Newsletter

"Winning takes talent;

to repeat takes character"

George Eliot


Look out! Here come the "pineapple express"!

by Ann Wolski

“Pineapple express” is a nickname for a strong atmospheric river that originates in the tropical Pacific near Hawaii. Other names for this phenomenon are tropical plume, tropical connection, moisture plume, water vapor surge, cloud band and "sky tsunami”.

An atmospheric river is a long plume of moisture that stretches from the tropics or subtropics into higher latitudes, often thousands of miles long. Formed by winds associated with cyclones, atmospheric rivers typically range in size from 250 miles to 375 miles in width and move under the influence of other weather conditions. They can transport vast amounts of water vapor, equivalent to the flow of the Mississippi River.

After transporting the moisture, atmospheric rivers dump the moisture as rain or snow in cooler regions. These long, narrow bands of concentrated water vapor look like rivers when viewed from satellites. Read more

SKI Around Town

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says that more than 156,000 children require emergency medical care each year because of playground injuries.

Playground equipment and playground mulch go hand in hand. It is springy under foot and could prevent serious injury. Having a good foundation of playground mulch under your child's play area is essential for a safe play environment.

Our SKI's playground mulch is certified by IPEMA, International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association.

Sometimes less is more when it comes to landscaping and gardening

Before you get carried away and try to totally fill up your outdoor spaces with all your favorite flowers and greenery, you need to be aware of one of the biggest landscaping mistakes: overplanting. Overcrowding your yard can sabotage the beauty, health, and functionality you are trying to achieve. Overplanting can create many seen and unforeseen problems including the following items...Read more

How to ensure your landscaping project is cohesive and sustainable:

Understand the size, shape, sunlight exposure, soil type, drainage patterns, and existing features.

Decide if you want a play area, entertaining space, vegetable garden, or low-maintenance landscape.



Draw a rough layout showing lawn areas, planting beds, walkways, patios, and focal points.



Think about how much time you can dedicate to upkeep.

Blog

September, SKI Tips, 2026

Saving a baby bird

A 4th to Remember

There are three main types of floods:

Coastal floods: Also known as storm surges, these usually occur when a high tide coincides with an intense storm, such as a hurricane, ora a tsunami, forcing large amounts of water onshore.

River floods: Also known as fluvial floods, these occur when the water level of a lake or river overflows into surrounding lands. These are often caused by excessive rain or snowmelt.

Flash floods: Also known as pluvial floods, these occur when extreme precipitation causes a flood independent of a body of water. These can happen anywhere, including in urban areas when the drainage system or dam is overwhelmed.