From the best day to cut your hair to when to look for the next lunar eclipse, check out the Old Farmer’s Almanac for reliable information.
Many people think the Almanac is just for old-timers and farmers, but you’d be surprised.
Filled with so much more than gardening wisdom, it can tell you everything from what days of the month to move to a new home, the best days to host a party, and even the best days to get married. Details about the astronomical events during 2026 include meteor showers, visibility of planets, phases of the moon and a night sky guide.
Stories in the 2026 predict the gradual disappearance of residential grass lawns, how to make the most of leftovers, the healing power of honey, and a variety of brain teasers, mind manglers, amusing anecdotes and grains of truth.
As the oldest continuously published periodical in North America, the Farmer’s Almanac stands on 234 years of common-sense research and experiences.
Known for its accuracy in forecasting the weather across North America – there’s even a page that compares last year’s predictions with actual weather conditions – it’s not only helpful for planting, but also for planning vacations and trips. The colorful weather maps and the accompanying prose involving regional seasonal predictions can be pretty specific and right more times than not.
Check out some award-winning recipes, like “Fresh Tomato Bacon Jam,” “Triple Tomato Salad with Creamy Balsamic Dressing” and even “Zesty Tomato-Basil Ice Cream.” Sadly, calorie counts and nutritional values aren’t revealed, but when it comes to tomatoes, does it really matter?
Other info includes the best times to catch (or not catch) fish in your area, which days are best each month for having dental work done, painting or washing windows, beginning a diet to lose weight (or on a separate day to gain weight), or even get married or ask for a loan.
Even if you’re not a gardener, the 2026 Old Farmer’s Almanac has something for just about everyone.
Buy it at local box retailers, like Target and Wal-Mart, or better yet, order it online at almanac.com to learn about other goodies, special clubs – gardening, Almanac Essentials and the 1792 Society – that include helpful booklets about food and flower gardening, calendars, replicas of 100- and 200-year-old almanacs, and more.
To learn more, visit www.almanac.com. You can spend a couple of hours just browsing the website, or better yet, order your own 2026 edition and thumb through it for all kinds of home, health, finance and gardening tidbits.
Clumps of daffodils are the first harbingers of spring.
Planting bulbs for spring color
Do you want spring color year after year? Then planting bulbs is the answer. But it’s important to choose the most reliable for us in North Georgia.
Tulip photos are gorgeous and tempting, but practicality dictates that the daffodils, grape hyacinths, globe allium, freesia and crocus are better suited for our milder Georgia winters. Snow drops and Lily of the Valley are also pretty in North Georgia landscapes.
For the best bulbs, explore the websites of reputable quality growers, such as Longfield Gardens, Brecks of Holland and White Flower Farms. Many sell bulk packages at lower prices; all offer premium-sized firm bulbs that ship at just the right time to plant.
If you buy bulbs from a local retailer or nursery, check that they’re firm, free of mold and mildew. Look for bins of loose bulbs, rather than bags; you’ll be able to hand-select the ones you want. Look for bigger bulbs and/or those that have multiple bulb clumps.
Plant them before the first hard freeze. If you’re mixing different bulbs, plant the deepest ones first. Then come back and naturalize the smaller bulbs and plant them less deep. Good combinations include daffodils and grape hyacinths, crocus – which are early bloomers – planted with English or Spanish bells, white or yellow narcissus or full-sized hyacinths.
A little bit of digging in the landscape before the cold of winter sets in will reap great rewards next spring.
Photo: courtesy Pixabay
