1. Chided for the somewhat hot and wilted newsletter sent out a week ago, here's an attempt at some serious positive mental attitude! We are having a SALE and a GIVEAWAY! A chance to win every time you set foot in this lovely establishment! Each week a gift card winner will be chosen, for winnings of up to $200 to spend on plants, amendments and decor.

The nuts and bolts are as follows: Starting Saturday, August 13th and running for many weeks.

All perennials, Buy 2, get 1 free

Selected annuals, Buy 1, get 1 free

Trees and Shrubs, including fruit, 30% off

Every week new items on sale, this week birdbaths 30% off.

Wanna win a $25 Mother Earth Gardens gift card?  Sign up! Bigger gift cards (as in larger amounts) given away every week. May I sign up every time I come to buy? Why, yes, increase your chances of winning with every visit.

2. LOLA Art Crawl: The League of Longfellow Artists annual art crawl will take place Saturday and Sunday, August 27th and 28th from 10am - 5pm. As always, several of the artists that we feature in our store will be on hand to sell their wares, and more than what we normally stock. See www.lolaartcrawl.com for maps and information on all of the sites on the crawl.

The artists at the store include:

Cathy Milostan - hand painted cards and mini bouquets
Bridget Faricy - multi crafted
Ila Duntemann- handblown glass knobs and beads
Judy Christensen - jewelry galore
Marco Dregni - terrariums
Yvonne Garber - oil cloth lunch bags, totes and wallets

Maps are also available at the store, pick one up when you come in to get your sale items...

3. Container class at the Midtown Farmer's Market, 2225 E. Lake St. (just east of Hiawatha/55) on Saturday, September 17th at 10am. We are looking for 10 human guinea pigs to take a public class at the market. We will be teaching a hands on fall ornamental container class.  You give:  your enthusiasm and willingness to take a class in a public setting.  You get:  A beautiful fall container in a fiber pot for $35 instead of the usual $45 container class fee.  Please email info@motherearthgarden.com to express your interest.

4. Sorry no new tips with this newsletter, but just a creating a little awareness. Fall veggies such as broccoli, kale and chard should be planted now.  In another week or so, lettuce and spinach that you plant will reward you when everyone else is packing it in. Garlic, mums, bareroot peonies and spring flowering bulbs coming after State Fair time. Don't forget to water all those sale items you buy.  Deeply.