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December 8, 2004

Mild, Not Wild, Weather...
I am glad we are still having a few mild days. I spent the better part of today raking leaves, again. Leaf collection has come and gone so now I am on my own. Lots of leaves lying around. Wet, dry, hanging in the tree and waiting to fall leaves. The wet ones are certainly a priority. They need to be removed so as not to cause damage to the lawn. Not one of my favorite jobs but one that has to be done. I am slowly but surely putting the garden to bed. These warmer days are nice but the cold, longer days of winter are not far away - or so they say. For now I continue to work outside while the weather allows enjoying each and every day.

The gift season is upon us so don't forget that your local garden center or nursery is the perfect place to find a special gift for that special gardener. What Savvygardener wouldn't enjoy new tools, a poinsettia, a Christmas cactus or an Amaryllis? Give a flowering plant to help your favorite gardener through those gray, winter days! The gift of a live plant is one that keeps on giving.

Those generous donations just keep rolling in for the Breast Cancer 3-Day walk. If you have not had a opportunity to give you still have time. You will find more information here. Your generosity inspires and empowers me!

~ Shelly  

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

Poinsettias Perfected...
From our friends at University of Missouri Extension here are some good tips to make your poinsettias last longer and retain their colorConsumers should consider several factors when buying a poinsettia plant, said David Trinklein, professor of horticulture. The plant should have bright bracts and healthy foliage that does not look wilted. Its cyathia, the true flower in the center of the bracts, should be tightly clustered and just starting to shed pollen. Once it is brought home these tips will keep it healthy and happy:

  • Place it in a brightly lit location away from cold drafts or hot air registers.
  • Color can be prolonged if the plant is kept at 60° to 72° with high humidity.
  • Don't overwater a poinsettia. Water only when the surface of the growing medium is dry to the touch.
  • If the pot containing the plant is foil-covered, be sure there is a drainage hole in the foil. Empty any water that might drain through the pot and collect in the saucer below.

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.
 

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!
 


Special Thanks to These Savvygardeners
for Supporting Shelly in the
Breast Cancer 3-Day

Fortress Security
(in honor of Elizabeth McKay)
Jodi Hermstedt
(in support of survivors over 40)
Anonymous
(in memory of Doris and Charles Joss)
Anonymous
(in honor of Brigette Guenther)
 
Kathleen Ford
(in memory of Carmela)
 
Mary Kieffer
(in honor of Barbara Summers)
 
Constance Jordan Kathy Godden Larry & Mary Marsh
Ella Szeto Nancy Klunder Rebecca Bornhoft
Jane Golub Sally Huggins Sephie Bruns
Suzie Nelander Carol Rothwell Bette E. Croes
Becky McGuire    
  Allison Randall
(in support of Inez Duncan)
 

Pledge Your Support Here
 


Holiday Window 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.

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

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.  

Finally...
"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."

~ John Burroughs, Writer 1875-1922

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