December 2020 Tree Care
WWW.TROUTBROOKTREE.COM
(860) 888-8472
Holiday Wishes From the Crew at Trout Brook Landscaping
As we write this edition of the newsletter, the snow is coming down — and it’s a heavy, wet snow. But by the time you read this, it could be a different story. Weather changes on a whim. Perhaps it’s time for a socially distanced vacation? We’ve all been thinking about a vacation for a while, but it seems so difficult. Perhaps it’s time to plan a rural getaway to New Hampshire or Vermont, or a long drive and a week’s worth of vacation in Florida. Who’s down for some fresh mountain air or a waterside bungalow in 80-degree sunshine? We can all dream, can’t we? And it’s hope and our memories that keep us going in times like these. Slow down, unplug, and find some space and activate your dreams. It’s one of the best things you can do for your mental health and well-being.
With that in mind, we here at Trout Brook Landscaping wish you an amazing holiday season. We look forward to growing and serving you even better in 2021. Remember that the holiday season is a time to reconnect with the people you care about
most. And if you have any tree service needs, our team is looking forward to working all winter long. We are only a phone call away at (860) 888-8472.
–Andrew Bachman (860) 888-8472
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SNOWED IN FOR CHRISTMAS? IT’S BOARD GAME TIME! 3 NEW GAMES TO ENTERTAIN YOU THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS
2. Half Truth: Brilliant Minds Meet Here If you’re a fan of Trivial Pursuit,
“Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the games are so delightful …” Those might not be the exact lyrics from the famous Christmas carol, but it’s true that decks of cards and various board games get many families through the holiday season. You can only rewatch “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” so many times before the jokes grow stale. While new movie releases can be fun, many have been stalled this year because of the pandemic. Luckily, board games are still coming out on schedule. If you’re on the hunt for alternatives to Monopoly, Clue, and Scrabble, check out these fresh 2020 games, which all come recommended by the experts at Thrillist. 1. THE ALPHA: A NATURE LOVER’S DREAM GAME If your childhood dream was joining a wolf pack like Mowgli in “The Jungle Book,” this is the board game for you! The Alpha is a beautifully illustrated strategic game where players act as pack leaders and compete with other players to acquire territory and snag the best food. Gameplay is done in rounds that include four stages: stalk, chase, resolve, and advance. The game is rated for 3–6 players ages 10 and up.
you’ll love Half Truth. At its heart, it’s a trivia game, but it ups the stakes by giving players the
opportunity to bet on how many correct answers they’ll get. Really though, there’s only one thing you need to know about this game, and Thrillist said it best: “It’s the brainchild of legendary Magic: The Gathering creator Richard Garfield and 74-time Jeopardy! winner Ken Jennings.” What a pedigree! Everyone 12 and over will want a seat at the table. 3. getCrewd: A Playground for Movie Buffs getCrewd is a card game that comes in a retro- style film can, and that single trait speaks volumes. In this PG-13-rated game, you play a film producer in search of the perfect actor, director, and crew to make your movie happen. However, the deck will keep throwing obstacles in your way, including everything from flash floods to writers’ strikes. If you have a competitive side, you’ll love this mad scramble to the finish line. With these games in your cabinet, you won’t even notice the snowbanks outside!
WHAT SPECIES IS MY CHRISTMAS TREE?
The Many Varieties Available
BALSAM FIR Another tree, the balsam fir, is more popular in the Northeast. It helps that it’s native to the most northeastern parts of the United States and much of eastern Canada. Balsam firs typically have a full, well- rounded shape, but it’s the color that really makes this tree pop. The needles are two-toned — a rich, dark green on top, with a soft silver underneath. The tree is also noted for its longer, more flexible branches, which make it ideally suited for lighter decoration or a more minimalistic approach. FRASER FIR This tree is known for its evergreen aroma, so if you want to fill your home with a festive smell, the Fraser fir won’t let you down. As a Christmas tree, it’s known for its round, conical shape, dark green to dark blue-green needles, and branches suited for just about any decoration. The Fraser is native to small regions through Appalachia, including Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. It’s also most commonly used as the White House Christmas tree.
Who doesn’t love the majesty and tradition of a live Christmas tree? Every year, we descend on local tree lots to find the perfect trees for our homes. We inspect all the trees for the shape, size, and color, and we look for the healthiest specimen that will last the entire season. While most tree lots sell one type of tree, several varieties are available during the season. Here are three types of trees that fill the role of “Christmas tree.” DOUGLAS FIR Native to the western regions of the United States, the Douglas fir is the most common variety of Christmas tree. It’s known for its quintessential,
conical “Christmas tree” shape. Plus, it’s noted for its longevity after harvesting. As long as it’s properly watered, it will last through the month. People also love its soft bristles. Not only do they look great, but they also don’t poke you while you’re decorating. The tree even has a mild evergreen aroma!
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TAKE A BREAK
THE HISTORY OF STRING LIGHTS MERRY AND BRIGHT
No matter which holidays you celebrate this season, many folks in and around West Hartford love to decorate their homes, trees, and other displays with string lights. They’re an essential part of the holidays, and they come with a rich history. String lights have come a long way since their invention in the 19th century. In 1880, after Thomas Edison developed a type of incandescent lightbulb that was easier to manufacture, he wanted to find a way to get it to the masses. As the holiday season of 1880 approached, Edison strung together a series of bulbs and draped them around his lab in Menlo Park, New Jersey, so people on passing trains could admire this new, vibrant wonder. The idea was slow to take off. Two years later, Edward Hibberd Johnson, a close associate of Edison, took the idea further. In his New York City home, Johnson decorated a Christmas tree with electric lights, making it the first electrically lit tree in history. Insurance companies were a major force behind the electric light craze. At the beginning of the 20th century, many families still decorated their trees and homes with candles. Insurance companies decided that if your home caught fire and an open flame was the culprit, you were not covered and would not receive compensation. The most popular decorations of the time were garlands and ornaments. Only the wealthy made the early transition to electric string lights. According to History Matters and Appalachian State University, a string of Edison miniature lamps cost $12 in 1900, or about $300 today. It was also in 1900 that the first advertisement for the string lights went to print. The ad was published in Scientific American Magazine and suggested that you rent a string of lights rather than buy. That way, more people could afford the lights and wouldn’t have to worry about storage after the holiday season. Over the decades, more people bought (and rented) electric tree lights. By 1925, there were 15 companies in the electric tree light business. They even got together to form the NOMA Electric Corporation, which may have helped these companies survive the Great Depression and World War II. Since then, the lights we use to decorate our homes and trees have taken many shapes and sizes. Today, energy-efficient LED lights are among the most common varieties.
Festive Apple Cider
Inspired by BoulderLocavore.com
Ingredients
• 1 lemon • 1 gallon pure apple cider • 1 large orange, thinly sliced crosswise • 2 tsp whole cloves • 2 tsp allspice berries • 1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced • 2 tbsp honey • 3 cinnamon sticks
Directions
1. Using a paring knife, shave the lemon peel off in curls. Reserve the curls and save the lemon for use in a different recipe. 2. In a large slow cooker, combine the lemon peel with all other ingredients. Cook on low for 3–4 hours. 3. If desired, use a sieve to strain the spices. Serve and enjoy!
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WWW.TROUTBROOKTREE.COM (860) 888-8472
Tree Care December 2020
69 TALCOTT RD. WEST HARTFORD, CT 06110
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
1
Holiday Wishes From the Crew at Trout Brook Landscaping
2
3 New Board Games to Try This Winter
What Species Is My Christmas Tree?
3
A Brief History of Holiday String Lights
Festive Apple Cider
4
5 Ways to Winterize Your Garden
5 WAYS TO WINTERIZE YOUR GARDEN
If you want your garden to thrive when spring comes, then taking proper care of it through winter is essential. Here are five ways you can adequately prepare your garden to survive the chilly season and put yourself ahead of the game come spring. 1. CLEAN UP ROT. Old plants can harbor disease, pests, and fungus. Insects feeding on your plants during summer and fall may leave eggs behind, so removing spent plants from the soil prevents those pests from getting a head start in spring. You can also bury old plants in your garden to reintegrate organic matter and improve soil health. 2. PREPARE YOUR SOIL. Many people reserve this for spring, but winter is a great time to use soil amendments like manure or compost. Adding these nutrients now means they have time to start breaking down and enriching your soil. You also won’t have to wait until your garden dries out in spring to get this step done. Just remember to cover the bed with plastic to prevent winter weather from washing your work away. 3. PLANT COVER CROPS. Sowing cover crops like rye, vetch, legumes, or clover is a great way to help
prevent soil erosion, break up compacted areas, and increase organic matter. Try to plant your cover crops about one month before the first killing frost. 4. DIVIDE AND PLANT BULBS. At this time of year, spring bulbs have long since died, but other flowering bulbs, like lilies, may have recently bloomed. About three weeks after they’ve displayed, dig them up and plant the ones that were crowded during the growing season away from other plants. Dig 4–8 inches away from the plant’s growing stalk, lift it out gently, and immediately transplant it elsewhere. 5. HARVEST YOUR COMPOST. Material composted over the summer is likely finished and ready to use. Top your garden beds, amend deficient soils, or fertilize your lawn and landscaping with it to jump- start growth for spring. As the weather gets colder, it’s tempting to adopt a hibernation mentality and avoid getting outdoors to take care of your garden. But if you don’t want to be back at square one when winter thaws and spring arrives, put the work in now. You and your crops will be thankful later.
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