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NATIONAL ACORN SQUASH DAY

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National Acorn Squash Day is observed annually on September 7th. The day celebrates winter squash that is also known to some as a pepper squash.

Even though it is considered a winter squash, acorn squash belongs to the same species as all summer squashes including zucchini and yellow crookneck squash.

The most common variety comes in a mostly green outer shell, often with a splotch of orange on its side or top. However, varieties, including the Golden Acorn and the White Acorn, offer gardeners and cooks options. This versatile squash also grows in variegated color.

The acorn squash resembles its name in shape, an acorn. They usually weigh between one to two pounds and generally grow between four and seven inches long.  This hardy squash also keeps for several months, making it a great item to store for yumminess all winter long. Just be sure to store it in a cool, dry location.

Since acorn squash is versatile, it can be baked, microwaved, sautéed, or steamed. Some cooks like to stuff it with rice, meat, cheeses, or vegetable mixtures. You can also toast the seeds of the acorn squash much like pumpkin seeds.

Nutritionally, the acorn squash offers a good source of dietary fiber and potassium. It also has some vitamin C and B, magnesium and manganese.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #AcornSquashDay

Visit your favorite farmer’s market. You can also drive out to a pick your own farm. Once you’ve collected your squash, share your recipes or growing tips. Try acorn squash in soup or broil it. Experiment with the flavors as you fill your plate with this colorful garden vegetable. Whatever you do to celebrate, be sure to share it with others. Use #AcornSquashDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL WEED YOUR GARDEN DAY

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National Weed Your Garden Day on June 13th each year serves as a reminder to all gardeners to take an extra 5 or 10 minutes while weeding their gardens.

One of the best gardening tips is to stay in control of your garden. Unfortunately, weeds grow fast, very fast. With inattention, they can soon become overwhelming. Giving daily attention to your garden makes it easier to maintain. Weeding 5 or 10 minutes each day will make the job seem bearable. It might even be enjoyable. This way you will be in control, and the weeds will not!

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Papa’s Tools Weeder – Stand Up Weed Puller Tool Made with Long Wooden Handle – Real Bamboo & 4-Claw Steel Head – Easily Remove Weeds Effortlessly Without The Need to Tug, Bend, Or Flex
Breeze Touch 39" Weed Pulling Tool, 3-Claw Detachable Weed Puller Tool with Long Handle, Heavy Duty Stand Up Weeder Weeding Tool for Lawn, Yard, Garden, Crabgrass, Dandelion Picker, Weed Remover#NationalWeedYourGardenDay
Breeze Touch 39″ Weed Pulling Tool, 3-Claw Detachable Weed Puller Tool with Long Handle, Heavy Duty Stand Up Weeder Weeding Tool for Lawn, Yard, Garden, Crabgrass, Dandelion Picker, Weed Remover

Excessive and unwanted weeds will crowd out plant roots and steal the nutrients that are needed for the plants to grow nice and be healthy. Helpful tips on reducing weeds in your garden:

  • Cover the soil along rows and between plants with mulch.
  • Make sure to keep all weeds away from young plants.
  • Plant your plants closely together to leave less room for weed growth.
  • Have soil weed-free before planting.
  • Make sure you do not let any of the weeds go to seed.
  • Keep the edges of your yard mowed short to lessen the invasion of weeds onto your property and into your garden.

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HOW TO OBSERVE National Weed Your Garden Day

Take time to weed your garden as you celebrate today. In addition, you can celebrate by:

  • Committing to regular weeding to reduce weed growth.
  • Weeding after a good rainfall while the soil is soft makes it easier to clean by the roots. 
  • Weeding your garden with a friend to makes the job go faster and feel more like a celebration!
  • Rewarding yourself with tall glass of something iced and refreshing as you admire your weed-free garden.

Use #NationalWeedYourGardenDay to post on social media.

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WORKPRO Hand Weeder Puller, 5-in-1 Stainless Steel Garden Trowel with Soft Handle, Gardening Weeding Tool for Easy Weeder Removal, Planting, Weeding, Flower & Vegetable Care in Garden Lawn Yard
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NATIONAL FIND A RAINBOW DAY

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Each year on April 3rd, National Find A Rainbow Day challenges us to look to the sky and find a colorful ray of hope cast across it. 

There are people that see rainbows as an artistic masterpiece in the sky, to others it is a sign of hope and to many a sign of promise.

It can be all three; beauty, hope and promise.    

Jill Magnus

A spectrum of light in the form of a multicolored arc, appearing in the sky, is caused by both reflection and refraction of light in water droplets in the Earth’s atmosphere. These rainbows always appear directly opposite of the sun.  The light is refracted (bent) when it enters a droplet of water, then is reflected inside on the back of the droplet and refracted again when leaving it.

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Nerds Candy, Rainbow, 5 Ounce Movie Theater Candy Boxes (Pack of 12)
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ThEast 30 Pieces Rainbow Colored Pencils, 4 Color in 1 Rainbow Pencil for Kids, Assorted Colors for Drawing Coloring, Gifts for Kids Party Favors, Pre-sharpened
SKITTLES Original Chewy Candy, Party Size, 50 oz Bag#NationalFindARainbowDay
SKITTLES Original Chewy Candy, Party Size, 50 oz Bag

Red is the color that is visible on the outer part of a rainbow and violet on the inside of a primary rainbow. Children learn in science class the mnemonic ROYGBIV to help them to remember the sequence of colors in a rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Many forms of airborne water can cause rainbows including, rain, mist, spray, and dew.  

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HOW TO OBSERVE #FindARainbowDay

Find yourself a rainbow or use the garden hose or a prism to make one yourself.
Families, students, and classrooms, create a rainbow from the colorful hearts on this printable. There’s at least one for every color in the rainbow. Take out your color crayons and finish what we’ve started. Then cut them out and put them in a cheerful, sunny window to brighten the day of someone passing by. 


Use #NationalFindARainbowDay to post on social media.

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Night Lights Plug Into Wall [2 Pack], Color Changing Night Light for Kids, 8-Color RGB LED Nightlight with Dusk to Dawn Sensor for Bathroom Decor, Children Room, Gift
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TeeTurtle – The Original Reversible Octopus Plushie – Black + Rainbow – Cute Sensory Fidget Stuffed Animals That Show Your Mood
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Echo Glow – Multicolor smart lamp | Works with Alexa device

NATIONAL PUMPKIN DAY

Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

National Pumpkin Day recognizes a favored autumn decoration and food on October 26th. Not only do they make great fall decorations, but the pumpkin also completes a variety of tasty recipes. Join a pumpkin competition or visit any of the many fall festivals featuring the beautiful gourds.

By October 26th, we’re in a frenzy of pumpkin obsession. We cannot wait for the big November holiday for pumpkin pie. No siree, we need pumpkin everything! As pumpkin spice everything invades Bars, cookies, coffee, cheesecake, pasta, and oatmeal. Pumpkin Chunkin’, pumpkin patches, festivals, bake-offs, and television specials. Let’s not forget jack-o-lantern carving, too! This fruit grabs Americans’ attention.

As it should! This squash is native to North America. The oldest evidence of pumpkin-related seeds dates back to somewhere between 7000 and 5500 BC to seeds found in Mexico.

The word pumpkin originates from the word pepon, which means “large melon” in Greek.

Taste of Home Pumpkin Mini Binder: 101 Delicious Dishes that Celebrate Fall's Favorite Flavor #NationalPumpkinDay
Taste of Home Pumpkin Mini Binder: 101 Delicious Dishes that Celebrate Fall’s Favorite Flavor
Pumpkin Cookbook: A Great Selection of Delicious & Easy Pumpkin-Based Recipes for All-Day Meals and Desserts #NationalPumpkinDay
Pumpkin Cookbook: A Great Selection of Delicious & Easy Pumpkin-Based Recipes for All-Day Meals and Desserts
Pumpkin Recipes: Irresistible Pumpkin-Filled Breads, Pies, Cookies, Entrées, Desserts and More #NationalPumpkinDay
Pumpkin Recipes: Irresistible Pumpkin-Filled Breads, Pies, Cookies, Entrées, Desserts and More
The Great Big Pumpkin Cookbook: A Quick and Easy Guide to Making Pancakes, Soups, Breads, Pastas, Cakes, Cookies, and More #NationalPumpkinDay
The Great Big Pumpkin Cookbook: A Quick and Easy Guide to Making Pancakes, Soups, Breads, Pastas, Cakes, Cookies, and More

Within recent years, white pumpkins have become more popular in the United States. The United States produces 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins, with Illinois producing more than any other state.

In 2021, Italian Stefano Cutrupi claimed the title of the world’s largest pumpkin when his gargantuan gourd weighed in at 2703 pounds (1,226 kg). That’s 300 pounds heavier than the 2014 winner from Switzerland. In 2020, Travis Gienger grew the largest pumpkin in North America. The hefty vegetable weighed in at 2,350 pounds. It eeked out the previous winner, a 2,145-pound pumpkin from Streator, Illinois grown by Gene McMullen. 

Pumpkins are packed with nutrients, but they’re not only good for humans. Did you know that pumpkin may be recommended by veterinarians as a dietary supplement for dogs and cats? Since pumpkin is easy to digest, if your pet is experiencing certain digestive ailments, don’t be surprised if your vet says to give them pumpkin puree. Poultry also benefits from eating raw pumpkin as a supplement to their regular feed during the winter months to help maintain egg production. As a seasonal food, it sure comes at the right time of year. Since it’s packed with vitamin C, it can boost your immune system to fight off those nasty colds, too. 

Need more Pumpkin….

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPumpkinDay

Ah, pumpkins! They bring to mind wonderful memories and inspire us to artistry. Whether we frame the perfect photo at the local pumpkin patch, carve up the scariest jack-o-lantern or whip up the tastiest batch of pumpkin bars, this is a holiday worth sharing. Roast some pumpkin seeds while the family rakes up those fall leaves. Pour a mug of hot apple cider and bake up your favorite pumpkin recipes, too.

Use #NationalPumpkinDay to post on social media.

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Let’s Make Memories Personalized Light Up Pumpkin – Family Name Jack-O-Lantern Halloween Décor – Your Name & Initial on a Custom Pumpkin – Fall – Light Up Indoors/Outdoors – Small – Orange
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Personalization Universe Laurel Initial Personalized Monogram Pumpkin – Handcrafted Resin Fall Halloween Decor for Home, Indoor, Outdoor, Thanksgiving, Fall Wedding, Autumn Decorations – Small Orange
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Farmer’s Market Foods Canned Organic Pumpkin Puree, 15 Ounce (Pack of 12)
Green Jay Gourmet Pumpkin Butter 19 Ounces - All-Natural, Gluten-Free Fruit Spread - Pumpkin Spread with Pumpkins & Spices - Gourmet Fruit Butter - No Corn Syrup, Preservatives or Trans-Fats #NationalPumpkinDay
Green Jay Gourmet Pumpkin Butter 19 Ounces – All-Natural, Gluten-Free Fruit Spread – Pumpkin Spread with Pumpkins & Spices – Gourmet Fruit Butter – No Corn Syrup, Preservatives or Trans-Fats