Ice damming

Wisconsin's tenacious winter is taking its toll on home and auto insurers, with damage claims piling up like snow.

At Sun Prairie-based General Casualty Insurance Cos., claims are up about 65% in January and February from 2007. Ice damming, in which freezing and thawing snow on roofs finds its way under shingles, into attics and onto ceilings and drywall, has been a frequent occurrence.

Ann Avery, spokeswoman for State Farm Insurance Co., said preventing ice dams is an important step homeowners can take to protect their property. The company suggests staying off the roof but using a roof rake to pull down snow and ice while standing on the ground.

- jsonline (link here)

The insidious effects of global warming.

Another giant moose

(Thanks to Brian for calling my attention to this story)

This moose was shot near Terrace, British Columbia. It is rumoured that it is a possible new world record! I do not know alot about moose, and it is hard to tell from pictures how big animals really are, but, this bull is a monster. I have never seen palms or paddles that big. I will update if I hear any more about this being a new record, and try to find the official score!

- Deer Canada Blog (link here)

Oklahoma buck

(Thanks to Brian for calling my attention to this story)

On the morning of 10/27/07, my 9 year old son, Baler Dee Stewart, scored this awesome buck with a 50 cal muzzleloader in Ringling, Oklahoma. This was his first time to fire this type of weapon. He fired then said to his dad, Patrick Stewart, "Is this gun on, Dad?" Dad replies, "Yea." "Well then, I got him, Dad.", states Baler.

This deer has not been officially scored. He has 30 points 1 inch or longer. Out here on the farm, we count the ones you can hang a ring on. Those total 41 points.

- Cindy Stewart, biggamehunt.net (link here)

Royal Heritage

Blooms for up to 5 months a year!

After 50 years of dedicated English breeding and 10 years of collection and ongoing, we excitedly offer our patrons the very finest perennial introduction of the decade. Royal Heritage Hellebores are destined to supplant even Hostas as the premiere carefree perennial for shade (and partial sun).

Uniquely superior for its wide range of sumptuous colors (purple, red, near-black, white, green, pink and even yellow) captured by 2-inch flowers with overlapping petals. In our garden the strain produces flowers for nearly 5 months, from winter through spring. Cut and floated, they make an excellent centerpiece, lasting up to two weeks.

A gardener's "dream plant" -- very permanent, very low-maintenance, very disease-free, very pest-free! Easy to establish from our vigorous container stock. Over the years each will develop into sturdy, long-lived clumps 18 to 24 inches high and 2 to 3 feet across. Totally tolerant of heat and humidity, and even periods of drought, if given well-drained, moisture-retentive soil. Can even thrive in clay! Zones 4-8.

- Wayside Gardens (link here)

I planted four of these last fall. Very much looking forward to see how they turn out.

The fathead experiment continues

There are still a couple of fathead minnows alive in the garden pool.

They are very difficult to spot due to their ability to blend in with the background.

I usually have to stand motionless for several minutes before I see one.

Salt vs. ice

This winter has proved to be especially troublesome because cold weather requires more salt.

One pound of salt can melt 46.3 pounds of ice when the pavement temperature is 30 degrees, Sproul said.

When the pavement drops to 5 degrees, one pound of salt can melt only a tenth as much - 4.1 pounds of ice.

- jsonline (link here)

This documents why the ice melter has been having a hard time dealing with the ice on my driveway.

Negritjanka

Its name means 'African Girl,' and their shape may remind you of C. jackmanii. But the color is utterly unique -- a midnight violet with undertones of rich magenta, absolutely spectacular among the other late-flowering Clematis in the garden. One of the most beautiful Clematis of all, this C. viticella hybrid deserves a place of honor in your landscape.

The flowers measure 3 to 3 1/2 inches across, with a central boss of bright yellow stamens and long, widely spaced, angular petals. Cut all you like; they make lovely centerpieces floated in a bowl of water, or held up with florist's wire in a tall, elegant bouquet. Expect them to begin in midsummer and continue through early fall, easing the transition between the seasons in the sunny garden. Very striking!

'Negritjanka' was bred in Kiev at the Botanic Gardens, so you know it is dependably cold-hardy and not about to let a little rough weather slow it down. This woody climber reaches 10 to 12 feet long and 3 to 4 feet wide, with abundant blooms all along its stems. A fine companion to climbing Roses, it is also ideal for threading through the branches of open-habit trees and shrubs, or lacing along a fence. It is a fine succession planting to earlier-blooming Clematis, and adds rich color to the autumn garden. Pruning Group III. Zones 3-9.

- Wayside Gardens (link here)

Put this one on my wish list.