Edition 2.49 Blue Hills Nursery News December 2, 2004

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DECEMBER

Apply three inches of mulch to flower beds, around shrubs and trees, and the winter vegetable garden. This will enrich the soil and keep it from compacting in the winter rains.

Quotation of the Week:

"To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug."
— Helen Keller
 

This week Tom takes a look at:

The widest variety of Pointsettias in Whittier!

Blue Hills Trivia

Click to Answer

Where did the name Poinsettia come from?
 
PRIZE 6" POT OF POINSETTIA

Last Week's Question: The following line is from the poet "Ovid". What plant does this line refer to?'---Ad viscum Druidce cantare solebant---.'
 

Last week's winner : Marcia Sanchez-Walsh
Answer: Mistletoe
 

House Plants for Cleaner Air!
mums

Need to freshen up your home or office?

Let a plant do the dirty work. For instance, a spider plant gets rid of formaldehyde fumes from your new carpeting, thanks to microorganisms living in potting soil that use airborne toxins as a source of food. Plant roots absorb the waste produced by those microorganisms and release cleaner air in your home.

"Some plants work better because their root systems prefer pollutants and use them as food faster than others," says Bill Wolverton, Ph.D., who runs an environmental research firm in Picayune, MS.

Estimating the number of plants to best do the job isn't easy and he advises that you overestimate the number rather than underestimate it. However, it's easy to figure out the types of plants to use.

snake plantHere are 11 of the best — and easiest to maintain — household plants to hold down pollution levels in your home or office for better breathing and energy.

  1. bamboo or bamboo palm
  2. Boston fern (or any fern)
  3. chrysanthemum
  4. dracaena
  5. English ivy (or any ivy)
  6. gerbera daisy
  7. golden pothos
  8. peace lily
  9. philodendron
  10. snake plant
  11. spider plant

Recipe of the Week: Pear Cranberry Sauce Chutney

    What You'll Need:

    • 4 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
    • 1 cup raisins
    • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
    • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
    • 1/3 cup cider vinegar
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 3 teaspoons mustard seed
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
    • 1/4 teaspoon each ground ginger, allspice and cloves
    • 1 large pear, peeled and coarsely chopped
    • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

    Step by Step:

    In a saucepan, combine the cranberries, raisins, onion, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic and seasonings.

    Bring to a boil.

    Reduce heat; cook uncovered for 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Add the pear and cook 10 minutes longer or until tender.

    Serve warm or cold.
    Store in the refrigerator.

    Yield: 3 cups

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