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CELEBRATE THE SEASON:
Solemn Stillness
by Wayne Kelley
Winter Outings
By Snowmobile or Sleigh
A Christmas Tree Shoppers Glossary of Terms
by Walt Rockwood
Vermont's Top 10 Winter Events
IN THE FARMHOUSE KITCHEN:
Holiday Cookie Collection
EVERYTHING WOOD HEAT:
More Woodstove Magic
by Daryle Thomas
GARDENING:
Forcing Bulbs for Winter Bloom
by Leonard Perry
 Winter Gardening Tips
by Vern Grubinger
INTO THE OUTDOORS:
Unfinished Stories in the Snow
by Jenna Guarino
Tracking Winter Wildlife
by Heather Behrens
Did You Ever Eat a Pine Tree?
by Euell Gibbons
The River in Winter
by W.D. Wetherell
VERMONT WEATHERVANE BOOK NEWS:
My Dog's Brain
plus the story behind the creation of the book
Will Moses' Silent Night
GET OUT AND ABOUT:
Vermont Country Calendar
Statewide Calendar of Events
Blue Ribbon Events
Detailed information on selected Vermont events
EXPLORE OUR OTHER SEASONS:
FALL
WINTER
SPRING
SUMMER
If you didn't pass through Rural, Vermont to get to this site you may want to make a small detour.
It's worth the trip!
Write Us:
weathervane
@ruralvermont.com
We welcome your comments, suggestions, and questions.
or call: 802-645-9631
RD 1, Box 680
West Pawlet, VT 05775
©1996-97 Vermont Weathervane
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Winter Gardening Tips
by Vern Grubinger
January is a good month for gardening, at least on paper, as you start planning next year's garden and consult seed catalogs for ideas and new varieties.
Although you'll want to include many of your family's favorites, why not try something you've never grown before?
How about collards, shallots, popcorn, or even sweet potatoes, if you live in one of the warmer areas of Vermont?
Specialty crops such as bok choy (Chinese cabbage), tatsoi (flat cabbage), or any of the fancy lettuces also are nice for a change of pace.
To determine how many seeds to order, map out your garden on graph paper, allowing adequate space between rows and ample room for vining crops such as pumpkins and winter squash.
You might want to plan your order with a gardener friend or neighbor, so you can sample more varieties as well as save on shipping costs.
If you received a poinsettia or cyclamen as a holiday gift, keep it blooming by providing proper care. Poinsettias need good drainage, so if the pot is still wrapped in foil, remove the foil or make a hole in the bottom to allow the water to drain out. Keep soil moist, but don't overwater.
Place your plant in a cool (60 to 65 degrees F.) location that gets plenty of light. Keep out of warm or cool drafts, and fertilize once a month. (Your other houseplants also will benefit from fertilizer applications once or twice this winter.)
The cyclamen with its unique blossoms needs to be kept cool and evenly moist. Too high temperatures, too little water, or too low light may cause leaves to yellow and drop. But with proper care, the plant should continue to bloom for six to eight weeks.
While snow makes a good protective cover for plants, if you use salt to melt ice on driveways or walkways, be careful not to pile snow from these areas on your plants or where melting snow will drain onto them. After the snow melts, flush the area around the roots exposed to salt with fresh water.
Winter is a good time to sign up for gardening classes or seminars offered by many garden centers or town recreation offices. Or gather a group of friends to learn bonsai or compare notes on growing perennials or tropical houseplants, whatever piques your interest.
Other activities for January: check houseplants regularly for pests; keep bird feeders filled; spend time browsing the garden section at your library or on the Internet, if you have access to a computer.
Vern Grubinger writes from the University of Vermont Extension System in Burlington, Vt.
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