The month of February is named after an early Roman cleansing ceremony-- spring cleaning festival. The word comes from the Latin term “februum,” which signifies purification.

Most houseplants require less water in winter because growth is slowed or stopped. Check soil for dryness before watering.

Bulbs decide that winter has come and gone by keeping track of the total time when the temperature around them is below 45 degrees but above freezing. After a certain amount of time—up to 12 weeks for tulips and 6 for crocus—the bulbs are ready to wake up, grow, and bloom.

Garlic is called “the stinking rose” and is a member of the lily family related to leeks, chives, onions, and shallots. It is rich in manganese, Vitamin B, Vitamin C and selenium. Garlic’s antibiotic and antifungal properties ward off a number of pests and diseases.

The four leaves on a 4-leaf clover represent the arms of the cross. Long before Christianity the cross was a powerful symbol.

Patented in the United States in 1863—before the telephone—the fax machine, called the pantelegraph, was sending faxes from 1865 to 1870 in France.

Use flat paint to hide imperfections in the walls. The higher gloss, the more the problem will show.

While trees and shrubs are still dormant, finish any needed pruning. Don’t trim spring-flowering shrubs such as lilac, magnolia and forsythia until after they finish blooming.
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Warm feet, better sleep. Putting on socks before crawling into bed improves all over circulation by opening up the blood vessels in the feet. When the blood vessels dilate and open up in the feet, they release heat that redistributes throughout the body, allowing for a more rapid decrease of core body temperature.

In 1908, Nick Freienstein, son of German immigrants, opened a street corner restaurant in Huntington, Indiana. He had grown up eating Weiner Schnitzels. He also ran a hamburger cart. Combining these two together he invented the pork tenderloin sandwich.

Ellis Island in New York City opened on January 1, 1892.

“Happy New Year” in Spain and parts of Latin America means eating 12 grapes, one at each stroke of the clock, to symbolize success for each month of the coming year.

Human teeth are the only part of the body that can't heal themselves.

There are more bacterial cells in your body than human cells. The average human is around 56 per cent bacteria.
Most ginger cats are male because the ginger gene is found on the X chromosome, meaning female cats would require two copies of the gene to become ginger while males only need one.

Cut back ornamental grasses. Clip back the old foliage before new growth begins cutting back to within a few inches of the ground.

Plant amaryllis bulbs in pots now for spectacular indoor flowers in early spring.

Suddenly struck with a painful leg cramp in the middle of the night or while exercising? Try drinking 2-3 oz of pickle juice. It can help alleviate muscle cramps and Charley horses.

If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. It should unseal easily.
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Magnesium regulates muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels and blood pressure. It’s also necessary for making protein, bone, and DNA. Every cell in our body contains magnesium—and needs it to function.