VOLUME 8 ⚪ ISSUE NO. 3 ⚪ FEBRARY 6, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE
◻️ Spring Is So Close
◻️ 2024 Proposals
◻️ Who’s The Best?
◻️ The Power of Dirt
Last week Punxsutawney Phil, the famous rodent weather forecaster, did not see his shadow so, according to folklore, spring weather will arrive early! Although Phil’s handlers claim he has a 100% success rate in predicting the next six weeks of weather, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) gave Phil a 39% success rate over the past ten years so he’s really not that reliable.
In Scotland, the stories surrounding the Cailleach (Goddess of Winter) tells how she created the stunning Scottish landscapes and rules over the winter season. If the day between the winter solstice and the spring equinox (Feb 2) is bright and sunny, the Cailleach is out in search of wood for her fire, meaning winter will last a wee bit longer. But, If the day is cloudy and grey, Cailleach is still sleeping, her fire will soon die out, and spring is coming soon.
In Christianity, it is said, “If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, Winter will have another flight; If Candlemas Day be wind and rain, winter will not come again”.
We had a very grey and overcast February 2nd, so according to folklore, the spring weather may be coming early! -Shayne
SPRING IS SO CLOSEIf you look carefully, you’ll notice the tips of the branches on some trees and bushes are beginning to swell with buds! The hillsides have a slight tint of color, and the maple sap has started to flow. At the office, our spring-flowering bulbs have begun to emerge, and we notice a lot more birdsong in the mornings. Although we do have small year-round populations of robins and bluebirds, once they arrive in numbers, we know the spring weather isn’t far behind.
If you like to grow your own vegetables and flowers, now is also the time to order your seeds because mid-March is the time to start them indoors so they are ready to transplant outdoors in May after all danger of frost has passed.
This is a very exciting time for us knowing that in just a little while, it will be warm, green, and sunny, and we’ll be out caring for your properties again.
2024 PROPOSALS
If you are a current client, you should have received your 2024 maintenance proposal for review. If you have not, or you need to make any revisions, please reach out to your landscape consultant as soon as possible.
We’d like to have all signed proposals returned by February 29th to ensure we are both ready once our “green season” begins.
“February, a form pale-vestured, wildly fair.
One of the North Wind’s daughters with icicles in her hair.”
—Edgar Fawcett
WHO’S NUMBER ONE?
Help us win the 2024 “Best of Connecticut”!
The “Best of Connecticut” contest is sponsored by Connecticut Magazine and is based on voting by consumers like you. In order to get on the ballot, a business must have enough nominations and that’s where you can help. Please visit the contest page and nominate YardScapes in the Landscape division of the Home & Garden category.
Click HERE to be redirected to the nominations page and THANK YOU so much for your support!
SCIENCE IS AMAZING!
We recently came across a fascinating story from Northwestern University.
A team of researchers have figured out a way to use the energy produced from microbes that live in dirt. Researcher Bill Yen said, “As long as there is organic carbon in the soil for the microbes break down, the fuel cell can potentially last forever.”
These fuel cells would not provide enough power for a city, but small amounts of energy can be harvested for practical, low-power applications. The tests included powering sensors to measure moisture in the soil and the passing touch of animals. Equipping the sensor with a tiny antenna also gave the researchers wireless capabilities.
These small fuel cells also worked in both wet and dry conditions and may one day offer a solution to toxic, non-sustainable, and wasteful traditional batteries.
