Aug. 27, Monday — Moon at apogee. Mother Teresa born, 1910. Go camping now.
Aug. 28, Tuesday — St. Augustine of Hippo. Full Sturgeon Moon. Begin logging; harvest above-ground crops.
Aug. 29, Wednesday — Moon runs low. Set fence posts or pour concrete now.
Aug. 30, Thursday — Conjunction of Neptune and the moon. Mary Shelley, creator of "Frankenstein," born 1797.
Aug. 31, Friday — Thomas A. Edison patented the kinetoscope, which produced primitive moving pictures, 1887.
Sept. 1, Saturday — St. Giles. World War II began, 1939, when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Wreckage of the Titanic found, 1985.
Sept. 2, Sunday — V-J Day, 1945. North Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh died, 1969.
Ask The Old Farmer's Almanac: I love arranging flowers, but my cut flowers never seem to last very long. How do florists get such long-lasting results? — T.A., Dalton, Ga.
Answer: First, pick your cut flowers before the heat of the day begins to wilt them. Bring a bucket of cool water out to the garden and plunge the cut stems immediately into it. Once the flowers are back inside, trim the stems to the length you want for your arrangements.
Hold the stem underwater while you cut it on the diagonal to maximize the exposed surface. Trim off any leaves below the water line in the vase and minimize those above the vase, as well. The trimming will give the blooms the best visibility and the least competition for water.
If using florist's foam to hold the shape of your arrangements, be sure to soak it well before poking the stems into it. If enough water has been absorbed, it should sink. Finally, place your vases out of the direct sun.
Your choice of blooms will also affect the longevity of your arrangement. Some flowers fade quickly, while others naturally weather longer. Daffodils and narcissus do best if they are not mixed with other blooms. Irises tend to fade quickly — no matter what you try — as do many wildflowers.
Daisies, mums, carnations and zinnias are practically indestructible. Roses, tulips and freesias are more fragile and fleeting. Daily attention to the vases on display helps to keep everything looking fresh. Freshen the water, trim the stems a bit more, and add a drop or two of bleach to discourage bacteria.
Ask The Old Farmer's Almanac: I bought some new bare-wood Adirondack chairs this summer. Should I bring them inside for the winter? — H.L., Calais, Maine
Answer: It's a little early, isn't it, even for Maine? If your chairs are made of pine, as we're guessing they are, then bringing them undercover — if only under a tarp during the snowy months — would certainly increase their life span. Some people leave the wooden lawn furniture out and let them weather to a gentle gray, but pine will deteriorate sooner that way.
You could also water-seal the bare wood, or, better yet, paint or stain the chairs, but perhaps that's more work than you bargained for. We'll just say that the more protection from the elements, the longer they will last.
Hardwood furniture such as mahogany or teak is another matter. The wood is so hard and durable that it makes little sense to cover it with sealers or paints. Redwood or cedar furniture does well with a water sealer, however.
Ask The Old Farmer's Almanac: What is the best fire extinguisher to choose for residential uses? — M.C., Norwood, Mass.
Answer: For general-purpose circumstances, a combination "A:B:C" fire extinguisher would be the best for household use. (The three letters refer to the class of fire that the extinguisher is designed to fight.) There are other combinations available. B:C, for example, is considered a better choice for kitchens, where you're apt to be battling a grease fire.
Class A usually contains a carbonated water solution that works well for paper, wood or textiles but isn't good at all against grease fires. In fact, a Class A extinguisher can make grease fires worse by spreading the grease. It can also serve as a conduit for electrical current in the case of an electrical fire. Class B extinguishers are designed for grease, gasoline, oil or other chemicals.
The Class B (or B:C) extinguisher might be a good choice for garage use. Class C is intended for electrical fires, and most now use dry ammonium phosphate.
The combined Class A:B:C extinguishers are good choices for overall household protection. A sizable 5-pound or 10-pound version might cost about $50 and be a good choice to mount in an open area of the living room or entryway. You might consider keeping a smaller, three-pound B:C extinguisher near the kitchen stove, as well, and perhaps one near your garage or workshop, if you use it often.
The important thing is to keep the extinguishers serviced (or check their pressure gauges, if they have them). Even more important, keep them in sight and accessible. In an emergency, no one will think to look in the closet!
Send your questions to: Ask the Almanac, The Old Farmer's Almanac, Main St., Dublin, NH 03444 © Yankee Publishing