Merry Christmas

Blessings!

Merry Christmas and Holiday Blessings to you and yours. I am sending you a copy of a letter a friend of mine, Bill Hamilton, just sent me. I couldn't put the seasons greetings in better form than this. I hope you find it as touching as I.

A Letter From Bill Hamilton

December 20, 2009 So, I'm reading an article in the paper this morning that is recounting the big stories of the past decade. Its subtitle: Past decade filled with dread-but also offers much hope. It recalls 9/11, natural disasters, political unrest, financial fallout, as well as surviving miners, cancer vaccines and a miraculous landing in the Hudson river. The events are huge. They have caused us to weep in sadness and joy. They, and many like them, have had global impact or at least expression. We know the name of the woman protestor killed in Tehran and the pilot who landed his plane in the Hudson. We have images on You Tube and words on Twitter invading our everyday world. And, if you are like me, it can all be very overwhelming and leave the reader (me and you) with a sense of insignificance, anxiety and hopelessness. Big world- sized stories are, for the most part, not personal and leave us with a sense of helplessness and often hopelessness. Friends, PLEASE don't allow the 'big news' to overshadow how the Good News was present all around you in this past decade. Just within my city, my small group of friends, I have witnessed dead and damaged marriages be reconciled. I know of sick people who have been healed. My Young Life friends bombard me with stories of lost kids being found. Homeless are being housed. People with real names are being loved and cared for by people I really know. They are not on You Tube, they may not have a Face Book account and there's no people waiting to Twitter their every move. They are the people who make up my community. You have them too. Our little worlds are filled with them. We are surrounded - therefore we are significant. We can make the "news" that will save a life. Our 'news' will not be turned into an image or a sound bite for the world to see. This news (knowledge) will only be known by a few. Good news comes quietly to one heart at a time. Then it moves slowly in and through a family and often leaks out into a community. This good news doesn't find its way into the media where it becomes bigger than life and gets exploited. The life changing stories we all have had the privilege of participating in, or at least been affected by, are the really big stories of this past decade. Do yourself a favor today and take time to recall some of them. In the time it takes for you to read the news you can write the news - the real news. The news that is; real people with real names that live on real streets. The real Good News has always avoided the spotlight, never needed the media and chose to quietly bring joy and hope to people along his path. The kingdom of God was not ushered into the world with front page hype and it (He) doesn't require it still. Might you determine to find peace and joy in the little miracles that surround your everyday life in this coming decade. Be a Kingdom person and change the world one story at a time. Happy New Decade! Bill Hamilton

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May your season be merry and bright!! Here is to the new year and the new decade-Good Growing

Sincerely,

The Harper Boys

HARPER'S NURSERY & LANDSCAPE CO.

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August Newsletter

Harper's August Garden Guide
The Last Full Month Of Summer
August 2009 - Vol 1, Issue 1
In This Issue






Yehawwww

Well now it is time to come home from the beach, or your usual summer haunts and get a ways and start settling into that fall routine. I know it is August. For me August means the last full month of Summer and Fall is just around the corner. Kids start back to school and we start looking around the yard wondering what the heck happened to our beautiful Spring garden? It is time to get back to work or at least evaluating what worked and what didn't in the garden. I can't wait till September!


August is a great month to evaluate what has worked and what perhaps hasn't done so well. This summer has been one of extremes and is a good test for what plants you may want to continue with and which ones maybe not so much. It is also a great time to ask why something didn't do so well. Many times our water system is inadequate and those shortcomings don't show up until exteme temperatures arrive. Perhaps we planted too late, or it was just not the right plant for the right place! We hope you will find confidence in us to help you in this evaluation process. Our many years of experience can help you not only pick the right plants, but help with timing and planning of how,where,and when the plant is best used in our desert environment. Remember we also offer as far as we know the only "lifetime plant guarantee" in the industry. This should help you be assured that we have confidence in our plants and our people to steer you in the right direction.
Believe it or not this is the month that Fall gardening really gets going again. First of all we can't emphasize enough to properly prepare the soil! Visit our stores or website for our Garden Preparation Guide. Don't start until you've read this and have taken the time to get the soil ready to plant. This guide also has the proper planting dates for flowers and vegetables for our specific environment. If you follow this guide we know you'll have success. Want more help-remember that the 3rd Saturday of Every Month we hold a garden class at 10am at both locations!

Mulch and Feed, Feed and Mulch
August is a good time to start fertilizing most all of our plants, especially tropicals and subtropicals. Citrus,hibiscus,ficus,palms,mexican bird of paradise,lantana.....you get the idea. A feeding this time of year will not only help these plants recover from a long hot summer but will also help them get thru and recover from the upcoming winter ahead.
Another way to insure your plants get thru the last part of Summer is to keep them properly mulched. Mulching with a bark mulch is like putting a cool cloth on the back of your neck. It cools the soil and roots of the plant down allowing it to function more efficiently and will reduce sun damaged foliage. Mulching will also allow you to water less and cuts down on weeds. When in doubt MULCH IT.

How Is Your Social Life?

I guess we didn't think we were getting out enough so we have entered the world of social networking! We now have a Facebook page under Harper's Nursery and Landscape Co. Lynn Harper put this together and there are tons of great pictures of landscape jobs we have completed recently. So if you're like us and coming along slowly into the 21st century check us out on Facebook.

Got Shade??
Now more than ever we recognize the value of a well placed shade tree,vine,or hedge. We are offering $100.00 OFF THE PLANTING AND DELIVERY OF EVERY 24" BOX TREE OR EVERY 3/15 GALLON SIZED TREES IN STOCK. The best time to plant a tree was 25 years ago, the second best time is now.

Remember August is the end of Summer and the beginning of Fall at least the planning for fall. Remember also that for you card carrying Harper's Garden Club members you can use your accumulated loyalty points for up to %50 off thru Labor Day. So if you want to get ready to garden or are just planning ahead we can help you get it done and save some dough this month!


Good Growin'
jay

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