Home Blog

Winter

Source: Farmers Almanac — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:57:35 GMT

How did Frosty Become the Holiday Snowman?

Frosty is one of the most successful additions to modern Christmas imagery. The song, written in 1950 by Steve Nelson and Jack Rawlins, was recorded by Gene Autry. It became the best-selling Christmas record of 1951. Frosty has some elements of a fairy tale, with a snowman who comes to life with the addition of a magical silk hat.

There is also some fairy tale poignancy about him, as Frosty begins to melt in the sun and so must hurry away, promising to return again some day.

A 1969 television cartoon was based on the story, and Frosty has also found his way into Christmas merchandising. There he has appeared as a doll, on coloring books, as candy and in many other manifestations that might have taxed the ingenuity of even the most magical of silk hats.

Source: Farmers Almanac

Fall

Source: Farmers Almanac — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:57:53 GMT

Why Rake Leaves?

As the colorful autumn foliage begins to fall, it’s time to pull out the rake and begin the chore of removing all those leaves from your yard. So is there a legitimate reason for all the backbreaking work involved to rake and remove leaves, or is it simply an aesthetic choice? You’ll be glad to know the payoff for all your labor goes beyond simply enhancing the curb appeal of your property. Removing fallen leaves is vital for the health of your lawn.

When grass becomes buried beneath smothering layers of leaves, it is deprived of the air, water, and nutrients it needs to survive, and it becomes a breeding ground for fungi and insects. In addition, leaves shade the grass, preventing it from receiving the sunlight it needs to thrive. Sunlight is especially crucial for cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass since their prime growing time occurs in the cooler months.

What is the best plan of action to clean up those leaves?
If you have a large yard or an exceptional amount of leaves to rake, using a leaf blower as a first step can help make the task a bit easier. But don’t rely solely on a blower. It is helpful in rounding up the bulk of the leaves, but a rake will still be necessary for finishing the job. A thorough raking not only removes any remaining leaves, it will also remove thatch buildup, which can be equally damaging to your yard. Mowing the leaves with a mulching mower is an alternative option, but in order to shred the leaves effectively, it must be done before the carpet of leaves becomes too thick.

Now, what to do with those piles of leaves?
Put them to good use as compost for next year’s garden or as mulch for your landscaping needs. That is, however, after the kids have finished jumping into and rolling around in those glorious mountains of autumn leaves!

Source: Farmers Almanac

Summer

Source: Farmers Almanac — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:58:11 GMT

5 Ways to Landscape without Going Broke

Do you want to have the “yard of the month”, but don’t want to buy all those landscaping materials and waste resources? Here are 5 ways to save some green and still be green!

Join a garden club:
Want free plant cuttings? Then swap yours with other local gardeners and share their cost-cutting secrets. Also consider starting or joining your area’s Wild Ones Natural Landscapers Ltd. chapter, a group that rescues native plants from building and road construction sites (www.for-wild.org). Adopt these orphans and transplant them in your own beds.

Stretch your perennial budget:
Split clumps of your mature perennial plants to make an inexpensive ground cover. Replant the divisions to enjoy more summer blooms. This neat trick also works well with peonies, black-eyed Susans, Autumn Joy sedums and more.

Find free mulch:
Your town may have a compost facility that accepts grass clippings and tree prunings. Check the site frequently for free hardwood chip mulch, rich composted soil, and discarded trees. Tree stumps can be used as plant stands, and when they’ve served their duty, split them up into firewood.

Reduce your lawn size:
Reduce the amount of grass you have to mow by creating larger plant beds instead. You’ll save expensive gas or electricity, and the environment will thank you for reducing the use of fertilizers and potentially harmful pesticides. Don’t feel bad for the neighborhood kid that earns money mowing lawns – put him to work planting flowers!

Pay for less water:
Collect free rainwater in large barrels. Place them at the bottom of downspouts and water your plants with the bounty. Or bring your garden right to the source! Dig a shallow pit, 10 to 20 feet around, at the base of your downspout. Plant New England aster, red milkweed, gayfeather, and nodding wild onion among rock formations to catch the runoff.

Source: Farmers Almanac

Spring 2009

Source: Farmers Almanac — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:27:07 GMT

Plant a Healing Garden this Spring

Herb gardens are useful not only for cooking but for some natural cures. Check out top 4 picks for healthy herbs to grow.

Feverfew for Headaches:
Several compelling studies have demonstrated that feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is effective at migraine prevention. It can be grown outdoors, or placed inside the house for year-round use.

Chew two fresh or frozen leaves daily. A member of the Asteraceae/Compositae family, which also includes ragweed, feverfew can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Caraway, Coriander or Peppermint for Indigestion:
Many culinary herbs have a soothing effect on the belly. Experiment with caraway and coriander as part of your cooking regimen, or sip peppermint (Mentha piperita) tea after meals. Find yourself with leftover mint? Add fresh sprigs of the plant to a footbath when fighting a cold. For tension headaches, try applying peppermint oil to the forehead and temples.

Rosemary for Congestion:
A potent food preservative, rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) can also be used to clear the nasal passages. Steep a few sprigs in a steam bath, or add one teaspoon of crushed herb per cup of boiling water for a drinkable infusion.

Chamomile for Stress:
Chamomile (Matricari recutita) is one of our most beloved herbs. Try adding 3 teaspoons of flowers to boiling water and steeping 10–15 minutes for tea, or a few handfuls of flowers to bathwater.

Like feverfew, chamomile is possibly allergenic. Chamomile’s flower friend, sweet violet (Viola odorata), is also thought to be good for calming the nerves, thus earning it the nickname “hearts-ease.” Add some of its vitamin A and C rich blooms to your spring salads for a tasty (and lovely) treat.

Source: Farmers Almanac