Did somebody Tivo 2010 and edit out the boring parts? Suddenly, we're staring down the barrel of December. I can account for my whereabouts pretty much continuously, so we didn't skip any whole months, but we sure got to #11 in a hurry, didn't we? The year's nearly shot, and I'm not done with it.
DOWN ON THE FARMS
FLORIDA
Given this wobbly economy, in hort and elsewhere, we feel very fortunate to be expanding. We're not doubling or trebling, mind you; just adding a conservative 10% or so to our production/propagation area, mostly for perennial liners.
Our new XS Smith houses are configured specifically for what we do. Like many of you, we have some retrofitted, repurposed houses. They work, and we move good product through them. But nothing beats starting from scratch, from the ground up, to design a lean, green growing machine that fits the job at hand. Our growers are salivating.
PENNSYLVANIA
PA-based VP Al Mueller and your humble scribe just returned from 5 days in sunny Pensacola (including a day of kayaking in shorts!) to our brisk, autumnal homeland. I don't know about Al, but I promptly built a fire. Those 90-degree days and 75-degree nights spoil you. Florida's fall feels and looks much like Pennsylvania's summer: a solid surround of deep, rich green wrapped in warm, humid, T-storm-prone weather.
Above the Mason-Dixon line, frosty-fingered autumn holds sway. Our prolonged drought shut a lot of trees down early so they never put on much of a show; but now, our maples and oaks are going out in their usual blaze of pied glory. Even our cool holding houses are coloring up nicely as grass and perennial liners settle down for a winter nap.
It's even autumn indoors! Remember, vernalized liners often out-perform starters that haven't had time to chill out.
Asclepias tuberosa goes thoroughly dormant up top, hoarding its energy in the thick fleshy roots that explain its specific epithet. A visitor dubbed it "Asleepias."
HORTOSCOPE
All you Sagittarian landscapers: Sure, you're busy. But once in a while, stop and smell the kale & cabbage. How else will you know when they're rotten enough to rip out and replace with grasses and perennials?
EPILOG
There's so much to celebrate in November. Besides the obvious turkey-centric binge, there's Veteran's Day, Japan's Culture Day, Canada's Remembrance Day, the anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, and of course the recently-ended World Series. Like most sports, baseball has sprawled far beyond the bounds of its traditional season. Do you realize there are only two days each year when no major-league professional sport is played? Can you name those two days? (Answer below)
John Friel
Marketing Manager
[email protected]
Answer: The day before and the day after baseball's All Star Game.