Hello my dear gardening friends,

I ran away to Toronto for a few days and what a wonderful time I had. My granddaughters go to the Etobicoke School of Fine Art. I was invited to attend their festive concert (I know I am not supposed to say that dreaded C word – phooey – Christmas it is) what a lot of talented youngsters; from the symphony orchestra to the jazz and dance – and voices like angels – I was so very impressed with the talents of my two special “girls” well done!!

My younger granddaughter Kathryn slid in the hall and injured her foot just prior to the first concert. She played well and then confessed that she had hurt her foot, as indeed she had a broken ankle, pulled/ torn ligaments and hairline fracture. After a day spent at “sick kids” hospital getting a soft cast “installed”, my daughter took her home, helped put on her school uniform and she played her saxophone again that evening. Such spunk from this 14 year old! Well done my darling.

Her beautiful sister Kristin is busy picking up crutches, playing her clarinet in the same concerts and all in all being a great person - thank you Kristin. They are both going to Oman for the holidays, hopefully Kathryn will get special treatment on the plane – but no swimming for her this trip.

Two dear friends gave me the most wonderful gift: a copy of “The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies” by Cicely Mary Barker. As you know, I love these poems and often quote from the two that I had before.

As this is the Christmas season I thought that you might enjoy this one:

Christmas Trees:

Time was when Christmas trees were chopped down from woods and dragged into the house on Christmas Eve and decorated with candles which were lit for a few minutes. Meanwhile the family stood by with buckets of water in case one of the candled should set fire to the tree. A decidedly dangerous practice! Now Christmas trees are grown as a cash crop, carefully spaced and grown for 15 to 16 years - just for a few days of glory! Jack always said that he would not kill a tree for Christmas.

Christmas trees last longest indoors if they are fresh when you buy them. The way to test for this is to grab hold of a few needles and pull, if the needles stay on the branch then it is freshly cut. As soon as you take it indoors it will start to lose moisture to the warm, dry inside air. Nothing burns as quickly nor as fiercely as a dry Christmas tree. It is a good idea to keep the tree in water – cut about 2 inches off the bottom of the stem and put it in at least 4 inches of water and make sure that you keep it topped up. The tree will be able to absorb the water and will not only be safer but look better and will stay attractive longer.

You can now purchase a live tree in a container. If you decide to go this way, prepare the hole before Christmas: dig and fill the hole with leaves, then a sheet of thick plastic to cover it until planting time.

Then choose a tree that will fit the hole and your pleasure when it matures. Remember that trees are heavy, so be sure to have some muscle on hand, when it comes time to take the tree outside and maneuver into place. Do not keep it indoors more than 10 days. If possible leave it until Christmas Eve to either purchase or take indoors. If you do this and then take it down and outside by New Years Day, it will only have had to put up with the warm dry air for as short a time as possible. Because you want this tree to survive, it is important that the soil around its roots stay moist at all times. Before you bring the tree indoors, wrap the roots in plastic, this way you will be able to water them, and not damage the floor or carpet. Some Christmas trees come in containers that enable the trees to stand erect. Others with burlap-covered soil around the roots may need to be braced.

After the holidays, carry your tree outside to its prepared spot. Take the plastic off the root ball. Scoop the leaves and plastic out of the hole, then place the tree in the hole and loosen the burlap slightly around the trunk. Buy an extra bag or two of top soil and add soil to fill the hole completely (firm it well and carefully with your feet, then give it several buckets of water). The tree will die if it is allowed to dry out during the winter, so to keep the soil from freezing too deeply and allow the moisture to be taken up by the roots, mound the leaves over the soil near/around the trunk, but not up the trunk.

For you indoor gardeners, a Norfolk Island Pine is very pretty with the added advantage of it lasting for many years. On its native Norfolk Island, a tiny speck of land about 1,000 miles east of Australia, this tree grows to 200 feet tall, but indoors it is slow growing, and is handsome all year round. The Norfolk Pine can take anything from full sun to rather dim light. Keep the soil barely moist and feed it every 6 months with any houseplant fertilizer.

(Heather, Hyacinth, Heliotrope, Honeysuckle and Hollyhock, are some more flowers beginning with H).

This is of course taken from the Fairy Alphabet – and is for Heather, who is loved and missed more than she could ever know, a sweet angel gardening in heaven.

I loved this description of personalities:-

Men as a rule are partial to flowering and colourful foliage plants, mainly because of the challenge in growing and maintenance technique. Seldom will a male plant person select a particular flowering plant for its aesthetics.

Women on the other hand, fall in love with darn near any plant that bears a flower or berry for the opposite reason. They will select almost any foliage plant available because of its reputation for simple care and longevity

Married Males who display an interest in plants are generally interested in propagation, competition (growing bigger, better and more flowers) and production propagation (cutting and breeding).

Married Females are generally more conservative in their selection of plants, they look for ones that look out for themselves and need very little extra care or money (cheap). Very few married women take a serious interest in propagation because of the lack of surplus leisure time.

Single Males do not take an interest in plants until they are around 24 to 25, when they have their own apartment or are sharing one, then they choose large, hardy foliage plants. Even plastic is not out of the question

Single Females will experiment with any kind of plant and are not afraid of failing. They learn from these mistakes and begin to practice the formula for future success in their own life. Plants can assist in this training through the necessary steps that ensure bright, happy plants, people and pets, and that is pride, patience, and persistence.

Divorced Males in the first 18 months to two years, I would only suggest floral paintings and artificial plants rather than torturing the poor live plants they may try to grow. Perhaps the odd cactus would survive

Divorced Females on the other hand seem to re-grasp the personal environmental interest that is exhibited in young single females and will try to grow anything and everything

The Widowed Male generally inherits his wife’s prized and loved plants. He does not know where to begin to look after them and becomes more and more depressed when surrounded by slowly dying plants. It is suggested that he pass the plants to friends and children – he can then go and “visit” them and will feel so much better when he sees that they are thriving and are still loved.

The Widowed Female will show more interest in propagation and cuttings, especially if their husband had a plant hobby. Usually they will dive right in where he left off and carry on – often with better results – even though she used to complain about all the time and money he spent on plants, pots and gadgets!!!

Females between 18 – 25 years can grow anything they wish especially if the living conditions are compatible to the plants. Males are best advised to admire the female’s plant collection and green thumb ability!

Plants have Four Important Parts:

1) Flowers: These house the plant’s reproductive machinery. The colours, smells and shapes of the flowers help to attract the birds and bees to carry pollen; indoors that will be you with a fine bristle brush

2) Leaves: These are the built-in food factories of plants as well as the cooling system. The surface of the leaf absorbs the maximum amount of light to manufacture food: this is called photosynthesis. The underside of the leaf is its cooling system, which contains large numbers of stomata that let out gases and water vapours – it’s the same as humans perspiring.

3) Stems: It appears that to most of us the stem is merely a support for the leaves, flowers and birds. This is true, but the stem is also the way food, water and minerals are transported up from the roots to all the parts of the plant itself. A small injury to any part of the stem can destroy a large portion of the plant.

4) Roots: Those snarled, wiry, hair masses hidden below the ground get very little attention from most house planters. They are taken for granted to look pout for themselves and are not really considered too important. If this description fits you, your plants and your green thumb are doomed. Roots are the most important part of any house plant for you to be concerned with. Keep a plant’s feet (roots) comfortable and the rest of the plant will respond.

Rosemary salt is all the rage in Toronto! It is expensive, but you can make your own. Also mint, thyme, oregano and sage are just some of them. You can use this method for making herbed sugars too. Lavender or mint for example you can use the sugars to top crème brulee, charm fruit, glaze cookies or tea loaves.

To make Rosemary Salt:
In a blender, combine 3 ounces of Kosher or sea salt with chopped leaves from a bunch of Rosemary. Then whiz until rosemary is fine and the salt decidedly green. Spread out on to a rimmed baking sheet and bake in a low oven 225F, until dry (about 15 min). Then you have to break it up with your hands and store in a covered jar out of the light. You can sprinkle it over foccacia, rub into steaks and roasts, mix a little into ground beef for patties or season a lamb stew, chops or kabobs. I know that you will enjoy the taste! Try making other herbal salts for unique gifts.

If you want a hot sauce try this one:

NOTE be very careful when handling hot peppers, wear rubber gloves and eye protection will not be amiss. I peeled hot peppers in Mexico and thought that I was going to die – my hands were on fire for about two days. Never ever rub your eyes!!!!!!!

Blend all the ingredients in either a food processor on high in your trusty blender (add extra water if it is too thick). Put in jar and refrigerate. It should make about 8 to 10 cups. It is very hot but wonderful

Goodnight – blessings – sleep well!!

Good Gardening, Happy snow shoveling – remember it is still important to stretch before you rush out with that shovel - do not miss putting on sun screen and a warm hat, we do not want any frost bitten ears!

Lovingly, Beryl