The Garden Enthusiast- Backyard
Nature Station Update
January 2013
Fellow Backyard
Nature Lovers,
A new year with opportunity to grow, change, add new
hobbies and interests or just enjoy the ones you currently have. A new year for
us too as we look at the same opportunities for growth and change. One of the additions
we are making available immediately is the opportunity to look through nature
related catalogs in the store for more products. Find something, fill out a
special request form and we�ll get it in for you. We�ll add more as time goes
on to give you increasing opportunities. We�ll share our other new ideas for
2013 in upcoming months. Do you have a suggestion for us, please let us know.
We really do appreciate your feedback and want to be YOUR store to go to for
your �Backyard Nature� supplies and gifts.
We have had many requests to have the store open
on Mondays. In order to do this we have made the decision to close on Sundays. Monday, February 4th we will begin
opening on Mondays from 10-6. We will no longer be open on Sundays after this Sunday,
January 27th.
From
Our Customers
Mary called on December 21st to
report a hummingbird at her feeder. She had never had one in December before.
She encourages everyone to keep their feeders out for the unusual opportunity
to enjoy these delightful birds during the winter. They
will also come to your flowering plants or shrubs such as camellias for their
sustenance. The Ruby-throated hummingbird, which is the only one that nests in
Georgia, usually won�t come back until March and leaves by mid-October. The
ones that you might see during the winter are generally western species such as
the Rufous, Black-chinned, or Calliope hummingbirds. There have been rarer
sightings of other species. It may be worth it to put your feeder out and bring
it in at night to keep it from freezing on the few nights we get below 32
degrees.
Thanks, Mary for sharing!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The winner of the Christmas gift basket was Diana Wood.
Congratulations Diana!
It seems like it was just Christmas but we�re only a couple of
weeks away from Valentine�s Day. Where does the time go? �Set the mood� this Valentine�s Day with a table fountain,
fire pot, or wind chime. They are 15%
off through February 14th.
Classes & Events
What
fun! Join us on February 5th for a Mardi
Gras mask making event led by Jeanne George from 5:30 � 7pm. $30/person
includes materials, wine and light munchies. If you have children who might be
interested in a class on mask making, let me know ASAP and we�ll set up a class
for them also. Sign up now by
calling the store at 404-474-7072.
What's New in
the Store?
Birding:
10,000 ct dried meal worms, bird feeders,
nesting boxes, birdbaths and waterers; hooks, window feeders and
window nesting boxes
Garden
art: Chimes, wall art from Cricket Forge � maker of the unique butterfly bench;
large wood/glass terrariums by special order by local artists Diannah and Greg
Williams - see the window display
Miscellaneous:
Small gift and wine totes, mugs, mouse pads,
puzzles
Children:
Sticker sheets, weather station kit,
tornado maker, cosmic rocket kit, puzzles
Upcoming Event on Main Street
The following
event is sponsored by the Old Town Tucker Merchant�s Association (OTTMA).
Proceeds benefit the Main Street District and the Dekalb Rape Crisis Center.
Saturday,
March 16 - Chili Cook-off
Last year's inaugural
Chili Cook-Off was a great success. Join us for 2013�s which will be even
bigger and better! Participants are now invited to register. The award
categories are Best Individual/Team Chili, People's Choice, and Best Restaurant
Chili. This year a new category is being added to the contest: Best
Booth. Judging criteria will include booth decoration,
costumes, choreographed dance routines and anything
else you can think of to
differentiate yourself from the competition. There is a $30 entry fee for
individuals and teams, and a $50 entry fee for restaurants. March 1 is the
deadline for registration. Contestants will need to
bring five gallons of chili to serve. The Cook-Off will raise funds for the DeKalb Rape Crisis Center which provides direct services, prevention education, and
advocacy for youth and adult survivors of sexual assault. The public entry fee
is $5 and grants access to all the chili in competition, as well as a vote for
the People�s Choice prize. Local No.7 will provide drinks. The live music
line-up will be announced soon. [email protected]
Old
Town Tucker Update
New at Sweet Dee's Bakeshop,
every Wednesday is gluten-free day and every Thursday is pie
day! So in addition to your favorites, come check out their new
selections. And as a way to say thank you to all of their loyal
customers, they are launching a loyalty program through SpotOn. Each time
you visit Sweet Dee's you'll earn a Spot either via smartphone app or
in-store that can be used toward dee-licious treats!
Community Events and
Spirit
Monday, January 28th
at 6PM: The DeKalb Master Gardener Association will have a presentation
entitled "A Winter Day in My Garden" by Jack
Driskell. A self-proclaimed "plant nerd," Jack
is also a Georgia Master Gardener in Cobb County and has served as a district
director for the Georgia Master Gardener Association. For a preview of
what you can expect to see and hear about, see this HGTV article. DMGA meetings are held at the Northlake - Barbara Loar Branch of the DeKalb County Public Library at 3772 Lavista Road,
Tucker, GA 30084. Click here for a map of the library's
location. There is no charge or pre-registration for these educational
programs.
Friday, February 15th
at 3:30 PM: Georgia Master Gardeners of
DeKalb are planning an Arbor Day event at Trees of Tucker to dedicate newly planted trees. These native trees will further enhance the TOT site. All
interested in an urban forest are invited. Event will be held in the rear
parking lot of the Tucker Recreation Center at 4898 Lavista Rd. For questions,
contact Lee at [email protected].
Saturday, February 23rd from 10am to 1PM: Tucker
Civic Association�s February Give-an-Hour will be held at Johns Homestead Park.
Focus will primarily be on the grounds around the homestead. Help pull privet
and invasives from the woods surrounding the house, work on the
out-buildings, and if it is warm
enough, paint the exterior of the house. For more information,
contact [email protected]. Please park at Rehoboth Baptist Church and walk the 1/2 block up
Lawrenceville Hwy to the homestead. Bring your work gloves, rakes, hedge
trimmers, etc.
GARDENING
February is the time to start your seeds.
Seeds such as peppers and eggplant take about 6 weeks to grow from seed to
transplant size, while tomatoes take about 6 weeks. When seedlings form their
third set of true leaves, it�s time to transplant them to individual
containers. It will also be time to make early plantings of carrots, collards,
lettuce, radishes, spinach and turnips.
BIRDING
Come in to Win
a Free Feeder
Again this year, Brome will be
giving away 120 Squirrel Buster Mini�s, 18 Squirrel Buster Peanut+ and 12
Squirrel Buster Plus. 3 Squirrel Buster Mini�s are drawn each day for 40
consecutive days � 120 feeders in all - starting Tuesday February 19th;
Weekly draws of 3 Squirrel Buster Peanut+ are drawn each Saturday for 6
consecutive weeks � 18 feeders in all - starting February 23rd; 12 Grand Prize
draws of a Squirrel Buster Plus will be drawn on Saturday March 30tht.
Customers who visit The Garden
Enthusiast � Backyard Nature Station and spend $25 will
receive our unique store code starting February 11th. Once you have
received our unique store code, enter the code via Brome�s Facebook, Web page or
by simply calling Brome Bird Care�s toll free number.
Brome will contact us with the
customer�s contact information and then we get in touch with the winners. Brome
Bird Care will follow up with the winner to make sure everything went well. The
feeder is shipped to our store for you and we arrange with you to pick it up. Once
the Free Feeder draw is over on March 30th, Brome will delete and destroy all
of the customer information.
Bird of the Month: Great Horned Owl
�
Great Horned Owls are one of the largest of North American owls �
about the size of a Red-tailed Hawk.
�
Found from the Arctic tundra to the tropical rainforest, from the desert
to suburban backyards, the Great Horned Owl is one of the most widespread and
common owls in North America.
�
It is the only animal that regularly eats skunks.
�
The Great Horned Owl is a regular victim of harassment from flocks
of American Crows. Crows congregate from long distances to mob owls, and may
continue yelling at them for hours. The enmity of the crows is well earned;
however, as the owl is probably the most important predator on adult crows and
nestlings.
Hope to see you
soon,
Linda, Brittany,
Jessica, Jeremy, Stephen & Greyson
The Garden Enthusiast - Backyard
Nature Station
2316 D Main Street
Tucker, GA 30084
Hours: Tuesday � Saturday 10am � 6PM
Sunday 12PM - 5PM (Closed � January
27th will be our last open Sunday)
Monday Open (Open 10-6 beginning
February 4th)
Contact us at 404-474-7072 or [email protected] � we love to get
your feedback!
Like us on facebook!
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