|
Planet Mom: It’s where I live. Visit me there at www.melindawentzel.com and www.facebook.com/NotesfromPlanetMom.
The Pennsylvania
Garden
Although you typically associate nasty old witches with Halloween or The Wizard of Oz, gardeners know the month of January is the best time of the year to spot a witch…and if you’re lucky enough there will be one or two in your garden. The Asiatic species of witch hazel, with its interesting gnarly limbs and textured bark, is a great addition to the garden not only for its unique appearance, but also because it is typically in bloom during the start of the New Year. If you’re expecting an amazing display of colorful blooms covering the tree, like the enchanting apple of pear trees display each spring, you’ll be disappointed since the witch hazel feature tiny blooms in light shades of yellow, red and white that resembles a party horn that is unfurled. Although the display pales in comparison with most blooming trees, in the bleak days of January, when the ground is frozen and the landscape devoid of color, anything that blooms is a welcome sight. Native to parts of Nova Scotia, Canada, and the eastern regions of the United States, this shrub like plant was widely used for medicinal purposes by the Native Americans who boiled the stems of the plant to produce a distillate they used to treat sore muscles, insect bites, inflammations and cuts. To this day, witch hazel can still be found on some shelves in drugstores for people that continue to use it as a home remedy. Witch hazel prefers a location where it receives sun to part sun with soil that is moist, but well drained. Most varieties grow between 10’ to 12’ high with the same width measurements. If you’re considering a witch hazel for your "must plant list for 2012," keep in mind not all types of witch hazel bloom during the winter months. Chinese witch hazel blooms in winter, while the vernal witch hazel blooms in early spring, and common witch hazel starts to blooms in late autumn. All types of the plant provide a brilliant splash of color to the landscape in the fall with bold shades of gold, red and orange. So if you’re out and about and you keep your eyes open, you might be able to spot January’s favorite witch visiting the garden.
It’s Farm Show
Time Once Again Rodeos, potato donuts, women spinning yarn and a sculpture made from butter can only mean one things: The 96th Annual Pennsylvania State Farm Show has arrived. More than 400,000 people are expected to flood the vast Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg for the eight day event that pays tribute to the state’s number one industry, agriculture and the people that make it happen. "We are extremely excited for this year’s show which will feature the traditional and beloved parts of the Farm Show which people have come to expect over the years, such as the rodeos, the animals, the exhibits and of course the Food Court which feature state produced items that range from milkshakes to baked potatoes," said Nicole Bugher, deputy press secretary for the Department of Agriculture in Harrisburg. "We will also be adding several new features to the show this year, including a Historical Marker hunt for children which will help them learn more about the state’s important role in agriculture. We’ll also have a new display that shows the latest advancements in agriculture, and there will even be three new additions to the Food Court, one of the most popular parts of the Farm Show. New this year will be pizza, a BBQ brisket and a grilled cheese sandwich, all of which will be made totally from state produced products." Often compared to Pennsylvania’s version of a state fair, the Farm Show truly features something for all ages and best of all, admission and many events and demonstrations are free. The eight-day event, which runs now through January 14., will also feature cooking demos, the Sheep to Shawl contest, the latest in farm equipment, vendors and a barnyard full of animals. "Kids are amazed at the animals we have at the Farm Show, especially the horses and of course the baby ducklings,"she said. "Besides being a fun event for kids, they also will learn about the work that goes into the agriculture industry. The theme for this year’s show is "From Farm Gate to Dinner Plate," which really shows all the work involved in the industry." A few of the many highlights include 6,000 animals, 300 vendors, 10,000 competitive exhibits ranging from tasty jam and jelly contest to the ever popular Hershey baking contest. The highlight by far this year will be the farm within the Farm Show, aptly named "Today’s Agriculture." Located in the complex’s Main Exposition Hall, the 10,000-square-foot display features an 84-foot-long by 42-foot-wide barn that will house animals and see how a farm really works, including a small field outside of the barn where corn and other crops will be ready to harvest. Of course no show would be complete without a Tractor Square Dance and the Farm Sow will host two on Friday in the Large Arena. First started in 1917, the Farm Show is considered the largest indoor agricultural exhibition in the nation, fittingly enough since it showcase the pride and people of the state’s system and how their hard work and dedication help feed the Keystone State. The 96th Pennsylvania Farm Show runs January 7 to 14 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg at Cameron and Maclay streets. Admission is free, but parking is $10 a vehicle. |
|||
|
|
|
||||||||||
|
