 The Roman calendar initially only had 10 months, with January and February not included. This is due to the fact that during the coldest and darkest months, the government and military were not active.
Use a light touch on the brakes when stopping on snow or ice. Apply brakes firmly to a point just short of locking up and ease off the brake pedal slightly. Creosote buildup in chimneys and stovepipes is a common cause of house fires. A fireplace inspector will check for creosote deposits that may be blocking the chimney, as well as for dangerous cracks in the brick of the chimney. The opening of Ellis Island in New York City on January 1, 1892, which allowed for the immigration of nearly 20 million people, was one of the most significant milestones in American history. Natural remedies may make you feel better when the winter blues strike—a walk, a bite of chocolate, some time in the sun. Eli and Peyton Manning are the only set of brothers to play quarterback in a Super Bowl. They are also the only brothers to both win the Super Bowl MVP award. Indiana is presumably named from the fact that the land lying along the Ohio River was purchased from the Indians. Moist to wet snow that falls when the temperature is around 32 degrees is best for building a snowman. Snow appears white because snow is made up of individual ice crystals arranged together. When light hits snow, it bounces all around the ice crystals and the “color” of all the frequencies in the visible spectrum combined is white. While white is the color we see in snow, individual ice crystals are actually clear. Velcro—derived from velvet and crochet—was first created by Swiss electrical engineer, George de Mestral when he noticed burrs stuck to his clothes and dog's fur while walking in the woods in 1948. Originally each Velcro tape was made by hand and took forever to produce. A manufacturing process to increase production was patented in 1955.  3 billion Christmas cards are sent every year in the United States.
Although Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ, it does not actually mention December 25 anywhere in the bible. In fact, some historians think Jesus was born in the spring, not the winter at all! Christmas on December 25th was not celebrated until about 336 AD. Extend the life of holiday plants, such as poinsettias and Christmas cactus, by placing them in a cool, brightly lit area that is free from warm or cold drafts. Apply mulch to bulbs, perennials, and other small plants once the ground freezes. Along with the usual nuts and seeds, red squirrels dry out mushrooms in trees to make their own mushroom jerky to survive the winter. Be prepared for power outages and other emergencies by making sure your house and car are outfitted with well-stocked emergency kits. The basics include bottled water, a hand-crank radio, a flashlight with extra batteries, a cell phone charger (hand-crank or battery-powered is best), food, blankets, and a first-aid kit. At home, keep essential documents in one easily accessible place. Reindeers that live above the Arctic circle live in total darkness for weeks at a time. A small area of tissue behind the animal’s retina changes color from gold in the summer to blue in the winter and this allows them to detect ultraviolet light and to see in the dark. According to Guinness World Records, the coldest temperature was set on July 21, 1983, in Vostok Station, Antarctica which was -128.6°F. What do you call a person who loves winter? Chionophile. Chion is from the Greek word khiōn, which means snow. Indiana’s highest point, Hoosier Hill, is in the area referred to as the “Corn Belt.” It rises 1,257 feet in the air. Combat drought! Murmuration? Graupel? SKI Tips
Stressed yews Red Maples need more water Too much mulch by Denise Whitney and Ann Wolski
Even though we saw a deluge of rain showers recently, it had been an abnormally dry September and plants are stressing from a lack of water. After a couple of years in a row, the lack of water is adding up to create even more problems for plants, trees, and grass. Deciduous plants such as maples, sweetgum, and oaks, show water stress by dropping leaves, turning colors early, or dying from the top down. Evergreens are especially affected by drought. One day they are green and healthy, the next day they are dead. Drought conditions can severely affect the health of a lawn. Signs of drought include discoloration, blade curling and wilting, thinning and patchiness, slow or no grass growth, weed growth, dry crunchy grass, visible footprints on the lawn, and cracked soil. Stressed plants are more susceptible to insects, diseases and other traumas like heat. They will not thrive. With this year being so hot and dry, foliage is extra stressed. Watering now is the best way to help them out. Knowing the plant’s characteristics, hopefully, ensures that they will be watered properly. Watering needs to be done so that it reaches the root ball on new plants. Feeder roots are usually in the top 18” of soil. Plants that like moist soils will need more than plants that like well-drained soils. Over watering is just as bad as no water! Right now, all plants need water. Water enough to go through the turf and mulch to reach the roots. Water at the drip edge of the plants where the feeder roots are. The drip edge is the area at the ends of the branches. Do not forget to water under the plant to ensure good coverage. Evergreens are especially at risk of losing moisture as they constantly transpire throughout the winter. While deciduous plants drop their leaves, evergreens do not drop their needles, so they are always losing moisture. Evergreens are also likely to suffer winter burn if they are too dry. Evergreens can be watered throughout the winter months if the ground is not frozen. Evergreens should be mulched by applying mulch rings around the tree. The rings should be at least 3 feet in diameter and 2-3 inches deep. Leave a 2-3 inches space between the base of the trunk and the inner mulch ring. Trees need to breathe. If turfgrass is not growing due to drought conditions, the lawn should be mowed less frequently. Never cut more than the top 1/3 of the grass and leave the clippings on the lawn to return vital moisture and nutrition to the soil. Allow the grass to go a bit brown, irrigating as needed which is preferable. No need to water to saturation and trying to keep a perfectly green lawn. One inch of water a week will keep the grass from going dormant. Even with the rain remnants of Hurricane Helene, Indiana is still in a state of dryness. Significant precipitation is not predicted for the near future, making proper watering techniques and overall correct plant care essential. by Denise Whitney and Ann Wolski Even though we saw a deluge of rain showers recently, it had been an abnormally dry September and plants are stressing from a lack of water. After a couple of years in a row, the lack of water is adding up to create even more problems for plants, trees, and grass. Deciduous plants such as maples, sweetgum, and oaks, show water stress by dropping leaves, turning colors early, or dying from the top down. Evergreens are especially affected by drought. One day they are green and healthy, the next day they are dead. Drought conditions can severely affect the health of a lawn. Signs of drought include discoloration, blade curling and wilting, thinning and patchiness, slow or no grass growth, weed growth, dry crunchy grass, visible footprints on the lawn, and cracked soil. Stressed plants are more susceptible to insects, diseases and other traumas like heat. They will not thrive. With this year being so hot and dry, foliage is extra stressed. Watering now is the best way to help them out. Knowing the plant’s characteristics, hopefully, ensures that they will be watered properly. Watering needs to be done so that it reaches the root ball on new plants. Feeder roots are usually in the top 18” of soil. Plants that like moist soils will need more than plants that like well-drained soils. Over watering is just as bad as no water! Right now, all plants need water. Water enough to go through the turf and mulch to reach the roots. Water at the drip edge of the plants where the feeder roots are. The drip edge is the area at the ends of the branches. Do not forget to water under the plant to ensure good coverage. Evergreens are especially at risk of losing moisture as they constantly transpire throughout the winter. While deciduous plants drop their leaves, evergreens do not drop their needles, so they are always losing moisture. Evergreens are also likely to suffer winter burn if they are too dry. Evergreens can be watered throughout the winter months if the ground is not frozen. Evergreens should be mulched by applying mulch rings around the tree. The rings should be at least 3 feet in diameter and 2-3 inches deep. Leave a 2-3 inches space between the base of the trunk and the inner mulch ring. Trees need to breathe. If turfgrass is not growing due to drought conditions, the lawn should be mowed less frequently. Never cut more than the top 1/3 of the grass and leave the clippings on the lawn to return vital moisture and nutrition to the soil. Allow the grass to go a bit brown, irrigating as needed which is preferable. No need to water to saturation and trying to keep a perfectly green lawn. One inch of water a week will keep the grass from going dormant. Even with the rain remnants of Hurricane Helene, Indiana is still in a state of dryness. Significant precipitation is not predicted for the near future, making proper watering techniques and overall correct plant care essential.   October is from the Latin octo, which means “eight”. The number “eight” is said to be a symbol of wealth, prosperity, peace and fertility.
What flower bulbs do you plant in autumn? Think daffodils, crocuses, snowdrops, tulips, hyacinths, irises, and alliums. These flowers are call “dormant perennials.” They need the cool, moist autumn soil to awaken them from their dormancy so that they can begin growing roots in preparation for the spring. Documented evidence of an activity resembling football can be found in the Chinese military manual Zhan Guo Ce compiled between the 3rd century and 1st century BC. Once the hour of daylight dwindles during autumn and the green chlorophyll in leaves is gone, other pigments come out. Carotenoids give leaves their brilliant yellow and orange colors. Anthocyanins are found in deep red and purplish leaves. The presence of tannins means leaves will turn brownish or tan. Trying to concoct an artificial substitute for rubber, General Electric engineer, James Wright, combined boric acid with silicone oil in 1943. The result was a gooey, bouncy blob which was not suitable for making tires but became a popular kids’ toy later called “Silly Putty”. De-thatch and/or aerate your lawn. Keep plants, especially newly planted stock, well-watered until the ground freezes. The word "pumpkin" showed up for the first time in the fairy tale Cinderella. Snakes use their tongues and a special structure in the roof of the mouth called the Jacobson’s organ to “taste” what is around them. Sliced bread was invented right here in Indianapolis. Wonder Bread’s Indianapolis branch was the first place to start selling pre-sliced loaves of bread. Check out how we make our quality mulch, the beauty behind cloud iridesence and what the heck is an "old vine"! Click here to enjoy the SKI Landscape quarterly newsletter! https://conta.cc/3SgM8T5
 The proper name for a group of cats is a chowder. A group of kittens is called a kindle.
Don’t fertilize woody plants now. It stimulates late growth that won’t have time to harden off properly before winter. All fast-food logos have elements of red and yellow. This is because red and yellow psychologically stimulate hunger. White chocolate isn’t really chocolate. It doesn’t contain cocoa solids. Instead, white chocolate is made of cocoa butter, milk, and sugar. The feeling of falling when half asleep is called a ‘hypnic jerk.’ Scientifically, there is still no explanation for why we get hypnic jerks. However, anxiety, caffeine and physical activity close to bedtime make a hypnic jerk more likely. They are also more frequent in younger people. People who collect ties are called “grabatologists”. The Anglo-Saxons called the month of August “Weod month” because it’s a month when weeds and other plants grow rapidly! Remove any old plants that have stopped producing to help eliminate insects and diseases from your garden. This is a great time to plant evergreen trees and shrubs, such as pines, spruces, and firs, because the plants will have time to develop their roots before the winter conditions. Indiana became a state on Dec. 11, 1816, when President James Madison signed the congressional resolution admitting Indiana to the Union as the 19th state. Corydon remained the first state capital until 1825, when the capital was moved to Indianapolis. |
AuthorsCurrent and former staff members have contributed to our newsletter over the years. Now the articles are available to view here on our blog
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed