Our annual Spring Day of Service will be happening this coming Saturday after being rescheduled from last month. Volunteers will meet at the office for a continental breakfast and a quick meeting to go over the plan for the day. Teams of volunteers will then receive their assignments and head out to their specified locations around New Milford to perform a variety of services such as, spring clean ups, dormant pruning, invasive plant removal, garden bed mulching, and plant installation. We will be volunteering our time at: Pratt Nature Center, Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy, Bull’s Field, Village Center for the Arts, and Nathan Taylor House.
This day has been, and will always be, an important event to us for many reasons. Not only is it a great team building occasion, it is also a fantastic service we are providing to our friends and neighbors. Giving back to the community where we live and work is important to us and I’m proud that our staff enthusiastically attends each year. -Shayne
“Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud.” -Helen Dyer
INDUSTRY COLLECTIVE
The Industry Collective is a movement of landscapers, lawn care companies, and suppliers who are unified in their efforts to impact their local communities and YardScapes is proud to have become a member company.
In mid-April, YardScapes administrative staff packed 100 hygiene kits for distribution to local non-profit organizations to help the less fortunate people they work with. We gifted kits to the New Milford United Methodist Church and The Center For Empowerment and Education with more to distribute. Please visit our Community webpage to see all of our service events.
ANNUALS FOR INSTANT COLOR
While waiting for the perennials to grow and bloom, annuals are terrific for adding instant color and appeal to your landscape. Planted in the ground, potted in containers, or suspended in hanging baskets, brightly colored annuals, strategically placed in and around your landscape, fill in all the gaps, add seasonal color, and give your landscape a more complete look.
Annuals typically bloom more freely and over a longer time period than most perennials. Whether you prefer classic landscaped beds or container plantings, annuals are always a favorite. We recommend establishing them before the hot and dry summer so their root systems have time to become strong which ensures healthy growth and beautiful flowers throughout the season.
SPONSOR · DONATE · PLAY
Sponsorships Levels Start at $50!
CALLING ALL SKY WATCHERS AND NIGHT OWLS!
As you can see from the information below, sky watchers are in for a treat on the night of May 15th when an impressive and dramatic total lunar “blood moon” eclipse will reach its peak just after midnight on the 16th.
A lunar eclipse happens when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are in alignment and the Moon travels into the Earth’s shadow. Since no sunlight is directly reaching the Moon, refracted light from our atmosphere will make the Moon appear red. You do not need any type of eye protection to view a lunar eclipse, so set an alarm and step outside to have a look!
On Thursday, April 28th, Becky, our Office Manager and Greg, our Operations Director, attended the New Milford High School Career Expo. The goal of this expo was to educate students in grades 11 & 12 on the variety of careers that may not require a traditional four year college degree.
THEY’RE BACK!!
If you are feeding your backyard hummingbirds or plan to, here are a few things to keep in mind.
- Save money and make your own food! 1 CUP refined, white sugar to 4 CUPS water. Boil, cool, and store in the refrigerator. NEVER use red coloring (chemicals) and do not purchase food with red coloring! Make small batches to keep it fresh.
- Landscape with nectar-rich annuals and perennials.
- Never use honey in a hummingbird feeder.
- Replace food and thoroughly clean feeder at least every other day to prevent mold which is deadly to these tiny birds. This is especially important during the hot months when food should be replaced daily.
- Purchase feeders that come apart easily for complete and thorough cleaning.
- Hand wash with mild soap and hot water or clean feeders in the dishwasher. Please avoid using bleach. Rinse well before filling.
- Take feeders down at night to discourage raccoons and bears from enjoying them.
- Hummingbirds can be very territorial and guard their food sources. If possible, place another feeder farther away to avoid fighting!
Enjoy your little backyard guests!
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Mother’s Day was initially campaigned for in 1905 as “Mother’s Day for Peace” where mothers would ask that their husbands and sons were no longer killed in wars.
Who was the woman that started Mother’s Day as meaningful liturgical service and then became resentful at its commercialization?
A: Constance T. Booker
B: Betty Anne Fulton
C: Anna Maria Jarvis
D: Dorothy L. Walker
Last Issue: Q: Who proposed the idea of Earth Day?
A: 22% answered correctly with John McConnell
Although Gaylord Nelson is known as the founder of Earth Day, environmental activist John McConnell introduced the idea a few months earlier.
