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Coastal Bend garden calendar: 09.22.12

COASTAL BEND —
GARDEN TALKS AT GILL: Gill Landscape Nursery, 2810 Airline Road, will host the fall 2012 garden talks beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday: landscaping with edibles with Phillip Elbert; Sept. 29: 10 a.m., growing and using herbs with Mary Dunford; Oct. 6: 10 a.m., organic gardening with Andy Chidester; Oct. 13:10 a.m., container gardening with Merlien Wilder. Information: 992-9674.

BIRDS OF PREY: Local naturalist and Hawk Watch education coordinator Beth Hoekje lectures on identifying common birds of prey at the “Introduction to Hawks Raptors” seminar, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at South Texas Botanical Gardens Nature Center, 8545 S. Staples St. Cost: $8; free/members. Information/reservations: 852-2100.

FLOWER GARDENING: Carol Krank will discuss fall flower gardening at 2 p.m. Sunday at Turner’s Gardenland, 6503 S. Padre Island Drive. Free. Information: 991-9002.

GARDEN CLUB: First Presbyterian Church Garden Club meets at 9:45 a.m. in Kleberg Hall, 430 S. Carancahua St. Meetings are open to members and nonmembers. Tuesday: Marion Muenzenberger, Carl’s Fine Flowers, “Create New Arrangements from Old”; Oct. 23: Don and Rhoda Poenisch, Native Plant Society, “Easy to Grow Native Plants”; Nov. 27: Carol Krank, Turner’s Gardenland, “Butterfly Gardens”; Jan. 22: Michael Womack, “Best Shade Trees for Corpus Christi”; Feb. 26: Kathy Hubner, Gill’s Nursery, “Plants for Shady Areas”; March 26: Susan Matthews, “Preparing the Easter Cross”; May 28: Induction of officers and salad luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Information: 884-4057.

BONSAI MEETING: Bonsai Society meets at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Garden Senior Center, 5325 Greely Drive. Mike Feduccia will talk about tropicals. Free. Information: 992-0009.

PLANT SALE: Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardens will have a fall plant sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 29 at the AM AgriLife Extension Service, 892 Airport Road, Rockport. Information: 361-790-0103.

WINTER VEGETABLES: Carol Krank will discuss “Winter Vegetables” at 2 p.m. Sept. 30 at Turner’s Gardenland, 6503 S. Padre Island Drive. Free. Information: 991-9002.

HERBS IN SOUTH TEXAS: The seminar “Growing Herbs in South Texas” is from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 6 at the South Texas Botanical Gardens Nature Center, 8545 S. Staples St. Nueces Master Gardener and Turner’s Gardenland certified nursery professional Carol Krank reveals her recommended herb varieties and growing tips for successful herb gardening and harvesting. Cost: $8. Information: 852-2100.

BAY GARDENS: The Corpus Christi Area Garden Council Inc. will host the fall garden tour, “Gardens Around the Bay” from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 21. Tickets are $10 and are available at Turner’s Gardenland, Gill Landscape Nursery, Green’s and Thing’s and garden club members. Three gardens in Corpus Christi and two in Portland will be featured, plus admission to South Texas Botanical Gardens Nature Center. Information: 991-5375 or bwhitt33@swbell.net

ASK THE GARDEN PRO

Q: What are the little white flowers that have been blooming along the roadside and in yards after last week’s rain?

A: Rainlilies are a native wildflower that emerges after most rains. The grasslike leaves are often hidden among other vegetation until it rains and the bulb produces a stalk with a single white flower with a pink tinge to the outside for several days after the precipitation. The most common color is white, but there are some pink, yellow, and even an orange form. If you like these flowers to adorn your yard, then you can propagate by seeds which appear shortly after they flower.

Michael Womack

TIP OF THE WEEK

Trim off faded flowers on crape myrtles to encourage later re-bloom. The more modern hybrids of the old-fashioned Lagerstroemia indica and L. faureii have larger, more conspicuous panicles of flowers, but these often tend to turn to heavy seedpods which discourage re-blooming later in the season. They can be cut off, where practical.

Rita Phillips

Fall Gardening Tips

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September 23, 2012

As fall approaches, now is the time to start preparing your landscape for the upcoming cooler weather, according to the Santa Rosa extension service.

Flowers

Cut back, and remove old flower stalks from flowering annuals and re-fertilize in order to obtain one more color before cool weather.
Prepare beds for the planting of cool season annuals next month. Some plants to establish for fall, winter and early spring include: pansy, petunia, snapdragon, larkspur, stocks, statice, bachelor button, calendula, cleome, alyssum, marigolds, verbena, dianthus and candytuft.
Divide perennials such as Shasta daisy, canna, amaryllis, daylily, coneflower, violets, and ornamental grasses like mondo grass and liriope.
Cut strong stems of roses to encourage new growth for final flush of the year.
Find a local source, or order wildflower seeds for fall planting. Be certain to choose a mixture that is specifically for the south. Prepare the area, but wait until November to seed them.

Trees and Shrubs

Last month to fertilize woody ornamental shrubs in the landscape.
No pruning unless it’s absolutely necessary. This is probably the worst time of year to do major pruning of shrubs. Late summer/fall pruning can stimulate tender growth that might be damaged by low winter temperatures.
Plant woody ornamentals, including trees, shrubs, vines and ground covers during the fall and early winter. They respond well to planting late in the year because our relatively mild winters allow for root growth. Fall planted shrubs, for example, are well on their way toward having their roots established before hot weather arrives next spring.
Select crape myrtles while in bloom.
Examine the small twigs on the outer canopy of hardwood trees for black twig borer damage. Remove and destroy infested twigs.
Pine needles fall during September and October. Rake and use them in the vegetable and flower garden as well as in shrub beds. Pine needles make excellent mulch. Apply generously to obtain a depth of 2 to 3 inches on the soil surface after they have settled.
Mature palms should receive an application of granular fertilizer. Use a special palm fertilizer that has an 8-2-12 +4Mg (magnesium) with micronutrients formulation. Apply one pound of fertilizer per 100 sqft of canopy area or landscape area.

Vegetable Garden

Prepare the soil now, allowing about 3 weeks between the incorporation of amendments and planting. In September sow seeds of beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, endive, escarole, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, onions, parsley, radishes and turnips.
Last planting of beans (bush, lima and pole), cucumbers and summer squash
Clean out the spring/summer vegetable garden once plants have stopped producing. Remove any that are known to have been diseased or heavily insect infested during the previous season.

Lawns

Check the lawn weekly and watch for lawn pests. Check for chinch bugs and sod webworms in St. Augustine, spittlebugs and sod webworms in centipedegrass and mole cricket damage in all grasses
Last month to fertilize bahiagrass, bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass and Zoysiagrass using a complete fertilizer applied at 1.0 lb nitrogen per 1000 square feet containing 50% soluble and 50% slow-release nitrogen.

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Harvest-time tips for dealing with an abundant bounty

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Written by Laurie Nigro

As fall approaches, the garden is a very busy place. Harvest season is in full swing and as fast as you collect the bounty, the next round comes ripe. On top of trying to reap all the benefits of your labor, you also have to start thinking about storing the excess as well as planting the next round for your fall and winter garden. That means pulling out dead plants, adding compost to feed your depleted soil, and sowing the next round of seeds. Did I mention I’m exhausted?

At this point, many gardeners find we can’t even give away tomatoes and often notice loved ones running in the other direction when they see us coming, lest we accost them with an armful of produce. Harvest time calls for ingenuity and using all your resources to save what you worked so hard to grow. Excess tomatoes used to fill me with guilt as they sometimes rotted while waiting for a place in another recipe. I resorted to freezing them. This turned out to be a good idea. When we yearned for fresh salsa in January, I simply pulled out a bag of these summer beauties. When they defrost, they relinquish a good amount of water. When poured off, it makes for a thicker salsa or sauce. Also, the skins come off quite easily, if your recipe calls for peeled tomato.

When they are abundant, I usually freeze herbs too. Basil, cilantro, parsley, and mint all have a place in my freezer, where I can quickly find them to add to a winter dish. The flavors help recall warm days on a cold night.

Other produce that I freeze include eggplant, zucchini, and green beans. For eggplant, I peel and cube it for a nice addition to stew. I also use eggplant to thicken tomato sauce in a baked ziti. Remove it from the freezer, steam it, then run it through the food processor. Add the eggplant mash to the sauce and combine with the ricotta. My family really enjoys this recipe.

We’ve all been overwhelmed by a zucchini that should be registered as a deadly weapon. It seems this vegetable grows by inches every time you turn your back. And the taste of these giant baseball bats is definitely lacking if you’re trying to grill or saute. However, if you run it through the food processor with the grating blade and then freeze in one or two cup increments, they make a perfect zucchini bread that will be a welcome addition at any holiday table.

Green beans require a little more prep work initially, but yield a product as easy to prepare as any store bought frozen vegetable. Wash, cut, blanch and drain the beans before freezing. I once found a bag of these in the bottom of my freezer that had made it through a winter, spring and summer without being used. They were no worse for the wear and accompanied several fall dinners.

Obviously, I have a lot of freezer space. But what if you don’t? It’s one of the reasons that canning has never truly gone out of style. Rendering items shelf stable is a tremendous advantage. Canned goods can be stored on a basement shelf or in another out-of-the-way area until needed. Many fresh items can be cooked and canned for your winter pantry.

Another great preserving technique is dehydrating. Removing the liquid from foods allows them the same shelf storing ability as canned goods. My family dehydrates peppers, peaches, apples, tomatoes, and medicinal flowers and roots. I’m hoping this year to try drying zucchini and potato (sliced thin and salted) for a chip like snack.

The easiest way to put up some of your harvest is to choose items that store well for long periods of time with little to no work. Dry beans are great for storage and easier than their green brethren to find at harvest time. I often struggle with green beans as they blend so well into the plant. Dry beans don’t get collected until they are brown and dried up. At this point, simply shuck them and store in a mason jar or other airtight container.

Potatoes will keep for a couple of months if they are kept in a ventilated, cool, dark environment. Carrots, parsnips, winter radishes, beets and rutabaga can be put in a bucket with clean, damp sand and stored in a basement or other cool place. Winter squash can keep for months in 55 to 60 degree temperatures.

When planning your garden, try to keep storage in mind. Within each of these vegetable types, there are different varieties that keep better than others. A little forethought can keep you eating from your own garden long into the dark winter. And when the dark and cold are overbearing, try baking the zucchini bread I mentioned earlier. It will make the house smell fabulous and is a great comfort food.

Zucchini Bread: makes 2 loaves

3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil (olive, sunflower, coconut, etc.)
2 cups raw sugar
2 cups grated zucchini
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups white whole wheat flour
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Grease and sugar (instead of flour) two 8×4 inch loaf pans.
In a large bowl, beat eggs until light and frothy. Mix in oil and sugar. Stir in zucchini and vanilla. Combine flour, cinnamon, soda, baking powder, and salt; stir into the egg mixture. Divide batter into prepared pans. Bake for 60-70 minutes or until done.

I’ve seen children battling over the last slice of this bread. It’s moist and sweet and perfect for the winter blahs. What item from your harvest do you think stores best? Let me know at laurie@riverheadlocal.com.

Laurie Nigro is a mother of two, wife of a gardener, and co-founder of River and Roots Community Garden. Laurie resides downtown and though she came to gardening by accident, has welcomed it into her life.

Syracuse, Temple top Garden’s college hoops season

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NEW YORK — The inaugural Gotham Classic featuring Syracuse and Temple highlights Madison Square Garden’s college basketball schedule for 2012-13. The Dec. 22 matchup features schools leaving and joining the Big East.

Also at the Garden in November and December is the 2K Sports Classic, which benefits The Wounded Warrior Project, the NIT Season Tip-Off and Jimmy V Classic.

St. John’s will play seven Big East regular-season games at the Garden and face Fordham in the Holiday Festival on Dec. 8. The Big East will hold its tournament there in March for the 30th consecutive season. The schedule concludes with the postseason NIT.

The 2K Sports Classic pits Alabama against Oregon State and Villanova against Purdue in the semifinals Nov. 15. The NIT Season Tip-Off semifinals are Nov. 21 and the 16-team field features regional hosts Kansas State, Michigan, Pittsburgh and Virginia. The Jimmy V Classic on Dec. 4 will have Texas facing Georgetown and North Carolina State playing Connecticut.

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Two ‘Tea Gardens’ lectures offered next week

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BELVIDERE — University of Illinois (U of I) Extension horticulture educator Rhonda Feree will explain how to create a tea garden at 1 p.m. Tuesday and 7 p.m. Thursday at the new U of I Extension-Boone County office, 205 Cadillac Court, Unit 3, Belvidere.

Ferree will cover several types of tea gardens and their design components. The various plants used to make tea will also be covered. The program will be presented live via the University of Illinois telenet system. There will be time for discussion between the presenter and attendees. Cost is $5.

For more information or to register, call the U of I Extension office at 815-544-3710 or visit web.extension.illinois.edu/bdo.

Home and garden briefs, upcoming events

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Troll for ideas, inspiration, contractors and products for your next home improvement project at the Sonoma County Fall Home Show today and tomorrow.

The home improvement marketplace takes over the Sonoma County Fairgrounds for three days with everything from building supples, designers, landscapers and flooring to furniture, windows, window treatments, roofing, decks and gutter systems.

Twelve seminars will be held in Grace Pavilion covering topics like landscape design, solar energy, organic farming, rain harvesting and remodeling.

The Redwood Empire Masonic Officers Association will offer free child identification. Going on at the same time at the fairgrounds is the Redwood Empire Train Show, with model trains, steam train rides and food.

Hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $7 with children under 12 free. Seniors 60 and up get in for $4 on Friday. Bring in a can or box of food for the Redwood Empire Food Bank for $2 off your admission. 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. scsshows.com.

SONOMA: Free seminar on winter gardens

Make the most of California’s mild climate by planting a winter garden. Garlic, onions, kale, chard and peas are among the edible crops that can be planted now.

Horticulturist Dawn Smith will give a free one hour talk at 11 p.m. Sept. 29 at Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma on planting a winter garden that includes hands-on training. 23570 Arnold Drive Sonoma. For information rsvp to events@cornerstonesonoma.com or call 933-3010.

HEALDSBURG: Russian River Rose salutes heritage

Get your last whiff of the remaining roses at the Russian River Rose Co., which has some special events planned for their last open garden weekend of the year.

On Sept. 29 and 30 owners Michael and Jan Tolmasoff salute their Russian heritage and their “beloved Russian River” by serving rose cookies and aromatic Russian tea prepared in antique samovars. Visitors can sip while checking out a display of Russian antiques.

On Sept. 29 Michael “Karnak the Magnificent” and “Tanushka” Tolmasoff will do tea leaf readings — tongue in cheek, of course — at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

On Sept. 30 the Bulgarian singing group “Gradina” will perform Slavic and Russian folk songs at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

The Tolmasoffs will debut their 2012 estate-produced rose oil perfume, “Rose Embrace,” with samples offered by wandering “maidens.” On Sunday the couple will share a display of antique atomizers.

Cost is $9.50, with a portion of the proceeds going to several local non-profits. 1685 Magnolia Drive, Healdsburg. russian-river-rose.com or 433-7455.

SANTA ROSA: Learn about planting succulents

Succulents are the latest thing in garden design. Learn which varieties of these popular water-wise plants grow best in Sonoma County during a talk by expert Aaron Ryan before the Santa Rosa Garden Club on Sept. 24.

Ryan, who was assistant to the curator of succulents at the arboretum at the University of California, Santa Cruz, works for Cottage Gardens of Petaluma, where he propagates and oversees the nursery’s succulent display garden.

He will dispel some common misconceptions about succulents and give advice on propagation, as well as bring some special plants for sale.

The general public is invited to attend the free talk starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Luther Burbank Art and Garden Center, 2050 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa.

For information call 537-6885 or e-mail gardenevents@yahoo.com.

SANTA ROSA: Bargain seasonal plants at Willowside

Stock up on bargain plants for your fall garden at seasonal plants sales going on this month.

Willowside School in Santa Rosa holds its sale today with deals on Japanese maples, deodar cedars, hornbeam, olive trees, Trident maples, roses, hydrangeas, grasses, magnolias, elms, succulents, redwoods and more.

The sale will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine. 5299 Hall Road at Willowside, Santa Rosa. For information call 569-4724.

On Sept. 29 and 30 Luther Burbank’s Gold Ridge Experiment Farm in Sebastopol holds an open house with unusual perennials for sale and master gardeners on hand to answer questions.

Visitors to the historic farm may also stroll the grounds where renowned horticulturist Luther Burbank did much of his work, as well as see the exhibits inside his cottage. There will also be firewood from a live oak to purchase. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Turn into the Burbank Heights and Orchards senior housing complex at 7777 Bodega Ave. and drive to the top of the hill. For information email erinsheff@ comcast.net or call 481-3488.

SONOMA: Valley of the Moon fall plant sale

The Valley of the Moon Garden Club is throwing its fall plant sale September 22, featuring hundreds of plants for the prime autumn planting season.

Stock up on flowering perennials, edible winter greens, herbs, succulents, ornamental grasses, flowering mums, coleus, bulbs, garden art and more from 9 a.m. to noon on Broadway at France Street in Sonoma.

SONOMA COUNTY: Free classes with Master Gardeners

The Sonoma County Master Gardeners have geared up for fall with a line-up of free classes on a wide variety of topics. For information on any class call 565-2608 or visit sonomamastergardeners.org.

On Sept. 22:

Producing Home Wine from Backyard Grapes: Dennis Przybycien explains how to make top quality wine from homegrown grapes. He will cover proper harvesting and step-by-step wine production, including the equipment you’ll need to get started. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m . at the Petaluma Library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma.

Pruning Fruit Trees: Denny Pedersen covers the tools you need and how to use them to shape your trees, as well as when to prune and what cuts to make. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Rincon Valley Library, 6959 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa.

Perennial Vegetables: Save time and money by growing your own perennial vegetables and small fruits, including artichokes, asparagus and berries. Learn how from Master Gardener Ann Chambers from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Sonoma Valley Library, 755 W. Napa St., Sonoma.

On Sept. 29:

Conquering Gophers and Moles: Has a new family of pocket gophers moved into your front lawn? Master Gardener Jim Lang will lead a free workshop on how to conquer burrowing pests. He will demonstrate the proper methods for trapping the varmints along with the common mistakes people make in setting the devices. He will also discuss the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of alternative ways of controlling them. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Petaluma Regional Library, 100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma.

Fall Floral Creations on a Budget: Learn the secrets of making easy wreaths, swags and table décor to grace your home using materials from your own garden or from those of neighbors and friends. Master Gardener Ellyn Pelikan will give ideas to spark your creativity without draining your bank account. 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Healdsburg Library, 139 Piper St., Healdsburg.

The Sonoma County Master Gardeners are available to field questions. Their Santa Rosa information desk can be reached at 565-2608 between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays. They also man a desk in Sonoma at 938-0127 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. They can be reached by email at mgsonoma@ucdavis.edu.

(You can direct Home and Garden news to Staff Writer Meg McConahey at meg.mcconahey@pressdemocrat.com or 521-5204.)

Longtime Denver garden store is changing (gloved) hands

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For 25 years, Birdsall Co. lured gardeners to peruse and purchase gurgling fountains, chic outdoor furnishings, sturdy trellises, unusual pottery, statement statuary, lighting, and other cultivated garden accoutrements.

Proprietor John Ludwig started his store at 1540 S. Broadway with just 500 square feet, eventually expanding to 3,700 square feet — and 8,000 square feet of exterior showroom space.

In garden-speak, that’s more than a quarter acre.

Ludwig plans to pull up stakes and retire Oct. 1. But it won’t be the end for the Denver lifestyle institution.

“The Birdsall name continues, which is wonderful,” said Ludwig, who christened the shop with his mother’s maiden name. “Customers will be pleased that the store is being taken over by creative people.”

Scott and Annie Huston, husband and wife owners of the Denver landscape firm Columbine Design, have all but inked the deal to be the new owners. They intend to preserve the Birdsall brand that’s become known for high quality

and a sophisticated aesthetic.

But the Hustons will implement significant changes. For starters, they’ll open on Sundays. (The store will close Monday-Sept. 30 for its final cleanup, then reopen Oct. 1).

The new store will engage more in social media, though it will not sell anything online. “I believe people need to come and touch and see and feel,” said Annie Huston. “My dream is to create a place of beauty to browse and get a little peace and pleasure. We hope eventually to serve coffees and teas and waters. … We really want to become the Tattered Cover of garden stores — a community place where people can wander freely and enjoy.”

Over the past generation, as growing seasons wound down in Denver, Ludwig’s business would go into a semi-dormant state, too. The Hustons plan to ratchet up autumnal and winter celebrations at the store.

“For the first time, Birdsall’s will offer fall items, and we’ll do a full-blown Christmas,” Huston said. “I love the holiday season, and we’ll have cut trees and fresh wreaths and berries and branches. I refuse to carry anything artificial.”

She said the store will establish a library of reference books for customers seeking inspiration, and offer hands-on classes such as making terrariums, creating winter arrangements or planting spring containers.

In the store’s courtyard, they plan to construct themed vignettes such as a Provence garden, a rooftop garden, and water gardens. Columbine Design’s landscape architects might be on hand to assist homeowners with garden plans.

The Hustons also will sell plants, particularly unusual species, or more common plants in spectacular colors. Merchandise choices will be guided by Annie’s native French eye.

“I like simple elements that are elegant. They reach deep into people at a level they don’t realize and make them feel a certain way,” Huston said.

“I don’t look at what is the popular color this year or ask, ‘Do I want something modern or classical?’ I consider the overall emotion a piece brings out in me.”

The Hustons will stock merchandise by Colorado artists and artisans, as well as one-of-a-kind items chosen on their international travels.

“We will have some meet-and-greet-the-artist celebrations throughout the year,” she said.

Ludwig, trained as a landscape architect, opened Birdsall Co. when he tired of the rigors of the design-and-build industry. “I’ll miss the customers,” he said. “We’ve become good friends.”

Ludwig and his wife plan to spend six months of the year in Denver and the other six in their Michigan house on a large piece of property fronting a small lake.

“It’s a slice of heaven. The house is right on the edge of the lake, and there are no motors on the lake, so it’s totally quiet,” Ludwig said.

The Ludwigs intend to kayak, travel, and, naturally, to garden.

“We have a huge vegetable garden,” Ludwig said. “Gardening is nourishing.”

Meanwhile, during the shop’s transition, Birdsall Co.’s retirement sale offers deep discounts on most remaining merchandise.

Colleen Smith’s novel “Glass Halo” is set, in part, in Denver gardens.

Hiring consultant to study housing trends may be a good idea

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Posted: Saturday, September 22, 2012 12:00 am

Hiring consultant to study housing trends may be a good idea

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It is oftentimes said jokingly that an expert is someone from at least 50 miles away with a briefcase. But it’s no joke that Liberty needs help in determining which direction to go to see its residential numbers increase and why this city is not seeing the kind of housing starts that surrounding cities are experiencing.

Kansas City issued 128 permits in the Liberty school district through June. Kearney issued 31 permits through August, and Liberty issued 20 permits for the same time period.

Because of such numbers, some city councilmen think the city should consider hiring a consultant to help compile and analyze information on the state of residential construction in Liberty. We think that might be a good idea to explore, and it might also be a good idea to consider bringing in a consultant from outside the Kansas City metropolitan area. The downside would be that an out-of-town consultant might not have as much knowledge about the local market. The upside could be that an outsider could bring a fresh new perspective and might not have preconceived notions or political trepidations.

While many people realize that Liberty has plenty of land on which to develop, it simply does not have building lots with infrastructure ready to go, and this has been the case for a number of years, even before the housing bubble burst. Even in good times, Liberty had few developers and those that were here held large tracts of land. When hard times came, building activity came to a screeching halt, leaving only infill lots scattered in older subdivisions throughout town.

To stimulate housing construction, Liberty has been offering an 80 percent discount for construction permits for houses to be built on existing infill lots. We have no problem with giving home builders an extra incentive to fill those lots in existing subdivisions or near the Liberty Square. According to city officials, there are about 106 infill lots, but not all are desirable to build a house on.

But what happens when these infill lots are all taken? What steps does the city need to take to turn around this situation? Maybe a mayoral-appointed task force on housing could work with a consultant to come up with some innovative ideas. The school district also needs to participate in any discussions. This type of teamwork has worked with other task forces and consultants. Right now, for example, a community center task force is working with a consultant. A downtown task force is working with another consultant.

Let’s face it, the city’s major competitor for residential and commercial development lies just across Interstate 35 to the west in Kansas City. And the reason Kansas City is going gangbusters is because of the widespread use of tax-increment financing in the Shoal Creek Valley, dating back nearly 20 years. TIF has built beautiful boulevards and allowed water and sewer lines, and landscaping to be installed — all with tax money.

With such cash cows as Walmart and Target contributing half their sales taxes generated to pay for even more infrastructure, Liberty will continue limping along unless it takes some bold steps and comes up with a winning game plan.

Liberty does have a lot going for it — excellent quality of life, top-notch school system, hospital, college, highway system, major road improvements under way, new jobs on the way and a city government willing to take action to make things better. Go for it.

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Saturday, September 22, 2012 12:00 am.

Linear park for PJ

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IMAGINE opening your back door to a lush, green landscape filled with happy children playing games or senior citizens practising tai chi or enjoying the outdoors in their free time. While most can only dream about such luxury, residents of Section 12 in Petaling Jaya will be the first in the city to have a linear park to enjoy.

A linear park is one that is long compared to the usual parks that are wide and will come with amenities for residents to enjoy. Countries such as Australia, the United States and even Canada have long adopted this idea.

In Malaysia, Penang’s Taman Jajar has also made a name for itself among the locals and is a noted tourist destination for those who enjoy a quiet walk.

The idea to build a park on the empty stretch of land in Section 12 stemmed from residents’ lament that they were tired of seeing such big plots of land empty.

The linear park will be built between houses on Jalan 12/14 and Jalan 12/12 stretching from an existing playground beside Jalan 12/13 and Jalan Utara.

Exchange of ideas: Section 12 residents discussing the plans with MBPJ landscape department technician Mohd Rubil during a briefing recently.

The land is overgrown with grass and is home to rodents and snakes as well.

Section 12 Residents Association chairman Datuk A. Narayanan said the land was a mess with overgrowth and a possible hazard for residents if not tended to properly.

“We felt it could be developed into a park that can be used by the residents. Most of them here are senior citizens and it would be good if they can have a place to exercise in the evenings,” he said.

Next to the land is a large monsoon drain that was widened in 2008 after numerous floodings that brought water into the residents’ sewage system.

The project took about six months to complete and the result is an effective flood mitigation programme for residents.

Narayanan said they hoped that installing park benches, proper walking paths and lights would deter unsavoury characters from roaming in the area at night.

“The park is a central location for Section 12 residents and will provide an important avenue for residents to come together and build ties,” he added.

Section 12 Residents’ Associa-tion deputy president R. Raja-soorian said many residents had adopted the plot of land and planted trees and plants but did not maintain the place.

To be put to good use: This area in Section 12, Petaling Jaya, will be turned into a linear park.

“They do not have time to take care of the greenery and the dried leaves end up in the monsoon drain, clogging and creating more problems.

“By allowing MBPJ to build the linear park, we will have a better landscape and a place equipped with all the necessary amenities for everyone to enjoy,” he said.

Narayanan said the residents who had come up with the idea had engaged an architect to draw a plan that was submitted to the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

In their proposal, they included jogging and walking paths, cycling path, playground with equipment, herbs, vegetables and fruit garden, exercise area, barbecue and picnic areas complete with gazebos, meditation pavilions, tea garden and multi-purpose courts for badminton and sepak takraw.

The project was approved with a layout plan drawn up by MBPJ’s landscape department.

All laid-out: An artist’s impression of the linear park.

MBPJ councillor Richard Yeoh said it took longer to take off because the council needed to get the necessary approvals for the linear park to be built, especially since it involved reserve land owned by other government agencies.

“It is a great project for all local authorities to adopt. This place has not changed since the area was first developed 60 years ago,” he said.

Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohammad Roslan Sakiman said he was happy when the residents first suggested the project to MBPJ.

“Residents can adopt the park and help care for it as well and it complements our green initiatives in Petaling Jaya,” said Roslan, who has implemented several green initiatives in the city.

The first phase of the project will take off this week and is expected to be completed on Nov 30 while the entire stretch of 800m may take up to seven years.

For the first phase, work will begin near Jalan 12/12, comprising a 9m-by-3m plot of land. There will be a walkway with seats complete with a badminton court and flood lights to ensure the place is bright and safe.

A budget of RM100,000 has been allocated for this purpose and the rest will be dispersed in stages to complete the other stretches.

The landscaping of the area is estimated to cost RM20,000 and MBPJ officers will try to retain as much of the current landscape as possible.

In the long run, they are planning to add bridges along the park to connect to both sides of the monsoon drain for the public’s convenience.

Yeoh said they may even look at getting sponsors from private developers or companies to help fund some of the expansion plans they have for the project.

He said even the residents could pool their resources to put up fencing for safety reasons along the monsoon drain.

Narayanan and his committee members have no problems with the duration of the project and are grateful that their ideas have been included.

When asked if the residents in the area have been informed of the impending project, Rajasoorian said most were aware.

“We will highlight the project in our newsletter and rely on word of mouth to spread the news. This is a project for everybody’s benefit so I doubt they would object to it,” he said.

Thumbs up to Coffs gardens

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Garden competition judges Chris Ryan and Patricia Brinkley busy with score sheets at Boambee Gardens.

TWO big “green thumbs up” have been given to Coffs Coast gardeners from this year’s judges of the Coffs Harbour Garden Club Spring Garden Competition.

Invited to do the honours were Chris Ryan and Patricia Brinkley from the Woodburn and District Garden Club.

“We have been impressed by the diversity and beauty of gardens in this area,” Chris said.

“The unique climate you enjoy on the Coffs Coast offers fantastic conditions for growing great gardens but I’m guessing with all the rain you had leading up to the beginning of the competition, followed by a lack of rain in the past month or so, gave local gardeners some headaches and challenges as well.

“We were particularly impressed with the amount of colour used. It seems Coffs Coast gardeners are not afraid of using colour and plenty of flowers which is a refreshing change from the monochromatic or foliage-only themes that have tended to dominate garden styles and plant choices for a few years.”

The judges spent a whirlwind week on the Coffs Coast visiting entrants nominated in all categories, including residential, commercial, school and water-wise gardens.