January 4, 2020 - Issue #442

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At the holidays, I like to give and receive flowering houseplants. Weeks later, however, after the fruitcakes and candy-canes are gone, these once-gorgeous gifts often struggle to survive, much less to bloom. So here's a seasonal-care guide that will keep those gift plants looking their best year-round.

Persuading your Christmas Cactus to pump out the lush and delicately colored flowers that originally tempted you to bring them home takes a little special attention. However, with just a modicum of care, they will reward you with an abundance of color that few winter bloomers can match.

Even in cold climates about a third of the bluebirds don't migrate to warmer climes in winter. These birds will visit feeders with the right enticement and you will both benefit.