Full Moon: The Full Moon for December occurs on Tuesday, December 17th. It has been called Cold Moon by many Native Americans (for obvious reasons!) and also has been called Beaver Moon and Ice-Froming Moon because beavers are scurrying to finish building their dams and lodges before the winter sets in and because lakes and ponds begin to ice over during this month.

Holidays: Celebrate Christmas on Wednesday, December 25th. Make plans with family and friends to watch a classic Christmas movie such as Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Carol (the 1951 version with Alistair Sim is the best!), White Christmas, or the very funny, The Christmas Story (written by humorist, Jean Shepard). New Year’s Eve is Tuesday, December 31st. Make plans to attend a First Night Celebration and enjoy safe, family-oriented fun, food, and entertainment on the very first night of the year. Look online at www.firstnight.com/cities to find a celebration nearest you.

The Garden: Rake up all remaining leaves and place them on a compost heap. If left on paths they become a hazard when the colder weather comes. When cutting evergreen foliage from the garden for Christmas decor, cut just above a bud. This ensures that no spurs will be left to encourage decay. Start planning your garden now and decide on what you want to include. If you have seeds left over from last season, perform a simple germination test: place ten seeds between paper towels and keep the towels moist and warm for a few days. If less than eight of the ten actually sprout, consider starting with fresh seed. Remember that the birds are counting on you to put out plenty of seed out, especially if the ground is covered with snow.