November Reminders

As we snuggle into the shoulder season between fall and winter, most of you have likely put your gardens to bed and may be thinking about next years garden already. Maybe you’ve walked through our greenhouse and are dreaming of creating your own personal indoor oasis to get you through the winter, and we have some great tropical plants to choose from. Many of you may be ready to haul out all your Christmas décor and get ready for the holidays. Which ever your style, November always seems to be the pause before we kick start and get going again.

During this pause it’s a good time to reflect and remember, for Remembrance Day and to take stock of what you’ve accomplished and what you’d like to accomplish in your gardens and otherwise. Whether you look up at the stars, watch the skies for aurora borealis or just appreciate all you have this November, remember this – our veterans fought to give us the freedoms we enjoy today, let us not take it for granted.

Although things may be quiet on the home front, at Blue Grass things are ramping up for the holidays. The Christmas creep is well under way! The Christmas stores at both of our locations are almost done being set up, with shoppers already scooping up early finds. Our Winter workshops have been posted (Calgary), fresh greens and branches for porch pot creations are arriving, everyone is looking for the yellow blooming holiday cactus and excitement is building. We know it all feels a little early, but it is a modern retail reality.

In your garden, it’s past time to put away the hoses and the tools for the season. We have had some good moisture this fall and with the negative temperatures the soil is starting to freeze. Watch through the winter for prolonged dry periods, pile snow around the base of newly planted trees and shrubs, and water only if needed and not regularly (if soil is frozen solid, you do not need to water). If you accomplished your deep fall watering and mulching prior to now your plant material should survive the winter with little to no problems.

In early fall, shorter days and cooler temperatures cue our plants to take winters rest. Deciduous trees and shrubs will display their fall colours then drop their leaves, which is all part of our seasonal process here in the prairies and foothills and boy have we had a wonderful fall. Gardeners can also hang up their garden hat for a time and can cozy in and enjoy some rest and spend time with family and friends (if able).

We wish you a safe and peaceful winter and look forward to seeing you during the holidays. Thank you from all of us at Blue Grass for a fabulous 2021 garden season!

“In Flanders fields the poppies blow, between the crosses, row on row…”

Lest we Forget, on November 11th we will Remember.