THE OFFICIAL ARBOR-NOMICS® ATLANTA NEWSLETTER
Bare in Mind by Dick Bare
Hi, everyone! Hope all is well with you and yours. Last installment, we
spent our time in France, wrapping up with Versailles. Today we’re off to
London, and we’re getting there by high-speed train – under water. The
Eurostar reaches speeds up to 186 mph, for a Paris-London journey of...
about 2 hours and 15 minutes, with part of
that time spent beneath the surface of the
English Channel.
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK
The Channel Tunnel, or Chunnel, as it’s called,
actually goes well below the water’s surface,
reaching 250 feet at its deepest point. And
with a nearly 24-mile stretch completely
submerged, it’s the longest undersea tunnel in
the world – a distinction it’s held since opening
in 1994.
Upon arriving in London, on Sunday, May
18, we made our way to our favorite hotel,
the Melia White House, located near many
London attractions. Opening in 1936 as luxury
apartments, Melia White House today is a
London
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Customer Kudos
You are doing a great job and have really made a difference in the health of my lawn.
This year, barely a weed and I have a beautiful dark green lawn. Thanks so much!
J.B., Dunwoody
Great job! Thank you for accommodating our special aeration needs. Brandon totally
made it work and we are so appreciative!! We’re very happy customers!
C.H., Smyrna
I want to let you know what a great job your tech Richard Burress did aerating and
overseeding for us. My wife and I are very pleased. Good employees are few and far
between, so I hope you’ll take a minute to thank him.
R.C., Atlanta
My grass is like your service – a complete gem!
W.S., Dallas
I’ve used so many services before but none have treated me – and my lawn – as well as
you. Brandon and his crew were terrific – working their tails off to aerate, aerate, and aerate
some more. Blaine, your sales rep, was outstanding. Not only did he happily agree to be
present when this work was being done, he pitched right in, raking and aerating despite
being dressed in good clothes. I’ve never met a nicer fellow. Keep up the good work!
D.B., Atlanta
APPLICATION #7, 2014 I VOL. 34, NO. 213
‘Tis the Season for
Giving Thanks &
Sending Wishes for
Happy Holidays
From all of us at Arbor-Nomics
to you, our valued customer:
We are grateful for your business
and your trust in us throughout the
year. This season of celebration is
the perfect time to send our thanks
and our wishes for joyous holidays
for you and your families. From all
of us at Arbor-Nomics to all of you,
our valued customers…
Merry Christmas! Happy
Hanukkah! Happy Holidays!
Arbor-Nomics
1
Holiday Traditions Explained
The Christmas Tree
New & Improved
Online Bill Pay
When you go to pay your bill
online, you’ll notice we made some
changes. Now you can:
• Quickly and securely pay your
bill by credit card and even set
up autopay.
• See your balance and all the
services you receive.
• Request additional services.
Sign up today – it’s quick and easy.
Just click on “Pay Your Bill” at
Arbor-Nomics.com and follow
the prompts.
Don’t know your customer number?
Look for it on your last invoice, or
contact us at [email protected]
or 770.447.6037. We’re happy to
help and answer any questions.
How do
snowmen greet
each other?
Evergreens have always meant something special to people during
the winter months, even long before Christmas, as we know it, was
established. The Christmas trees we know today can be traced back
to the Germans in the 16th century, when Christians first brought the
decorated trees into their homes. They came to the United States in the
19th century with the Pennsylvania Germans, but there was a period
when the trees were seen as a pagan symbol by most Americans,
and they were even outlawed during the reign of the Puritans.
Christmas trees became widely popular, as they are today, in 1846 when Queen Victoria
and Prince Albert were shown in the Illustrated London News with their children around
their Christmas tree. Due to the Queen’s popularity, the practice became immediately
fashionable, and continues still today.
The Menorah
The menorah is the prime fixture in the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah,
or the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah itself celebrates the miracle that
occurred when the Jews reclaimed their temple from Macedonian
conquerors after a three-year war. As part of the celebration, they
cleansed the Second Temple and wanted to light the menorah, but
only had enough oil for one day. However, the oil burned bright for
eight days, which is now commemorated by the eight-day celebration.
The traditional menorah is nine branches. On each of the holiday’s
nights another candle is added to the menorah after sundown, with the ninth candle
(known as the Shamash, or helper) being used to light the others. The menorah is displayed
to remind people of the miracle.
Santa Claus
The tradition of Santa dates back to somewhere around 280 AD
in Turkey with a monk named St. Nicholas. Nicholas’ parents died
when he was a young man, and he received a large inheritance.
However, he accepted the vocation of priest and decided to give
his entire inheritance to the poor. (This is part of the reason we
give gifts around this time of year). He became known over the
years as the protector of children and sailors, and has a feast on the anniversary of
his death, December 6th. Santa Claus started becoming popular in America when, in the
18th century, Dutch families started to gather in his honor on the anniversary of his death.
So how did we get Santa Claus from Saint Nicholas? The Dutch used the nickname Sinter
Klaas, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas, and the name evolved from there.
Reindeer
Why does Santa have reindeer? It started with a poem in 1822 titled “An Account of a
Visit From St. Nicholas” that the Episcopal minister Clement Clarke Moore wrote for his
three daughters. Not familiar with the poem? It starts like this, ”’Twas the night before
Christmas…” In the poem, which was published in 1823 in the Troy Sentinel under the
familiar name of “The Night Before Christmas,” Moore pulled
together early New Amsterdam traditions, along with German,
Norse, Scandinavian legends and described the jolly old elf that
drove a sleigh with eight reindeer. They aren’t the cute whitetailed deer that you often see in North America. They come
from northern Scandinavia and Finland where people often
use reindeer to pull their sleds and sleighs due to the reindeer’s
broad, flat hooves for walking on snow, and heavy fur coats.
Source: http://designedbybh.com/2012/12/10/holiday-traditions-where-do-they-come-from/
2
Ice to meet you!
Application #7
What we did to your lawn today:
1. Fescue, Bermuda and Zoysia lawns received weed control, as needed, to minimize
weed growth during the winter. All lawns received a calcium and magnesium
application to maintain the pH balance in your soil. Turf grasses grow best in a
neutral soil environment (approximately 5.5–6.5 pH). Natural processes tend to
make it more acidic over time. This application helps restore the neutral condition of
your soil so your grass will grow better next spring.
2. Centipede lawns received weed control to prevent various fall and winter weeds.
It also received a potassium fertilizer to enhance the root structure so your grass
grows stronger and thicker.
3. Fungicides are not included in any of our applications, but it would be a good idea
to put a fungicide on Zoysia, especially if your lawn is prone to patch disease. Call
us for a free estimate.
What you need to do until our next visit
1. Even during the winter, your lawn should receive about 1” of water each week.
Rain during the winter months is usually enough, but if it doesn’t rain, do some
additional watering.
2. Remove leaves regularly from your lawn. They can smother your grass and create
problems with winter or early spring diseases.
3. Gradually increase the height of your mower about a 1/2” above your usual height
for warm season grasses. The increased height will help the grass to make more food
to store so it can nourish itself when it comes out of dormancy in the spring.
If you have any questions concerning your lawn, trees, shrubs or our service, please call
our Customer Service Department Monday–Friday, 8:00am–5:00pm at 770.447.6037.
If you call after hours, please leave a message and your call will be returned the
following business day.
Helpful Phone
Numbers
MAIN NUMBER
770.447.6037
www.arbor-nomics.com
OWNER/PRESIDENT
Dick Bare
Cell: 770.815.3879
[email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT
Doug Cash
Office: 678.638.4548
Cell: 770.596.8388
[email protected]
Prepay
& Save!
Save 5% if you
prepay your
2015 service by
12/31/14.
Fun Holiday Facts to Bring Up at Your Holiday Parties
Given the different time
zones, Santa has 31 hours
to deliver gifts, but his
reindeer really have to fly,
since that means visiting
823 homes per second.
Charles Dickens wrote “A
Christmas Carol” between
October and November
of 1843. The story was a
hit, selling 6,000 copies by
Christmas Day.
Dreaming of a green
Christmas? Household
waste increases by
25 percent between
Thanksgiving and New
Year’s Day. In the United
States, trash from wrapping
paper and shopping bags
totals 4 million tons.
The largest gingerbread
man in the world is
a dieter’s nightmare,
weighing in at a whopping
1,308 lb, 8 oz.
The U.S. Postal Service
delivers 20 billion cards
and packages between
Thanksgiving and
Christmas Eve.
An average of 5,800
people end up in the ER
after suffering injuries from
holiday decorating.
The Löschner family of
Neuhausen, Germany,
owns the biggest nutcracker
collection: 4,334. It is said
that German craftsmen
made the first decorative
nutcrackers around 1800 as
a way of mocking authority
figures, leading to the phrase
“a hard nut to crack.”
Despite their bad reputation,
poinsettias aren’t deadly.
Latex in the stems and
leaves can be irritating, but
not much more, to humans
and animals.
http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/twelve-lists-christmas/holiday-fun-facts
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gingerbread_man
3
Bare in Mind CONTINUED
four-star hotel boasting 581 rooms, 112 apartments, 9 meeting
rooms, 2 restaurants, a terraced bar, a fitness center, and an
Executive Lounge.
After a good night’s rest,
it was on to the Chelsea
Flower Show (we used
Collette Tours). “Flower show”
is an understatement: This is
a home-and-garden show on
steroids! Founded in 1833
by the Royal Horticultural
Society (RHS) as the Great
Spring Show, attendance
was overwhelming, and the
attraction quickly outgrew all
Chelsea Flower Show
of its early locations. Today,
it is a five-day, 11-acre affair on the grounds of the Royal Hospital
Chelsea. It draws 157,000 visitors each year, and extensive BBC
coverage brings it into the homes of millions more.
The show is extraordinary. The Grand Pavilion showcases plant
displays that will knock your leaves off! Massive beds of roses,
celosia, pansies, snapdragons, poppies, hydrangeas, and more.
There’s even mushrooms hanging from the ceiling! The gardens
throughout the site are beautifully themed. Even the commercial
exhibits are stand outs – you’ll find everything from tools and
clothing to greenhouses and arborist supplies.
The next day found us at
Kew Gardens, again with
Collette Tours. “Wow” is all
I can say! This 300-acre site
houses one of the world’s
greatest plant collections
– over 30,000 plants and
trees – along with the
iconic Victorian Palm House
and Kew Palace, home to
Kew Gardens, London
George III. You cannot see
Kew in one day, but you
don’t want to miss it either: It is such a remarkable
place of peace and solitude. I recommend taking the Land Train
around to get an overview.
My visit there reminded me of a field trip I once took at Ohio State
University with one of the most renowned horticulturists in the
world, Dr. L.C. Chadwick. Someone asked him to identify a group
of trees off in the distance. Dr. Chadwick walked over to the trees
and spent a lot of time examining the leaves, buds, etc.“Good
God,” I thought. “Why is he spending so much time studying
what’s obviously a bunch of pin oaks?” Well they weren’t pin
oaks, and the good doctor knew that. I had that sort of experience
at Kew Gardens. I’d think it was obvious what I was looking at,
but closer examination would prove me wrong. I’m reminded to
spend more time studying things before I open my big mouth.
The next day started with a visit to Windsor Castle. This working
Royal residence dates back to the 1070s, when William the
Conqueror built the original wooden structure. It has since been
replaced by grand stone edifices. We had to wait in line awhile
but it was worth it. It is the oldest and largest occupied castle in
the world and absolutely magnificent. (It’s worth googling to see
hundreds of incredible photos.)
Wisley Gardens, another garden managed by the RHS, was our next
stop. Like Kew Gardens, you could easily spend more than a day
here. (The bookstore alone takes half a day! I found a book by one of
today’s best-known horticulturalists, Dr. Michael Dirr. I decided to give
him a call to tell him I was leafing through his latest coffee table book.
He got a kick out of that!) Once you tear yourself from the bookstore,
there’s so much to lose yourself in outside. Wisley features stunning
formal and informal decorative gardens, greenhouses, and an
extensive arboretum. There are also trial gardens, where new cultivars
are assessed, and small-scale model gardens designed to inspire the
home and professional gardener alike.
That evening we enjoyed drinks in the exquisite new Bicentenary
Glasshouse and then dinner in the fabulous restaurant on the
grounds. The Glasshouse covers three quarters of an acre and
overlooks a lake. It’s divided into three main planting zones
representing desert, tropical, and temperate climates. It truly is an
extraordinary experience.
Saturday, May 24, had us heading southwest through the English
countryside to Leeds Castle, Canterbury and Dover. Leeds Castle
is famous for its setting on the shimmering lake that surrounds
it, effectively serving as a large moat. Dating back to 1119, the
Castle enjoys an idyllic setting in 500 acres of parkland and
gardens, making it one of the most picturesque castles in Britain.
Next we headed to Canterbury Cathedral. It was okay but we
froze to death. I wasn’t prepared for England’s cold, rainy, windy,
cloudy spring. (Even the summers tend to be on the cool side. But
occasionally they do get a heat spell: It goes up to 75.) Last on this
part of the tour, we hit the White Cliffs of Dover. These stand 400
feet tall, jutting out over an English seaport. We spent most of our
time there searching for a bathroom. Honestly, I could have done
without these three attractions.
The next day was a lot better, with our first stop being the very worthy
city of Bath. Many consider this city to be the prettiest in England,
and I would have liked to spend more time there and sample the spa
baths for which the city is named. It’s also full of interesting shops and
inviting scenery. We found a great little pizza shop for lunch and sat
upstairs admiring the view out of the windows.
When we left Bath, we headed north through the heart of the
Cotswolds, widely believed to be one of the most beautiful
stretches of countryside in England. The farms are crisscrossed
with dry stone walls, which, though charming to look at today,
are notorious for having impeded the progress of the Allied troops
during World War II.
As you continue traveling along you pass
through so many little towns with beautiful
churches and markets. We arrived in the
charming town of Stratford-on-Avon. In
addition to being a quaint market town,
with a delightful river snaking through
it, it is also the birthplace of William
Shakespeare and home of the world
renowned Royal Shakespeare Company.
It was a nice place to wrap up travels for
the day and a good place to bring this
installment to a close.
Cotswolds countryside
Next time, we’ll make our way out of rural England and head back
to London, where a Beatles Tour, Fortnum & Mason and a few other
highlights await us.
4