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Holiday symbols rooted in nature | Home And Garden
In the rush to cross everyone off our holiday gift lists and to select the most suitable decorations to create the perfect ambience within our homes, we may overlook the importance of the plants that make this time of year so cheerful. Let us look at three such winter-themed plants to see how they each contribute to the long-standing custom of using live greenery indoors. Christmas Tree Germany is credited with decorating trees as far back as the 16th century and later, bringing the tradition to Pennsylvania when they immigrated. It wasn’t until the early 20th century, however, that this custom of bringing living trees inside and adorning them with…
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Master Gardener: Helpful garden tips for December | Home and Garden
I’ve been thinking about plants of the late Pleistocene era, and the animals that ate them, described in a pictorial essay by David Bryant in the fall 2021 issue of Flora, the California Native Plant Society’s quarterly magazine. Among them are Joshua Trees, California lilac, manzanita, grasses, sedge, rush, Pinyon pine, juniper, and sycamore, to name a few. I’ve also been thinking about one of the biggest trends in gardening this year: “regenerative landscaping,” which is broadly defined as future-looking, considering all the creatures of the garden, recognizing that more than just humans use the space. As gardeners out in it, we know this mixed-use firsthand, but it can be…
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HOME & GARDEN: DIY terrariums make great holiday gifts | Home & Garden
Terrariums take up little space and require minimal care. Add decorative figurines, as desired, like a miniature mushroom and maybe an elf. Clean any figures, toys, glass, pebbles, or ceramic structures with an alcohol or 10{d4d1dfc03659490934346f23c59135b993ced5bc8cc26281e129c43fe68630c9} bleach solution and allow them to dry. Illinois Extension A century-old trend of bringing nature inside during the winter, terrarium gardening has had a revival gardeners as of late…
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Master Gardener: Tips for selecting a live Christmas tree | Home & Garden
If you decided to select a pre-cut tree, pick one of the freshest you can find. Fresh needles bend easily. When the trees have dried out, their needles will snap. Once you have your tree home, it’s a good idea to saw off about one inch from the bottom of the tree. After doing this, place the tree in a container of water. If it will be a few days before you bring it in to decorate, store it in a cool place such as your garage. When you do bring it inside, be sure you place the tree in a stand that will hold some water. Keeping your tree…
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Gardening principles | Home & Garden
Praying for rain! Rosemary is a Mediterranean native that grows as a shrub in southern California, Texas and other areas with dry summers and mild winters. Its hardiness in other regions is iffy without protection, because cold, dry winds will quickly dehydrate the leaves. To be safe, grow some of your Rosemary in pots and bring it into a cool room during frigid weather. In any climate, Rosemary’s strong, resinous scent and delicious flavor are perfect with grilled fish, meats, and Mediterranean-style vegetables. Light, well-drained soil is essential for Rosemary, especially for container-grown plants. Water only as often as needed to keep the soil slightly moist. Plants need full sun…
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GARDEN COLUMN: Seasonal decorations | Home & Garden
KATE COPSEY T&D Garden Columnist The weather has turned seasonably cold with the first frost being seen by most of us. For most of the holiday season, our thoughts tend to be inside with family and indoor plants, some of which are popular as part of our seasonal decorations. Poinsettias, cacti and amaryllis are just some of the plants that we find in the stores right now. Poinsettias: The traditional Christmas poinsettia has been popular for decades with the bright red leaves still being the most popular color with shoppers. New colors such as variegated leaves or light-colored leaves dyed blue were a fad a few years ago and can…
