Visit Our Nursery's New Web Site!!!!

We have just launched our new web site for the nursery. Please stop by halbertsnursery.net and let me know what you think. Check out the "Featured on LBP" to see some video of our nursery.

Thanks!

Snow Day! In Louisiana?

I have seen it all.

Dee and I awoke December 11 to look out our window and see 3-4” of snow on the ground. So we bundled up and headed out to walk about and enjoy the scenery. All was fine for the first few minutes of the walk.

The snow covered everything – a complete blanket of white. It was truly breathtaking for two folks that don’t get to see a lot of the stuff.

But then we turned the corner and WHAM! The fun ended. I became a hater of snow.

The weight of the snow had collapsed four of our green houses!

My love of snow lasted less than a few brief moments.

We feel blessed in that there were many others in our area that lost more than just a few houses – 200 plus greenhouses in our area were lost in this freak weather event.

In the end the plants were saved and the snow melted and repairs began. Just another day in the nursery business.

So I leave this post with a couple pictures and few poetic words.

The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued
--- Robert Frost

Fun - Fun!

Fire - Not Updating for A While

Just wanted to let everyone know that I will not be updating for a month or two. Our office was struck by lightning and burned to the ground.

I am working at getting a new computer and getting back online soon.

I will not be able to check email for about a week more.

Mr Mulligan - Report to #90's office immediately! (318-748-6836)

Thanks!

2007 Louisiana Nursery Festival

The 2007 Louisiana Nursery Festival will be here in Forest Hill March 16, 17, 18. This is a great time to come to Forest Hill and see all the plants grown in this area. Though most nurseries are wholesale only there are many that are open for this event and open to the general public.

Don't limit yourselves to the booths at the festival sight located near Hwy 165. Drive the length of Hwy 112 between I-49 and Forest Hill.

Halbert's Nursery is located at 4111 Hwy 112 inside the city limits of Forest Hill.

If you are coming from Hwy 165 we are located on the right about a mile or so from the light.

If you are coming from I-49 we are located about 5 miles from exit 66 and we are on your left (watch for the balloons and the "Welcome" signs.)

Our nursery has 11 acres of containers plants and 24 greenhouses. We have golf carts for you to casually drive around and just look or if you are in a hurry we have a sales yard in the front with a sampling of many of the plants we grow.

This year we have several thousand Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile)for sale including standard Blues and Whites and our Purple varieties (Elaine and Ella Mae).

We have several variety of landscape ferns, Azaleas, Gardenias, Knockout Roses (Red and Hot Pink, Crepe Myrtles (Dwarf Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Pixie White, Natchez, etc...) and about 200 other plant varieties.

Our price list include a one page guide for shade , partial and full sun suggestions.

If you need directions or information call us at 318-748-6836, email us at halberts@cebridge.net or comment to this blog.

One hint - if you don't like crowds come the week before and see everything early. We are open daily 7:00-4:00 and weekends in March 7:30 - 4:00.

If we don't have something your looking for we will be happy to help direct you to other nurseries that might have it.

Stop by and see us.

Happy Birthday Dee and Kristina!

February 24 is a special day in my life. On this date in 1922 my father was born in New York City to immigrant parents. My father passed away in 1983 and it was on the day of his funeral that I decided it was time to do more with my life. So I decided to quit my job and get out of New Orleans and get an education.

With the help of my pastor, Tom Murphy, and the prayers of many I was accepted into Louisiana College.

It was there in January 1985 that I met my wife Dee on a blind date. We fell in love and were married in August 1985. Dee’s birthday is on February 24. A coincidence? At first I thought so.

But then in 1989 we were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Kristina. She too was born on – February 24.

When my father died I felt like I was left alone in this world but looking back I now know that God had different plans.

In a review of Squire Rushnell’s book, When God Winks at You: How God Speaks Directly to You through the Power of Coincidence I found this quote:

"When life gets confusing, stressful, or even tragic, you may wonder if God sees or cares about you. Then a coincidence or answered prayer enters your life and changes it for the better. These personal touches don’t happen just by chance. They’re messages sent directly from God to you – winks from a loving Father who wants you to know He’s watching over you."

On February 24 God winks at me every year.

2007 Nursery Festival, Forest Hill, LA

Spring is in the air! Not really - It's 25 here this morning!

But SPring will get here soon enough.

The third weekend of March is our Annual Nursery Festival here in Forest Hill, LA. Any one interested in plants or gardening needs to make this weekend in Forest Hill a must. Come by and visit us at Halbert's Nursery, LLC.

We are located at 4111 Hwy 112 (the main stretch between I-49 and Hwy 165).

If you want a price list from us just drop me an e-mail (halberts@cebridge.net), comment to this blog or call me at 318-748-6836. (Let me know if you are a Nursery, retail center or landscaper so that I send you our wholesale prices list).

The photos above are from our nursery. We have about 11 acres of container stock and 24 greenhouses.

SEE YOU THEN!

Jobs I've Had

I was recently thinking of all the jobs I have had in my life. I remember in college that my economics professor told us that unlike our parents our generation would have many jobs over a lifetime.

How true that statement was. So here is my list of the jobs I have had since my teenage years.

**********************************************************

Newspaper delivery, Jacksonville, FL (1 yr)–banana seat bicycle and an AM radio rubber banded to my handlebars.

Foshee Piano and Organ Co. Pensacola, FL (2 yrs) – I actually dropped a brand new upright piano off the back of a delivery truck!

Treasure Chest Printing, Tampa, FL – (Lasted 1 week). It was a 12-hour night shift while I was in high school! I hated this job more than any other I ever had.

Gaylord’s Department Store, New Orleans, LA (1 yr) – Stock boy – This building is now the Student Center for the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

H J Wilson’s (became Service Merchandise) (2 yrs) – Started as assistant warehouse manager – became the youngest manager in the co. (19). This is one of my favorite jobs of all time.

Front desk and toilet paper distribution (1 semester) – Louisiana College, Pineville, LA - Tutor Hall (Boys Dorm) Work-study job – need I say more?

Washed vans at Sears, Alexandria, LA (couple months)

Game room Director, Louisiana College (1 yr) – my first job interview where I went up against another person and won. Introduced a pinball machine that doubled our income in the game room.

Yearbook Editor, Louisiana College, Pineville, LA – ( 1 yr) Made an “F” when the yearbook sponsor cut my scholarship AFTER the yearbook was complete and then insisted that I work on the next year’s book. I was not the biggest team player at the time and decided to walk. My only failing grade in college.

Rapides Area Planning Commission, Alexandria, LA – (8 yrs) This started as a part time gig. I was a public admin student at LC and wanted to get into politics. Ended up being Assistant Director several years down the road. I owe a lot to this job but will write more on that later.

Premier Bank, Baton Rouge, LA (Later part of Bank One) (2 yrs) – GREAT job – worked with some really fun folks. MOVE CREW RULES! More stories on this job later.

University Stores Director, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA (2 years) – My first job where I really felt I ran the place. I had a great staff, a great boss and I could have stayed at this job for the rest of my life. Nothing like working on a college campus – the energy was great! LSU #1!!!!!!!! Left for more $$$$$.

Office Depot Business Services Division – (1 yr)Out of my home – Corporate accounts manager for all of Louisiana except New Orleans. Sales! Yuck! Never again. But I worked with some really great people.

International Mission Board, SBC – Missionary (5 yrs) - Served in Costa Rica and Mexico. I was not a good missionary – but God taught me what a servant heart meant. I learned more about myself in these 5 years than in any other job or period in my life. Many stories are forthcoming from these years.

Halbert’s Nursery, Forest Hill, LA (current) – My wife and I now run this family business. I thank God daily for this opportunity!

Twin Bridges Baptist Church, Alexandria, LA - Pastor (Bi-vocational) (current) Too new to comment much. Great People!