Here’s a story that will make you cry. CASA director Ron Bryant told us Saturday about a little girl who had to be removed from her home last Dec. 26. When the CPS and CASA workers asked her if she got anything for Christmas, she replied, “I got a whippin’.”
We were discussing the unfilled angels on the Child Advocates Christmas tree, and how some of these neglected and abused children won’t get much for Christmas. Somehow, the community always comes through with something for these youngsters.
But if you really want to help this holiday season, if you want to give something that will truly make a difference, check into being a volunteer for Child Advocates of Archer, Clay, Montague and Wichita Counties.
CASA volunteers are more than mentor or buddies for children in foster care. They are investigators, counselors, advocates for the child in court, and yes, buddies and mentors. It’s not easy. It requires hours of training and a commitment to spend several hours per month looking after the best interest of children who may not have anyone else in their corner. And it can break your heart.
It can also be the most worthwhile thing you will ever do, for a child and for your community.
This Christmas season, contact CASA at 940-766-0552, and ask about becoming a volunteer. It may just be the best present you’ll ever give.
We thought it would never end! We have been known to complain in the past that we’re having the worst summer ever. This year, it was true, and the statistics prove it!
All over the area we see trees and shrubs that are dead or close to it. If you have plants that are still clinging to life and you want to try to save them, here are some things to try right now:
1. Fall fertilizer will be very important for your trees and shrubs this year. If they are still alive, that means you watered themheavily – and that means all the nutrients have been leached out of the soil. Give them a treatment with Ferti-lome Tree and Shrub food or Smith’s Premium fertilizer. They are already stressed – give them all the help you can to help them face the winter. Continue deep watering every couple of weeks, if we don’t have significant rainfall.
2. Try some Super Thrive. This is a great vitamin and hormone treatment to perk up most any plant. It’s not a fertilizer, so it’s fine to use both a fertilizer and Super Thrive. This product has been around for a long time, and we should use it more.
And if some of your plants are down for the count, we are restocking with fresh trees and shrubs, so come in for help in reviving your landscape.
An article in the Wichita Falls Times Record News last Saturday has led many Wichita Falls residents to conclude they can only water their yards once per month. Our phones at the nursery have been tied up with customers concerned that they cannot water their trees, shrubs and lawns during this severe drought.
Here’s the correct information: The article referred to customers of the Wichita County Water Improvement District #2 — these are customers who use irrigation water from the Improvement District — not customers of the City of Wichita Falls. That article applies to very few people in our area — and you know who you are.
If you live in the City of Wichita Falls, you can still water your yard and garden. You are asked not to water between the hours of 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
As always, watering in the morning is best. It is also best to water less frequently and more deeply. In other words, water for a little longer period two times a week, rather than sprinkling lightly every day. Big trees and established shrubs should be watered with a soaker hose or slow drip irrigation about once a week.
It’s all about the heat and drought. We can’t escape it.
It will be difficult to keep any of your plants looking their best with these extreme temperatures and dry winds. Give some thought to your priorities and try to save the most valuable things in your landscape.
TREES add so much value to your home, that you want to be certain they are getting sufficient water. Most old, established trees can withstand some dry conditions, but this prolonged drought may kill them. They need DEEP watering — the sprinkler system won’t be sufficient.
Turn your hose on at a trickle and lay it down and let it run for HOURS so that it soaks in. Do this about once a week till we get some good rain.
It’s all about the heat and drought. We can’t escape it.
It will be difficult to keep any of your plants looking their best with these extreme temperatures and dry winds. Give some thought to your priorities and try to save the most valuable things in your landscape.
TREES add so much value to your home, that you want to be certain they are getting sufficient water. Most old, established trees can withstand some dry conditions, but this prolonged drought may kill them. They need DEEP watering — the sprinkler system won’t be sufficient.
Turn your hose on at a trickle and lay it down and let it run for HOURS so that it soaks in. Do this about once a week till we get some good rain.
What is a Texas Certified Nursery Professional and why should I care? Although you don’t need to lose sleep worrying over this question, it is a good thing to know, especially at this time of year.
A Texas Certified Nursery Professional is someone who has passed a comprehensive test administered by the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association. The test covers plant identification, pests, plant nutrition, basic landscape design and the proper use of chemicals.
It’s not an easy test – the testing lasts for hours and only 30% of those who take the test pass it on the first try. That’s why we’re particularly proud that seven folks on the staff at Smith’s passed the test the first time around. That means we know our stuff!
This is the time of year when you’ll start to see problems with your turf, your trees, your shrubs and flowers. Sometimes it’s an insect; sometimes it’s a disease; often it’s improper watering.
It’s important to identify the problem correctly. Spraying a lot of insecticide on a plant that has been improperly watered won’t help – it could hurt and it is expensive.
When you have trouble, bring a sample of the affected plant (seal it inside a zip-lock bag, in case it is something contagious) and bring it in to Smith’s. Photos can also be very helpful.
Let one of our TCNP’s help you diagnose and care for your problem plants. We’re more qualified that that guy down the street (no offense, neighbor), or the gardening expert online who may live in Massachusetts (no offense, Mass.).
There is no easy answer to that question, since so many factors come into play. Single-digit temperatures alone can be a big issue, but when you add in the duration of the cold and the fact that soil moisture levels were severely depleted before this event, we could be facing moderate to severe injury to many popular plants.
While I do not believe we will see the type of damage to our landscapes that we saw in the winter of 1983-84, there will probably be significant injury to some of our more tender plants, such as oleanders, gardenias, palms, pittosporums, azaleas, podacarpus, camellias and a few others. And, as we experienced in ‘83, many other plants could have frozen top growth, which can be pruned out this spring after the new growth appears.
Look for this sort of damage on crape myrtles, waxleaf ligustrums, pyracanthas and a few others.
Of course, new plants that have not yet established a good root system will be the most susceptible to damage.
Also, you can expect some perennials that have been reliably coming back for years to succumb to the cold. Look for this type of problem on lantana, ruellias, gerbera daisies and possibly others.
In closing, don’t panic. Wait until spring when you can tell where you need to prune. Many times the damage does not show up until temperatures warm up anyway.
If necessary, take pictures of the damage and bring them to the nursery, and we will be glad to assist you.
PUT OUT FRESH WATER & FEED THE BIRDS DURING THIS COLD WEATHER. COME TO OUR WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED STORE AND STOCK UP ON THE BEST BIRD FOOD IN TOWN!
Smith’s Gardentown Farms was named recipient of the 2011 Torch Award for Marketplace Excellence by the Better Business Bureau of North Central Texas this week.
According to the BBB, the award recognizes businesses that maintain a culture which consistently sets exceptionally high standards of behavior in buyer and seller relationships.
Presentations were made during a ceremony at the Wichita Falls Country Club on Tuesday.
Smith’s and its owner/managers Katherine, Steve and Doug Smith, were recognized for their 60 years of ethical business practices. Judges also cited Smith’s strong programs in place for recycling water, plastic plant pots and trays, and organic material, as well as its commitment to supporting numerous charitable organizations in the community.
An independent panel of judges from the business, civic and academic community evaluated the nominees and selected the winner in each category.
Smith’s was the winner in the Medium Size Business category. Kiwk Kopy was the recipient for the Small Size business category and Ray Cannedy Security & Investigations for the Large Size business category.
We saw both goldfinches and pine siskins at our feeders this weekend. It’s time to stock up on the foods these tiny birds like best — Nyjer (thistle) and small pieces of sunflower meats.
Wild Birds Unlimited’s new Finch Food combines both in a food that can be used in your finch feeders.
Goldfinches are in their winter colors, so they’re easily confused with pine siskins. Pine siskins have more bars (light stripes) on their bodies than the goldfinches, but they will often be seen feeding together.
If you’re lucky, the goldfinches will stick around at your feeders ’til the males change to their brilliant yellow breeding color!
They’ll not only love their new feathered guests, but they’ll appreciate that EcoTough feeders are environmentally friendly, high quality products made from recycled milk jugs. Plus, with a lifetime guarantee you can rest easy that this gift will last through the seasons. With every feeder purchased we’re including a FREE 2 lb. bag of bird feed, so you’ll be giving a complete package for the bird lovers on your list.
If you’re still not sure on what to gift this season, a gift certificate to Smith’s is a sure winner. Gift Cards allow your loved one to choose their own gift ensuring that they’ll get exactly what they want.
There is no easy answer to that question, since so many factors come into play. Single-digit temperatures alone can be a big issue, but when you add in the duration of the cold and the fact that soil moisture levels were severely depleted before this event, we could be facing moderate to severe injury to many popular plants.
Smith’s Gardentown Farms was named recipient of the 2011 Torch Award for Marketplace Excellence by the Better Business Bureau of North Central Texas this week.
