Hits & Misses: Feathered wreaths & A not-so-fine feathered friend
Question of the Week: Can I grow potted herbs indoors?
Science & Technology: Small and mighty

It was exam time for me last week. I was back in the classroom because I wanted to become recertified as a professional arborist. Yes, I confess, I didn’t keep up with the mandatory continuing education credits, so the only alternative was to rewrite the International Society of Arboriculture exam. If you’re unfamiliar with the ISA, it’s an organization whose objectives include “fostering a greater appreciation for trees.” Of course, an arborist is a professional in the field of tree care, so to become certified you need practical experience, as well as a passing grade on that darn 3.5-hour exam. If you’re wondering, yes, I did pass and, yes, I will help the ISA “promote research, technology and the professional practice of arboriculture.” I also promise to retain my certification by completing my yearly credits. But, no, I will never, ever climb a 50-foot tree with a chainsaw in hand—and neither should you.

Hits & Misses
Hit: Feathered Wreaths
Christmas greens and wreaths are popular once again and it seems one type of wreath is practically flying out the garden centre this year. The wreaths I’m talking about have a few ostrich feathers strategically placed in with the usual complement of boughs, cones and ornaments. I guess it reflects people’s desire for traditional Christmas items that still have flair. Hmmm…I suppose that since the ostrich is a flightless bird, the wreaths are actually walking rather than flying out the store.

Miss: A Not-So-Fine Feathered Friend
Staying with the trees-and-feathers theme, here’s a skill-testing question: what looks like a tree and feels like a tree, but isn’t a tree? A hot tub, obviously. Well, obvious to one persistent pileated woodpecker, at least. Just ask Linda Bodo, who is both friend and the author of Enjoy Life Outside. She owns a wooden hot tub that was, apparently, the perfect surrogate tree for one woodpecker. Having a soft spot for these beautiful birds, Linda patched the hole with a metal cover and all was forgiven—until the woodpecker moved down a few inches and bored another hole. Sometimes there’s just no fighting nature.

It doesn’t look much like a tree; nevertheless,
it still caught the attention of a woodpecker.

Science & Technology
Small and Mighty
Some of the world’s smallest plants are poised to become some of the world’s most important plants. That’s what I learned from David Bressler, a specialist in the field of biofuels, at a lecture sponsored by the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences. He said companies, such as Exxon Mobil and British Petroleum, are funding research into extraction of biofuel from algae. They’re doing so to the tune of $600 million and $500 million, respectively. Who’d have thought big, multinational oil companies would see pond scum as the solution to the world’s insatiable appetite for energy?

Question of the Week
Can I grow potted herbs indoors?
Yes, but remember that herbs need at least four or five hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive. That means you’ll need a west- or south-facing window to catch that much light, especially during our short winter days. Unfortunately, the diminished intensity of indoor light means an indoor herb garden will never be as productive as one grown outdoors. With our climate, that means gardeners who want fresh herbs year-round have little choice but to make the best of indoor light.

Did You Know?
Silk production in China was a closely guarded secret in ancient times. In fact, the punishment for anyone caught smuggling silkworms or eggs out of the country was execution.

“One kind word can warm three winter months.”
–Japanese proverb