Life Lived Outside - The Kerby's E-Newsletter

Life Lived Outside
The Kerby's Nursery E-Newsletter
February 27, 2020

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The Weekly Special | House Plant Care
New Arrivals | Upcoming Events
Kerby's 40th Birthday Celebration

A Sneaky Caterpillar
by Joey Bokor

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Many of you have raised monarch butterflies at home. It's so exciting, no matter your age, to watch a tiny caterpillar explode in size, transform into a chrysalis and then emerge as a beautiful butterfly. We've been butterfly parents over the last few weeks as monarchs descended upon our butterfly garden. Even with some of the cooler nights recently, the number of butterflies in our yard has been incredible.

So, the other morning, I was moving the screen enclosure that we use for caterpillars and as I lifted it, movement behind it made me jump. Our house is a little older and occasionally a lizard sneaks in, so I figured that's what it was. Then I looked closer and there was a newly emerged monarch butterfly, stretching its wings and ready to fly.

I looked at the enclosure in my hand and every chrysalis was still green and intact. So, where did this beautiful intruder come from? Did he just happen to venture into the house? That seemed unlikely. I realized that we had another critter keeper with a top that didn't shut completely and that maybe this monarch escaped as a caterpillar. And sure enough, when I looked directly above the new butterfly, there was an empty chrysalis hanging from the bottom of the raised blinds.

This butterfly is in luck, because we just completed the brand-new butterfly house at the nursery and so he got to join a bunch of his pals among the bright, blooming flowers. The next time you are in the nursery, come check it out and witness little miracles of nature in action.

But maybe you aren't quite ready to be a butterfly parent. Perhaps, becoming a plant parent is more your speed. If you're ready to take the leap, come out this Saturday at 10am for our free house plant seminar. We'll teach you all about selecting, caring for and repotting plants that thrive indoors. And after the seminar, wander through Dwell - The Houseplant Shop at Kerby's. You'll find beautiful plants and pots just perfect for making you a Plant Parent.

Happy Gardening,
The Kerby's Nursery Family

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Kerby's 40th Birthday Celebration

The Weekly Special
Sansevierias - 10% Off
If you need a place to start your house plant collection, look no further than the easy-care sansevieria. They come in a variety of leaf shapes and patterns and this week only, they are all 10% off.
Sizes and Prices Vary
In Store Only - Expires 3/4/2020

House Plant Care

When you can't be outside in the garden, be inside! Houseplants are a great way to clean the air you breathe and to add a touch of nature to indoor spaces. If you've tried houseplants and haven't been successful, try the tips below and don't forget that this Saturday, February 29th at 10 a.m. is the Houseplants Seminar. For our full houseplant care sheet and a list of our favorite easy-care houseplants, click here.

Light - House plants don't need tons of sunlight, but they do need some. Pick a location in your home that has a bright sunny window so that plenty of natural light will reach the leaves of your plants. Our rule of thumb is that the room should be bright with all of the lights off. That shows you that there is plenty of sunshine coming inside.

Water - You know that we love to lecture you about watering. For outdoor plants, underwatering is usually the biggest issue. For indoor plants, overwatering is one of the most common problems that we see. So don't kill your new #plantbabies with kindness. For most houseplants, you only want to water when the plant has dried out. And don't forget that too wet can look like too dry. Check the soil for dampness before watering.

Humidity - Most houseplants are native to humid, jungle climates (hence urban jungling). Our indoor spaces are constantly dehumidified to keep us comfortable. To increase the humidity for your indoor plants, either give them an occasional misting or keep a saucer with water underneath them.

Keep Leaves Clean - There is always dust settling on surfaces in your home, and that same dust settles on the leaves of your houseplants. Make sure that you occasionally wipe or brush the leaves clean to make sure they get all the sunlight that they need.

Bring Nature Indoors with houseplants. There are so many to choose from that pretty soon, you'll have your own urban jungle. Come check out Dwell - The Houseplant Shop at Kerby's today.

New Arrivals
Samurai Sansevieria Cute, chunky leaves 4" Pot - $8.99	Dragon's Breath Celosia Bright and Beautiful 6" Pot - $7.99	Shona White Lily of the Nile In Bud Now 10" Pot - $19.99