Please keep your thoughts and prayers for the family of Curtis Murphy Jr. who passed away on Thursday, December 7, 2017. Curtis was 56. Curtis had been with Mike’s Garden Centers 21 years. He will be missed by all.

The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without a poinsettia or two to brighten your home. Our poinsettias are available in a range of colors from the palest of pink, to the deepest of red.

Chimenea CharmChimineas were first used in Mexico hundreds of years ago and are now popular throughout the world. Clay chimeneas are more appealing. The Mexican clay chiminea becomes a lovely accent piece for your home or garden. Even when not lit and being used, a chiminea is striking and is a unique décor item. Some folks never even light theirs, or actually use it as it is functionally intended. When they are lit, the colors and warmth are sure to captivating. An added feature that is wonderful in the chiminea design is the smokestack in the design, which will keep the smoke up and above you and your guests. You will not be smothered in smoke, or have your clothing smelling of smoke when you use your chimenea.

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING Everyone has a neighbor, babysitter, friend, work associate, postal carrier, fellow club member, or someone they want to remember at the holidays, but do not want to “break the bank” to do so. Treasures from the garden are often exchanged without fanfare-seeds bulbs tucked into ho-hum bags or envelopes. But with the holidays coming, now is the perfect time to dress them up a bit and delight everyone on your list with a gift that keeps on giving and giving. Plant some paperwhite or narcissus bulbs, amaryllis, or tulips in a shallow bowl or pot of gravel with the tops peeking out and they can be forced to bloom in time for the holiday giving and table centerpieces. After tops of bulbs begin to grow and get 6 to 8 inches tall, tie a red ribbon around the whole groups of shoots about 3 to 4 inches above soil level. This gives foliage and blooms enough support to keep them upright until blooms are spent for the season as well as adds a decorative touch to the plant. A trendy way to give bulbs and seed and other small gardening items is to choose a small terra cotta pot and top it with and inverted clay saucer to make a cap or lid. Tuck the items you want to give away inside the pot with the “lid”. Green garden twine of raffia tied around entire container is the perfect finishing touch-no need to gift wrap! When giving unplanted seeds or bulbs, remember to include planting and care instructions in the pot for maximum enjoyment of your gift. Stop by any Mike’s Garden Centers and pick up a container of mixed plantings in holiday décor, cyclamen, Christmas cactus, or poinsettia in red, pink or white for those party holiday get-togethers that you need to take a little hostess gift to. We can make your offering look festive and bright you and your hosts will remember you long after the holidays for the gift that kept on giving!

We are never going to give up on looking for Sammy. If anyone has any information or has seen him, please call Mike’s Garden Center 817-293-8800. He was last seen in the Edgecliff area near the Fort Worth store. There is a reward for Sammy. It is time for his yearly check-up and he is missed dearly.