December 2009 In This Issue... Seven more lucky customers Weather you like it or not You've still got time! Make gift-giving easy this year! Quotables Trivia answers Quick Links Ottawa weather Contact us Our Hours WE ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THE SEASON. 1211 Old Montreal Road Cumberland, ON K4A 3N6 (613)-833-2316 Plant Finder As members of the BOTANIX family, we offer top-quality products at box-store prices. But did you know we also have access to one of the largest plant databases around? And what better time to browse than now? Join our mailing list! Dear Ron, When we closed our doors for the season on November 7, we took comfort knowing that at least we'd be able to keep in touch over the winter via our monthly newsletter, The Gardener's Shed. We were pleased this year, once again, to be able to offer advice, products and services this year that have helped you surround your home with beautiful plants, trees and flowers. Just because the nursery's doors are closed, doesn't mean we have abandoned ship! Whether you want to purchase a gift certificate or just ask a question, you can contact us by email or by telephone at 613-833-2316. Although we may not see you until the spring, you will be hearing from us next month. Until then, we want to wish you a safe and wonderful winter. (Winter may be closer than you think: the weather office says there is a slight chance of snow flurries this weekend!) Jean and Estelle Laporte J.A. Laporte Flowers & Nursery Seven more lucky customers... As those of you who've stopped by the store in the past few weeks know, we've been collecting ballots for a late-season draw for some wonderful prizes. Here are the winners: $500.00 gift certificates: Monique Lefevre Karen Alford Designer baskets: J. Black Jo Proszowski Amanda Mulawyshyn Lucie Lacasse Toni Morrell Again, congratulations to all from all of us here at Laporte Flowers & Nursery! Weather you like it or not So much of what we do in the nursery business depends on the weather. Warm winter? Cool summer? Lots of snow? Lots of rain? Or not? It all makes a difference. At Laporte Flowers & Nursery, we've been keeping track of the daily weather meticulously for more than three decades. Give us a date and we can tell you the temperature and exactly what it was like that day. And we know we aren't the only weather buffs. Here's a little quiz to see how much you know about the weather in Ottawa. (All temperatures are measured in Celsius.) See answers below. 1. December is one of the coldest months of the year. What was the temperature of the warmest day on record in December?    a) 8.9     b) -1.5     c) 16.1     d) 24.8 2. What was the temperature of the warmest day ever recorded?    a) 35.6     b) 41.5     c) 37.8     d) 45.8 3. What was the temperature of the coldest day ever recorded?    a) -21.6     b) -38.8     c) -27.8     d) -48.9 4. What is the average temperature in November?    a) -11.5     b) 1.5     c) -5.2     d) 3.8 5. How much snow fell during the largest one-day snowfall?    a) 23.5 cm     b) 41.5 cm     c) 55.9 cm     d) 36.8 cm 6. How much rain fell during the largest one-day rainfall?    a) 93.2 mm  b) 21.5 mm  c) 64.5 mm  d) 132.8 mm You'll find the answers a little further down the page. You've still got time! We've had some darn good weather recently and, as such, we may have been thinking that maybe, just maybe, winter won't come this year. Sorry to tell you... If you've put off covering up your trees and shrubs, you still have time. Burlap is traditionally used but a thermal blanket offers premium protection. It's not too late to protect your trees Use tree-banding material to protect against sun scald, rodent and rabbit damage. Starting at the base of the tree, wrap the material around the trunk, stretching the material slightly and overlapping as you work your way upward in a spiral motion. Tie it off with a nylon stocking or rope. Do this as soon as possible and remove it in the spring. You may want to also use winter netting to protect trees, hedges, shrubs and evergreens from heavy snowfalls and freezing rain. Make gift-giving easy this year Yes, we can deliver gift certificates over the winter months! A special birthday, anniversary or Christmas gift? It would be a beautiful present--a bit of spring in the dead of winter--for someone special. To order a gift certificate, simply call 613-833-2316 and leave a message that includes your name and telephone number. Although we aren't always by the telephone over the winter, we are diligent in checking our messages. We will call you back and take care of everything! Quotables One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides.  W.E. Johns Author, The Passing Show 1. 16.1 (Dec 7, 1951) 2. 37.8 (July 4, 1913) 3. -38.8 (Dec 29, 1933) 4. 1.5 5. 55.9 cm 6. 93.2 mm How did you do? 5-6: You are as crazy about weather as we are! 3-4: Not quite a pro, but nice work. 0-2: You'd rather grab a hot chocolate and snuggle up with a good book by the fireplace, anyway, right? Bonus trivia: Remember in July of this year when we had only six days of sun all month long? Despite this, rainfall totals between June and August were actually about 5 per cent below normal.