Now is the Time,
Kerby's is the Place

October 31, 2013   

 
A flower that smells like banana candy? That's cool.

Sometimes there is a plant or a flower that makes you stop and remember how cool gardening is, no matter how long you've been playing in the dirt. This week it was the banana shrub. While walking around the nursery on Monday morning, a smell like candy hit my nose. At first I wasn't sure what it was, and then I realized that the banana shrubs were in bloom. The fragrance really is just like a banana candy, which is appropriate for Halloween. A little trick from nature and a treat for the garden. There really are so many cool plants that no matter how long you've been a gardener, there is always something new to discover.


 
Herbs are beautiful and tasty too.
Some of the coolest plants for the garden are herbs. They are beautiful in a landscape and useful for adding fresh flavor to all of your best recipes. Join us this Saturday at 10am, for the Herb Gardening workshop to learn all about growing tasty herbs. Plus we'll talk about how various herbs are used, and you can share some of the best ways you've found for cooking with herbs. We hope to see you there.

 

Happy Gardening,
The Kerby's Nursery Family


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In This Issue

Featured Plant

Let's Get Herbal

Upcoming Events
This Saturday, November 2nd, 10am Workshop: Growing Tasty Herbs


New Arrivals
 


Pottery Sale

All Pottery
Buy One
Get 1 50% Off

Of equal or lesser value, see Store for Details



Just in for
Fall Planting

Florida Peach and Apple Trees
3 Gallon Pot - $49.99

 


Click to See
What's Just in
at Kerby's

 

 
Banana Shrub
10" Pot - $19.99
Featured Plant
Banana Shrub
Michelia skinneriana

This delightful shrub can make a great privacy hedge and landscape backdrop, and throughout the summer and into fall it has small yellow flowers that smell like banana candy. Trick or Treat! It grows up to 12 feet tall, but it can be kept around 6 feet. It prefers four to eight hours of sun and is evergreen and cold-hardy.


Let's Get Herbal
 
  So after you've attended the Herb Workshop this weekend and learned how to grow beautiful herbs, what do you do with them? Below are some ideas for using those delicious and useful fresh herbs that you've grown.

Bath Thyme - Use fresh garden herbs to create an aromatherapy bath that will relax and refresh you. Infuse oil with lavender, rosemary or lemon grass ahead of time and simply add to hot bath water. Or, pick a handful of fresh herbs at bath time, crush to release the oils and add to the bath. You can also put freshly crushed herbs in a sachet before throwing them in the water to keep the leaves from getting caught in the drain. However you choose, sit back, relax and let the fresh fragrances lift your stress away.

 

Make it Spicy - Of course the most popular use for fresh herbs is cooking, and what dish wouldn't taste better with oregano or basil from your garden instead of dried up old leaves! Crush or chop herbs just as you are about to use them so that the oils are released in your dish.

 

 

Healing - One of the oldest uses of herbs is not for their flavor and spice, but for their healing powers. Many of these remedies have been used since ancient times. Next time you have a headache or stomachache, try a freshly infused herbal tea instead of grabbing pills from the medicine cabinet. Below is a list of some common herbs and the healing properties they have.

Basil - can help alleviate kidney problems, as well as soothe anxiety.
Chamomile - also calms nerves and settles the stomach.
Fennel - helps detoxify the body and restore normal stomach function.
Parsley - is a blood builder and full of vitamins.
Sage - is antibacterial and antiviral. Great for treating colds and sore throats.
Thyme - is a powerful antiseptic.
Catnip - soothes a cough or cold.
Dill - makes a powerful tea for stomach or intestinal issues.
Rosemary - is a food preservative and digestive aid.
 

 

 



Upcoming Events


Workshop : Herb Gardening
Saturday, November 2nd at 10am

Without herbs, food would just be boring! And of course the best herbs come straight from your own garden. At this workshop, we'll show you the best ways to plant and care for your herb garden and we'll show you which herbs are great to plant now. Plus we'll share tips on preserving and storing herbs. Discover how delicious gardening can be! 

 

 

 

 

Workshop: Protecting Plants and Winter Gardening
Saturday, November 9th at 10am

Florida is known for warm weather and sunshine, but even here in central Florida, the occasional frost or freeze comes our way. Be ready this year, by attending this workshop. You'll learn the best ways to protect plants from cold weather and we'll demonstrate the proper way to cover plants to make sure all of your favorite shrubs, trees and flowers are warm and snug this winter. We'll also talk about what to do in the garden at this time of year, after all it is Florida and we can play in the yard all year long!

 

 

 


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Kerby's Nursery

2311 S. Parsons Ave.

Seffner, FL 33584
(813) 685-3265
www.kerbysnursery.com


Store Hours
Open Seven Days a Week
Monday - Saturday,  9:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday,  11:00am - 4:00pm