How can you even be thinking about what’s up next? What? Seriously, what’s up? What is what? “Scott, what are you even talking about?”

With the constant Christmas music everywhere I turn, how could I even think about what’s up next? I’m too focused on what I need to do now. But, in the spirit of Christmas past, can we just close our eyes and take a journey about what’s up next?

I fell asleep at my desk the other day and had a dream. Standing in my garden in my pajamas, I dreamed of the Ghost of Gardens Past. I think it was a chapter that didn’t make the book. I think when Charles Dickens wrote it, the publisher cut this part out thinking that this was going to be an epic movie someday in the future.

There I was, standing in the middle of my frigid December garden in my pajamas. The funny things was that I wasn’t even cold standing out in the frost. I was startled by the voice of the motherly Ghost of Gardens Past. The Garden Ghost reminded me that there is a garden here that needs attention. There are things to do, she said to me.

“I don’t understand, Garden Ghost. I have so much to do this Christmas. So much to get done.”

“Yes, you do.”, she replied, “and it’s right here in the garden”.

She reminded me as we walked by the chrysanthemums to cut them down to 6-8″. Mulching and watering and covering frost tender plants is always a safe bet in freezing temperatures. She reminded me to keep an eye on the temperatures and to protect frost tender plants when the temperature falls below 32 degrees. She showed me all the places in my garden where I needed to break the berms down around the plants that held the water from the summer.

She pointed out some staked trees. “You might want to lose some of those ties if they’re bound too tight” she said. “Spring’s around the corner and I’m sure you’ll forget and the ties will tighten up as the tree grows.”

As the Ghost of Gardens Past started to fade away, I panicked and asked, “Is there more I should do in my garden?” She said in a fading voice, “Sharpen and clean and store away your garden tools. You will need them soon to prune dormant shrubs and trees.”

I was suddenly jarred awake and with new vigor ran out to the garden, only to just turn around. It was really cold standing in my pajamas with a pair of clippers in my hand.

So, what’s up next? Lots of things.

You want to create something Christmas cool? Create a unique rustic wood stocking to decorate your front door or mantle for the holiday season. The large recycled wood stocking will be ready for you to paint with a variety of holiday stencils, and to top off with a fresh green swag. All of the materials needed to create your masterpiece is included, as well as hot toddies and treats. Reserve your space now for High-Hand Mercantile’s Rustic Wood Stocking Class:

For Saturday December 9th, click here to sign up.

For Sunday December 10th, click here to sign up.

Seating is very limited, so don’t wait to reserve a seat to learn how to build a festive rustic wooden stocking.

The holiday season is the one season that brings up my childhood memories the most. It’s about family, giving, recognizing those around us and simply being grateful. At High-Hand Nursery, each day is a new day of Fall color as the nursery transitions into Winter.

Screech! Record scratch. Man, did it just get cold quick. I’m still looking for my jackets. The trees are trying to change as fast as they can and I’ve noticed the squirrel at High-Hand Nursery is in overdrive trying to hide its nuts. Can I say that? I think I can. It’s an email.

Anyway, do you know what I miss? One of the indicators of the transition into Fall and the holiday season for that matter, is the first smell of somebody’s wood burning fireplace. There’s something earthy and comforting about a wood burning fireplace. But I’m not smelling it this year. I guess the gas fired inserts have won over. Bummer. I’m grateful to live in a home where I can still have a fire.

High-Hand Nursery is in perpetual motion. Fall is about Spring and Spring is about Summer. That’s how we think of it here. In between, is Winter and Summer. I don’t think much about Winter and Summer. I just know that if I can get through Winter, Spring is on its way. If I can survive Summer, I know Fall is coming.

But a couple things have been happening around here during the summer months. You can say that Santa’s workshop at High-Hand has been in full production throughout the summer in preparation for the High-Hand Nursery holiday.

The elves have been pounding out our metal deer planters in anticipation for, yes you’ve got it, being planted. We can’t seem to stop the yearly migration of the metal deer. It’s something that occurs in nature as they always seem to show up at High-Hand during the holiday season. The metal deer have invaded our greenhouse.

As Fall gives away to Winter, High-Hand Nursery does not stop growing.

As you stroll High-Hand fruit sheds for the perfect holiday find, take a moment and walk through our greenhouse. The greenhouse starts filling up with the plants of Spring. Like I said, Fall gives way to Spring here at High-Hand. Take a moment and pause and breathe in the smell of earth. Ever wonder what earth smells like? Visit the High-Hand greenhouse. Thanks, Santa Lyn.

Besides the smell of a fireplace in the air and the smell of earth in a greenhouse, the yearly migration of geese have come to Maple Rock Gardens for their geese wash. Every year, the geese come by the hundreds and walk through the sprinklers to get ready for their flight south. Rinsing off the summer dirt for maximum lift.

High-Hand Nursery’s gift shop is full. Thanks, Santa Dawnel. Discover the fruits of a year’s worth of finds. It’s not your traditional gift shop. It’s full of unique, handcrafted artisan gifts. The gift shop is truly a must see at High-Hand.

There are many stores and shops at High-Hand Nursery, from handcrafted to repurposed, to one of a kind. Click here to visit and explore the sheds and the shops within.

Santa Claus has become quite savvy when it comes to the internet. There is some conspiracists out there who say Santa Claus is Amazon, because St. Nick is finding it increasingly difficult to travel the world with his reindeer due to local codes and government regulation. I think Santa Claus is actually Amazon. With the polar caps melting, he’s decided to move to the equator. Smart man, Santa Claus.

We have our own Santa Claus at High-Hand.

We, at High-Hand Olive Oil Company are about to roll out our secret holiday gift weapon. Taking a play book out of Santa Claus’ Amazon play book, we are going online with the olive oil store. Don’t be sad. You can still come in and taste all you want for free.

As we put the final touches on our virtual olive oil store, we are very excited about this new adventure. We can ship you your selections lickety split. We will let you know when it is up and running. Just waiting for the final word from Santa Shaun. Thanks, Santa Shaun.

We Flip The Switch

Stroll, shop, eat and drink. Saturday, December 2nd, 10am to 8:30pm, join us for a Victorian holiday. Artists and crafters from around the region will be joining us in the High-Hand fruit sheds.

At 6pm we flip the switch. Our annual tree lighting ceremony will illuminate the nursery.

Dinner will be served in the cafe. I am told that our reservation book is quite full. Don’t be afraid to stop by and ask, however, as things always change.

Dinner will also be served on the following dates:

Friday and Saturday, 8th & 9th.
Friday and Saturday, 15th & 16th
Friday and Saturday, 22 & 23rd

Call High-Hand Cafe for dinner reservations on these special holiday nights. For reservations call (916) 652-2064. You’ll be greeted by Nichole. She’ll tell you to press Extension 2.

There you go. A holiday at High-Hand Nursery.

Stay tuned. There’s more to come.

See you at High-Hand Nursery.

Scott

P.S. Don’t forget about our Guess the Weight of our Big Pumpkin contest. The contest will be over when the pumpkin rots. Kind of fun, huh?

With Halloween 2017 behind us, and Christmas already in the bag according to the big retailers, I’m starting to think about Christmas 2018. Why not? ’17 is in the bag. Time to look at ’18. I’m sorry, but these are majorly sarcastic words. If you read my last email, you’ll understand. Please petition the retailers to not mention Christmas before Halloween. But, just in case you’re a planner and everything has to be planned out, there are only 419 days until Christmas 2018.

Have you ever had somebody whistling a tune, oh, let’s say like the Barbie doll commercial jingle? You know the one – “Here comes Barbie doll.” And then you find yourself as a grown up humming the tune throughout the day. Well, I’m sorry, I probably just stuck Christmas 2018 in your head for the rest of the holiday season.

So, let me help you out. It’s Fall. It’s not Halloween, it’s not Thanksgiving, it’s not Christmas. It’s Fall. And when you’re in the nursery business such as High-Hand Nursery business is, Fall is a really big deal.

“What the caterpillar calls death, the master calls butterfly.” Those of you with a literary bent will know where that phrase came from.

I get to witness this unassuming, basically blah green Japanese Maple that everybody walks by and snubs their nose at it because it’s just a green Japanese Maple. We get to witness great things in the Fall.

We get to see colors change. It’s a caterpillar that nobody notices and it turns into a butterfly that we all stop to look at in wonderment.

There are three Japanese Maples that I think are the best in our region to plant. They are all green and they are all boring. They are all Acer palmatums.

The first maple is Tobiosho. This green maple comes alive in the Fall with vivid scarlet color.

Seiryu – this green maple is a bit of an anomaly. It’s a lace leaf. With bright green leaves throughout the season tipped with reddish tones, it turns into fiery red that is spectacular.

Last, but not least, the Pine Bark maple. Yes, it’s green also. It’s bark is rough like a pine tree turning fiery orange in the Fall.

You may ask why I’m picking on these three maples. They are three maples I have been planting for years. They are the three that are best suited for our hot climate.

Let me step off the trail for a moment and not follow the leader. I don’t care what you hear about these three maples. I’m telling you they can live in full sun quite well. Everybody comes into the nursery wanting a red maple. Fine, but these three maples are spectacular. I highly recommend you give them a shot.

So, let’s play a game buried deep in this email. Here’s the secret phrase. You know how it works. You’ve done it before. “What the caterpillar calls death, the master calls a butterfly.” Say these words and get 20% off a Japanese maple through Sunday, November 5, 2017.

Now, I know this may seem a bit corny, but I got two things accomplished here. I get to learn whose paying attention and I get to entertain myself at the same time.

What’s a Pumpkulent? We will teach you.

November 12, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Cost for the class is $65.00, plus tax per person.

November 12th, click here to sign up.

Mimosas and treats included. Seating is very limited, so don’t wait to reserve a seat to learn how to build a pumpkulent (pumpkin + succulent = pumpkulent).

I don’t know what it is about Fall, but it seems like olive oil is kind of a big deal around Fall. Visit our form of a tap room. With 50,000 olive oils and vinegars to choose from. We are convinced you’ll find the perfect one for our Fall/Holiday season. Okay, it’s not 50,000. It’s many, many, many. I don’t know if that represents a number, but I think you get the point. Click here and we will give you some motivation to come into the store.

High-Hand Olive Oil Company is located by High-Hand Art Gallery, which is just past the High-Hand Flower Market and High-Hand Mercantile store, which in between all of these are other unique shops. Click here to start exploring the fruit sheds.

There you go. Links, clicks and High-Hand.

Looking for something unique this Fall season? Come explore.

See you at High-Hand Nursery.

Scott

P.S. I so want to mention the Christmas event in this email. It’s so against my retail nature not to. I so want to keep up with the big boys, but I’ll hold off and announce it next week. You can, however, read up about High-Hand’s Holiday celebration by, yes, clicking another link.