First, we’d like to say “WOW” we cannot believe how much more our Holiday Shoppe has grown this past year, and it’s all because of you, so THANK YOU! We added a few more fun backdrops for your perfect holiday photos, the adorable Mrs. Claus’s Flower Shop, and even convinced Santa to take time out of his busy schedule to come visit us.
We absolutely loved seeing old and new families come visit us and the smiles on your faces are what we live for. We sold twice as many trees and wreaths this past year than the previous year, we also sold out all our workshops and even added 3 private ones, as well as had nearly 600 s’mores, over 300 cups of delicious hot cocoa, and almost 50 photo contest entries, and of course an infinite number of laughs and smiles. Holy cannoli what a jam-packed season!
Even though we doubled our sales on Christmas trees unfortunately, due to Thanksgiving being so early and Christmas trees only lasting 3-4 weeks a few folks had to really stretch it to get their trees to last for Christmas day. Some tips to help make sure they do last if you happen to get your tree early: make sure to trim at least an inch off the bottom before putting in a stand, feed the tree water and don’t let the bottom dry up, make sure the tree is away from a heat source, also you can mist the tree itself with some water.
We had so many new families come visit and share stories around the campfire. We loved seeing younger people help their older relatives as well as others with making s’mores or even a hot cocoa to deliver to them at the campfire. There was even a real sense of how magical this time of year was when we got to witness a group of people create a ramp for a woman in a wheelchair who wanted to go into Mrs. Claus’s Flower Shop but couldn’t due to the step.
Oh, and the babies! We saw so many new additions and couldn’t get over all the cuteness from all the children. Because we had Santa visit, we even added a mailbox just for Santa where children had so much fun writing letters or drawing pictures for him. Not only did we love seeing these human families, but we loved so many of you sharing your four-legged fur babies as well with us. Some of them even got lucky enough to take pictures with Santa, but they were all lucky to have such loving families and some extra love from the Samantha’s Gardens Crew.
This year we had the popular wreath making and centerpiece making workshops that sold out each time, we even had to add three private ones due to the popularity. On top of those we added a container workshop which went off amazingly and may need to add another time slot next year. Another new popular workshop was the addition of the Thanksgiving centerpiece workshop. We know our shop is mostly about Christmas time, but we wanted to try adding a Thanksgiving centerpiece workshop as so many people obviously host the dinner and may want to add a little something pretty to their table. These ladies absolutely killed it, and we definitely will have to do it again next year.
We hosted our photo contest again this season and cannot believe we nearly tripled the number of entries we received. It was impossible to choose the winners and honestly just wanted to give everyone a prize. Thank you to everyone who participated and for making our job extremely hard to choose the winners. Next year we hope we get just as many entries and will probably switch up the awards this time around. Congratulations to all the winners as well as all of you who submitted your entries.
Once again thank you for making Samantha’s Gardens Holiday Shoppe your family destination for the holiday time. Tell family and friends, bring them along, we love meeting new people and making lasting memories. If you have any suggestions for us, please don’t be afraid to let us know, we love new ideas. See you all next year!
In the Greenhouse: The greenhouse is a nice place to be on these cold days. We’ve ordered our veggie seeds for our gardens and yours as well as seeds and bulbs for our cut flower garden. Our cut flower garden is going to be amazing this year.
Following is a list of what we’ve got, some great stuff including all the staples plus some new things we haven’t tried before including strawberries as well as some different flowers, lots of heirloom tomatoes, squashes, cukes, etc, etc.
Please let us know if you have any special requests for your garden, things are selling out fast!
Other veggies include spinach, celery, lettuces and greens, watercress, sorrel, beans, peas, turnips, radishes, fennel, gourds. Also lots of herbs – different types of basil, parsley, oregano, lemon grass, sage.
Not to mention the cut garden seeds and bulbs- lots of dahlias, zinnias, echinacea, snapdragons, strawflower, Lisianthus, sunflowers, scabiosa, asters, calendula, Gomphrena, marigolds, perennials like Hostas and astilbe, etc, etc.
The tropicals are doing well, I will start fertilizing some things next month. The lime is blooming right now and it smells amazing!
I harvested a whole bunch of lemons and oranges last week and we’ve been dividing and repotting things as needed.
Soon, we’ll be gearing up for the coming season, taking inventory on tools and supplies and making repairs and improvements at the shop and in the greenhouse. We will also be implementing some new systems in the office in order to better serve you, our customers. This will include a new note taking system for our gardening crews that will be used to share notes on tasks that were performed as well as to-do lists for future visits. I think we will also be able to share these notes with you so that you will be better informed on what we did during our visit to your property as well as what is planned for next time.
We have a great crew coming back for next season including all of the familiar faces and while we know it’s a while off we are looking forward to Spring!
Ready to kickstart your garden with some fresh veggies and vibrant blooms? Contact us today to discuss your gardening needs. Let’s grow together!
I know, two newsletters back to back! I am starting to feel like myself again after a busy season and the loss of my wonderfully amazing Mother, Hope. This was a tough one for me and my kids. But with the colors of fall and the aroma of the rapidly approaching Holiday season, I am rolling up my sleeves and finishing up the growing season strong.
Spring Plans? Don’t miss out. Get scheduled now.
We’re already scheduling design meetings to get your plans on the drawing table this winter so they are ready for spring installation.
If you’re not already on our holiday decorating schedule, please reach out!
Here’s what we’ve got going for you:
We’ll be taking advantage of the weather by putting up holiday lights, which can be turned on when you’re ready.
And not only holiday lights, but all of your exterior holiday decorations, including your holiday-ready containers brimming with wintergreens, berries, and whatever fun additions our design crew plans, along with lush garland wrapping your doorways and railings, wreaths perfectly placed on your doors and windows.
We can even bring in your tree and set it up after you’ve chosen it from our magical tree lot, where you can also enjoy a cup of hot cocoa.
If you’re hosting a party, we’ve got you covered with festive interior decorations. We can decorate your tree, for those on a tight schedule, and we can also adorn mantels, staircases, and create arrangements and poinsettias to spread the cheer throughout your home.
Now, let’s chat about our tree lot and Christmas Shoppe.
I’ve had some time today not only to write this letter but also to schedule our workshops. Be sure to check out our calendar for our hugely popular wreath and centerpiece making workshops. This year, we’re adding fun and beautiful gift wrapping and boxwood tree making to the mix.
Christmas Shoppe Schedule
Last year’s workshops were a blast, with every session filled to the brim, and even some last-minute party crashers joined in, making it even more enjoyable. We all gathered around the table, working like Santa’s little helpers on our projects, sipping hot cocoa, and perhaps spiking it just a tad while jamming out to our favorite Christmas tunes.
We’re also planning workshops for kids, preteens, and beyond to keep everyone involved in celebrating the holiday season.
And don’t forget, Santa is scheduled to drop in for a visit. He’s even considering a special day for photos and visits with all the good four-legged family members, so stay tuned for that date too.
Maybe we should even host a workshop on making puppy paw print ornaments for the tree? That sounds like a fun and memorable time. What do you think?
If anyone has other fun ideas, I’d love to hear them.
I’d like to conclude this message with many thanks to all our amazing clients. I can’t wait to see everyone and their families for the holidays, enjoying Christmas music, sipping hot cocoa, and toasting marshmallows around the fire pit. Let’s make that sitting area bigger than ever.
As the season winds down and fall is in the air we wanted to share with you what is happening at Samantha’s Gardens. Most of our fall plantings and displays are in, if you are looking for a last-minute splash of color or a festive display for fall or Halloween, let us know. There is still time to make it to your property before Halloween! We will be wrapping up the last of our garden renovations, tree, shrub, and perennial plantings over the next month or so. After, it will be time to plant bulbs. Are you looking forward to more spring color? Tulips, Daffodils, and Snowdrops to name a few are great bulbs that add spring color to your gardens. Get your bulb requests in now, they are selling out fast!
While you’re enjoying the last colorful weeks of your garden, be on the lookout for Spotted Lanternfly on your trees. It is a very invasive insect species with distinctive markings that have recently been spotted in Massachusetts and can decimate many different types of trees including apples, maples, and birch among others. Key signs that this pest is on your property are stressed trees with dark spots/ honeydew on leaves and overwintering egg masses- the first stage of nymphs that will hatch in April and May.
What we’ve been up to this time of year!
We’ve begun cleaning and getting the greenhouse ready to store your tropicals for winter. Before you know it, we’ll be ordering vegetable seeds and bulbs for our cut flower garden for next season. Reach out and let us know if you have any special requests. Our crop was very successful this year and we hope next year will be even better.
The holidays are right around the corner and we could not be more joyous. We love all seasons at SG, but the holidays and Christmas are “always top of mind and have a special place in our hearts” says Samantha. Samantha’s Gardens’ Christmas Shoppe and Tree Stand have grown every year, and this year it will be even bigger and better!
Santa will be here even earlier and is stopping by on November 26th. He will also make another appearance on December 3rd so please stop in with kiddos, pets, or just yourself, share a cup of hot cocoa, and catch up with our jolly friend Saint Nick. Thank you to Santa’s hard-working elves who make it possible for Santa to join us so much this season.
Similar to last year, we will be posting a schedule for our wreath-wrapping and many more decorating classes. There will be lots of activities and crafts for kids and adults to enjoy.
Welcome to the Team!
This spring and summer, SG had the amazing opportunity to add four new women to the team. Aislyn, Cailey, Karen, and Maritza are great additions to the team and we are excited for them to continue to learn and grow in your gardens.
Lastly, thank you for your patience and love this year. We have pointed out many highs and are thankful for this year’s blessings. There have been, however, many challenges business-wise and personally. Rain delays and cancellations marked this year. Tens of days this season were rained out. For the safety of our team, we had to call all of them. It greatly impacted our capacity to maintain current clients’ gardens and our ability to expand and take on new properties. Thank you to everyone on our waitlist for your patience. We are grateful for you and look forward to working with you soon!
If you have any questions about garden clippings, common pests, and important seasonal actions,
visit UMassAmherst’s Hort Notes.
Thank you for another amazing year and we look forward to many more!
Garden Blessings,
Samantha, Vlasta, and the whole team at Samantha’s Gardens
As I rolled up to work this morning with my four-legged squad in tow, I couldn’t help but chuckle at their hilarious antics. Sargent, the brave one, staked out his claim in the front seat while Lily sat up tall and proud in the back like a little school girl on a bus. Colby, on the other hand, looked like he hit the snooze button a few too many times and was sprawled across the back seat. But no matter – once we arrived at Samantha’s Gardens, they were all business.
So come on, Spring, let’s see what you’ve got – we’re ready for anything!
Spring Cleaning
It’s time for some serious spring clean ups over here at Samantha’s Gardens. We’re talking fertilizing, pruning, and mulching like there’s no tomorrow! And don’t even get us started on those gorgeous pansies and spring flowers that are about to make their grand entrance.
Easter Arrangements
Speaking of Easter, are you ready to hop to it? April 9th is right around the corner, so if you’re in the market for a beautiful arrangement, let us know ASAP. We’ve got everything you need to make your celebrations extra special. If you’re as excited as we are, click on over to our Easter arrangement samples and prepare to be dazzled.
In case you hadn’t heard, we’ve got a super fun contest going on over here at Samantha’s Gardens. If you’re hosting an Easter or Spring outdoor soiree or just enjoying some quality time around the fire pit or watching the kids on their Easter egg hunt, snap some pics and send them our way. We’re talking the more people, the better! We’re offering 50% off your next two containers for photos that help us build up our website and social media portfolios. So come on, get outside and show us how you’re using your gardens! And don’t worry, if you don’t want your face shown, we can blur it out on request. Let’s make some memories, folks.
Turf Troubles
If your turf took a beating from all that pesky snow, don’t fret. We’ve got some tips and tricks to help you get your turf back in the game. First things first, make sure to reach out to your snow plow company ASAP to request that they come back to fix any and all turf damage. Any large pieces of turf that have been rolled by the plow just simply need to be rolled back into place Next up, it’s time for some vigorous raking action. Say goodbye to all that matted or damaged grass foliage, and hello to a beautiful, healthy lawn. If your company isn’t providing this service, no worries – just give us a shout and we’ll get you on the schedule.
We’re ready to help you get that turf looking lush and lovely once again.
Peony Lovers, Get Ready
Peony Season is almost here! And to celebrate, we’ve got some seriously sweet wrought iron peony rings that are just dying to be added to your gardens. (see in the picture)
But here’s the thing – if you want those peonies to be supported in style, you’ve got to act fast. When these babies start popping up out of the ground we want to make sure they’re supported well before they get too big so they’ll stay looking their best. So let us know if you want some of this pretty, functional garden art in your life. Your peonies will thank you!
Bugging Out With Bill & Brian: Monthly Plant Health Care Update
Are you ready to bug out with Bill and Brian? ‘Cause we’ve got some seriously helpful tips to keep your trees and shrubs in tip-top shape this season.
While most tree and shrub insects are in the overwintering stage at this time of year, those pesky black-legged ticks (deer ticks) are going to be out anytime temperatures are above 32 degrees and they are looking for humans and other large animals to attach to through early spring. Keep this in mind when doing any early spring garden work or walking in brushy areas. Early Spring is also the time that Hemlock woolly adelgid is also hard at work laying eggs. If left untreated, hemlock woolly adelgid can kill hemlock trees, but don’t worry, we’ve got some serious solutions up our sleeves. Spring is the perfect time to break out the horticultural oil and get to work. We’re talking aphids, mites, and scale insects – they don’t stand a chance! So let’s get down to business and make sure those plants are thriving like never before. If you’re not sure where to start, just give us a holler. Our plant health care team is always here to help you bug out like a pro. Get useful facts and tips about tick bites and repellents from UMass.
Spring Containers
Oh boy, it’s time to get our container gardening on! We just made our first trip to the nursery and loaded up on a ton of springtime goodies. We’re talking pansies, nemesia, verbena, daffodils, and a whole lot more. And guess what? We are officially ready to get this container party started!
Our expert gardeners Eric and Jennifer are already rolling up their sleeves and getting down to business.
Greenhouse Diaries with Laurel
It’s time for another installment of Greenhouse Diaries with yours truly, Laurel. And let me tell you, things are really starting to sprout up in here! We’ve got baby plants galore – some of them just peeking out of the soil, while others are already tall enough to wear their first true leaves with pride. Our Zinnias were the first babies to make an appearance, but now we have more friends joining the party. I’ve already had to thin the Kale, the broccoli, beets, basil, and Karen and Emma’s fennel. Ed’s tomatoes are just starting to show. The peppers, which were the first seeds I planted, are finally starting to pop, and the shallots are all up. It’s like a big baby shower in the greenhouse, except instead of babies we’ve got a bunch of adorable little floral seedlings popping up. The marigolds are leading the pack – they’re the biggest and strongest of the bunch. But that’s not all! We’re also seeing the asters, snapdragons, hollyhocks, and seed dahlias all popping up. And if that’s not enough to get you excited, we’ve even potted our first crop of dahlias and we’re getting started on the perennials this week. So get ready to embrace the magic of these little plant babies. They may be small now, but they’re destined for greatness and may soon be the talk of your garden. Of course, it wouldn’t be a true greenhouse without a few overzealous plants trying to take over the joint. Our elephant ears are going wild and the giant Australian tree ferns are spreading pollen like it’s going out of style. And we have oranges, lemons, and figs galore. I am about ready to kick out the tropicals to make room for new plants!
Stay tuned for more updates from the wild world of our greenhouse. Who knows what kind of crazy plants we’ll be growing next!
Plan Your Raised Vegetable Beds
Have you been thinking about adding a raised vegetable bed to your garden this year? Look no further than our raised vegetable beds! Now is the perfect time to start planning and get everything set up so that you’re ready to plant when the season arrives. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to create your very own garden-to-table experience. Get ahead of the game and let us help you create the garden of your dreams!
SG Spring Squad Update
This week we welcomed a new Garden Apprentice to our team – Blake and a new Account Manager – Brian. We’re thrilled to have them on board and can’t wait to see what kind of magic they will bring to our gardens. And what better way to get to know each other than by doing a good old-fashioned team building day, the SG way? We decided to kick things off with spring cleaning and flower planting at the local library and firehouse. Not only does it feel great to get our community looking beautiful, but we also get to bond over our love of gardening. So let’s give a warm welcome to Blake and get ready for a bloomin’ good season ahead! That’s all for our April newsletter. We are all excited to be back, and Vlasta and I have missed everyone. And are very excited for 2023.
Look forward to visiting soon.
Garden Blessings, Samantha, Vlasta and the whole Team
