By the Light of the Silvery Moon/Lunar Planting

Here’s a personal post from my NOTES on February 17, 2014. There was snow on the ground. In 2021, the Snow Moon will appear on February 27.

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Doing the before-bed things and wandering through the house with the last of my decaf Earl Grey tea - goodnight closed garage door, goodnight boots by the door - I headed back to the dining room thinking I had left the light on. I flicked the switch and the room got brighter. Off again and I looked up at the bright skylights.

Over to the window. "The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below." What a sight! Bright moon. Clear sky. Pale blue snow with dark ink tree shapes falling in long shadows.

The full moon fell on Valentine's Day but it was still big and bright Sunday night. 

The February full moon is called the Snow Moon as February usually has the heaviest snowfall. Okay, that fits. Looking forward, March's full moon, on the 16th (March 28, 2021) is called the Worm Moon as the beginning of spring and softer ground brings earthworms up and robins out.

What About Lunar Gardening and Planting?

Pick anytime through history and somebody is trying to figure out how the moon affects our planet. While some scoff at the idea and call it folklore, others swear by it and others say “why not?” I am nevertheless wary of anyone who cites their “grandpap” as an authority.

Moon planters believe that the same gravitational force that affects the tides cause above ground crops to leap right out of the earth. And when on the wane with only a light pull and earth’s gravity the stronger, root crops dig deep in the ground.

Cheri Melton, a Cochise County Master Gardener, uses this method but provides no scientific back-up for the claims; however, she notes that it does add a rhythm to planting cycles and helps her pace her gardening.

Even further into astrological affects, some believe that the zodiac signs present when crops are planted can increase growth and production. There are air, water, fire and earth signs, each with plus and minus properties.

Whether you believe the moon affects plant growth or not, it's still an interesting idea and helps promote the annual almanac sales. Almanacs which, by the way, predicted heavy snow this February  (2014).The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts NO SNOW for February 2021. HA HA. 

~ Carol Kagan

More information at the following links:

Cochise County Master Gardeners, Arizona: Gardening and Farming by the Moon  

Cochise County Master Gardeners, Arizona: Lunar Gardening Exploring the Zodiac Signs

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Are you interested herbs? Check out the Herb Sampler on this Blog  

The Second Edition Herb Sampler (2019) is available through Amazon.

THINGS WITH WEIRD NAMES- Do you know ...

THINGS WITH WEIRD NAMES

Do you know the names these things? Won't work well on a phone. 

Consider signing up for eBlog notifications on the email signup on the right. More puzzles, gardening tips, and a variety of miscellaneous topics. 

ANSWERS will be posted on this eBlog on Sunday, March 7.

(Courtesy of Derek Haines)

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Are you interested herbs? Check out the Herb Sampler on this Blog  

The Second Edition Herb Sampler (2019) is available through Amazon.

FIGURES OF SPEECH ANSWERS

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27 Figures of speech answers 

Official answers from Ella Barron

1. In a nutshell
2. Piece of cake
3. Cherry on the cake
4. Bald as a coot
5. A screw loose
6. Stiff upper lip
7. Born with a silver spoon in your mouth
8. Ear worm
9. Keep your cards close to your chest
10. Joker in the pack
11. An ace up your sleeve
12. Heart on your sleeve
13. On a silver platter
14. Spill the beans
15. Big cheese
16. Red herring
17. Tie the knot
18. Put all your eggs in one basket
19. Walking on eggshells
20. Shadow of your former self
21. No room to swing a cat
22. The cat’s got your tongue
23. Kick the bucket
24. Pull your socks up
25. Cold feet
26. From rags to riches
27. Time flies

Other possible answers
1. Got the cat by the tail
2. Hit the nail on the head
3. A screw loose
4. A fish out of water
5. Tie the knot
6. Bird brain
7. Cherry on top
8. Chalk and cheese
9. Knock your socks off
10. Put your best foot forward
11. A hard nut to crack
12. A fish out of water
13. A can of worms
14. Big cheese
15. Best foot forward
16. Follow your nose
17. Pale as a ghost
18. Stick your neck out
19. Raise an eyebrow
20. More holes than Swiss cheese
21. Bird’s eye view
22. Left in tatters
23. Best foot forward

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Are you interested herbs? Check out the Herb Sampler on this Blog  

The Second Edition Herb Sampler (2019) is available through Amazon.

RECORD YOUR BIRDWATCHING ANYTIME

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Did you know you can do bird counts not only for the Great Backyard Bird Count but at any time? 

You can create your own YARD list or LIFE list. These are a great way to record what you see, even that hawk, heron or eagle that flies overhead or hear such as a Great Horned Owl HOO HOO hoo hoo - ing at night, likely unseen.

There may be times that you see many birds in your backyard because of the weather. We have a heated birdbath and an easily refilled feeding station on our deck. When it gets really cold and/or snows we have many more birds than usual. In spring, especially after a rain, we don't see many at all. 

Check the links for more information on creating your own lists. The eBird entries do requires a time and place as they need that to have consistent data to use.

Why be concerned about the loss of a species?

 Why should we care about the loss of a species?

At a presentation on Monarch butterflies and how to help avoid their extinction, an audience member asked, “Why do we care if they are gone?”

Extinction is a natural process that has been occurring since long before the existence of man. Normally, new species develop, through a process known as speciation, at about the same rate that other species become extinct. However, because of air and water pollution, forest clearing, loss of wetlands, and other man-induced environmental changes, extinctions are now occurring at a rate that far exceeds the speciation rate. 

Global Carbon Project

Each extinction of animals and plants diminishes the biodiversity and complexity of life on earth. The loss of a single species may result in few environmental repercussions; however, all life on earth is interconnected. If enough "living connections" are broken, whole ecosystems could fail the balance of nature could be forever altered, and our own survival could be jeopardized. Furthermore, the diversity of animal and plant life provide us with food and many of our life-saving medicines. When a species is lost, the benefits it might have provided are gone forever. Consider that these medicines are from plants: Aspirin from willow tree bark, morphine from poppies, digitalis from foxglove. 

The Connection

It is important to note that extinction – the permanent loss of species – is a natural process that is counterpoint to speciation, the creation of new species through evolution.

Background or “normal” rates of extinction vary through time but are typically in the order of one to two species per year. Current rates of extinction, however, are estimated to have reached 1000 to 10,000 times this rate. Put bluntly, the annual species body count is no longer a mere handful, it’s an avalanche.

But why should it matter to us if we have a few less species? The simple answer is that we are connected to and deeply dependent on other species. From pollination of our crops by bees, to carbon storage by our forests, and even the bacteria in our mouths, we rely upon biodiversity for our very existence. We neglect this at our own peril. And, of course, there are equally justified arguments for keeping species based purely on their aesthetic and cultural importance, or for their own sake.

Doom-and-gloom predictions tend to paralyze us, rather than jolting us into action. So what can be done? There are wonderful examples of individuals and organizations working at both small and large scales to tackle and even sometimes turn back the tide of extinctions.

There are also some compelling personal approaches, such as that of Alejandro Frid who is writing a series of letters to his daughter as a way of confronting the issues of climate change and biodiversity loss. But what is urgently needed, of course, is radical change in society as a whole in the way it interacts with its environment.

~Carol Kagan

TUSSIE-MUSSIES or NOSEGAYS

Excerpt from my book, Second Edition Herb Sampler (2019) available through Amazon.. 

In earlier times, with the lack of indoor plumbing plus goat and horse carts in the streets, small nosegays, or "tussie-mussies," of herbs and flowers were carried in the hand or pinned to clothes to freshen the air and mask unwanted odors. 

In the Victorian Era certain flowers or herbs were  included in tussie-mussie gifts to convey a special message to someone. To decode the message, there were small books that detailed meanings of different herbs and flowers. A list is available in the Herb Sampler or at various sites online. 

Today, Tussie-Mussies are often used for small, informal weddings not only assembled to convey wishes but also are less expensive. Flowers or herbs for wedding vow renewals are often selected with personal memories considered. On these bouquets personal or meaningful items can be attached to the streamers.

Creating a tussie-mussie for a hostess, graduation, shower, or special occasion gift is easy. Make selections from the herb and flower garden, choosing one or a few center flowers and other filler from greens such as mints, parsley, and oregano. This is a small bouquet and not many stems are needed. Tussie-mussies are meant to last for just one day and should be kept in water until presented to the recipient.

Hostess gift: geranium flower (friendship) in the center, add oregano (joy), baby’s breath and parsley (festivity), sage (good health and long life) and basil (best wishes).

Baby christening: white rose bud (purity) surrounded by lavender (luck and purity), mint (cheerfulness and virtue) baby’s breath (festivity), and sage (good health, long life).

Graduation: black-eyed Susan (encouragement) centered among baby's breath and parsley (festivity), sweet basil (best wishes), marjoram (joy and happiness) and yarrow (good health).

Lavender-Luck,
undying love, purity

Cut the stems about a 4-5", strip the lower leaves, and put the stems in water. Start at the center with the main flower and gather the other flowers and filler around it. Keep it small! 

Wrap floral tape around the stems starting about 2" from the bottom and working up, securing it with a straight pin. Trim the bottom of the stems evenly.

A paper doily or cone can be used and decorated for the occasion to slip over the stems. Or just wrap the stems with ribbon, lace or raffia starting from 1” from the bottom. Other embellishments such as beads, charms or trailing ribbon can be added. Consider adding something with a personal meaning for the recipient. A card listing the meanings of the herbs can be enclosed.

There are a few ways to preserve the sentiments of the day. Dry the flowers and leaves and combine them as potpourri in a glass container with lid. You may want to tuck in a small cotton ball with fragrance. Press the plant materials for several weeks then arrange and frame them. 

Are you interested herbs? Check out the Herb Sampler on this Blog  

The Second Edition Herb Sampler (2019) is available through Amazon.

FIND 27 (or more) FIGURES OF SPEECH

FIGURES OF SPEECH -Find 27 figures of speech in this cartoon by Ella Baron

Won't work well on a phone. Consider signing up for eBlog notifications on the email signup on the right. You will be reminded when the answers are available. More puzzles, gardening tips, and a variety of miscellaneous topics. 

ANSWERS will be posted on this eBlog on Sunday, February 21.
I'll give you one. It can be Bird Brain or Bald as a Coot 

Seeds: What’s in the Packet

Seeds: What’s in the Packet

 by Annette MaCoy, Penn State Extension, Franklin County

SEED CATALOGS  are arriving in mailboxes now. Seeds offer an opportunity for gardeners to grow old favorites and try new varieties at a much lower cost than purchased plants. The selection of seeds available from catalogs is extensive; you can find unusual varieties not sold or grown by local nurseries or garden centers. It takes some time and effort to start seeds successfully, but many are very easy for beginning gardeners to grow.

When we order seeds from a catalog, or when we purchase packets of seed in the spring, we are drawn to the colorful flower or vegetable pictured. It is important also to pay attention to the information and instructions provided, which can spell the difference between success and failure.

Seed Packet Info (Photo:B.WIlliams, NC State)

Here is some of the information usually included in catalogs and on seed packets:

• Description – includes common and scientific name, plant height at maturity, days to harvest or bloom, growth habit (for instance, vining), life cycle (annual or perennial), and suggested uses for the plant.

• HARDINESS ZONE – for perennials, this designation indicates how well the plant will survive average minimum low winter temperatures. The United States is divided into bands, or zones, with lower numbers indicating colder areas. Franklin County is in Zone 6, so perennials or woody plants that you select should be listed as “hardy to zone 6” or colder.

• Hybrid or Open Pollinated – these terms refer to how these seeds were bred or created. Hybrid seeds, often called F1  hybrids, are the result of a specific cross between two carefully maintained parent plants to create a variety with hybrid characteristics and vigor. Open pollinated plants, on the other hand, are varieties that are pollinated naturally; these are often called “heirloom” or “antique” varieties and exhibit characteristics that are usually stable from year to year. They may be less vigorous or less disease resistant than F1hybrids but have other attributes, such as flavor or fragrance, that make them worth growing.

• Weight - either a weight or number of seeds is noted; this is useful in determining how much seed or how many packets you will need for the area you are planning to plant.

• Date – the year for which the seeds were packaged, e.g., “Packed for 2021” and a sell-by date, as well as the country of origin, are included. It’s important to know this date, because as seeds age, their germination rate declines. If you sow seeds from several years ago, you may get fewer seeds sprouting as their viability decreases.

• Planting Directions – when to plant, planting depth, spacing, light exposure requirements, days to emergence, whether the seeds should be started indoors or can be planted directly outdoors; all this information will help you to grow a successful crop.

Although we often don’t think much about it, a seed is an extraordinary thing. Seeds come in myriad shapes and sizes, and plants have evolved ingenious methods to disperse seed. A seed is basically a container that is generally small, easily stored, and able to withstand conditions that would kill its parent plant. No matter how small the seed, contained within that seed coat is a dormant plant, complete with root, stem, and leaves, most of the time with a food source – either seed leaves or endosperm – to provide nourishment to the embryo seedling. A seed survives cold, drought, heat, sometimes for hundreds of years, just waiting for the right conditions of moisture and light to germinate.

Here are a few interesting facts about seeds:

• Seeds provide more food for human beings than any other plant or animal – think of rice, corn, wheat, barley, oats, peanuts, and nuts. The second largest of all known seeds is the familiar coconut. It can float, sometimes thousands of miles, on the ocean because of its hollow cavity and fibrous coat.
• Some seeds, such as those of orchids and begonias, are as fine as dust. The seed capsule of one orchid flower contained over 3 million seeds.
• Many common weed seeds, such as lambs’ quarters, ragweed, and foxtail, can survive up to 40 years buried in the soil

Seed Vault Items (Photo Courtesy of Svalbard)

• The Norwegian government has built a SEED VAULT at Svalbard, 390 feet inside a sandstone mountain on the island of Spitsbergen, to collect and preserve the genetic diversity of over 4.5 million samples of different seeds.

Editor's note: Keep your seed packets after sowing to save seeds and for reference on future care and harvesting. 

At the end of the season you may want to SAVE SEEDS FROM YOUR GARDEN. Here's some tips from Penn State.

Also remember, when saving seeds, that germination rates will decline over time. You may want to test the viability of any saved, or shared, seeds. Check out TEST YOUR SEEDS FOR VIABILTY on this blog. 

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Interested in herbs? Looking for a gift?

Perfect for a hostess gift, or birthday or housewarming.

And there is a price reduction as we look forward to spring gardening.

 Check out the Herb Sampler on this Blog  

SPECIAL Price reduction on this 5  *  *  *  *  * book

The Second Edition Herb Sampler (2019) is available through Amazon. 

Just click this link to find it.

St. Brigid’s Day (Candlemas)

Gardeners feel the change of the seasons and note what nature displays before, during and near the end of each. Today, February 1, 2021, in South Central PA, any evidence that spring will arrive soon is hidden under 6” of snow with more coming down strong. Even though there is snow on the ground and freezing cold outside, recognition that spring is rising lifts our spirits. Winter Savory and French Thyme reach out from under the snow with promise.

St. Brigid’s Day starts the evening of February 1^st and ends the evening of the 2^nd. While it is not the Spring Equinox (March 20) or the meteorological First Day of Spring (March 1), it is a day to celebrate the first stirring of new life. Depending on the weather the earliest to peek out may be Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), Crocus (Crocus sp.), Lenten Rose (Helleborus sp.), Witch Hazel (Hamamelis sp.), or Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox). 

Snowdrops (Photo:IWijingaarden CC-BY-SA-3.0)

St. Brigid’s Day is based on a Celtic feast day, Imbolc, a Gaelic word that means  literally ‘in the belly or womb,’ and may be referring to the pregnancy of ewes at this time of year. It is also referred to Candlemas.

Who is St. Brigid? (From the IRISH POST)

"Saint Brigid gained prominence as a devout Christian and miracle-worker throughout her life, with many converting to Christianity thanks to her incredible feats-- including her power to turn bathwater into beer. St Brigid was also a fierce protector of women, with many legends depicting her of saving innocent women from death, assault or being framed."

Garden Sage

Celebrate with a few evergreen boughs, branches of rosemary for remembrance and sage for protection, wisdom, and the granting of wishes for a good year and harvest.

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Interested in herbs? Looking for a gift?

Perfect for a hostess gift, or birthday or housewarming.

And there is a price reduction as we look forward to spring gardening.

 Check out the Herb Sampler on this Blog  

SPECIAL Price reduction on this 5  *  *  *  *  * book

The Second Edition Herb Sampler (2019) is available through Amazon. 

Just click this link to find it.