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Andy Wedel

All Star Award
 And A Gold Star Goes To...
 
  Gold Star!
Karen Baker. Karen was the first to submit the correct answer to our November Trivia Question: "When was coffee first sold in sealed tin cans in the United States?" The correct answer is: "1879 (Chase & Sanborn)."

Karen won a $15.00 Wedel's gift card and you could too! Just be the first to respond with the correct answer to our monthly trivia question.

Congratulations, Karen!! 

(ed. note - We would like to ask contest winners to pick up prizes within 90 days to avoid forfeiture.)
 
Shopping Fun
December
Shopping List 
 
Star
Suet
Burlap
Gift card
Bird seed
Poinsettia
Cloud Cover
Christmas tree
Birdbath heater
Christmas tree lights
Repellex Deer Repellent
Dining table centerpiece
Christmas tree ornaments
Wreath to welcome visitors
Christmas presents
 
  
A Thought
From the Garden
   
Merry Christmas

"May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;
The spirit of Christmas
which is peace;
The heart of Christmas
which is love."

- Ada V. Hendricks
 
Mom's Home Cooking
Mom Tested And Approved

Cream pie is popular any time of year and it is easy to make. Here is something that will be a treat for your Christmas or New Year's Eve guests.

Banana Cream Pie

Prepare filling for cream pie. Cool (see below). Cover bottom of baked pastry shell with thinly sliced bananas. Sprinkle generously with coconut. Cover with cream filling. Cool. Serve with whipped cream.

Cream Pie Filling
3/4 Cup Sugar
1/3 Cup Flour
1/8 Teaspoon Salt
2 Cups Milk, Scalded
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Flavoring
2 Tablespoons Butter

Combine butter, sugar, salt, flour, and eggs. Add milk slowly, stirring constantly. Cook over hot water until thick and smooth. Add flavoring. Pour into baked pastry shell. Cool. Serve with whipped cream. If desired, cover pie with meringue. Bake in slow oven (325 degrees F.) 20 minutes.

The Household Searchlight

Enjoy!
Just for Grins...
and
Groans 
Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?

Telme Huh   
Look Sharp
Feel Sharp
Be Sharp
Did you know that you can have your blades sharpened at Wedels?!

Take a look at these prices! 
  • Pruners - $5.00
  • Loppers - $5.00
  • Lawn mower blades - $6.00 (sorry, no reel mowers)
  • Mulching mower blades - $6.00
  • Hedge shears - $5.00  
  • Electric and cordless hedge shears - $10.00
  • Hoes, shovels and trowels - $3.00 
  • Larger items - we will quote a price 

(We don't sharpen chain saw blades.)  

 

Wedel's News

Volume 8, Number 9                                                             December 2015  
Why Does Popcorn "Pop"?
Popcorn
A popcorn kernel is essentially a sealed container efficiently storing moisture, and the makings of a new plant. When enough heat is applied to a kernel, the internal moisture is turned into steam, and because steam takes up more space than water, the small shell cannot contain it, so it rapidly expands, creating a tiny, but powerful, "POP."

Traditional popcorn is called butterfly or snowflake because it has "wings," and pops into different shapes. Popcorn that pops large and round without a lot of extensions is called mushroom popcorn. This is the kind that is often glazed or coated and sold as flavored, gourmet popcorn.

Some popcorn varieties available from Botanical Interests� are: Dakota Black Organic, Robust Pop 400MR and Strawberry. Wedel's proudly carries the excellent seeds supplied by Botanical Interests� and it isn't too early to begin planning your garden for next year. Seeds for next season will be arriving and on display at Wedel's next month! Give some thought to planting this fun crop.

Dakota Black Organic
Robust Pop 400MR
Strawberry
Feeding Winter Birds
Winter Cardinals
We've heard comments and had questions recently about feeding birds during the winter. We went to the archives and found the following advice from our friend and birding expert, Roger Taylor.

"Q. Why has my bird feeder been slow this fall?
 
A. Bird feeding has been a little slow this fall since we have had such warm weather. Fall is a time of plenty, from a food perspective, until we get snow cover. Many of the birds that don't travel that far south have lingered longer than normal. This will change all of a sudden with a blast of cold air from the northwest and one morning we will awake to a piece of arctic air and it will be WINTER and feeders will be very busy.
 
Don't wait until the snow flies before making sure your feeding station is in good working order. Birds are setting up their winter territories and establishing the location of food sources within that territory. I already have a mixed flock of Chickadees, titmice, White Breasted and Red Breasted Nuthatch visiting my yard and I'll see them more frequently as winter arrives. As a side note make sure you put fresh food in a feeder once a week so that means, until the weather gets cold, you probably shouldn't fill your feeder to the top. Suet is an exception unless it is not rendered; it is still far too warm for raw suet - save that for the severe cold of January and February.
 
Should I feed year round? Sure, if you enjoy seeing birds in your yard. As long as you keep your feeder clean you can do no harm. Matter of fact, get some cover on the ground for year round birding. If you enjoy birds in your yard, try planting some natural cover; shrubs like wild plums, high bush cranberry are really beneficial to songbirds; escape cover, food and nesting cover. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resource's book Landscaping for Wildlife would be of great help in planning next spring's planting season.
 
Don't forget winter water for your birds. Birds need a drink, too. And a quick splash, even in sub freezing weather, lets them stay clean and distributes the protective oils on their feathers. An extension cord and an inexpensive heated bath keep an open water supply and will bring in birds that will never visit your feeders. I see Bluebirds all winter long at my bath. As a reminder be sure to disinfect your bath periodically to avoid spreading disease."

Wedel's stocks everything you need for supplying the needs of your backyard feathered friends so be sure to stop by soon to stock up on the equipment and supplies you'll want when the cold and snowy winter weather arrives. You can be sure it will be arriving soon. 
Garden Natives

Fat Albert Blue Spruce
Picea pungens 'Fat Albert'

Fat Albert Blue Spruce
It's December and it is Christmastime which means we are looking forward to having a beautiful Christmas tree in our homes. As you drive through the neighborhoods you often see beautifully lit Christmas trees outside of homes too. If you like that idea we have the perfect specimen for your landscape. This month's Garden Native is the Fat Albert Blue Spruce (Picea pungens 'Fat Albert').
 
Fat Albert Blue Spruce is a slow grower that will mature to 10' to 15' tall and wide in 10 years and, under ideal conditions, could grow taller and wider. This tree should be grown in full sun and in dry to moist soil however it will not tolerate standing water. Water regularly in very hot weather but less water is required once it is established.
 
This tree has attractive blue foliage that emerges as silvery-blue in the spring. The silver-blue to blue, dense foliage and rough, gray bark are eye catching all year. It requires little maintenance, is rugged and will even tolerate road salt. It will attract birds but is of little interest to deer.
 
Of course Fat Albert isn't only a Christmas tree; it is a wonderful addition to your landscaping year around. It can be used as a windbreak, privacy screen, sound barrier and its mass is complimented well by smaller evergreens and many other low-growing plants. If you have a bare area that needs filling, Fat Albert will certainly step in and solve the problem.
 
Click here for more information about this month's Garden Native; Fat Albert Blue Spruce (Picea pungens 'Fat Albert').
Mark Your Calendar  

Friday, December 4
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 5
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Santa Claus will be at Wedel's!
"Make It - Take It" Workshops
Live Christmas Music Performances

Monday, December 7
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Thursday, December 10
12 Days of Christmas Specials
Start Today!

Thursday, December 24
Christmas Eve
Store Hours - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Friday, December 25
Christmas Day
Happy Birthday, Jesus!


 
 
Store Hours  

Monday - Saturday
9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve 9:00 a..m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed Sundays
and
Christmas Day
 
To Do In December
  
Set out roosting pockets in trees or shrubs.
Have mower blades sharpened.
Have mower tuned up.
Store garden chemicals where they won't freeze.
Use houseplants to keep your winter months green.
Begin planning next year's gardening and landscaping projects.
 
Did You Know?
 
1. Chocolate is the number one foodstuff flavor in the world, beating vanilla and banana by 3-to-1.
       
2. The tall chef's hat is called a toque.

3. The first neon sign was made in 1923 for a Packard dealership.

4. Thomas Edison filed 1,093 patents, including those for the light bulb, electric railways and the movie camera.
wkzo
Saturday Mornings
  

Birdwatch 8:07 a.m.

with host Roger Taylor answering all of your birding questions 
Call in at 382-4280 or 877-382-4280. 

Listen for "Over the Garden Fence" to return
in spring, 2016!
Over the Garden Fence 9:07 a.m.
with host Andy Wedel answering all of your landscape and gardening questions
Call in at 382-4280 or 877-382-4280.

Visit our web site at www.wedels.com for archives of previous Birdwatch and
Over the Garden Fence
programs!
 
 
Note from the Editor   


Merry Christmas to one and all! 2015 is about to end its stay and a shiny new year will be arriving soon. There is, however, a lot yet to be done. If you take a look at "Mark Your Calendar" you'll Wedel's has a big event scheduled for today and tomorrow with a very special guest present both days. That's right. Santa Claus is coming by for a visit and for the chance to meet with and hear directly from you what you would like to see under your tree this year. If you've already sent your letter to him, that's ok. He enjoys see you in person just as you enjoy seeing him. I'm sure there are lots of little people who would love to have their picture with Santa on a mantle or bookshelf at Christmases in years to come! Be sure to bring your camera.
 
Along with Santa's visit there is so much more going today and tomorrow. There will be "Make-It and Take-It" workshops for everyone. Santa's elves will be there to lend a hand with your project. As is appropriate to any festive occasion there will be live music! There will be music for everyone! Wedel's is, once again, a drop off station for non-perishable food, diapers and winter outerwear for Kalamazoo Gospel Mission to distribute and for Toys For Tots. You probably have no idea how appreciated anything you can do to help out will be. Click here for the details about this Santa's visit and workshop event.
 
I like to mention, each December, that Wedel's will be receiving garden seed displays next month for the coming year's growing season. I know that the 2016 growing season is a little way off but the planning season is here and it is always fun to stop by early to pick a few (or a lot) of packet seeds. I have personally talked to a number of gardeners as they are looking over the seed displays in January and they have all been there for the same reason. A handful of seed packets seems to be a concrete promise that spring is on its way and it is fun to look at them and read the information on them from time to time when we are wondering if the cold, snow and ice might be here to stay this time. Our garden seeds let us know they won't let that happen.
 
We at Wedel's want to let you know what a wonderful year 2015 has been as we were able to chat with you, our green thumb friends, about your landscape projects, plant problems, successes, ideas, questions, thoughts and concerns. That's why we're here. That's what we like to do. Some seasons are busier than others but don't let that discourage you from coming in. Of course you are always free to shop on your own but if you want to talk with someone be sure to let us know if one of us doesn't get to you first.
 
Oh! Before I forget! Be sure to come in to get your free copy of Wedel's 2016 calendar. It has lots of timely information throughout the year and there are money saving coupons on each month's page. What could be better; a free calendar AND the opportunity to save money on your favorite hobby?!
 
Once again, everyone at Wedel's wishes you a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

Ready for another trivia question? Here we go! "Who introduced standardized level measurements to recipes?" The first reader to respond with the correct answer will win a $15.00 Wedel's gift card. The gift card must be picked up here at the garden center and remember, you are eligible to win once every 90 days. Good luck and have fun!   
  
'Til next time,
Jim    


There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries. ~W.J. Cameron