Saturday, February 26, 2005

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER, THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY!

CHUBBY'S GRAPEFRUIT DIET.......EAT EVERYTHING BUT GRAPEFRUIT

MAKE YOUR OPTIMISM.....COME TRUE.....22 DAYS TIL SPRING

Friday, February 25, 2005

THE FOLLOWING BLOG IS A REPEAT OF AN EMOTIONAL LETTER WHICH APPEARED TEN MONTHS AGO ON THE GREEN BLOG. OUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED AND THE AUTHOR OF THIS LETTER WILL BE RETURNING HOME TO ST. LOUIS THIS COMING TUESDAY AFTER BEING DEPLOYED IN IRAQ FOR THE PAST 13 MONTHS. A PICTURE OF JOSH APPEARS AT THE END OF THIS POST.

God Bless Our Troops

The following email is from Josh Eckhoff, a soldier stationed somewhere in Iraq. Josh is more than a soldier, he has been an employee of Greenscape Gardens for three years, a friend of everyone at the garden center, a boyfriend and is like a son to our family. The following letter was addressed to the students at Parkway South High School.


RECEIVED 4/29/2004


To My Fellow Patriots,

As I sit here writing in this hostile land, I wonder if these thoughts will reach you. Not so much in the physical sense, but more on an intellectual and emotional level. I hope that my simple words will somehow find their way into your busy hearts and minds.

I suppose you are wondering just who "I" am. Quite simply put, I am an American Soldier, but I am much more than you might imagine. I am a friend and a son, a student and an athlete. I am a teenager, an adolescent and an adult. I am much like you, with one very distinctive exception.....I am in Iraq. My name is Joshua Eckhoff and I graduated from South High just last year. I have been "in country" now for over three months, and I have learned a few things along the way. I must admit though, these are not the types of ideas that one would expect to teach a person.

I must share with you what I have come to know as two of the most powerful forces in the world today, Kindness and Hope. Unlike the divisive power of bullets and bombs, the power of kindness and hope comes from bringing people closer and reminding us that we are all in this together.

As a soldier, I have been exposed to the evils and horrors of war. However, I have also experienced the effects of endless kindness from my family, my friends, my teachers, and from total strangers. I have received endless support and have been showered with kindness, but the greatest gift these people have given me is the gift of Hope. Hope of a better day, hope of coming home, and hope of having the opportunity to return the kindness that has been so selfessly shown to me in the months that I have been gone.

Now, it is my hope that I can pass the importance of my realization on to you. I challenge you to shower those around you with kindness, not only your friends, but more importantly your enemies. Sometimes, the simple kindness of an honest smile can provide someone with just enough hope to make it through the day. You many never know the affect that your kindness has on certain people, but know this....a kind word or act often inspires hope in those who need it most. I have seen the glimer of hope in an Iraqi child's eyes, and I assure you that hope, like kindness, transcends cultural and racial barriers. In this time of war, I challenge you to show unconditional kindness to those around you and to inspire hope in every life that you touch.

I hope these words find their way across the miles.....I hope to make a difference....I hope to inspire...I hope to have the opportunity to be kind...I hope to see you all again in good time....
I HOPE!

With Patriot Pride, Joshua Eckhoff (class of 2003)

P.S. I am very proud of all my fellow Patriots at South High, both the students and the faculty...you're simply the best!

Editors Note: Please pray for the save return of Josh, he could easily be your son, grandson, brother, husband, friend or neighbor.

EDITORS NOTE 02/25/05: THANK YOU FOR JOSH'S SAVE RETURN, PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SAFE RETURN OF ALL THE TROOPS IN HARM'S WAY.
Welcome Home Josh......Josh has just completed his tour of duty in Iraq. His family and friends are counting the days til he comes back home. His reserve group will be back Tuesday.

Greenscape Gardens
Unloading another great load of decidious trees. Check out these great looking trees. The early bird gets the best selection!!!!!!!

Greenscape Gardens
The tractor trailers are rolling into the garden center almost daily now. A great selection of maples, ashes and craps arrived this week. We even sold two of the prarie fire crabs almost immediately after putting them away. They look awesome. Actually all the fresh nursery stock looks incredible.

Greenscape Gardens
THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER, THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!

There is still no cure for the common birthday.

If you rest, you rust.

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Perennial plant of the year is hellebores. This perennial flower is quite unusual since it retains his evergreen foliage throughout the winter. This is a MUST HAVE plant for every gardener in the St. Louis area. Check out hellebores, commonly called the lenten rose.

Thursday, February 24, 2005

The following pictures are a series of pictures of the assembly of one of the three gazebos at Greenscape Gardens. This gazebo was completed in February of 2004.

Greenscape Gardens
Note the large brown box, it contained the entire assembly.

Greenscape Gardens
Outline of the roof, its starting to look like something.

Greenscape Gardens
The cupola is now in place.

Greenscape Gardens
The completed structure.

Greenscape Gardens
Just completed landscaping the area in early spring. Note the azaleas blooming around the base of the gazebo.

Greenscape Gardens
A view of the Dougherty Ferry Gazebo facing west. One year ago this area was a holding/sales area for B&B trees. Now its a picturesque garden spot.

Greenscape Gardens
The final view of the Dougherty Ferry Gazebo surrounded by mums in the foreground and the Amish buggy

Greenscape Gardens
THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER, THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY!

SIGN BROKEN.........MESSAGE INSIDE
NEW SEEFOOD DIET........I SEE, I EAT.......SEE CHUBBY FOR DETAILS

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WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW

THE GREENSCAPE GARDENS WEBSITE IN ONE YEAR HAS HAD 29,000 WEBSITE HITS AND OVER 100,000 PAGE VIEWS.
WE HAVE STRIVED TO BRING THE MOST INFORMATIVE GARDENING TIPS ON THE WEB. THE SITE IS CONSTANTLY BEING UPDATED AND THE GREENBLOG IS UPDATED DAILY. THANK YOU AND KEEP GARDENING.

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Well here's your chance to be "Tim the Toolman", "Martha Stewart" or any know it all. This website shows you how to do a list of items including "How to grow the tallest sunflower". Everyone has their own opinion on how much to tip, now you can see how much other people tip.

You can also learn how to CHANGE A DIAPER (We probably should change politicians as often as diapers). Another all time gardening tip is showcased in HOW TO GET RID OF SLUGS.

The best tip of the website is "HOW TO OVERTHROW A DICTATOR AND INSTALL YOUR OWN PUPPET GOVERNMENT". Okay, I've been tangling the carrot in front of you long enough go to the website for additional information.

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Chubby has been on the marquee sign at the garden center for weeks. Well things have changed with the new ultra urban Chubby. His latest adventure is training as an ultramarathoner. Check it out.

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The far east tsunami diaster occurred almost three months ago and images of the horrific natural diaster is still coming forward. A Canadian couple took several incredible pictures of the diaster before they perished and the digital camera was recently recovered. Check out this site and make sure you go to the photo gallery.

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER, THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

SNOW MAKES YOUR LAWN.....LOOK AS GOOD AS YOUR NEIGHBOR'S

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Two shipments of perennials arrived today at the garden center. More than 12,000 perennials need to be planted in the next couple of days. The planting is the easy task, putting them away in the different greenhouses is the daunting chore. Somehow or the other, we're able to squeeze thousands of one and two gallon containers where hundreds should be placed. Every year we seem to be more inventive in maximizing our limited space.

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Remember those days as a kid, when the best Saturday morning cartoons were the Jetson's. The robotic maid and dog were so futuristic, but we never imagined the true possibilities. Now robotics assemble and weld the components of your car on the assembly line. Yesterday caught up with today. Check out this robot website.
Now that is a BIG WHEEL!!!!!!!

Greenscape Gardens
Early morning pictures of the gazebo surrounded by the fresh snow.

Greenscape Gardens
Ornamental grass dancing in the undisturbed snow.

Greenscape Gardens
Fresh snow at the gardens. Watch KTVI for this shot without the snow for a piece by Weatherman Chris Higgins. Chris interview Jennifer concerning the bulbs early emmergence.

Greenscape Gardens
HYDRANGEAS

Hydrangeas are one of the most popular landscape shrubs since they are so remarkably colorful in bloom. They adapt to a multitude of locations ranging from sunny to partial shade. The hydrangea also tolerates poor soil conditions but thrives in fertile well drained conditions. This plant is an excellent addition to any landscape and will compliment any shade garden plantings.

The big leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is the colorful shrub we desire in our landscape. This is the species from which the majority of the familiar cultivated hydrangeas are derived. In the past, big leaf hydrangeas bloomed on the previous season's growth. Now the newer cultivars bloom on last year’s growth as well as this year’s growth. For best results, place in a protected site with fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Selections which have proven well in the St. Louis area include:
• All Summer Beauty Large heads of blue or pink, blooms
all summer. Blooms all summer.
Blooms on current season's wood
• Endless Summer Large heads of pink or blue, blooms
on new or old wood. Flowers all
summer.
• Glowing Embers Large fluorescent pink to red flowers
on a compact plant.
• Nikko Blue Large deep blue flowers.

But there’s more! Hydrangeas are a wonderful group of summer blooming shrubs with several other species that bloom well in the St. Louis area.

One of the most durable and reliable of the hydrangeas is smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea aborescens). This 3 to 5 foot shrub flowers freely from June to September. The flowers are rounded and change from an apple green to creamy white during the summer. Flowers are also showy in the fall as they fade to tan and persist into the winter. The smooth hydrangea is tolerant of many soil types but prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil.
• Annabelle Extremely large white flowers (almost 1
foot in diameter) are so heavy they
weigh the stems down causing it to
weep.

The panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) blooms later than the smooth hydrangea, often not starting until late June. This cone shaped, creamy white flowers are persistent bloomers. As the flowers age, they often become a mottled pink. They often reach 10 feet or more in height.
• Limelight Flowers open a lime green.
• Pee Gee Cone shaped, white flowers. Does well in
full sun.
• Tardiva Large showy white clusters on strong
upright stems.
• White Moth Large irregular spheres in July turning
green in fall.

One of the most popular hydrangea species is the Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia). The coarse leaves are 3 to 8 inches long and shaped like oak leaves, hence the common name. The foliage is also noted for its attractive, red-burgundy fall color. This 3 to 5 foot shrub has showy cone shaped, creamy white flowers in June and July. Like panicle hydrangea, the flowers often develop pinkish undertones as they mature. It prefers partial shade in fertile, moist, well drained soil with winter protection.
• Oakleaf Large, coarse textured oak leaf foliage
with large white flowers in June.
• Snow Queen Improved selection with large, pure white
panicles.
• Sikes Dwarf Low growing dwarf form.

Not all hydrangeas are shrubs. (Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris) is actually a climbing hydrangea. It easily clings to tree bark or other structures, often attaining heights over 50 feet. The white flowers are approximately 6 to 10 inches in diameter. Blooming in early July and last for several weeks. The glossy dark green leaves provide the perfect backdrop to show off the blossoms. Another interesting feature of this plant is its exfoliating brown bark. The shaggy bark adds a great deal of interest in the winter making this a multi-season ornamental plant. As with most hydrangeas, climbing hydrangea prefers partial shade to full sun with a moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Give this plant plenty of room to grow.

Another added bonus to most hydrangea flowers is that they make excellent cut and dried flowers. You can bring the blossoms inside to brighten the indoor landscape.

THE SINGLE MOST OFTEN ASKED QUESTION ABOUT HYDRANGEAS

Why is my blue hydrangea pink?

THE ANSWER

Flowers of some cultivars are strongly affected by the pH of the soil in which they are grown. The color changes depend on the concentration of aluminum ions in the soil. This depends in turn on the acidity of the soil, being highest on very acid soils and lowest where the soil is alkaline. The color range depends on the cultivar but the bluest shades are always produced on the most acid soils. A pH range of 5.0 to 5.5 is listed as satisfactory for inducing blue coloration while pH of 6.0 to 6.5 and higher is best for pink coloration.

Aluminum must be absorbed by the plant in order to maintain blue flowers. There is usually aluminum present in the soil, but it is not readily available to the plant. This can only happen in acid soil. In alkaline soil, aluminum forms an insoluble compound which the plant cannot absorb.

To intensify the blue color add 0.25-0.5 oz. of aluminum sulphate per gallon of water and apply periodically through the growing season. A fertilizer low in phosphorous is also highly recommended.

Additional information: Improving the soil

Planting instructions

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER, THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY!

RECENT IQ TEST......RESULTS NEGATIVE

KRISPY KREME DIET......RESULTS MAY VARY.....ASK CHUBBY

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SPRING FLOWERS FEATURED AS NEW POSTAL STAMPS

U.S. Postal Service will issue a new set of stamps featuring popular spring flowers on March 15 at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show. Four flowers will have their own stamps: daffodil, tulip, hyacinth and iris. Check out the new stamps.
Markie Rock (aka Mark Riordan) strumming another Jimmy Buffett tune at the 2004 Memorial Day Weekend Bash. Mark your calendars for the 12th annual Memorial Day Weekend Bash at Greenscape Gardens and back by popular demand the great tunes of Markie Rock.

Greenscape Gardens
Back to the beach with the great sounds of Markie Rock at the 2004 Greenscape Gardens Memorial Day Weekend Bash!

Greenscape Gardens

Monday, February 21, 2005

Now here is a very "earth friendly" home. Note that the roof is actually a garden plot. Photo taken at Isla Mujeres, Mexico.

Greenscape Gardens
Whitefish Michigan. Name the song that was written about an event which occurred here and I'll send a five dollar gift certificate to the garden center. First correct answer.
The correct answer was posted less than one hour later by "Ciao Baby". Gordon Lightfoot's ballad of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
More of Jill's photos from Costa Rica. More children playing on the Pacific Beach of Costa Rica.

Greenscape Gardens
THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER, THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!

DON'T COUNT THE DAYS......MAKE THE DAYS COUNT!

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Take the following quiz, you'll be astounded by the results. Check out the QUIZ.

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Numerous people have been commenting about the Christmas Cards that we receive at Greenscape Gardens. Many of our vendors send cards and one of our dear out of town friends was kind enough to think about us this Christmas. Check out our special Christmas greeting.

Sunday, February 20, 2005

Little girl on the Pacific beach of Costa Rica.

Greenscape Gardens
A small sample of the miniature conifers available at Greenscape Gardens. These minatures are the rage of gardeners who want to have greenery 12 months a year. We will be restocking these items frequently.

Greenscape Gardens
The tractor trailers are showing up now on a daily basis. Fresh nursery stock from Oregon, Pennsylvania, California, Illinois and Tenn. We also have been seeing UPS and FedEx on a daily basis bringing annual and perennial flowers.

Greenscape Gardens
THE OLD SIGN PHILOSOPHER, THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!

A BIRD IN THE HAND.......CAN BE MESSY

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OBITUARY

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend by the name of Common Sense who has been with us for many years.

No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such value lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and that life isn't always fair.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial
policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not kids, are in charge).

His health began to rapidly deteriorate when well
intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual
harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student; but, could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Finally, Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; Illegal aliens got driver's licenses and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense finally gave up the ghost after a
woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, she spilled a bit in her lap, and was awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.

He is survived by two stepbrothers; My Rights and Ima Whiner.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still know him pass this on, if not join the majority and do nothing.

THINK ABOUT IT & DO NOTHING. ITS THE NEW AMERICAN WAY.

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NASCAR'S greatest race, the Daytona 500 was correctly billed. Jeff Gordon won his third Daytona 500. An exciting race from start to finish.

The race that the old sign philosopher was most impressed by was his 17 year old nephew the previous night at DuQuoin, Il. Bradley Loyet won the checkered flag in his Ford Focus midget. This was Brad's final race in this series. He will be focusing all his racing in the National Midget series. Good luck, Brad!!!!

Speaking of racing and in celebrating the beginning of the racing season, check out the Great Race.