Printer Friendly Version      

[Much more grows in the garden than that which is planted there. -Japanese proverb]

*Whether it's the weather - A couple weeks ago, I had an interesting call concerning the inconsistencies of rain gauges, and the amounts of rainfall they measure.  For years, I have been suggesting how important it is having a rain gauge in your yard.  But, believe it or not, I am hearing from gardeners who have different types of rain gauges, and that they are getting different readings on each gauge.  Even if the different style gauges are all in the same location!  If you have experienced this, let me know.  In the meantime, make sure you're watering your plants, especially those newly planted ones, as needed!

[Look down.  Your feet are bigger in the afternoon than any other time of the day.]

*What's bugging you? - The sudden appearance of several large black ants in the house led the old yardboy to looking for an ant entry way into the home.  Sure enough, the caulking around the hose coming into the basement from the a/c had opened up and a nice 1/4 inch gap was their open door to the house.  Be sure to check your home for cracks and crevices where these pesky little critters can get in.  Also saw my first wood roach on the side of the deck.  I hate wood roaches!  Also have patiently   watched a family of carpenter bees drill a new hole in a 2x4 support of a storage area.  It is simply amazing not only how quickly they can drill that hole, but how precise it is.  Looks like someone drilled it with a drill bit.  By the way, the hole goes in just a couple inches, then turns a perfect 90 degree angle.   This week, Buggy Joe Boggs (OSU Extension) is reporting galls of all sorts showing up on maple, ash, oak, hackberry and many more tree species leaves (nothing to do about them), velvet mites showing up on walls, walks, fences, furniture, etc, twospotted spider mites coming on slowly but surely, white pine weevil damage on the tops of white pine as well as other pines, Douglas fir and spruce, potato leaf hoppers have arrived, grass bagworms are active, apple scab having a good time, pachysandra with scale, leaf spot on tomatoes, termites, stem canker and leaf blight on pachysandra, heavy infestations of aphids, rose slugs, red thread and brown patch showing in the lawns, and one last thing.  Poison Hemlock continues to show up all over the area, and is very visible at this stage.  4-6 feet tall, fine serrated foliage, flat white clusters of flowers on top (similar to Queen Annes Lace), and those distinctive purple spots on the stems.  Very toxic so be cautious.  Cut and pitch, spray with Roundup, etc.  But remember it is toxic so use caution when removing it.   -Catch the Buggy Joe Boggs Report Saturdays at 8:42am on 55KRC radio.

[The average housefly lives for about one month.]

*Question mark and the Mysterians - Here are a few gardening questions from this weeks emailed news bag:

“When can I divide my daylilies?”  -Tough cookies those daylilies!  They can be divided in the spring, in the fall, or after they’re finished flowering.  By the way, if you want to keep those rebloomers reblooming this summer, be sure to deadhead spent flowers and eventually the entire flower stalk, and feed after each flush of flowers. 

"I'm in northern Ohio and the rain has kept me from tilling and planting my tomatoes (which I grew from seed).  They're getting big in the basement.  What should I do at this stage?"   -My suggestions would be if the rain is forecasted more over the next week, try tarping the area where you want to plant the tomatoes.  That will keep the rain off, and if the sun comes out, will heat up the soil for a quicker dry.  I would get the tomatoes outside (acclimate from shade to semi sunny), if needed, upgrade to a larger pot, and plant when you can finally till.  Or do like me, and grow them in very large containers!

"The last couple of years, I've been fighting a variegated, green and yellow, sometimes all green, vine-like plant.  It seems to propagate quickly by runners.  Smells bad when you pull it and never seem to get all of it pulled out.  Right now it has small, white flowers.  Do you know what this menace is and the best way to deal with it?"  -Houtuynia, or Chameleon plant.  Look it up and see if that's it.  If so, good luck.  Took me 3-4 years to get rid of it in my backyard - somehow, it came up in the front yard.  Roundup, roundup, roundup - dig, dig, dig -roundup - cuss a little - roundup - dig, and roundup again here and there for the finale.

"I need to lower the pH of my soil.  Do I add lime or sulfur?"  -Sulfur.  That's what lowers the pH of the soil. So can adding coffee grounds, using pinebark and pine needles, etc. over time.

"Can I spray an invasive perennial with Roundup to keep it in bounds?"  -I wouldn't, although there are some tough perennials it probably wouldn't affect!  Cut an edge with the spade, create an in-ground barrier, or grow it in a pot!

"My flowering crabapple is literally falling apart!  The leaves have spots, have turned yellow and are dropping like crazy.  What happened?"  -Sounds like a good case of apple scab to me.  Not much to do now besides collecting the fallen leaves and pitch them.  This doesn't kill the tree, but will thin it out a bit.  It's weather and crab variety dependent.  Many new varieties of crabs are scab resistant.

"Do hydrangeas like sun or shade?"  -Depends on the variety of the hydrangea!  Most like morning sun and afternoon shade, or filtered sun, but some grow in full sun and some grow in full shade.  There's usually a variety of hydrangea for just about any location in the landscape.

“I am already getting leaf spots on my tomato leaves.  What can I do?”   -Bacterial leaf spot.  Pick off the infected leaves and throw them away.  Then be sure to mulch under the tomatoes with a clean straw, about 2-3 inches deep.  This layer helps in many ways (like regular mulching) including keeping the disease from splashing up from the soil and onto the leaves!  And keep picking off the infected leaves as they appear.

"Just wanted you to know that I have used 'Sucker Stopper' this year, and I have no suckers around my trees!  What a treat not having to go prune those off all the time.  Thanks for the recommendation."      -You are welcome.

[Stress is when you wake up screaming and then you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.]

This week's Success Tip for you garden - When you're planting your container gardens or annual colors in the landscape, consider plants with good foliage colors.  There are so many to choose from - here are some of the favorites:  -Iresine, or commonly known as “Chicken Gizzards”.  Sun or light shade, the foliage and stem colors on these annuals are simply outstanding.  Tough, durable, and one heck of a great foliage show!                   -Ornamental sweet potato vines for vining or ground cover annuals. Maroons, tri-colored, yellow, cutleaf - so many varieties to choose!  Quick growing, great for window boxes, hanging baskets, containers, or in the ground, sweet potato vine is one of the toughest annual vines out there.  Known for their foliage only, Sweet Caroline will actually flower for you as well.  -Caladiums, especially if you’re working with a shady condition, check out the caladiums.  These wonderful large leafed annuals are actually a tropical bulb that can be saved over from year to year.  Caladiums love the shade, will tolerate a little morning sun, and are available in a plethora of outstanding variegated colors.  -And my favorite annual -Coleus.  Available in so many colors and leaf textures!  Mainly a shade plant, most will take early morning sun, and yes, there are a few now being grown for full sun.  Fishnet Stockings is a new coleus for 2006 with an outstanding fine design on the leaves.  And then there's the coleus that will blow you away.  KONG coleus - comes in 4 or 5 different leaf colors, and what’s so unique about KONG coleus - each plant can reach 3’ x 3’, and each leaf can reach 10-12 inches in diameter.  Thus the name KONG coleus.  -One last plant - purple fountain grass.  Wonderful maroon foliage and plumes, great in the ground, great in containers - but don’t be fooled with this ornamental grass.  It’s not hardy for our area.  Use it only as an annual.

[If evolution really works, how come mothers only have 2 hands?]

*From the Garden to the Kitchen / Hey Rita, what's cooking? -Yardboy, you wouldn’t believe my herb and vegetable gardens.  Really! All those tiny specimens of Mediterranean herbs and salad greens are suddenly in need of haircuts! So for tonight’s pasta, I’m tossing all those prunings into the sauce. Yummy! And by the way, Yardboy, if you find yourself in the same situation with herbs and aren’t making anything particular, go ahead and strip the leaves from whatever herbs need pruning.   Toss them into a bowl and let them dry on the counter.  Not only will you have a wonderful, salt free blend to add to salads, soups, stews, you name it – you’ll have a bit of aromatherapy going on right in your kitchen!  And as I always tell you, Yardboy, herbs are the most nutrient dense plants you can eat!  Oh, and don’t forget, Yardboy, when you’re cutting early greens, cut all the way down to ground level for a second flush of growth.  

RITA'S PASTA WITH MEDITERRANEAN FLAVORS  You'll need: 1 pound any short pasta, boiled, 1/3 to 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 2-3 teaspoons dried oregano or palmful of fresh, chopped, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste, 1 can, 28 oz, diced tomatoes with juice, 2 cans beans of your choice, drained: Cannellini, kidney, chick peas, etc., several handfuls fresh greens (Optional but really good: 2” sprig of rosemary, couple sprigs parsley, couple sprigs basil), and plenty of Romano or Parmesan cheese for sprinkling on top.   -Heat oil and add garlic and oregano; also rosemary, parsley, basil if you are using them, and red pepper flakes.  Cook for a minute over low heat until garlic smells fragrant but doesn’t brown.  Add everything but greens and cheese.  Bring to a boil.  Lower to a simmer and cook 12-15 minutes or so, just until pasta is done.  Remove sprigs of rosemary, parsley, basil.  Add fresh greens.  Stir until just wilted.  Pour over pasta.  Sprinkle with cheese.

 Why this recipe is good for you:

• Oregano has anti-inflammatory qualities and is good for soothing colds.
• Try using whole grain pasta – your body will absorb this complex carb more slowly.
• Beans pull cholesterol out of your body, are great sources of protein and fiber and good carbs, and when paired with a whole grain, are complete sources of protein
• Hard cheeses, like Romano and Parmesan, are great for adding flavor without adding additional salt

-Rita Nader Heikenfeld, CCP / Macy’s Regional Culinary Professional / Herbalist / Author / Local TV and Radio Cooking Expert / Adjunct Professor U.C. Clermont College / Community Press Papers /  [life@communitypress.com attn: Rita or www.abouteating.com]

[Catfish have over 27,000 taste buds.]

*Yardboy's plant to ponder - If you’re looking for a landscape plant or two that will add a little wow to your garden, well, I’ve got 3 pretty cool looking plants that you may want to consider.  1.) “Tiger Eye’s Sumac” - This yellow leafed wonder is a slow to medium grower, that’ll reach about 6 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide.  The new foliage is chartreuse, turning a bright yellow, with fuzzy deep pink to maroon leaf stems.  It will flower chartreuse flowers in the summer, but it’s the foliage that remains the real show.  In the fall, the yellow foliage becomes shades or orange and scarlet.  Tough, durable, and very hardy, Tiger Eye’s Sumac adds sunny color to any garden.  2.) Salix integra “Hakuro Nashiki” - This plant sounds cool before you even see it!  It’s a small, semi- weeping tree, with delicate looking white and green leaves tinged with pink.  Again, reaching about 6-8 feet, this beauty not only adds great color to the summer garden, but the stems become a nice red, for great winter interest.  By the way, “Hakuro Nashiki” can be found both in shrub form, and as a small tree.  3.) And here’s the plant that we’ve all been waiting for - it was named the “Best New Plant for 2006” - Sambucus nigra “Black Lace”, or "Black Lace" Elderberry.  And if you’ve had trouble growing Japanese maples, this may be your substitute plant.  This moderately fast growing shrubby plant will reach 6 feet in height and width, with, of course, the eye catching fern like lacey maroon black foliage.  And as an added bonus, it flowers in early June, with wonderful pink flower clusters that are lemon scented, followed by blackish red berries in the summer.  Grow it as a shrub, or limb it up like a small tree, this hardy plant will definitely add some new “wow” to your landscape.  By the way, Black Lace Elderberry will also do a nice job growing in a large container!  And yes, we now have a small selection in the garden stores!

[Control - a short ugly inmate.]

A little bit of this and a little bit of that - Sunday, June 18 is Father’s Day, and shopping for dad can be tough.  So this year, do dad a favor and forget the neckties, socks and underwear.  This year, have a tree planted for dad!  Natorp’s has a great special for you, just in time for Father’s Day.

Pick a tree for dad, priced $100 or more, and we’ll plant it for only $69 more!  You can choose from Ornamental Pears, Birch, Maples and Oaks, Elms and Ash, Redbuds, Dogwoods, Japanese maples and lot’s more!  It’s the perfect gift for dad! 

And it’s also a great way to add a few more trees to your landscape, and have the professionals plant them for you at a great price!  The special $69 planting fee includes delivery, planting, soil additives, mulching, and staking if needed.  See the stores or visit natorp.com for complete details - limit 5 trees with special planting prices per customer.  This special valid thru 6/19/06.

[Hipatitis - Terminal Coolness.]

Classes, Seminars, and upcoming Special Events -

June 10.  Ribbon Cutting Little Miami Scenic Trail Extension (11am) / Avoca Park  and  Grand Re-Opening of Little Miami Golf Center - Hamilton County Park District / Little Miami   Noon - 3pm   Free Golf Clinics   Contests   Games  521-PARK

June 17 (18).  Friends of Baker Hunt "Heritage Garden Fare" - 620 Greenup St., Covington.   Noon to 5pm   Art Exhibition and Demonstrations  Garden Tours  Garden Related Items  Garden Lecture Series:  Sat. 1pm Denny McKeown  2pm Ron Wilson  3pm Jim Hansel   Sun. 1pm Steve Foltz  2pm Tim Young  3pm Marvin Duran.   Visit:   www.bakerhunt.com

June 17.  Growing Together Series: Polaroid Transfers & Sunprints at the Civic Garden Center, 10 am -12 noon.  Corina Bullock, CGC Education Specialist and Michele Williams, PhD, CGC Horticulturist will provide a family fun day where “alternative” photographic techniques will be explored.  While the adults experiment with the Polaroid transfer process, kids will enjoy harnessing the sun to make botanical prints.  Bring your creative spirit.  $10/family.  Reservation required; call 513/ 221-0981, Ext.18.

June 21.  Lunch and Learn Series: Hostas at the Civic Garden Center,11:30 am – 12:30 pm.  Mary Raterman, Master Gardener, CGC Volunteer, and Hosta connoisseur, will lead us through the Pat Kipp Memorial Shade Garden for an up close look at the Hosta genus.  Many excellent varieties grow right here at the CGC, so if you have shade in your yard and don’t know what to plant – don’t miss this class!  The program is free, but an advance reservation is requested; call 513/ 221-0981, Ext. 18.

June 23.  "Flavors of Neighborhood Gardens - 25 Years and Growing"  Celebrate the Civic Garden Centers 25th Anniversary of the Neighborhood Gardens program.  Food, wine, beer and the sounds of 'Liquid Village'.  6-8:30pm  Civic Garden Center $25 in advance $30 at the door  RSVP by June 16th  513-221-0981 ext 18.

June 24. "Summer Garden Tour" - Monfort Heights / White Oak Community  10am -4pm    5 great gardens to tour  Tickets are $10 and available in advance at the Monfort Heights branch of the Cheviot Savings Bank on Cheviot Road.

[Once again, my wife has reminded me how I never listen to her. At least I think that's what she was saying.]

That's it for this week.  It's graduation week at our home.  Congrats to Carly Wilson, graduating this Saturday from the University of Cincinnati (Psychology).  Her goal, after graduation, is to straighten out good ole dad, to which I say, "Good luck, Darlin'."  Now, do yourself a favor.  Go out and have the best weekend of your life.  See ya.  RW, the Yardboy.

[Remember that every minute spent angry is sixty seconds of happiness wasted.]

[Catch Natorp’s own grown yardboy Ron Wilson every Saturday, 6-9am, ‘In the Garden’ on 55KRC Thee Talk Station (home of the Big Dog Tony Bender and Joe "without Joe this show just wouldn't go" Strecker) , every Friday morning 8:06am on ‘The Morning Show’ with Jerry Thomas and Craig Kopp (55KRC), every Thursday and Saturday morning on Local 12 –WKRC Homeworx Team, and occasional appearances on 'Homeworx' (Sundays at 11:30am Local 12).