It is now December and most of us would declare Winter has arrived. It may get warm enough to melt some of the snow but that remains to be seen.
In the meantime Christmas is but two weeks away. Some things need doing before the Day. Since this is a gardening column we will start with Christmas
Since this is a gardening column we will start with Christmas plants:-Poinsettias, Christmas cactus, and the Christmas tree.
When we still had real trees in the house we remember in one newspaper one woman wrote in with a recipe for the tree water used to keep the tree satisfied. One ingredient was maple syrup (from maple trees.) When fed this refreshment the tree came to life inside the warm house and was known to sprout new pine needles. Wish we still had the recipe.
Poinsettias are popular but usually don’t be kept beyond the Christmas season. The Christmas Cactus is usually kept all year and sometimes for generations. They are known as Christmas cactus because it must be cool near the cactus to set flowers - hence the Christmas cactus name.
Otherwise things to get done are to get Christmas presents bought while the selection is still good. This writer can remember waiting for the Sears Mid-winter catalogue to arrive the week before Christmas Day and THEN send in a late order of practical items. Usually they would arrive the day (or two) before Christmas just in time for giving.
Also this is the time year to stock up on groceries with the special sales on. We can remember Mother stocking up. When some canned goods were on sale order a whole case. That would carry us through the winter usually. And - help through snowstorms too.
And finally the Christmas decorations. Usually that meant a mail order of decorations as well as shopping locally to restock, especially tree lights.
Next would be the Christmas cards - usually including a Christmas letter of our family’s activities. And then the dinner plans. Back home we need to care for our indoor house plants too.
Back home we need to care for our indoor house plants too. Water at least weekly. Until next week.
