-- Russell Page, British garden designer, from The Education of a Gardener, 1962

Happy Thanksgiving!

        The economy may still be a challenge, but your friendship and support have kept our little ark afloat for another year. Thank you!
        As I write this, Kelly and her crew are outside planting thousands of bulbs in the beautiful dark soil of our urban micro-farms, and watching their progress it's impossible not to feel optimistic about the future. That's one of the greatest gifts of gardening, isn't it? The feeling that, with a little sweat, TLC, and patience, you can make not only your yard but the whole world a more beautiful place. And we can! So here's to digging in the dirt with visions of a glorious spring to come -- and thanks for giving us so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Why Wait for Black Friday? Save 10% at Our Green Friday Sale, Now Through Sunday!

        Consider it our Thanksgiving gift to you. We're not announcing it to the general public, but if you order anytime between now and this Sunday, you can save 10% on our:
        Bulbs and Samplers for Spring Planting -- Perennial iris and daylilies, dahlias for bouquets, fragrant tuberoses, graceful little glads, and more, all for delivery in April.
        Gift Certificates -- Nothing beats the gift of spring! We'll hand-write your gift message in a beautiful, bulb-flowered card and include our fabulous, dream-inspiring catalog.
        To take advantage of these savings, simply (a) order between now and midnight this Sunday, Nov. 20, and (b) type "Green is good!" in the Special Requests box on our online order form or mention it when you call us. Your savings won't show up online, but don't worry -- we'll subtract the 10% before we charge your order.
        To save money, avoid the malls, and give yourself and your friends something to look forward to all winter long -- order now!

Book of the Month: One Writer's Garden

        Here's a book to put at the top of your gift list -- for you and anyone who loves gardening, history, American literature, independent women, or the South. Eudora Welty is one of the most revered American writers of the 20th century, and her home in Jackson, Mississippi is now a historical museum visited by pilgrims from all over the world. But when Welty first gave the property to the state in the 1980s, the garden which she had helped her mother plant and tend since the 1920s, and which offered her comfort and literary inspiration for decades, had all but disappeared from neglect.
        This book is the story of the rediscovery and restoration of that garden, guided by author Susan Haltom and based mostly on family photographs, old letters, and Welty's memory. What makes the book truly outstanding, though, is the way Haltom and co-author Jane Roy Brown integrate the story of the Welty garden into the broader social history of gardening and America -- street-car suburbs, garden clubs, civic beautification, Progressivism, the conservation movement, and so on -- and illuminate the many connections between Welty's gardening and her writing. It's also an especially attractive book, with big, full-color shots of the restored garden interspersed with a wide array of old photographs and historic images from books, magazines, and seed catalogs. We're proud that many of our historic bulbs grow today in the Welty garden (Susan even thanks us in her acknowledgements), but even if they didn't I'd be telling you this is a book you don't want to miss!

Eudora Welty's Ode to Bulb-Eating Rodents

        My family looks at me like I'm a lunatic when I pound on the window and holler at squirrels digging in my garden, but Eudora Welty would understand. I recognized her as a kindred spirit when I read this witty, William Blake inspired poem that she wrote and posted on a stick in her garden. (One Writer's Garden, page 146)

Now's the Time: Fall Clean-Up Beats Iris Borers

        Now is the best time to conquer iris borers -- and it's easy. Cleanliness is the key. In the fall, iris borer moths lay their eggs on iris leaves and anything similar that's close by. In the spring, the eggs hatch into tiny grubs that crawl up the leaves and then chew their way down into the rhizomes where they wreak havoc. By eliminating the eggs in the fall, you'll save yourself a lot of grief. Simply wait till after a good hard frost (which kills the adult moths) and then (a) cut back all iris leaves to a couple of inches and (b) remove all dead leaves and stalks as well as any debris and mulch that's near the plants. To be safe, don't compost this stuff; burn it or throw it out with the garbage. Repeat this simple, poison-free clean-up every fall and you'll have very little problem with borers. Now isn't that easy? Learn more at www.ksre.ksu.edu/news/story/fall_cleanup110410.aspx .

Charlie Says: Protect Your Cat from Feline Diabetes

        Although he makes the rest of us answer his email, no one here is better loved than Charlie. When we first met him fifteen years ago, he was so small we could hold him in one hand. He loved to eat, though, and eventually, like many of us, he put on a little too much weight. We tried to limit his food, but Charlie could be insistent -- and the next thing we knew our vet was telling us he had diabetes and if we wanted him to live we'd have to give him insulin shots twice a day for the rest of his life.
        Five years later, Charlie's still hanging in there, but diabetes is no fun for anyone, so we hope you'll learn from our experience. If your cat starts drinking water and urinating more than usual, call your vet because those are often the first warning signs of diabetes. Although the twice-a-day injections sounded impossibly hard and painful at first, they turned out to be not so bad. But diabetes is a debilitating disease, and the best way to protect the cats you love from it is simply to not feed them too much, no matter how much they complain. If Charlie could talk, we're pretty sure that's what he'd urge you to do. Learn more at cats.about.com/cs/healthissues/p/diabetes.htm .

Hunting Season . . . In Your Backyard?

        Got deer? Though we don't endorse it, here's a thought-provoking solution from the newsletter of our friend Tony Avent of Plant Delights Nursery who's never been shy about speaking his mind:
        "One of the biggest gardening curses these days is the overpopulation of deer. While I've always advocated a hedge that deer won't eat (i.e. 'Nellie Stevens' holly) or a black plastic deer fence, some folks just desire a more dramatic solution, and others seem to just need something to complain about. So, for those of you who don't have enough drama in your lives, check out Team Backyard Bow Pro at gamedinner.com/landowners.html . Team Backyard Bow Pro is a national organization of ethical, licensed bow hunters who work with landowners (especially farmers) to solve deer damage problems while feeding the hungry. Trust me . . . there's nothing better than hosta-fed venison."

Did You Miss Our Last Newsletter? Read It Online!

        October's articles included getting paid to plant bulbs in Albuquerque, "top planting" tulips without digging, Felder's favorite daylily, historic landscapes calendar, tips for forcing and storing bulbs, and more. You can read all of our back-issues, by date or by topic, at oldhousegardens.com/NewsletterArchives.asp .

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