We still have a great supply of garden mums although during these rainy days, one is not thinking of planting mums. Hopefully the rain will end before long and we'll have a beautiful Thanksgiving and a few nice weeks before winter sets in.
Like I said earlier, we have a nice selection of mums as well as a 3 for $10 section in the parking lot. These are mums that aren't quite as large and maybe more out in colour or have some sort of imperfection. It's still a great deal though, if you want some colour for the fall and decorating around your home. Lots of different shades of bronze, yellows, reds, purples and whites. Colour is in the eye of the beholder- the colour rust to one person might be burgundy to another!
Here are some tips on overwintering mums.
* Keep your garden soil moist as winter approaches. (not a problem right now!)
*Water well after planting. The earlier you can plant them, the better. There is no need to fertilize.
* Don't prune back plants after they are done blooming, leave until spring.
*Mulch the plants after several hard frosts with straw, bark or evergreen branches etc. only after the ground begins to freeze. If rodents are a problem in your garden, avoid the use of straw. Good snow cover is the best winter protection, so try and plant mums in areas that are better protected from strong winds.
*In the spring, remove any old garden mum stems (a rake works fine) and gradually remove the mulch.
poinsettias go out between Nov 27 and the middle of December with a few late orders just before Christmas day. This year we've had a very busy few weeks and are thankful for a great team to work with! Danielle is our "almost" year-round employee, working 5 days a week steadily completing whatever task needs to be done. Darren is part time, starting in the spring and usually working until the fall work is done. This year we kept him a little longer. Our other part time employees that help us out this time of year are Emmy, Kalli, Samantha and Sheri. (Thanks also to my mom who volunteers her time to help us out for a couple of days.) We are so thankful for the great people that work for us, we couldn't do it without them!
Our Candlelight weekend was a great success! Thanks to everyone who came out and especially those who braved the rain on Sunday afternoon. We are already making plans for next years event! 
If you are thinking about decorating outside during this "warmer" weather, (by that I mean no snow☺) Huron Ridge is the place to go! We have cedar roping, bunches of various greens grown right here in northern Ontario, Cranberry Dogwood, winter planters, ribbon and soon we'll have wreaths in 3 different sizes.
The greens were picked up on Friday so we've been sorting and bunching getting them ready for you!
The beginnings of spring! 
Acti-sol granular Hen Manure is used in much the same way. It comes in a milk-size carton and to apply you just sprinkle on top of soil. I've tried this on my perennial beds to keep the squirrels from digging in them and burying walnuts and it really does work! The squirrels don't like the smell or texture. As the Acti-sol dissolves, it fertilizes your plants and soil. It's natural and safe for children and pets. See their website http://www.acti-sol.ca/
kale, ornamental peppers, or some type of trailing perennial. A grass in the middle always looks nice and adds height. So be creative and create a masterpiece!
We are doing a special promotion this fall to help support the London Regional Cancer clinic. With your purchase of "Colourful Companions" tulip bulbs or a "Remember Me " hosta, we will donate $1 or $2. This is done in memory of the loved ones we have lost.
Icicles Pansies have arrived! Plant now for fall and spring colour! These plants overwinter and will poke their heads up early in the spring giving you great colour in April and May. Depending on the weather they will last well into the summer and if you're lucky, give you colour next fall too! These cheery blooms add additional colour to any fall planter!
Check out the website http://www.iciclepansy.com/
