ASK MARTHA: Snow globes require special care
Q: Is it possible to repair a cracked snow globe?
A: A broken snow globe is not easy to mend, but if you have an antique or sentimentally valuable piece, it may be worthwhile to enlist the help of a professional who can fix it for you.
A snow globe usually consists of figurines encapsulated in a glass or plastic sphere. This globe is filled with a mixture of distilled water and glycerin (which helps the glittery ``snow'' float) and attached to a base.
Since the late 19th century, when snow globes were first produced, the snow has been made of ground rice, bone, ceramic or porcelain, and the figures fashioned from bisque, stone or metal. These days, the snow is more likely to be composed of granular plastic pieces, which are textured to aid buoyancy; simple plastic glitter is used in inexpensive models. The majority of today's figures are also plastic.
Most modern glass globes are as thin as eggshells and will probably shatter if dropped, says Dick Heibel, a snow globe repair specialist in Northfield, Minn. Vintage globes have slightly thicker glass and aren't quite as fragile.
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For $15 to $50, professionals (search online to find one) can replace a glass globe, add new snow, refill liquid that has evaporated or become cloudy, and so on. (Plastic globes cannot usually be repaired.) More extensive fixes, such as repairing chipped figures, will be pricier.
Q: Why do some people wrap tree trunks in paper for the winter? Should I be doing this?
A: Expert opinions vary widely on this topic. Many believe that thin-skinned young trees Á especially those that have dark-colored bark, which absorbs more light Á should always be wrapped during winter months to prevent sunscald, or ``southwest disease.''
This is not actually a disease but a physical condition caused when the southwest face of the tree experiences warming from the sun then sudden freezing when night falls and temperatures drop. This cycle results in expansion and contraction, which can make the bark crack. Such fissures attract insects and diseases.
Trees without a southwest exposure (for example, those that are shielded by a building) can also be scalded by sun reflecting off the snow. Wrapping helps prevent this and also keeps mice and rabbits from stripping the bark when their food becomes scarce.
Some other experts, however, believe the risks of wrapping outweigh the benefits. Many young trees are capable of photosynthesis on their trunks before they develop mature bark. If the trunk is kept in the dark, the tree is deprived of its only opportunity to manufacture energy in winter. Further, if the tree is wrapped unevenly, moisture can accumulate, causing rot and freezing at night.
The wrap itself provides an excellent hiding spot for harmful insects, especially aphids and borers. Although these creatures are largely inactive during winter, they will happily feast on your tree come spring. Wrapping can also harbor fungal spores, which can then spread to leaves.
With all this in mind, assess your situation. Do other trees in your area show cracks or signs of scalding? Do you have problems with rodents nibbling on tree bark? If this is the case, you may want to wrap your tree. However, if aphids, borers, scale or fungal diseases have been issues in the past, perhaps it's best to leave the tree exposed.
If you decide to cover the trunk, you'll need to purchase special tree wrap, which resembles thick brown crepe paper, from a garden center. To wrap, unwind about 2 feet of paper and hold the end vertically against the base of the tree. Wind paper upward around the tree, securing the loose end and overlapping edges by « inch. Leave about a foot of excess paper at the top, and tuck it into the wrapping.
Secure the top and bottom with floral wire or rope. Avoid cinching wire or rope too tightly as this may girdle or bind the tree. And never leave the wrap on for longer than necessary Á the end of November through March is a good time frame.
Questions should be addressed to Ask Martha, c/o Letters Department, Martha Stewart Living, 11 W. 42nd St., New York, NY 10036. Questions may also be sent by e-mail to mslletters@marthastewart.com. Please include your name, address and daytime telephone number. Questions of general interest will be answered in this column; unpublished letters cannot be answered individually. For more information on the topics covered in the Ask Martha column, visit www.marthastewart.com.