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December 11, 2002 |
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Decorating With Nature...
Time to stop looking around outside for things to bring
inside. My mother-in-law inspired
me to decorate with natural ornaments this Christmas so I have
been picking up sweet-gum balls and
pine cones on walks with Sam Parker. I
have a few sweet-gum balls just lying
around the house stacked on top of one another in pots with
sprigs of pepperberries woven in between. Pine
cones have been added to some of the Frazier fir greens that were
trimmed from the tree. After
including some pepperberries the arrangements are very festive.
Being creative with Mother
Nature's offerings has been fun and also a bit of a challenge.
I must admit it is a nice change
and a new spin on Christmas decorating.
I am not
quite sure what we are going to do if we don't get some
precipitation soon. I can't
believe how dry everything is. I
know that I am starting to sound like a broken record but when
the temperature allows, pull out those hoses and give everything
(especially evergreens) a good soaking.
~
Shelly
[p.s. from Kevin - Shelly's 40th
birthday is Saturday. Make her day and
send her a birthday greeting! Thanks! ~Kevin
]
Household Humidity Help...
You know that dry feeling you get in a heated house all
winter long? Your houseplants like it even less than you do.
They actually prefer a relative humidity of 40 to 50 percent but
suffer under humidity levels of 10 to 20 percent common in many
homes during the winter months. What to do? Humidifiers are an
excellent way to increase the relative humidity in the home.
Grouping plants together is an easy way to raise humidity levels
as well. The water evaporating from the potting soil, plus water
lost through the plant foliage, will increase the relative
humidity in the vicinity of the houseplants. Another method is
to place houseplants on trays (saucers) filled with pea gravel or
pebbles. Add water to the trays, but keep the bottoms of the
pots above the water line. The evaporation of water from the
trays increases the relative humidity.
By the way,
misting houseplants is not an effective way to raise the
relative humidity. The plant foliage dries quickly after misting
and would have to be done several times a day to be effective at
all.
Source
Two Out
Of Three Wise Men Recommend...
The holiday season is full of traditions involving the plants
we grow. Wreaths, mistletoe, Christmas trees, the list goes on.
How about frankincense and myrrh? What is that stuff anyway?
Well, they are both resins - dried tree sap - that come from
trees of the genus Boswellia (frankincense) and Commiphora
(myrrh). The way that people collect the sap is similar to the
way people collect rubber tree sap or pine tree sap. Cutting the
tree's bark causes the sap to ooze out of the cut. The sap used
to create both of these famous resins comes slowly and is allowed
to dry on the tree. Both in the time of the three wise men and
today, frankincense and myrrh are most commonly used to create
incense.
Holiday
Boxes...
If your empty window boxes are begging for some winter
substance try filling them creatively with evergreen branches
inserted into the soil. If the soil is already frozen soften it
with warm water first. You will find that balsam fir branches
will hold their blue-green needles until spring. For added color
try bittersweet, holly berries, and strawflowers.
Pacing
Your Paperwhites...
As the holidays near, you can adjust the bloom time of your
forced paperwhites. If they are coming along too quickly, place
them in a cool room (50-60º F) and
water less frequently. If you need to speed them up a bit, place
them in the warmest room in the house. With a little luck
they'll be blooming right on time!
Cold
Facts About Cool Season Grasses...
Just because your lawn has stopped growing
don't think it can be ignored! Unless we get appreciable
snow, which acts as an insulating cover, cool-season grasses are
at risk from desiccation. Young turf is
at the greatest risk, especially with repeated freeze/thaw
cycles. A good soaking (½ - 1 inch) at the time mowers
are serviced and stored for winter, will help alleviate this
problem by supplying water to the soil and keeping plants
moist.
Source
Winter Wisdom...
Whether it's a traditional poinsettia, a
Christmas Cactus, or any of a number of great indoor holiday
plants you'll find what you need to know about them in this
week's
Winter Wisdom...
Getting
A Handle On Gift Giving...
If you're thinking about buying garden tools as gifts for
that special gardener make sure you choose them carefully.
Getting the basics right can be the difference between a tool
that helps the gardener versus one that frustrates.
- Grips
- The right tool starts with a good grip. For starters, it
should be pliable and non-slip. A pliable, soft grip will
protect your joints and help keep your hand from cramping. A
non-slip handle means you don't have to waste energy hanging
onto the tool.
-
Handles - Tools with longer handles will make it easier to
garden by saving you from bending over or overextending your
reach in the garden. A long handle will also give you some
leverage and help you in using the tool.
-
Weight - Check the weight of any tool you're going to buy.
It should be heavy enough to be durable but not so heavy it is
fatiguing to use. A lightweight tool means more energy to
garden.
-
Quality - Good tools, well taken care of will last
forever. Those tools that get daily use (trowels come to mind)
should be made of materials that are both durable and
effective. Stainless steel and carbon steel blades are best.
Source
Finally... "Those
who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength
that will endure as long as life lasts. There
is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of
nature the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring
after winter."
~ Rachel Carson, Writer, 1907-1964 |