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November 2005 |
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50 & BetterGardening ForeverBy Patsy Bell HobsonNo Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace As I have seen in one Autumnal face. - John Donn
Hale ThanksgivingIn
1827, Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale began lobbying several Presidents for the
in statement of Thanksgiving as a national holiday, but her lobbying
was unsuccessful until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln finally made it a
national holiday with his 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation. Widowed
in 1822,with five children to support, Hale published her first book of
poems, The Genius of Oblivion. Her first novel, Northwood, established
her career as a writer in 1827. That same year, she began her most
remembered literary position - that of editress.Hale
served as editor of Ladies' Magazine from 1827-1836 and Godey's Lady's
Book from 1837-1877. She continued to write poetry, novels, and
children's literature, while serving as a major editorial force for the
next fifty years. Hale used her editorial clout at Godey's to campaign
for Thanksgiving as a national holiday until Lincoln made it official
in 1863. Squirrel BateAt
this time of thanksgiving and in response to all the folks who are
wondering about holiday gifts for gardeners, I’d like to mention some
of the things that have made my life a little easier and more joyful
this year.Better Than TV: SquirrelStop.You
can’t have a big family gathering for the holidays without providing a
little entertainment. SquirrelStop protects your hanging bird feeder
from squirrels and it is fun to watch. When a squirrel climbs on the
feeder, the increased weight spins the feeder for 20 seconds and causes
the squirrel to jump off. Squirrels learn to leave your feeder alone -
and birds dine undisturbed. SquirrelStop keeps squirrels out of the
feeder and the Scarecrow keeps wondering pests and pets away from my
garden. The
Scarecrow motion activated sprinkler instantly releases a short,
startling burst of water when it detects animals. The sudden water,
movement and noise scare animals away. Jules has given up chasing
animals out of the garden for the more effective Scarecrow. Made by the
same folks as the SquirrelStop, both safe and humane animal control
products are worth a look.Visit
Contech - Intelligent Animal Control Products for fun and harmless,
environmentally friendly pest control products for indoors and out.
Order onlinehttp://store.scatmat.com or locate a store near you at http://store.scatmat.com or call 1-800-767-8658.Contech
also makes a Mini Scarecrow for indoors with a motion sensor that
activates a warning sound and a brief, harmless spray of compressed air
to keep your pet away. The Mini Scarecrow safely and hilariously
protects potted plants from indoor pets. I’m
thinking the Mini Scarecrow would also be good to keep the cat off the
kitchen table and it may just keep sleepwalking Jules away from the
Thanksgiving leftovers. Would it be worth staying awake all night just
to watch the look on Jules’ face when he reaches for the refrigerator
door? I know CPR.Saving Face on Vacation When
I threw a hand full of All Terrain sample products into my suitcase, I
intended to bring them home and test the samples in my own back yard.
My Vancouver vacation was extended and I found myself site seeing for
hours everyday. Unprepared for an extended stay, I had no sunscreen or
moisturizer. Except the All Terrain product samples. The remedy rubs
for feet and face allowed me more outdoor time in the cool but sunny
climate. My tired feet and sun-exposed face quickly absorbed the
healing, all-natural products. I’m glad I didn’t have my usual
cosmetic-counter products and had to use the All Terrain samples. They
were more soothing. Relief was instant.Skin
Saver Lotion moisturizes and nourishes the face and body after being
outdoors. Recovery Rub relieves pain from sore muscles and joints,
including arthritis. It quickly provides cool, deep penetrating relief.
Check out the products designed for gardeners at http://www.allterrainco.com. You can order online or by phone. All
Terrain products are designed for the “passionate high-performance
user.” Speaking as a gardener, the environmentally friendly,
all-natural ingredient products are good for everybody. While you may
never see me hang gliding or mountain climbing, All Terrain will always
be in my suitcase. At this age, anything that can help me comfortably
go and do more is a travel necessity.Fall For ColorTrack the fall color changes across the nation at the USDA Forest Service web page: http://www.fs.fed.us/news/fallcolors/.
Color change and leaf fall are chiefly dependent upon the increasing
length of night. As days grow shorter, and the longer nights grow
cooler the leaves turn color.When
choosing trees for home landscaping, keep fall color in mind. Leaf
color depends on the tree species. Oaks turn red, brown, or russet;
hickories, golden bronze; aspen and yellow poplar, golden yellow;
dogwood, purplish red; and sourwood, crimson. Maples vary according to
species - red maple turns brilliant scarlet; sugar maple, orange-red;
and black maple, glowing yellow. As
you prepare gardens for winter, cover all exposed ground. A scattering
of leaf mulch will prevent erosion and help over- winter perennials.
Run over the fallen leaves with the lawn mower to chop them up. Chopped
leaves make free and nutrient- rich mulch for your gardens.In
a season of Thanksgiving, I am grateful to the friends and readers who
have taken the time to e-mail and share their gardening memories.Patsy Bell Hobson is a writer, speaker and a Master Gardener emeritus in Liberty, MO. Send e-mail to patsy64068@yahoo.com
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