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LOVELAND GARDEN CLUB NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 18, NUMBER 4
December 2017
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
It always seems like the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas just flies by, and this year is no exception. It’s hard to believe that it is almost time for our December potluck and holiday celebration. For those of you who are new to the club, at our December meeting everyone brings a dish to share. We also do an optional gift exchange. The gift exchange is great fun, especially because stealing is allowed! If you would like to participate, bring a wrapped garden related gift, approximately $10 in value. We will explain the rules of the exchange in more detail at the meeting.
I would like to thank Penny Kragie and all of the crafters for creating many beautiful ornaments for our tree at the library. The money earned from the sale of these ornaments will go into our tree fund. Penny will be bringing some of the ornaments to our December meeting, so you can see them and, if interested, can purchase some for your own tree.
I look forward to seeing all of you at our potluck and wish you a wonderful holiday.
NEXT MEETING / HOSTS AND PROGRAM
December 20; 10 AM All Saints Episcopal Church, Loveland. Potluck and Holiday Celebration. Wrap a garden-related gift ($10.00) to exchange, a dish for the potluck and if you want a short poem or gardening quote to share.
BIRTHDAYS IN THE CLUB
Dec 4Carol BergersenDec 12Jamilla Prikryl
Dec 14Carol HulseyDec 19Michael Walter
Dec 31Betty HillJan 6Jan Morger
Jan 12Ellen Fernandez
EVENTS IN NORTHERN COLORADO December-13 ~ January-13
Ongoing to Dec. 24Blossoms of Light Denver Botanic Gardens, Time: 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. under free.Enjoy lights, shopping for gifts, entertainment and more. Weekend nights include additional features; See for details.
Month of DecemberWinter Wonderlights. 5 PM Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra. Stroll through the sculpture pare with lights, and 30 minute music and light shows every night starting at 5:30.
Dec 12HanukkahJewish Festival of Lights
Dec 12The Hawaiian Islands by Kathy Keeler (The Wandering Botanist)12-1 Loveland Library.
Dec 16Winter Solstice –shortest day and longest night of the year.
Dec 25Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ
Dec 26Kwanzaa, an African-American and Pan African celebration of family, community and culture.
Jan. 15 Free Day at Denver Botanic Gardens Denver Botanic Gardens, Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; 720-865-3501nightly; Thousands of holiday lights adorn the trees and plants; refreshments available for purchase; Entertainment on selected evenings; Fee: Advance purchase at reduced rates, prices higher at the door; See for details; 720-865-3501
Dec. 1 - Jan 7Garden of Lights The Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins; Time: 5 - 9 p.m.; Fee: $5 suggested donation per adult, $2 per child, ages 2 and
THINGS TO DO IN YOUR GARDEN THIS MONTH
Plant paper-white bulbs or pre-chilled hyacinth bulbs for fragrant indoor winter blooms
When selecting poinsettias, choose plants with dark green leaves and well-developed bracts (commonly called flowers). Try to get plants whose small yellow flowers haven't opened up yet. These plants are very sensitive to cold temperatures and need protection when they are transported on chilly days.
Poinsettias prefer at least six hours of indirect sunlight daily.
Temperatures of 70 degrees during the daytime and no lower than 60 degrees at night are recommended.
Water plants thoroughly whenever the soil feels dry to the touch. Plants that are in decorative containers or foil should not sit in water.
Contrary to popular opinion, poinsettias are not poisonous. They, however, should not be eaten.
Reference: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension's Planttalk #1325.
Be sure to protect rosebushes by placing a layer of mulch over the crown and keeping bushes well watered during dry weather
Don't neglect winter watering. Lawns, trees and shrubs need more moisture than Mother Nature usually provides during late fall and winter in many parts of Colorado. Water plants when the ground isn’t frozen and the temperature is several degrees above freezing if there has been little or no snow for four to six weeks.
Dry winds, fluctuating temperatures and insufficient water can cause the needles of evergreens to turn brown in winter. To prevent winter injury, water plants monthly and place mulch over the root zone of plants. You may also want to spray conifers with a product such as Wilt-pruf to prevent moisture loss.
Care of Cut Christmas Trees:
When you bring the tree home, cut off about one inch of the trunk and place the tree in a bucket of water until you are ready to put it in a tree stand that contains water.
The tree will absorb a lot of water the first few days. Check the water level once or twice a day and refill as needed. Do not let the container dry out.
Place the tree away from sources of heat such as heater vents, the fireplace, T.V., etc
Care of Living Christmas Trees:
Avoid keeping the tree indoors too long. Preferably, living trees should stay indoors no more than five days, with seven days the maximum.
Be sure the root ball stays moist. Do not let it dry out.
Use only small lights that are cool-burning.
Keep the tree away from sources of heat such as heater vents, the fireplace, T.V., etc.
You may keep the tree in the garage for a few days prior to bringing it indoors and also after removing it from the house. Be sure to keep it watered at all times.
Poinsettias love a cool, draft free window with of indirect sun. Water when soil is dry, never let soil get soggy or let water pool up in the saucer
Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi ) blooming plant near sunny window. Water just enough to keep the soil evenly moist and fertilize every 7-10 days. When bloom ceases, rest the plant for 6-8 weeks in cool, darker room and water very little. Then move the plant back to a sunny window, water more and it may bloom again.
Thanksgiving CactusSchlumbergera truncata blooms earlier than Christmas Cactus and probably will not bloom again until next year.
Prune conifers now for holiday garlands and wreaths. Cut just above side branches that you want to grow. Prune evenly for shape.
Insulate roses. After temp drops below freezing for a few weeks, mound soil over the plant’s base, being careful to cover the bud union. Once the soil surface freezes set a cylinder of chicken wire or tomato cage around each plant & fill with mulch of leaves, pine bought, etc. Postpone pruning until spring, unless stems over 18”, then cut those on cool day.
Propagate houseplants. Ivy – snip tip cuttings from parent plant, dip cut ends in rooting hormone and place in moist potting soil. Pathos – snip off elongated stems & immerse cut ends in water until roots form. Transplant.
Check soil moisture of shrubs and trees by sticking a screwdriver down 2 inches a few inches from the trunk. If the blade feels dry set bubbler at the base of the plant until the root ball is evenly moist.
Prune overgrown arborvitae, cedar, cypress, fir, holly, juniper, pine and spruce.
HAPPY HOLIDAYSHANAKKAH, SOLSTICE, CHRISTMAS AND KWANNZA
(AND DON’T FORGET TO EAT YOUR VEGIES!!!)