With Thanksgiving this week, we are officially into the holiday swing of things. I love this time of year, but I know how crazy it can be. There’s even a term for it – “festive stress.” So what do we need to do to make the holidays a little more merry and a lot less hairy? Here are a few of my tried and true tips to relax and enjoy the season.

• Avoid the three o’s. It can be a challenge not to overschedule, overindulge or overspend during the holidays, but if you manage to do it, your mind, body and credit card statement will thank you.
• Think of your holiday shopping as an event to be experienced, not a chore to check off your to-do list. Of course, part of that has to do with where you shop – we try to make things very “mellow” at Warner’s, even on Black Friday.
• Deck Your Halls. Yes, there is work involved in dressing up your home, but it’s so worth it. The tree, the stockings on the mantle, the wreath on the door, the garland wrapping around the stairwell, the poinsettias – make your home a showcase of all the holiday things you love!
• Let others help you. Have your friends or relatives bring a dish or two, so the whole holiday meal isn’t on your shoulders. If someone offers to wrap the gifts, cheerfully hand over the tissue paper and tape. Have your Christmas tree delivered straight to your door, so you don’t have the hassle of trying to get it home.
• Whether its weight training, long walks or yoga, don’t take a holiday from your healthy routines. They will help your stamina, counteract any extra holiday eating you do, and keep stress at bay.
• Manage Expectations – Don’t put yourself under the pressure of making the holidays perfect for you and your family. There is so much to celebrate and be grateful for when you are with your loved ones. Why waste time and energy on “perfect” – whatever that means.

The holidays are special for many reasons. Top among them is the chance to cherish long-held family traditions and enjoying time spent with our loved ones. We hope you take advantage of all of the joys this season holds. And from our family to yours, Happy Holidays!

It’s only a couple of weeks away; the Christmas trees are coming.

For many of us, that jewel of spruce, fir or pine twinkling with lights and decked out with treasured ornaments is the centerpiece of our holiday celebrations.

But every year families throughout our nation go through the big debate – get a live tree or an artificial one. We hear from folks who are worried that getting a tree is less environmentally responsible than buying an artificial one. That way, the argument goes, you only buy one tree and aren’t helping denude the forests for the holidays.

For those of you concerned about having a real Christmas tree and its effects on the environment, here’s a couple of things to consider.

• Most artificial trees use polyvinyl chloride, a non-biodegradable compound that produces carcinogens during the tree manufacturing process and when it’s disposed. (On average, artificial Christmas trees last about five to seven years).
• Most artificial trees are produced in China, so shipping them here also adds to their carbon footprint.
• Cut Christmas trees are typically not being chopped down in a forest near you; from Oregon to North Carolina, Christmas trees are grown on farms as a sustainable crop. A single Christmas tree farm can absorb a ton of CO2, plus each acre of trees produces enough oxygen to meet the daily needs of 18 people!
• Most cut Christmas trees are recycled.

And if you really want to be pro-environment, how about a potted Christmas tree? Bring it into your home, decorate it and when the holidays are over, plant it in your backyard (and if you don’t have the room to plant it, call your local parks and rec department or nonprofit group that could use a tree – they’d probably appreciate the donation).

For me, the real argument for a live tree is tradition.

It doesn’t feel like Christmas without that rich evergreen smell in the house from a live tree, garland, and wreath. Placing ornaments and lights on those soft, supple bristles is just more rewarding than decorating an artificial tree. And then there’s the tradition of a fun night out with my family, bundled up in our coats and scarves, finding that perfect tree to grace our home this season. It just feels more in keeping with the holidays than hauling an artificial tree out of the garage!

We’ll be getting our selection of cut and potted trees the week of Thanksgiving.

Look forward to seeing you soon,

Misti

So why put a coffee shop inside of a nursery?

Back when my husband, Dan, and I started to get involved in the management of Warner’s Nursery & Landscaping, my Dad sent the two of us on a tour of garden centers in England. It was an amazing trip, and one thing I noticed was that many of these gardening stores had restaurants or tea and coffee shops right inside the nursery.

The mix of gardening and coffee isn’t as popular in the U.S., but the idea of having a coffee shop here at Warner’s always stayed with me. I think that with the crazy hours we work, particularly in the spring, the idea of having a coffee shop right here so I can get a caffeine fix without leaving the premises was really appealing!

For several years, as I was traveling for work or pleasure, I’d write down things I liked about different coffee shops – the displays, the signage, the menu items, the seating – all with the thought that, someday, Warner’s would open its own coffee place.

Finally, the timing seemed right. It was during our slow time in winter. There were no big projects on the horizon and I wanted to keep my team busy. Most of the work creating Dottie’s was done by our staffers, with me trying my hand at being a general contractor. It was both thrilling and terrifying, but it turned out great!

And then I found out something funny – I knew exactly how our space it should look, but nothing about operating a coffee shop!

Thank goodness for Marni and our niece, Amanda. They picked out the espresso machine, the grinder, and the other equipment we needed. Amanda had experience in the industry, so she developed our operations manual and inventory plan. They also hooked us up with a local coffee vendor, the amazing Matador Coffee.

So we had the space, the equipment, and the coffee – now all we needed was a name.

Everyone loved my grandmother, Dot. She started Warner’s Nursery back in 1970 and even after she retired, I remember her coming in to check that everything was running smoothly. She noticed every detail and wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty to ensure success. I wanted to honor the fact that none of us would have this amazing life and company if it weren’t for her. A friend of ours who knew our grandma and used to work at Warner’s came up with the perfect name that captured everything I wanted it to be – Dottie’s Garden Coffee Shoppe.

What makes me so happy about Dottie’s (besides having high-quality coffee on demand when I need to refuel) is that creating it was a real family and friend affair.

From Dan and his landscaping crew constructing the counter and installing the new flooring and tile, to our niece sharing her expertise, to friends old and new helping out, starting Dottie’s was an amazing collaborative experience.

I feel it every time I see someone sitting down with a cup of our coffee. I hope you can taste the love in every cup. And I know my grandmother would be proud.

Hugs,
Misti

PS – Our coffee shop is open every day from 8 am to 4 pm.

Do you love being outside during fall as much as I do?

What’s not to love – turning Aspen trees, crisp mornings, fresh apple cider (and, wow, did we have a bumper crop of apples this year!)

And even while we are cleaning up our gardens in preparation of winter, there’s still some planting that can be done so that we can squeeze every minute of outdoor living before the really cold weather arrives.

If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to get those bulbs into the ground for next spring. Spring blooming bulbs need to be planted in the fall because they require a long period of cool temperatures to spark the biochemical process that causes them to flower. But you can’t wait too long, because you need to get them in before the ground freezes.

Fall is also a great time to get trees and perennials planted. I know the temptation might be to wait until next year, but there are a lot of advantages to getting them into the ground now. You’ll get more growth out of the plant next year if they are planted in the fall. Also, there’s less up-front care that is required when you plant this time of year.

Plus, any excuse to be outside before it snows is a good idea!

If you need another excuse to play outside during Autumn, mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 20, when we’ll be holding our Warner’s Annual Fall Festival from 10 am to 2 pm. It’s a family-friendly annual celebration of Autumn with lots of fun activities (hay maze, pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, face-painting, Kiddie Caboose, a bouncy house if it’s not too windy), refreshments and more.

Hope you are enjoying your Fall and we hope to see you soon at Warner’s Nursery.

Happy Gardening,
Misti

I love the crew at Warner’s Nursery.

We are so fortunate to have such an amazing management team. They are big believers in figuring out new ways to reach our customers and seize on new, fun ideas that keep us fresh and relevant.

Which is why I’m so proud of our newest innovation – Warner’s on Wheels.

We brainstormed the idea one day and before we knew it, we were the proud owners of a kidney-shaped concession truck that will allow us to bring our nursery to you!

Going mobile will allow us to expand our educational outreach programs to schools and other organizations. It will also allow us to be part of events that we love.

For example, the Warner’s on Wheels wagon will be making its debut at next month’s First Friday Art Walk on the evening of Oct. 5. We’ll be in the parking lot just outside of Mother Road Brewing on Mikes Pike (many, many thanks to them for partnering with us!)

We’ll have an assortment of small pots and some succulents to check out, plus we’ll be giving away Warner’s nursery coupons.

So stop by for an artisan brew at Mother Road Brewing and come say hi as we launch Warner’s on Wheels.

Summer’s on its way out and the cooler evenings are forcing us back inside.

Which makes this the perfect time to talk about the unsung heroes of our homes and offices – the humble houseplant.

Plants in your home or where you work have lots of terrific benefits for your physical and emotional health. Because houseplants breathe in the carbon dioxide we give off, it’s pretty obvious that we need them around. But houseplants also work to remove many airborne toxins from the air as well.

Then there are the psychological benefits. According to an article published this year in Psychology Today, studies show that having potted plants around – particularly green, leafy ones – have a calming effect that can boost our mood, our creativity and even how well we interact with others.

Not to mention that there are so many different ways to display plants in your home. In addition to the almost endless variety of traditional plant containers, there are terrariums, hanging kokedama (Japanese-style plants in circular moss balls), even glass beakers, like the one I have on my desk with succulents in it. A friend of mine recycled a purse she wasn’t using anymore and turned it into a planter.

If you are new to houseplants, there are some ones that are pretty fool-proof like succulents, pothos or spider plants. Spiders and golden pothos are also among the plants recommended for their air-cleaning benefits. Others are:

• Philodendron (many varieties)
• Dracaena (many varieties)
• English Ivy
• Mother in law’s tongue
• Peace Lily
• Chinese Evergreen

To get the full benefits of houseplants you want to have enough around that you can see one or two from pretty much anywhere in your house, but not so many that it feels cramped. I’d recommend about 15 or so for a home of 2,000-square-feet.

It’s late summer and the tendency is to slow down our gardening efforts. We are harvesting from our veggie gardens, but with the shorter days and kids back at school, our gardens aren’t the high priority they once were.

But transitioning from summer to fall can be incredibly rewarding, and I’d hate for you to miss the opportunity of enjoying the unique joys of this season – not to mention getting your bulbs in for spring.

So here are some items that you should think about as summer turns to fall:

Great fall perennials: The classic, of course, is the wonderful mum, but there are also “tall fall” sedums, Rudbeckia, and gorgeous asters in pinks, whites, and purples.

Cool season veggies: We have a great environment in Northern Arizona for favorites like spinach, broccoli and kale. This is when they need to be planted so they can flourish.

Ornamental grasses: Try some Micanthus, Red Fountain Grass or Japanese sweet flag to put the thrill back in your “thrill, fill, spill” container. (Thrill is your centerpiece, fill is to fill it in and spill are the plants you add to spill over the sides.)

Bulbs for spring: Bulbs will be in stock in early September. Start thinking about where you want to see those tulips, irises, and crocuses next spring and stock up on bulbs next month.

I hope you have an awesome time finding those fall jewels that will extend your enjoyment of this year. Remember, there are still several weeks for you to enjoy the color (and flavor) that can come from your own backyard.

Happy gardening!
Misti

Psst – While I’ve got you thinking about fall, here’s a Save the Date for your calendar: Warner’s Nursery will be holding its Family Fall Festival on Saturday, October 20. Full of activities for the kids, refreshments, and lots of fun. Another reason to love fall.

All the signs of the end of summer are popping up.

The mornings are getting crisp; the kids are getting ready to head back to school; and some of those lovely flowers you planted in your garden are looking a little – well, done.

But don’t give up on summer yet! We haven’t even gotten to Labor Day Weekend, for goodness sakes!

These are actually some of the best days of summer – the monsoon rains have made everything seem cool and fresh. Your veggie garden is overflowing. You’ve probably already had your vacation and are refreshed and rejuvenated.

Here are some ways that my family and I are planning to celebrate these last weeks before gearing up for fall:

1. 1. Barbeque – Since the monsoons have arrived, it’s finally felt safe to really enjoy a barbeque; the first part of summer was so dry and the danger of wildfire so prevalent we really couldn’t. It’s a great excuse to gather the kids in the backyard for a few games while dinner is on the grill.
   2. Freshening up the garden – Most of your garden is probably doing fine, but it’s likely that some of your annuals have either exhausted their blooms or gotten overwatered in the monsoons. Grab a few six packs of things like portulaca or diamond frost euphorbia and use them to patch up sections of your garden. They are great late summer plants and can tolerate any end of season hot spells we get.
   3. Hiking – We are lucky to live in a place where we are spoiled for choice in terms of hiking. Buffalo Park. Fat Man’s Loop. The Arizona Trail. And if you are looking for a great hike with a purpose, there’s still time to sign up for the American Cancer Society ‘Climb to Conquer Cancer’ fundraiser on August 18 – six and a half miles of scenic beauty up Snowbowl Road with a party at the top!
   4. Spend every moment you can outside. No, summer isn’t over, but it is in limited supply. The days are getting shorter, the temperatures will soon drop and the holidays will be here before you know it. So make hay while the summer sun shines.

I hope you fully enjoy this last phase of Summer 2018. Remember, if you ever need assistance with your garden or outdoor space, we’re here to help.

Happy gardening,
Misti

Around this time every year, it occurs to me that possibly the most important thing about your garden space is not how it looks or what you are growing, but that it be the place where you take full advantage of how summer seems to slow things down and make our lives less hectic.

Now I realize that’s a little ironic for me to say – summer is our busiest time. The whole Warner’s team is going full speed ahead at the nursery and  I’m working some of my longest days during this season.

But in other ways, summer allows me to kick back.

First off, my three boys are home and my husband and I aren’t juggling endless logistical questions (Whose picking them up from school? Can you take them to practice?) And – big bonus – for a few blessed weeks, we don’t have to be the heavies who hound them about doing their homework. Yay!

Summer always makes me feel like I have more time to do things (I think this has to do with sunset being later – it feels like I get an extra hour or two to my day!) The pace just feels more manageable. Even if I’m putting in a lot of time in our own garden, the work just feels peaceful and relaxing.

Best of all, that work creates a space that lets you reconnect. Inviting friends over for a glass of ice tea or lemonade (or, let’s be honest, wine and beer) is awesome, and you get to show off all your hard work.

A nice outdoor space is also a great way to get the kids outside and away from the various digital screens. Our boys may hate the yard work, but they love the lawn games and water balloon fights we have in our backyard.

A couple of Sundays ago, my family was having breakfast under the arbor in our yard and my 16-year-old said, out of nowhere, “I really love our yard.”

That reminded me again why we all work to create these wonderful outdoor spaces – to take advantage of summer, slow down our hectic lifestyles and get back to what’s real and important; face-to-face time with loved ones in a relaxing and beautiful space.