Southern Homes & Gardens Blog

Enjoy meeting Timothy Penland

author of 

The True Night Before Christmas

during a holiday book signing:

Saturday, November 3rd                10am til 1pm

Southern Homes & Gardens, Vaughn Rd.

Timothy Penland has been an author with 20+ years writing experience with a growing number of children’s stories and curriculum – 11 of which are presently in print.  Timothy resides inWestern North Carolina with his wife, Joyce, and together they enjoy their two children and three grandchildren.

In 1999 he wrote the poem, The True Night Before Christmas and dedicated it to his first granddaughter, who was about to celebrate her very first Christmas.  Several years later the decision was made to publish the poem as a children’s picture book.  Savannah (the very same granddaughter for whom the poem was written) became the illustrator – as a nine year old.  This book has become a best seller, and is cherished as a Christmas treasure in thousands of homes across the nation.   Timothy’s book entitled, The True Night Before Easter debuted in 2010, attracting a national audience.

The Night Before Series is gaining widespread attention from children and adults – and will have 60 titles in its entirety, including both Bible and American History stories.  Mr. Penland’s second series, the Lamplight Series, is a compilation that will include a retelling of 10 Biblical parables.

When not writing, Timothy often spends his time traveling across the country speaking to groups of all ages.  He has enjoyed speaking a various venues including churches, public and private schools, educational conferences and has had the privilege of speaking atFortMcHenryNational Monumentand Historic Shrine.

{ Sold nationwide, Mr. Penland’s other children’s book titles include }

The True Night Before Christmas

The Night Before Columbus Sailed on the Sea

The True Night Before Easter

The Night Before Noah Rode in the Ark

The Night Before Jesus Fed 5000 Men

The Night Before Francis Wrote a New Song

The Night Before Jonah Slept in a Fish

The Night Before Jesus Ate with a Thief

The Night Before Patriots Filled the Harbor with Tea

Dorothy and the Good Shepherd

{  Join Jerry Thrash of Rosemont Gardens, as he demonstrates how to decorate for the holidays utilizing various themes and materials – all while offering helpful tips, tricks & techniques to making an effortless transition from Fall to Christmas!  Holiday decorating inspiration abounds in this annual favorite seminar, so be sure to bring a camera, notebook…or both!  Free admission – Arrive early for best seating }

Deck the Halls { like a pro }:

 Early starts, Inspiration, Learning Curves & Devising a Plan

It’s October.  You might be wondering how on earth anyone can begin to think about decorating for the holidays – before those sweet ghosts, goblins, princesses & fairies come trick or treating, right?  We know.  However, after the holiday rush (somewhere around New Year’s perhaps?) you silently vow to yourself . . .

“ I’ll start much earlier next year! ”

So – let’s make it happen this year…start early.  Start now.  Start by finding inspiration -  just stop into our Vaughn Road store to browse our ‘living’ look book (catalogs are so blah anyways!).  You’ll find a store full of various themes, decorations, colors, textures –  all things merry & bright!    As you browse, you’ll notice we tend to break tradition using unconventional items and materials in our looks – we love being inspired by various avenues and we hope you are too!  We love hearing customers’ reactions to  the different looks and themes each year – some are decidedly bold enough to replicate an entire look at home, others are not.  Many customers love certain aspects of the look and want to incorporate it at home, but are unsure how to work it into what they have already.   Finding your decorating ‘comfort zone’ and learning curve is when the real magic happens {we love this part}:

Decorating is as individual as you are – be inspired by what you love!

Needing a little more structure?  Someone to show you the ‘how-to’ part of it all?  We’ve got it your secret weapon right here…

  Meet Jerry Thrash, our talented creative designer, beloved by many here in the River Region (including many First Ladies’ ofAlabama!) and instructor at our FREE seminar this Saturday (“Holiday Decorating”, 10am – Vaughn Rd. location only): 

Jerry Thrash started his career in the floral industry at Rosemont Gardens Florist & Gift Shop in 1980 during his tenure atAuburnUniversity inMontgomery.  Post graduation, Jerry and his family opened Sylvia’s Flowers inPrattville,Alabama – operating until its closing in 2001, after which Jerry forged ahead in freelance floral design.  Jerry re-joined theRosemontGardens family in 2003 as the creative designer responsible for seasonal floor designs in addition to implementing and executing special event designs.  Jerry’s 30+ year career in the floral industry includes creating thousands of unique floral designs for weddings, receptions, and various special events includingAlabama’s Governor’s mansion.  Jerry’s expertise has also driven him to lead various workshops for hundreds of community-based groups and organizations as well as teach continuing education classes at Auburn University Montgomery.  

Got a design question for Jerry?  Contact him by calling Rosemont Gardens at (334) 834-7731.    

S o u t h e r n  H o m e s  &  G a r d e n s

Facebook  &  Twitter

Free Garden & Design advice:

Count us IN!

We’ve been pretty darn excited about Christmas and the holiday season in general coming, much like many small children we know!  The difference is that we have been anticipating this seminar like kids who wait under the Christmas tree for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve!  We’re talking about Aaron Shiver, Monrovia’s head Boutique Designer (and Alabama native!) coming to our Vaughn Road store location on Saturday (Oct. 29^th) to share his garden and design expertise on unique containers, indoor displays and landscapes with gorgeous holiday and winter interest.  Aaron promised to even tell us how to  incorporate the season’s yummiest flavors & colors into  the mix….or as he put it,

“ . . . a Martha – in –t he – garden at the holidays ! ”

Ooo, la, la!  We simply cannot wait!  Catch Aaron in action tomorrow (Friday) as he transforms the Monrovia Plant Boutiques at our stores into something truly magical! 

Follow Us on

Facebook & Twitter

Rich blends of turquoise, silver, white, mercury glass and more make a grand entrance at our Vaughn Road location

Save the Date…

Christmas Open House

November 4^th – 6^th 

{ both store locations } 

Enjoy storewide specials, tastings, door prizes, special guests and much more!

Follow Us on

Facebook & Twitter

Christmas Tradition:

A holiday decorating seminar

If you have shopped with us recently, then you have noticed that despite us being only half-way through October, we are completely decked out for the holidays!  As you were vacationing at the beach, we were busy little elves processing all of the gorgeous goodies that were arriving daily at our back door – we could hardly wait any longer to show you!  Now that our designers have completely “set” our stores with beautiful, awe-inspiring themes and magical displays, they’re going to show you just how they achieved it!

Get in the know. . .

Each year, we offer what’s become a customer (& staff!) favorite seminar – ‘Holiday Decorating’.  Our designers, Jerry Thrash and Phil Easter, show you just how to create show-stopping trees, centerpieces, mantle displays & more…all with items found in our stores.  It’s time to get brave, take the plunge, and try something new this year with your holiday decorating, right?  Of course!  Our experts will even show you how to seamlessly transition from the fall & harvest seasons into Christmas too…

Who, what, where, when & hOW much?

Fall Farmers Market:

Plethora of perfection

We all love the summertime – the bright and warm days usually mean vacation, pool parties, lazy lake days and the Summer Farmer’s Markets, right?  We do too.  But what happens once the pools become to chilly with the weather, the lake waters recede and vacation is over?  The tough get going?

Nope! They head to the FALL markets!

Last year, we brought you our own SH&G Fall Farmers Market with exclusive products that were homegrown or homemade – right here in Alabama.  It was such a success that we brought it back this year!  Go ahead and bring the kiddies too…we’ve got a fun inflatable bouncehouse for them to burn up all that energy in (Vaughn Rd. location only)! 

Got questions?  Just call us at (334) 387-0440 for details…we hope to see you there!  

And while you’re shopping the market, don’t forget that it’s our BIGGEST sale of the year going on through Sunday Oct. 9th (both store locations)!  It’s your chance to save up to 86% off on selected trees, shrubs, bedding plants & more – shop early for the best selection!

 { All prices valid 10/7 – 10/9 with Garden Rewards card only – excludes previous purchases & special orders }

Follow Us on

Facebook & Twitter

Perfect Pansies:

A fall planting favorite

Pansies are the cold weather plant of choice for fall and winter – they’re known for being exceptionally hardy, thriving in our area during our southern winters.   Pansies are multi-purposes as they can be planted in the landscape as full beds or borders and also bring fabulous color to our outdoor fall & winter containers. 

Thriller & filler. . .

Standing alone, it can serve as the ‘thriller’ element in container gardens, or it can be planted under upright shrubs (‘thriller’) as the ‘filler’ element too.   Got a mixed container that you just want to add a dash of pizzazz?  Toss in some pansies & voila! 

You can eat THAT?

Did you know that pansies are edible?  Sure enough, pansies make a beautiful garnish for fruits, salads and desserts!  Just add them to your herb garden or plant them with lettuce and parsley for a nice combination of texture and color – but please make certain you’re using only food-safe insecticides if you plan on indulging in these edible blooms!

Shop our gorgeous selection at both store locations – use your Garden Rewards card and get a flat of pansies for just $9.96!

(an $11.96 value)

Follow Us on

Facebook & Twitter

Monrovia Arrivals:

To-Die-For Topiaries!

Monrovia is well-known for their exquisitely trained topiaries and our latest shipment of them is no exception!  We received a beautiful array of topiaries in various sizes and varieties - whatever your budget may be.   

classic topiaries…unprecedented style

Just look at a sampling of what arrived…simply gorgeous!  Whether you are planting in pairs to flank an entrance, line a walkway, or add integrity and structure to your landscape, topiaries are a true timeless classic.  

{ Shop the Monrovia topiary selection available at both store locations } 

Follow Us on

Facebook & Twitter

Middleton Collection Debut:

Dazzle like the Duchess!

If Vera Bradley deemed an entire special, limited edition collection after the newly appointed Duchess of Cambridge, then we’re positive that Kate Middleton has some pretty awesome style sense! 

Smart, English charm. . .the American way

Olive – one of the hottest color trends for Fall – is perfectly paired with cotton twill and antiqued brass hardware.  Oxford-style eyelet detail in tobacco brown leather is inspired by the menswear trend.  Inside, the girly, pink and green floral camouflage lining is a knockout!  We bet Kate Middleton herself would give this collection a charming nod of approval! 

Five new styles available for a limited time only:

Flap Satchel . Shoulder Bag . Small Crossbody . Slim Tote . Wallet

{ Shop the Middleton Collection now available at our Vaughn Road store location only } 

Follow Us on

Facebook & Twitter

Just Arrived:

Fanciful fall baubles & apparel

Believe it or not, even though we are in the throws of our usual August heat, we are nearing the end of summer.  School’s are back in session, which means our transition into fall is right around the corner…

Hooray!

It’s a little bit like Christmas (or Birthdays!) around here everyday – we receive new goodies in boxes that we get to open and unwrap!  Now, they’re not in chic wrapping paper per se, but plain Jane UPS boxes instead.

It’s what’s on the INSIDE that counts…right?

Stop by our Vaughn Road store location and shop our newest arrivals including sparkling new jewelry and cable knit apparel – all in festive fall colors!

The Susie Collection in Cerise

The Bella Collection in Peridot

The Eva Collection

Cable Knit Scarves shown in Brights

Cable Knit Vest shown in Oatmeal

 Follow Us on

Facebook & Twitter

Mums Au Naturel:

We grow ‘em the right way

You may have noticed that some of the “box stores” are advertising that they have gorgeous fall mums available…in August?  We love Mums too, but not when they’re forced to grow out of their normal season just to be sold to an enthusiastic gardener – all to watch their new beloved mum perish because of excessive heat and improper season.

Don’t be fooled.  If it’s too good to be true, then it probably is.

Rest assured that when we grow our mums for you to enjoy every fall, we grow them the right and au naturel way!  We grow them closer to their ideal planting season – the season for them to be taken home with you to enjoy all the way to Turkey Day.  Our mums will be large-and-in-charge – full of budding blooms ready to burst forth with powerful fall color in your containers, beds and landscapes.

Never settle for anything but the BEST

(Psst! That’s us!)

So, just as the old adage goes, “good things come to those who wait” – we’d much rather take our time to produce mums grown to thrive at home with you, rather than growing half-hearted mums that were never grown to last. 

Look for fantastic fall mums beginning mid-September, and soon after, we’ll debut other fall planting favorites such as cabbage and kale! 

Follow Us on

Facebook & Twitter