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December News 2003 |
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and Updates for December 2003 Welcome to our monthly "Newsletter". This is where we announce the most recent additions to our website along with "what's happening in our gardens", helpful hints, herbal tips, etc. Please check back often as we will be updating regularly. What's happening in our garden for December: Christmas is just around the corner now and life here is pretty hectic. Our oldest son and his wife will be moving to a new home in mid December. Our youngest son and his wife are expecting their first baby in early December. All in all it promises for a very busy but exiting Christmas. I have to recruit my husband to help box up soap orders now that the Christmas rush is on. The weather is crisp, cool and beautiful at the moment which allows us to rake up the never ending leaves that keep falling. Our various oak trees are always the last to let go and many leaves are still hanging on. The squirrels are still busy gathering acorns as we really had a bumper crop this year. I finally figured out why I have hundreds of oak tree seedlings sprouting in my rose garden each year. The squirrels have been busily burying them amongst my roses. These small oak seedlings are extremely tough to pull out as their roots really anchor themselves. I finally finished my last batch of soap for awhile which is a huge relief. My soap room was so full my husband had to add more shelving for curing. This time of year I am always thankful for the lack of gardening chores as the Christmas season progresses. December "To Do" List: -finish planting spring bulbs if ground is not frozen. -mulch winter keeping vegetables such as leeks, carrots, beets and rutabagas. -mulch tender perennials. -prune woody plants when dormant. -clean leaves from gutters and down pipes. -drain irrigation systems. -plant out bare root roses before ground freezes mulch well. -destroy old rose leaves to prevent spread of disease. -regularly wash and fill bird baths. Greenhouse Gardening for December: (for a cool greenhouse kept at 40 - 45F (5 - 7C) I still have a few blooms left in the greenhouse although we had a short cold snap which finished off most of them. -plants in bloom for this month bougainvillea, pelargonium, begonias. rosemary, jade plant, cyclamen. -keep benches and floor clean of debris. -keep on the dry side and avoid splashing water around. -ventilate on warm days. -diligently check plants for aphids and whiteflies. Indoor Sunroom or Conservatory: A list of plants presently blooming in our sunroom: -Oncidium Orchids (Dancing Lady Orchid) -Dendrobium Orchids -Phalaenopsis Orchids -Bromeliad -Cattleya Orchids -Oxalis -Myrtle -Gardenia -Anthirium -Christmas cactus Growing Conditions for House Plants Part 5 Location: Sunny Window on or very close to a south-facing facing windowsill. Light shading may be necessary in midsummer. Suitable plants for this area include Acacia, Agapanthus, Bougainvillea, Bouvardia, Cacti & Succulents, Callistemeon, Celosia, Citrus, Coleus, Heliotropium, Hibiscus, Hippeastrum, Iresine, Jasminum, Lantans, Nerine, Nerium, Oxalis, Passiflora, Pelargonium, Rose, Zebrina. Herbal Hints: -make sure tender herbs are mulched well. -bring in the more tender varieties to a frost free area such as a garage. -do not prune back herbs in the garden until spring as it helps to protect from freezing. Christmas Citrus Pomander: -Select perfect pieces of citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons. -Insert good quality whole cloves that are strongly scented in rows or patterns over surface of fruit. You may leave some of the fruit skin showing. -Finish studding the fruit on the same day before drying begins. -Roll in a mixture of ground orris root, allspice, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. -Let dry in a warm, sunny place for a week or so turning daily. -Display in decorative Christmas bowls. Handmade Soap News: Part 5 In the Middle Ages there were public bath houses called stews where patrons would bathe in large wooden tubs and were given bars of handmade soap to use. Wealthy people had their own private baths. In later Medieval Times when bathing became less popular public bath houses closed as it was thought that these bath houses promoted the spread of the Plague. Soap did remain popular for cleaning and washing laundry. Soap was still used for personal washing but far less frequently. Bathing the whole body fell out of fashion but keeping the body and your surroundings clean did not. Wall and Floor Cleaner: Handmade Soap Sanitizer 1 cup household ammonia 1/4 cup grated handmade soap 1/2 cup borax 2 gallons warm water 1/2 tsp pine essential oil Mix all ingredients and use to clean walls and/or floors. Organic Gardening Tips: Rake up all deciduous leaves that have fallen and place in layers of ordinary garden soil along with your leaves. To speed up the process mulch the leaves with your lawnmower before adding to the compost pile. The layers of soil greatly speed up the process. If regularly flipped over and kept moist you will have an excellent supply of organic compost for next years gardens and planters. Health and Wellness Herbal Nasal Inhaler: In a small bottle add 10 drops of each of the following essential oils. Lavender, eucalyptus, cloves, rosemary and peppermint Carry the bottle around and sniff the scent whenever you wish to clear nasal passages. Thanks for visiting! Susan |
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