....the birds of the air can perch in its shade. Mark 4: 30-32
Greetings!
"Hello" and "Thank You" for subscribing to our e-newsletter!
As I write this greeting, we just enjoyed one of the most beautiful snowfalls of the entire winter. Though now it is technically "Spring", March is historically one of our snowiest months, as if winter is making a few final pleas not to be forgotten!
As I look at the beautiful snow, I know that the pure whiteness will quickly fade to reveal the accumulated dirt and grime that covers our roads, our lawns and our vehicles. Underneath the purity is an entire winter's worth of filth. Fortunately, the melting snow and the upcoming spring rains will cleanse everything just in time for the new growth to burst forth, reminding us of how beautiful Minnesota can be and why many of us think "Spring" is one of our best seasons of all.
Knowing that this newsletter will arrive in your inbox the first week of April, I can't help but think of Easter, the day we celebrate Christ's risen victory over sin, death and Satan. But, before Easter, comes Maundy Thursday, the day we remember Christ's gruesome death in our place, His payment for the penalty our sin.
As I reflect on my life, I can't help but see my sin as similar to that accumulated winter filth, but oh so much more. When I look back, I see a lifetime worth of dirt and grime that I almost casually dumped on my Lord and Savior. I used to think of sin this way, as really no big deal at all...oh how mistaken I was! Though my sin has been forgiven, all sin has consequences; for me, for my family, and even for innocent bystanders...and all sin separates me from God. Now, as I think of Maundy Thursday, I can't help but cry when I realize the fullness of what Christ did for me, especially when I consider that He died for me while I was still separated from Him, while I was still His enemy...Now that is true love!!! Not many of us would die for someone else, even someone who loves us, but none of us would likely give our life for our enemy, would we? Maundy Thursday is a somber day for me...how about you?
Fortunately for all of us, the somber reflection and the weight of our sin is erased only 3 days later as we celebrate our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!! What a glorious day that was, the day sin's hold on us was broken, the day we were freed from not only it's power, but it's penalty as well! If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the truth is that you no longer have a lifetime of dirt and grime and filth that I just referred to as sin. After we have accepted Christ as our Savior, the moment we confess and repent of our sin, we are made white as snow (Isaiah 1:18), our sins are forgiven and we are purified (1 John 1:19), they are forgotten and removed as far as the east is from the west (Hebrews 10:17, Psalm103:12)... and we have been made perfect in God's eyes as He continues to make us holy! (Hebrews 10:14)
My prayer for you as you read this email is that as you look at the winter filth deposited in your yard, God will give you eyes to see the weight of your sin that Jesus took upon Himself. But I pray that your thoughts won't end there, that they will instead lead to a time of confession and repentance that result in the pure joy of knowing that you have been set free (John 8:32), that the sinful you no longer lives, but rather that Christ lives in you. (Galatians 2:20)
Easter may be celebrated only once a year on the calendar, but I think it ought be celebrated daily in our lives, after all, he whom the Son sets free, he is free indeed!!! (John 8:36)
One more question, and this is the most important question of your life;
Who is Jesus Christ to you?
Carpe Diem for Christ,
Mark Halla
Steward
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Ten Benefits Of Growing Your Own Herb Garden
Why should you go through all the trouble of growing your own herbs when there are plenty of fresh herbs for sale at the market? What is the point to getting all that dirt under your fingernails when you could pull open a plastic package and get the same ingredients? There is more to herb gardening than meets the eye, and the benefits are profound.
Listed here are ten great reasons for growing your own fresh herbs. Once you get started, we're sure you'll come up with a few ideas of your own.
Rinse fish and pat dry. Place in a large baking dish.
Add olive oil to fish and make sure it's well coated.
Add balsamic vinegar to fish, sprinkle chopped herbs on top of the fish. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Marinate for one hour, then put in oven for 15-20 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish. You may need more time if the fish is thick.
TIPS & NOTES
Make Ahead Tip: Prepare through Step 1, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Soaking the onion in ice water for 10 minutes or more renders it less pungent and more crisp.
NUTRITION
Per serving: 302 calories; 19 g fat (3 g sat, 13 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 28 g carbohydrates; 7 g protein; 8 g fiber; 869 mg sodium; 821 mg potassium.
Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (90% daily value), Vitamin C (30% dv), Potassium (23% dv), Folate & Iron (20% dv), Calcium & Magnesium (15% dv).
Spice up your summer flower containers by incorporating herbs! This way you can enjoy both colorful arrangements and herbs in close proximity to your kitchen! Try planting your basil in a part-sun container along with Dragon Wing begonias and trailing Algerian ivy. If you have a full sun location, try a combination of trailing nasturtiums, purple petunias, and oregano with upright rosemary, lavender, and yellow Osteospermum. You'll have a colorful punch of flavorful herbs at your fingertips. - Lauralee
If you have a question or comment please contact our Container Design Specialist, Lauralee Chellen. 952-445-6555 or email her HERE.
You slather it on toast and stir it into smoothies. But did you know that honey is more than a tasty, convenient sweetener? It also contains unique healing properties.
"Honey is great medicine," says naturopathic physician Shidfar Rouhani, N.D., D.C., a professor at Bastyr University School of Naturopathic Medicine in San Diego.
"It's antibacterial and boosts the immune system," he says. "When mixed with other botanicals, it strengthens them too."
Have you checked out OUR website for details about our bees yet? If not, just CLICK HERE.
Time for Trivia
There are three types of bees in the hive:
the queen, workers, and drones.
Without a queen, the colony will eventually die.
The workers are all females and will die if she stings.
The drones' sole responsibility is fertilization.
Question: A honey bee strokes its wings at an amazing speed of ______ times per minute. This contributes to the buzz we hear when it flies. (Make your best guess and try not to Google)
A popular and hardy red-streaked apple with a greenish blush, juicy with good flavor; eating apples are high maintenance and need a second pollinator; the perfect combination of accent and fruit tree, needs well-drained soil and full sun
Ornamental Features:
Sweet Sixteen Apple features showy clusters of lightly-scented white flowers with shell pink overtones along the branches in mid spring, which emerge from distinctive pink flower buds. It has forest green foliage throughout the season. The pointy leaves turn yellow in fall. The fruits are showy red pomes carried in abundance in early fall, which are excellent for fresh eating but which can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways. This variety requires a different selection of the same species growing nearby in order to set fruit. The rough brown bark is not particularly outstanding.
Landscape Attributes:
Sweet Sixteen Apple is a deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.
This is a high maintenance tree that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
Disease
Messy
Sweet Sixteen Apple is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Orchard/Edible Landscaping
Shade
Accent
Plant Characteristics:
Sweet Sixteen Apple will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.
This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments.
This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.
Plant Search
What a cool tool. Check it out!
Find the ideal plants for your landscape and garden needs by searching through our extensive offering of trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, and other plants. You may create your own plant list, print it and bring it into the store to see the wonderful plants you have selected!
Hobbies: Enjoying the outdoors, hunting, fishing, playing in the dirt, spending time with my family up north, and doing anything crafty off of Pinterest.
Food: Any kind of food I can eat with BBQ sauce, ribs, burgers and fries oh my!
Goal This Year: To plan a wedding without going crazy! I also would love to buy a cat for my new apartment.
Whether you're joining us for the first time or coming back for more, here they are:
2 workshops next week to choose from:
Friday April 10th @ 6:30pm
Saturday April 11 @ 10:00am
These workshops will provide you the opportunity to get a jump start on your spring baskets. The workshop will start with a brief talk on the exciting plants from which to choose along with planting advice. Then you will create your own custom hanging basket. The basket options below are common sizes to fit right in most planters, pots or urns. If you'd prefer, you can also easily replant directly into your landscape bed. We will keep them pampered in our greenhouse until May 10th, Mother's Day, so plan to pick them up on or before then. NOTE: For sanitation, disease prevention and due to space constraints, please do not bring in your own containers.
2 options:
12" green plastic hanging basket (hang or drop into your own planter) $45/ea.
Friday April 10 & Saturday April 11 - Plant & Grow Workshops
Saturday, May 2 - Spring Fling * Petting Zoo * Food Trucks * Lots of Fun!
Mark your calendars and come join us for some fun!
The Koi Korner by our Aquaman, Jon
Now is the time to think about cleaning your pond and having our professionals help you do it. Please contact us by April 13th so we can get you on the schedule. If you are interested in more information and perhaps taking a class to better understand water features and maintenance we would love to hear from you! Either way please contact us today.
Time for Trivia
