Ski Landscape

February SKI Tips

2/7/2021

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A polar vortex is a large pocket of very cold air which sits over the polar region during the winter season. The vortex is capable of delivering subzero temperatures and cold air needed for a major snowstorm.
Water houseplants that are hard to reach by tossing a small snowball or a few chunks of ice on top of the soil.
Valentine’s conversation hearts started out as lozenges used for sore throats and other illnesses. Boston pharmacist, Oliver Chase soon discovered that he could convert the pill-making machine into a candy-making machine and he started the Confectionery Company, or Necco Wafers. The idea to print messages on the candy happened in 1866 and the heart shape was developed in 1901. FYI: The shelf life for these Valentine’s candies is five years.
Snow is great for gardens so don’t remove it. Soil that’s insulated by a blanket of snow can stay close to 32 degrees even when the air temperature plunges below zero. In a brief winter warm spell snow can keep the soil from warming up so plants aren’t tricked into sprouting too soon.
Our bodies naturally cool a degree or two when we sleep. Putting on socks when going to bed improves all-over circulation by opening up the blood vessels in the feet releasing heat that redistributes throughout the body.
During the Victorian Era, those who didn’t want the attention of certain suitors would anonymously send “vinegar valentines.” These cards, also called penny dreadfuls, were comically insulting and designed to reject unwanted admirers. In the late 19th century they were used to target suffragettes.
Avoid walking on the lawn during winter thaw.
Wash and sterilize seed-starting containers with 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
Apply fertilizer to houseplants as soon as they begin to show signs of growth.
The ancient Romans were the first to create distinct left and right shoes; previous to that all shoes could be worn on either foot.

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January SKI Tips

1/10/2021

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Early spring-flowering trees and shrubs such as forsythia, crabapple, flowering quince, flowering dogwood and honeysuckle, can be forced to bloom indoors. Place cut branches in water in a warm location.
On January 1st, 1892, Ellis Island opened, allowing for the immigration of over 20 million people.
Increase humidity around houseplants by grouping them together and placing them on trays filled with pebbles and water. Pots should sit on the pebbles not in the water.
Stretch and hydrate well before you begin shoveling snow.
Some plants are sensitive to the fluorine and chlorine in tap water. Water containers should stand overnight to allow these gases to dissipate before using on plants.
Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end.
Mixed floral scents is said to increase the speed of learning.
The name for January comes from the Roman god, Janus, who is always depicted with two heads. He uses one head to look back on the year before, and the other head to look forward into the New Year!
Tickets for the very first Super Bowl in 1967 cost an average of $6, which was apparently too pricy for many as there were 30,000 empty seats. Today you'll need between $2,500 and $3,000 to get in the door.
Use sand, bird seed, sawdust or vermiculite to gain traction on icy paths. Avoid salt or ice melters as these may injure plants.

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On December 21, 2020 a celestial event known as the “Christmas Star” will occur. At that time the solar system’s two largest planets, Saturn and Jupiter, will have their closest visible encounter since 1226. This unique phenomena led famous astronomer, Johannes Kepler in 1614, to suggest that this alignment might have been what was written about in the Bible when the wisemen came to Jerusalem seeking the birth of the “King of the Jews” after seeing a bright star in the sky.
The last time the planets were this close was in 1623-- only 14 years after Galileo discovered the moons of Jupiter with the invention of the telescope. When these planets meet again it will be in 2080. Note: Though it looks like a sliver separates Jupiter and Saturn, they are actually about 400 million miles apart.
A view of the two planets coming into near-alignment will be just after sunset, in the southwestern portion of the sky. Although best seen with binoculars or a telescope, the encounter should be visible to the naked eye.

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December SKI Tips

12/11/2020

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The popular song “White Christmas” was composed by Isiadore Baline. That was the original name of Irving Berlin who was a Jewish refugee from Russia.
Every time you lick a stamp you consume 1/10 of a calorie.
Christmas was outlawed in Massachusetts from 1659-1681. Puritans objected to Christmas because it included non-religious customs, wasn’t sanctioned by the Bible and was considered too Catholic.
Architect Alfred Butts translated his love of crossword puzzles into a board game called “Criss Cross Words”, later known as “Scrabble”.
The name hippopotamus means “river horse” and is often shortened to hippo. The closest relations of the hippo are cetaceans such as whales and dolphins.
As “stink bugs” make their way indoors with the cold weather, it is easiest to get rid of them by vacuuming. Avoid contaminating your vacuum with their stinky smell by placing a nylon sock on the vacuum tube. After you’ve collected the insects, tie up the sock and dispose of it in the trash or shake out in the cold where the bugs will freeze.
Water houseplants with tepid water. Cold tap water my shock them.
Hairspray works well to keep seed heads and dried flowers intact on wreaths and arrangements.
Pull back mulch from tree trunk and create a thin 2-3” deep donut over the root zone. A layer of mulch around the base can lead to girdling roots and insect, disease and rodent problems.
Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana is said to be the world’s first theme park. Happy Holidays!

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Happy Thanksgiving from Ski Landscape

11/26/2020

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November SKI Tips

11/3/2020

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Fall is the most important time for weeding—even if frost has killed your flowers and veggies. The more you weed now, the less you’ll have to do next spring and summer. Water before you weed to loosen the soil and make your job easier.
What is cumin? Cumin is a dried fruit of a plant in the parsley family. Its aromatic, nutty-flavored seeds and ground powder form add smoky character to foods without a lot of heat. Cumin is a good source of essential nutrients such as iron and manganese. It also contains cuminaldehyde, which is thought to have strong anticancer effects.
Clean your birdfeeders with a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water. Rinse thoroughly.
“Brain freeze” happens when cold hits the roof and back of your mouth and “shocks” your palate—especially if you’re eating or drinking cold stuff quickly. Blood vessels constrict and limit blood flow, then quickly expand to let blood flow increase. The quickest fix is to warm the roof of your mouth by pressing your tongue to the top of your mouth or drinking warm water.
When watering houseplants, avoid using cold water because it may shock the plants; us tepid water.
Keep mowing your lawn for as long as it grows. Pests such as voles and mice will damage your lawn and plants if they have long grass to hide in.
Clean and oil all garden tools before storing them for winter.
Leaves make a good insulating cover for overwintering perennials. The best time to mulch perennials is after the ground has frozen, so put aside shredded leaves in bags to use later in the fall.
The Pilgrims and those who followed appreciated wild cranberries but did not start to cultivate them until 1816, when a bog was planted and tended to in the town of Dennis on Cape Cod. By then, Americans and Canadian sailors on long voyages knew they could eat cranberries to protect themselves from scurvy.
Folklore—Turkeys perched on trees and refusing to descend indicates snow.

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