1. What we learned (among many other things, but here's the top two): If you are a Dramm customer, you may know that most of their products are guaranteed a lifetime.  Used to be that we directed people to Dramm's website to make returns on the rare faulty product, but now you can just bring it to your favorite Dramm retailer (us). Nice that we can be part of the support system of a product we endorse.            The other bit of news is that St. Gabriel Organics Milky Spore has a 10 - 15 year turf life.  So if you are experiencing the Japanese Beetle, you need only do the recommended application.  The grubs eat the bacteria and then release more of it during their demise.  For more specific info, here's the product link: http://www.stgl.us/gstore/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=44&idproduct=4006

2. Her name was LOLA! She was an art crawl! And she's coming to the store, this Saturday and more!

The annual Longfellow art crawl is this weekend. We are featuring seven fabulous artists with products ranging from Botanically Inspired Fashion to Garden Art from Reclaimed Materials. And lots in between. The rainbow sale continues unabated during all this art partying, with sunny yellow as the color of the week starting Friday the 27th. 25% off all yellow items, yellowish items, plants that turn yellow in the fall, etc...

The artists in the art crawl are separate entities and are therefore not included in the sale.

3. Garlic is on its way, should be here for fall planting any day now. We have some lovely asters in bloom, mums in another week, spring flowering bulbs in September. We have kale and swiss chard on the way, spinach, lettuce and arugula after Labor Day.  We are ordering in herbs in larger pots weekly; it's nice to have some fresh cilantro, oregano or basil with all that late summer produce.

4. Quick Garden Notes: Early September is a great time to: Divide and move perennials, plant trees and shrubs, draw a layout or photograph your garden to record what worked and what didn't, start moving houseplants in (check for critters in the soil, I've been sad in the past when I haven't), apply corn gluten meal on your lawn.  If you are planning on overseeding your yard, remember corn gluten lasts 5 to 6 weeks and will kill all pre emergent seed, including grass. Still, some say only to seed your lawn in months that start with "Sep"...