Mount Holly Newsflash 8/16/2023

 

Mount Holly Newsflash

Today's Forecast: A chance of rain showers before 2pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 3pm and 5pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Archived Newsflash emails can be read at: https://mthollynewsflash.blogspot.com

Vermont Home Gardener

Waterlogged Soils?

Excessive rains have filled the soil with water and squeezed out vital oxygen that beneficial soil bacteria require to break down organic matter into plant nutrients. Water soluble nutrients like Nitrogen and Potassium have been washed away by the rains and other nutrients are not available to plants. Plants begin to look starved and weakened. The resulting poor growth can be partially corrected with additional fertilization to replace the lost nutrients. This is especially important for perennials that need to store nutrients for next year but also for our annual vegetables and flowers that need food right now. I have been giving extra granular organic fertilizer directly to garden plants (tomatoes, peppers, squashes, broccoli, cauliflower, flowers, etc.) as well as side dressings of compost. Applied every 2 weeks this replaces the lost nutrients needed for growth and disease resistance.

An even quicker remedy is to apply foliar fertilizer so the leaves can absorb nutrients that the waterlogged roots are unable to get. Foliar (leaf) feeding is quickly ingested and can improve the production of tomatoes, summer & winter squash, cucumbers, peppers, and many flowers that have used or lost the nutrients from the excessive rains this summer. Fish emulsion (available at most garden centers and online as a liquid concentrate) is a great fertilizer, best applied in the morning (when leaf pores, stomata, are open and can take in the food) and when no rain is expected. Spray it on with a tank sprayer or with a watering can with a sprinkler head.

Read more articles at Vermont Home Gardener to improve your gardens.

Charlie Chaplin Featured in Silent Movie Festival August 26


In keeping with its annual tradition, FOLA will offer a great silent movie, "Gold Rush", starring Charlie Chaplin on Saturday, August 26 at 7PM at the Heald Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall.

The Gold Rush is a 1925 American silent comedy film written, produced, and directed by Charlie Chaplin. The film also stars Chaplin in his Little Tramp persona.

In this hilarious film, Chaplin, in the role of the Little Tramp, decides he'll go to Alaska and make his fortune in the gold rush.

Chaplin drew inspiration from photographs of the Klondike Gold Rush as well as from the story of the Donner Party who, when snowbound in the Sierra Nevada, were driven to cannibalism or eating leather from their shoes.[3] Chaplin, who believed tragedies and comics were not far from each other, decided to combine these stories of deprivation and horror in comedy.

He decided that his famous rogue figure should become a gold-digger who joins a brave optimist determined to face all the pitfalls associated with the search for gold, such as sickness, hunger, cold, loneliness, or the possibility that he may at any time be attacked by a grizzly. In the film, scenes like Chaplin cooking and dreaming of his shoe, or how his starving friend Big Jim sees him as a chicken could be seen.

The Gold Rush was critically acclaimed upon its release, and continues to be one of Chaplin's most celebrated works; Chaplin himself cited it several times as the film for which he most wanted to be remembered. In 1958, the film was voted number 2 on the prestigious Brussels 12 list at the 1958 World Expo, by a margin of only 5 votes behind Battleship Potemkin. In 1992, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Jeff Rapsis will be returning to play his original musical background to the movie. Jeff has been a favorite of audiences for his music as well as his chats with the audience about the history behind the silent movie feature.

Also returning will be Glenn Brown. Glenn will be playing the musical background for the short comedy skit that opens the festival.

The silent movie festival is open to everyone and is free, although donations to support the costs of the productions are appreciated. Water is offered by the United Church of Ludlow. Call 802-855-8883 for information. Doors open at 6:30PM.

Pictured above is a scene from "Gold Rush" as the Little Tramp tries to deal with a lack of food in his cold Alaskan cabin that has a leak in the roof.
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