What else is underrated that we can put in the win column? Laughter is underrated — it’s an emotion that is completely contagious while engaging mind and body. Is shelter underrated? It’s argumentatively the most important variable in our life. We rarely acknowledge it. Without shelter what would life be like? Water is liquid gold for our body. Do you ever stop and think about water as you are slamming it down? Grabbing a plate at the buffet line is so satisfying when you realize that you can put unlimited amounts of food on it. This too is underrated. Have you ever been to High-Hand Cafe and lamented over what to order? The feeling of satisfaction after realizing that you have made the perfect choice is very underrated. A deep breath, taking off wet socks and putting on dry ones, and high-fiveing a stranger when you are both in agreement are all underrated.

Is this a class on things that are underrated, no not really. What does this have to do with plants Scott? A lot, I was walking through the nursery the other day when I stopped and looked at a plant and thought “man you are so underrated.”

The plant that we are going to learn about is the common Geranium. I don’t know why it’s not used more often. I think we associate it with grandma’s yard. I associate it with being one of the most idiot proof plants on the face of the earth. If I told you there was a plant that you could forget about, forget to water it, chop it back and it comes back, and is a bloom factory, would that sway your stigma of this being an outdated plant?

Maybe I can entice you into using this plant if you just knew a bit of the facts about it. First of all, the name Geranium is quite a generic name that refers to over 200 species of plants under the family tree of Geraniaceae but don’t worry about that name; here we are talking about Geranium Pelargonium. This is the only species of Geranium that can be consumed. Native to the southern region of Africa, it’s been exported around the world as a wonderful garden addition and a medicinal herb. (Warning do not try this at home.) It is said that the leaves can be brewed into a tea that can have a slight rose hint and is known to create a calming effect. I have not used it myself, but I heard that it lowers stress. A quick cup of tea can relieve an unpleasant mood and a cluttered mind. I hear it relieves pain. Geranium oil is said to relieve pain in minutes. It has antibacterial properties, boosts immunity, aids in digestion, and yes (now I’m talking to the men … here pass this along) treats menopause. There are a list of other benefits, but I’m not going to mention them. Google it — “health benefits of a geranium.” Trust me they are an amazing plant and they have a half life of about 500 years in your garden. Just kidding. They are incredibly long survivors.

How do you care for it?

• Plant in full sun.
• Water as you will, it is very forgiving.
• Deadhead if you want. It is a flower factory.
• And forget about it as I did mine at home.

This is a trailing Geranium I planted about 6-7 years ago. Believe it or not I just rediscovered it after all of this time. It has sat there, froze and come back, it’s been neglected, and I have put zero energy into it. I don’t remember watering it or applying fertilizer. Such a neglectful gardener I am. I rest my case.

We have several colors of geraniums at High-Hand Nursery, come get yours and live long and prosper. You want this plant!

High-Hand Cafe Insider

Only tell your closest friends — High-Hand Cafe will be open for dine-in service May 22nd. It’s a Friday by the way!

We are going to spend the next week educating staff on safety, both yours and ours. Please be patient with us as we open our doors. We are trying to navigate 16 pages of health code requirements. There will obviously be some changes, but we hope to keep your dining experience at High-Hand memorable! As always reservations can be made online by clicking here.

News flash: As we transition back to a “new normal” this will be the last week for our produce boxes. We hope that you have enjoyed them as much as we have enjoyed providing them for you.

Like our curbside? It’s still available!

Here’s how the High-Hand Curbside Marketplace works:

1. Click here to order online or visit our website and click on the banner seen above.
2. Select a time for pick up. We are open for curbside pickup Thursday & Friday 11:00–3:00pm, Saturday & Sunday 10:00–3:00pm.
3. Now here’s the tricky part, toggle our menu options at the top. The menu options are listed as Restaurant, Grocery, Coffee Bar, Beverages, Nursery, and don’t forget the Olive Oil Company.
4. Make your selections then head to check out and pay online. We will have your order ready at your scheduled time in the Cafe parking lot.

Mission Complete

• Six Sutter hospitals
• Five Mercy/Dignity Health hospitals
• Four convalescent homes
• Four medical facilities in the San Joaquin Valley & Vallejo
• Three Kaiser hospitals
• UC Davis Hospital Sacramento
• Six Cal Star Air Medical bases

Thank you to all who emailed in to get involved; it filled our hearts with warmth. Thank you to all the volunteers who prepared Hydrangeas. Thank you to Teichert Corporation, Berco Redwood/Berry Lumber, Livingston’s Concrete, Charge EPC, Ken Dyer Construction, Placer County Treasurer, OK Tires North Highlands, and Bayside Church. Nice job everyone!

Let’s be a kinder humanity; you don’t know what is going on in someone’s life. A random act of kindness could change a persons entire perspective. Be good to people. ENERGY IS CONTAGIOUS.

See you at High-Hand Nursery & Cafe,

Scott

How did we get here?

Every cause starts with an event. This is the first event ever that has polarized the entire world at the same time. When a crisis shows up, the best of humanity shows up. We can’t necessarily control what goes on in the world. As individuals we really don’t have much control over the events in our country as a whole. As individuals we can’t influence what goes on in our own state necessarily, but what we can do is influence our communities. That’s where I choose to focus my energy — in our communities, where we have the most impact. So, how did we get here? It’s amazing to watch humanity fill the needs in an ever changing environment.

Hydrangea’s for Heroes – How it started?

• A guy sitting in his office one Friday had an idea.
• That ideas was “Hydrangeas for Heroes.” (He liked the rhyme to it.)
• Decision made — “Ok, fine let’s go!”
• He worked the weekend to find budded & blooming 8 inch Hydrangeas.
• On a Monday, he made the call to lock in 2,000 hydrangeas.
• Monday afternoon… yikes! How do we do this? (panic set in)
• A call went out to sponsors. (They showed up!)
• He started calling hospitals & convalescence homes to create a protocol on how to distribute.
• Packaging was created.
• More panic! How to keep them watered, how to put on 2,000 stickers, and how to tie 2,000 bows in short order?
• More panic! How much ribbon is this going to take and how to design a sticker with a meaningful message? (All while holding a watering wand.)
• Even more panic! Where to find “sticker stickers” — a person who applies a sticker to a pot, (noun), “bow makers,” and “bow stickers” — people who stick bows onto pots, (noun)?
• Boat loads of panic. How to deliver, swiftly, efficiently, and effectively?

Within a couple days the dust settled. In front of us stood all of you. Amazing! Everybody at High-Hand is grateful. An idea can be born, but in this case the execution of that idea was all of you answering the call to action. An email went out last Wednesday asking for volunteers and within a couple of days we had received hundreds of responses. “I can do bows!”, “I’ll do stickers!”, “We can help load vehicles”, “I would like to be a driver.”

We want to personally say that we are very grateful. You are our heroes.

Look what you accomplished

This is what 1,200 Hydrangeas look like, delivery #1.

You accomplished this in less than 72 hours.

Bow stickers & sticker stickers in action.

Loaders loaded & drivers drove.

Heroes received.

You accomplished this. Your eagerness and your willingness to get involved was not only heart-warming, but also inspiring. For all of you that sent in emails volunteering time and your resources, we are grateful. We were not able to contact all of you. For those we couldn’t respond to, your emails validated everything we always knew about the communities we live in. For all the donors, bow makers, sticker stickers, bow stickers, and drivers — this certainly would not have happened without you. Over the last six weeks a lot in our world has been canceled. Thank you for proving that love wasn’t canceled.

Changes at High-Hand this Week

• We are expanding our hours this week, the Nursery will be open Wednesday thru Saturday 9:00am-5pm and Sunday 9am-4pm.
• The Cafe will be open for curbside take-out Thursday & Friday from 11am-3pm, and Saturday & Sunday from 10am-3pm (for brunch curbside, finally!).

Lunch & Brunch Curbside Pick-Up!

1. Click here to order online or visit our website and click on the banner seen above.
2. Select a time for pick up. We are open for curbside pickup Thursday & Friday 11:00–3:00pm, Saturday & Sunday 10:00–3:00pm.
3. Now here’s the tricky part, toggle our menu options at the top. The menu options are listed as Restaurant, Grocery, Coffee Bar, Beverages, Nursery, and don’t forget the Olive Oil Company.
4. Make your selections then head to check out and pay online. We will have your order ready at your scheduled time in the Cafe parking lot.

This has been a long road traveled in a very short period of time. We have all been under a lot of stress and dealing with the unknown is generally not something we are comfortable with. I feel like a snail slowly coming out of my shell and like the mighty snail, we will get there slowly but surely. This weekend raise a glass to the volunteers, the community, and the heroes all around us.

Have a relaxing Mother’s Day and hope to see you soon,

Scott