If you’re a winter sports fan, there’s lots going on in the Hudson Valley this winter. Lots of low-impact simple tourism stuff, too. Here’s news from Mary Prenon and Hudson Valley Tourism:

“Let it snow! This winter, the Hudson Valley sparkles in white with fun things to do and terrific places to visit. Indoors and out, January still feels like a holiday when you’re in the Valley.

“One of the most spectacular winter events is the Knickerbocker Ice Festival in Congers on January 24th and 25th. This event kicks off New York State’s Quadricentennial, a yearlong celebration of the Hudson Valley’s namesake river and the man who discovered it. Centered around Rockland Lake, the festivities include ice sculptures by award-winning artists, an Ice Gallery, spectacular fireworks, hot air balloon rides, Art in the Park, live music, fabulous food, and much more. It’s just the start of countless events being held throughout the Hudson Valley the entire year in celebration of Henry Hudson. Read more of this entry »

From Pam Freeman at the Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook:

“Fri., Jan. 23, 7 pm. West Nile Virus in North America: Effects on Avian Hosts and the Environment. Dr. Shannon LaDeau will review the toll that the virus has taken since its emergence in 1999, with a focus on how climate and land use practices influence disease outbreaks. Cary Institute Auditorium. 2801 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, NY. (845) 677-7600×121. www.ecostudies.

“Fri., Jan. 30, 7 pm. The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State. Join us for a lively discussion about how New York State’s bird populations have changed over the past 20 years. This event will feature Kimberly Corwin, one of the co-editors of the recently published atlas. Co-sponsored with Merritt Bookstore. Cary Institute Auditorium. 2801 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, NY. (845) 677-7600×121. www.ecostudies.org”

Ask the master gardeners

Q: Seeing all the holiday treats displayed this time of year makes me wonder how chocolate grows?

A: The Theobroma cacao tree, which resembles an apple tree, grows in shaded tropical forests. It starts bearing fruit in three years and then bears fruit year round for another 30 years.

“Cauliflory” are the clusters of fertilized flowers that grow on the branches and trunk of the tree. Cacao pods grow on these clusters over a five-month period. The pod’s outer layer envelops seeds nestled in soft white pulp. The pods change from green to bright yellow as they ripen. They are picked carefully in a year-round harvest process. Read more of this entry »

Perennials: New Year’s resolutions: I will keep accurate records of plant locations (especially bulb plantings). I will label all plants, pots and seed trays, with the variety and date, using an indelible marker. I will not order more seeds than I can take care of or plant. I will not buy a beautiful perennial specimen unless I know that it will fit in my garden. I will plant more native varieties. And I will compost, compost, compost.

Flowers: Begin looking for interesting garden containers. Build window boxes. Consolidate garden notes. Read more of this entry »

From Brad Gurr, a certified arborist with SavATree in Ossining:

“This time of year abounds with tradition and folklore, trees and tradition are always of interest to certified tree people!

“The yule log is a tradition that traces its roots back to northern Europe including England and the Scandinavian countries. This time of year is also the approach of winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. With the shortest day comes the longest night. In Pre Christian times the Yule log was lit to celebrate the end of the long dark nights as days would be getting longer.

“Pope Julius the 1st realigned the Christian calendar in the fourth century AD, to celebrate Christmas around the winter solstice. The tradition of the Yule log was adopted and continues in many countries to this day. Read more of this entry »

If you got a poinsettia for Christmas, it’s fairly easy to keep it happy and healthy and red (or white or salmon) for a few more weeks.

(file photos from our library)

You can even pamper it through another year and try to get it to color up in time for next Christmas, but that’s a lot of work and not really worth it. Leave growing holiday poinsettias to the professionals with year-round greenhouses. Read more of this entry »

Lee Reich, a great gardener in New Paltz who freelances for the Associated Press, has an article in today’s paper and lohud.com on the glory of hickory trees.

I have a few shagbark hickories in my yard and nearby woods, and they are among my most favorite trees. They look great in winter. And the squirrels love them.

They seem to like dry slopes and are never bothered by the big gusty winds typical of such sites.

One thing I love about gardening is that it can be so forgiving. Things want to grow, even if you neglect them — especially bulbs.

Usually I put my amaryllis plants outside for the summer and bring them in with geraniums, cannas and dahlias around the 15th of October, depending on the frost forecast.

Amaryllis bulbs like six weeks of dormancy in order to rebloom, so I usually just stick the pot in my dark, unheated basement and forget about them until around Thanksgiving. Then I dump out the top layer of dirt and add water to bring them back to life. Sometimes I actually get them to bloom on Christmas.

This year I really forgot about them. While hunting for a can of paint last weekend, I noticed this sad, dead-looking pot in the corner.

But you know what? I bet it will bloom just fine by February.

From Ellen Wells, Editor-at-Large at Green Profit, a newsletter for the nursery trade:

“Top Colors for 2009
“Color sells. So what colors should you be selling in 2009? We’ve got information from two of the world’s color experts: Pantone and the Color Marketing Group.

“Pantone picks Mimosa (specifically, Pantone 14-0848) as its Color of the Year for 2009. In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, the color authority suggests, this warm yellow represents optimism, hope and reassurance, and is appealing to both genders. Look for it on items from ladies accessories to men’s ties to home accents.

Read more of this entry »

I noticed this post on katonahgreen.com about how to find a pesticide-free Christmas tree. It’s a very good web site if you live in northern Westchester or Putnam.