SHOW ARCHIVE

December 4, 2010

VIDEO ARCHIVE

Happy Holidays. As you may have noticed we are not on the air this week. Last week was our last show for 2010. We will return on March 5th, 2011. As a privately produced show we don’t have enough sponsor support to have a show during the cold months of winter. Still we will try to keep you updated on what is happening in the garden and around the area at the Garden Time website. Plus you can sign up for the Garden Time On-line magazine for a free monthly issue of our magazine. We also have our own Facebook page, twitter page and don’t forget the Garden Time blog. In fact this week William takes a tour of his frozen garden. Keep checking in and we will see you ‘on-line’ next week.

You can also check our these great stories...

Holiday Heritage

Ever wonder why we use holly in our holiday decorating? What is the story behind kissing under the mistletoe? William and Judy covered the reasons why we use specific plants during the holidays. Holly’s origins are based on both Christian and non-Christian traditions. In one tradition, the holly protects the home from evil spirits. In another, the holly represents the crown of thorns of Christ’s passion and its berries represent the drops of blood. Ivy is a very misunderstood plant. We sometimes see it growing all over trees, almost smothering them. In the Middle Ages ivy meant prosperity, and if it died financial hard times were soon to follow. Mistletoe has a longer history. It has various meanings that include fertility, immortality and love. Of course the best meaning involved kissing. In proper English society you could not kiss your spouse-to-be in public. During the holidays you could kiss under the mistletoe, but you had to remove a white berry every time you did. Naturally, twigs with lots of berries were highly prized! So next time you are decorating your home, take some time and learn some of the meanings.

Christmas Tree Varieties

We were out at Lee Farms (503-638-1869) in Tualatin to visit with Craig Lee about the most popular types of cut Christmas trees. The varieties that Oregonians are buying include Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Nobel Fir and the Frasier Fir. The most popular tree is the Noble fir, but the Frasier fir is gaining ground, because it is very fragrant. Lee’s also carries the wonderful Davis Tree Stand. Pick one up and you will never need another stand again! Stop by Lee’s for your Christmas tree, they are open 9am to dusk through the holidays.

 

Cold Frames

With all this cold weather you may have been worried about your garden plants and containers. We found a cold frame at Solexx Greenhouses (800-825-1925) that you can use to protect those tender plants. Michelle Moore showed us how easy it is to build and use. She even added a heating coil to protect those tender shrubs. If you are looking to start your spring gardening sooner you can also use it to get a quicker start on the growing season. The cold days of winter are not gone yet so protect those tender plants for a healthier garden in 2010.

 

Sealing Greens

The smell of fresh greens in the home during the holidays is intoxicating! But after a few days those fresh cut greens can become ‘dried’ cut greens and a fire hazard. We found a product that can help seal in the moisture and prevent those greens from drying out. Wilt Stop from Bonide can be sprayed on your greens to seal in the moisture and help them last longer. It can also be used on your outdoor conifers to seal in the moisture and help prevent winter wind and cold damage. We found this product at Cornell Farm (503-292-9895) but this product is available at most of your independent garden centers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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