A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
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by Melinda Myers Fight the post-holiday blues with a bit of indoor gardening. Keeping your houseplants healthy and looking their best with a bit of grooming this winter is sure to lift your spirits. Clip off any dead leaves as they appear. Use a sharp snips or bypass pruner to make a clean cut that looks tidy and closes up quickly. An occasional brown leaf is not usually a problem but if browning continues, it might be time to take action. Evaluate the growing conditions and make needed...
By Doug George-Kanentiio. Another snowfall, another set of electrical power disruptions effecting the health and security of all Akwesasronon. As the people are forced from their homes or have to seek emergency medical assistance an enormous strain is placed on communal resources in the search for shelter. This has become far too common as Hydro Quebec in particular stumbles from one crisis to another. The residents of Kana:takon and Tsi Snaihne can never be certain if they will have electricity once snow or rain falls. Any prevailing strong...
by Melinda Myers It's no surprise that succulents, including cacti, are popular. These easy-care houseplants come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes making them perfect for any home. All you need is a lot of light and benign neglect to raise healthy and beautiful succulents. Place the plants near an unobstructed south-, west- or east-facing window. Don't let a lack of light stop you from enjoying these beautiful plants in your home. You'll find many attractive options for displaying your...
A short story of an old friend Mike Sunday, a Snye resident, now deceased. This one is in 1980 as teammates on a softball team for Pat & Rays Hotel Bar in Rooseveltown, NY. During a home game vs. American Legion. It was a nip and tuck affair, going into final inning and game tied 6-6 each. The visitors are at bat and one man on base. He steals second base and Mike tries to throw him out, but the ball hits a bump and ends up at mid center field and the runner ends up at 3rd base, where I was playing. Our pitcher mows down two batters. We call ti...
I recall this scene of the horse drawn buggy back in 1945. My friend Andy White and I would wait at the St. Regis Church point and listen for the sounds of bells. As soon as we would hear it – we would get down to the shore line and jump on the rear runners and get a free ride back to Andy’s Dad’s “International Hotel” which was located on half of the US and half on the Canadian border. As soon as the driver and companion exited the buggy – Andy would grab the reins and we would guide the horses to the rear of the hotel where stables wer...
By Doug George-Kanentiio. Les Lobaugh is, according to Mary Louise Uhlig of the Environmental Protection Agency, the most “influential, important and anonymous Native lawyer in America”. At the event to mark National American Indian Heritage Month at the EPA held in Washington, DC on November 4 Lobaugh was the featured speaker. His presentation followed a performance by Joanne Shenandoah whose music celebrated the the great influence Native people have had on environmental issues. Ms. Uhlig told the assembly of EPA workers that Mr. Lobaugh dra...
by Melinda Myers Wreaths, door swags, garlands, and containers filled with evergreens have long been part of winter celebrations and displays. Keep them fresh and looking their best throughout the holidays with minimal effort. Fresh greenery with pliable branches and firmly attached needles will last the longest. Check for good color and an aroma you prefer. Consider buying extra greenery and storing it in the garage or another cool location. Use these to replace any indoor greenery that is...
By Paul Hetzler If not for a fungus, Santa’s flying sleigh would be grounded. If that were the case, the only toys he could distribute would be to the elves who made them in the first place, which kind of spoils the whole surprise element. The truth is that Mister Claus relies on Amanita muscaria, a mushroom which grows among pine and birch, to zip around the world on Christmas eve. Sometimes called the fly agaric or fly amanita because it has been used to kill flies, Amanita muscaria is a large, attractive mushroom. Its domed reddish cap is d...
Akwesasne – On Saturday, November 19th the family of the late Wallace Jacobs Sr. Held their annual Shuffleboard Tournament & Turkey Shoot at the American Legion Post 1479 in Akwesasne. This is the 8th year they held the tournament, and many wait anxiously to participate. To show their appreciation to the players, the family treats everyone with a delicious meal, gifts and door prizes throughout the evening. This year's 2022 winners of the Wally Jacobs Memorial Shuffleboard tournament are as f...
by Melinda Myers Grow your own burn ointment by adding Aloe vera to your indoor plant collection. This succulent has been used for centuries to treat superficial burns, cuts, sunburns, and more. The gel inside the leaves is the medicinal part of the plant. Just cut away the outer part of the leaf and use just the gel on the problem areas. Make sure to remove the latex plant sap located between the outer layer (skin) of the leaf and the gel that can cause skin irritation. It is always best to...
A few old friends asking: How I was doing after I became a widower. My answer, "Like a pumpkin after Halloween. Discarded and alone!" Their usual response: "Why I never heard that before!" – and not very nice. My answer, "Well, I was never a widower before." And I often heard as they walked away, "Smarty pants!" My answer, "Maybe so." But they never asked again. Further to the waste of pumpkins, I recall what my granny Christie's request: I go and collect them from our neighborhood. Which I w...
by Melinda Myers Garden centers, florists and grocery stores are filling their shelves with a variety of holiday plants; a sure sign the holidays are approaching. This is the time of year to give, receive or fill your home with colorful poinsettias, Christmas cactus, cyclamen, and other holiday plants. Extend their beauty and longevity with proper care. Start by selecting healthy plants that have been receiving proper care. The plants should be free of insects, disease and have no yellow...
by Melinda Myers Nothing says the holidays like a poinsettia. This year try some new ways to display this festive plant. Poinsettias are available in a variety of colors including white, pink, hot pink, yellow, peach, marbled and speckled. These colorful parts of the plant, often referred to as flowers, are actually modified leaves called bracts. The real flowers are small, yellow and appear at the tip of the stem surrounded by the bract. Look for new places to display your poinsettia. Place a...
By Doug George-Kanentiio On November 5 my wife, the late Joanne Shenandoah, was inducted into the National Native American Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, OK joining a list which included those individuals who made significant contributions to not only their respective nations but to all indigenous people. Joanne was cited as an exemplary artist whose music career was unmatched in Native history. She composed ballads and symphonies, carried her music around the world and was the most honored aboriginal musician of her time. She recored to dozen...
by Melinda Myers Give a gift that helps your favorite gardeners enjoy the flavors of their garden well past the end of the growing season. Both new and experienced gardeners often spend their gardening budget on plants and seeds, leaving little or none to invest in food preservation equipment and supplies. Prepare your favorite gardener for the next harvest season with some food preservation supplies and equipment. Canning jars, freezer containers, spice cubes and airtight bottles for canning,...
by Melinda Myers Boost your spirits and winter décor with new shapes and colors of amaryllis. Today there are many beautiful options beyond the traditional red. Double amaryllis have jumbo flowers with multiple layers of petals. Kick off the season with the early-blooming variety Alaska. Its frilly white petals contrast nicely with the lime green throat and the flowers last for weeks. Early blooming amaryllis are grown in the southern hemisphere and, if planted by early November, they bloom in...
By Paul Hetzler While I usually cover flora and fauna relevant to the US Northeast and southeastern Canada, every so often, a non-regional subject whispers to me that it’s endlessly captivating and deserves an essay. Eventually I comply to make the whispering stop. Please don’t tell my shrink about this. One time, I was forced to write about platypuses (compelled by platypuses, not editors). These things are proof that animals are not the result of evolution; no, they came from Ikea. Ma Nature went to Ikea for her animals, and after assembling...
by Melinda Myers Whether your indoor garden has outgrown its location, or you are looking to expand your garden, a bit of pinching, pruning or propagating may be the answer. Grooming houseplants keeps your indoor garden looking its best and plants contained to the available space. You can use some of the trimmings to start new plants. Give plants with long, leggy stems a pinch. Removing a small or large portion of the growing tip encourages the plant to form more branches and compact growth....
by Melinda Myers Gardeners like a challenge and the sense of accomplishment when trying something new. Forcing poinsettias and Christmas cactus to rebloom provides such an opportunity. These plants need 14 hours of uninterrupted darkness each night to set flowers for the winter holidays. Starting between late September and October 1st, cover or move your plants into a dark location each night. Shield them from any outdoor, street or reading lights that can delay or prevent flowering. Uncover or...
By Doug George-Kanentiio. On September 20, 1972, Richard Tharihwasátste Oakes was shot and killed by Michael Morgan in Sonoma County, California, the homeland of the Pomo Nation. Tharihwasátste was born at Akwesasne in May of 1942, the son of Irene and Arthur Oakes, the grandson of Thomas Foote. Foote was one of the most skilled lacrosse players of the 20th century. As a young boy Thariwasate followed his parents as they moved from Akwesasne to Syracuse. As a teenager he became an ironworker and followed jobs in many cities from the east c...
by Melinda Myers Nothing beats the flavor of fresh from the garden tomatoes. Harvesting when they are fully ripe ensures the best flavor for eating fresh, cooking, and preserving. Visit your garden often and watch for the fruit to turn from green to fully colored. Then leave them on the plant for five to eight days. Vine ripened tomatoes have the best flavor for using fresh or preserving. Check plants regularly and keep harvesting, so the plants continue to produce. This also reduces problems...
by Melinda Myers Add a burst of fresh color to the fall landscape with mums. This traditional fall flower is still a favorite of many. These fall beauties come in a wide range of colors and provide weeks of floral beauty. Mums are great in containers, the garden, and cut flower bouquets. Fall just wouldn't be the same without them. When shopping for mums you may see them labeled as garden, perennial, gift, or florist mums. All these different names for plants that basically look alike can be...
By Paul Hetzler Cast members of the new Ghostbusters film aren't the only ones getting slimed – trees sometimes get slathered in slime flux as well. Many kinds of trees are subject to sludge assaults, with elms, apples, oaks, maples, and walnuts being among the more vulnerable species. Tree-goo, unlike the Psychomagnotheric Slime in Ghostbusters, is basically harmless. In fact, it can be beneficial. Also known as bacterial wetwood, slime flux is pretty much what it sounds like: wet nastiness t...
By Paul Hetzler I’m not one to shed a tear when authoritarian rulers die, but once they’re gone, picnics become a lot more dangerous. As summer wanes, the original queen in every yellowjacket wasp colony dies – having a few thousand babies in the course of one season is enough to tire any Queen Mum to death. The colony raises new queens as the old one starts to forget the names of her offspring and where she left her reading glasses. But when the feisty new regals emerge, the young queens run off with the nearest male wasps for a mating orgy,...
by Melinda Myers After a busy summer of vacations, BBQ's, and garden care, it is fun to turn our attention to planting. Fall is a great time to plant perennials and many garden centers are busy refreshing their supply of perennial plants. Consider including one or more of these winners when making your perennial plant selections this fall. Hostas are an excellent choice for those shady spots in the landscape but with so many cultivars to choose from the selection process can be overwhelming....