Monday, December 20, 2010

Winter Descends on the Arboretum

The Winter Solstice is upon us.  We have finished most of the clean up work/mulching that needs to be done at the Arboretum.  One thing we DID NOT do was to cut back the lantana.  Even though it has died back for the winter, we leave the stems attached to protect the crown of the plant.  When we see new growth in the Spring, we will trim the dead stems back to the ground then.

As a side note, if you happen to be awake around 1 AM you'll be able to see the start of a rare phenomenon:  a total lunar eclipse occurring during the solstice.  The full moon will appear as coppery red according to Space.com.  Read the full article here: Amazing Spectacle.  If you miss this, you'll be able to catch it again December 21, 2094.