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September 30, 2021
Bathroom Books
by Kimberly Bokor
by Kimberly Bokor
The other day I overheard my mother-in-law ask Abby and Maddy what book they were reading right now. Both girls gave her a slightly puzzled look.
'What do you mean?' they asked. To answer, they needed specifics. 'Do you mean the car book, downstairs book, upstairs book, kitchen book, bed book or the bathroom book?' They have a different book waiting in every place they might find themselves. And yes, that was bathroom book that you read. Every time I walk past their bathroom, there is a book (or books) balanced precariously on the tub waiting for the next opportunity to be read.
Overhearing this conversation made me chuckle. Our entire family loves to read almost as much as we love to garden. Both Joey and I have piles of books next to our bed, in our home and nursery offices, stacked around the living room, anywhere we can find a spot. In fact, if you ask me what I would most enjoy doing on a quiet afternoon this fall my response would be to spend some time in the garden, lazing in the hammock, lost in a book.
With this in mind, I spent last weekend planning how I would make the garden look perfect for those planned fall hammock sessions. After a long hot summer, the backyard needed some tending. Weeds had taken over our veggie beds, shrubs had grown out of hand with all of the summer rains, and I needed to make room for fall flowers. A lot of sweat and numerous trips to the compost pile with the wheelbarrow were made and it is already starting to pay off. I'm one step closer to peaceful afternoons in the garden. I think I will enjoy my book in the garden that much more knowing that a lot of love and hard work went into making that moment happen. Now when Mother Nature brings some cooler temperatures, I'm ready to go.
Overhearing this conversation made me chuckle. Our entire family loves to read almost as much as we love to garden. Both Joey and I have piles of books next to our bed, in our home and nursery offices, stacked around the living room, anywhere we can find a spot. In fact, if you ask me what I would most enjoy doing on a quiet afternoon this fall my response would be to spend some time in the garden, lazing in the hammock, lost in a book.
With this in mind, I spent last weekend planning how I would make the garden look perfect for those planned fall hammock sessions. After a long hot summer, the backyard needed some tending. Weeds had taken over our veggie beds, shrubs had grown out of hand with all of the summer rains, and I needed to make room for fall flowers. A lot of sweat and numerous trips to the compost pile with the wheelbarrow were made and it is already starting to pay off. I'm one step closer to peaceful afternoons in the garden. I think I will enjoy my book in the garden that much more knowing that a lot of love and hard work went into making that moment happen. Now when Mother Nature brings some cooler temperatures, I'm ready to go.
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Happy Gardening, The Kerby's Nursery Family 
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As autumn arrives, it is the perfect time to freshen up your front porch pots and fill them with some of Florida's favorite fall colors and textures. Here are some tips and tricks to get your front porch makeover started.
Time for Fall Cleaning - Cleaning isn't just something we do in the spring. Get out the broom and some damp washcloths so you can give your whole front porch and door a wipe down and a brush off. Don't forget to shine up any windows and glass you may have around your porch lights
Take Inventory - Before you run out to the garden center and load up on new pots and plants, take a close look at what you already have. Of course you'll want to pull out any tired annuals or overgrown plants, but then take a look at what you have left. Sometimes rearranging your existing pots or replanting a favorite plant can make them feel new again.
Find Inspiration - Magazines, pinterest and of course Kerby's are great places to find fall inspiration.
See what color schemes excite you and come up with a color palette. Try not to get too specific on plant
varieties. There are a lot of plants out there, but not all of them will do well in our area. Time to Shop - Head to the garden center with your ideas in mind and maybe a few photos on your phone to remind you of the area and items you are working with. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you're looking for a certain color of flower or leaf. We can advise you on what might work best for your unique area and light conditions. Mix and match plant combinations in your cart until you feel you've reached the look you want. Don't forget to include different colors and textures. You can always add an obelisk, small statue or trellis to add interest and height.
If you need a simple combo strategy to get you started, our formula for container gardening has always been to include a Thriller (your focal point), a Filler (a leafy plant to fill in the gaps) and a Spiller (something cascading over the side of the pot).
Get Your Hands Dirty - Once you've collected your plants and décor, it's time to have some real fun. Set all of your things out and get to work putting together your masterpiece. It's usually easier to tackle the larger pots first, since these will make the most impact. Once your large containers are planted in place, you can begin filling in around them with smaller containers of plants and decorations.
Enjoy the View - It feels so good to sit back and look at what you've accomplished, so enjoy it. Have a front porch makeover you want to share with us? We'd love to see it on Instagram. And now, with all that work done, you can sit back and enjoy fall in Florida.
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New Arrivals |
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Onion Sets are Here Supersweet, White and Red 1 lb. - $8.99 |
Native Milkweed Swamp and Whorled Available 6" Pot - $7.99 |
Supertunia Bubblegum Pretty in Pink 6" Pot - $7.99 |
