We celebrated Charlie Toben's 28 years of service at Hillermann Nursery & Florist with a Retirement Party Luncheon! We had lots of food, fun and fellowship! We are grateful for Charlie's honesty, loyalty and resourcefulness during his many years here. We wish Charlie all the best in this new chapter of his life. Enjoy retirement Charlie!

Fall Frost is On It's Way

         If you have not yet moved your houseplants in for winter, you should do so now. Tender plants will not likely survive through a light frost with temperatures from 29° to 32° Fahrenheit. Plants that need to be protected when predictions call for these temperatures include summer annuals and warm season vegetables such as pepper, eggplant, and tomato. Mums and pansies, and cool season plants such as broccoli, lettuce and mustards, can tolerate these light frost temperatures and there is little destructive effect on other vegetation.

       If Moderate Frost with temperatures from 25° to 28° Fahrenheit is predicted, widespread damage will occur to many plants, with severity increasing the longer temperatures stay this chilly. Temperatures at 24 degrees Fahrenheit and lower can damage all plants that have not been acclimated to the cold. The colorful autumn foliage display that is common for our area can also be affected by temperatures this low.

Frost Protection Tips

       Now is the time to bring all house plants and tropical plants inside for winter. Even the roots of potted plants are susceptible since they are unprotected. If you cannot move all your potted plants indoors or to protected areas, wrap the pot with cloth or burlap or bury the pot in the soil as well as covering the foliage.

       Cover plantings of annuals (and other plants with blooms or foliage that you wish to save) with a protective layer before dusk. By the time it gets dark, much of the stored heat in the garden has already been lost. Sheets and blankets work well for this. Cardboard boxes, paper bags, buckets and newspaper will also work well.

       DO NOT USE PLASTIC COVERINGS. Plastic attracts the cold and may harm plants.

       Use support stakes under blankets or heavy cloth to protect young growth from being broken by the weight of the cover.

       You may need to secure lightweight coverings on the ground with blocks or rocks. For taller plants, you may be able to tie the coverings on or clip them with clothespins.

       Remove the coverings in the morning, once the frost has thawed, to let the light and fresh air back in, and to prevent overheating from the sun. If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to contact us.

Save the Geraniums

       Unlike most annuals, geraniums can survive in a dormant state for long periods, and some gardeners save them through winter to re-plant the next spring. Following are the steps to take to save the plants for next year.

Clean Off Soil - Carefully dig up the plant before the first frost. Shake off the soil so that the plant roots are bare.

Store the Plant - Roll the plant up in newspaper, or place in a paper bag. Some gardeners simply hang the plants upside down. Regardless, store in a dark, dry, cool place (but don't let it freeze) - a basement is perfect. Two or three time during winter, soak the plant in water for 1-2 hours, remove any dead stems or leaves, then return to storage after it has dried.

Replant in Spring - When weather begins to warm, pot the plant up in fresh soil, keep it well-watered, and watch it grow!

October Floral Reminders:

Bosses Week is October 12 - 18!  

Show Your Boss Your Appreciation!

We can help you say thank you with fresh arrangements, plants,  

gift certificates, and more! Enhance your gift with balloons and/or candy.  

Call us for help with gift ideas. We deliver!

Call us at 636-239-6729

Click here for our Floral Website.

       Fall mushrooms will soon be popping up across Missouri. Each 'shroom has a single goal: to release millions of tiny, dust-like "seeds" called spores. Wind carries the spores away, and if they land in the right place, they'll form new mushrooms. To see mushroom spores - and create some cool art in the process - make a spore print. It's easy. Just follow these instructions:

1. Pick some mushrooms. Look in the woods, mulch piles or your backyard the day after a rain.

2. Remove the mushroom's cap (the round hamburger-shaped part) from its stem. Notice that the top of the cap is smooth and the bottom of the cap has fleshy ridges. The ridges are called gills, and spores fall out from between the gills.

3. Tape together a piece of white and black paper.

4. Place the mushroom cap gill-side-down on the papers so that half of the cap is on the black side and half is on the white side.

5. Cover the cap with a bowl.

6. Wait 24 hours, then remove the bowl and carefully lift off the mushroom cap to see your spore print.

7. Coat the spore print with hair spray to keep the spores from blowing away.

8. Create a flower or other picture with the spore print or use it to make a greeting card.

       Warning: Never eat a mushroom you can't identify! Eating some kinds of mushrooms can make you really sick or even kill you. Wash your hands after handling mushrooms.

        Adapted from Missouri Department of Conservation's Xplor magazine, Matt Seek, September 2011.

Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Come visit our vendors for locally grown produce, canned and baked goods, unique handmade items, and more! Many great gift items are available!

Vendors, Booth space is FREE!  

Call Julie Brinker at 636-239-6729 for more information.

   

Pottery Class

       We will start our 6 week pottery course on Saturday, October 4th from 10:30 am - Noon, and run for six consecutive weeks. Cost is $225 and includes all materials. You are welcome to use the studio outside of class time for practice or to work on projects. Think of how many unique, handmade Christmas gifts you can make! If you sign up with a friend, you each save $25! Space is limited - so sign up now!

Pot Parties

       Want to try something fun for a birthday party, home school activity, scout group or other group? Have a Pot Party at the Pot Shop! Pot Parties are just $25.00 per person and can host 3 - 12 people.

To sign up or for more information, call Carol at (636)221-5593 or Noreen at (636)584-3169 - Or send us a email to: potshopathillermann@gmail.com

Featured Adoptable Pet 

       Hello, my name is Reginald. Even though I have a rather sophisticated name, I do feel the need on occasion to be quite unsophisticated by doing things like running around for no obvious reason, cuddling up to my people, purring and chasing sunbeams. I am a very nice 2 year old gray tabby boy with white highlights who would love to show you just how much fun life can be all the while keeping your dignity at the same time.

Purrs and pats, Reginald