Changing Perspectives…
Our new look at the Eaton Yard.
Working on improvements to help serve you better.
SNOW
We sure hope it does not snow too much. I am not shoveling!
Pumpkin Picking
Hard to believe the fall season has arrived; and with it brings warm apple cider, colorful autumn leaves, hayrides, 
apple pies, smoky bonfires, leaf piles, and PUMPKINS!
You’ll know it when you see it…the perfect pumpkin for carving your jack-o-lantern! Have you ever watched a family pick out their pumpkin? It’s quite a deliberated process! There are countless of locations to find pumpkins; but why not make it a memorable experience and take your family to a local farm, a pumpkin patch, or a fall festival?
If you’re specifically looking for a carving pumpkin, here are a few things to keep in mind, courtesy of allaboutpumpkins.com:
• Choose a pumpkin that feels firm and heavy for its size.
• Choose a pumpkin that has consistent coloring throughout.
• Turn the pumpkin over and place pressure on the bottom with your thumbs. If it flexes or gives your pumpkin is not fresh.
• Look for soft spots, mold, wrinkles or open cuts that would indicate damage or early spoilage.
• Choose a pumpkin with a solidly attached stem.
• A green stem indicates a freshly harvested pumpkin.
• Place your pumpkin on a flat surface to check to see if it will sit flat after being carved.
Once you’ve chosen a location to find your perfect pumpkin, call ahead and ask a few questions. When is the best time to come? Do they accept cash or credit? If visiting an actual pumpkin patch, do you need to bring your own knife or pruner? And if you’re planning on getting a few pumpkins, consider bringing a wagon along – easier to haul pumpkins and tired kids!
Enjoy all of the sights, sounds, and smells of this beautiful season!
End of the Season Sales
Heading back to school is a sign that summer is rapidly coming to an end. But it’s also a great time to score some deals on all sorts of merchandise. Make a list of items that you need (or want) for your garden and outdoor living space for next season. Just about all of the major retailers and locally-owned stores have begun marking down prices.
If you look around, you’ll probably be able to find almost every unaffordable plant that you wanted at the beginning of the summer at a price that will make the risk worth taking. 
Don’t let scraggly blooms deter you from purchasing. When it comes to perennials (like lilies, roses, hostas, etc.) the plant needs a strong root base, so don’t be overly concerned if the plant looks to be struggling a bit. (Retailers typically don’t water as often as they did earlier in the season.) Plant the roots as soon as you get home and give it plenty of water and plant food. It should bounce back beautifully in the spring. You should definitely avoid purchasing annuals, even if they’re dirt cheap. (No pun intended.)
Other end of season items you may wish to consider purchasing for the outdoors includes: patio furniture, grills and grilling supplies (charcoal, lighter fluid, etc.), lawn/garden ornaments, pool supplies and toys, grass seed, hedge trimmers, string trimmers, and fertilizers. As with any bigger purchase, make sure you have a place to store the items during the winter months.
Gardening for the Greater Good
If you’ve ever driven by a nursing home or an assisted living facility in the spring or summer months, you may notice 
a resident or two sitting outside enjoying the grounds. According to the University of Minnesota, “Roger Ulrich, a professor and director of the Center for Health Systems and Design at Texas A & M University, found that viewing natural scenes or elements fosters stress recovery by evoking positive feelings, reducing negative emotions, effectively holding attention/interest, and blocking or reducing stressful thoughts. When viewing vegetation as opposed to urban scenes, test subjects exhibited lower alpha rates which are associated with being wakefully relaxed.”
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to lend a hand in creating those therapeutic environments for our seniors?
Why not call a local nursing home or assisted living facility – perhaps they’re looking for individuals to water, weed, prune, plant and mulch to help maintain their gardens. Chances are, they’d be willing to work around your schedule if you’re willing to volunteer your time. Or, if you have a loved one in a facility right now, and they do not have a garden, consider spearheading the effort to create one. Given the benefits noted above, why not share your gift of gardening with others.
Not sure where to start? Here’s a helpful link to help you locate a nearby facility — https://www.caring.com/. You may also find some volunteer opportunities on this site — http://createthegood.org/
