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December 20, 2000

Snow, Solstice, Santa...
Well the good news is that Winter has officially arrived!  What a relief.  The weather has been so pleasant of late that I have been sitting around wishing for some snow and some much colder weather.  "A bit of sarcasm?" you might ask.  All I want to know is, "What is with this weather?"  It was brought to my attention the other day by my mother that the temperatures in Alaska are presently warmer than they are here!  Hmmm, a move might be in order.  

Now that I have that out of my system I can write about more important matters.  Christmas - just five days away!  As I reflect on this past year and things that I am thankful for these come to mind:

  • My Husband Kevin - It is not easy being married to me but he does it so effortlessly! He is handsome, caring, intelligent and is the most important person in my life. 
  • My Children, Morgan, Noah & Jake - I cannot imagine what my life would be without these three children.  Morgan is quickly turning into such a young woman and the boys get taller everyday.  Of course I now have several strands of gray hair thanks to them but every strand is worth it.  
  • Our Readers - without you there would be no us. 
  • Our Sponsors - A big thanks to these people for believing in what we do and supporting our efforts. 

A big thanks to all of you who sent me well wishes on my birthday!  I had a terrific day and it was partly due to all of you.  

If you are traveling this holiday season stay safe and may God bless you and your families! 

Merry Christmas!

~ Shelly  

Why It's Called A Blanket Of Snow...
Believe it or not that snow covering your garden beds is quite a blessing during this ultra-cold weather.  Fluffy and light, freshly fallen snow is an excellent insulator.  Its millions of tiny air pockets hold warmth in the soil around snow-covered plants.  So when the air temperature falls near zero (and below) your white blanketed garden beds are a relatively toasty 32 degrees.  That added protection may be the difference between death and survival for plants of borderline hardiness.

Illuminating Houseplant Help...
To keep your houseplants healthy you may need to compensate for the short days and long nights of winter.  Try moving them closer to windows but make sure their foliage doesn't actually touch the cold window.  Supplemental lighting is another option.  Light units containing special grow lights can be purchased from mail-order companies or at garden centers.  You can also build your own lighting structure.  A standard fluorescent unit containing one cool white 40 watt tube and one warm white 40 watt tube provides adequate light for most houseplants.  Plants should be placed within 6 to 12 inches of the lights for maximum benefit.

Source

Plants Mite Need A Bath...
Most homes in winter become dry as bone meal.  Keep an eye out for spider mites on your houseplants - they thrive in that dry air.  Females lay about 200 eggs and the life cycle may be completed in just 7 days.  Do the math - it gets ugly fast!  

At the first sign of any insect infestation, isolate your plant.  Several thorough washings with soapy water (two teaspoons of mild detergent to a gallon of water) should bring them under control.

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Click here to see our selection...

The Magic Of Mistletoe...
Mistletoe is easily one of my favorite seasonal traditions.  A parasitic plant with white berries, it is one of the most sacred plants in European folklore.  It was once considered a bestower of life and fertility.  A good mistletoe crop foretold Welsh farmers a good crop for the upcoming season.  Mistletoe was also thought to help individuals who had problems bearing children.  Mistletoe has long been a symbol with both magical powers and medical properties.  Mistletoe from sacred oaks was especially precious to ancient Celtic Druids.  It was gathered at both mid-summer and winter solstices for indoor decoration.  Mistletoe was so sacred to the Druids that if two enemies were to meet under it, they had to lay down their weapons and observe a truce until the following day.  

The name mistletoe came from a mistake made long ago.  In ancient times it was observed that mistletoe would often arise on tree branches where birds had left droppings.  This led to the misguided belief that mistletoe was propagated spontaneously from bird droppings.  Mistel is the Anglo-Saxon word for "dung" and tan is the word for "twig".  Hence, mistletoe means "dung-on-a-twig".

The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe began in England.  It was believed that kissing under the mistletoe increased the possibility of marriage in the upcoming year.  After every kiss, a berry was removed from the bunch and discarded.  When the berries were gone, the kissing would stop.

Source

For The Birds...
I hope you are sharing your garden with the birds.  They make great caretakers when insects abound and are just fun to watch this time of year.  But all this snow on the ground makes it particularly difficult for them to forage for food.  Bring out your bird feeders and stock them with seed for the birds.  Bread crumbs, popcorn, and other treats scattered on the snow will be much appreciated.  Remember to provide fresh water for your feathered friends too!

Winter Wisdom...
Last week's US Supreme Court decision effectively bringing this year's presidential election to a close was one for the record books.  I think we'll all remember it for some time.  It's amazing the issues the courts get wrapped up with.  Even gardening hasn't escaped the eye of the high court.  The age-old question of whether tomatoes are a vegetable or a fruit was actually resolved (legally anyway) by the US Supreme Court over 150 years ago.  Read about it in this week's Winter Wisdom...

A Supporting Role...
If you are using guy wires around newly planted trees make sure hose sections (or other protection) are still covering the supporting wires or ropes.  Without sufficient protection the recent windy weather could cause a young tree's bark to be stripped away by bare wire or rope.

Finally...
"At Christmas I no more desire a rose 
Than wish a snow in May's newfangled mirth; 
But like each thing that in season grows."

~ William Shakespeare

 

 

 

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