Growing gladiolus, fiddleheads, Mars after sunset

Seasonal advice, wit, and wisdom from your editors

View in Browser | Almanac.com | Get a Copy Thursday, April 15, 2021 Who was born on this day? What happened today in history? Click to find out. Summer begins in 66 days Question of the Day What are some ways that people paid taxes in the past? – Answer Puzzle of the Day An adjective and a vegetable. (Use these clues to find the two words that, when combined, form the name of a flower.) – Answer Again the blackbirds sing; the streams Wake, laughing, from their winter dreams, And tremble in the April showers The tassels of the maple flowers. –John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–92) ADVERTISEMENT Gladiolus Gladiolus is a classic perennial known for its tall flower spikes and large, colorful blooms. Great cutting flowers, gladioli look spectacular in summer bouquets. Here’s how to grow gladioli in your garden.   READ MORE   ADVERTISEMENT Earth Day Essentials Giveaway The Old Farmer’s Almanac has teamed up with If You Care to give one lucky winner a basket full of products ranging from baking sheets to pie pans and everything in between. Enter to win!   LEARN MORE   Best Heirloom Vegetables and Fruit to Grow Try growing beautiful, authentic American Heirloom vegetables and fruit!  What is an heirloom? To put it simply, it’s an old variety that predates the hybrids from the 1940s. Learn more about why we grow heirlooms—plus the most flavorful heirloom varieties to try!   READ MORE   ADVERTISEMENT If Your Dog Eats Grass (Do This Everyday) If you have noticed your dog having lower energy, redness inside the ears, bad breath, or their poop smells very bad then these could be warning signs of something serious.   Click here to find out right now if your dog is affected.   LEARN MORE   How Insects Predict the Weather Can insects predict the weather? Next time you see an insect, spider, or other “creepy-crawly,” check out what it’s doing! It could let you know something about the upcoming weather. Here’s some of the more well-known weather folklore about insects and weather!   READ MORE   ADVERTISEMENT How can I keep the bugs away this summer? This handy, all-natural insect repellent keeps away ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, blackflies, yellow flies, chiggers, and other pesky, biting bugs!   LEARN MORE   Night Sky for April 2021 Here’s the April 2021 guide to the night sky! From April 15 to 17, use the crescent Moon to spot Mars. Earth Day brings a meteor shower. And the month ends with the first of two Supermoons this year! See Bob Berman’s highlights and viewing tips.   READ MORE   ADVERTISEMENT Get a fun game going with these beautiful cards! Beautiful vintage French illustrations! This standard deck of playing cards features lovely vegetables on each card.   LEARN MORE   Strawberry and Spinach Salad Elsie always has a carafe of strawberry vinegar on her counter, ready for action.   READ MORE   ADVERTISEMENT Enjoy country wit and wisdom in the 2021 Country Calendar! The charming 2021 Country Calendar gives you all the classic folklore you need for country living. Plus: large, eye-catching, full-color photographs depicting the joys of the country, including North America’s breathtaking landscapes and amazing animals on the farm or in the wild!   LEARN MORE   Ferns, Folklore, and Fiddleheads I find ferns and fiddleheads fascinating (say that five times!). Harvesting the young tips of the ostrich fern is a spring tradition that has its roots in Native American times. As a family, ferns are truly ancient—growing BEFORE dinosaurs walked the Earth! Learn more about magical fern folklore,...   READ MORE   If you enjoy the Almanac Companion... Share with a Friend THE OLD FARMER SELECTED THESE PRODUCTS FOR YOU View More Product from The Old Farmer's Store Did a friend forward you this briefing? You can sign up here. If you enjoy this newsletter, consider picking up a copy of The Old Farmer's Almanac. Your support makes this all possible! Are you on social? Enjoy more Almanac wit & wisdom!  Visit Almanac.com Shop Our Store You received this email because you signed for updates from The Old Farmer's Almanac. If you do not wish to receive our regular e-mail newsletter in the future, please click here to manage preferences. *Please do not reply to this e-mail* © Yankee Publishing Inc. An Employee-Owned Company 1121 Main Street | P.O. Box 520 | Dublin, NH 03444 Contact Us View web version