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Weedpatch Reader Letters
Dear Rommy:
Dear Weedpatch, I found your site through AOL's gardening board
and am very impressed with
your
resources, and have joined your mailing list. However, I will be
gardening
in Holland Michigan and am wondering if there is a resource anything like
yours for folks along the lakeshore up there? If you can forward any Dear Liz, Hi, yes, there's a freebie called Michigan
Gardener. It's primarily Detroit based but you'll be happy. I'm sure it
can be mailed to you via subscription, or perhaps you can get a garden
center there to give it away. Dear Weedpatch, I'm trying to locate a cercidiphyllum magnificum
pendulum tree. I want to purchase two. Can you help me locate
a grower/seller? The Weeping Katsura is available from Arborvillage
Nursery, 15604 County Road CC, PO Box 227, Holt, Missouri. (816) 264-3811.
Please tell Derek that The Weedpatch Gazette recommended him. Dear Mrs. Lompat...I cannot tell you how happy I was to receive your letter today..I can't even tell you. It meant so much to me. I will keep it in my horticulture notebook!!! I just want to let you know I am 17. Turned 17 thisSeptember. I am going to bring a copy of this letter to show the people in the Extension office. I really feel good. Thanks so much. Do you have any helpful tips for me...I have a 90
ft long asparagus patch. It now is pretty tall, interspersed with
the asparagus ferns are many weeds. How do I take care of it for the
winter so that we will have a good crop next year. The I really can't tell you how great your letter made
me feel. Thanks again. Eddie Murphy
I am not sure if you will remember me, but my name is Eddie Murphy. I sat next to you during the food judging competition at the McHenry County Fair. Your daughter's food was being judged. You noticed my fair book with all of the marker flags on it. You asked to see it. We began talking and I told you I was interested in horticulture. My project won State and Merit. I also was selected to go to a National Competition for the National Junior Horticulture Association for the landscape design I did for a small garden outside my back door. I had a 10 minute presentation and did a tri-fold board with a pictures showing the progression of the garden and what I had done. I didn't win a plaque for the first attempt, but I did win in many other ways. I met great kids. 250 plus from all over the country. We exchanged ideas and had one of the best times of my life. It was held in Tampa Florida...we visited horticulture centers, went to Epcot, and Cypress gardens...It was magnificent. I plan on going next year. They asked me to be a Youth Coordinator for our area. I would like to get more people involved and wondered if you had ever hear of National Junior Horticulture Association? Maybe you would like to know more and spread the word with me. It is for people 15-22 years of age. I am waiting for more info from the group. But I tell you, it is one great organization. After we saw you we remembered to listen to you on the Garden show on WGN. You sounded great. I listen to that Garden show every chance I get. I will wait to hear from you..again my name is Eddie Murphy Woodstock Illinois Dear Eddie: You ARE truly a winner: I'm thrilled to read such enthusiasm
and would be pleased to tag onto your energy. I'll help however I can.
Thanks for listening to me on WGN: I tried to find a moment to grab the mike
and talk about you, but the show was over in what seemed like an instant.
Right now, however, I'm going to forward your e-mail to Kathy O'Malley at
WGN and ask her to recognize your accomplishment sometime soon. At 15
(16?), you Rommy L. Dear Weedpatch, I am sending you a check (via snail mail) for a subscription to your Gazette. Mary Ann from Timber Ridge, a nursery in Elizabeth, IL, told us about you and I have enjoyed snooping around your web site, Weedpatch.com. It is very helpful and informative. I used your plant listing to track down a Viburnum sieboldii that I had been looking for, for over a year. My wife and I drove out to Dubuque last weekend and visited with the Coffmans at Ridge Road Nursery. We came home with the V. sieboldii, six other Viburnums and a 6-7 foot Heptacodium micianoides that you raved about as your featured plant of the month. What a wonderful place Ridge Road Nursery is and the Coffmans are really terrific people. Thanks for putting me in touch with them through your web site. Just a suggestion, you may want to add to your list of Arboreta the one in Dubuque. I am not sure of the name or address but it is a nice little place and it is free admission. Thanks, John G. Dear Weedpatch, Just a short note to let you know that after a number of years of checking out garden centers south and west of me (I live near Midway Airport) and usually ending back at The Planter's Palette, I went to The Growing Place in Naperville, IL, after noting their ad in the Gazette. WOW!! What a selection of plants plus they have pictures and descriptions for everything. They seem to have a couple hundred perennials and annuals as well as trees and bushes and … And a number of growing displays LABELED with what's what. And the staffs aren't just rearrangers and sales clerks. I spend 15 minutes with the "perennial" lady discussing just the plant for a space I have left. I'm just overwhelmed and they will have my repeat business. If you're in the neighborhood, check them out if you haven't already and let me know how you would rate them. If you have even a better place, I'd like to know. They have to be a hard place to beat. Thanks, John M. Dear Weedpatch, I vowed I wasn't subscribing to anything this year, but after reading a couple of issues Carol, your sales manager (office manager) gave me I couldn't help myself. Sign me up. Your knowledge of gardening, humor and enthusiasm are a blessing to all of us. Thanks, Terrie S. Dear Weedpatch, I just introduced to your great Gazette!! Have been gardening all my life in some way and am currently a "Master Gardener" here in Dupage County – but where have I been that I missed this gem!!? Could you please add my name and address to your list of subscribers? Enclosed is my check and I certainly look forward to your next issue. Take care and happy gardening 1999! Thanks, Kathy R (Wheaten, IL) Dear Weedpatch, My wife really liked the sample issue you sent so enclosed is a one year subscription. Keep up the good work! Thanks, Ed W. (Batavia, IL) Dear Weedpatch, I loved your sample issue. Enclosed is my check. Ann O (Elmhurst, IL) Dear Weedpatch, I'm looking forward to my first issue of Weedpatch. This is the first time in 30 years that I have a sunny garden so I have lots to learn. Thanks, Laurie K. (Glenview, IL) Dear Weedpatch, Saw your article in the Chicago Tribune. I too love plants and never can find enough information. I'd like one of your sample issues. Thanks, Sherry S. (Antioch, IL) Dear Weedpatch, I greatly enjoyed chatting with you at the Midwest Perennial Conference, and found the complimentary Winter issue quite good. Indeed, I was surprised; having subsisted on a steady diet of nationally syndicated gardening magazines, that a mere Midwestern gardening journal could convey so much. Alas, in retrospect it only makes sense that a local focus would pertain more than say "Xeriscaping in Tucson" or "Harmonizing Ice Sculpture and Tundra Ephemerals". A subscription card is on its way, and we have requested two back issues to boot. I am especially interested in Acer palmatums for the Midwest. I have drooled too often over the marginals, and eagerly await what the braver masters have ventured. Thanks, Johnny Packard, Mother Nature and Sons (Lake Geneva, IL) P.S. And the web site is fantastic! Dear Weedpatch, Thank you for your prompt response! I had to laugh that the Winter 99 issue is about conifers. We bought this house in August and my goal this season is to get rid of many overgrown conifers – evergreens – whatever. They are a mess! I may be able to deal with miniatures though. Thanks, Cindy B. Dear Weedpatch, I really enjoyed the wonderful article the Chicago Tribune had written on "The Weedpatch Gazette". Congratulations!…It's well deserved. I hope the article will bring incremental business to you. Thanks, Frank Haas landscaping architect (Lake Forest, IL) Dear Weedpatch, Please begin my subscription to The Weedpatch Gazette. I am a horticulture student at the College of DuPage and a part-time employee at The Growing Place in Aurora, IL. Trees and shrubs are my love. Thanks, Julia B. (Genera, IL) Dear Weedpatch, Your magazine is the best. You have many great articles, all of which pertain to the Midwest. That helps a brown-thumb like me. I like your sense of humor and willingness to admit your garden is not perfect. Thanks, Piper R. (Wilmette, IL) Dear Weedpatch, I'm a recent subscriber (a Christmas) and am thoroughly enjoying the TWG. What a great way to begin! I even got my 80 year old grandmother in New York State to subscribe and she loves it. Thanks, Robin Dear Weedpatch, Even though I am transferring to Spring Hill Nurseries headquarters in Tipp City I still want to receive your outstanding and informative publication – I learn so much each time I read it!! Thanks, Viki F. Dear Weedpatch, As both a writer and landscape designer, I've always appreciated The Weedpatch Gazette. So, I was pleased to meet you (briefly) as I was leaving and you were entering Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery (Woodstock, IL). Here's my check for a 2-yr. subscription. Many thanks for your fine and dedicated work. Julie S (Evanston, IL) Dear Weedpatch, Please find enclosed a check for a 1 year subscription to your magazine. If it is only one half as informative as your web site it will be worth every penny! Happy gardening! John G (Freeport, IL) Dear Weedpatch, It was good to meet you at the Country Faire in Wayne, IL! Now a face to a name. I think my husband and I told you then how much we enjoyed The Weedpatch Gazette – information about plants as well as gardening resources – it's great! I'm enclosing a gift subscription for a friend of mine that has a small flower shop in Streator, IL. I feel she needs The Weedpatch Gazette. It is such fun too real as well as informative – you do a great job. Thanks, Bernice G. Dear Weedpatch, I just received a sample edition of your Gazette. Where have you been all of my life? Enclosed is an order for a one year subscription. I especially liked you comment about being cranky although not for the same reasons. Confession time: I can get grumpier at my garden that I can at my other " creature" in my life. I'm infinitely patient with: 1) children, 2), chickens, 3) bunnies, 4) kittens, 5) puppies, 6) husband, 7) assorted blood related personages, 8) turkeys and horses. But, I get real pissy (can I say that?) about creeping charley (ground ivy), crab grass, and miscellaneous leaves and stems that I know I did not put there. I do believe such things have a perverse consciousness that causes them to stay up all night in the moonlight planning their sabotage and chuckling in advance over my next fit. I weed all day in the summer and pile up a respectable pile of debris and yell, "take that!!" "Now stay away!!!" and the wilting pile just smiles and smiles as I stalk away to the shower and morning rush hour because the pile knows all their roots are still in the ground no matter how hard I yanked. And, yes, I have read Organic Gardening, something about "weeds are only plants growing in the wrong place". Baloney! My weeds are growing in exactly the place they want to grow, over and over again in spite of my murderous urges, vehement denouncements, and various weedicide techniques. I once "double dug" my garden, having read that my veggies would flourish beyond my wildest dreams. Instead, the prairie grass grew shoulder high. I will probably never die. You know what they say, "old gardeners never die, they just weed away." Thanks, Lojan L. (McHenry, IL) P.S. I have a flourishing colony of flying squirrels who cavort about my bird feeding station after dark. They blissfully ignore the spotlight and all the people who gather around to celebrate their cuteness. So, I expect that when I am old and can no longer garden my brief acreage, I will probably miss even my weeds. Dear Weedpatch, I spoke to you once on the phone and you sent out your sample copy of "Weedpatch." My husband and I enjoyed it very much. We are building a house in Twin Lakes, WI, which should be finished shortly. We are going to be in need of landscaping soon. Thanks, Marilyn (Twin Lakes) Dear Weedpatch, We'd like to receive your publication. We have a lot of volunteers who would benefit from reading your publication, as would my staff and myself. Thanks, Susan O (Davenport, IA) Dear Weedpatch, Enclosed is my check in the amount of $30.00. Please send me the six back issues that I have highlighted on your survey form. I want to thank you again for the personal recommendations you gave me via e-mail and in your note on the survey form. The personal touch is so rare in business today. Plus, I felt like a kindred spirit when your note arrived in a bright pink envelope and it was written in purple ink. Every room in my house has a touch (sometimes much more) of pink and purple. The perennials I intend to plant this year will be in combinations of yellow and purple. It will certainly be a change from all of the green and white that currently exists. Thanks, Judy G. (Gurnee, IL) Dear Weedpatch, I hope that this is one of thousands that you receive in response to the Chicago Sun-Times article. I have wanted something like your information for years now. I am a city gardener who has to concentrate heavily on container gardening, but have a serious interest in local/indigenous plants. Thanks, JD M. (Chicago, IL) Dear Weedpatch, The article that appeared in Sunday's, Chicago Sun-Times, intrigued me. For someone to finally put together a publication devoted to planting for our particular area is long awaited. The fact that it is of simple format and prepared by someone who actually does the work, both gardening and publishing, herself is quite an accomplishment. Congratulations! Thanks, Lynda M (Mt. Prospect, IL) Dear Weedpatch This is probably the 1000th letter you'll get from your Chicago Sun-Times interview, but here goes. Your magazine sounds very interesting, and I know how easy it is to exceed income with expenses, so here's a full year subscription. I'm looking forward to Weedpatch Gazette. Thanks, Karin J. (Hanover Park, IL ) Dear Weedpatch, We read the wonderful article in the Sunday issue of the Chicago Sun Times. We enjoyed it thoroughly and would like to subscribe to Weedpatch Gazette. Encloses our check in the amount of $24 for 1 year subscription. We look forward to receiving it. Thanks, Victor P. (Gurnee, IL) Dear Weedpatch, What a fabulous issue! I'm glad to be "on board". Thanks so much! Judith A. (Madison, WI) |
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