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[Find out where you are and begin there.]

*Whether it's the weather - Enough said in the opener!

*What's bugging you? - Again another non-buggy week for me.  Bagworms are really starting to show now, so hurry and spray while the sprayings good.  Although Japanese beetles have peaked (for the most part), you'll still see some around and will  for a few more weeks.  Still time to treat your lawn with the grub preventer if needed.  Morning dew is starting to show a nice buildup of garden spider webs in the landscape plants.  Did I say "nice buildup"?  Okay, I hate spiders as much as the next guy, but they are the good guys in the garden.  Blister beetles have been reported in several gardens, feeding on flowers and foliage of assorted perennials, and believe it or not, reports of yellow jackets visiting picnic areas are already coming in.  One last thing - spruce spider mite damage is now showing on evergreens (yellow stipples and bronzing of the needles).  Funny thing is, this is damage that occurred either last fall or this spring.  It shows up in hot weather.  Yes there are summer mites, but damages you're seeing is generally from cool season mites, who aren't there now.  They'll be back in late September and October.  Remember that a good hosing with water helps reduce mite populations, as well as spraying with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil - when the mites are there!   Are you hearing the cicadas singing their summer songs?  Those are the dog day cicadas, which are an annual cicada, and have 2-5 year life cycles which overlap, so we get them every summer.  They usually show up July and August (dog days of summer), and cause very little noticeable damages to plant branches.  Dog day cicadas are bigger than the periodical (17 year) cicadas, with green to brown bodies with black markings and a whitish bloom.  Their wings have green veins.  Remember, these big boys have no mouth, so they can't bite and don't sting.  But, they still do a great job scaring the bajeebers out of unsuspecting people.  One last thing - the sounds you hear are the voices of the males, signing to attract the females.  Just think, you live underground in the dark sucking on roots, then pupate into an adult that can't even eat, fly around and sing your lungs out so you can do your best to mate as often as you can before your nutrients run out, and then you die.  What a life.

-'Buggy Joe Boggs' is on vacation this week, but be sure to catch HGTV's Rebecca Kolls (also from Good Morning America) on the gardening show this Saturday at 8:42am on 55KRC radio.  Rita Heikenfeld will also be our guest, talking about herbs!

[If man indeed evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?]

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

"When is your Nursery Outlet Sale scheduled for this year?" -We have just set the dates!  The Sale will be open to the public September 15, 16, 17, 23 and 24.  All the details are listed later in this newsletter!

"What's the name of the book you recommend for learning about birds and butterflies and other winged critters?"  -It's "Attracting Birds, Butterflies & other Winged Wonders to Your Backyard" by Kris Wetherbee.  This really is a great book.  Great pictures, projects, easy read, and very informative.  Go to www.wingedwildlife.com to order the book.  Great for you and a great Christmas present!  Hey, who said "Christmas"?

“What do you recommend to get rid of tomato hornworms?”   -Are they tomato or tobacco hornworms?  Actually, it doesn’t matter, because control is best done by handpicking and destroying them.  Look for eaten leaves of fruit with their feces underneath the area.  You’ll find them, and then just pick them off.  If you absolutely have to spray (there usually aren’t very many), use Bt.  By the way, they are the larvae of 2 types of sphinx moths.  If you want to identify which is which, the tobacco hornworm has 7 diagonal lines on its sides and a curved red horn.  The tomato hornworm has 8 – V shaped marks on its back, with a blue black straight horn.  Both feed on tomato plants and the fruit.

"I have been picking off the bagworms from my blue spruce, but now I see them in the top and can't reach them.  Now what?"        -Well, you'll need to spray them.  Too big for Bt, so now use Sevin, Eight, Malathion, Orthene and Orthenex;  they all work for bagworms.  May take 2 applications.  Some hose end sprayers will reach 15-20', which hopefully will cover your spruce. 

"Without 'Manage' on the market, what else can we use to help control nutgrass in the lawn?"   -Nutgrass 'Nihilator from Monterrey Chemical, Bonide's MSMA, and Bonide's Weed Beater Plus all have nutgrass listed.  Be sure to use a surfactant (Turbo Spreader Sticker) when applying any of these chemicals for better action.  And be cautious spraying during heat and drought stress.  Use Roundup in open areas (no turf) or landscape beds, along with the surfactant.  Keep Roundup off your desirable plants.  (ps. Manage, I believe, will be back labeled as 'Sedgehammer'.)

"I planted daylilies for the first time this year.  After they bloom, a big green pod appears.  What do I do with it?"   -That's an attempted seed head.  Cut it off, stem and all.  Deadhead your daylilies and try to keep them from attempting to go to seed.  It makes for a much better plant, and helps re-bloomers to re-bloom!

"Now that the daylilies are finished blooming and looking yellow, should I trim them for a better appearance?"  -Yep.  Get rid of that yellow and brown foliage.  If it gets to a point where its all yellow and brown, cut it all off.  They'll re-grow and look nicer for the rest of the season.  Remember, although spring and fall are the best times to divide daylilies, it can be done anytime after they're finished flowering, with exception to the re-bloomers, who I would leave alone so they'll re-flower (deadhead, feed, and water to encourage the next flush of color).

"Are their sprays for the garden that cover diseases and insects as well?  I have both problems and hate to have to mix 2 different sprays."   -Yes, you'll read about us recommending Bonide's Complete Fruit Tree Spray (Insecticide and Fungicide), Bayer's All in One rose care (feed, systemic insecticide and fungicide),  Bonide's 3 in One Rose care (all natural insecticide, fungicide and miticide), and Garden Safe Fungicide 3, an all natural insecticide, fungicide and miticide.  As always, make sure you know what you're spraying for, and read the labels and follow the directions.

“My yucca has finished flowering, and now there are what looks like seed pods on the stalks.  Should I let them go to seed?”  -I wouldn’t.  Most those seeds rarely germinate, and producing those seeds, along with having just produced their spectacular flowers, really takes a lot out of the yucca.  I suggest removing the flower stalk as soon as it finishes flowering, and let the yucca put the rest of its energy into being a better plant.

“My lilac has developed a white powdery like substance on the leaves.  What is it, and how do I get rid of it?”  -This is a very common problem on lilacs, and it’s called powdery mildew.  This usually shows up when the humidity goes up.  Fortunately for the lilacs, they can withstand the mildew without much harm.  On annuals and perennials, powdery mildew can be deathly.  You can’t cure it, but you can get it into check, by spraying with fungicides labeled for powdery mildew.  Or try using Rebecca Kolls' home recipe for powdery mildew:  1 Tablespoon baking soda and 2 1/2 teaspoons horticultural oil dissolved in 1 gallon of water -spray all the leaves on the plant.

"I just wanted to tell you that we took your advice, invested in the 'Earthbox', and are totally pleased with the results of our plants growing in the box.  Our watering has been cut way back, making this one of the best ways to grow herbs and veggies in containers."  -Thanks for the feedback.  Joe Strecker (55KRC producer) has been telling me the same about his 'Earthbox'.  As a matter of fact, I've enjoyed the extra herb harvests from the box!

[Why is it that when you're driving and looking for an address, you turn down the volume on the radio?]

This week's Success Tip for your garden - When a tree is bumped or scraped by a lawn mower, the resulting wound can actually threaten the life of that tree.  Not only is the wound itself damaging, but disease organisms can also enter the wound, causing further problems.  We call this “Lawn Mower Blight”!  The bark of a tree serves an important purpose, transferring sugars from the leaves to the roots, and water from the roots back to the leaves.  If the bark is destroyed, the tree has no way to feed the roots, they begin to decline and eventually, the tree dies.    Micro-organisms can also attack damaged bark, cause decaying, which can move inward and eventually cause structural damage.  Now, Lawn Mower Blight occurs when gardeners try to trim the grass around tree trunks with the lawn mower.  String trimmers can also cause this damage.  We call this “String Trimmer Blight”.  The mower bumps the bark or the string trimmers bruise the bark and the damage is done.   Preventing Lawn Mower and String Trimmer Blight is simple - remove all the turf around the base of the tree and replace it with mulch.  Mulching not only cuts down competition between the tree and the turf, it also helps conserve moisture for the tree roots.    Remember, never mulch more than 1-3 inches deep, and never, ever place the mulch directly against the trunk of the tree.  That can cause “Mulch against the trunk of the tree blight”, which is a whole 'nuther story.

[Does killing time damage eternity?]

*From the Garden to the Kitchen / Hey Rita, what's cooking? - Well, Yardboy, the wild blackberries are just about ripe, and I can’t wait to go picking. You’re welcome to join me for this simple country pleasure!  This is adapted from my friend, Evelyn Kress’s recipe.  Now if the berries are real sweet, you may not need the entire 2 cups sugar that you pour over the berries.   I made half of the recipe and baked it in an 8x8 pan. If using frozen berries, don’t thaw. Oh, and one more thing, Yardboy – I know the technique you use is a bit unorthodox, but trust me, it works!  Berries are full of antioxidants and have anti-viral properties, as well, so eat up!

 World’s Best Blackberry Cobbler  -  You'll need 1/2 (1 stick) cup butter or margarine, room temperature, 1 cup sugar, 2 cups flour, 2 tablespoons baking powder, 1 cup milk, 6 cups blackberries, 1-1/2 to 2 cups sugar, 2 cups cold water.     

Preheat oven to 350. Beat butter and 1 cup sugar until fluffy. Stir flour and baking powder together. Pour flour into butter mixture and mix. Add milk and blend well. Spread into sprayed 9x13 pan. Pour blackberries on top. Sprinkle 1-1/2 to 2 cups sugar evenly over berries. Pour cold water over all. Bake until batter rises to the top peeking through berries and is golden brown, 45-55 minutes. Cobbler will be a bit runny at first but sets as it cools.

Tips from Rita’s Kitchen: - Add a couple of sliced peaches and mix with the berries.

-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]

[Are part time band leaders semi-conductors?]

*Yardboy's plant to ponder - It's plants this week.  Tough durable dependable summer blooming perennials.  Here are a few of my favorites:  -Coreopsis, or commonly known as Tickseed.  They love the sun, and drier situations. And there are several species and cultivars available, with Moonbeam, Crème Brule, Zagreb, and Rosea probably being the most widely used coreopsis.  -Gaura, or commonly known as Whirling Butterflies, as these flower simulate butterflies flittering around the plant.  They love the sun and well drained soils, and come in whites and pinks and even a dwarf with maroon like foliage.  -Perovskia, or Russian Sage, this woody perennial also loves the sun, and not only has these wonderful lavender blue flowers, the gray white leaves and stems make this plant an overall garden standout.         -Echinacea, or Purple Cone Flower is an oldie bit goodie that tolerates the heat and drought very well.  And it doesn’t come in just purple anymore.  You’ll also find Echinacea in yellows, oranges, rosy - orange, and even white.  -Rudbeckia, or Black-eyed Susan is another oldie but goodie heat resistant drought tolerant perennial that flowers all summer long.  This one does a great job growing in masses.  -Leucanthemum, or Shasta Daisy, and my favorite is Becky.  Sun or light shade, this one gives you these upright good for cutting flowers pretty much all summer long.   -And Nepeta, or Catmint.  Loves the sun, great spreading habit, beautiful lavender blue flowers, and the bees just love them!  By the way, this is the 2007 perennial of the year.  We’ll look at more tough summer blooming perennials in a couple weeks.

[Have you ever seen a toad on a toadstool?]

A little bit of this and a little bit of that - This time of the year, all sorts of things begin to happen to our plants.  Leaves begin to spot, yellow, fall off, a branch or two may die back, plants just stop growing, etc.  And it can be a very frustrating time.  If you have plant problems, feel free to email us for help, or if you can, take samples to the garden stores for our garden pros to see first hand.  We can't always tell what's going wrong, but it certainly helps in making a diagnosis.  And if you have annuals that simply have not performed to your standards or are just looking bad, remember that within a few more weeks, the garden stores will be filled with great fall blooming plants to help replace those sickly looking ones!  But in the meantime, if you're having plant problems, bring us a sample (and pictures) and let us see if we can help make your plants better.

Herbs looking a little worn?  Annuals getting leggy?  Now's a great time to cut these back, and rejuvenate them for a nice flush of fresh foliage as we wind down the summer and head into the fall. 

If you go on vacation, come home and the lawn is very tall, do not cut it down to normal height all at one time.  Only remove 1/3 of the grass blades each time you mow, so mow it higher than usual, then come back in 3 days and mow it at the regular height.  Had that lawn mower blade sharpened lately?

Classes, Seminars, and upcoming Special Events - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!  NATORP'S WHOLESALE NURSERY OUTLET SALE IS COMING IN SEPTEMBER!   For 5 days, Natorp's will open their wholesale nursery on Snider Road in Mason to the public!  Come straight to the source for over 30,000 shrubs, evergreens, pre-dug and container trees, and over 125,000 potted perennials.  Cash n Carry, and ready for immediate pick-up.  (Installation pricing will be available for larger trees).  Dates are 9/15, 16, 17 and 9/23 &24.  Hours are Friday 11am-7:30pm, Saturdays 9am-5pm, and Sundays 12-5pm.  For more information, visit our website at www.natorp.com. (Sorry, due to daily changes in inventory, we are unable to provide a plant availability list.  You’ll just have to come and see all the great plants available at really great prices!)  Tell your friends and family, tell the neighbors, and tell everyone at work.  This is one sale you won't want anyone to miss!

$10,000 Natorp Landscape Makeover - Catch the final episode of the makeover Sunday, August 6, at 11:30am on Local 12's HomewoRx with Gary Sullivan.  I think you'll like the final look of the new landscape!

Kinkead Ridge Estate Winery will be doing another vineyard tour this year (weather permitting) at Kinkead Ridge Vineyard, 4288 Kinkead Road, Ripley Ohio, on September 2 and 4.  The winery (904 Hamburg Street 937-392-6077) is open Saturdays from 11am-5pm until Labor Day. (www.kinkeadridge.com)  This is an award winning winery!

Granny's Garden School in Loveland is seeking donations of pint and quart jars, as well as funds for purchasing new sprinklers.  Send donations to Granny's Garden School, c/o Loveland Primary School, 550 Loveland Madeira Rd., Loveland Ohio 45140.  Or contact Roberta Paolo / schoolgarden@fuse.net.

Tomato Tasting Party, Thursday, August 17, 6:30pm at the Boone County Extension Office.  For admission, you need to bring one or more tomatoes for sampling (make sure you know the variety).  FREE  - Call 859-586-6101.

Lunch and Learn Series - Herb Garden   August 2, 12-1pm, Civic Garden Center, tour the herb garden, learn about herbs!  FREE but need to call 513-221-0981 to register.

"Lawn Establishment, Renovation & Care", Thursday, August 24, 6:30 to 8:30pm, Boone County Extension Office, FREE, call 859-586-6101 to register.

[How do you get off a non-stop flight?]

Okay, that's it for this week.  Now, do yourself a favor.  Go out and have the best last weekend in July, of your life.  See ya.  RW, the Yardboy.

[Catch Natorp's own grown yardboy Ron Wilson during the week:  -55KRC The Talk Station 'In the Garden with Ron Wilson' every Saturday from 6-9am  - Satellite Radio / XM TalkRadio 165 every Saturday from 6-9am  -610 WTVN (Columbus) every Saturday from 10-12pm  -Friday mornings at 8:06am on 55KRC's 'The Morning Show' with Jerry Thomas and Craig Kopp  -Thursday and Saturday mornings on Local 12 News (WKRC) Homeworx Team   -Garden expert for 'HomewoRx' with Gary Sullivan on Local 12, Sunday at 11:30am.  Be sure to listen to 55KRC The Talk Station for the best in talk radio! (Home of programming director Tony 'Big Dog' Bender, and executive producer Joe 'the original Joe Pro, who without Joe, the show just wouldn't go' Strecker.)

["The sky is blue for a reason.  If it were green, you wouldn't know where to stop mowing."  -The Big Dog's Point to Ponder.]