Greenscape Gardens Green Blog

LEWIS & CLARK EXPEDITION 200 YEARS AGO TODAY 12/13/1804

Morning temperature is once again cold at -20 F. A sparkling new coating of frost covers the river ice, old snow and bare ground. No visitors from the surrounding Indian villages today.

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SNOW IS GREAT NEWS FOR GARDENERS!

Snow provides moisture as well as protection from cold and wind.
Snow is an excellent insulator against low temperatures and excessive winds. The extent of protection depends on the depth of snow. Generally, the temperature below the snow increases by about 2 degrees F for each inch of accumulation. In addition, the soil gives off some heat so that the temperature at the soil surface can be much warmer than the air temperature. One study found that the soil surface temperature was 28 degrees F with a 9-inch snow depth and an air temperature of -14 F!

Snow brings welcome moisture to many landscape plants, which will in turn help prevent desiccation injury. Even dormant plants continue to lose moisture from twigs in the process known as transpiration. Evergreen plants, which keep their leaves through the winter, are at even greater risk of injury.

On the other hand, some evergreens can suffer from too much snow load. The weight of snow and ice can bend or even break branches, particularly on multi-stemmed shrubs such as arborvitae. Snow should be gently removed by brushing away with a broom. Do not try to remove ice since it is more likely that you will break the stems. Multi-stemmed shrubs that are known to be susceptible to breakage can be bound with twine to hold branches together.

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SANTA'S TRIAL

You are accused, Mr. Santa Claus, alias Saint Nick, alias Kris Kringle, age unknown, of no fixed abode, with the following charges:

** Crossing the Canadian-USA border illegally on December 25 of each year as far back as records go

** Failing to operate a union toy shop, and not paying your elves and dwarfs the minimum wage, provide paid vacations and wages at time and a half for more than 40 hour work weeks, or meeting the standards of the Worker's Compensation Boards

** Failing to transmit unemployment insurance payments, income tax deductions to the proper authorities on behalf of your employees

** You are accused of the illegal entry of millions of on December 25 of each year

** Failing to file a flight plan for your travels

** Failing to equip your vehicle with seat belts or properly fitting your reindeer with emission control devises

** Not declaring as taxable income the cookies and milk left for you by millions each year

** Illegally competing with the Post Office, and possible breaking drug laws by administering an unauthorized drug to Rudolph to make his nose light up

** And finally, parking in a no parking zone, namely rooftops, and having no record of either a driver's or pilot's licence ever being issued to a Mister Claus.

Faced with all these accusations and understanding their severity, have you any statement to make before I . . . wish you a . . Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and dismiss these charges?