Latest news with #MorticiaAddams
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Toronto Sun
The City Gardener: TLC for spring bulbs
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Tulips, daffodils and other spring bulbs ask very little in return for the pleasure they give This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Few garden plants are better suited to city gardens than flowering bulbs. Every spring, public parks everywhere turn into gaudy strips and squares of bright white, red, pink and yellow, and many private gardens put on their best show of the year. Beautiful as they are, bulbs are pretty much the easiest of all plants to grow, asking almost nothing from you but to be left alone to do their thing every spring. But if you want to help your bulbs go forth and multiply year after year, here's what to do. Right after flowering ends, deadhead the faded bloom right at the top of the stem, leaving behind the decapitated stalk. Sure, you may feel like Morticia Addams (who liked to snip the blooms off her flower arrangements), but trust me on this: the stem gives the plant a little extra green surface area to do the critical job of photosynthesis, which it needs to build up its reserves for next year's show. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Otherwise, it is critical to leave the foliage alone till it dies down naturally. Do not braid, tie, trim or otherwise disturb the leaves in any way. Yes, dying bulb foliage looks untidy, but there are a few ways to minimize the mess. Try planting later-growing perennials around them that will rise up and hide the dying leaves. It's also okay to gently 'comb' the leaves of daffodils and other bulbs with long slender leaves to get them all facing in the same direction, which at least looks intentional; just be very careful not to break or otherwise damage them. If it really bothers you, some people gently dig up the bulbs and replant them, foliage and all, in a less noticeable part of the garden, then replant them back in place in the fall. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Tiny spring bulbs such as scilla, grape hyacinths, crocus, and the like don't need deadheading. Simply leave them alone; their foliage dies down quickly after flowering. This lets them go to seed, which encourages spreading. You may or may not want this, but if you don't (in the lawn, for example), simply dig up or mow any escapees. Some hybrid tulips only bloom reliably for one or two years before reverting to disappointing little clumps of leaves. Once this happens, there's nothing for it but to dig them up and compost them. Make a note of the spot and plant new ones next fall. More robust tulip varieties, such as Emperor, Darwin or Triumph, last longer, and some of them even multiply. Like tulips, daffodils come in a huge range of hybrids that range from near-weed status to snobby prima donnas that might not even send leaves up after a few years unless you treat them like the royalty they are. However, the most common reason that daffs stop blooming is that they've become overcrowded. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Wait till the foliage is starting to go yellow but is still fresh and carefully lift out the entire clump with a garden fork (you don't want to stab them!). Shake off the excess soil, and using your fingers, break apart the clumps of bulbs. This should be easy; any bulbs that don't divide easily are still taking nourishment from the parent bulb and should be left in place. Then immediately plant them again further apart, leaving the foliage to ripen naturally. (You can also do this in the fall, but it's easier now, when the leaves show you where the bulbs are.) The best time to feed your bulbs is early spring, when they are just emerging. But you can fertilize right after blooming too, as long as the leaves are still green. Bone meal, bulb fertilizer, or good old compost is ideal. Please feel free to write in with questions, to comment or to share your own city gardening adventures with Martha. Write to her at marthasgarden07@ Crime Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Toronto Raptors Toronto Maple Leafs
Geek Vibes Nation
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
America's Favorite On-Screen Moms: A State-by-State Look
Fictional mothers from TV shows and movies have long captured our hearts, from nurturing matriarchs to fierce dragon queens. These iconic characters shape how we view family and leave a lasting mark on pop culture. But which on-screen moms are Americans searching for most? A recent study dives into Google Trends data to reveal the most-searched fictional mothers in every U.S. state, uncovering some unexpected favorites. Using search patterns from the past year, Privacy Journal mapped out the fictional moms who dominate online interest across the country. Keep reading to discover which TV and movie moms resonate most in each state. Top Fictional Moms Ranked The study ranks the most-searched fictional mothers based on Google Trends data. Here's how they stack up: Fictional Mom Number of States Morticia Addams 12 Daenerys Targaryen 12 Lorelai Gilmore 10 Marge Simpson 6 Elastigirl 4 Aunt May 2 Queen Elinor 1 Sarah Connor 1 Sophia Petrillo 1 Renee Perry 1 Lois Griffin 1 State-by-State Breakdown The study reveals fascinating regional preferences for fictional moms. Below is a detailed look at the most-searched mother in each state, along with the show or movie they're from: State Fictional Mom Show/Movie Alabama Morticia Addams The Addams Family Alaska Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones Arizona Elastigirl The Incredibles Arkansas Elastigirl The Incredibles California Lorelai Gilmore Gilmore Girls Colorado Elastigirl The Incredibles Connecticut Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones Delaware Queen Elinor Brave Florida Sarah Connor Terminator Georgia Lorelai Gilmore Gilmore Girls Hawaii Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones Idaho Morticia Addams The Addams Family Illinois Marge Simpson The Simpsons Indiana Morticia Addams The Addams Family Iowa Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones Kansas Morticia Addams The Addams Family Kentucky Morticia Addams The Addams Family Louisiana Morticia Addams The Addams Family Maine Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones Maryland Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones Massachusetts Marge Simpson The Simpsons Michigan Lorelai Gilmore Gilmore Girls Minnesota Lorelai Gilmore Gilmore Girls Mississippi Morticia Addams The Addams Family Missouri Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones Montana Lorelai Gilmore Gilmore Girls Nebraska Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones Nevada Morticia Addams The Addams Family New Hampshire Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones New Jersey Lorelai Gilmore Gilmore Girls New Mexico Morticia Addams The Addams Family New York Lorelai Gilmore Gilmore Girls North Carolina Marge Simpson The Simpsons North Dakota Sophia Petrillo Golden Girls Ohio Marge Simpson The Simpsons Oklahoma Morticia Addams The Addams Family Oregon Morticia Addams The Addams Family Pennsylvania Lorelai Gilmore Gilmore Girls Rhode Island Aunt May Spider-Man South Carolina Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones South Dakota Renee Perry Desperate Housewives Tennessee Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones Texas Lorelai Gilmore Gilmore Girls Utah Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones Vermont Elastigirl The Incredibles Virginia Lorelai Gilmore Gilmore Girls Washington Marge Simpson The Simpsons West Virginia Morticia Addams The Addams Family Wisconsin Marge Simpson The Simpsons Wyoming Lois Griffin Family Guy District of Columbia Aunt May Spider-Man Morticia Addams: America's Gothic Mom Icon Tied for first place, Morticia Addams from The Addams Family reigns supreme in 12 states, including Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, and West Virginia. Known for her eerie elegance, Morticia blends devotion to her quirky family with a timeless gothic charm. Her popularity shines in Southern and Western states, where her unique blend of warmth and boundary-setting resonates. From Carolyn Jones' 1960s TV portrayal to Anjelica Huston's film role and Catherine Zeta-Jones' recent Wednesday performance, Morticia's allure endures, celebrating individuality and family pride. Daenerys Targaryen: The Dragon Queen of Search Tied for second with 12 states, Game of Thrones ' Daenerys Targaryen dominates searches in Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah. Played by Emilia Clarke, Daenerys embodies fierce maternal instincts as the 'Mother of Dragons,' protecting her 'children' with unwavering resolve. Her appeal spans from New England to the Pacific, reflecting a universal admiration for her blend of nurturing and discipline. Daenerys' complex journey makes her a powerful symbol of motherhood that transcends borders. Lorelai Gilmore: The Witty Mom Next Door In third place, Gilmore Girls ' Lorelai Gilmore captures 10 states: California, Georgia, Texas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Portrayed by Lauren Graham, Lorelai's fast-talking, pop culture-savvy parenting style sparks a redefinition of TV motherhood. Popular in urban and college-heavy states, Lorelai's close yet authoritative bond with daughter Rory appeals to a wide audience. Her modern, friendship-based approach, paired with protective instincts, makes her a beloved character. Marge Simpson: The Heart of Springfield Marge Simpson from The Simpsons tops searches in six states: Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Washington, and Wisconsin. Voiced by Julie Kavner since 1989, Marge's patient, kind-hearted mothering—paired with occasional bursts of rebellion—has cemented her as a cultural icon. Her dominance in states with strong family values and industrial roots highlights her relatable, grounded approach to managing chaos while staying fiercely protective. Elastigirl: The Superhero Mom Helen Parr, aka Elastigirl from The Incredibles , stretches into the top five with four states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, and Vermont. Voiced by Holly Hunter, Elastigirl balances superhero feats with everyday parenting, embodying the ultimate multitasker. Her caring yet authoritative style, paired with her refusal to lose her identity, offers an empowering vision of motherhood that resonates widely. Other Notable Moms While the top five dominate, some states have unique favorites: Aunt May ( Spider-Man ) wins in Rhode Island and the District of Columbia, loved for her enduring role as Peter Parker's guardian. ( ) wins in Rhode Island and the District of Columbia, loved for her enduring role as Peter Parker's guardian. Queen Elinor ( Brave ) takes Delaware, reflecting her regal yet relatable parenting. ( ) takes Delaware, reflecting her regal yet relatable parenting. Sarah Connor ( Terminator ) rules Florida, showcasing her action-hero mom status. ( ) rules Florida, showcasing her action-hero mom status. Sophia Petrillo ( Golden Girls ) charms North Dakota with her witty wisdom. ( ) charms North Dakota with her witty wisdom. Renee Perry ( Desperate Housewives ) takes South Dakota, and Lois Griffin ( Family Guy ) wins Wyoming. How the Study Was Conducted Privacy Journal analyzed Google Trends data over the past 12 months, focusing on iconic fictional mothers from TV shows and films. Search volumes were examined state-by-state, using character names alongside terms like 'mom,' 'mom,' or 'mother-right,' or their show/movie titles to ensure accuracy. CEO's Commentary 'Americans seem drawn to strong, independent moms,' says Mauricio Preuss, president of Privacy Journal. 'High search volume doesn't always indicate popularity—people might be curious about a character due to recent releases or simply want to learn more about them.'
