10 Random Facts - February 2021 Edition

 1. Sometimes cherry trees don't actually produce cherries.

There are quite a few varieties of cherry trees that are purely ornamental, and will never produce edible fruit. So if you see a flowering cherry tree picking cherries won't be possible. You can still find edible things on these trees however. The blossoms as well as the leaves are actually edible, and are staples in traditional Japanese sweets and tea. Beware that you don't pick off any leaves in Washington DC though, it's considered vandalism of federal property there, and could lead to your arrest and at the very least a citation.

2. Groundhogs are like furry little architects.

It might be fair to say that groundhogs have some the most impressive homes in the animal kingdom. These guys are very meticulous when it comes to the design and upkeep of their homes, and this might be the reason that many animals will take over their burrows after the groundhogs have moved on, and sometimes even while the groundhog is hibernating. When it's time to dig out their new home a groundhog will start by digging inward a few feet before inclining the tunnel for another few feet before they flatten out the tunnel and dig straight ahead. This is a smart way for them to prevent flooding. Off of the main tunnel, which can be anywhere from 15 to 25 feet long, they'll dig several offshoots and add rooms. They'll dedicate one room for their waste since they're very clean animals, and after that room gets full they'll usually block it off and dig a new one.

3. Bob Ross gathered inspiration for his paintings in an unexpected place.

Many people don't know that Bob Ross actually served in the United States Air Force. He served in Alaska and so some of the mountains in his landscapes were drawn from that time in his life. Although it hasn't been confirmed that he was a drill sergeant, many people think he was. And he is quoted as saying once that after so much yelling in the Air Force he never wanted to yell at anyone again, hence the soft spoken voice he's known for.

4. When Prince Charles married Princess Diana, it was historical for many reasons.

You probably already know that it was groundbreaking since Diana was a British citizen, and heirs to the throne normally marry foreign royals for political reasons. In fact, the last time it happened was in 1660 when heir apparent, the future James II, married Anna Hyde. And added to that, Diana and Charles were also the first couple to be married in St. Paul's Cathedral since 1501. The newlyweds back then were Catherine of Aragon and Arthur, Prince of Wales. Prince Charles and his bride were the first to kiss out on the balcony, a tradition which was born because Charles forgot to do it inside.

5. There is a female version of Paul Revere.

She had her big moment during the War of 1812, but was actually different from Revere in the way that she warned the British that the Americans were coming. Her name was Laura Secord and although she was the daughter of a Revolutionary War patriot and born in Massachusetts she was actually on the side of Canada due to her husband who was a Canadian Loyalist soldier. On the night of June 21, 1813, Laura (who was 37 years old at the time) received information that the American's had plans to ambush a nearby British outpost. She hiked the next day through 20 miles of swamps and forests to warn the British and it resulted in the Americans being routed at the Battle of Beaver Dams.

6. The unique scent of crayons is actually pretty gross.

It's not a secret that the smell of crayons is very distinctive, in fact there was a study done at Yale University that stated crayons rank 18 out of 80 recognizable scents to American adults. But the scent itself is actually caused by something a little disgusting. The culprit is stearic acid, which is a derivative of beef fat. Although as gross as it is there is a good reason for it being there, and that is to give the crayon it's trademark waxy consistency.

7. Although Golden Retrievers are big, they are extremely gentle.

A prime example of this is the fact that even though these dogs are very mouthy and will likely pick up virtually anything just so they can carry it in their mouths, it is also likely that they wouldn't hurt that thing. Some people say that one of these canines could pick up a raw egg in their mouths and not crack the shell. This trait is caused by the need for the Goldens to be able to carry game (such as ducks) without damaging it. Golden Retrievers are also some of the top picks for therapy dogs because of their calming and gentle nature.

8. Not all NFL teams have cheerleaders.

To be exact, there are six teams in all that have chosen to forgo the practice. Those are the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants. They all have their own reasons for this decision but there is an important common factor. Arguably the most important reason is that all of these teams are located in notoriously cold states, and in addition to this they all play in open-air stadiums. This means that it wouldn't be safe to have cheerleaders, given their normal uniforms. A good portion of these six teams used to have cheerleaders but got rid of them for one reason or another, the Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants never had any to begin with.

9. February's flower is the violet.

And I daresay that the violet is a perfect choice for this month especially given the flower's meaning. Violets are heavily associated with love so they fit right in with the theme of February and might be the perfect choice for Valentine's Day gifts. In addition to love, violets also symbolize harmony, balance, healing, protection, dreams, and opportunity among other things. An old myth was that carrying a violet could go so far as to keep evil spirits away, and some even thought that wearing violets on your head could keep you from getting drunk.

10. Pineapples on pizza aren't so bad after all.

Pineapples as pizza toppings is a national debate, and to a lot of people a big no-no but it isn't the biggest no-no. Anchovies are actually America's most hated pizza topping, and followed by that is eggplant, artichokes, broccoli, and finally pineapple. And you'll never guess America's favorite topping... pepperonis. I can't agree with the second favorite though because the silver medal goes to sausage. Can we just pretend it's onions?

Bonus Fact: The crust of pizza is technically called the "cornicione".