Date of Last Update: 4 December 2011
Watch your email for crop condition updates. If you are not on our email list and would like to be,
please contact us. Typically the newsletter will be short and come out weekly
during the harvest season [June to August] to let you know what is happening. It also comes out once or twice in the off season.
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Current Weather Conditions at The Happy Berry.
To check the weather click here
[Storm Movement]
and select "Base Reflectivity Loop." Again we are due west of the "+" sign for Greenville on the
map, on the line between Pickens and Oconee County.
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updated 12/4/2011
Pussy Willows: The silvers are starting to pop!
Farm Open/Woody Florals for Sale: Sat Dec 10 & 17, Noon to 3pm
A DECEMBER LAGNIAPPE
(That's Cajun/French¬ meaning something extra or not expected)
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
With the Christmas Holidays upon us we have 'a little something extra' to share on the next couple of Saturday afternoons. Most of you know already that we team up with Mountain Willow over the winter to offer unique, attractive and fresh cut 'woody stem florals’ – Pussy Willows in particular. To make these available to you in time to decorate for the coming holidays, we will open on the farm from noon to 3 PM Saturday December 10 and 17. (This schedule will then begin again January 7 thru March 31, 2012.)
WHAT'S AVAILABLE?
The Main Feature will be the woody stem collection of freshly harvested pussy willow branches (from 2-9 feet) showing beautiful silver white shiny fuzzy catkins.
Other woody stem offerings/available in limited quantities include: unique red curly willow, contorted 'Sir Harry Lauder' Walking Stick branches, breathtaking Japanese Fantail (SEKKA), and colorful red and yellow Dogwood bush twigs.
Ready to plant willows along with instructions for planting and starting your very own pussy willow may also be of interest to you.
And finally, a limited number of freshly cut evergreen and magnolia branches are expected to be available to help you complete your holiday decor.
CREATE YOUR OWN ARRANGEMENTS!
Bring your own dry vase or container and Ann, Chris and Lou (Mr. Pussy Willow) will help you create your own take home woody stem arrangement that will be the envy of your friends and neighbors. That little something extra will light up your indoor or outdoor decor for years to come!
WHAT'S A PUSSY WILLOW?
'Pussy Willow' is a name given to many of the smaller species of the Willow (Salix) family which produce stems covered in silverish fur flowers known as 'catkins' during the winter and early spring months. These catkins appear long before the leaves and to many, these catkins resemble tiny little sleeping pussy cats. They are native to both Europe and northern North America. They have been used in landscape and erosion control projects for years. Today, however, the branches are sought by many florists and interior decorators during the winter and early spring months as the first breath of spring. In fact the Eastern Orthodox Christian churches and other selected Christian churches in Europe use the pussy willow branches to supplant the palm frond in Christian symbolism during the Easter Holy Week. Dried pussy willow stems hold their attractive appearance for years. The Purdue University Department of Agriculture has stated "the popularity of the pussy willow has outstripped supply and the availability of high quality branches is limited!"
WHAT'S A GOOD SOURCE FOR MORE INFO?
For photos, arrangement tips and help videos for woody stem motivation we
recommend this site: www.nebraskawoodyflorals.com
For an interesting look as how this winter plant project started in South Carolina go to: www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/inmygarden/3685
For local help and local products we recommend THE HAPPY BERRY. And just a reminder: We do not offer or sell any CHINESE KNOCKOFFS!
IN CONCLUSION
Come join us Saturday afternoons- Dec 10 or 17 (Noon to 3pm) and during the winter months to come (beginning again Saturday, January 7). We will be there to help you rain or snow! Give us the opportunity to rub the soft furry catkins of the pussy willow stems across your cheek and if you w close your eyes ¬and do not peek – maybe you will feel the essence of spring across your cheek.
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The Happy Berry, Inc.
Mailing Address Only: 120 Kelley Creek Road
Farm Address-No Mail Receptacle: 510 Gap Hill Road
Six Mile, SC 29682
Phone: (864)
868-2946
Farm: (864) 350-9345
Email: ContactUs@TheHappyBerry.com
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