Collier's Garden Scoop
May 2015
When April steps aside for May,
Like diamonds all the rain drops glisten.
The landscape has emerged from the April showers full of a rainbow of flower colors and the many shades of green of new leaves. And, the sun shines down on us for a change!
The nursery will be at full capacity this month, so there will be plenty for you to discover and create with!

May Hours 
Monday - Saturday 9 to 5:30 
Sunday 1 to 5 



Mother's Day is
Sunday, May 10th

If your Mom loves her garden, she will enjoy a gift, or gift card, from Collier's!
Hydrangeas arrive next week, just in time for Mother's Day!
Combinations We Love
Four combinations to jump-start your gardening imagination...
Many of these plants are available in different varieties & colors,
so you can create your own version, using these as a springboard.

Leafy Delight   
Colorful foliage for those very shady areas that nothing
will bloom in. A riot of color and not a bloom in sight!

Blooms for Shadier Spots
A bloomy mix for a spot that gets 2 or 3 hours of sun,
either early or late in the day (some shade between 11 and 3).

No-Fail Blooms
Good choices for continual blooming with little maintenance beyond watering. All prefer 3 or more hours of sun (can take 6 to 8 if watered consistently).

For the (Humming) Birds, Bees & Butterflies
Attract three wild creatures with one container garden!
These four plants provide the bright color & trumpet-shaped blooms that hummers love and the big, showy flowers that bees & butterflies look for.
Leafy Delight
Caladium
Hypoestes
Sweet Potato Vine
Kong Coleus
Blooms for Shadier Spots
New Guinea Impatien
Green-Leaf Begonia
Torenia
Euphorbia
No-Fail Blooms
Gomphrena
Angelonia
Vinca
Million Bells
For the (Humming) Birds & Bees
Nymph Salvia
Penta
Lantana
Verbena

Two sizes in store:

small (2 sq ft area) medium (3 sq ft area)Perfect for large containers!

Oyas
Irrigating with oyas is a truly ingenious ancient idea that works in the modern garden as well!
Oyas are made of unglazed pottery, and have a bulbous body and narrow neck that prevent evaporation, even in hot weather. Since the pottery is unglazed, water seeps through and into the surrounding soil! Bury the oya, leaving the neck exposed so you can pour water into it. Oyas can be used in large containers when you go out of town, in flowerbeds that are prone to drying out quickly
or in the veggie garden- they are simple, but effective!
Room to Grow
Get Your Kids Into the Garden!

Summer break is creeping up and what better way to keep those little hands busy than to get your kids or grandkids outdoors and gardening!  Spark their imaginations and help them create lasting memories by setting aside a space that can be their very own- whether it's a small flowerbed or a container on the patio.  Here's some ideas to get you started:

Child's-Eye-View     Consider building a small raised bed or let your child select a container they love to make it easy for them to reach and allow them a close-up view of their garden.

Hand Over the Reins     For a child, the smallest amount of independence is a big deal- let them select the plants and pick their favorite colors for the garden.
 
Stimulate the Senses     Encourage your child to enjoy the color, fragrance and textures of the garden.  Help them find unusual blooms, vivid colors, fragrant blooms or foliage and add a few edibles- a pot of tomatoes or peppers or a herb tucked in here and there.

Welcome Wildlife     Help your child discover plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, allow them to develop an appreciation for bees, the hard work they do to pollinate plants, and other beneficial insects in the garden.  Eliminate fear with knowledge- dispel unwarranted fears of harmless insects and teach your child which ones to be wary of.

With Freedom Comes Responsibility     Encourage your child to care for the plants he or she has selected.  Give them knowledge and assistance if needed and remind them that plants are living things that need care and attention.

Several local public gardens offer summer programs especially for children!

Aldridge Gardens Children's Education Program

Birmingham Botanical Gardens Children's Programs

Ruffner Mountain Summer Camps

Visiting state & regional public gardens is another good way to get your kids interested in gardening. Plus, it makes a fun day or weekend road trip!

Bellingrath Gardens     Theodore, Alabama

Dothan Botanical Garden     Alabama

Huntsville Botanical Garden       Alabama

Jasmine Hill Gardens     Montgomery, Alabama

Mobile Botanical Garden     Alabama

Atlanta Botanical Garden     Georgia

Callaway Gardens     Pine Mountain, Georgia

New Orleans Botanical Garden     Louisiana

Cheekwood     Nashville, Tennessee
Be on the lookout for an email and facebook post when the BOGO Cricket hops to a new spot at the nursery- wherever he lands you'll find a
buy 1, get 1 free deal!

Lawn Care Applications for May

Zoysia & Bermuda

Apply fertilome Lawn Food Plus Iron
around mid-May.

Centipede

Apply fertilome Centipede
Lawn Fertilizer 15-0-15
around mid-May
view our lawn care schedules here

New for Spring 2015
 
Tray discount on
Plants That Work pots!
Save $5 for every 10
"Plants That Work"
(light-green) pots you buy, regularly priced $4.99 each.
 
  
 (Discounted pot price is $4.49 each when purchased in increments of 10-
a full tray; full tray regular price is $49.90, discounted tray price is $45).
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Connect with us:
Collier's Nursery 
205-822-3133
2904 Old Rocky Ridge Road
Birmingham, AL 35243