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Is It really only 50 days until spring!

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African Violets our first indoor flowering plant

Today's African violet was discovered in 1892 growing in two separate locations in northeast Tanga in eastern

Africa by Baron Walter von Saint Paul. Baron a horticulturist was the governor of German East Africa and fell

in love with this plant. He sent seeds and rooted laves to his father in Germany where they were grown and

quickly became very popular with the Horticultural circles. Herman Wendlan, a prominent botanist at the

Royal Botanical Gardens in Herrenhausen, Germany, gave the genus name Saintpaulia in honor of its discovery

and the two species became the parent of most of the cultivators available today.

The African violet became very popular because of its ability to thrive under normal conditions found in most

homes and it became a great specimen plant for centerpieces, and did very well in dish gardens too.

The African violet was introduced to the United States gardener in 1894 and hundreds of cultivars have

been developed that provide a wide range of flower colors, flower types, foliage types, and plant sizes from

miniature's to very large hybrids. The African violet became one of the first indoor flowering plants and are

still today one of the top selling small potted flowering plants for any season that blooms all year on any window

sill or plant table. In 1995 African violets sales exceeded 25 million dollars in the US alone. African violets are

a very important gift plant for Valentine day, Easter, and Mother's Day but gardeners purchase this plant every

week of the year.

Here are a few facts that will help you to have the best African violets in the home.

1} Temperature is most important and the plant will do best if the day time temperatures averages 77 degrees

and the plant should be kept between 75 and 80 degrees during the day for the best foliage development and

flower bud development. Day time temperatures above 85 degrees will cause quick bloom flowers for short

periods and poor foliage development.

Night time temperatures should be 68 to 70 degrees for the best growth and flower development, so you can

see these plants do best with above average temperatures at night. Your plants will still grow well but not as

quickly and flower less often and the flowers last a shorter time in bloom.

2} Light is also very important and for these reason the plant can become basically shade-adapted very easily

and quickly to any home when brought home from the greenhouse. Light intensity is the primary factor regulating

both time of flower and the number of flower produced. In the fall and winter months give the plants more light

due to the shorter days by keeping it near a south facing window or under grow lights. During the spring and

summer lower the direct light intensity due to long days and hot sun, this will help to cool the plant down and help

it stay productive.

Plants that receive too much light will produce hard brittle growth and foliage and can become stunted with short

stems and bleached foliage. During the hot and sunny days of summer the sunlight can and will burn both the

foliage and flowers of your plants. Plants without enough light during the fall and winter will develop long leaf

stems, large thin leaves, and few flowers on the plant. If you're growing your violets under lights they must be

12 to 15 inches from the plant and be on for 14 to 18 hours especially during the winter months.

3} Humidity will depend on light, temperature and the season. Violets require less humidity during the short days

of fall and winter and more humidity during the hot day of summer. NEVER water the plants at night and keep

to foliage DRY or Botrytis fungus will infect the flowers.

4}Potting soil is also important with the African violet as they have a fine root system and require a well-aerated,

well-drained soil with a lot of organic matter. Use a special African violet potting soil or the Black Gold potting

soil as it has all the qualities that the violets require to grow properly. Artificial/ man made soil like Black Gold

is much better than a real dirt type potting soil and stay away from heavy soil made from mushroom soil mixes.

5} Fertilizer for African violets is different than most plants because they are light feeders. They prefer a slow

steady supply of food from a balance fertilizer such as 15-30-15 or a time release fertilizer like Dynamite that

will feed your violets for up to 6 months without any burning or over feeding the plant.

6} Watering is also important and your violets will thrive when the soil is maintained uniformly moist.

Never saturate the soil for any length of time and never let the plant sit in a saucer of water for long periods.

If you allow the soil to dry out and the plant wilts the growth will become stunted and possibly never recover.

This happens because the fertilizer in the soil can burn the roots and if you're keeping it wet the roots will be

deprived of Oxygen and Root Rot or Crown Rot will develop killing the plant. Check weekly and your plant

will thrive for you. If you have to water over the foliage, do it early in the day so the foliage has time to dry

before night time. Always use warm or tepid water when watering.

This is a great plant for even the novice gardener and it will give you many days and weeks of wonderful

foliage and flowers. Be sure to look for the new flower colors, and flower types such as the double varieties and

even bi-color flowers. Variegated foliage is also available and new mini varieties. This a great plant for a long

winter inside. Enjoy!!!

The Zebra Plant

This wonderful indoor flowering plant called the Zebra Plant grows in the jungle climate of Guatemala and Brazil

where it was found many years ago. It is also called Aphelandra and has wonderful foliage and flowers.

This plant is unusual looking and will bring character to your plant collection. If you follow my directions it will

live in your home for years to come and flower every year.

The plant has wonderful large, pointed leaves 3 inches wide and 6 to 10 inches long that grow on strong

almost woody stems. The leaves are deep green in color with wonderful bright silvery gray veins that are

sunken a bit into the foliage and the entire leaf is glossy. When most of us purchase this potted plant it will

come with a single stem but with proper care you can create a multi stem plants with many flowers in only a

couple of years. The stems also have a reddish color to them giving the plant more character.

Now for some information about the flowers on the plant, as they are spectacular looking. These flowers form

on the plant during the early summer and bloom to the late fall but the foliage is on the plant all year.

The golden flowers grow on the tip of the branches in the shape of a pine cone and are 6 to 8 inches

tall and 3 inches wide. The yellow spike like flower is actually like the poinsettia plant as it is a flowering

bract with small yellow finger like flowers that emerge from in-between the many layers of bracts.

Each flower will grow 2 inches long and � in wide with an opening on the tip almost like a snapdragon flower.

Each flower will last for a week or more and it begins to form flowers from the bottom of the spike working

its way to the top, the blooming cycle will last for 4 to 6 weeks and the colorful bracts will continue to look

good for another 4 to 6 weeks after flowering. When the blooming period is finished remove the golden yellow

flower and one set of leaves below the flower to encourage new growth to develop.

Now repot the plant in a container 2 inches larger to give the roots room to develop and encourage side

shoots to form on the single stem. The Zebra plant loves a rich soil that stays moist, rich in organic matter

and drains well like Black Gold Potting soil, never use heavy dirt like soil as the roots will have a difficult

time to develop properly.

No like all jungle type plants the Golden flowering Zebra plant will require lots of humidity, so mist the

plant daily or place it on a large tray of stones that you will fill with water every morning to the bottom of

the pot to create humidity as the water evaporates. Keep it warm with temperatures above 60 at night

and 70 during the daytime.

The plant will do best in a bright, filtered light window, east, or west facing but sunny during the winter

with full sun if possible and back to filtered light the rest of the year. Place outside during the summer

to fall in a shady location with good light.

Water the plant to keep the soil moist at all times, never allow the plant to dry out and use warm water

when watering and misting the plant. If you heat your home with forced hot air or a wood stove mist the

plant frequently and use the stone filled saucers with water in them. Remember this plant does not like

wet feet, so never allow it to sit in a saucer filled with water for long periods. If you're seeing drooping

leaves or falling leaves the cause is usually too much water. Water less during the winter unless your

home is warm or if the plant is in the same room as your wood stove.

Fertilize the Zebra Plant heavy during the summer to fall, weekly and then monthly the rest of the year.

Use a liquid fertilizer like Dr. Earth house plant fertilizer or Dynamite pellets spring and fall for the best results.

Your plants are semi dormant during the winter so don't expect too much new growth and your plants

will like cooler temperatures at this time. When winter begins to end in March you will notice new growth

begin to develop on the plant and that a time to begin to use a mild solution of fertilizer every two weeks.

When you notice that the new side shoots begin to form flower buds move the plant to a brighter location

and water generously.

The plant will flower all summer long but the individual blooms in-between the bracts will only last a day

or two each but the 6 to 8 inch tall bract will last for several months. When they begin to change color

remove them to make room for new growth on the plant before winter arrives.

If you want to take cuttings to start new plants take them in the spring from the new growth. Take 3 to 4 inch

cuttings and dip in rooting powder after you remove a leaf or two to expose the stem. Push the stem in a

4 inch pot filled with Black Gold potting soil and place on a heating pad set on low and the roots will form

in 2 to 3 weeks. Keep moist and out of direct sun, cover the heating pad with a trash bag so it does not

get stained and damaged by watering. Enjoy!

Frank Sinatra - My Funny Valentine (Frank Sinatra Show 1957)

The Golden Shrimp plant/ Lollypop plant

If you're looking for an easy to grow tropical flowering plant that will flower most of the year for you look

no further than the Golden Shrimp Plant. This plant originated in South America in the country of Peru,

where it will grow 3 to 4 feet tall and just as wide in the wild. As a houseplant the pot size will determine

the size of the plant in your home. If you live in the southern states it can be grown as a flowering shrub

around your foundation of your home but for most of us it will become a potted plant.

If you can give this plant the right amount of light, warmth and a bit of regular pruning every now and then,

there is no reason why this plant can become your most cherished plant and give your home an exotic look

even in the middle of winter. When you purchase this plant, make sure that the plant tag has the name

"Pachystachys lutea, "its Latin name on it so you know that you purchase the true Golden Shrimp Plant.

Now let me tell you about this plant and we will start with its foliage. The leaves are dark green in color,

2 inches wide and 4 to 6 inches long. The leaves grow on strong almost woody stems, as a potted plant

and the leaves have wonderful deep veined look, almost indented in them. The leaf has a bit of sheen to

them but not shine and the sides of the leaf do curl under a bit, giving them a bit more character.

The real attraction to the Golden Shrimp plant is the magnificent flower spikes that feature bright gold flower

bracts and white flowers growing out of them. This flowering bract is very similar to the Poinsettia plant as

the red portion of the plant is not the actual flower, the flower is the small yellow button like buds in the center

top of the plant. The Golden shrimp plant has a flowering bract that resembles a white pine cone growing 3 to

5 inches tall and 2 inches wide.

White flowers will emerge in-between the individual bracts starting from the bottom and moving to the top

of the spike. These white flowers are about 1 and half inches long and just � inch wide, almost finger like

and open up like a snapdragon flower, poking out of the bracts and last about a week each. The golden upright

bracts are long lasting and give this plan its other common name, the Lollypop Plant.

Here are the secrets to keep this plant flowering and healthy. Once the flowers begin to fade, pinch off the

flower and the first set of leaves below the bracts to encourage new growth and branching. If you do this you

will be rewarded with several new branches that will in time produce more spikes of flowers. This will also keep

the plant bushy and control the size of the plant. Once the plants mature and begin to grow large you cut it

back by as much as one third to control the size of the plant and also encourage more flowers.

If you want to start new plants take cuttings from the new growth about 3 to 4 inches long, dip in rooting

powder and place a rich potting soil and they will root easily making new plants for you in the spring.

Also In the spring, April or May repot the plant to a new container 2 inches larger in size and watch it grow!

When the threat of frost is over, move the plant to you patio or deck and enjoy the flower all summer long in

a bright area but not in bright sun all day long or the foliage will burn up.

When you repot the plant in the spring use a good man made artificial soil like Black Gold house plant

potting soil as it is full of organic matter and conditioners, as potting heavy soil will stunt the newly developing

roots. Keep the soil evenly moist from spring to fall and slightly drier during the winter months. If you notice

leaf drop during the winter you're keeping it to dry.

If your home has forced hot air heat or you heat with a wood stove, mist the foliage to help raise the humidity

level around the plant or place the plant on an oversize saucer filled with stones and add water to the tray

every morning to the bottom of the pot in the tray, as the water evaporates it will create moisture around the

foliage and increase the humidity around the plant.

When you bring the plant indoors in the fall for the winter it will do best in a room with temperatures

around 65 to 75 degrees and the plant can be put in a full sun, south facing window due to the winter

sun diminishing strength and intensity until late April. After April bright light and avoid mid-day sun.

Fertilize every 2 weeks with a liquid plant food like Dr Earth House Plant fertilizer or use the Dynamite

pellets that will last for 6 months spring to fall. In the fall and winter months cut the rate in half with liquid

fertilizers and also the dynamite pellets. If the foliage becomes pale looking increase the fertilizer amount.

Your plants will go just fine in a home where temperatures 60 to 65 degrees and they can also take

temperatures as low as 55 during the winter months. Just be sure to avoid drafty windows and keep

plants away from air-conditioners. Enjoy!

Winter Wonderland sung by Johnny Mathis

"What good is the warmth of summer,

without the cold of winter

to give it sweetness"

John Steinbeck

Sweet and Sour Chicken Kebabs

Ingredients:

1 pound of chicken cut into chunks

1 cup of pineapple chunks

1 package of wooden skewers

For the glaze sauce:

� cup pineapple juice from the can, save it

1 ounce of a dry sherry wine

2 table spoons of ketchup

2 tablespoons of soy sauce

2 tablespoons of Chinese vinegar or red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon of corn flour {corn starch}

1} Heat some vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet until smoking hot,

Add the chicken and stir fry over high heat until chicken turns white

2} Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside

3} Mix together the sauce ingredients with the corn flour

Add to the pan and bubble up until thickened

4} Thread the chicken chunks on the skewer and alternate with pineapple

Chunks and serve covered with the sauce

Serves 4, so you may have to double or triple this recipe. Make ahead of time

And heat in the microwave when you're ready to serve. Kebabs taste great and less

messy than eating wings. You can use white or dark meat depending on your taste.

ONLY 1 Cabins Left - don't miss out on this wonderful trip

Monday July 27 - Boston, MA -
Depart on your overnight trans-Atlantic flight to Prague, Czech Republic.

Tuesday, July 28- Prague, Czech Republic
Settle into you hotel, Hilton Praguea,for the next two evenings. Explore Prague at your leisure.

Wednesday-July 29 -
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, and a free day to explore the city at your own pace. Perhaps visit the Communist Musem: sample the local plum dumplings and Pilsner; stroll along the Vltava River(B)

Thursday- July 30
After breakfast at the hotel, you will have time to discover Prague's treasures. You will depart your hotel in the early afternoon to embark on the Avalon Visionary in Nuremberg (approx.. 3 hour drive) Welcome Reception and Dinner onboard (B, D)

Friday - July 31 - Nuremberg
Today, choose from an included guided sightseeing tour and marvel at this 1,000-year-old city's medieval fortifications. Extraordinary gothic churches, and Kaiserburg(Imperial Castle) or join a more specialized Nuremberg Rally Grounds Tour. Enjoy a tranquil afternoon of cruising. Take in an interesting onboard lecture about the engineering marvel that is the Main Danube Canal (B,L,D)

Saturday, August 1- Regensburg
Some of today's highlights during your guided wall will include Altes Rathaus (old Time Hall), Porta Pretoria and 12th-century Steinerne Brucke (Stone Bridge). Enjoy an included snack at historische Wurskuche, one of the oldest restaurants. Before Dinner, join us for a beer tasting of some of Germany's most famous beers.(B,L,D)

Sunday, August 2 - Passau-Linz, Austria
This morning, dock in Passau uniquely located where the INN, Ilz and the Danube Rivers converge. Passau is a maze of cobblestone streets lined with beautiful patrician houses. St Stephen's Cathedral, a masterpiece of Italian Baroque architecture, house one of the world's largest church organs with 17, 774 pipes. Take in the highlights on the included guided walk. Then sail to Linz, Austria's 3rd largest town, which lies on both banks of the Danube (B, L, D)

Monday, August 3 - Melk-Vienna
This morning enjoy a included guided visit of Melk's magnificent 11th century Benedictine Abbey, which houses an ornate library with over 80,000 printed books and 2,000 manuscripts. During lunchtime, cruise through Wachau Valley a UNESCO world Heritage site. Arrive in Vienna this evening.(B, L, D)/p>

Tuesday, August 4 - Vienna

Your included city tour with your local guide includes sites such as the lavish Hofburg Imperial Palace Complex, the Neo-Renaissance Vienna Opera House, and St Stephen's Cathedral. Spend some time in the delightful pedestrian Karntnerstrasse to enjoy a piece of decadent Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel Depart for Budapest. (B, L, D)

Wednesday, August 5 - Budapest, Hungary
On your guided sightseeing tour, see Heroes' Square as well as the massive hilltop castle complex with its remarkable Fishermen's Bastion & 11th century Matthias Church, the coronation spot of several Hungarian menarches. Be sure to take note of the city's 8 bridges - many famous sites in and of themselves which connect ancient Buda on the right bank with pest on left bank. You may even want to walk across Chain Bridgebuilt in 1849 and a symbol of Budapest. (B, L, D)

Thursday August 6 - Budapest (disembarkation)
After breakfast you will be transferred to your hotel. The day is free to explore Budapest at your leisure (b).

Friday, August 7 - Budapest to Boston
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before you prepare for your transfer to the airport and you flight home.

For more information :
Largay Travel Inc.
625 Wolcott Street
Waterbury, CT 06705
1-800-322-9481
Bobbi@LargayTravel.com

Garden Journal - A garden is a friend you can visit any time. Gardens require planning and cultivation, yielding beauty and joy. This garden journal helps make planning and organizing easy. This book makes a great gift for gardeners, family, friends, birthdays, Christmas, new home or as a self purchase.

Cover holds a 5 x7 or 4x6 photo, Heavy-duty D-ring binder

1. 8 tabbed sections
2. 5 garden details sections with pockets for seeds, tags....
3. Weather records page
4. 6 three year journal pages
5. Insect & diseases page - 3 project pages
6. 3 annual checklist pages
7. Plant wish list page
8. 2 large pocket pages
9. Sheet of garden labels
10. 5 garden detail sheets
11. 5 graph paper pages for layouts
12. 5 photo pages holds - 4- 4x6 photos in landscape or portrait format

Journal, Planning, Inspirations.

To Order call 207-590-4887

Regular price $34.95 Special Price $31.95! special!

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