Dear ##firstname[Friend]##,

Crystal Rennicke

There’s something about this time of year that is magical. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old—Christmas is a time we all love and cherish. I hope you and your families have a restful and peaceful holiday season.

If you’re like me, you’ve been decorating your house with lights, amaryllis bulbs, poinsettias and winter containers as well as cooking up a storm. If you find yourself with a spare moment amid the hustle and bustle of the season, read on for some seasonal plants and tips for your garden.

If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please use this link to sign up for yourself.

Happy Holidays!
--Crystal

READ ON TO DISCOVER...

• Plant of the Month
• Yard Smarts
• January Regional Checklist
• Frugal Gardener Tip of the Month
• Submit Your Story

Plant of the Month

‘Opal Innocence’ Nemesia
Plant this versatile newcomer almost anywhere to enjoy its scent and beauty. Fragrant blue, white, lavender and pink blooms emerge in early spring until a hard frost. As an added bonus, this nemesia requires little or no effort for its show of color.

Botanical name: Nemesia fruticans.
Hardiness: Annual, except in Zones 9 and 10.
Size: 12 to 16 inches high.
Light needs: Full sun or partial shade.
Soil: Fertile soil, consistent water.
Growing advice: Water thoroughly and often to keep the soil moist at the beginning of the season to establish.
Featuring: Extremely easy to maintain, with no deadheading required. Versatile planting requirements mean you can put this one-of-a-kind anywhere and everywhere in your garden. 

Click here for more information and how to order.

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Yard Smarts

Winter Composting
Many northern gardeners like myself can’t compost when outside temperatures hit freezing. So for the last few winters, I’ve composted by putting everything in a blender and pouring the “soup” right into my flower beds. It soaks in well, and by the spring, I’ve got plenty of happy worms and rich soil. –Jan Sullivan, Whitby, Ontario

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January Regional Checklist

Shorter days and cooler weather mean busy, but bountiful, days for gardeners across the country. In most areas, fall harvest is in full swing. It’s also a good time to tidy up the yard and garden.

• Northeast
• Northwest
• Southwest
• Central
• Southeast

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Frugal Gardener Tip of the Month

Prize That Keeps on Giving
During a holiday dinner party for my husband’s work, I won a centerpiece with twigs twisted around an evergreen. The arrangement lasted for over a month. That’s when I noticed the twigs starting to bud. I put them in water, and the roots and buds grew. By spring, each of the twigs was ready to plant. I checked my plant books and found they were contorted filberts (also known as Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick)—a treasured, very interesting plant I grew for free!  —Melissa Szczerba, Crown Point, Indiana

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Step Back to the Victory Era!

The editors of Reminisce magazine bring you Reminisce Through the Decades: The 1940s, a 6-hour-plus, three-DVD set of real-life stories from the ’40s! For more information, go to www.reminisce.com.

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