Our nursery yard is looking fabulous with new trucks arriving every day, and the greenhouses are bursting with color. This week I am talking a bit about Trees and their benefits and Purple Martins! I hope you enjoy what is in store for you below!

       We have many fun events planned for you in the weeks ahead. Be sure to visit us often and "Throw a Welcome Party for the Season!" We're here to help you with all the plants, tools and supplies you need and helpful advice. I hope you are as excited as we are at the nursery to welcome spring! Come on down....

Sandi

       Most often, we plant trees to provide shade and beauty for our landscapes. These are great benefits, but trees also provide other less obvious benefits.

* Trees are often planted as living memorials or reminders of loved ones or to commemorate events in our lives.

* Even though you may own the trees on your property, your neighbors benefit from them as well. Through careful planning, trees can be an asset to your entire community.

* Tree-lined streets have a "traffic calming" effect. Traffic moves more slowly and safely.

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       I have loved pansies not only for their beauty, but for their "personalities." Did you ever notice that pansies have faces? The little patterns of dark color on their petals look very much like faces to me. I think this may be a throw-back to an old Disney cartoon perhaps where pansies danced and sang. I look forward every year to seeing the new crop of pansy faces we get in at the nursery.

       What really strikes me funny is that some of them look angry - little slashes of dark color slanting downward like eyebrows in a severe frown. Some have wide smiles arcing upwards with glee. Still others carry a bewildered expression, like they aren't quite sure why they are all crowded together on these big tables with huge "beings" passing judgment on them as they poke and prod them in their little containers.  

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By Sandi McDonald

     As the days get longer and longer, the birds' urge to nest gets stronger and stronger. You can provide housing for the birds to help them accomplish their nesting goals. The main ways to help birds are to provide nest boxes, nest shelves and nesting material. Providing food and water for the birds also makes your yard a more attractive nesting location.

     Many birds nest in tree captivities, so a nest box is essentially providing them the same living habitat. That's why placing a nesting box on a tree trunk is often the way to mount a box. Species that use nest boxes in Mid-Missouri include: Wood Duck, American kestrel, Screech Owl, Woodpeckers, Tree Swallows, Chickadee, Titmouse, Nuthatch, Wren, Bluebird and Finch.

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  Purple Martins

       Martins traditionally used tree cavities for nesting, but now houses supplied by people are their primary form of residence. Purple Martins are named for the purplish sheen on their bodies. Expect Martins to return from their Brazil wintering grounds around March 15th. Providing housing for Martins is certainly more of a challenge than for other birds. Many varieties and considerations need to be looked at to see if it is right for you.

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Ten Reasons Why People Fail to Attract Purple Martins 

By Sandi McDonald

            Over one million people maintain housing for Purple Martins. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of these folks successfully attract breeding martins. Below is a list of the top ten reasons why so many people fail. Your chances of attracting martins will greatly increase if you avoid making these common mistakes.

1.         Housing placed to close to tall trees or in yards that are too enclosed. There should be no trees taller than martin housing within 40 feet of it, preferably 60.

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Easter Bunny Lunch

Saturday, March 28 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

       Come enjoy Lunch with the Easter Bunny. Take pictures with the Easter Bunny. Activities will be included. $5.00 charge per child. Please call to RSVP at 636-239-6729.

Truth and the Outdoors Show 

Friday, Saturday, & Sunday March 27-29

       Come visit our STIHL and outdoor booth at this show. A family-friendly outdoor expo held with hopes of uniting people who share a passion for the outdoors at the St Clair High School Campus. Visit this page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/TruthandTheOutdoors  

Succulent Container Garden Make-N-Take

Saturday, March 28 at 10:00 am

       Succulent plants have become very popular as beautiful easy care plants. Make a succulent container garden for your home. ($30.00 Supply fee). Please call to RSVP at 636-239-6729.

First Saturday Kids

Saturday, April 4

       Bring the kids anytime between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm to play in the greenhouse and learn how to plant a tree! In honor of Arbor Day, one native plant seedling per family will be given out while supplies last.

Ladies' Night Out

Thursday, April 9 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm

       Join us for a fun night out - Just for the Girls! Vendor booths, samples, demonstrations and up-cycling crafts will be available. Hillermann Container Garden, Silk Flower Arrangement, and bow making demos will be ongoing. Visit the Pot Shop for Demo's and decorate your own pottery plate for $5.00. Much more fun will be available! 20% OFF Nursery & Garden Center Items during this event only. Please call 636-239-6729 to RSVP by 4/6/15.

Bark for Life

Saturday, April 11 from 9:00 am to Noon

       Bark For Life honors the life-long contribution of our Canine Caregivers and presents an opportunity to contribute to cancer cures through the American Cancer Society. There will be lots of fun activities and vendor booths (for pets and humans) to enjoy with your canine friends. Contact Rhonda Mueller at 314-401-3642 (after 6pm), or lvpenguins@gmail.com, for more information.

Washington Vintage Market Days

Friday - Sunday, April 17, 18 &19

       Vintage market booths will be set up in Downtown Washington. Visit our booth these three days for a great selection of vintage home and garden items, plants and a whole lot more. Visit this page to learn more: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonVintageMarket

Equipment Center Demo Day

Saturday, April 18 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

       Our Equipment Center is hosting an Exmark, Toro, Cub Cadet and STIHL Equipment Demo Day. Test-drive and find the mower that is right for you, and check out all of the handheld power tools we offer to make your outdoor jobs a breeze. Talk with our reps, ask questions and learn more about these lines of equipment. While you're here be sure to enter for a chance to win a STIHL FS56 Trimmer (a value of $359.99!) - on this day only. Get $500.00 OFF select Exmark Mowers (Pioneer E & S and Lazer Z series) through April and May! Don't forget about 0% Financing! We will also be grilling up some grub at our Outdoor Kitchen! See you then...

Home Show Raffle Drawing Winner

       Hillermann Nursery & Florist kicked off a raffle drawing for a STIHL BG55 Leaf Blower (a value of $149.99) during the Washington Home Show on Friday, March 6th. Entries were accepted through March 13th. Glen Skornia was drawn as the lucky winner! In the picture is Glen holding the prize and Casey Holthaus Equipment Center Manager at Hillermann Nursery & Florist.

Get To Know STIHL 

Get to Know STIHL Inc. in Virginia Beach, Va.

           Have you ever tried growing potatoes in tough clay soil? The results are usually less than bad. However, here is the perfect solution for growing great potatoes. Grow them in a pot. Now, whether you have clay soil, live in an apartment, or don't have a garden at all, you can grow potatoes the ole' yard boy way. And that's in a container.

Click here for more.

Seed Potatoes are available in our Garden Center!

Apply Crabgrass Preventer Now!

       It's time to apply crabgrass preventer plus fertilizer to your lawn. This is the first step in the self applied lawn program.     

Includes: Crabgrass Preventer, Weed-Out Plus Lawn Food, Lawn Food Plus Iron and Winterizer in 5000 Square Foot Bags for

$89.00

(Regular price without program special is $100.96) 

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Now through May 3, 2015 - Visit our garden center for a

$10.00 In-Store Rebate

When you buy a complete set of 4 bags
of the Fertilome 4-Step Lawn Program.

Ask for details at our checkout counter.

One rebate per household. Must purchase 4 bags of the Fertilome lawn program.
Not good with any other sale, coupon or discount or on previous purchase.

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Espoma Organic Lawn Food 

 

Espoma Organic Weed Preventer (1250 sq. ft.) $39.99

Espoma Organic Spring Lawn Booster (5000 sq. ft.) $34.99

Espoma Organic Lawn Summer Revitalizer (5000 sq. ft.) $34.99

Espoma Organic Lawn Fall Winterizer (5000 sq. ft.) $34.99

 

Espoma Organic Lawn Product Special: 

 

Purchase the above four bags together at

$119.00 

 (A savings of $25.96!)

  

Hillermann's Farmers' Market

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

Come browse the vendor booths for locally  

grown and hand made products.

 

       Visit the Pot Shop in the Garden Center at Hillermann Nursery & Florist. Watch the artists at work creating one of a kind hand made pottery and browse our finished pieces! Come see the new Fairy Houses in progress they will be finished in a couple of weeks. Visit us during Hillermann's Ladies' Night Out on Thursday, April 9 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. You can decorate your own pottery plate for $5.00 during this event!

For more information,

call Carol at (636)221-5593 or Noreen at (636)584-3169

or send us an email to potshopathillermann@gmail.com.