Cycad Reflections

The cycad grows and looks much like a palm but it isn't the same. The large, heavily divided leaves make the cycad look like a tree fern or a palm, and they are distantly related.  However  "Cycad plants are dioecious (i.e. male and female reproductive structures are borne on separate plants), and reproduction is by seeds, which are produced on open carpophylls or seed-bearing leaves. Although technically woody plants, unlike other woody plants, cycads possess a pachycaul stem. This is a thick, soft stem or trunk made up of mostly storage tissue with very little true wood. Within the trunk, leaf traces or veins leading to leaves arise at a point opposite the attachment of the leaf, and circle the trunk within the storage tissue. These are known as with girdling leaf traces, and occur in some ferns but no other seed plants. The coralloid roots of cycads are also characteristics not seen in other seed plants, and the cycads lack the axillary buds seen in other seed plants." (http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/PlantNet/cycad/cycintro.html)


 Cycads are somewhat rare.  This is explained by the unscrupulous harvesting of such plants from their natural habitats.  They make beautiful easy care houseplants and those found on the market are usually grown from seed.

When grown in pots, keep the pot facing the same direction at all times to prevent the leaves from spiralling out of the pot.  Fertilize with a sea weed fertilizer, which I discovered they love, or a weak solution of sea kelp or de-odourized fish fertilizer.  Cycads prefer a somewhat dry free-draining soil.  They do not like to sit in water nor to have their soil waterlogged.

Cycads like to summer outdoors in a shady site, protected from winds.  Will also do well in full sun, though I've not tried it.

Propogation by seed is the preferred method, though division has also produced satisfactory results.

Did you know the oldest cycad fossil dates back to early Permian, 280 million years ago?  See Cycad in Wikipedia for more information. 

Note:  all parts of the Cycad are poisonous to animals and humans.  Do not ingest.

To see other participants in this meme, check out Weekend Reflections

Favourite Skies

Some of my favourite skies captured this past year are featured here. Come along to visit the magic of the skies at Sky Watch Friday .

Seven Steps to Cold Weather Safety

Seven steps to cold weather safety:

Winter weather has arrived in much of the country. Do you know the signs of hypothermia, and what to do if you get frostbite? Read on to make sure you're ready for cold weather!

1) Listen to the weather forecast
· Check the Environment Canada weather forecast before going out.
· Listen for a wind chill warning. Warnings are based on local climate and are issued when significant wind chills are expected.
· Visit Environment Canada's new Weather and Meteorology website: http://ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/
· Weather forecasts are available through radio and TV broadcasts, Environment Canada's Weatheradio service, and online at www.weatheroffice.gc.ca.

2) Plan ahead

· Develop a cold weather safety plan in advance to ensure that safety concerns are addressed when it's very cold, or when the wind chill is significant. For example, schools could hold recess indoors, outside workers could schedule warm-up breaks, and those involved in winter recreation could reduce the amount of time they spend outdoors.

3) Dress warmly

· Dress in layers, with a wind resistant outer layer.
· When it is cold, wear a hat, mittens or insulated gloves. Keep your face warm with a scarf, neck tube or facemask.
· Wear warm and waterproof footwear. When it is very cold, or when the wind chill is significant, cover as much exposed skin as possible. Your body's extremities, such as the ears, nose, fingers and toes lose heat the fastest.

4) Seek shelter

· When the wind chill is significant, get out of the wind and limit the time you spend outside.

5) Stay dry

· Wet clothing chills the body rapidly.
· Remove outer layers of clothing or open your coat if you are sweating.

6) Keep active

· Walking or running will help warm you by generating body heat.

7) Be aware

· Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia (see below).
· Some people are more susceptible to the cold, particularly children, the elderly and those with circulation problems.
· Check on elderly relatives and neighbours to ensure they are warm enough and have sufficient supplies, particularly when the weather is cold or snowy. They might not feel comfortable going outside to shop and may require food, medications and other supplies.
· The use of alcohol, tobacco and certain medications will increase your susceptibility to cold.


Hypothermia

· Being cold over a prolonged period of time can cause a drop in body temperature
· Shivering, confusion and loss of muscular control (e.g., difficulty walking) can occur.
· It can progress to a life-threatening condition where shivering stops or the person loses consciousness. Cardiac arrest may occur.

What to do:

· Get medical attention immediately.
· Lay the person down and avoid rough handling, particularly if the person is unconscious.
· Get the person indoors.
· Gently remove wet clothing.
· Warm the person gradually and slowly, using available sources of heat.

Frostbite

· A more severe condition, where both the skin and the underlying tissue (fat, muscle, bone) are frozen.
· Skin appears white and waxy and is hard to the touch.
· No sensation – the area is numb or tingling.

What to do:

· Frostbite can be serious, and can result in amputation. Get medical help!
· Do not rub or massage the area.
· Do not warm the area until you can ensure it will stay warm.
· Warm the area gradually; use body heat, or warm water (40°C to 42°C). Avoid direct heat which can burn the skin.

These tips have been brought to you by Environment Canada in collaboration with Public Safety Canada.

***

Watery Wednesday

The beautiful Vancouver shoreline in late fall 2010.  In the distance one can see barges and another boat or two.  The trees and shrubs are still green and lush.  Today they have a heavy snowfall but luckily those are few and infrequent.  Dive in and join others exploring the watery wonders of the world.

Avoiding Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - Check Your Air Intake Vents

With all the snowfall Edmonton and the province of Alberta have received, this is an important warning.  Drifts of snow may cover air intake hindering or preventing the intake of fresh air into your home.  If the fresh air intake is blocked with snow there's a good chance of CARBON MONOXIDE in your house.

Take a walk around the exterior of your home, checking all the vents.  The vent outside the house should look like an exhaust & dryer vent but without the flap.  It should just have a fine screen on it to keep out bugs and rodents.  If blocked, remove the snow, being sure it is free and clear of any debris or ice.

This is doubly important with all the snow on the roofs, the rooftop vents are likely plugged or covered. Yesterday, the 10th of January, an emergency crew was called to an office in a strip mall where a doctor had reported symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.  The symptoms include a change of taste and a burning sensation in the throat.  The ventilation vents in the roof had become plugged with snow.  Once they were cleared, the carbon monoxide danger passed and no one had to be evacuated.  CTV Edmonton has the story.

Since 2002, 35 people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Alberta.  Manitoba recently introduced legislation that will make detectors for carbon monoxide mandatory in all new homes in the near future.  

Largest Single Dump of Snowfall in Edmonton in Over Two Decades

A local residential street

So, I wasn't exaggerating when I posted my photos and thoughts about our recent snowfall/winter storm.  We've had 35 centimetres of snow fall over the weekend.  That is the single largest dump of snow, not cumulative, in the Edmonton region in over two decades!  20 years, folks!

Somewhere, under all this snow, is my son's car

My son went out this morning to plug his car in only to discover the doors are frozen shut.  (yes, here we must plug our cars in, using a block heater, to prevent the block from cracking in the cold, typically -20C and below, rendering our vehicles incapacitated.)  Catholic and Public Schools have discontinued the noon hour bussing for kindergarten for this week.  There is still kindergarten if you can get your children there.  The city is way behind on snow removal.  The main arteries are plowed and residential roads may see removal equipment, at the earliest, Thursday.  The city's 311 line received over 590 calls about snow removal on Sunday alone.  But there is another arctic front headed our way and more snow is expected Thursday.  So.....what you see may be here for a while yet.....

Photo by Larry Wong, Edmonton Journal

See this Edmonton Journal article for the news on clean up efforts in the city. 

I know some of you have had far worse.  Take, for example, Minnesota or New York or Ontario.  Winter storms have wreaked havoc in the maritimes too, but with flooding, not snow.  Queensland, Australia is under 50 feet of water, in some areas.  Even South Carolina has received its second snowfall and they typically receive snow perhaps once every ten years or so. 

I read recently a headline stating that climate change is out of our control.  Does that mean that efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are pointless?  Efforts to reduce pollution, useless?  I wonder what the GreenPeace activists would say about this?  Personally, I don't think we will really know for sure, unless we continue to try.  Go green.  That's a great motto.  For 2011, I renew my committment to live green. 

How's the weather where you are?

Snow Day

Yesterday I posted some photos of the beginning of our winter storm .  The storm has passed but the snowfall is expected to continue as flurries all week. I know parts of New York state and eastern Canada have had terrific storms, mostly around Christmas time and I've seen a few of your photos.  For Mosaic Monday, I compiled some pictures that I took yesterday and this morning of the snow.

 

This news article about the storm describes how Southern Alberta, namely Calgary and the townships nearby, got the brunt of the storm.









For more lovely mosaics visit Mary's blog The Little Red House .

I Took Down the Let It Snow Sign, So What's With This?

 January 8 looking out the front window during the first snowstorm of 2011.  Even trucks had a hard time making it through the drifts of snow on the road.  I think close to a foot of snow fell within a day.  I took down my little sign that read "Let it Snow" but that didn't stop this.

 Looking out the back.  Yes, the cushions from the lawn furniture are piled up, still waiting for me to put them away.  Not going to happen now.  Sometimes life just happens, or the snow does.

 Here you see just the tops of a lawn chair, to the right of the birch, and the love seat, to the left.  The snow is very deep in the back yard.  (Another reason why I haven't gotten out there to put the cushions away.  Do I need an excuse?)

 Looking to the neighbours' houses, take a look at the rooftops.  If you click to enlarge, you can see about three feet of snow on their houses!

 You'd never know there's a pond in the far left corner.  The three-flowered maple still hasn't lost all its leaves.  So far, the new cedar looks to be adjusting.  Time will tell as winter melts into spring.

 My wrought iron bench is virtually buried.  Check out the obelisk to the right.  It's all rather pretty in its untouched state.

Here, looking near the deck, you see the flakes of snow and the tightly curled leaves of the rhododendron.  The clematis still is clinging despite the blanket of snow.  We are still expecting snow for at least another day and a night.  Who knows just how much.  We currently have a heavy snowfall warning.  I'll be sure to post again in a couple days with new pictures of our winter wonderland. 

Shadows of a Winter Day

I'll enjoy photos of a sunlit day while I can, particularly this weekend as we are in the midst of a snowstorm!  The snow in this scene is nothing compared to what we have now.  I'll post some recent photos in the next few days.

For more shadowy features drop by http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/.

Weekend Reflections - Maisie's Magical Christmas House

It's a fantastic scene of lights and sound at Maisie's Christmas House here in Edmonton.  Looking in these windows, one cannot separate the lit scene reflected therein with the actual scene inside.  Joining in the Weekend Reflections meme at http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/ .