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GARDENING TIPS: If you didn’t get around to cleaning your gardening tools before putting them up this winter, do so now at the beginning of the season. Look them over and give them a good cleaning. Sharpen the business edges of shovels and hoes. Sand down wooden handles and then rub them down with linseed oil. Here’s one way to keep trowels, shovels, and other tools from getting rusty: Fill a 5-gallon bucket with sand almost to the top and then sprinkle some motor oil over the top. Stick the sharp ends of your tools in there when they’re not in use and they won’t get all rusty. Sarah P Duke Gardens
Duke Gardens now offers demonstrations and classes as online events; click here to register (even for the free events):
Trees, trees, trees
If you’re interested in learning about trees—how to care for them, their importance to their communities, tree giveaways, and planting events—attend TreesDurham’s next monthly meeting on Monday, January 4, 6–6:30pm. TreesDurham is a local nonprofit that works to “Create a Healthy, Sustainable and Socially Just Urban Forest.” Click here to attend the virtual meeting and to explore TreesDurham’s website.
Global Scholars Academy, Keep Durham Beautiful, and TreesDurham are partnering to give away 300+ native trees to Durham City/County residents on Saturday, January 9, 1–4pm, at the academy (311 Dowd St). This Tree Giveaway was made possible by a grant from the Arbor Day Foundation, Duke Energy, and local donors (mostly everyday folks). You can sign up to choose and pick up your tree by clicking here. PLEASE NOTE: These trees are going to be from 5 to 8 feet tall and in 3-gallon containers. Also, if you’re available to help out by volunteering for this event, it would be much appreciated. Click here to volunteer if you’ll be available from noon to 4:30pm to help unload the truck and tidy up afterward. 1/5 UPDATE: TreesDurham just put in an order for smaller flowering trees, including redbuds and dogwoods! They will be added to the online order form soon. Science adventures
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will host a Who’s That Singing? Learn Common Bird Songs ecoEXPLORE citizen science program on Tuesday, January 5, 3–4pm. Students from kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to learn how to identify local birds by their songs. Click here to register and attend this free online event.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will host a Bird Migrations ecoEXPLORE citizen science program on Thursday, January 14, 3–4pm. Students from kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to learn about birds’ amazing travels from place to place. Click here to register and attend this free online event. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will host a 70,000 Swans-a-Swimming ecoEXPLORE citizen science program on Wednesday, January 20, 4–5pm. Students from kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to learn about the waterfowl population at Lake Pungo and also how to earn their Duck Badges. Click here to register and attend this free online event. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will host a Bird Quizlet ecoEXPLORE citizen science program on Wednesday, January 27, 4–5pm. Students from kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to join in and test their knowledge of birds. Click here to register and attend this free online event. The Weekend Gardener
WPTF’s Weekend Gardener radio show has been on the air since 1985 and is a wonderful 3-hour exploration of flower and lawn care, soil improvement and pest control ideas, and much more. It airs every Saturday, 8–11am, on 680am AND 98.5fm. If you were too busy to listen, you can always click here and listen to past shows.
NC State’s ‘Extension Gardener’
Here’s the Winter 2020 edition of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s online publication, “Extension Gardener”:
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