Bark is an often overlooked aspect of a tree that actually serves many important functions.  Bark protects the delicate cambium layer from bumps and cuts.  Like a scab on a wound, it protects against disease organisms.

Bark also retards the loss of water protects the tree from temperature extremes and intense sunlight and can even help the tree breathe!  So next time you catch your child tearing the bark off a neighborhood tree, consider the consequences…

Don’t be fooled… Just because it’s cold outside should not stop you from maintaining a healthy garden no matter the month.

The key to a successful winter garden is planning.  A great candidate for a winter garden vegetable is lettuce.  The key will be covering the plants to give them shelter and keep them warm.  You can even keep plants such as peas, radishes, spinach, carrots, turnips, arugula, parsley , dill, brussel sprouts, and cabbage growing several months longer than expected if planted around the middle of July and kept properly covered.

The Cedars of God is a small forest of Cedar tree in the mountains of northern Lebanon.  These trees are the last remaining trees from the extensive forests of the Cedars of Lebanon that thrived in this area during ancient times.  In fact, these cedars are mentioned in the Bible over 70 times.  The Ancient Egyptians used its resin in mummification and King Solomon used the cedar trees in the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem.

To read about more famous trees across the globe visit: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/20LTKI/www.touropia.com/famous-trees-in-the-world/

Have you ever wondered about that distinctive smell lingering in the air after a spring rainshower?  Well as it turns out this smell could be caused by a number of things…

The smell we often notice in the woods after a good drenching is normally caused by a bacterica called Actinomycetes which produces spores in the soil.  When the force of rainfall kick these tiny spores into the air they essentially act as an aerosol.

For those of us who normally notice the aroma while walking through the city the cause could be much different.  Since rain is somewhat acidic, when the droplets come in contact with organic debris or chemicals on the ground, it can cause some particularly aromatic reactions.  Sometimes this type of reaction is not as pleasant as that caused by the bacterial spores.

Possibly the most pleasant rain scent is the reaction of rainfall with the volatile oils that plants and trees release. The oil collects on surfaces such as rocks and when the rain reacts with these oils it can create an aroma so fresh that it has even been bottled and sold for its aromatic qualities!

Anytime snow is allowed to sit on the ground for an extended period of time mold has a potential to develop.  There are two forms of the mold: gray and pink.  Gray snow mold is less dangerous and occurs when temperatures are just above freezing.  The mold will usually develop in small circles and can be expected to heal itself fairly quickly.

Pink snow mold can be more dangerous to the health of the lawn and can occur anytime from late fall to early spring regardless of the amount of snow.  The number one way to prevent snow mold is to continue to mow your lawn in the late fall until the grass has for sure stopped growth.  Winterization fertilizations can also prove an effective method in preventing this fungi from developing.

To learn more about snow mold visit http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/snowmolds.html

If you happen to be the proud owner of a Bermuda Lawn then here is some imporatant information to take into consideration this spring.  Scalping your lawn before the growing season could result in a greener, weed free lawn throughout the summer.

Scalp the Bermuda lawn after the threat of freeze is over (usually March 15th to April 1st).  Mow the grass twice, gradually lowering the blades to limit the amount of damage done to the existing blades.  Carefully check your lawn before scalping to ensure no new growth has begun to develop and if so, nix the operation until next year. 

The scalping process will help to remove the thick layer of thatch that can build up over the course of the growing season and doing so will allow the sun to warm the soil and roots; enhancing the beauty of your Bermuda lawn for the rest of the year!

Come check out the Metropolitan Lawn and Garden Show… The event runs today (February 10th) until Sunday (February 12th) at the American Royal Center!

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching many will be rushing to the store to pick up a dozen red roses for their loved ones.  Well… if you really want to impress your better half, consider growing your own Rainbow Rose.

In 2004, two Dutch companies successfully grew a rose that had rainbow colored petals.  They did so by splitting the stem into several channels and dipping each one into a different colored water.  The idea is that all colors will be drawn by the stem into petals and the resulting rose will have all the colors in it!

For those of you who love horoscopes here is a fun comparison with trees that can tell you a little bit about yourself.  This website can tell you what kind of tree you are, and what that means for your personality and future.  If your birthday falls between February 9th to February 18th then congratulations, you are a Cedar Tree:

CEDAR TREE (the Confidence) - of rare beauty, knows how to adapt, likes luxury, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, determined, impatient, likes to impress others, many talents, industrious, healthy optimism, waiting for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

This winter has not been typical.  Little snow and 60 degree days in January have become expected.  Knock on wood.    While we may be enjoying the sun’s warmth, our landscape could potentially face a few dangers with the small amount of snowfall received so far.

Any type of bulb foliage that you may be currently seeing could be affected by frost from low temperatures in the evening.    The frost damage may turn the edges of the leaves brown and dry, but it will have no lasting effect on the plant and will not stop it from flowering.

Make sure to pay special attention to any evergreens planted in containers.  These can continue to lose water through their leaves in the winter, so watering them will help them perform better once springtime arrives.