Winter Garden
By Kristin Hannah

Meredith and Nina Whitson rarely agreed on anything except that their mother, Anya, was stern, distant and unfathomable. Drawn together when their father dies, the sisters encourage their mother to fulfill his last wish, which is to tell them the story of a Russian girl and the prince who saved her. That simple request uncovers long-held family secrets, taking the women into the dark past to show them the way to a happier, brighter future. Winter Garden is a beautifully rendered story that revitalizes a familiar theme thanks to Kristin Hannah’s skillful mix of contemporary fiction with Anya’s Russian fairy tales of hardship and survival. Readers are transported from the security of the family apple orchard and Anya’s winter garden to the horrors of war-torn Leningrad and the bitter cold of Alaska. As the older woman spins her story, the sisters learn the truth of their mother’s experiences, opening the doors to love and understanding.

The Poison Diaries
By Maryrose Wood

Not all gardens are places of beauty, and Jessamine Luxton knows this firsthand. In 18th-century England, her healer and herbalist father, Thomas, must mix his own cures and tend his own plants, some of which can be dangerous if used by the uninitiated. When an orphan boy known as Weed enters their lives, something begins to stir in the gardens, and Jessamine finds herself at a crossroads. The Poison Diaries, the first installment of a trilogy by Maryrose Wood, is a compelling young adult tale of good and evil that combines Gothic elements with solid historical fiction. The reader is quickly drawn into the Luxtons’ world, wondering if Weed is friend or foe, if Thomas is sane or crazy and if Jessamine is naive or wise. Wood reveals clues slowly, expertly building the tension and mystery. Be prepared to be swept away by this exciting story that appeals to teens and adults alike.

Garden Spells
By Sarah Addison Allen

The Waverleys’ garden is well-known to the folks of Bascom, North Carolina. The edible flowers, sweet herbs and sturdy apple tree and the family that tends them seem to have special powers. For example, Evenelle has a knack for giving the perfect gift, the apples are known to be prophetic and food from the garden can change people’s fate. Although generations of Waverleys have fed and helped their neighbors, Claire thought she was the end of the line until her sister moves back home with a 5-year-old daughter in tow. As the women mend past hurts and strengthen new bonds, their shared legacy brings rekindled hope for the garden’s future and opens their hearts to the possibility of love. From the Waverley sisters’ journey to reconciliation to the antics of the wily apple tree at the heart of the garden, Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells is a magical reading choice for a warm spring day.

More reading

What’s cooking? Best in food writing
April Fool’s Day: A cozy mystery roundup
Hot YA reads for the spring

OTTUMWA —
A new outdoor venue will light up downtown Ottumwa this summer.

Market on Main Director Heather Ware announced Monday that the marketplace was awarded a grant from Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation’s Bright Ideas Community Enrichment Fund for its outdoor Green Space, a fully-landscaped outdoor area for events, gatherings and “Meet at the Market” evenings.

The grant will allow for the landscaping of the outdoor space that sits between the market’s main building, 331 E. Main St., and the Ottumwa Community Outreach Ministry on the west side.

“It will be not only for entertainment, but an educational piece, too,” Ware said. “We’ll have seating, so people will have a place to eat lunch or have a Friday evening event. It will be a fun, secure space.”

The educational component will come through from a small grant from Hy-Vee to launch a children’s educational garden.

“Hopefully in June we’ll be ready to go,” Ware said. “We’ll also unveil some of our ideas for becoming a market member.”

The outdoor area will feature a stage for bands to play or acting groups to perform.

“And we’re going to do a lot of planting and be as energy efficient as possible,” Ware said. “We’ll incorporate a water retention feature where gutters will drain into one water storage piece, which we’ll use to water everything.”

The goal is to make the entire market LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), she said.

“Now we’ll start working on getting the pieces put together to landscape and what we’ll do volunteer-wise,” she said. “We want to make this as community friendly as possible. We’ll do our best to look for good, locally-made products, getting them all from Ottumwa sources.”

Ware will go in front of the City Council at its work session Monday, where she hopes to gain approval to open up bids for contracting for the indoor area. The council will then choose the lowest bid at its first meeting in June.

“From there we would be able to start construction, depending on who the contractor is,” she said. “Hopefully everyone’s ready to have fun this summer. We would love to have a celebrity night and get Ottumwa-grown people to come back. It will be a fun space where, if you’re looking for somewhere to go on a Friday night, you can come hang out in a family-friendly space.”

A plaza space, additional pedestrian walkways and bike paths, smaller parking lot, LEED certification, and three exit lanes are some of the recent changes made to the design plan of a proposed Target store on the west side of Lake Bluff.

Plans for the proposed 140,000-square-foot store on the former site of Shepard Chevrolet, a 14-acre lot located near the intersection of Route 176 and Waukegan Road, were explained at a recent public hearing of the Lake Bluff Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals by Kimley-Horn and Associates, engineers for Target. The plans also include a 4,200 square-foot bank and two retail or restaurant spaces, one 4,162 square feet and the other 5,240 square feet.

The plaza area and social space between the bank and one of the retail spaces would feature a public sculpture by a local artist.

“The purpose of that plaza is to have something more in tune with keeping with Lake Bluff’s downtown, something that allows people to stop and take time to actually linger, socialize, sit down on a bench and enjoy the space,” said Brandon Stanick, assistant village administrator..

Other changes include preventing the Target bull’s-eye logo from extending above the roof line, more transparent windows on the northwest corner of the building, landscaping and green space increased from 7 to 10 percent, and parking reduced to 106 spaces. The firm also explored beautifying the traditional Target facade by using a darker brick mixed with stone.

Efforts also have been made to increase bike and pedestrian connectivity to pathways on the site, reduce pavement widths, preserve existing vegetation, and improve crosswalks and traffic signals to increase safety. With those changes, the building could qualify for LEED Silver Certification, according to Kimley-Horn and Associates.

To address traffic concerns, the plan calls for one entrance lane and three exit lanes, one right turn lane, one left turn lane, and one straight lane.

“They’re widening that entrance at the intersection of 176 and Shagbark Road to ensure adequate traffic flow,” Stanick said.

Despite improvements made to the design, several residents at the public hearing voiced concerns over Target’s effect on local businesses.

“They haven’t convinced me yet that we need a Target in this area and that that’s the best use for this space,” said Susie McMurray, a resident who owns the store Voila in Lake Bluff. “My customers have said if Target comes in, we’re still going to support you. In the long run though, there’s enough crossover merchandise that it could put a dent in the bottom line.”

Other residents praised Lake Bluff’s charm and character, including a former Lake Forest resident who moved to the quaint community to retire. Many cautioned patience and asked the joint commission and board to consider the lifestyle of the town.

“Changes to the plan are impressive, but they don’t change economic impact of a big box retailer coming to a village of this size,” said Kathryn Briand, a Lake Bluff resident. “I’m asking you to consider this. We all have ideas of what our community is like and what we want it to be like in the long term. You hitch yourself to this wagon, and it’s a wagon that has no roots in this community.”

The joint commission and board will continue the public hearing and asked the engineering firm to return with a final plan at the May 15 meeting, said Stanick.

triblocaltips@tribune.com

Ramp Up Curb Appeal With Gardening Ideas From HouseLogic.com

WASHINGTON, DC–(Marketwired – Apr 22, 2013) – Flowers, trees, shrubbery, oh my! Spring is underway and for many it’s time to get outdoors and reconnect with nature. Gardening enthusiasts who want to deepen the shade of their green thumb can find helpful information and how-tos just a click away at the Landscaping and Gardening section of HouseLogic.com, the award-winning, comprehensive website for homeowners from the National Association of Realtors(R).

“HouseLogic.com has all the tips, advice and inspiration you need to make your garden really stand out this year,” said Pamela Geurds Kabati, NAR senior vice president of communications and HouseLogic spokesperson. “Whether your gardening plans are as simple as pulling weeds and raking leaves or as large-scale as a complete overhaul of your backyard, HouseLogic.com offers valuable insights on how to make it happen.”

According to the 2013 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, gardening and landscaping efforts pay off; curb appeal projects are rated among the most valuable home improvement projects. A pleasing exterior with well-groomed shrubbery can really make a home stand out.

Visitors to HouseLogic.com will find great tips and ideas for beautifying their yard in fun and revealing articles like 5 Awesomely Easy Landscaping Projects. Users can also check out 10 Must Have Landscape Tools for help planning their projects. Another interesting article explores the benefits of spending time outdoors and Gardening as a Cure for Depression.

HouseLogic also helps homeowners avoid landscaping pitfalls with resources like 11 Trees You Should Never Plant in Your Yard. This slideshow highlights trees that are sometimes more trouble than they’re worth and can help owners make more informed decisions when deciding what trees to plant.

HouseLogic is an award-winning, free source of information and tools from the National Association of Realtors(R) that helps homeowners make smart decisions and take responsible actions to maintain, protect, and enhance the value of their home. HouseLogic helps homeowners plan and organize their home projects and provides timely articles and news; home improvement advice and how-tos; and information about taxes, home finances, and insurance.

The National Association of Realtors(R), “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

This and other news releases are posted in the Press Room at www.houselogic.com. Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org.

For further information contact:

Michelle Wardlaw

202-383-1042

Email Contact

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The idea struck Sallye Clark when dropped her dear friend Kathy King off at her house and King lamented the landscaping chores she’d neglected during a serious, enervating illness.

Although she enjoyed working in the yard, King didn’t have the stamina to landscape the house she and her husband, Jim, had purchased the previous year on a quiet South Hills street.

“I suggested we get a team together. It’ll be like back in the day when we’re all young and poor and got together and worked on a project. Kathy didn’t want to put people out,” said Clark, who first met Kathy at church about 25 years ago.

An upcoming vacation for the Kings provided the tenacious Clark with a narrow window of opportunity. She called friends, who called friends, including landscape architect Beth Loflin, and developed an ambitious action plan within a week.

When the Kings left the following week, the heavy equipment arrived along with crews of volunteers wielding shovels and rakes. As preparation for the garden installation, they jackhammered and removed a sidewalk, dug out a water well and excavated a courtyard area in preparation for a flagstone patio. Trucks arrived with loads of trees, shrubs, plants and mulch — lots of mulch.

Clark had consulted Jim King and the Kings’ daughter Jane about the project before they left for their trip, but Kathy had no idea about the transformation that was happening in her absence.

“Once Sallye gets an idea, you better just get out of the way. I was just taking orders at this point,” said Jim, who made whatever surreptitious preparations he could before they left.

The Kings had consulted with Loflin about a landscape plan in the past. She’d sketched some ideas, so she already had a good idea of what landscape concepts they liked. “We were going to go forward with the plan at some point, but it probably wouldn’t have done it all ourselves for three or four years. This came together in a couple of weeks,” said Jim King.

When the Kings returned home April 8, the extent of grounds’ metamorphosis surprised Jim — but it stunned Kathy, who was initially speechless, then tearful as she walked the property and took in the makeover.

“I was so totally overwhelmed as we drove up. It’s not so much the look, which was wonderful, but the idea that so many people came together and did this,” Kathy said.

Martha Hannah, another longtime friend who helped Clark marshal volunteers, said many more people wanted to help but were out of town for spring break. She thought they might have made financial contributions.

Kathy confirmed that people had contributed, but they don’t know who made donations. All they know is that when Jim went to Green’s Feed Seed to settle the bill for materials, he was told that the account had a balance of zero.

At first, the unassuming Kathy felt uncomfortable that so many people, some of whom she didn’t even know, had given so much for the impressive project. Hannah helped her gain perspective.

“I have a hard time accepting help. Then Martha told me that they had so much fun doing this. She told me that it was as much a blessing to them as it was to me,” Kathy said. “I learned that if I don’t accept help from others, it’s an ego issue.”

Volunteers poured in from the ranks of people who knew the Kings through Christ Church United Methodist, tennis and WVU tailgating parties. Colleagues joined in. She is a nurse anesthetist at Cabell Huntington Hospital, and he is an architect with the Higher Education Policy Commission.

Neither Hannah nor Clark was surprised at the enthusiastic response.

“To me, it’s a testament to the type of people Jim and Kathy are,” Hannah said.

In addition to friends who provided labor, George Washington High School instructor Col. Monty Warner brought several JROTC students to lend a hand. The students toiled in cold, rainy weather to break up the sidewalk and cut down existing trees and undergrowth. Clark, who previously taught English at GW, recruited Warner’s assistance for the project.

The students and volunteers tossed discarded materials into a bin loaned to the site by a friend who owns a waste management company.

In all, about 40 people worked on the project. Hannah, Loflin and Clark said they enjoyed the project so much, many people told them they didn’t want it to end.

“Everyone was smiling and laughing. It brought people together who had no other common thread,” said Loflin. Hannah added that she had the chance to meet Kathy’s friends she’d never met, but often heard her friend speak about.

Freely given labor and donated materials, equipment and services brought the cost of the renovation to about a fifth of its actual value, Loflin said.

Hannah offered some bricks leftover from an addition to her home for the project, and Loflin worked them into seating areas along the circular courtyard. Gardening friends added another personal touch.

“Some people divided plants from their own yards. This is really a garden of love,” Hannah said.

Star magnolia, dwarf nectarine and espaliered crabapple trees join low-care perennials and planters of brightly colored annuals to rim the patio’s peaceful seating area. Potted herbs are within easy reach to clip for culinary use. The area is softly lighted for evening relaxation.

“The patio is my favorite part of the project,” Kathy said. The Kings also enjoy sitting on their front porch. Their former neighbor Jane Hammett sorted through her extensive collection of fabrics and picked colorful fabrics she used to re-cover the cushions.

Newly planted and mulched beds hug the house’s foundation, while a stand-alone vegetable and fruit garden stands in the back yard, already planted with blueberry bushes and a peach tree. This garden will provide physical sustenance to bolster the sensory pleasure offered in the front yard.

“I think all of us hope that Kathy finds comfort, joy and relaxation as she undergoes further treatment,” Clark said. “Kathy is so giving and kind. I think this says that there are many more good people than bad in the world when they come together for something like this.”

Reach Julie Robinson at jul…@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1230.

Written by Laurie Nigro

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Learn how you can eliminate turf grass and the chemical pesticides and fertilizers it requires by replacing turf with attractive edibles.

Last week I wrote about reducing or, preferably, eliminating the use of pesticides and fertilizers in lawn care and management. I said that this week, I’d talk about ways to have an edible lawn. I’ll get into that, but first I need you to now that I will barely be able to scrape the tip of the iceberg on this topic.

Entire books can be (and have been) written about food lawns. Groups are dedicated to the cause and people with much more knowledge of the process than myself, have written very succinctly about its applications. So, I’ll try to proffer a few ideas and then I’ll include as many resources as I can to get you started.

The biggest step is making the decision to grow food. It doesn’t have to be a massive, all-in-one overhaul where you rip out all your grass and start from scratch. Of course, you can certainly take that approach if it suits you, but most people like to start small and see how it goes.

Choosing to grow an herb garden is a good place to start. Choose a small area of turf, one that gets ample sun, and remove the grass. You can also take over a flower bed or other cleared area. Decide which herbs you use most. Many people start with basil, cilantro, oregano, thyme, mint, parsley or some combination. The first two are annuals, the next three are perennials and parsley is a biennial. Mint is extremely invasive so it’s best to keep it in a pot. If you’d like to put it in the ground, you can leave it in the pot when planting. Unless, of course, you want the mint to take over.

Most herbs are fairly low maintenance and are easy to harvest. I often run out to my herb bed for something fresh to throw in a salad, soup or sauce. As the season comes to an end, I either freeze the last bounty or dry it, for use throughout the colder months.

Another way to gradually incorporate edible or medicinal plants into your yard is with flowers. Nasturtium is a vining plant that produces beautiful yellow and orange flowers. They look fabulous in a salad and have a slightly sweet, very peppery flavor. Nasturtium tolerate poor soil and are easy to grow from seed.

Calendula is another edible flower that also has great medicinal value. Add the flower as a garnish on a brunch plate or top a fresh garden salad. The dried flowers can be used as a tea or seeped in oil for topical use. Calendula is a wonderful ointment that I’ve been using for years to soothe skin irritations.

Coneflower, or echinacea, is also a medicinal plant. Additionally, it is quite pretty and
fits well in most flower beds. It does get tall though, and is a perennial, so take care when choosing a location for planting. I’ve seen the daisy-like flowers sprout in purple, pink, red, orange and even white. The root is often dried and made into a tea to boost the immune system.

Chives are one of my favorite plants. They are among the first to come up in the spring, with thick, tall, grass-like clumps that make an excellent addition to any dish requiring a little oniony zest. As the season progresses, the plant sprouts purple, spiked, ball-like flowers that share that onion essence. They are another edible flower. Chives require almost no maintenance and get larger each year. They also stay green far into the fall. If the plant gets too big for the space it’s in, you can split it and plant some more in another area of your yard, or share it with a friend.

As I’ve said, whole books have been written about edible landscaping. Apparently, I have even more to say about it than I thought. I’ll continue with the topic next week but I’ll focus on vegetables. Vegetable plants can also be incorporated into a beautiful yard and I’ll offer some suggestions about how to accomplish just that.

If you want to get started right away, check out www.motherearthnews.com and www.organicgardening.com or stop in at the Riverhead Library. They have a fairly large and comprehensive selection of gardening titles. I highly recommend “This Organic Life,” by Joan Gussow or this great article by Michael Pollan: “Why Mow? The Case Against Lawns.”

If you already have chives sprouting and want to incorporate some into your cooking, try mixing the chopped greens in a little sour cream for the top of your taco, or put some in an omelet. Fresh eggs are also in abundance this time of year. Look for them at your local farm stand or coyly mention to a chicken-owning friend how much you love eggs. I can almost guarantee they will happily hand over a half dozen or so.

Cream Cheese Chive Omelet

Ingredients

1 tablespoon non-GMO oil
4 eggs
2 tablespoons minced chives
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
pepper, to taste
2 ounces cream cheese, cubed

Directions
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-low heat. Whisk together the eggs, chives, milk, salt and pepper. Add egg mixture to skillet. When the eggs are set, sprinkle cream cheese on one side; fold other side over filling. Slide omelet onto a plate.

What herbs are you growing this year? Do you plan to incorporate any elements of edible landscaping? Let me know at laurie@riverheadlocal.com

Laurie Nigro, a mother of two, is passionate about natural living. Laurie resides in downtown Riverhead and is co-founder of the River and Roots Community Garden on West Main Street. Contact her by email to laurie@riverheadlocal.com.

 

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We’re always excited to learn useful tips from gardening experts. But maintaining an impressive lawn takes more than a deeper knowledge of caring for plants.

For example, pretty accents like stone pathways and water features can enhance an outdoor space. In our slideshow below, you’ll find nine great landscaping projects that can improve your backyard’s scenery in just one weekend. Go on and get started. And if you have another idea we haven’t already listed, be sure to let us know in the comments below.

Loading Slideshow

• Build A Stepping Stone Path

  Create a stepping stone path through your lawn or garden by mapping out the path, driving stakes at each end of its destination and attaching string to create an outline. Measure out the stones so there’s one under foot for each step. Use a half-moon edger to remove the earth from beneath where your stones will lay and add stone dust to give the stones a stable base. For the full tutorial, visit a href=”http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/step/0,,20588294_21148320,00.html” target=”_blank”This Old House/a.

• Build A Wood Slat Compost Bin

  Compost has great benefits for your garden, so if you have a green thumb, building a compost bin is a great idea. First, purchase waterproof and rot-resistant wood that will survive the elements. You’ll want 1×4 lumber to make 24 horizontal slats: 8 slats will make up the lid, 8 slats for the back and cover, plus 8 for legs. For the back, lay down six slats of wood with a 3/4 inch gap between them. Then lay slats perpendicularly over both ends and nail securely. Do the same thing to make the sides of the bin. After making all the sides and back, secure them by glueing and screwing the corners together. Lastly, to make the lid, attach battens to four slats that are 2 1/2 inches shorter than the slats when put together. This makes one half of the lid (Repeat this for the other half).

• Build A Trellis

  If you’re looking to spruce up your garden or an outdoor wall a bit, a trellis is the perfect way. To make your own, first decide what size you’d like and purchase the amount of lattice and ply wood (this will be the frame) based on the a href=”http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/overview/0,,20269959,00.html” target=”_blank”those measurements/a. Next, you’ll want to make notches where the frame will come together and then begin to assemble it. Then, use a power drill and screws to secure the frame together. Afterwards, lay the frame on the ground and place the lattice on it. The lattice should rest on a notch in between your frame, so it is important to get the measurements correct. Then, use the drill to secure the lattice to the frame and a href=”http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/step/0,,20269959_20604021,00.html” target=”_blank”attach back-stops to keep it in place/a. Next, install the caps (the top portion of the trellis), using a drill. Then, dig holes where the lattice will be placed, install the trellis and fill the holes with gravel and soil to keep it in place.

  For a full tutorial, head over to a href=”http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/step/0,,20269959_20604031,00.html” target=”_blank”This Old House/a.

• Create An Outdoor Water Feature

  A water feature can make a backyard feel like an oasis. To install a lovely fountain, choose a waterproof container such as a large garden pot and using a drill, make a hole through the bottom. Buy a a href=”http://www.lowes.com/pd_58375-60084-FP80_0__?productId=3036081Ntt=fountain+pumppl=1currentURL=facetInfo=” target=”_blank”pump/a at your local big box store and place it inside, running the electrical cord out through the hole. Use a silicone sealant to seal the hole around the cord. Fill your container with water, and make sure to add a couple of tablespoons of bleach periodically so algae does not grow.

  For a more elaborate fountain tutorial go to a href=”http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20050351,00.html” target=”_blank”This Old House/a.

• Build A Mini Greenhouse

  Prepare your plants for the cooler weather ahead with a mini greenhouse. You’ll need a few different types of a href=”http://www.homedepot.com/Plumbing-Pipes-Fittings-Valves-PVC-Pipe-Fittings/h_d1/N-buf5Z5yc1v/h_d2/Navigation?langId=-1storeId=10051catalogId=100searchNav=true” target=”_blank”PVC piping/a (along with primer and cement) to assemble and secure the frame and plastic sheeting to cover the top. Choose the sizes according to how many plants you want to keep inside and what will fit in your yard.

  Check out the full tutorial at a href=”http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-an-Easy-5-x-5-Home-Greenhouse-for-under-25/?ALLSTEPS” target=”_blank”Instructables.com/a.

• Re-Mulch Your Garden

  Adding some fresh mulch to your garden will help prepare and protect plants against the colder months ahead. Choose the right type of mulch (straw, leaf or pine needles) depending on the type of plants you have, and then get to work before it starts to get too cold.

  To learn what type of mulch to use and how to properly apply each, visit a href=”http://www.weekendgardener.net/garden-plants/mulch-060806.htm” target=”_blank”Weekend Gardener/a.

• Edge Your Garden

  Last year’s many run-ins with a lawn mower plus the proceeding months of weather means that last year’s garden edging is likely worse for the wear. But thankfully, it’s easy to replace. We love the look of stone or sculpted cement edging, but honestly, a href=”http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001W6RNWE/ref=asc_df_B001W6RNWE2011010?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DERtag=hyprod-20linkCode=asncreative=395093creativeASIN=B001W6RNWEhvpos=1o1hvexid=hvnetw=ghvrand=1070559896744214632hvpone=hvptwo=hvqmt=” target=”_blank”forged iron/a is the easiest to deal with (involving little more than staking the edging into ground). But for a guide to laying edging blocks into your garden, visit a href=”http://www.ronhazelton.com/tips/how_to_lay_edging_blocks_along_beds” target=”_blank”Ron Hazelton/a.

• No More Bare Lawn Patches

  It’ll take a little time, but you can fill in those thin spots in your lawn made by frequent foot traffic, shade, or…well…dogs. (Dog owners will know what we’re referring to.) A good grass seed carefully sprinkled into the area now, will fill in before the summer heat begins later on. For the full details on seeding bare spots in the lawn, visit a href=”http://www.lifeandlawns.com/2008/04/08/how-to-seed-and-fill-in-bare-and-thin-spots-in-your-lawn/” target=”_blank”Life And Lawns/a.

• Re-Gravel The Driveway

  Because gravel driveways and paths can get “potholes” too. The good news is that all you’ll need are a few bags of gravel, a 2×4 (or something to “tamp” the gravel into place) and, if on a driveway, a car. Simply fill, tamp and then run over the filled-in spot. For a more detailed how-to, visit a href=”http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/driveway-cracks5.htm” target=”_blank”TLC/a.

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Thank you, Gaylord Nelson, for giving us Earth Day.

Although Earth Day is always April 22, it is celebrated at various times around the end of April. This year’s celebration here in Sauk County will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. It is free family fun with music, food, exhibits, an exhibit of art created from recycled objects, and a kids’ creation corner.

There also will be workshops on local geology, prairies for yards, landscaping ideas and the importance of bees. Even if it is raining, it will be a day of ideas for spring and summer projects. Tours of the Baraboo Culver’s will be offered before and after the Earth Day fair, at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. This Culver’s is a LEED-certified building, one of the most energy-efficient new buildings in Wisconsin.

Clearly, we need to spend more time relating to the Earth than just one day a year, but it is a start. When I look at all the garbage in the ditch along our high school in Reedsburg, I think they should have Earth Day once a week and have the students clean up the mess they have created. One important factor in Earth Day is responsibility.

We are all responsible for the mess we and the Earth are in. We already have altered the climate irrevocably, and we continue to compromise our future further. If we approve that filthy Keystone pipeline full of oil from the tar sands in Canada, we may well be sealing the coffin on civilization. Refining and burning that dirty oil will double the damage we already have done and heat the Earth to the point where vast areas will be uninhabitable.

“It got so hot in Australia in January that the weather service had to add two new colors to its charts. A few weeks later, at the other end of the planet, new data from the CryoSat-2 satellite showed 80 percent of Arctic sea ice has disappeared. We’re not breaking records anymore; we’re breaking the planet. In 50 years, no one will care about the fiscal cliff or the Euro crisis. They’ll just ask, ‘So the Arctic melted, and then what did you do?’ ”

This quotation comes from climate expert Bill McKibben in his article “The Fossil Fuel Resistance” in the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine. I first read McKibben’s landmark essay, “The End of Nature” in the New Yorker magazine more than 20 years ago. Then he was the first canary in the mine, sounding the alarm about dramatic global climate change and its dangers. Now he is respected as the leader in the effort to slow climate change by modifying human behavior.

When Gaylord Nelson first brought us Earth Day 43 years ago, awareness of the toxic consequences of our industrial era blossomed around the country. Out of Earth Day came the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act, both of which have since been weakened by industry lobbies. Green groups like the Natural Resource Defense Council, the Environmental Defense Fund, The Sierra Club and The Nature Conservancy gained momentum until the backlash from the conservative right-wing began. For the last 25 years, it has been almost impossible to get any significant legislation to deal with carbon and mercury emissions.

There are encouraging signs that the tide is again turning and our resolve to change our ways of living and polluting is growing once again. More and more people around the world are recognizing the dramatic climate changes of recent years, and now we are coming once again face to face with the entrenched corporate establishment that profits from fossil fuels and suffers from regulation.

Please, Gaylord, send us some charismatic environmental leaders who can win the day for us all, and for the future health of the Earth. And give us all the energy to stand with them against the climate change deniers and the corporations that care only for their own interests. How about Earth Year?

Mimi Wuest writes a weekly column for the Times-Press.

by Timothy Rutt

 

The good news: the Altadena Community Garden is planning to revitalize the landscaping outside of the garden.

 

The bad news:  the work means there’ll be no picnic this year.

According to Silvera Grant, director of the garden at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Palm Street,  the  shrubs in the area outside of the garden fence were getting old, and full of litter and invasive plants.  Garden members, along with students from Cal Poly Pomona, drew up a Corner Revitalization Project for garden.

So far, the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation “has already cleared, mulched and installed a new state of the art solar timer irrigation system” in the landscaped area outside of the garden’s fence.  

“They will also provide long term maintenance of the area once the project is completed. The only parts missing now are the plants and planting supplies to cover the 3,800 square feet, estimated to cost $14,000,” Grand said in a press release.  To raise that money, the garden has mounted a capital campaign, thru direct mail requests and presentations to community groups.

The landscape outside the fence will be divided into three formal planting areas: California native plants, cactus and succulents, and drought-tolerant Mediterranean plants. “They will serve as educational tools for the community, providing landscaping ideas for those wishing to create water-conserving landscapes at home. In addition, the plants will be a draw for beneficial insects and pollinators, aiding the vegetable growers inside the ACG,” Grant said in the release.

Altadena Heritage, the Altadena Kiwanis Club, and a private donor have already backed the project, according to Grant.

Grant told Altadenablog that the work meant that the annual picnic would have to be cancelled this year.

The garden — which holds a well-attended annual picnic and resource fair —  was formed in 1973 and located at the site of the former Mt. Lowe Military Academy.  When the county decided to build an equestrian ring at what is now Loma Alta Park, the garden was moved to its present location.  It has 64 plots and hosts a children’s gardening program and Victory Garden extension classes.  

The garden is a 501(c)3 corporation, and donations are tax-deductible.

To donate, checks should be made payable to Altadena Community Garden, and sent to P.O.Box 6212 – Altadena, CA 91003-621

For more information,call: 626-470-7482 or go to: http://www.altadenacommunitygarden.com.

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  A combination of colors and textures
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  Curved lines give natural appeal

A couple weeks ago I discussed horticulture’s behavioral benefits. If that didn’t inspire you to grab a trowel and plant something, there is another benefit: Money.

A well-landscaped yard is the 401K of the plant world. Landscaping adds between 7 percent and 20 percent to the resale value of your home. Clemson University and Michigan State University research indicate an average 11 percent increase.

An attractive lawn and plantings are doubly important in the eyes of real estate agents. Landscaping not only adds substantially to the dollar value of the property, but makes prospective buyers feel the house itself has been well-maintained. A well-planted yard significantly increases the speed at which a home is sold.

In an interesting study similar homes were shown to realtors and home owners. One set of homes contained generous landscaping, while the others had minimal plantings. Both realtors and homeowners valued the well-landscaped homes 30 percent higher.

The key phrase is “well-landscaped.”

• First, you need a plan. Visualize your yard’s desired landscape. For ideas, consult landscape books and websites containing inspirational photos.

When I was with North Dakota State University Extension Horticulture, I gathered landscape ideas by driving the streets of North Dakota towns. Look around your neighborhoods for inspiration.

You will rarely find a landscape to copy exactly. Rather, borrow a front yard idea from one source, rear patio from another and border plantings elsewhere. Or seek the service of a landscape professional.

With a good landscape, the house appears naturally in a setting of greenery. Your home should be a restful part of your property’s tree and shrub plantings, almost as though the landscape existed first, and the house was located within.

• Develop a long-range master plan.

Include any existing landscaping. Budgets often do not allow completion of a grand plan in one season. Accomplish portions as you are able over time.

• Have patience.

Home makeover programs give the impression that a mature landscape can be created in 72 hours. In reality, perennial flowers require two to three years; shrubs need three to five years, and shade trees need a decade for established appearances. Enjoy watching the development.

• Create a focal point.

When viewing your home, the eye should be led invitingly to the front door.

This focal point can be accomplished using curving or linear groups of plants visually leading to the front. Use colorful or unique specimen plants by the front entry. Brightly colored annual flowers in various pot heights grouped together will invite the eye.

• Include lines.

Broad, sweeping curves are more natural and dynamic than straight lines. This includes shrub plantings around the house foundation and curving shrub and flower borders along the property edges.

• Use edging.

Establish a crisp, clean-cut edge between the lawn and planting areas, regardless of edging material used.

• Maintain lawns, but don’t make them the focal point.

The lawn is not the main feature. Rather it is a well-maintained canvas upon which the rest of the landscape is placed.

• Include trees wisely.

Install trees early in your master plan. They require more time to achieve size.

Locate trees to frame the view of your home, and for background beauty. Avoid low-headed trees squarely in front of your home which obscure the view.

• Create a large enough width.

Design planting areas that are large enough. Planting beds should be six to eight feet in width from the foundation for a single story home.

This draws the landscape out from the home naturally. Narrow widths are a common mistake, which gives plantings a cramped feel.

• This about plant size. Use the mature height and width of plant material to establish spacing and distances. Plants look so cute when they are tiny, often resulting in overcrowding as the plants mature.

• Plant in odd numbers.

Choose plants in multiples of three, five, or seven for a natural appearance. Few homes are symmetrical, and odd numbers suit the landscape.

• Mind the foundation.

The house foundation doesn’t need to be continuously concealed with shrubbery. Rather plant shrubs in groupings.

• Combine a variety of textures, colors and heights.

Plant evergreens with deciduous shrubs. Remember to landscape for winter contrast.

• Use vines on fences soften hard lines.

Allow areas for annual and perennial flowers among shrub groupings.

• Surprises located within the landscape will create fun.

Use water features, hidden statuary, and secret garden hideaways.

• Add to existing landscapes.

To massage existing plantings into your master plan, remember to build a focal point. Re-establish a crisp edge. Widen shrub beds if they are too narrow. Prune to rejuvenate overgrown deciduous shrubs. Remove and replace straggly evergreens that are beyond pruning.

We can each do our part in landscape beautification. Your home value will increase, and our cities will look great. We will truly be “Growing Together.”

This column was written exclusively for The Forum.

Don Kinzler writes a weekly yard and gardening column in SheSays. Readers can reach him at donkinzler@msn.com.

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