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December 19, 2001

Talk About A Green Christmas...
Although the Winter Solstice arrives on Friday the weather sure has not felt much like winter.  This weather is playing tricks on my garden.  I have alyssum in full bloom and my primrose thinks it's spring.  My miniature roses continue to surprise me with new blooms.  I am beginning to think that I am going to have a garden all winter.  Not possible.  The cold winter air will arrive soon enough and finally lull all of my plantings into a long sleep.  My pansies would look great if I could remember to water them.  I need to start reading this newsletter a little better.  I believe that I have been preaching about watering and keeping things moist due to lack of rainfall.  Oh how the cobbler's children have no shoes.

I have been scurrying around like everyone else preparing for Christmas!  What an exciting time.  Of course the children are beside themselves and every morning when they awake it is the same question, "How many more days 'til Christmas?"  There is nothing quite like getting together with all of your family for the holidays.  We are headed to Maryland to spend the Christmas holiday with Kevin's side of the family.  My side of the family is meeting in Phoenix to welcome a new member to our family.  My sister gave birth to Nicholas Reed Bornhoft on December the 9th.  Nicholas will make the 5th grandchild on my side of the family. Our families keep growing at a rapid rate.  We are expecting two more babies next spring on the Marsh side of the family.  It is always so much fun when all of the kids get to see their cousins.

Kevin and I have had such a great year.  The children are growing and becoming more independent every day.  It is amazing how fast they grow up.  Morgan will be turning 11 in January and Noah is 5 and Jake brings up the rear at 3.  It seems like only yesterday that they were babies.  What a joy it has been watching them reach certain milestones.  Parenthood is truly a blessed thing!

Be safe throughout this holiday season and Kevin and I thank you all for your support.  Merry Christmas!!!!

~ Shelly  

Hey Bud, What Are You Doing Here?
We were a little surprised to venture outside last week to find our magnolia tree full of buds.  Did we sleep through winter?  All over the metro, and apparently across the country, trees have been budding out, forsythia have bloomed and all manner of plants are just plain confused by the mild temperatures.  Surely this can't be good?  We put the question to Dennis Patton at the K-State Extension office who offered the following encouraging but cautionary notes:

  • Plants should be fine as long as any flower buds are protected by the bud scales.  Problems may arise if this (mild) weather continues and the buds "plump" more.  
  • Flower buds are more likely to be damaged in the spring by a late frost when color is starting to appear in the flower. 
  • If temperatures stay below 50-55 degrees there should not be any additional development of the buds.
  • A rapid temperature drop could create more problems then a slow slide.  

All we want for Christmas is some steady rain and a gradual decrease in temperatures toward normalcy!

Goin' Buggy...
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.

Acid Test...
Mulching your perennials is very important in wintertime.  If possible mulch the root zones of your azaleas and rhododendrons with oak leaves, shredded oak bark or pine needles.  Each will add a little bid of acidity to the delight of these acid-loving plants.

 


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Meet Me Under The 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

Winter Water Wisdom...
Winter watering is the single most important thing you can do to ensure healthy bulbs, perennials, trees, shrubs, and lawns next spring.  Take advantage of the mild temperatures now to water as much as you can.  It's not crazy to have a sprinkler going in December - especially if it's been unusually dry.  Also, make sure to give evergreens a really good soaking once a week as temperatures allow.

 


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Winter Wisdom...
When I say evergreen do you think of pine trees?  Well stop it!  After all there are so many more interesting evergreens that grow well in our area.  How about Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Holly, the list goes on.  If you're a little green about evergreens you'll want to read this week's Winter Wisdom... 

Keep Off The Grass...
While our daytime temperatures have been mild lately the overnight lows are dipping into the low 30's and high 20's.  Grass will respond to these freezing conditions by moving water to areas outside the cells.  Ice accumulates in spaces between the cells and individual grass blades become brittle.  Walking on frozen turf will force the ice and cells together and can cause permanent damage to your lawn.  Do your best to avoid it.

Finally...
"May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope; 
The spirit of Christmas which is peace; 
The heart of Christmas which is love."

~ Ada V. Hendricks

 

 

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