Father's Day Flowers

Having a difficult time finding the perfect gift for Dad? Send flowers this year!

Flowers don't have to be pink and feminine - our designers are experts at creating unique arrangements for men.
What does your Dad love?

If Dad loves to barbeque, send him the "King of the Grill" Bouquet in a decorative Weber grill! After the flowers expire, he can use his mini grill for a snack holder, a condiment holder or a clever decoration!

If Dad loves to golf, we can incorporate golf balls and a golf theme into a floral arrangement.

If Dad loves to garden, we have an impressive selection of annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs that could add color and pizazz to any area of his garden.

If Dad loves the Cubs, send him Speaking Roses with the Cubs logo or a decorative Cubs bench for his garden!

We're here to help you find the perfect gift for Dad. Let us know how we can help!

Garden Club

If you missed our Garden Club meeting last night, we didn't want you to miss out on all the great advice that was given! Schaefer employees, Brett Schaefer, Kandy Keeling and John Curry answered our questions, and Jeremy from Neudorff Natural Gardening also contributed to our conversation.

How do I stop killing my Rosemary? It's very easy to over water herbs - they actually like a dryer environment. If you have trouble with yellowing leaves in your garden, try watering them less! Basil likes more water than others, and it is actually a natural insecticide around the base of the tomatoes!

How do I keep the bunnies out of my garden? The best repellent around vegetable gardens is a small fence. You can also try repellent sprays, and we carry several different brands of those. Usually, you want to create a perimeter around the area you'd like to protect, and we recommend reapplying after heavy rain or watering. We are carrying a new repellent called Joy's Bunny Buster, which is manufactured in Naperville by a stay-at-home-mom! It's made of all natural ingredients, and you spray it directly on the plant/flower.

My Gardenia needs help! Gardenias like acidic soil and lots of sun. Also try fish emulsion fertilizer. Azaleas like acidic soil, too!

Is there organic insect killer? Try Earth-tone's Insecticidal Soap. It kills on contact and is an all natural product. Also, try Earth-tone's 4 in 1 Weed Control for a natural way to spot treat your weeds.

Never spray plants with any treatments when the sun is out or when it's over 85 degrees!

Planting tip - Use Bonide Root & Grow to encourage new root growth!

Our next Garden Club meeting will be Thursday, June 9th at 7pm. Hope to see you there!

It's time to plant your veggie garden! We've been receiving many phone calls from beginner vegetable gardeners, and we're here to help you! We're excited that many of you are trying this out for the first time, and we know that you will be pleasantly surprised with your results. Vegetable gardening is not as difficult as it seems. Here are a few simple guidelines.

• Select a location with at least 6 hours of sun each day.


• Mix the soil with mushroom compost (for nutrients) and peat moss (to lighten soil for root growth).


• Decide which crops you'd like to plant. Follow labels on seed packets and pots for proper distance between crops. If you're a beginner and looking for something easy, try tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, radishes and green beans. Also try tasty herbs like chives, parsley, cilantro and thyme. We're here to help with your selection!


• Protect crops from rodents. If you have rabbits in your yard, you might want to set up a small fence or just use a rabbit repellent.


• Water regularly


• Pick ripened crops frequently to encourage more production.

If you don't have much space for a vegetable garden, you can grow veggies in patio pots or even in small groupings around your pre-existing landscape.

Soon you'll be harvesting delicious produce from your own garden. There's nothing like the taste of freshly picked veggies! Enjoy!

Choosing the Perfect Mother's Day Flowers

Surprise Mom with a beautiful floral gift from Schaefer's this year! Our designers can create something special and unique to show Mom how much you care. Let us help you pick the perfect gift with a few helpful tips!

• Send Mom Flowers at Work! Don't wait until the weekend ... spoil her in front of all of her co-workers! She can enjoy her bouquet at work for a few days and then bring it home for Mother's Day Weekend.


• Include Mom's Favorite Flower. Lilies, Orchids, Gerbera Daisies, Tulips - we've got all of her favorites! She'll be impressed that you remembered!


• Choose Flowers in Mom's Favorite Color. If she loves purples, our designers can create a stunning monochromatic bouquet in a purples for her.


• Add a Special Message. With our new Speaking Roses, we can emboss any message on a rose. Say "I Love You, Mom," or "You're the Best!" We can even customize messages!


• Is Mom a Gardener? Let us deliver a beautiful patio pot or hanging basket to her. We could also design a basket of outdoor perennials, annuals and garden accents that she can enjoy in her garden all season long!


• Add Some Sweets! We carry handmade Sweet Shop Chocolates, and who doesn't love chocolate? We also carry wine, cookies and an assortment of delicious gourmet items.


• Include Special Momentos. If Mom has a favorite photo or trinket, bring it in! Our designers can include anything in a floral arrangement.


• Give her a Shopping Spree! If you can't decide what to get, we always have gift cards available in any dollar amount!

Mom deserves the best, and we're here to help make your gift as special as possible! For a full selection of Mom's favorites, visit our website at http://www.mothers-day-flowers-by-schaefers.com/.

Keep your Easter Lily Blooming!

When your Easter Lily is finished blooming, don't throw it away! Plant it in your garden and enjoy its blooms for years to come! It's simple ...

• Maintain plant indoors until the danger of frost has passed. Cut off Lily blooms as they expire.


• Find a sunny site with well drained soil. If soil is dense, add amendments.


• Plant at same depth as pot.


• Add 2 inch layer of organic mulch around base of plant. Lilies love sun but still need cool soil.


• Cut off any old flowers and allow stem and leaves to dry naturally.


• Mulch over area when soil surface freezes to insulate plant during winter.


• In spring, remove the mulch as the spring weather warms.


• Fertilize when you see new growth.


• Watch for your new Easter Lily blooms!

DOs and DON'Ts for Ordering Prom Flowers

Once you've found the perfect prom dress and date, it's time to order flowers! Schaefer's is here to guide you and to help make your flowers as gorgeous as possible.

1. DO come in with your date to order your flowers together! Not only will your flowers coordinate better, but you'll get some input into what they look like. Do you really want his mom ordering your flowers?


2. DON'T wait until the last minute to order your flowers. Prom flowers are custom made and should be ordered a week or more in advance or you may not be able to get what you had your heart set on.


3. DO let our designers get creative. Their eye with colors and flowers is unbelievable! They also know the latest styles and trends.


4. DON'T sweat all the little stuff. We offer lots of choices - it can be overwhelming. No need to pick out every detail - trust our expertise.


5. DO customize your prom flowers! Does your gown have crystals? Then add some bling! Animal print shoes? Then cheetah ribbon might be right for you.


6. DON'T be afraid to purchase a fancy bracelet. You can wear it again and again.


7. DO personalize your corsage or boutonniere with an embossed message. Our exclusive process adds a personal touch to this memorable night!


8. DON'T delay - order today!


9. Above all, DO have fun with your flowers!

For our selection of prom flowers, visit out website at http://www.schaefergreenhouses.com/homecoming-prom-flowers.html

Happy Spring!

It's the first full day of Spring! Add a little color to your garden with our Pansies to celebrate the new season!

Local News

Check out this article about Schaefer's in the Montgomery Patch and learn some fun tidbits about our history. Hope this inpspires you to come visit us and see all the signs of spring in our greenhouses!

http://montgomery.patch.com/articles/schaefer-greenhouses-grow-plants-tradition

It's Almost Spring!

Spring is only 3 weeks away! If you're sick of the winter blahs, stop by Schaefer's and see the signs of spring throughout our greenhouses!

These pots of tiny Portulaca will be gorgeous, full hanging baskets in just a few weeks! Portulaca, also known as moss rose, is a sun-loving and drought tolerant annual that make it a perfect, easy care bloomer for hanging baskets.

Garden Club

Our Garden Club meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb 24th at 7pm. Kandy, our Garden Expert, will give us tips and advice on starting seeds indoors. You'll want to start your window garden now! Shop for everything you'll need to get started on Thursday and save 10%! We'll give you a FREE pack of seeds just for attending!

Everyone is welcome to join Schaefer's Garden Club. We meet on the 2nd Thursday of every month at 7pm.

Looking for something to do with the kids on this rainy, dreary day? Growing plants from seeds is a great late winter project! We have a variety of seeds and everything you need to make them grow. We also carry Grow-A-Head Bugs, a silly pet the kids will enjoy. Plus, you can take a stroll thru our greenhouses to discover all the garden plants that are starting to bloom and grow!

10 Reasons to Shop at Schaefer's for Valentine's Day 2011

With Valentine's Day 10 days away, here are the top 10 reasons to shop at Schaefer's!

1. Schaefer's now carries Speaking Roses! We can personalize any floral order by embossing a rose with your special message to your Valentine!


2. Everyone loves to receive flowers! It's been proven - a study at Rutgers found that fresh flowers have an immediate impact on happiness and a long-term positive effect on moods. In fact, all participants in the study smiled when they received a beautiful bouquet of flowers.


3. We personally deliver flowers to the Aurora, Naperville, Oswego, Montgomery, Sugar Grove and Yorkville areas, and we'll be delivering every day leading up to Valentine's Day, even Sunday! If you have big weekend plans, we'd be happy to surprise your Valentine early!


4. By shopping at Schaefer's, you are supporting a locally owned business. Your money stays in our community via taxes, wages, and services.


5. We have flowers and gifts in every price range. Whether you're on a budget or whether the sky is the limit, we're here to create something special for you!


6. We've been in business over 80 years with 4 generations of experience. That's hundreds of years of expertise in Valentine love and romance!


7. We proudly stand behind our satisfaction guarantee. Our flowers are the freshest in town!


8. In addition to our beautiful flowers, we also have wine, chocolates, cookies, jewelry, candles, teddy bears, balloons, cards and everything you need to wow your Valentine!


9. Got roses? Our gorgeous Columbian roses are a Valentine favorite and a traditional symbol of love and affection. Choose from vases of 1,2,3,6,12, 24 or more - available in a beautiful array of colors! We never raise our prices around Valentine's Day just to take advantage of our customers.


10. When you call Schaefer's, you can speak to a live person. We can answer your questions, make suggestions and take the fear out of ordering flowers. It's easy to order flowers from Schaefer's!

Happy 2011!

Happy New Year from Schaefer's! We've been away from our blog from a few months, but now we're back! And we have lots to share with you. Stay tuned ...