June News: Sterling Main Street Baskets, Giving Garden Update, Bud Tip, Perennial of the Week 2015
Sterling Main Street Baskets, Giving Garden, Bud Tip
Sterling Main Street Blooms
Last year Sterling Main Street asked Bud to help with their hanging baskets for the downtown. Working together with Janna Groharing, Director, Sterling Main Street, they tested out combinations and figured out what worked best and where.
Planning for the project began in early 2013, after an anonymous donation came in specifically for the purpose of lamppost flower baskets to be hung in downtown Sterling and ultimately along the 1st Avenue Bridge.
“Deciding on the baskets was the easy part”, says Janna Groharing. “We wanted something unique for our downtown.”
Team Effort
Bud and Janna looked into various basket styles and once they found the right one it was a go! Maintaining the baskets for the season was a big challenge and so they started small, and ordered 14 for 2014. They experimented with a variety of annuals to see which performed best.
Firehouse of God volunteers took on the big task of watering throughout the season. The project went well, and the baskets were a great addition to the downtown streetscape. This year the project expands with 17 additional baskets for a total of 31. Baskets go up in mid June. Plans for 1st Avenue Bridge are still in the works and may come in 2016.
Giving Garden Update
Giving Garden is now planted! If you stop in the shop and want to pass along a little good cheer pick up a Giving Garden Sticky for a buck, add a little note and stick it on the organization of your choice. Simple!
Perennial of the Week
As we transition into summer, each week we'll share on Facebook our favorite perennial of the week and tell you why we like it. First up for June is Caradonna Salvia. We have a beautiful stand of it on the southeast side of the shop. It's great for attracting monarchs and we just love it's erect and compact habit. The stems are purple and the flower starts off in a deep purple and opens to a beautiful blue as it ages. Deadheading will extend the already long bloom season for this wonderful perennial. Keep up with the latest on our Facebook page as we showcase what's blooming this summer.
Bud Tip:
My tip this month is on growing Milkweed. The two types we carry are suited for different locations. Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) is typically found in sandy and rocky areas with plenty of full sun. Select a site that has great drainage and full sun. If there is a lot of clay in the soil amend it with mushroom compost and/or sand before planting. This variety also is late to break dormancy in spring, just like Buddleia (Butterfly Bush) is too. Be patient and give it time to wake up when the soil starts to warm.
The next, Asclepias incarnata (Marsh Milkweed) loves a completely different location. Native to marsh areas, this one will do best if you give it a spot where it won't dry out. Think ditches, rain gardens, or next to ponds or streams, still sunny, just moist. Also, consider keeping 'incarnata' a bit isolated. It doesn't like being cramped with other plants near by.
DISTINCTIVE GARDENS
2020 Lowell Park Road
Dixon, IL
HOURS
By Appointment
Curbside Pick Up
Apr 1- May 31
Nov 15 to Dec 17
Wed, Fri & Sat 10:00 - 5:00
FAQs
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Curbside Pick Up
There are 8 tables that are assigned after your order is placed. We send out an appointment that details your time and table for pick up. Confirm this appointment.
Look for two emails:
- Order Confirmation
- Appointment Email
Appointments offered in 30 minutes appointment blocks. 1:00p, 1:30p etc.
We try to get as close to your preferred Pick Up time as possible. Please confirm by clicking "Confirm Booking" link in your Appointment Email.
If you need to change your appointment please call or message us on Facebook. Thanks!
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Delivery
Order Online. During checkout select "Delivery". Select your preferred date/time. Bud calls everyone to confirm. If you need a special date/time he'll take care of that request during the telephone call. Hope this helps!
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Redeeming Gift Card
During online checkout fill in the 16 digit number on the back of your gift card in the field that says, "Enter Gift Card Number"
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Redeeming Loyalty Points
Make sure you log in to your account in order to see and use your points.
Loyalty points show up during check out. If you have any to use you will see, "Pay Through Loyalty Point. Current Point Balance Is..."
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Ordering Online
We offer online shopping for curbside pick up or delivery depending on time of year.
Check out Instructions
- Select Pick Up or Delivery.
- Select preferred date/time.
- Order Confirmation
- Appointment Email
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Limited quantities. If you put multiples of an item you want and we only have one in stock an alert will pop up on the desktop site telling you it is out of stock. That means the quantity you selected is higher than the available inventory. For example, Tufa Troughs are all unique. There is only one of each. Each week we take an inventory and add back products that might show as sold out. We’re doing this so we don’t oversell by mistake. So our product availability will change weekly.
iPad shopping. We learned that the pop-up screen where you enter your credit card info was a problem for some. At times the credit card fields were way at the top of the screen and some could not see where to enter their information when shopping on an iPad. This happened especially when they had big orders. If you have problems please message our Facebook Page. We’re learning right along with you and want to help.
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VIP Pricing
Special Pricing. Every now and then we run thank you specials for our loyal customers. When we do, special pricing will show only for you once you log in to your account. This special is unique to you.
Instructions
How To Access Special “Thank You” Pricing
- Click “LOG IN”
Or…
If you didn’t create an account when you shopped,
- Click “Forgot Password”
- That will allow you to set up a password and create your account. Then log in. This will gain you access to special pricing.