Lake Clear, NY, Feb 18, 2013 — The village of Saranac Lake has a reputation for cold. During the winter, it's frequently the coldest spot on the North Country weather map, sometimes the coldest in the lower 48 states. Overnight or early morning temperatures in January can hit 20 and sometimes 30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit.

That kind of cold is has brought the community a fair share of publicity over the years, but technically, that publicity should go to another community located about five miles outside of Saranac Lake: the hamlet of Lake Clear.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Feb 18, 2013 — Winter wind takes a toll on a household. It fills a driveway up with blowing snow. The windy side of a house can be colder on the inside, as well as the outside.

Wind makes life hard for shrubs and trees, too, even some native species that are truly winter hardy when they're planted in a protected location. But as Cooperative extension's horticulturist Amy Ivy tells Martha Foley, wind-tolerant plantings can help block and redirect the worst of the wind. In their weekly conversation, she's got suggestions for what to plant and where, for short term and long term windbreaks.  Go to full article

Feb 13, 2013 — Winter has been a cooperative partner for Ottawa's winter carnival. Plenty of snow, ice, and temperatures mostly below freezing have kept the main events in fine form. This weekend is the last weekend to enjoy Winterlude in Canada's capital.
The Rideau skating canal is a huge crowd pleaser. But so are more than a dozen ice slides carved into huge mountains of snow in Jacques Cartier park. There are kiddie slides and long, wide chutes that half a dozen people can slide down together.
Two years ago, David Sommerstein and friends brought along a gaggle of kids. He sampled the slides, the sounds, and the crowds.  Go to full article

Feb 12, 2013 — We continue our series, the Adirondack Attic, with Andy Flynn. You may know Andy from his series of Adirondack Attic books on local history. He uses the objects people make, use and leave behind to tell stories about the life and times of the region. NCPR is collaborating with Andy and his sources at the Adirondack Museum and other historical associations and museums in the region to bring these stories to air.

Today, Andy Flynn visits the ice palace in Saranac Lake for a conversation with historian and author Caperton Tissot about cutting ice blocks for the palace and using an antique ice saw.  Go to full article

Feb 11, 2013 — This weekend marked the close of Saranac Lake's 116th Winter Carnival. One of the big draws every year is the home-made parade.

Dozens of floats and marchers make their way through the heart of the village, in an event that's one part New Orleans Mardi Gras and one part backyard theater.

The trick each year is to match the theme of the Winter Carnival as cleverly as possible, using materials that range from cardboard to old garbage can lids to yarn.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Feb 11, 2013 — A big snowfall makes the basic shapes of the garden stand out in relief against the white background. Amy Ivy and Martha Foley talk about choosing and shaping shrubs and the basic architecture of the garden, taking advantage of this opportunity when just the bones are showing.

And on a cautionary note, it's good to mark yard and garden features that will be buried, particulary if they are near to where the snowplow might go. Also be careful about placing more delicate plantings where snow will shoveled or plowed into deep heavy piles.  Go to full article

Colton, NY, Feb 06, 2013 — In the opening scene of Sara J. Henry's new novel, a body is found in Lake Flower, frozen into the ice near the village of Saranac Lake. Betsy Kepes has this review of A Cold and Lonely Place.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Feb 04, 2013 — Starting seeds indoors is a mid-winter routine that gives gardeners a nice taste of the coming season: potting mix on the fingers, the fragrance of moist soil. Mostly, the trays and boxes of little seedlings are destined for the vegetable garden.

Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy has suggestions this week for starting flowers, perennial, that is, from seed as well.

She tells Martha Foley that starting perennials from seed is generally a more forgiving project than getting vegetable seedlings ready to go. Timing for the getting young flowers ready for transplanting isn't so crucial. One caveat: the timeline to maturity is longer.  Go to full article

Troy, NY, Feb 01, 2013 — Seesawing temperatures, melting snow and rain, heavy winds...and that's just the latest few days of weather extremes. New research may help explain why patterns are changing. It suggests that even if you live thousands of miles away from a major city, it could still be playing a role in your local weather.  Go to full article

Keene Valley, NY, Jan 31, 2013 — The National Weather Service has posted flood watches and warnings across the region. Early this morning NCPR's Adirondack Bureau Chief, Brian Mann, called in with a report from the swollen Ausable River where it pushes along Rt. 73 through Keene Valley.

He spoke with Martha Foley.  Go to full article