... months... seasons before they would blossom. I don't mind admitting that, once our bulbs were planted, I had a look out of the window now and then, even on the days in winter when the snow receded from the flower beds. I knew nothing would be showing up but it couldn't hurt to look. Besides, by January, February, I was ready! As time went by I decided that I must have planted them too deeply or upside down or inside out. Something was wrong and I wasn't going to get what I wanted.
 
You bulb growers know how the story ends. A day came when I unconsciously glanced in the direction of one of the beds and there they were!! Tiny green spikes. Right where we put the bulbs! From that point on the wait was excruciating. Everyday, more than once a day, I kept an eye on their progress. And their progress was noticeable nearly every day. If you want to know whether I think the wait was worth it:  absolutely!!  I can't adequately describe the scene. Tall ones behind medium ones behind short ones; early, mid, late ones; single flowers, multiple flowers; reds, pinks, creams, yellows, greens, purples; smooth edges and ruffled edges. The pictures on the boxes don't begin to compare to the real thing.
 
As far as treasures go, there is little comparison between a plastic submarine that would dive to the bottom of the bath tub and surface again all by itself and the amazing beauty of spring flowering bulbs. The bulbs finally taught me the virtue of patience.
 
'Til next time, 
Jim
 
 
Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere;
My humble song of praise
Most joyfully I raise To Him at whose command
I beautify the land,
Creeping, silently creeping everywhere.
-   Sarah Roberts Boyle, The Voice of the Grass