Lehman's Country Life

I have rewritten this entry for my Lehman’s friends several times, never quite feeling as though I can convey what a mixture of emotion this Spring brings with it.  On the one hand, there is the purely joyful and timely:  the beginning of March, marked by the lionine ferocity of a major snow storm, Bluebirds waiting each morning for their ration of mealworms to make up for a food supply that is either blanketed in white or frozen solid; (as I write, one of those selfsame little balls of color sits at the corner of a back porch roof gable, enjoying the last warmth of a setting sun); the landscape tub by the front steps, cleaned of the remnants of last year’s tomato vine, revealing emerging tips of tulips I had forgotten were tucked into the soil at Summer’s end; the countdown on my calendar to a solid week I will take as vacation time to perform that age-old tradition, Spring Cleaning.
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How high’s the water, mama?
Three feet high and risin’
How high’s the water, papa?
Three feet high and risin’

Well, the hives are gone,
I’ve lost my bees
The chickens are sleepin’
In the willow trees
Cow’s in water up past her knees,
Three feet high and risin’

- Johnny Cash, “Five Feet High And Rising”

I spent an hour on the telephone last night reassuring my mother in Edmonton that, despite what she was hearing on the news, the entirety of the Red River Valley wasn’t likely to end up washing ashore in Winnipeg. This afforded her some comfort. Undoubtedly the thought will likely provide some comfort to the wonderful folks in Winnipeg as well- I’m sure they’d put us up in a pinch but jacking the buildings square, and taking up residence wherever we came aground, would likely be pushing it a bit.
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Annuals can add season-long color to beds and borders and also supply a summer full of cut flowers for decorating. Annuals are easy to grow and require little care except watering and occasional deadheading. They can be mixed in with perennials, including shrubs and trees, and fill empty spaces in the garden until later plants grow and mature. They can also be grown alongside vegetables and are well adapted to pots and containers. Here are a few tips on getting started this year…
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A few weeks ago we were sprouting our tomato seeds and pricking them out to be paired up in four inch pots.  It’s likely that a few have died since then, but most of them ought to be lusty growing things by now, bearing one or more sets of true leaves.  The first (immature) leaf set will be smooth-edged, but the second set ought to start looking like a familiar tomato leaf with its irregular serrated edge.

After ten days or so, your paired sprouts might do with a little more food.  Give it to them in the form of very dilute liquid fish emulsion.  It’s an excellent and widely available fertilizer, but may prove an issue if your sprout pots are still in the house in that sunny window (particularly if they don’t have a catch basin under them) or if you have a cat that finds them now strangely and irresistibly interesting thanks to the fish.  A greenhouse, even a small one barely big enough to stand up in, is a terrific boon to have for these occasions; the next best thing is making use of a friendly neighbor’s greenhouse.
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On Tuesday, April 21st, Lehman’s founder Jay Lehman turns the big 8-0!

Jay Lehman

To celebrate, we’ve got lots of unexpected goodies in store (including a free product giveaway this Tuesday …

Little-known facts about Jay:

• He has many names! According to daughter Glenda, family legend says the name on Jay’s birth certificate was supposed to read, “Ezra Lehman, Jr.” but was reversed to be “Jr. Ezra Lehman.” Because of this he was always known as Junior, or J.E. Lehman. These days he simply goes by “Jay.”
• He has traveled to 72 different countries, including a long-term missions assignment in Africa in the early 1960s.

Jay – a few years ago

• He has planted tens of thousands of trees in his lifetime (so far).
• He is an avid (and very good) tennis player.
• He has an affinity for old cars – and owns one: a 1923 Ford Model T.

Jay and his 1923 Model T

If you’re in the northeast Ohio area this Tuesday (April 21st), stop by Lehman’s in Kidron to enjoy some special festivities in honor of Jay’s birthday. There will be free cake and balloons, 10% off all private-labeled, Lehman’s exclusive products, and each hour a drawing for an $80 gift certificate! Stop in and celebrate with us.

Watch the Lehman’s store walk-through video here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAY!

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