The 2012 Perennial of the Year is...

Jack Frost, "Brunnera macrophylla",  a.k.a. Siberian Bugloss

• Gorgeous
• Low-maintenance
• Shade loving
• Striking foliage
• Contrasting tiny blue, yes blue, blossoms
• Versatile

To become Perennial Plant Association plant of the year, Jack Frost was selected from over 400 other plants by the trade groups educators, plant breeders, horticulturists and others. Walters Gardens in Zeeland, Michigan introduced it in 2000.

Jack Frost's silvery foliage has dramatic dark veins that will add lovely texture to your shade garden.

His tiny blue blossoms have long stems that are perfect for your spring bouquets.

Be always at war with your vices,

At peace with your neighbors, and

Let each new year find you a better man (person).

~Benjamin Franklin

Caring for Lovely Amaryllis

If a loved one, friend or Santa gifted you an Amaryllis bulb, you have been given one of the easiest flowering bulbs.  Native to South America, Amaryllis "Hippeastrum" has huge lily-like blooms in a
wide variety of colors. This tropical beauty is for indoor use only in our climate.

Before Planting

• First, if you can't plant the bulb right away, keep cool, and keep the bulb cool (around 45 deg F).
• You can plant it any time between October and April. It will bloom about 7 to 10 weeks later.
• Soak the bottom of the bulb for a few hours in a bowl of warm water. 
• Be gentle with the fragile roots.

Planting

• Some bulbs arrive with potting soil. If not, any indoor or container soil or compost mix works fine. Choose a pot that is only a bit larger than your bulb, they like tight quarters.
• Treat yourself for a succession of stunning blooms by planting an Amaryllis bulb every two weeks.
• Make a hole deep enough so that the soil will reach the area where the bulb narrows.
• Gently place the bulb in the hole and press down on the soil to keep the bulb in place. Amaryllis grow very tall. Now is a good time to put supports in the edge of the pot, avoid hitting the bulb.

Watering

• At first, water it thoroughly, once from the top and from the bottom if possible.
• Unless the soil dries out, your Amaryllis won't need more water until you see the green stem. Water it once a week, gradually giving it more water as the stem, leaves and flower bud grow.
• When to water? Check the top inch of soil, once it is dry, add just enough water to keep the soil moist.
• Remember that too much water will make the bulb rot.

Location: Amaryllis are tropical plants that enjoy warmth (around 68 degrees) and direct sunlight.

Flowering

• Initially the bloom will look green, then the true color of the flower will appear.
• Generally, the bulbs will flower in 10 weeks when planted in December, closer to 7 weeks when planted in April. 
• Most Amaryllis have 4 blooms. Once the first opens, the others will open within a few days.

Extend your Blooms

• To help your flowers last longer, remove the plants from direct sunlight to an area that is about 65 degrees F. Sunlight and heat shorten their beauty.
• WARNING: The pollen can stain. Use something to protect your hands and catch the pollen when you clip off the stamen.

Bring it back next year:

1. Cut the plant back to the top of the bulb when the stem sags. Take the bulb out of the pot, rinse the dirt off and allow it to dry. Store the bulb in a cool (40-50 deg. F), dark place for atleast 6 weeks. The crisper of your refrigerator is fine UNLESS you keep apples anywhere in your refrigerator. Apples release a gas that sterilizes Amaryllis bulbs. Anytime after 6 weeks your bulb can be planted following the steps above. You should plant it 8 weeks BEFORE you want it to bloom.

2. When the bloom dies, cut it and the green lump which is where a seed would form. Continue to water and fertilize it for the next 6 months. It should grow new foliage. Once the leaves begin to yellow in late summer, cut the leaves back to about 2 inches from the top of the bulb. Stop watering and move it to a cooler place to imitate its dormant period for 6 weeks. Plan to thoroughly water it 8 weeks BEFORE you want it to bloom and continue with the steps above to force it.

Troubles?
If your bulb doesn't growth any leaves or stem, gently squeeze the potted bulb under the dirt. If the bulb is not firm, it may have rotted. Add it to your comopst pile. Make sure your next bulb doesn't get as much water.

 

If your bulb grows leaves, but doesn't flower, it needs more nutrients and growing time. Give it the care outlined above and it should bloom next year. Some bulbs may not have the strength to produce the flowers.
 

Good luck with your lovely Amaryllis.

New Year's eve

is like every other night;
There is no pause in the march of the universe,
No breathless moment of silence among created things

that the passage of another twelve months may be noted;

and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening

that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.

~Hamilton Wright Mabie

Scituate's Observatory & January's Night Sky

Scituate is very lucky to have a great Seagrave Memorial Observatory tucked away right on Peeptoad Road. http://www.theskyscrapers.org/. Visit them on a clear Saturday night between 7 and 9 pm.

http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-2012.html

January 1-5 - Quadrantids Meteor Shower has up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak between January 3 & 4. The darkest skies of the first quarter moon are shortly after midnight and best for viewing away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes.

January 9 - the Full Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 02:30 EST.

January 23 - the New Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 02:39 EST.

I think the true gardener is a lover of his flowers, not a critic of them.
I think the true gardener is the reverent servant of Nature, not her truculent, wife-beating master.

I think the true gardener, the older he grows, should more and more develop a humble, grateful and uncertain spirit. ~Reginald Farrer, In a Yorkshire Garden, 1909

Caring for Evergreen Decorations

The smell of a fresh evergreens, whether from a wreath or swag on your door, or a live Christmas tree, is a wonderful greeting during the long, dark winter.

As with any cut plant materials, your greens have a certain life expectancy.  Happily, evergreens need very little care. Following these quick tips will make the most of your evergreens:

Choose Fresh Greens: Check the needles. They should be bend easily and not fall off with a gentle tug. If the needles are stiff or brittle, the greens are too dry.

Cutting your own Greens?

• Always start with the freshest greens. Ideally you would cut the tips of evergreens AFTER a hard frost and several consecutive cold nights to ensure needle retention. If so, your greens would keep their needles until March or April in our Northern climate.
• While you are pruning, look for small branches that can be cut off to cleanup the look of your evergreen plants.
• Holly, Boxwood and Needle-Leaved Evergreens can spare the interior branches, since the plant doesn't need them as much as the outer branches.
• Proper pruning time is not too important when you are just snipping off a few branches. However, use the right pruning technique whenever you cut branches. For a new branch, cut the stem back to a side branch or a bud. Don't just snip it off leaving a stub. This is especially important on pines and spruces since the cut branches will not send out new growth from the cutoff ends of a branch.
• Perennials which are dying back at this time of year are more forgiving — you can remove them at the ground level or at any desired height.

Berries? Watch out for berries that might fall off and stain the floor if they are stepped on.

Watering?
After cutting the evergreens, give them a good soak in water (overnight if possible). Allow them to dry off. A spray of Wilt-Pruf, or another plant protector, is a waxy coating to hold in moisture. (Finished wreaths can also be sprayed with Wilt-Pruf.)

Freshen your greens and wreaths with a good watering. Depending on the base material and decorations, you may be able to dunk, hose, spritz, or spray them. Caution: A metal base may rust, be sure to dry off any metal parts to avoid rust and staining.

Sunlight? When you hang your greens, hang them in a shady spot, avoiding the hot afternoon sun.

Indoors? If you choose to keep your greens inside, wait until the last minute to do so.

Heat? Don't hang greens near any heat sources that will dry them out. Dry greens are extremely flammable. You can keep them fresh with a spritzing of water from time to time, especially important if your home has dry heat like forced hot air, a fire place or wood stove. Try holding it over the sink or tub, and spraying the back. If you can water it every other day, it will last the longest.

Flammable? Very. Don't allow any candles or open flames near any fresh greens.

Outdoors? Easy. Outside wreaths shouldn't need water, especially if in a sheltered area away from direct sunlight. Cold temperatures should keep it fresh.

Hopefully these tips will help you get the most from your holiday greens.

December Night, Longest Nights to see Star Light...

December days are shortest, which gives us extra hours to gaze heavenward for the Full Cold Moon and a Lunar Eclipse.

Full Moon on the 10th. Early Native American tribes called it the Full Cold Moon. For equally obvious reasons, it is also known as the Moon Before Yule and the Full Long Nights Moon.

A Total Lunar Eclipse will be visible throughout most of North America. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

December 13, 14 - Geminids Meteor Shower. This awesome event is considered to be the best meteor shower, known for producing up to 60 multicolored meteors per hour at their peak. Some meteors should be visible from December 6 - 19. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Gemini. Look towards the east after midnight from a dark location.

December 22 - December Solstice. The December solstice occurs 05:30 UTC. The South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its northernmost position in the This is the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the northern hemisphere and the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the southern hemisphere.

December 24, the New Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 18:06 UTC.

visit the SeaSky blog for more on December's celestial theatrics

Wintertime Bird Attractions

When planning a bird garden, don't forget the wintertime attractions. Evergreens, such as holly, pine, and spruce, provide shelter from weather and predators. Winter fruit from American cranberrybush, serviceberry, holly, crab apple, and other plants offer tempting treats on a cold day. Leftover seed heads of sunflowers, asters, or other flowers can offer an avian smorgasbord. If there is no natural water source, a heated birdbath may do.

from the old farmers almanac

Libby's Pumpkin Roll Recipe

This is one of my favorite recipes! Debbie insists that it is easy.

Libby's® Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling

Cook Time: 15 Minutes.   Makes 10 Servings
Ingredients:
1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup powdered sugar (optional)

Directions:
1. PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan; line with wax paper. Grease and flour paper.
3. Sprinkle towel with powdered sugar.
4. COMBINE flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in small bowl. 5. Beat eggs and sugar in large mixer bowl until thick.
6. Beat in pumpkin.
7. Stir in flour mixture.
8. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts.
9. BAKE for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched.
10. Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.
11. BEAT cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth.
12. Carefully unroll cake; remove towel. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake.
13. Reroll cake. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.
ENJOY!