Cora Mattocks, executive director of Daybreak Adult Day Services Inc., talked to the local AARP chapter about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The two are very closely related with many symptoms nearly the same, she said. Alzheimer’s will start killing many parts of the brain cells and patients say and do things they would not normally do. Mattocks handed out a remembrance package and explained each part of it. For information about Daybreak, call 252-527-6882. For information about AARP, call Mary Tyndall, chapter coordinator, at 252-527-1505.
Peg Godwin: Choosing the best live tree
You can support North Carolina farmers this holiday season as you select a tree. First choose between an evergreen tree with the roots attached or a live cut Christmas tree. A living tree is best if you have a suitable location to plant it outdoors after the holidays.
Many garden centers offer living trees grown in containers for use as Christmas trees. If you are considering purchasing one, note the soil conditions (wet or dry) and the surroundings on your property where it could be planted. A good location has good drainage and sun most of the day. Check to make sure there is plenty of vertical clearance, as trees grow tall. Potted trees perform best if they are only kept indoors for a few weeks.
Several varieties are available including Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) or “Green Giant” Thuja. Both are large evergreen trees with nice texture that eventually reach 30 to 40 inches tall by 15 to 20 feet wide. Less traditional, but no less beautiful are hollies and Southern magnolia.
In your home your living tree can be kept healthy by placing it in a cool, bright spot away from heating vents and out of direct sunlight. Keep it moist but not wet and never allow the container to sit in water. You might like to water these trees with crushed ice, which melts slowly and soaks into the soil. After Christmas you will need to recondition your tree to the outside climate for a few days before planting it by placing it in a sheltered spot, such as an open garage.
When planting your tree be sure to plant it no deeper than the depth of the root ball, water-in and mulch well, but do not pile mulch around the trunk of the tree. Water the tree once a week through the first season after planting if rain does not provide enough water.
A live cut tree can be brought indoors for the holidays, and can then be chipped for mulch or composted after the presents are opened. Live cut trees are your best choice if you want to keep your tree up for several weeks and do not have a good location to plant it after the holidays.
Some enjoy the experience of choosing and cutting their own tree. Look for a tree farm by checking the NC Eastern Christmas Tree Growers Association website, www.nc-chooseandcut.com, or the NC Department of Agriculture’s NC Farm Fresh website, http://www.ncfarmfresh.com.
If you prefer a Fraser fir, there are plenty of local places you can purchase North Carolina mountain-grown trees. Look for a tree with good color and few brown needles. Check the needles for freshness by bending a few. The needles of freshly cut trees will break crisply when bent, while the needles of older trees will feel rubbery.
A cut tree will perform best if the bottom inch of the trunk is cut off before placing it in a tree stand. This ensures the tree can absorb plenty of water, which needs to be checked daily. Clean water is all that is needed to keep trees fresh. Additives are not necessary and may even reduce tree quality.
Once all the decorating is done sit back and enjoy the tree that was grown with care.
Peg Godwin is the horticulture agent at the 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.