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The Kerby's Nursery E-Newsletter
February 10, 2022
A Resolution I Can Keep
by Joey Bokor
by Joey Bokor
At the beginning of the year, when I was trying to think of a New Year's resolution that I actually wanted to stick to, I decided to try something different than the eat-better-run-more routine that gets shoved out the door within a few weeks. I decided that every month, our family would try out one fun, new experience together that none of us had ever done before.
And I'm happy to report that one month or so in, we are sticking to it. I came up with January's adventure when I was elbow-deep in a sink full of dirty dishes and staring at an endless pile of laundry. (Did you know that two little girls can wear 18 pairs of pajamas in one week?) At that moment I decided it was time to start on our resolution.
I wasn't sure what we were going to do. But I remembered hearing about this place where you could zip-line around trees, and I knew the girls and Joey would love doing that. A quick internet search and I knew where we were headed. We shuffled the girls into the appropriate attire and only told them we were going somewhere to do something. They were not thrilled at the lack of information, but they followed along and off we headed to Treehoppers in Dade City.
None of us really had any idea what it would entail. Let me just say that if you have any uncertainty about whether or not you are afraid of heights, try clipping yourself to a cable and crowding together on a tiny platform thirty feet above the ground and you will soon find out. Fortunately, none of us had a problem with the height. Running through the various courses was exhilarating.
We slowly worked our way up from the basic yellow courses to green, and a couple of us dared to try a blue course. (They go up to black, didn't quite make it to that.) And to be clear, it isn't all zip-lining and fun. In fact, most of the courses involve climbing, balancing, and a few even had you finish with a blind jump off a platform, while you are clipped into an auto-belay. Needless to say, many of the elements as they call them pushed us out of our comfort zones and made us realize we are capable of a lot more than we usually give ourselves credit for. We cheered each other on the whole time and only our worn-out shoulders and sore hands were enough to make us stop. The biggest challenge now is figuring out how to top that for our February experience. If you have any suggestions for something fun to do in the area, shoot me an email at admin@kerbysnursery.com.
If you are looking for a fun new activity in the garden, then we've got you covered. Next week, on Saturday the 19th, we'll kick off our seminar series with Joey teaching you all about getting great harvests out of your veggie garden. I'm most excited about this year's spring fling. It feels like forever since we've had a big event at the nursery. Come out on March 5th to celebrate the grand opening of The Farmhouse and all that spring has to offer, with a variety of seminars throughout the day, gift card giveaways, and for lunch, The Melt Machine will have their tasty treats for sale from 11am to 2pm (glad I didn't make one of those be-healthy New Year's resolution. . .)
We can't promise you the exhilaration of flying through the trees, but we can promise you all of the great benefits that gardening offers, health, happiness, and harvests. Can't wait to see you at the nursery.
And I'm happy to report that one month or so in, we are sticking to it. I came up with January's adventure when I was elbow-deep in a sink full of dirty dishes and staring at an endless pile of laundry. (Did you know that two little girls can wear 18 pairs of pajamas in one week?) At that moment I decided it was time to start on our resolution.
I wasn't sure what we were going to do. But I remembered hearing about this place where you could zip-line around trees, and I knew the girls and Joey would love doing that. A quick internet search and I knew where we were headed. We shuffled the girls into the appropriate attire and only told them we were going somewhere to do something. They were not thrilled at the lack of information, but they followed along and off we headed to Treehoppers in Dade City.
None of us really had any idea what it would entail. Let me just say that if you have any uncertainty about whether or not you are afraid of heights, try clipping yourself to a cable and crowding together on a tiny platform thirty feet above the ground and you will soon find out. Fortunately, none of us had a problem with the height. Running through the various courses was exhilarating.
We slowly worked our way up from the basic yellow courses to green, and a couple of us dared to try a blue course. (They go up to black, didn't quite make it to that.) And to be clear, it isn't all zip-lining and fun. In fact, most of the courses involve climbing, balancing, and a few even had you finish with a blind jump off a platform, while you are clipped into an auto-belay. Needless to say, many of the elements as they call them pushed us out of our comfort zones and made us realize we are capable of a lot more than we usually give ourselves credit for. We cheered each other on the whole time and only our worn-out shoulders and sore hands were enough to make us stop. The biggest challenge now is figuring out how to top that for our February experience. If you have any suggestions for something fun to do in the area, shoot me an email at admin@kerbysnursery.com.
If you are looking for a fun new activity in the garden, then we've got you covered. Next week, on Saturday the 19th, we'll kick off our seminar series with Joey teaching you all about getting great harvests out of your veggie garden. I'm most excited about this year's spring fling. It feels like forever since we've had a big event at the nursery. Come out on March 5th to celebrate the grand opening of The Farmhouse and all that spring has to offer, with a variety of seminars throughout the day, gift card giveaways, and for lunch, The Melt Machine will have their tasty treats for sale from 11am to 2pm (glad I didn't make one of those be-healthy New Year's resolution. . .)
We can't promise you the exhilaration of flying through the trees, but we can promise you all of the great benefits that gardening offers, health, happiness, and harvests. Can't wait to see you at the nursery.
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Happy Gardening, The Kerby's Nursery Family 
p.s. We are actively hiring for our spring season. Plant knowledge is a bonus, but not required. What is important
is that you love talking to people and want to help spread Kerby's values of success, beauty, honesty, happiness, and fun.
Click here to learn more.
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1. Planting - Plant avocado trees in an area that receives at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. Well-drained soil is a must, so pick a location that doesn't stay wet. To get trees off to an exceptional start, use a bag of Black Gold® Natural & Organic Ultra Outdoor Planting Mix to amend the soil. And finally, give avocado trees plenty of room to grow. Most varieties grow 20 to 30 feet tall and spread out up to 20 feet as well, so plan accordingly.
2. Watering - New trees need water daily in the first month, every other day in the second month and twice weekly in the third month, always in the morning. After this period, avocado trees need a deep watering once per week.
3. Fertilizer - Keep trees strong by providing them the major and minor nutrients they need. Fertilize monthly for the first year with The Kerby's Special fertilizer (which contains the major elements as well as minor elements, such as iron, manganese and zinc). Thereafter, fertilize in the spring, summer and fall.
4. Pollination and Fruiting - Avocado varieties are classified into two 'types', A or B. Both tree types have male and female flowers, but each type releases and receives pollen at different times over a two day cycle. Trees will produce the best harvests when an A and B variety are planted near each other. If you only have room for one tree, choose an A variety. They are the best at self-pollinating. Avocado trees fruit in late summer to fall and since all of Kerby's trees are grafted, you should expect to see your first fruits in 2 to 3 years.
5. Pest Control - Avocados do not have major pest or disease issues. A natural pesticide such as Neem Oil can be used as needed.
6. Varieties in Stock - We've got great cold-hardy varieties in stock, including: Fantastic, Joey, Brogdon, Lula, Mexicola, Mexicola Grade, Lula, and the Dwarf Wurtz. Come out and find your favorite.
Kerby's Guacamole Recipe
3 fresh avocados, peeled and mashed
1 medium tomato, diced
1/2 cup red onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 lime juiced
1 teaspoon cumin
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
Cayenne pepper (to taste)
Salt and black pepper (to taste)
Combine all ingredients together. If you want a smooth guacamole, use a food processor to combine. Spoon into serving bowl and top with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice. Serve chilled with a side of chips.
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New Arrivals |
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Plum Trees Hypoluxo and Scarlet Beauty |
Foxglove Gorgeous Spring Flowers |
Dazzling Gem Aglaonema Color Leaves for Indoor Spaces |
The Kerby's Houseplant Shop
