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December 8, 2004 |
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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 color.
Consumers 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:
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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)
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Kathleen Ford
(in memory of Carmela)
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Mary
Kieffer
(in honor of Barbara Summers)
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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 |
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Allison Randall
(in support of Inez Duncan) |
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Pledge Your Support Here
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 |