March 12, 2016 – NATIONAL GIRL SCOUT DAY – NATIONAL BAKED SCALLOPS DAY – NATIONAL PLANT A FLOWER DAY

 

As part of Girl Scout Week, National Girl Scout Day is observed annually on March 12th.
Girl Scouting in the United States of America began on this day, March 12, 1912, when Juliette Gordon Low organized the first Girl Scout troop meeting.  At this first troop meeting in Savannah, Georgia, there were 18 girls present.  For these girls, Juliette Gordon Low organized enrichment programs, service projects and outdoor activities and adventures.  Since the time of the first meeting, Girl Scouts has grown to over 3.7 million members.

• The organization’s original name was the Girl Guides of America
• By 1920 there were close to 70,000 members
• By 1930 there were over 200,000 members
• In 2005 there were over 3.7 million members

Motto“Be Prepared”
Slogan“Do a Good Turn Daily”
“Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.”
HOW TO OBSERVE
In honor of National Girl Scout Day, let’s celebrate all that the Girl Scouts have done to empower girls and what the organization has done for communities across the country.
For more information, see the official website:  Girl Scouts of the USA(GSUSA)
Use #NationalGirlScoutDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
National Girl Scout Day commemorates the birthday of the Girl Scouts of America.  While individual troops and regions have celebrated the anniversary of this day, we were not able to identify when it became an annually observed as an unofficial national day.    
 

NATIONAL BAKED SCALLOPS DAY

On March 12th is a food holiday celebrating a popular delicacy, the scallop.
Scallops are a cosmopolitan family and can be found in all of the world’s oceans.  They are one of the most popular shellfish in the world and highly prized as a food source.
There are two fleshy parts of the scallop that are usually sold at market for human consumption. The adductor muscle is the white medallion of meat which is rich and sweet. This is the piece that is most familiar as the  “scallop” we see on a menu.
There is also the coral or the roe which can be range in color from pale coral to bright orange. This crescent-shaped piece is usually discarded before the scallop is sold at market because it may contain toxins. However, sometimes it sold attached to the adductor muscle. It is bitter and some say it cuts the richness of the rest of the scallop.
These meaty mollusks are very low in fat and are delicious prepared in a variety of ways.  Baking them omits much of the butter and fat that otherwise go into cooking this lean, white seafood.
Baked scallops are often found served as a delicious entree, however, they are also known and loved as an appetizer.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Try baking some scallops at home with this recipe: Baked Scallops recipe.
Use #BakedScallopsDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
Within our research we were unable to identify the creator of National Baked Scallops Day.
 

NATIONAL PLANT A FLOWER DAY

Spring is just around the corner and enthusiastically, March 12th is the day to participate in National Plant a Flower Day. Each year this day is dedicated to the planting of  flowers and looking forward to the spring season.  Flower gardening has become a hobby to many, young and old, and National Plant a Flower Day is a start to the new season each year.

Marigolds and Daffodils are the flowers of this month.

It’s good to know the zone you live in to determine which flowers grow as perennials (those that grow back every year) in your area and which are considered annuals (those that require planting every year). To find out more check out the USDA site for Hardiness Zones.  
For those who just can’t wait for the soil outside to thaw, seeds can always be started inside and set in a sunny window.  When the weather is nicer, move those plants outside. Keep the soil moist, but not wet and follow the instructions on the seed package for proper germination of the seedling.  For those who can’t wait, get out those seed catalogs and start planning your next flower garden.  

Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul.  ~Luther Burbank, botanist (1849-1926)

Are you in a warmer climate?  Then it’s time to get out the trowel and the garden gloves and start turning over some new soil.  Sow some new seeds, bulbs or plants and nurture those blossoms into a brilliant blaze for the whole neighborhood to enjoy.
For more information, visit the National Day Calendar page for National Plant a Flower Day.