Tis the Season to Start the Season!

The Christmas Season that is! We've been taking advantage of the november lull to get out all of the traditional christmas trimmings. For those of you not in the know, that means decorations, wreaths, John dusting off his Xmas music CD's (though rumor has it he's looking to get a new one this year) and we're also going to be offering roasted chestnuts on weekends and maybe, just maybe, some live music if I can get a friend of mine on board.

Oh! And, of course, christmas trees, christmas trees, christmas trees. They're coming in around the beginning of december and you can be sure we'll have them set up quick for the taking. And if you want to help us clear out space so all of those trees can go up, I recommend coming by and taking advantage of some of our november deals. Trees and shrubs are on sale for 50% off and you can bet that the Japanese maple you buy for $100 and change right now is going to look just as spectacular come may as one you'd pay full price for in April.

And for those of you with kiddies, Story time with Santa (and why do I get the sinking feeling that Pete's going to try and stick me in the suit this year?) and Mrs. Claus will be going on weekends at 12:30 and 1:30.

And that concludes this edition of Greenhouse thoughts. I hope all of you have a nice Thanksgiving, a productive black friday (John can always use a new hat, Pete would love to get a country music collection started, and I'm a 34W 34L and look good in black if anyone's interested) and stop in to at least say hello around Christmas time.

Hey Guys, just popping in to let you know that yours truly spent the whole day running the Cipriano stand at the Merrick street fair. Weather today was pretty lousy so you're forgiven for missing out (I know Pete spent the afternoon splashing around in that mini-monsoon over in queens, poor guy) but try to stop in tomorrow and say "hi" if you can. Goodness knows I always like the company.

Summer Slump is Over, Time to Get Your Green Back On

There are certain perks that come with working at Cipriano’s. You get to work outside, meet lots of interesting people, employee discount means easy gifts for parents and relatives, and there’s a Taco Bell AND a deli within walking distance.

But, I’m just now learning about a brand new benefit that I’ve never known about before. Now, the thing to keep in mind is that up until now I’ve been away at school this time of year so, forgive me if I’m a little over excited but, every weekend between October 4th and the 24th... WE’VE GOT A GIANT PUMPKIN AIR BOUNCE!

And yes, I know that I’m 22 and that it’s supposed to be for the children of customers but I don’t care. Some things are just as fun at any age where your hips still work and air bounces are most definitely one of those things.

That’s right, beginning October 4th and going every weekend through the 24th is the Cipriano Nursery Fall Festival. In addition to the previously mentioned air bounce (which I’m all ready thinking of how I can somehow keep all for myself), we’re going to have pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, pumpkin painting, and on top of all of that, what would an October in New York be without a whole mess of apple treats like cider, candy apples and other baked goods?

And don’t forget that we’re still open for regular business throughout all of this too. As a matter of fact, the beginning of October is really the best time to come look at our fall stock and we’re celebrating that fact with a great fall medley deal. Between September 26th and October 30th, come in and get three 6” Mums, two decorative cornstalks, one bale of straw and one bunch of Indian corn for only $40. Or, if you’re looking to do a little last minute landscaping you’re also in luck because we’re taking 40% (50% if you’re in the garden club) off of any tree, shrub, or perennial purchase over $150 dollars.

Oh, and by night we’re also going to be doing a spooky walk so don’t get too attached to that face paint because there’s a good chance we’re going to scare it right off you.

And wow, I was just looking this over for errors and it just hit me how much of a jam-packed fall we’ve really got lined up for you guys. Between all the attractions and the great deals I don’t think there’s anyway we could possibly make this fall festival any-

Oh wait, yes I do.

TWO air bounces.

Summertime and the spending's easy.

Hey there, all you Johnny Plant Latelys. If you haven't done it all ready, You'd better start digging through your wallets and junk drawers and "dagnabit, just where did I put those things?" Because Bumble Bee Season has come around again and will run through the end of July ( and between you and me, there's probably a little wiggle room there ;) if there are still a few last minute additions you wanna add to your landscape.

And for all you motivated go-getters who got everything you wanted back in May and June, don't forget that you can use your bucks on any non-sale item. That means tools, fertilizers, garden ornaments, and anything else that you like but just not quite enough to buy at full price. Or, if you're feeling ambitious and have $100 Bee Bucks or more (and I'm betting that's more than a few of you), why not go big and get yourself that $200 Japanese maple you had your eye on all spring?

And while we're talking, don't forget that just because the planting's done doesn't mean that you can forget about everything you've all ready got in the ground. It's getting around the time to cut back your hanging baskets and add fresh soil and fertilizer (flower-tone's the best) to get rid of that scraggly growth and encourage big, fresh blooms for the rest of the summer. And keep an eye on your flower beds while you're at it, dead head any blooms that look past your prime and see how long you can keep your Geraniums and Zinnias going.

Summertime's always kind of bitter sweet for us. Gone are the big crowds of May and June, and we'd like to think that's because we did such a good job outfitting you during the spring. But don't forget that Gardening doesn't have to be a two month hobby. There's always something else that people interested in seeing what they can grown can do and we're here through the sweat of August and beyond. So, if you're so inclined, why not come down this Saturday, hopefully with some Bee Bucks in tow, and we'll see what else we can set you up with.

Talkin bout my generation.

            Something interesting happened the other day while I was making “the rounds” (my word for walking around and asking people if they need help). I saw a young guy looking at some roses and, assuming he was a layman looking to buy something for his mother or grandmother, I went over to see if I could offer some suggestions.

            Color me surprised because it turned out that this young man who couldn’t have been more than 20, was actually shopping for himself. And not only that, but he was obviously a very experienced gardener as well. His questions for me were less along the lines of “what grows well in sun” (nothing wrong with asking that by the way, it’s what we’re here for) and more like “How disease resistant is this variety of rose?”

            It was only later that it really occurred to me just how rarely we get any customers who are younger than thirty and the ones that we do get are invariably looking to get a gift for an older relative. It hit me that this kid, and he really was just a kid, was really the first customer under thirty that I’d seen who showed a real interest in gardening. Now, I’m not sitting here wondering why the cool kids aren’t stopping by and picking up a tray of impatiens for a Saturday night planting party but I do remember from my own high school days that there were plenty of kids interested in knitting or chess or any other number of “sedentary” activities… but I don’t recall any group who took an interest in gardening. At all.

            I suppose it might be a property thing. From my experience, a lot of people don’t really get interested in planting until they have their own home to decorate. But the way the economy and housing market have been going, there’s a chance that none of us will get that motivation. As such, I think that all of you with children should try and see if you can get them to catch the planting bug now. The next time one of your kids wants some money for an ipod or one of those new fangled digital cameras, try and force ‘em to earn it by planting a boarder of marigolds or a row of tomatoes. Most of them will probably grumble about the extra chores, but I’d like to think that at least one or two will come to enjoy it. I mean seriously, if chess clubs can thrive then there’s got to be some way to get at least a few kids to enjoy gardening.

WE WANT YOU! ...TO PLANT YOUR OWN VEGGIES!

I was poking around the Internet this evening when I happened upon this little gem.

For those of you who didn’t actually click the link (heaven knows I rarely do when something I’m looking at tries to direct me somewhere else), it’s an article about how President Obama’s going to have an organic garden set up on the white house lawn. I don’t want to get into politics too much as, if what I overhear around the nursery is any indication, our customers have a wide variety of opinions about the new president, but this is one example that we should all be following.

Since I’m usually on the register, I know that a lot of you are all ready growing your own vegetables but I’m sure there are just as many of you who aren’t and it’s really something to look into. The first thing to think about is that if you’re all ready planting flowers, then the transition isn’t that difficult. The basic steps of sunlight, watering, and feeding are all essentially the same. The only difference is that now, instead of just getting a series of pretty flowers (which are great of course, and while we’re talking did I mention that we’ve been receiving new varieties of annuals all week with more coming in?), you’re rewarded for your efforts with an actual physical crop that you’d be spending money to buy at the supermarket anyway.  And while the start up costs may make you doubt it, it actually makes economic sense as well. A tray of assorted vegetable plants comes to $17.99. Add another $13.99 for bumper crop and another $8.99 for garden food and you’ve got everything you need for entire summer’s worth of great tasting, fresh produce for less than fifty dollars. And if there are any of you out there that go three months without spending that much on veggies, especially those of you shopping for whole families… well, then tune in next week for a special blog post about eating right.

 Growing your own vegetable garden doesn’t have to be a giant undertaking either. Just think about what you’re going to be getting at the supermarket anyway. If all you really get is tomatoes, lettuce, and zucchini, then just buy a cell pack of each, stake out a sunny section of the yard, and go to town. Even if you all ready buy organic at the supermarket, you stand to benefit by growing your own. The disadvantage of organics is that they tend to have a much shorter shelf life than their non-organic counterparts (I worked at a farm market before coming to Cips and organic tomatoes were the bane of my restocking existence) but when you're growing your own vegetables this ceases to be an issue. There’s an old slogan that says “Produce that travels across the country is never as fresh as produce that travels across the street.” Well, produce that travels across the street and then sits on a shelf for a day or two is never as fresh as produce that was still attached to the vine a few minutes before you threw it into the salad.

 Of course, if you’re not all ready buying organic than we’ve got a whole other bag of issues to deal with. The merits of organic over non-organic have all ready been discussed at length all over the internet and plenty of print magazines so there’s no need to get into it here but suffice it to say, they’re right. And if you’ve all ready got the crops sitting in your yard than it’s going to be that much easier for you to make the switch and taste the difference.

 And there you have it, in the space of two pages both the President of the United States and the 21-year-old who works at the plant nursery, have done their very best to encourage you to grow your own organic garden and if the two of us can’t sway you then I honestly don’t know who can. But even then, I have one last incentive. Those of you who are new homeowners have probably all ready received your coupon for two free cell packs. If you have, then why not use it to get two packs of vegetable plants and see how they turn out? If you haven’t, then keep your eyes peeled on Newsday and the Merrick Herald because we’ve always got new coupons coming out and I’m sure that at least one or two will do something to encourage you try your hand at your own vegetable garden.

The Case for Going Green.

Ahhh, spring. For me, it means an easy introduction for at least one more blog post and not having to put on three layers of clothes every morning. For you, it means it’s time for your plants and lawns to rub the sleep from their eyes and start being green and lively again.

            …At least that’s the way it’s supposed to go. Unfortunately, all too many people step out into their yards, eager to see lush green grass and ready-to-blossom cherry trees only to find that something has gone wrong in the off season and either pests or weeds have taken up residence in your otherwise pristine property. But luckily, your friends at Cipriano nursery have a garage chock full of remedies for just about anything that might go wrong with your garden.

             But… there are two ways that we can help you. We could recommend some type of synthetic, chemical based product or we could offer you something in an organic alternative. And here’s where you get a chance to see just how much we love all of you valued customers. Because we could just stick to the chemicals and let you come back over and over again every season to fix the same problems but instead, we’ve made the decision to try and encourage you to buy organic alternatives whenever we can. Now admittedly, organics requires a little more work and patience on your part but they will ultimately lead to healthier garden and the actual treatment of whatever might be afflicting your plants and grass instead of just the symptoms.

            To be fair, chemical based products do work in the most basic sense of the word. They will get rid of crabgrass or eliminate an insect infestation or do whatever they’re supposed to do. But think of it this way: sure, steroids will give you bigger muscles, but they actually weaken your body while making it appear stronger. In much the same way, chemical treatments may make your property look good, but it comes at the cost of the destruction of the underlying environment. These chemical products saturate the soil with a series of hostile compounds that make it an inhospitable environment to any of the beneficial insects and microorganisms that can be found in a healthy ecosystem. As a result, you’re now dependant solely on these chemicals for the well being of your landscape.

            I’m sure some of our more environmentally minded customers are reading that last passage and nodding fervently, perhaps you’re even thinking something like “right on, noble nursery man.” First of all, thank you, Imaginary Reader. But I’m not trying to preach to the choir here, I’m trying to make the average homeowner understand that the merits of organic gardening go beyond giving you something to say to the cute checkout chick at Trader Joe’s (and if that’s all your looking for, I’ve all ready called dibs so back off). If you can stick with an organic garden care system for a year or two, you’ll find yourself with soil teeming with healthy microorganisms and nutrients. And the reason that you want those things in your soil is that the natural result of their presence is healthier trees and lawns.

            Do you see the difference? You can either use chemical products to create the appearance of health and vitality at the expense of your soil. Or, you can do everything you can to improve your actual growing conditions and, as a result, you’ll have shrubs and lawns that actually ARE healthier and look it as well.

            I don’t know how many of you are parents, but I’m sure those of you that are have at some point or another chided your child for going for the quick fix instead of taking the time to do something right. So when you come into Cips this year, looking for fertilizer and pest management programs, try to take some of that advice to heart and ask one of us about how to grow a garden the way nature intended. I promise that you won’t be disappointed. 

Hi there,

Season’s greeting and welcome to the inaugural post of the new Cipriano Nursery blog! And yes, I’m aware that “season’s greeting” is traditionally more of a winter expression but here at Cipriano’s, spring might as well be our Christmas and it’s hard to keep the enthusiasm down.

And what a spring it’s all ready shaping up to be. We’re hard at work getting the nursery back into shape after the long winter and I’m pleased to announce that this Thursday marked our first tree and shrub delivery. Funny story, I agreed to help one of the other guys unload the truck under the assumption that it was “just a small delivery.” Turned out that our “small” delivery included quite a few very large, VERY heavy evergreens. I was thinking about going back to the gym this year but if I’m working here six days a week then I might not even need to. Hmm, there might even be a book idea there, something like “Gardening your way to a better physique.” Exercise one: drag 20 Leyland Cypresses 100 yards; great for the quads and triceps.

But what’s good for all of you (and bad for my back) is that that delivery is just the beginning. The Pansies are coming in any day now and after that we’ll be getting in more of the flowers, trees, and shrubs that you love every week. And for those of you who are waiting for that one special item to come in, be sure to check back here regularly because we’re going to try and keep a running commentary on all the new products coming in as we start gearing up for the 2009 season.

But don't think of this blog as just an extension of our mailing list. It’s also going to be a go-to spot for great gardening tips and a way for all of you, our wonderful customers, to get something of a sneak peek at just what goes into making Cipriano Nursery and Florist one of the best garden centers on Long Island.

So that’s all for now. Thanks for dropping in and be sure to check back next week for some suggestions on how to build your garden without breaking your bank. The economy may still be in a downturn but, as you’ll see, there are plenty of ways for the savvy gardener to keep his or her flowerbeds looking fabulous.