UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – April showers bring May flowers, and May flowers bring the start to gardening season.
On the next installment of WPSU-TV’s “Conversations LIVE,” horticulture educators Tom Butzler and John Esslinger will provide expert tips on how to best spring into summer gardening. Butzler and Esslinger will join veteran host Patty Satalia for the discussion.
“Conversations LIVE: Get Your Garden On!” will air at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 15, on WPSU-TV, WPSU-FM, WQLN-TV in Erie and online at wpsu.org. The 60-minute show is interactive, taking viewers’ phone calls, emails and questions via Twitter. Viewers can join the conversation by calling 800-543-8242 during the show, emailing connect@wpsu.org or tweeting @WPSU with #WPSUConversations.
Butzler is a horticulture extension educator in Clinton County with the majority of his responsibilities in vegetable production. He also developed Penn State Extension’s first online beekeeping course, Beekeeping 101.
Esslinger is also a horticulture educator, working with Penn State Extension in northeastern Pennsylvania since 1995. He focuses on the topics of fruit, vegetable and greenhouse production.
Des Plaines Ald. Mike Charewicz (8th) invites residents to attend his Ward Meeting on Thursday, May 15 at St. Zachary School, 567 W. Algonquin Rd., at 7 p.m.
Guest speakers will include:
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One of the first things to ripen are the fruit trees. If birds are a problem try this: find some pieces of a broken mirror and glue a length of heavy string down the back side and an inch or two up the front. Hang your mirrors with one on each side about halfway up in the tree. Birds will still come to check out the trees but will very seldom land and never stay long enough to have a meal at your expense. If you have enough broken pieces, glue two together with the mirror side out and the heavy string in between the pieces. Baling twine works great for this and it can be flattened and still remain strong.
Apparently, the flash from the mirror or the constantly changing scene frightens them or they think what they briefly see is a predator. Whatever the reason, they will leave the fruit alone as long as the mirrors are hung in such a way so they can move in the wind. This also works for berries, strawberries in particular because they are on the ground and much easier to get without dealing with thorns.
Next time you have a problem with bugs, try sprinkling ordinary powdered cooking garlic around your plants. Garlic powder deters aphids and other small insects. We seldom have bug problems and garden 100 percent organic by interplanting with plants the insects don’t like. Garlic and dill are both good insect deterrents. Just sprinkle a few seeds in with your other plantings. You can also keep the bugs at bay by not mono-cropping. Sew various types of plants together that are beneficial to each other. A very good book on which plants are mutually beneficial is “Carrots Love Tomatoes” by Louise Riotte.
If you grow corn and have problems with raccoons, try the following tricks:
When you plant your corn, put a Kentucky Wonder bean seed in each hill of corn. The fuzz on the bottom side of the bean leaf gets on and in the raccoon’s nose, they don’t like it and will leave the corn alone. Cucumbers, squash, pumpkins and anything that has a prickly stem will keep raccoons from eating your corn. This and the next trick also works to keep cats from using your corn patch as their “digs.” Put a lime in a burlap bag and hold the top closed and walk around the perimeter of the garden while shaking the bag, leaving a white trail behind you. This needs to be done just before the corn is ripe and after moderate to heavy rains for raccoons but as soon as the ground is worked for cats.
If you like garlic and corn but have a problem with birds eating the corn seed after you plant, try planting some garlic in the same place that you plan to plant the corn. You have to plant the garlic first and early enough in order for the garlic to sprout before planting the corn. The birds will pull the garlic sprouts out and you’ll have to stick them back in the ground or even replant some. When you plant the corn, the birds think it’s garlic, which they’ve found not to their liking and leave it alone.
Sunflower seeds have a lot of beneficial properties but can be a bear to hull. Try using a grain mill with the spacing between the burrs wider than for grinding grains, you’ll probably have to experiment some. Properly set, this method will break open every hull, leaving most of the kernels intact. A few kernels will be ground into meal but they can be sifted out and used in a green drink or to make seed milk.
After the kernels are broken out of the shell, stir the mixed hulls and kernels around in a bucket of water; skim off the floating hulls, pour off the water and dry the kernels and meal or eat immediately.
If you refer back to my articles from the past six months, you’ll find items that you can grow that have medicinal properties. If you research them you’ll find that most also repel bugs in your garden. Nature planned it that way, at least that’s my opinion. Interplant medicinal plants, keep bugs at bay and have health beneficials as close as your yard.
Larry R. Miller has been a freelance writer, worldwide health and tness information source since 1982.
Ready to start the growing season? The Dakota County Master Gardeners are offering a series of free talks on successful gardening. The first, at 7 p.m. Monday, will focus on “Tips for Preparing Your Garden,” including information on soil testing, composting, planning garden spaces, planting time and soil temperatures, sun requirements, spacing, watering and weeding, plus staking and trellising. The talk will be held at the Church of St. Joseph, 13900 Biscayne Av. W., Rosemount.
Rain garden workshops
Keeping lakes and rivers clean begins in our own back yards. Metro Blooms is offering a workshop, “Rain Gardens and Beyond: Healthy Yards, Clean Water,” at several locations in the coming weeks. The workshops will explore the latest in healthy yard-care practices, including proper use of fertilizers, disposal and re-use of yard waste, and managing runoff. Each workshop is designed to move participants quickly from an overview of healthy yard-care practices to a completed rain garden design for their property, with one-on-one assistance from Metro Blooms landscape designers and Hennepin County Master Gardeners.
The workshops, which cost $10 to $15, will be offered through June. The next workshop is 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Fridley Community Center, followed by a workshop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Longfellow Park Recreation Center, and another from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Brooklyn Center Community Center. To register for a workshop or see other workshop dates and locations, visit www.metroblooms.org or call 651-699-2426.
DALLAS – The Texas AM AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas has received statewide recognition for developing the first WaterSense labeled demonstration home in Texas.
The home is located on the grounds of the center, 17360 Coit Road.
Members of the Urban Water Program team of the Texas AM AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas with the Texas Rain Catcher Award from the Texas Water Development Board. The award was presented May 1 in Austin. (Photo courtesy of Texas Water Development Board)
The WaterSense home received a 2013 Texas Rain Catcher Award. Announcement of the award, which is presented by the Texas Water Development Board, was made May 1 in Austin.
The award recognizes excellence in the application of rainwater harvesting systems in Texas through promoting technology and educating the public, according to board information. Recipients display “excellence in rainwater harvesting” in Texas in educational, government, residential and non-profit/research categories.
“The Texas AM AgriLife Research and Extension Center is to be commended for implementing new technology that promotes rainwater harvesting and the benefits of water conservation,” said board member Kathleen Jackson. “This demonstration project provides Texans with yet another invaluable tool for conserving water.”
Board chairman Carlos Rubinstein added that rainwater harvesting is an important tool toward water conservation in Texas.
“We need individuals, cities, agriculture and industry all conserving for the long-term future of Texas,” he said. “We applaud this year’s recipients for their dedication to promoting conservation through the exploration of creative ideas.”
The Dallas center’s WaterSense home was completed in March of last year in partnership with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 and the City of Dallas Water Utilities, said Clint Wolfe, urban water programs manager for the center.
According to the EPA, WaterSense is an agency partner program that emphasizes “saving water and protecting the environment by choosing WaterSense labeled products for the home, yard and business, along with taking simple steps to save water each day.”It estimates that WaterSense homes use 40 percent less water than the average home, saving about 50,000 gallons a year for a family of four.
“Our facility is the first ever to receive certification as a renovation project and the first WaterSense home to have a rainwater harvesting system as one of its water-saving features,” Wolfe said. “The system provides an efficient alternative source of irrigation by using captured rainwater for landscaping.”
He said the rainwater harvesting system for the WaterSense home consists of a 1,000-gallon polyethylene tank with a first flush diverter and fill tube. The tank provides water to seven drip irrigation zones and two spray zones outfitted with a 1-horsepower self-priming pump.
Overflow from the rainwater system drains into a dry creek bed in the back of the house and irrigates a rain garden. The home’s garden area consists of low-water-use native and adaptive plants, and the landscape has been designed to be sustained solely by irrigation from captured rainwater.
“The WaterSense labeled home was a top attraction at the WaterSense event held at the center in March to recognize World Water Day and national Fix a Leak Week,” Wolfe said.
More than 800 people from Dallas and surrounding cities were able to tour the home as part of event activities.
“The WaterSense home and nearby multi-family dwelling, which we are also hoping will receive WaterSense designation, serve as working models to demonstrate to visitors just how easy water conservation can be,” Wolfe said.
He said in addition to rainwater harvesting, the center’s WaterSense-oriented dwellings provide hands-on learning opportunities in areas such as hot water on-demand systems, water-efficient faucets and fixtures, low-water-use landscaping and irrigation, and rain garden design.
“Preserving water resources and maximizing water-use efficiency is a major emphasis of the Dallas center’s research and educational programs,” said Dr. Mike Gould, center director.
“We’re proud the Texas Water Development Board has recognized us for our efforts,” Gould said. “Management of our limited water resources is one of the highest priority issues affecting urban residents. Here at the center we are looking into a wide array of technologies and methods of conservation that will work not only for today but also into the future, as metropolitan centers continue to grow and limited resources become even more strained.”
He said in addition to rainwater harvesting, water-oriented efforts at the center include lawn and landscape water conservation, resource-efficient landscapes, irrigation system design and management, rain gardens, porous pavements, green roofs and wetlands, protecting urban water sources from erosion and sedimentation, promoting responsible chemical use in urban landscapes, and the use of alternate irrigation water sources for urban landscapes.
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May 9
Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey Circus: May 9-11, U.S. Cellular Center, 87 Haywood St., Asheville. 7 p.m. May 9, 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. May 10, 3 p.m. May 11. Tickets available at the box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000 or online at www.Ticketmaster.com. Everyone age two and older will need a ticket to enter. Floor seating $42, VIP seating $27, riser seating $22. Opening night special: tickets start at $10 (excludes floor seating and VIP seating). All kids tickets $10.
Fundraiser dinner: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Hopkins Chapel AME Zion Church, 21 College Place, Asheville. Chicken (baked and fried) and fish dinners for $8, hot dog dinners $5. 254-6098.
“Photography on the Water” workshop: Orientation 7-9 p.m. May 9, workshop 1 a.m.-4:30 p.m. May 10, Headwaters Outfitters, U.S. 64, Rosman. On May 10, choose a kayak or canoe for drifting down the French Broad River, catered lunch, review photography. $135 advance, $155 at the door. Send check or money order to Headwaters Outfitters, P.O. Box 1057, Rosman, N.C. 28772. 877-3106 or www.headwatersoutfitters.com.
AARP Smart Driver Class: 1 p.m., Skyland Fire Department, 9 Miller Road, Arden. Classroom-only course offers tips for remaining safely behind the wheel, coping with inevitable changes in reaction time as well as increased hazards on busy roads. Come 15-30 minutes early to register and receive materials. $15 AARP members, $20 non-members. Call 505-8381 to register.
May 10
Letter Carrier Food Drive: Letter carriers across the country collect non-perishable food donations from their customers. These donations go directly to the local food pantries. Last year over 300,000 pounds were collected in our region, and this year MANNA is aiming to surpass that amount. Participating in this year’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is simple. Leave a non-perishable food donation in a bag by your mailbox on May 10 and your letter carrier will do the rest.
Fly Fishing 101: 8-10 a.m., Orvis Asheville, 28 Schenck Pky., in Biltmore Park. Lessons on fly casting and outfit rigging. Free. 687-0301.
Indoor yard sale: 8 a.m.-1 p.m., East Asheville United Methodist Church, 48 Browndale Road (across from VA Medical Center). Sausage biscuits and cinnamon rolls available for $1 along with free coffee. 298-3211.
Flapjack fundraiser: 7:30-10 a.m., Applebee’s, 279 Smokey Park Hwy., Asheville. Fundraiser for Sweetwater Youth Ranch. $7. 253-2515.
Open mic for spoken word: 3-5 p.m., Metro Wines, 169 Charlotte St., Asheville. Open to all readers of poetry and spoken word. Held every second Saturday. 575-9525.
Asheville Lawn Bowling Club: Meets from 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays, Carrier Park, Amboy Road, Asheville.
FrogWatch USA family training session: 4-8 p.m., WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville. Learn to monitor area wetlands for frogs and toads all while contributing to a nationwide science study in this kid-friendly session. To register, contact Lauren Pyle at lpyle@ashevillenc.gov or 259-8085.
May 11
Mother’s Day luncheon: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Morris Cultural Center of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 227 Cumberland Ave., Asheville. Food served cafeteria style with a variety of Greek gourmet dishes and pastries. Also Greek folk dancing and tours of the sanctuary. Carry out available from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 254-7424.
“Red Mansions” book launch and wine tasting: 4-6 p.m., Metro Wines, 169 Charlotte St., Asheville. Launch for “Red Mansions,” the sequel to the award winning first historical novel by Cynthia Drew, “City of Slaughter.” A Jewish family struggles to stay together and hold onto their house during the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression. 575-9525.
The Community Orchestra of Hendersonville: 3 p.m., Trinity Presbyterian Church, 900 Blythe St., Hendersonville. Featuring several soloists and compositions by the conductor Robert Hudson. Free. 693-3081.
Haiku bamboo walking tour: 1:30-3 p.m., Haiku Bamboo Nursery/Farm, 468 Rhodes Mountain Road, Hendersonville. Learn about bamboo plants and their characteristics as we walk inside a lush bamboo forest. Wear walking shoes. Camera permitted. $20, $18 seniors, $10 teenagers, free age 12 and younger. 685-3053 or www.oshimabambooschool.com.
May 12
Allman Brothers biography launch: 7 p.m., Malaprop’s Bookstore Cafe, 55 Haywood St., Asheville. A celebration of the Allman Brothers with music, pictures, and beer. “One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band” by Guitar World senior writer Alan Paul is the first major Allman Brothers biography. “One Way Out” is the product of 25 years of interviews with over 50 people related to the ABB. Paul will grace us with some Allman tunes and will be joined by photographer and former ABB road manager Kirk West, who will present a slideshow. 254-6734 or www.malaprops.com.
Conealed carry handgun class: 6-10 p.m. May 12-13, Opportunity House, 1411 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville. Two sessions at Opportunity House. Also a required range session by appointment. Depending upon the number of participants attending the range session and their shooting experience, it will take 1-2 hours and will be held at Rex’s Indoor Range. Other classes: June 16-17, July 14-15, Aug. 11-12. $60 military personnel, $80 civilians. 692-0575 or www.opportunityhouse.org.
WNC Knitters and Crocheters for Others: 7-9 p.m., New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3070 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville. This group provides handmade items to 18 local charities. Hats, scarves, baby hats and booties, mittens, dolls, blankets, sweaters, afghans, dishcloths, etc. All skill levels welcome. Contact Janet Stewart at 575-9195.
May 13
“Echoes of the Cotton Club”: 5 p.m., Laurel Ridge Country Club, Cupp Lane, Waynesville. Musical salute to the roots of jazz and the Big Band era. By WCU Catamount Singers and Electric Soul. $30 includes entertainment, small plates and desserts. For tickets, call 452-0545, ext. 131.
AARP Smart Driver class: 1 p.m., Hunter Volvo, 252 Patton Ave., Asheville. Classroom-only course offers tips for remaining safely behind the wheel, coping with inevitable changes in reaction time as well as increased hazards on busy roads. Come 15-30 minutes early to register and receive materials. $15 AARP members, $20 non-members. Call 299-0069 to register.
Shag lessons and dancing: Every Tuesday with Mountain Shag Club at Showtime Saloon, 97 Underwood Road, Fletcher. Free lesson 6:30-7 p.m. No partner needed. Rotating DJ’s 7-10 p.m. $5 cover charge. www.mountainshagclub.com.
May 14
Asheville Mushroom Club: 7 p.m., WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville. membership $20 per year, family $25. Learn about and collect all kinds of fungi and eat edible mushrooms we gather in the forest. Others cultivate fungi in their gardens. Hear from experts about different aspects of fungi identification, folklore, cultivation and culinary preparation. We conduct a number of forays (field trips) around Western North Carolina. Some are day trips while others are camping adventures. www.ashevillemushroomclub.com.
Shred Day for Hendersonville residents: 9-10:30 a.m. in parking lot of Patton Park, 59 E. Clairmont Drive, Hendersonville. American Security Shredding will have their shredding truck available to allow residents to dispose of sensitive materials. Bring up to two boxes (or 50 pounds) of paper items. This is not for businesses. The public can simply drop their documents off or stay and watch. Bring food and toiletry items to donate to The Storehouse and IAM. 697-3088.
Blue Ridge Orchestra open rehearsals: Community orchestra directed by Milton Crotts holds rehearsal at 7 p.m. at UNC Asheville’s Reuter Center. Free. 251-6140 or olliasheville.com.
“Bird Feeding Myths Facts” program: 3 p.m., Mills River Library, 124 Town Center Drive, Mills River. Do hummers stop migrating if you leave your feeder out too late in the season? Is there really a “no-mess” bird food? Can a bird choke on peanut butter? Free. 697-4725.
May 15
Ignite Asheville Big Idea competition: 3-5 p.m., The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave., Asheville. Asheville is a creative hub for entrepreneurs with bold ideas that enhance our quality of life and transform how we live, work, and play. Speakers from 10 high impact ventures will share insights during five-minute lightning rounds about their big ideas and how they embrace challenges through ingenuity and collaboration. Get inspired by these success stories in technology, outdoor apparel, natural performance foods and other Asheville innovations. $12 Asheville Chamber members, $15 non-members. 258-6118 or www.web.ashevillechamber.org/events.
WNC GM Alumni Club: 11:30 a.m., Hendersonville Country Club. Judith Long, executive director of The Free Clinics of Hendersonville, will be the speaker. Free Clinics utilizes the skills, talents and gifts of over 260 active volunteers to provide free health care, mental health care, patient wellness education and pharmaceutical support to low-income, uninsured residents of Henderson County as well as some services to residents of Polk and Transylvania counties. 684-8488.
May 16
God and Country Wagon Train: Madison County Fairgrounds, U.S. 25/70, Marshall. A unique venue modeled after the wagon trains associated with our nation’s earliest development and a chance to revisit our Christian heritage. A time to honor those who have paid the ulitmate price so that we my have the freedoms, privileges and liberties that we are blessed with in America. Free unless participating on train or attending rodeo for $6. 545-4560 or www.Godandcountrywagontrain.org.
Book sale: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. May 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. May 17, Polk County Public Library, 1289 W. Mills St., Columbus. Hardback, paperback, CD’s, some free material. 894-6339.
Poetry seminar and workshop: 1-3:30 p.m., Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W. State St. Poet and teacher Tina Barr will conduct “Fighting For Your Writing.” $35. To register call 669-0930.
Community shredding day: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, 36 Montford Ave. American Security Shredding will have their mobile shredding truck on site. Area residents and businesses are welcome to bring up to three boxes or 50 pounds worth of material for shredding. Free.
May 17
Lake James cleanup: 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Black Bear Access Area at Lake James State Park, N.C. 126, Nebo. Volunteers and boats are needed. Free lunch and t-shirts while supplies last. To volunteer, call Gloria at 652-7121 or e-mail kmb@mcdowellgov.com.
“Farm Dreams? Explore Your Vision”: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Cooperative Extension Agency, 94 Coxe Ave., Asheville. Are you dreaming of starting your own farm? Explore the practicalities of your dreams. We’ll cover common sense, relevant information to discover if sustainable farming is the next step for you and prioritize your next steps toward your farming goals. $55. 255-5522 or www.organicgrowersschool.org/events/farm-dreams.
“Spring into Wellness” health fair: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Opportunity House, 1411 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville. Demonstrations and conversations about health and wellness to find better balance in your life. Demonstrations including hula, Silver Sneakers, therapeutic yoga and open art studio rooms where you may see potters in action and how gems are created in our lapidary room. Free. 692-0575 or www.opportunityhouse.org.
Barbecue fundraiser: 2-7 p.m., Camp Stephens, Clayton Road, Arden. Hosted by Boy Scout Troop 26. $7, $25 for family of four. 651-9227.
Yadkin Valley Wine Festival: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Elkin Municipal Park, 399 Hwy. 268 W., Elkin. Wine, crafts, music, food, fun. The park is accessible off I-77 from exit 85 coming from the north or exit 83 coming from the south. About two hours from Asheville. $20 advance, $25 at the gate. 336-526-1111 or www.yvwf.com.
Sustainable living workshop-permaculture: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at a private home in Hendersonville. Permaculture designer Chuck Marsh will provide an open consultation on transforming a conventional yard into an abundant and thriving edible, energy and water conserving home landscape. Rain or shine. Location given upon registration. $15. Call 692-0385 or visit www.eco-wnc.org to register.
QuickDraw art event: 4:30-9:30 p.m., Laurel Ridge Country Club, 49 Cupp Lane, Waynesville. Fine art, food, fun. Watch as artists race to create ready to hang art in just 60 minutes. Bid to win a piece of art in live and silent auctions. Hors d’oeuvres buffet. Benefit for art education in Haywood County schools. $50 in advance. Visit www.wncquickdraw.com or call 456-6584.
Free mountain/lap/Appalachian dulcimer workshop: Beginner level at 2:30 p.m. at a private home at 105 Eastmoor Drive, Asheville. Taught by Janet Parkerson, experienced multi-instrumentalist and teacher. By reservation only. Call 298-1090.
Yard sale and bake sale: 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Avery’s Creek United Methodist Church, corner of Brevard Road and Glen Bridge S.E., Arden. Sausage Biscuits for breakfast, hot dogs for lunch.
Gorges State Park family fun day: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Free admission. Vendors, speakers, display of emergency response team vehicles and equipment, kid’s activities, hikes to Rainbow Falls. “Invitation to Falconry” at 2:30 p.m. with red-tailed hawks. Waterfall film at 4 p.m. Music by Sliding Rockers Bluegrass Band 5-7 p.m. 966-9099. Take U.S. 64 to N.C. 281 in Sapphire, then one mile to the park entrance on the left.
Edible landscaping workshop: 10 a.m. at a private home in Hendersonville. “Envision and Manifest Your Abundant Home Landscape” by local permaculture designer Chuck Marsh. Participants can see firsthand how the process develops. $15. Register at www.eco-wnc.org or call 692-0385. Location provided upon registration.
Square dance: Southern Lights Square and Round Dance Club “Hearts and Roses” dance at 6 p.m., Whitmire Activity Center, Lily Pond Road, Hendersonville. Callers: Jerry Biggerstaff and Stan Russell. Cuers: Lou and Al Krech. 697-7732 or 625-9969.
“Farm Dreams” workshop: 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Buncombe County Extension Office, 94 Coxe Ave., Asheville. An exploratory workshop for farm dreamers. $55. Bring your lunch. Visit https://organicgrowersschool.org/farm-dreams-registration/ to register.
Artist studio tours: 9:15 a.m., May 17-18, meet at Asheville Chamber of Commerce, 36 Montford Ave., to ride together in a van. Art Connections will visit destinations in the Celo community in Yancey County May 17 and in Asheville May 18. Eight art studios featuring the work of 12 artists. The tours give participants the opportunity to interact with artists and give art lovers and collectors opportunity to have one-on-one discussions. One- or two-day tour option. Call 779-6808 or visit www.arttoursasheville.com for details.
May Wild Walk-WNC Nature Center behind the scenes tour: 1:45-3:15 p.m., WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville. Go behind the scenes at the black bear habitat, predator area and more in this staff-guided tour. $25 for Friends members, $30 adults, $15 age 16 and younger. No strollers. Register by contacting americorps@wildwnc.org or 259-8092.
Many have wished for a two-way fireplace, but how about one lined with brick in a herringbone pattern, viewable, along with the flames, from the family room and an expansive parlor on the opposite side?
And how about a screened porch that doubles as dining area and sleeping room to offer bug-free enjoyment of summer breezes?
These are just two of the dreamy features of gorgeous homes that are also environmentally friendly. Such houses will be open to the public during the Great Swamp Watershed Association’s inaugural house and garden tour. The May 28 event will showcase seven homes and a garden, highlighting the beauty in “green” features.
The previously mentioned fireplace is set in the center of the house, for example, to reduce the heat loss that is more common in those traditionally set within an exterior wall. And sleeping outdoors in summer would not only be fun, it could reduce the need for air conditioning.
A two-way fireplace in a Basking Ridge home on the Great Swamp Watershed Association’s house and garden tour has the luxury of brick laid in a herringbone pattern, but its central placement within the home makes it more energy efficient than a traditional fireplace that can lose heat through placement near an outside wall. Scandic Builders
Any house tour fan knows house tour fundraisers present opportunities to view some of the state’s loveliest residences, often of historical or architectural significance. This season’s roster of tours will satisfy an appetite for opulence and grandeur, with the storied 34-acre Blairsden estate and its 62,000-square foot mansion among properties open for touring. The estate, built between 1898 and 1903, will be open to the public for the first time ever.
But gracious living also can involve eco-friendly solutions that enhance a property. Take the home of Chatham Township Committee member Kathy Abbott, whose landscape includes a certified wildlife habitat, native plants and a front-yard stream that helps keep the basement dry.
“We’re near the Great Swamp, so there is a high water table,” says Abbott, whose garden will be on the tour. “It was a way to turn a liability into an asset.” The system diverts water expelled from a sump pump into a rock-lined stream that attracts birds, frogs and other wildlife.
It is a feature that goes hand-in-hand with the Great Swamp Watershed Association’s mission to preserve and protect the watershed region’s 36,000 acres. The tour as a whole supports its work with municipalities in Morris and Somerset counties to educate the public about regional environmental issues while maintaining open spaces and monitoring headwater streams that feed the Great Swamp.
The art and book filled living room of the Madison home of architect Chris Kellogg and artist Helen Kaar was designed to maximize use of solar power, enhancing natural light while also reducing sun-related heat gain. The house has numerous environmentally friendly features. Bob Sciarrino/Star-Ledger
The association’s Executive Director Sally Rubin spearheaded the tour. She says it will introduce tour-goers to the organization while showcasing design and landscaping ideas of Great Swamp-area homes. The homes are in Bernards (Basking Ridge), Chatham, Harding, Long Hill, Madison, Morristown and Morris Township.
“It’s not impossible to do some of these things in your own home,” Rubin says. “You don’t have to be uber wealthy or to start from scratch.”
While she described the tour homes as “lovely, large and gracious,” she notes that at least three are working on LEED certification, an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which requires adherence to certain environmentally friendly building standards.
The home of Chris Kellogg and Helen Kaar is among them. “Part of our LEED charge is sharing the sustainable construction with others.” Kaar explained. Doing so is important, she says, because it helps make the public aware “that you can have a green house that you want to live in just because of the way it looks. We don’t think green building will become the standard unless people want it.”
Helen Kaar in the home’s bathroom with lattice detailing that she designed and a living curtain of pothos and philodendron outside the shower. Bob Sciarrino/Star-Ledger
Kaar says the two-story house Kellogg designed for them with her input is the dream home of an artist and an architect who respect the environment and their surroundings. Their studios and office spaces are in the basement. The living area has three bedrooms with two and a half baths. There is a summer sleeping porch and a one-car garage. “We built it for us, and we both work here, so how many cars do we both need?”
The house also was situated for easy access to public transportation and shopping. Its roof was designed to shade the home from the sun’s heat while also drawing its power. Kellogg oriented the house on the lot to get maximum sun exposure for rooftop solar collection panels.
“Passive solar is the best,” Kaar says. “It’s free energy, all you have to do is turn to face it.”
A screened porch not only provides a place to enjoy bug-free summer breezes, it doubles as a sleeping area when cooler summer nights can reduce the need for air conditioning. Bob Sciarrino/Star-Ledger
Sari Jepsen, who with her husband, Mads, owns Scandic Builders agrees. Their Chatham home, built in traditional shingle style, was also placed to maximize solar energy collection. Their home and another home they built are on the tour. Like the Kellogg-Kaar home, the Jepsen houses have numerous green features.
“A house tour makes sense because it can show how everything we do affects the environment,” Jepsen says. “This shows how you can build intelligently and environmentally friendly and it still can be a beautiful home.”
The house tour also dovetails with historic activism that prevented the swamp from becoming an airport more than 50 years ago. The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge now has federal protection against development.
The historic Long Hill home of Alan and Kathy Pfeil will be on the Great Swamp Watershed Association’s May 28 house tour.
Kathy Pfeil, whose historic 19th century Long Hill home is on the tour, notes that the association also works to preserve land in the surrounding area where she believes the threat of over development is much more pressing. Pfeil’s home is above Millington Gorge where the Great Swamp empties into the main branch of the Passaic River.
“We have bird habitats, wildlife, ponds, vegetation, deciduous and coniferous trees and countless boardwalks and trails meandering throughout what is one of the few untouched areas dating to prehistoric times,” she says. “We have to thank the people with the vision to preserve the Great Swamp, as well as all those who continue to protect its legacy.”
BAKERSFIELD – Horticulturist Amber Beeson spoke in the Bakersfield Museum of Art Sculpture Garden Wednesday morning.
Beeson shared gardening and landscaping tips and discussed her life growing up in Bakersfield to pursue her passion in horticulture.
Beeson spoke about her work at BMOA, and give tips for spring and summer gardening.
This is part of the BMOA lecture series, which is held every first Wednesday at the museum.
Beeson is founder of the award-winning Giving Tree Project Benefit Corp. and has designed many local gardens including; “Seeds of Inspiration,” “Greenfield Walking Group” Community Gardens, “Train the Trainer” School Garden at William Penn Elementary, among others.
She received the “Pocket of Excellence” award by the Superintendent of Schools in 2013, and named one of the “People to Watch in 2014” by the Bakersfield Californian.
View full sizeWe hope that all of these old political signs are recycled by the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District.Eustacio Humphrey, The Plain Dealer
RECYCLE CAMPAIGN SIGNS: Ever wonder what happens to all those campaign yard signs after the votes are cast? Let’s hope most of them are recycled. The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District is recycling plastic and cardboard campaign signs and metal stands. Drop them off between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and Monday, May 12 to Friday, May 16 at at 4750 East 131 St., Garfield Heights.
BECOME A MASTER GARDENER: Ohio State University Extension and Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County, Inc. have opened registration for the 2014 Master Gardener Basic Training Class. The upcoming classes will meet during the evenings so that people who couldn’t make the usual daytime sessions can participate.
Master Gardeners are dedicated gardeners who are trained by the Ohio State University Extension program and who to educate others on a volunteer basis with timely, research-based gardening information.
Training classes begin Monday, Aug. 25 and continue through Wednesday, Oct. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Two full-day field trips are also planned as part of the course curriculum. Classroom training, lectures and hands-on learning activities are presented by Ohio State University Extension faculty and staff.
Learn more by attending one of three informational sessions. All start at 7 p.m. They are scheduled for:
Tuesday, May 13, Fairview Park Library, 21250 Lorain Avenue, Fairview Park.
Wednesday, May 14, OSU Extension Office, 5320 Stanard Ave., Cleveland.
Thursday, May 15, Shaker Heights Main Public Library, 16500 Van Aken Blvd, Shaker Heights.
In addition to the informational sessions, information on the course can be found on the Cuyahoga County Master Gardener website at cuyahogamg.org.
CONTAINER GARDENING CLASS: Add beauty and creativity to your garden with containers and pots. A class sponsored by the Geauga County Extension Service will show you which plants to choose, suggest color combinations, show how to use found materials and teach you tips for keeping your pots blooming. The class is 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 17. Cost is $15 and registration is required; call 440-834-4656.
The class will be held at the Geauga County OSU Extension Office, 14269 Claridon-Troy Road, Burton.
DECORATING HOW-TOS: Decorating can be an overwhelming task, whether you’re tackling one room or an entire house. How do you figure out what style is right for you? Should you tackle the job yourself or hire a pro? An article on Houzz, a home design and remodeling website, walks you through the decorating process from inspiration to arranging furniture. Among the pieces of wisdom:
Create a wish list. Write down everything you would like to do if money were no object.
Start collecting pictures of rooms you like.
If you want everything done at once but can’t afford to do that, save your money and do it all at once later.
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