Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JAnUAry 30, 2026 Saugus Gardens in the Winter Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener E ven more snow fell this week than last. On the slope beside Hurd Avenue, many families gathered to slide down the snow on sleds, toboggans and flying saucers. Piles of snow left by the plows became conical mountains to be climbed. Since this snow was light and fluffy, it did not do a lot of damage to tree branches and power lines. Given the low temperatures we have had this week, it did provide significant insulation to low shrubs and ground covers that were blanketed in the snow. Certain shrubs, such as many Hydrangea varieties, especially bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), will more likely bloom on branches where buds were insulated by snow than on branches that extend beyond the snow cover. On the other hand, temperatures in the single digits on Saturday before there was much snow cover may already have done some damage to some of those buds. The week coming up has its share of events and holidays that involve nature. Our snowy landscapes will reflect the bright glow from EXTRAORDINARY | FROM PAGE 7 “There’s going to be a lot of cold weather, and that’s going to be a drain on the crews, because they will have to go out and salt at night when things freeze up. There really isn’t warm weather on the horizon right now,” he said. Meanwhile, the DPW and other town work crews are bracing themselves for the possibility of a nor’easter hitting New England this weekend, which could add more snow. “Hopefully, we don’t get hit with that,” Crabtree said, dreading the possible scenario of putting more snow on top of the current snow from last weekend’s storm. Gravestones in the old cemetery at Saugus Center were buried by snow in the early part of the week. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) the full moon on February 1 unless the clouds obscure it. February’s full moon is appropriately enough known as the snow moon, and there is more snow expected that day. In 2026, Tu Bishvat (also A dark-eyed junco puffed up its feathers to better insulate itself from the cold during last Sunday’s snow. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) spelled Tu B’Shvat) begins at sundown on Sunday, Feb. 1 and ends at sundown on Monday, Feb. 2. Tu Bishvat, usually described as “New Year for Trees” or “The Birthday of the Fruit Trees,” is a minor Jewish festival that can be observed in various ways. SCOUT | FROM PAGE 2 construction of a new firepit at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus. The project focused on safety and accessibility, creating a space where visitors can safely gather and enjoy the park. Liam was inspired by his father, Robert Martin, who is also an Eagle Scout. Robert earned his Eagle rank in 1998 as a member of Troop 18 in Revere, and his example encouraged Liam to pursue the same goal from a young age. Liam’s parents were there After being out for 22 hours on Monday, J.R. Welding & Fabrication owner Joseph Reid said he loves plowing in Saugus Center. (Saugus Advocate photo by Tara Vocino) to support him through his journey. His mother was a Cub Scout den leader for Pack 62 in Saugus when One way is by expressing appreciation for food crops and plants in general, or trees in particular. In much milder climates, it may be a day for planting new trees, although here in Saugus this week it is not easy to even find the ground surface let alone dig in the frozen soil. Other ways to observe the holiday include donating money to plant a tree in Israel. Hadassah, a Jewish women’s organization in the United States, sells gift certificates for tree planting in Israel year-round for special occasions, such as weddings, birthdays, memorials or other occasions. This is done in collaboration with Jewish National Fund-USA, which began over 100 years ago to replenish the native vegetation of the Holy Land that had been destroyed or had disappeared. Species that are emphasized include olive, pine, cypress, tamarisk, acacia and carob trees. While for us the holiday falls in the deep winter when we are more likely to see snow than blossoms, in Israel the almond trees are often in bloom and the ground is workable. Feb. 2 is also World WetGARDENS | SEE PAGE 9 Liam was younger. At one point in time, his dad was the scoutmaster for Troop 18 in Revere and later became an assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 62 in Saugus. This fall, Liam, now 18, will attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), where he plans to study chemical engineering. He looks forward to carrying the values he learned through Scouting into his academic and professional future. Liam is currently a Senior at St. Mary’s High School in Lynn. He is a member of the National Honor Society and also is on the Robotics Team. Liam is the son of proud parents Robert and Julie Martin.
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