Pictured, from left, is Troop 41 Scoutmaster Russell Rhodes, Troop 41 Scout Harper Rhodes and Joseph John and Assistant Troop 41 Scout Master Dr. John John.
Suggested header: Eagle Scout completes project at APA
APA sophomore, Joseph John, recently landscaped the Upper School courtyard at Arendell Parrott Academy as a part of his Eagle Scout project.
John is a Life Scout with Boy Scout Troop 41 at Gordon Street Christian Church. Many members of BSA Troop 41 assisted Joseph with the landscaping project.
“The area was lacking visual interest due to several large trees that had to be taken down over the summer,” John said. “I wanted to make the courtyard more inviting so that students will want to socialize, eat lunch and study here.”
Holiday decorating tips
During this festive time of the year, many garden stems are gathered and used for arrangements or displays. Follow these tips to make your efforts last longer.
Gather materials in the early morning or evening using a sharp knife or pruners to harvest stems with a sloping cut. This longer cut allows a larger water-absorbing surface to be exposed.
Remove all lower foliage that might be submerged in water and place the stems directly in a container of lukewarm water. Make sure everything is kept clean including the container and the knife or pruners to avoid bacterial infection.
Do not allow stems to dry between cutting and placing in water. Keep container or buckets out of the sun as much as possible.
Woody stems may benefit from additional treatment to increase exposure to water. Remove the outer material by scraping or peeling the bottom 1 to 2 inches of the cut stem. Make a 1-inch slit in the end working carefully not to crush the stem.
Keep stems in fresh lukewarm water for 8 hours or until needed. Flower preservatives may be added to prevent bacteria and increase stem life. Several products are available for purchase and recipes using common ingredients are easy.
One recipe includes 3 teaspoons of sugar and 1 drop of bleach for each two cups of water. A second recipe calls for mixing 1 can of citrus soda with 3 cans of water and ¼ teaspoon of bleach.
Ivy, boxwood and berries may be dipped in liquid floor wax to extend their life. This is best done after cut stems are conditioned in water.
Dry to remove excess water from the stems and dip in the wax. Allow them dry on newspaper or hang to dry away from the sun.
Apples, grapes and pears may also be dipped in clear liquid floor wax to extend the life. Citrus fruits do not respond well to the treatment. Pineapple and citrus fruits are best chosen green and used fresh.
Commercial leaf shine products may also be used to slow the drying of evergreen stems.
After all your hard work decorating, you might enjoy seeing hundreds of beautiful poinsettias. The N.C. State Floriculture tests poinsettia cultivars annually.
The 2013 Poinsettia Open House will be held from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8 at the JC Raulston Arboretum on Beryl Road in Raleigh.
The event is free and will be housed in the Ruby C. McSwain Center, and no registration is required. Enjoy the poinsettia tree and listen to the Joy Recorder Ensemble.
Peg Godwin is horticulture agent, Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Center, 1791 N.C. 11/55, Kinston, NC 28504. Reach her at 252-527-2191 or Peg_Godwin@ncsu.edu or 252-527-2191.