 The pruning of trees should be completed before new growth occurs. Trees should not be pruned while the new leaves are growing.
Plant the following seeds and set outdoors by early to mid-March: beets, carrots, collards, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard greens, onions, potatoes, parsley, radishes, and spinach (following seed packet instructions). Equinoxes are the only two times of year when the Sun rises due east and sets due west for all of us on Earth! Just before new growth begins, mow lawns a half inch lower than normal to remove old, dead leaf tissue. This only needs to be done once before raising the mower height back to the usual setting for the remainder of the season. The name "Indiana" stands for Land of the Indians—but in reality, fewer than 8,000 Native Americans reside in the state today. Start your tomato seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost to ensure strong transplants for the growing season. St. Patrick’s Day is also called St. Paddy’s Day, not St. Patty’s Day. This is because the name Patrick is “Padraig” in the Irish language. Rhinoceros horns are made from protein called “keratin”, the same substance that fingernails and hair are made of. In 1930 presliced Wonder Bread hit the grocery shelves throughout the U.S. Watch the lawn as the snow recedes for snow mold. This turf disease is possible under snow or matted leaves. Rake the infected area to help dry it out.
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 From "The Kokomo Press"
Extreme Cold Causes Tree to “Explode” In what witnesses are calling “the loudest thing to happen here since the gas tower blew,” a tree in Kokomo reportedly exploded last night after temperatures dropped to levels best described as extremely rude. According to startled residents, the tree made a sudden cracking noise sometime during the deep freeze, briefly convincing neighbors that either a transformer blew, winter had officially gone too far, or Kokomo was finally under attack from Chicago. Authorities later confirmed the culprit was frost cracking, a natural process where frozen sap expands and causes trees to split dramatically… because apparently even plants get too cold to function properly. No injuries were reported, though several locals admitted to peeking through their blinds and praying it was an M80. Local Arborists assure the public that while trees are not actually detonating like fireworks, they can snap loudly when temperatures drop fast. The tree declined to comment but is expected to spend the rest of winter standing there awkwardly, slightly split, and pretending nothing happened. Residents are advised to stay warm, stay indoors, and avoid making eye contact with all plant life until at least spring. Ice Stacking, California's Palm and Pine, the beauty of Northern Lights and much more!!!!
Though not an everyday occurrence, ice stacking creates a stunning and sometimes eerie winter landscape particularly along the rocky coastline of Lake Superior. Ice stacking requires specific weather conditions including strong winds, cold temperatures and significant ice cover on the lake. When the powerful winds push large sheets of ice against the shoreline, the ice crumbles into piles of shards. As the ice sheets break and pile up on top of each other, they form unique and intricate patterns.
This process can also be accompanied by distinctive sounds—the cracking, crunching, and groaning of the ice as it moves and stacks.  When traveling in California, I noticed a pine tree next to a palm tree. It seemed like a strange juxtaposition until I found out this notable landmark is known as “the palm and the pine”. A single palm tree and a single pine tree planted together in the median of Highway 99 just south of Madera represents the state’s north-south divide—the palm symbolizes Southern California, while the pine represents Northern California. The unique landscape marks the geographic center of California, reinforcing the symbolic connection between the two distinct regions. The expression “where the palm meets the pine” is a popular phrase indicating the point where the state’s diverse climates and identities converge.
California’s ability to support both palms and pines reflects its varied climate zones. In Southern California, the warm, dry conditions are ideal for palm trees, particularly those introduced by Spanish missionaries in the 1700s who planted them for Palm Sunday, referencing the tree’s biblical significance. The city of Los Angeles planted tens of thousands of palms in the 1930s to beautify the city for the Olympics, making the palm tree an icon of imagined paradise. In contrast, Northern California’s cooler climate is home to a range of evergreens, such as pine trees, which flourish in mountainous areas. These ecosystems—desert oases for palms and mountain forests for pines—are often geographically close, highlighting California’s remarkable environmental diversity.  Key gardening tasks in January include ordering seeds, testing soil, pruning fruit trees/roses, and starting slow-growing crops like onions and peppers indoors. Also, indoors you can start petunias, begonias, and impatiens. Early, cold-hardy crops such as peas, kale, and lettuce can be started inside or in cold frames.
When resting or sleeping on the water, sea otters hold paws with each other to prevent drifting away from their group. Over 50 tons of trash are left in Times Square after New Year’s Eve celebrations including 3,000 lbs. of confetti. In the Philippines, it's common to wear polka dots on New Year's Eve to symbolize wealth and prosperity. Waterford comes up with a new ball pattern every year for the New York City ball drop. The sphere is made up of 2,688 crystal triangles and has over 32,000 lights. It also displays over 16 million color patterns. Farmer’s Almanac predict that winter 2025-2026 will be a “wild ride” with dramatic swings, wintry weather, and a cycle of “chill, snow, repeat.” When planning your garden it is recommended that at least 70% of your garden should be native plants to support local wildlife like birds and pollinators. The remaining 30% can be non-native, non-invasive plants. Evenly water plants with tepid water. Uneven watering can lead to oedema, and watering with cold water can shock the plant. Geese, and many other migrating birds, fly in a V to conserve energy. This decreases the wind resistance, meaning they can fly for much longer before stopping to rest. Both rain and snow contain nitrogen that plants need. Nitrogen attaches to snowflakes as the snow falls through the atmosphere. In addition, nutrients are slowly released into the soil as the snow melts. This is especially effective early in the spring when the ground is thawed, allowing nature to provide a gentle fertilizer boost to plants.  On December 17, 1903 the Wright Brothers made the first successful flight with their powered aircraft. They flew over the dunes of Kitty Hawk in North Carolina for 12 seconds.
Christmas tinsel was once top-tier luxury. In 17th-century Germany artisans hammered thin strands of pure silver to drape across Christmas trees. Since 1947, the Norwegians have sent a towering spruce to England as thanks for Britain’s support during World War II. It’s decorated in traditional Norwegian style with vertical strings of lights. Candy canes are believed to have started in Germany in the 1600s, when a choirmaster gave sugar sticks bent into shepherd’s crooks to keep children quiet during long Christmas services. When storms encase trees and shrubs in ice, do not go out and shake branches. You may harm plants. Wait for the ice to melt and check on plants again. Branches should return to normal position once the ice is gone. If any branches break under the icy weight, prune only what’s necessary to prevent further damage. Reindeer can see ultraviolet light, which helps them spot predators and food in the snowy Arctic. They also have red noses when it’s cold—their noses are filled with blood vessels that help regulate temperature. Every snowflake has 6 sides. This is due to ice having a natural 6-sided crystal structure. Thomas Edison and his friend Edward Johnson invented Christmas lights. Eggnog has been around since the 13th century! Monks enjoyed this festive drink in medieval times. Protect your poinsettias from cold draughts and allow them to dry out slightly between waterings to make them last well into January.  The presidential turkey pardon can be traced back to 1863, when Abraham Lincoln granted clemency to a live turkey intended for his family’s Christmas dinner.
On November 5, 2025, the Beaver Moon will light up the night sky as a supermoon. This means the moon will be closer to earth than usual, shining bigger and brighter than any other full moon this year. When we rake leaves away, we’re removing the winter insulation for insects, larvae, and eggs. Caterpillars, beetles and other insects overwinter under these leaves, in the soil, and in hollow stems where they lived during the summer. These creatures are critical for returning birds in the spring so don’t rake them away. Instead, try moving leaves into flower beds, around trees, or beneath shrubs. According to the National Turkey Federation, around 88% of Americans enjoy turkey as part of their holiday feast each year. That adds up to over 46 million turkeys. The green bean casserole recipe was developed by a woman named Dorcas Reilly, who worked in Campbell’s home economics department. Originally called Green Bean Bake, the recipe became a sensation when the company began printing it on the labels of its Cream of Mushroom soup cans. Prepare your garden for cold weather by:
Tatsoi is a nutritious Asian green vegetable with a mild, slightly mustard-like flavor and a slightly sweet and crunchy taste. Apple math: ½ bushel of apples = 24 pounds (approximately 60 apples); one peck of apples = ¼ of a bushel or 12 pounds (approximately 30 apples); 1 pound= approximately 3 cups cored, sliced apples Mow lawn to maintain a 2-21/2-inch height. Unique Indiana animal laws:
 Fall is a good time for planting mums, kale and pansies. SKI Landscape will be installing 1,475 mums, 111 kale plants, and 630 pansies throughout 24 properties within the Indianapolis community.
How to grow a 3,000-year-old tree. What's a Brumby? From simple railroad stop to presidential landmark and many more important fun facts in this latest issue of the SKI Landscape Newsletter!
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