Skillins! April is Here!--No "Fooling" But Fun Will be Had!!

Brunswick 442-8111 Cumberland 829-5619 Falmouth 781-3860

1-800-339-8111 1-800-348-8498 1-800-244-3860

www.skillins.com

Skillin's! April is Here--No "Fooling" But Fun Will be Had!!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter!

Check This Out...

Garden Talks

Skillin's Garden Log

Mark Your Calendar!

Hello again,

Welcome to another edition of Garden Talks Online by Skillin's Greenhouses! We have been "online" since 1999 and "on the ground" in Skillin's Country since 1885. We work every day to keep your trust and realize that in 2011 your time is very precious.

April is here in Skillin's Country and the time is right for gardening and the thought of it is neat. As the nice days start to pile in and the clock keeps ticking it is easy to get overwhelmed by all you want to get done in the garden. STOP! Look around! Breathe! Stick to your to do list or if you have not done so make a to do list and just "plug" away it. As our title suggests, don't "fool" around but make sure you have fun with your gardening. Think small and BIG things will happen, savor your season in the soil and sun. I got out in the garden late one day this past week and after a couple of hours of bending up and down and stretching "year older" muscles all around I gave it a rest! I revised my "to do" list and got a lot done in another half hour session early in a following morning!

Here at Skillin's we are getting more "charged up" by the day. We are so blessed to be in the business that we are in and to have friends like you, our fantastic and phee-nomenal Skillin's customers. We look forward to seeing you often soon! The color in our greenhouses is growing brighter by the day; the flowers more and more fragrant! Spring is here and FUN will be had!

We have an awesome class this Saturday at 10 AM and 2 PM at all locations called Outdoor Gardening with Annuals and Perennials. The classics and the new! The red, purple, yellow and blue! Butterflies can be free to fly, hummingbirds to hum in your garden. People change, plants too; we would love to show you what to do! Here too, there are some very awesome plants we can show you that grow well in Maine. Okay maybe too much rhyming in the previous few sentences but let me assure you that this class is one of our most favored and will contain MUCH helpful information for you! (10 AM class is sold out in Falmouth; openings remain for all other time slots).

Grow a Greener Garden!

Let us show you how to "do it right". Going to this class will save you valuable time and help you get great results!

You can reserve a space by calling any of the above numbers OR by contacting us at skillins@maine.rr.com (just specify the store and time!).

Garden Talks

In 2011 most of us are living lives that have changed a great deal since 2008, 0r 2007, 0r 2006. We are home more. We want "our nests" to be nice places to be, but let's face it most of us aren't working with the same budgets we had just two or three years ago. One area that we at Skillin's are hearing more and more questions is lawns. Typical questions we get: "I've had this lawn service but...what are they putting on my lawn? Why am I getting this bill for so much when my lawn guy was here for just a few minutes? I am concerned about my kids and pets...just what is in that bag of Scotts fertilizer?"

At Skillin's we hear these questions all the time. Now let me tell you something: I myself am not particularly handy around the house. My "mechanical" skills are below average. I also work a lot and don't have a lot of extra time. We all share many of these traits. But folks even I can maintain a pretty good looking lawn that doesn't cost a lot in terms of time and money. AND I know just what I am putting down on my lawn--and the products are natural and safe. We at Skillin's are ready to help you be a good "do-it-yourselfer" when it comes to your lawn. If I can do it, you can probably do it better! Check out this article in our Skillin's Garden Log titled Lawn Care Program from Skillin's! and let us show you how to maintain a good lawn for your home and family!

In our recent issues of Garden Talks Online we have discussed the ABC's of Seed Starting. We reviewed how to start seeds indoors and when to start seeds indoors. It may be time to transplant your seedlings when they show their first true leaves! This brings us to sections E, F, and G of the ABC's of Seed Starting. Click HERE at our Skillin's Garden Log for great timely transplanting advice for your young seedlings!

For more great local gardening tips check out A Garden in Maine. Skillin's friend and associate David K is a Portland ME gardener with great respect for gardening tradition but also an intelligent eye towards new and fun gardening methods!

We Have the Prettiest Pansies at Skillin's!!

Skillin's Garden Log

Would you like to get timely garden talks and tips from Skillin's MORE OFTEN? Well, the Skillin's Garden Log found at www.skillins.com is the PERFECT SOLUTION. Several times per week, a number of Skillin's contributors post gardening updates, stories and photos. At the Skillin's Garden Log, you can learn and laugh often all in the same post. Check out the Skillin's Garden Log at your convenience; it is found at the front page of www.skillins.com or click on the icon below:

Recently at the Skillin's Garden Log we have had many good happenings...

*It is time for Early April Garden Talks and More (Early) April Garden Talks. Find some timely and truthful gardening tips for the times!

*New plants will abound at Skillin's in 2011! We show you some great new plants in What's New in Skillin's Country-2011.

*Paul Parent brings us two great posts: Home Grown Lettuce and Direct Seeding in the Ground for Vegetables.

*Tim Bate writes a terrific, timely post that presents a bevy of practical pointers about growing your own tasty vegetables: Kitchen Garden Basics!

*Let's talk about Perennial Gardening Basics!

The following articles from our Garden Log Archives give very timeless, timely and quick tips for THIS gardening season in Skillin's Country:

* Our grass can easily AND safely be greener! Lawn Care Program from Skillin's!

*Paul Parent writes about Spring Care of Perennials and Growing Raspberries.

*We are talking and writing much about vegetable gardening these days. Check out this simple and well written Easy Steps to Building a Vegetable Garden.

Mark Your Calendar!

Our FREE classes will be held Saturdays at all three locations (unless otherwise stated) at 10 AM and 2 PM. Space is limited so reserve today for the classes of your choice! Just give us a call at any of the above numbers or drop us a note at skillins@maine.rr.com. (Just let us know the date, time and store location!)

Class participants receive a special Skillin's 10% discount coupon for use on the weekend of your class.

Here are some of our upcoming classes:

April 16 The Pursuit of the Rose! (10 am only)

The layers of petals, the bright yet tender colors, the unmatched fragrance; ahh! the pursuit of the rose. We know it can be done; let us show you how it will be done! Free (Class sold out in Falmouth, spots available in Brunswick and Cumberland)

April 16 Creating Theme Gardens and Outdoor Rooms! (2 PM only)

Fragrance--oh my! Moonlit flowers--sigh! Butterflies fluttering from colorful petal to petal! You know you want this and more so don't "settle!"; Wow! Let us show you how! Free (This class is being held in Cumberland and Falmouth only; we apologize to anyone who signed up for Brunswick for this class).

April 23 Container Gardening (10 am only)

There is more than one way to garden. Whether you live in a condo, apartment, or want to use small spaces, gardening in containers provides a creative use of limited space. Let us show you how to grow season long flowers in creative ways. Free
(10 AM sold out in Falmouth; we do have spots available in Brunswick and Cumberland)

April 23 Container Edibles (2 PM only)

More and more of us want to grow some of our own food as naturally and conveniently as we can! Let us show you how-this will be a great way to learn some new tricks with vegetables and herbs that can be grown indoors AND out! Free

(This class sold out in Falmouth at 2 PM 4/23; 4/23 spots available in Brunswick and Cumberland--we are holding a special second class in Falmouth on Tuesday 4/26 at 10 AM)

Check out our entire list of April-June classes: Spring 2011 Classes at Skillin's!

The best way to find out about Skillin's Classes and Events is by being a Skillin's Email List member so encourage friends and family to sign up for our Email List at www.skillins.com!

Did You Know?

Every Tuesday is Mature Gardener's Day at Skillin's! Those customers who qualify will receive 10% off all regularly priced items. (Sale items do not usually apply and very few other restrictions may apply).

Every Friday brings Flower Power Happy Hour where we offer fresh cut flower stems and bunches at 30% off their regular prices. The Happy Hour lasts from Noon until we close!! Every Friday!

Buy a Plant and a Pot from Skillin's and we will Repot the Plant for Free. "Free On the Spot Repot" when you buy a Plant and a Pot here at Skillin's!

Hey you Flower Arranging fans! We have a great DIY Floral series available for viewing! We show and tell about wedding flowers yet even if your interest is not wedding flowers specifically but flower arranging techniques in general, this video is for you! What a way to see these great floral "how-tos" from the comfort of your own home!

Thanks for being a friend of Skillin's! Contact us anytime with any questions!

Mike Skillin

Skillin's Greenhouses

Follow Us!