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December 15, 2004

Wind's Blowing Colder, Gettin' A Little Older...
I awoke yesterday morning at 6:30 with Sam Parker on my heels patiently waiting for his morning walk. The thermometer read a bone chilling 13
°F. Brrr... and winter doesn't officially start for another six short days! Once I bundled up - coat, scarf, hat and gloves, out the door we went. The wind stung my face until it hurt so I encouraged Sam to hurry up and finish his business. He seems to find the cold air exhilarating and is always a bit wound up once we get back inside. It is probably a good thing that Sam has to be walked three times a day. It forces me outside and if dressed appropriately I am always glad I had the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air.

I celebrated my 42nd birthday yesterday. I remember when I was in my thirties how old that number sounded. I use to shudder about the thought of growing older. Isn't that silly? What a great life I have. I have a great husband, three terrific children and everyone in our family has been blessed with good health. Getting older has made me wiser. It has made me evaluate what is really important. I have reached a level of maturity that I have never had the opportunity to explore. If getting older means getting wiser then bring on those birthdays. I will embrace them for what they are - a chance to continually rediscover the person I truly am.

~ Shelly  

Poinsettia Pointers...
Here are some quick tips for keeping those holiday poinsettias looking good through the season:

  • Give them sun for at least half the day.
  • Keep away from drafts, registers & radiators.
  • Night temperatures in 50’s or low 60’s, days at 70° F.
  • Soil should dry only slightly between thorough waterings. Discard the drainage.
  • Punch holes in decorative foil wraps to prevent soggy soil conditions.

Source

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.

Guy-Wire Guidelines...
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.

 


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Winterize Power Tools...
Power tools and other gas-powered equipment need winterizing before being put away for the season. Here are some basics:

  • Oil should be changed and moving parts lubricated.
  • Fuel systems should either be drained or have a gas stabilizing additive mixed into the fuel.

These simple steps will help ensure a longer lasting machine as well as a better chance of a successful "cold-start" next spring.

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.

 


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

Allison Randall
(in support of Inez Duncan)
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 Deb Mahoney Janet Cullison
Ron & Judy Brohammer
(in honor of Alverda Softwedel)
Fortress Security
(in honor of Elizabeth McKay and Elaine Perry)
E. maxine Liechti

Pledge Your Support Here
 


Winter Wisdom...
Despite (or due to) the recent wintery weather, there's been no shortage of curious callers on the hotline this week.  Questions concerning watering top the list followed by pruning and cutting back.  Get the scoop in this week's Winter Wisdom...

Preventing Snow Mold...
Two early snows this season caught many of us a bit off guard.  We still had a fair amount of unraked leaves on the ground and bet that you did too.  Don't leave them there! First on your weekend "to do" list  - rake up those leaves.  It's just not healthy for the turf to have wet leaves smothering it all winter.  Additional snows that may have greater longevity (on top of those unraked leaves) can lead to snow mold - a possibility and it is best avoided.

Finally...
"The spirit we have, not the work we do, is what makes us important to the people around us."

~ Sister Joan Chittister, Benedictine Sister and Author

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