January Gardening

January is usually a fairly quiet month in the garden. Peek planting time is still a few months away, and colder winters temperatures have most of us preferring to stay inside with a good book or movie instead of working outside in the yard. Now is a great time to curl up with the many plant catalogs that may be arriving in your mailbox this time of year. Make some plans. Start a gardening journal, if you haven't already, and fill it with designs for new planting beds and plants you'd like to try out this spring. Make note of what has worked for you in the past, and what hasn't. Then, when the time is ready, you will be that much ahead of the game. Even though January is not a prime planting time, we have been blessed so far this year with an extremely mild winter. So much so, that if you haven't yet put in all the trees and shrubs you were wishing to this past fall, it's not too late to do so now. As long as the ground isn't frozen, go ahead and plant now. Be sure to regularly water your new transplants to help them get established and build strong root systems before the heat of next summer kicks in. Give them a 3-4" layer of mulch around their roots to help protect them from the elements, too.

Here's a few other gardening tips for the month of January.

Care for Your Bulbs

If you're going to be preparing a new border for bulbs, now is a good time to mix compost, lime, or other soil amendments into the bed. Don't dig if the soil is too wet and clings to your shovel. If that's the case, wait a few days for the soil to dry out some first.

If a few warmer days of winter have produced new shoots from your bulbs to appear, don't worry. The leaves are quite cold tolerant and don't require any special protection. If they are damaged, expect new leaves to emerge later.

Do maintain a blanket of mulch at the feet of your bulbs. Without it, repeated freezing and thawing of the ground can lift the bulbs out of the ground, leaving them to dry out or be harmed by the cold.

Lawn Care

Lawns usually require little care at this time of year. Keep your eye out for winter annuals popping up, such as common chickweed and henbit, and hand-pull as necessary. To reduce winter damage, avoid walking on a frozen lawn. And although this is not peek planting time, sod can be installed anytime the soil isn't frozen. Newly sodded areas should be moist for the roots to "take". Water immediately after sodding to wet the soil to a depth of 3 or 4 inches. Don't let the soil dry out until the sod has "knitted" into the soil.

Do not fertilize at this time.

If mowing is necessary, remove no more than one-third of the grass height. Now is a great time to get the blades on your mower sharpened and ready for spring.

Pruning

Except for the removal of dead, damaged, or diseased branches, avoid any major pruning until after the coldest part of winter has passed. Pruning now will stimulate new growth which can yet be damaged by harsh winter weather. Before you prune out a limb that looks dead, scrape the bark and look at the underlying tissue. A green layer indicates live tissue.

If you haven't already pruned your ornamental grasses back, wait a bit longer. As long as they haven't been damaged by weather, wind, ice, or snow, just enjoy their glorious winter foliage.

These few winter gardening tips should help keep your yard in good shape for now. Next time I'll be back with tips on starting your perennial, vegetable, and herb seeds indoors for transplant later. Until then, for all your planting and care tips, remember that our friendly experts are on hand seven days a week with answers for all your gardening questions.

Small Business Saturday

Mark your calendars for a very special event this Saturday, November 26th.  It's the second annual Small Business Saturday, sponsored by American Express. Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. And we could not be more excited! Not only are we a small independent business our self, but Garden Supply Company is also proud to support many small businesses with the beautiful products we provide to you. From the freshest plant materials we bring in from small local growers, to the hand-crafted and one-of-a-kind gifts and home decor from craftsmen and artisans across the country that fill our Greenhouse, we strongly believe in building a strong community by keeping things Small.

Shop Small and Get $25 Back

American Express wants to help you make a difference. Get a one-time $25 statement credit when you register an eligible American Express Card and use that card for a purchase of $25 or more at a small business on November 26th. Visit the Small Business Saturday Facebook page to find out more and get your card registered to take advantage of this special offer.

Why Shop Small?

So what's the advantage to shopping Small? Besides supporting your friends and neighbors, keeping your money circulating within your own community has multiple benefits that affect us all. According to statistics on the 3/50 Project website, for every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a nation chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.

So if you head out shopping this Saturday, we hope you will think of us, along with all the other fabulous small businesses in our community. Pledge to shop Small on November 26. If millions of Americans shop Small, it will be huge.

A Change of Season

At this point in time, all the kids have once again returned to school in Wake County, and if you're anything like me, your thoughts are starting to turn to the change in season. Seems like hints of fall are definitely making an appearance. I've noticed a few leaves starting to turn, a slight crisp feeling to the air, and darkness coming a little bit earlier each evening.

Fall is one of our favorite times of year at the garden center. This is a great time of year to plant new plants, or transplant crowded older plants in the landscape. We have lots of fresh plant materials in stock now for all your fall planting needs, with more arriving weekly. Now is a great time to put in new trees and shrubs, as well as perennials and ornamental grasses. We also have cool season veggies in stock, plus a fresh supply of herbs that will get you through until winter. Planting now will help your tender new plants get firmly established before the heat of next summer sets in.

Besides lots of new plant materials, we also have plenty of exciting new home decor and gift items in the Greenhouse for the upcoming change of season. Halloween, one of my all-time favorite holidays of the year, has hit the shop. Here's a peek at just a few of the new goodies we have for you down at Garden Supply Co.

This is truly just a peek of what's in store for you! Come on over to visit us, and see for yourself!

Summer Gardening Tips- Those Pesky Weeds

Cary, NC Gardening during the hot summer months can be challenging, to say the least. Soaring temperatures and high humidity often make even a brief trip out to the mailbox an unpleasant experience, let alone thinking about working out in the yard. Even though it's still perfectly OK to be putting in new plants right now, providing you can be on hand with plenty of water to help them get established, planting may not be on your current to-do list. But if you can stand to spend a few minutes outdoors, either in the early mornings or late evenings, I have a few basic care tips for the summer months that will help keep your yard in tip-top shape.

Keep Those Weeds Under Control

Summer in our area seems to be the magic switch to bring on the weeds.  Sauna-like conditions brought on by heat and humidity, while wilting people and garden plants alike, tend to trigger rampant, tropical rainforest-type growth from those pesky weeds. Besides making your planting beds look bad, all those weeds actually have a detrimental effect on the rest of your plants by stealing much needed nutrients and water from the ground. And during hot and tough times like these, your plants don't need the competition. So start pulling weeds out of the flower beds. If they get a foothold, weeds will be tough to control.  Pull them out by hand or lightly hoe them, and then suppress their emergence with a layer of mulch.

Prune those leggy annuals

With the approach of midsummer, many annuals may go into a slump and start to decline. Flowers may become sparse and the plants may look ragged. This condition is most likely due to high nighttime temperatures, and is a common problem with many plants. Trimming back your plants will keep them bushy and encourage the formation of new flowers. Remove spent blossoms on annual flowering plants as often as possible. This encourages further flowering rather than seed production.

Helpful Hint

Self-cleaning flowers save time and work in the garden by dropping dead blooms, thus requiring no trimming or deadheading. Among them are ageratum, cleome, gomphrena, impatiens, New Guinea impatiens, pentas, wax begonia, and narrowleaf zinnia.

Fertilizing

Annual beds can use a boost right about now, especially where the soil is sandy or the season has been rainy. Apply slow-release fertilizer for maximum benefit with minimum effort. For a quick but brief response, water plants with a liquid fertilizer such as 20-20-20. Fertilize each plant to encourage root and stem growth. This should encourage your annuals to bloom until they are killed by freezing weather.

Planning

And lastly, if you're going on vacation this month and will be leaving your garden for a week or more, make plans to have someone take care of your plants while you are away. To make things easier for the caregiver, group plants in containers together near a water source and out of the afternoon sun. Grouping them will help conserve water, and shade will help reduce the need for water.

Hope these tips help you maintain a beautiful and healthy garden this summer. Remember, our friendly experts are on hand seven days a week to answer all your gardening questions and needs. Have a great summer, and we hope to see you all soon down at Garden Supply Co!

4th of July Flair

Summer is in full swing, and in just a few short days the 4th of July will be here, marking our country's 235th birthday. For many of us, that means barbecues and picnics, family gatherings, and fireworks.  A time of celebration for us all!

Here at Garden Supply Company, we have all your holiday home and garden decor needs covered. Whether you are hosting this year's gathering and are looking for unique table accessories, patio lights, or small favors for the kids, or would simply like to add some festive charm to your home, we have the special pieces you are looking for.

For truly unique and beautiful patriotic decor, let Garden Supply Co. be your holiday headquarters. We're here to make this 4th of July one to remember.

From all of us at Garden Supply Co, we wish you a very happy and safe 4th of July! Like you, we will be celebrating and spending the day with our families, so be sure to stock up on all your party supplies by Sunday, the 3rd. And then we'll see you once again on Tuesday morning.

Happy Holiday!

Signs of Summer

Hibiscus- Cary, NC

Take one or two steps out of doors these days, and the evidence is clear.  Temperatures are soaring, school is out for many, and vacation plans are in the air. And with all the gorgeous blossoms and blooms everywhere you look in the garden center, in every hot color of the tropics, there can be no confusion. Summer is here!

Just take a walk around the nursery, and you are sure to see your favorite summertime bloomers in their full glory. In the shrub department, the gardenias, viburnums, butterfly bush, spirea, and hydrangeas, just to name a few, are in their peak of beauty. The annual tables are resplendent in every color of the rainbow. And the perennials just can't be missed.

Whatever says summer to you, from sunflowers and zinnias, to coneflowers and daylilies, we have a gorgeous selection to chose from. And we're still receiving fresh shipments every week to ensure that we can offer the highest quality plants available.

Although summer's heat has definitely kicked in, it's still ok to keep planting annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs at this time. Just be sure to be on hand with plenty of water during the plants' critical establishment period.

Summer never looked better! Stop by and let us help you get the summer garden of your dreams.

See you all soon!

In the Spotlight- Endless Summer Hydrangea

Cary, NC- Endless Summer "The Original" Strolling through the garden center on any given day is an absolute delight with all the beautiful fresh plants that are arriving daily and the blazing color of the tons of blossoms. The nursery is a veritable rainbow of color right now. This week, I couldn't help but be absolutely captivated by the hydrangeas in full bloom. In particular, Endless Summer  "The Original" hydrangeas completely stole my heart. If you're looking for an unusually hardy, repeat blooming hydrangea, look no further than Endless Summer.

Endless Summer "The Original" is a macrophylla hydrangea, which has the unique characteristic of blooming on both the current season’s growth as well as old growth, providing the advantage of a longer bloom period. Researchers at the University of Florida found that Endless Summer Hydrangeas flowered on average 10 to 12 weeks longer than other hydrangea macrophyllas. The plants also have the ability to flower in cooler climates because they don’t need last season’s growth to produce new blooms.

The repeat blooms of Endless Summer "The Original" truly offer gardeners an endless summer of incredible color. This hardy plant is perfect for everything from foundation planting to container gardening. And with their up to 9-inch blossoms, they even make an ideal floral arrangement or table setting as cut flowers.

Speaking of color – that's also one of the remarkable aspects of this plant. You can alter the color from blue to pink. Simply alter the pH of your soil from acid, for blue blossoms, to alkaline for pink. Regular deadheading of spent blossoms will help prolong your blooming period.

Any way you look at it, Endless Summer "The Original" would make a stunning addition to your summer landscape. Stop by the garden center and let our friendly experts help you get started.

A Mother's Day Garden

Cary, NC Last year on Mother's Day, I was fortunate enough to have my mom visiting from California. Since we live on opposite coasts, you can imagine that this was a rare and special occasion for us to be together on this day. As a matter of fact, I can't remember the last time we were able to spend a Mother's Day with each other. So to mark this one-of-a-kind event, I told Mom we could do anything she wanted to celebrate. Shopping, theater tickets, a concert, you name it. What did she choose? A day at Garden Supply Company, picking out new plants to create a Mother's Day Garden in my bare back yard.

Here's a little bit of detail about it. We were working with a border up against the back foundation of my house.  The area receives a bit of morning sun, but for most of the day, this zone is in the shade.  So step one was to head to the shade plant area at Garden Supply Co, where there are so many gorgeous plants to choose from.  We decided on Hostas as our main focus. Hostas are extremely popular, hardy herbaceous perennials grown primarily for their beautiful foliage. They are easy to grow, shade-tolerant plants. Leaves come in a wide range of shapes, colors, sizes, and textures and may be solid in color or variegated in different combinations of blue, green, white, and gold. The plants are low maintenance and with the huge selection of choices at Garden Supply, your options are boundless.

After weighing all the choices, we decided to go with a variety of hostas in a chartreuse-green color palette.  Chartreuse foliage is highly visible, even from a distance, and brings light to low-light areas. Choosing a variety of cultivars brings some interest to the border, while sticking to a chartreuse color palette unites the border into a cohesive planting. Here is what the area looked like before we got started.

Our hosta selection included: Great Expectations, Stained Glass, Atlantis, Fragrant Bouquet, Guacamole, and Sum & Substance.  We then decided on a few companion plants for our border to add more depth and interest, sticking to the shade area plantings at the garden center. We paired the hostas with the dark purple foliage of the ‘Plum Pudding’ Heuchera (Coral Bells) which do well in sun or light shade, and the light and airy foliage of the ‘Cinnamon’ Fern.  The contrast of these 3 plants provides a ton of visual interest.

For my 20-foot border, we selected 9 hostas, 3 coral bells, and 4 cinnamon ferns. Allowing for adequate planting space, this was the perfect number of plants to fill the area.

Now, one year later, I don't have my mom to celebrate Mother's Day with. But I have my garden. And that means the world to me.

To all you wonderful women out there, a very happy Mother's Day to you from all of us at Garden Supply Co!

In the Spotlight- Itoh Peonies

Cary, NC- Cora Louise Itoh Peony Spring is in full bloom at Garden Supply Co. Everywhere you look you'll find lush, beautiful plants and flowers, full of color and vibrancy. And although everything is lovely this time of year, I'm always keeping my eye out for the latest and greatest arrivals to the garden center. This week, what really caught my attention were the Itoh Peonies from Monrovia. These plants definitely make my Top 10 gift-giving list for Mother's Day this year. Here's why.

Considered an old-fashioned flower, peonies have long been a favorite spring-blooming plant, prized for their large showy blossoms, light aromatic fragrance, and lush green foliage. Although reminiscent of Grandmother's garden, peonies remain extremely popular with gardeners today. Those who admire the colorful and exotic flowers of tree peonies, put prefer the perennial growing cycle of its herbaceous counterpart, will love the Itoh peonies. This plant is a cross of an herbaceous peony with a tree peony. The cross combines the best traits of both parents, namely great vigor, large distinctive flowers, strong stems, and long lasting blooms.

Itoh peonies resemble tree peonies with a domed, vigorous growth habit and large double flowers with disease-resistant lacy, dark green foliage. Like herbaceous peonies, the Itoh hybrids are winter dormant providing decades of enjoyment in the garden. Itoh peonies can provide up to 50 blooms in a single season due to their ability to produce primary and secondary buds. They will grow two to three feet tall and wide. They offer an increased color range, greater vigor, and excellent resistance to peony blight.

The Cora Louise Itoh Peony, seen above, has large semi-double flowers that open a pale pink, quickly fading to white with striking dark lavender flares. The blooms have a soft pleasing scent and are a wonderful addition to any spring bouquet. This variety can produce up to 50 blooms in a single season and will grow 24 to 32 inches tall and wide.

Kopper Kettle Itoh Peony

'Kopper Kettle' has large eight-inch, copper-orange, semi-double flowers with a darker center and occasional yellow streaks in the petals to add to the beauty of these blooms. With its distinct flower color and handsome dark green foliage, this brilliant beauty is a showstopper! Hurry, as only a few Kopper Kettles are left in stock.

Yumi (Beauty) Itoh Peony

This large, double flower, measuring seven to eight inches, is spectacular with its masses of clear yellow petals forming a perfect flower with a light and very pleasant fragrance. Blooms are held on strong stems just above a compact mound of dark green, trouble-free foliage. Plant is very hardy and prefers full sun to dappled shade. Excellent dark green foliage, it lasts well into autumn.

Looks absolutely stunning when paired with the double blossoms of this 'Multi Blue' Clematis.

And lastly, we have Keiko (not pictured). The large, semi-double to double flowers measure up to six inches and are held on strong stems above a compact mound of 24 to 30 inches tall and wide, dark green foliage. As the flower matures, the dark lavender pink petals slowly fade to a soft pink, revealing a cluster of yellow stamens in its center. The flower is lightly fragrant. Prefers full sun to dappled shade.

And there you have one of my Top 10 picks for Mother's Day this year. Stop by the garden center and let our friendly experts help you pick the gift Mom is sure to love. See you all soon!

Earth Day 2011

Tomorrow, April 22nd, marks the 41st anniversary of Earth Day, an annual effort to raise public awareness about the environment and inspire actions to clean it up. This year's celebration theme is titled "A Billion Acts of Green",  an effort to encourage everyone to do something small but sustainable in their own lives to improve the planet's health. To help you get started, here's a few simple ideas of things you could do around your own home that can make a real difference.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Making a simple switch from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs will save energy and reduce the cost of your power bills. Compact fluorescents give the same amount of visible light, use less energy, and last longer than incandescent bulbs. And although the initial cost of compact fluorescents are higher, typical usage will save on average $40 in electricity costs over the lamp's lifetime.

Plant a Tree

The simple act of planting a tree not only beautifies the landscape, it offers many environmental benefits as well. Trees improve our air quality by filtering harmful dust and pollutants such as ozone, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide from the air we breathe. Trees also lessen the amount of storm water runoff, which reduces erosion and pollution in our waterways and may reduce the effects of flooding. And many species of wildlife depend on trees for habitat. Trees provide food, protection, and homes for many birds and mammals. Not only that, trees provide the oxygen that we need to breathe.

Compost

Composting offers the obvious benefits of resource efficiency and creating a useful product from organic waste that would otherwise have been landfilled. Compost is a soil amendment that can be incorporated into garden soil to help it retain moisture and nutrients. It improves the texture of problem soils and encourages the growth of microorganisms that maintain plant and soil health. And perhaps best of all, it's a free and easy way to dispose of organic waste, which decreases trash pickups and landfill usage.

Organic Landcare

Each year, thousands of tons of harmful chemicals are dumped onto neighborhood lawns, and  into our water systems from lawn care companies in an attempt to keep our grassways green and weed free, with varying degrees of success. In an effort to reduce chemical wastage and over-use, Garden Supply Co.'s newest sister affiliate, Leapfrog Landcare offers a safer, more environmentally friendly approach. Leapfrog Landcare believes strongly in sustainability and supporting your local community. The majority of the products we use are produced locally and are organic. Like you, we would rather have our family hanging out on a chemical free lawn. Leapfrog Landcare is pleased to provide Compost Tea treatments, the best natural soil amendment on the planet for our local soils.

What is Compost Tea?

One of the biggest problems for lawns, trees and shrubs is normally overlooked and never truly treated. That is the soil structure. Compost Tea is an amendment that instantly goes to work balancing your soil structure and feeding your plants by releasing millions of microbes into your soil. Not only does it feed your plants, but it also causes the roots to grow deeper, which helps them become more drought tolerant. Check out this video for a look at what we do. And Happy Earth Day everyone!

Newsletter vs. Journal- Get Garden Supply Co. News

So you'd like to keep up to date with all the latest happenings at Garden Supply Co. but are feeling a bit confused as to which subscribe option to choose from on the website? Should you subscribe to the Newsletter? Or subscribe by email to the Journal? Or perhaps both? Let us help you decide. Newsletter-

For those of you familiar with Deb's traditional newsletter via email that many of you have been receiving for years, this may be the option for you. Subscribing to the Newsletter will allow you to receive periodic emails from Deb regarding sales, special events, and happenings at Garden Supply Co. Each Newsletter contains the highlight of events at the garden center, including special discounts and coupons.

Please note that if you were already on our email list from before we switched the website over last summer, there is no need to sign up again.

Journal-

For those interested in more detailed information from us, the Journal might be the option for you. The Journal functions like a traditional blog and contains news features and articles on things like new plant arrivals, gardening tips, plant care, planting guides, as well as events at Garden Supply Co.

Take a peek at our Journal to see what it's all about.

And then sign up for either option, or both, on the right-hand sidebar of our website.

Herbs & Vegetables

Cary, NC Spring has sprung down at Garden Supply Company. Throughout the garden center you'll find beautiful, fresh flowering perennials, annuals, shrubs and trees. And for all you herb and vegetables gardeners out there, we've got a huge selection of new plants just for you.

Herbs:

Catnip Chives- garlic Cilantro Curry Dill Fennel Lemon Balm Lemongrass Oregano Parsley- curled, & Italian Rosemary- prostrate, Tuscan blue, Logan's big blue, & hill hardy Rue Sage- Berggarten, & cooking Salad Burnett Spearmint Stevia Thyme- silver, golden-edged lemon

Also in stock are eversweet, everbearer strawberries, in both baskets and smaller pots.

Vegetables:

Arugula Beets Cabbage- solid blue, pak choi Chinese cabbage, early Jersey Wakefield, red, & early flat dutch Cauliflower Celery Endive French Sorrel Kale- red Russian Leeks Lettuce- new red fire, iceberg, red butterhead, buttercrunch Mustard Greens Scallions Spinach Swiss Chard

Now's a great time to start your herb and vegetable garden! Our experts are on hand seven days a week to help. Hope to see you soon.

Valentine's Day Gifts

Cary, NC Don't forget that Valentine's Day is just a few short days away. This year, why not surprise the ones you love with beautiful, blooming live plants, and give a gift that will keep on giving well beyond Valentine's Day.

We all could use a burst of sunshine right about now to get us through these last few weeks of winter chill, and what better way than with our lovely selection of blooming plants. We have many different beauties to choose from including daffodils, hyacinths, and gerber daisies.

There's kalanchoe and cyclamen, too.

Or for a more tropical look, try any one of these. Or perhaps two or three.

And if you need a finishing touch, we can help there, too. We offer complimentary gift wrapping on all purchases. We would be happy to help you put together a container planting, and we can even help you pot your new plants in a decorative container, all ready for that special someone. Don't forget that we have gift certificates, too, in any amount, for those hard to shop for folks on your list. So stop by and let us help you pick that perfect gift.

From all of us at Garden Supply Company, we wish you and yours a very sweet Valentine's Day!

Winter Gardening- Terrariums

Winters are often cold and long here in North Carolina. With chill temperatures outside, many of us are snuggling up indoors with gardening plans and books to keep us company, while we dream about the spring flowers and lush gardens we hope to see again soon. Spring feels like a million years away. But there is a way to bring the outdoors in, even in the harshest winter weather. You can have an instant garden, bursting with fresh greenery and flowers, by starting a terrarium in your home today.

Terrariums are a lot of fun to put together and are very easy to do.   Anybody can do it. And the best part? There are really no rules. Just pick out a container, some plants and accessories, and you are ready to go. Now that's my kind of project!

Terrarium gardening was first discovered in the 1830 by a scientist who accidentally discovered he could keep plants alive indefinitely enclosed in glass containers. Since then, terrariums have ebbed and flowed in popularity over the years, reaching a peek in the 1960's and 70's, mainly as home science projects. Today, terrarium gardening remains as popular as ever.

So, what exactly is a terrarium?

A terrarium is any closed environment containing plant life, where the condensation of water creates a completely self-watering system. You can create miniature versions from canning jars or old fish bowls, or larger ones using apothecary jars, cloches, or specially designed glass and wrought iron pieces. We have many beautiful terrariums to choose from in the Greenhouse.

Once you've selected your container, the fun begins. You can add soil and plants directly into your container, or you may choose to keep plants in pots. Either way works just fine. Remember, there really are no rules. After you've added the plants, dress your terrarium up with accessories.

Small statuary and rocks work well. Miniature garden furniture, fences, arbors, tools, and animals are fun whimsical additions. There are so many accessories available on the market today, made especially for terrarium gardening. You'll love our selection of new goodies in the Greenhouse.

You want an instant cure for the winter blah's? Try a terrarium garden. It's a little bit of fun and a whole lot of spring, all rolled into one.

Cary, NC

Gift Giving Guide- Under $50

Cary, NC Christmas is only 2 days away, and if you are still looking for those last minute gift ideas, come pay us a visit at Garden Supply. We'll be open until 3 pm on Christmas Eve and our elves are here to help with those final gift selections. Here are a few of my favorite gifts under $50.

Patience Brewster Inc. collector ornaments add a touch of fun and whimsy to the holidays. Young and old alike will delight in these playful keepsakes.

For a touch of elegance to the holidays, these gold and glass globes, reminiscent of Faberge Eggs, are sure to be a hit.

Those with a natural, rustic flair may enjoy these metal decor pieces.

Or this lovely iron votive holder.

Or some of our ornate iron candlesticks. We have many styles to choose from, along with a large selection of pillar candles, including battery operated flame-less varieties.

The wine enthusiasts on your list will love these unique Knobstoppers, crafted with a hardwood reinforced cork and shaft for durability.

Nature lovers will enjoy one of our table-top water fountains, or this ceramic bird bath.

Or perhaps these rustic yet elegant wooden garden signs.

We also have a large selection of home decor pieces for under $50, including artwork, photo frames, wall frames, and clocks.

We hand select each item in our Greenhouse in order to bring you the finest quality specialty items available. Many of our items have been hand-crafted by artisans across the country. If you're looking for truly one-of-a-kind items, stop in a pay us a visit. Don't forget that we offer gift certificates and free gift wrapping, too.

Happy holidays from all of us at Garden Supply!

Breakfast with Mrs. Claus

Cary, NC

If you missed the previous two Saturdays of Breakfast with Mrs. Claus, not to worry. We still have one more visit planned with the jolly old lady this upcoming Saturday, December 18th. Join us at 9 am for continental fare breakfast, followed by story time and photos with Mrs. Claus.

Be sure to bring your cameras to capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments and any letters to Santa that your kids would like to pass along.

This year, we would like to start a holiday tradition with you. Come pick out a special family ornament for your holiday tree from Garden Supply. We have so many beautiful styles to choose from, from classical and elegant, to fun and whimsical. For every ornament that you purchase, now through December 18th, you will receive a ticket for one free ride on our friendly Garden Supply Company ponies, Ginger and Snap. The ponies will be at the garden center on Saturday, from 11-3.

We will also have free face painting at that time.

Breakfast with Mrs. Claus is a free event, however registration is required. Please call Garden Supply Company at 919-460-7747 for reservations.

DATE:

Saturday December 18th

Breakfast at 9 am followed by story-time and photos

Pony rides available with ornament purchase from 11-3

Free Face painting from 11-3

Hope to see you all there!

Deal of the Night- Sunday December 5th

Cary, NC Shop late with us tonight during our extended holiday hours. We'll be open one extra hour, until 6 pm. And for an extra treat today, shop tonight and save 20% off your entire purchase from 5 'til 6 pm.

That's 20% off everything, for one hour only. We'll see you then!

Gift Giving Guide- Under $25

December is here, and the gift-giving season is well underway. Time for the magic and sparkle of the holidays, along with the accompanying hustle and bustle of the parties, shopping, and activities this month. We, at Garden Supply Company, are here to make your holiday planning a little easier. If you're looking for special and unique gifts, we've got you covered. Take a peek at these great gift ideas from our Greenhouse, all for under $25.

Bertie County Peanuts brings you a wide array of holiday treats and tidbits, perfect for just about everyone on your list. There are yummy dessert varieties like the hand-dipped chocolate and chocolate pecans, as well as delicious, spicy blister fried, or sea salt and black pepper and lightly salted.

These festive bottle brush wreaths will bring a vintage flair to any holiday decor.

Or how about this vintage snowman by Penny McAllister for a bit of vintage fun?

For the gardeners on your list, how about some of our lovely PaperWhites and Amaryllis bulbs? We have a large selection of colors and styles to choose from.

More holiday decor gift ideas.

Danielson Designs magnetized mini book crops- excerpts from vintage literature and timeless lyrics.

Because of You small and medium magnetized frames along with mix and match sayings, phrases, and quotes. The perfect personalized gift.

Season's holiday "lights in the night" night-lights.

And for a great stocking stuffer, be sure to pick up some of these holiday specs for a fun 3-D view of Christmas lights.

These are just a few of our fabulous gifts for under $25. For more great ideas, be sure to check out our Gift Guide for under $10. And then stop by Garden Supply and let our friendly elves help you select the perfect gifts this holiday season.

Breakfast with Mrs. Claus

Join us in December for one of our favorite Garden Supply Company holiday traditions, breakfast with Mrs. Claus. Mrs. Claus will be with us all three Saturdays leading up to Christmas Saturday. The festivities begin at 9 am with a continental fare breakfast followed by a special story-time with Mrs. Claus herself.

Be sure to bring your cameras to capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments and any letters to Santa that your kids would like to pass along.

This year, we would like to start a holiday tradition with you. Come pick out a special family ornament for your holiday tree from Garden Supply. We have so many beautiful styles to choose from, from classical and elegant, to fun and whimsical. For every ornament that you purchase, now through December 18th, you will receive a ticket for one free ride on our friendly Garden Supply Company ponies, Ginger and Snap. The ponies will be available from 11-3 all three Saturdays. We will also have free face painting at that time.

Breakfast with Mrs. Claus is a free event, however registration is required. Please call Garden Supply Company at 919-460-7747 for reservations.

Dates:

Saturday December 4th Saturday December 11th Saturday December 18th

Breakfast at 9 am followed by story-time and photos

Pony rides available with ornament purchase from 11-3

Free Face painting from 11-3

Hope to see you all there!

Gift Giving Guide- Under $10

Cary, NC- Holiday Elves, under $10

The holidays are swiftly approaching and that means gift giving season is upon us once again. Time for all of us to be making our lists and checking them twice. If you're anything like me, this time of year is both joyous and magical, but a little overwhelming at the same time. With so many things on the to-do list in the upcoming month, gift shopping can seem like a monumental task. The friendly elves at Garden Supply are here to help. We have fabulous gift ideas for every budget and everyone on your Christmas list this year.

Here is a great list of gift ideas for $10 and under. Perfect for so many people on my list including teachers, bus drivers, hairdressers, neighbors, friends, the mailman, and stocking stuffers, just to name a few.

These painted metal bells are adorable decor for anywhere, and look wonderful as ornaments in a tree.

Metallic bottle brush trees add a charming vintage flair to holiday decorating.

These battery operated mini figures come in many different styles and are perfect for the children on your list.

Votive holders are always popular choices for gift giving, and we have many to choose from. Here are just a few.

Tyler Candle Company puts out an array of wonderful home products including scented lotion, wash, room fragrance, and candles. They have seasonal scents for the fall and winter seasons that are out of this world. There is a range of prices on these products, including under $10.

These graphic black and white wooden plaques come in many different quotes, perfect for everyone on your list. There are different sizes in varying price ranges. The small plaques are under $10.

These are just a few of the many gift and decor items available for under $10. Many of our ornaments are also under $10 and make fantastic gifts. And this year, we'd like to start a family tradition with you. For every ornament that you purchase through December 18th, you will receive one ticket for a free pony ride on our favorite garden center ponies, Ginger and Snap. The ponies will be with us three Saturdays in December, along with a visit from Mrs. Claus herself. Be sure to check out our calendar for full details.

For even more holiday gift giving ideas, stop by the Greenhouse and let us help you select the perfect gifts.