To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
Ecc. 3:1
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
Ecc. 3:1
The weather may be colder and the days getting shorter, but there are still things to do to get ready for winter. Here are a few of them.
Prune shrub and hybrid tea roses by at least a third so they won’t get blown around in the winter wind and cause them to loosen the soil around them. Add mulch around the base of the plant.
Move houseplants indoors before cold nights are here to stay. Spray any plants that have insect issues with insecticidal soap to help reduce pest outbreaks indoors. Once they are inside, you may need to water more frequently because they will dry out faster in the warmer and drier air.
For indoor winter blooms, plant amaryllis bulbs in soil and place them in a sunny spot to encourage growth. The top third of the bulb should protrude above the soil. You can also try raising an amaryllis without soil, growing it in a vase atop a base of pebbles, where you keep the water level just below the base of the bulb. Watch for flower buds to appear and stake the top-heavy stems. It takes from six to 12 weeks for flowers to open.
Outside, dig bulbs, corms and rhizomes of plants that won’t survive winter where you live. This includes canna, elephant ears, gladiolus and tuberous begonias. Cut off plant tops, unearth bulbs and trim roots. Place bulbs in a shady spot for a few days to jump-start the drying process. Once bulbs are dry, store them in peat moss or sawdust in a cool place for winter.
Remember to fill birdfeeders so that birds make a stop in your yard as they journey on to their winter feeding grounds.
From HGTV Gardens and Outdoors
President George Washington issued a proclamation on October 3, 1789, designating Thursday, November 26 as a national day of thanks. A day of thanksgiving has been observed since then, but on various days. In December of 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt signed a resolution establishing Thanksgiving as occurring on the fourth Thursday of November. Read Washington’s proclamation from 1789 below.
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many single favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the single and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go. Washington