Happy New Year, Everyone!!! Soon many new friends and old returning friends will be joining us from our lawns and gardens. Just think, right now it's freezing cold outside but comfy and warm on the inside. That's how our rooted friends outside feel. Those underground are most likely sleeping (lazy bums) and the ones we trimmed back, fed, and covered are nice and happily protected from the harsh environments of the merciless winter. We are kin in so many ways to our rooted friends, we just don't realize it. The pyramid of needs does not vary much between us and them. Although outside right now probably looks dim, dark, cold and dull. Many of us are staying warm eating from crockpots and enjoying hot cocoa and cider. So let's not forget them outside. Go out now, turn on the water and give every friend out there a little drink and possibly a slow release of fertilizer such as Osmocote or a similar cheaper brand with the same entities and with a low middle number on the mineral chart. If you've already suffered some casualties, don't despair. Simply trim off all the dead and remove all carnage, wrap in some lights and/or blankets and we'll deal with it later.
February is going to be just as bad or worse, but by now we should be able to see who is going to make it and who couldn't. Along with protection from the harsh winter, equally vital are the nutritional aspects which mostly consist of simple H2O. Let us not forget to water twice per month, at least if not weekly and stay on top of frost protection. Be sure to bleed the hoses of any excess water and keep pipes insulated and either turned off or keep on a slow drip under a watched eye.
As this tends to be one of the slower months and to keep from too much repetition, a reminder of what to do with the live Christmas trees besides green waste. Please call your local Boy Scout troop and for any donation they will come and pick up your Christmas tree. A lot of the trees are used in levy erosion control and berm conservation. The Boy Scouts or any similar local group could greatly benefit from our patronage. It is a great way to give back, support our local community and help keep down our landfills. Well guys, it's been a year all right. Another come, another gone. With all my gains and losses, I want to share with you how blessed I remain to still have y'all. God Bless You All. I love each and every person who is reading this now or who saves it for a time when they need a reason to smile. Heh, Heh, Heh, Heh!
Love Always,
Your Plant Lady