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Week 36
(11/9/06)
Saturday, November 11, is Veteran's Day. Our Veterans will never
forget what they did for our country, and neither should we. To all
the Veterans, we salute you!
Fall is for planting, and there's still plenty of time to get those
new trees and shrubs in the ground. Give your new plants a jump start
on next spring by planting them in the fall!
The Holiday Season is right around the corner, and if you are looking
for custom decorations for your home or business, let Natorp's Garden
Stores custom holiday designers take care of you! Call our stores
today with your custom decoration needs. Get those orders in early
before the Holiday rush.
[Just curious -
why do tug boats push their barges?]
*Whether it's the weather -
What can I say?
Timely showers have been excellent in keeping good soil moisture for
our plants. Water those newly planted trees and shrubs as needed, and
don't forget to water between the backs of plants planted along the
foundation and the foundation.
[Just curious -
why are they called "stands", when they are made for sitting?]
*What's bugging you?
- Nuttin’, honey! This time of the year, I always have several folks
ask me about using the Wooly worm as an indicator for how bad the
winter will be. And I hate to burst the bubble, but if you look at
the life cycle of the Wooly worm, you’ll see what influences the
colors and widths of their wooly bands. Oh yes, the all-time
favorite and most common predictor of the winter to come is the Wooly
Worm, also known as Wooly Bear, Fuzzy Bear, Black-ended Bear, Banded
Woolly Bear (approved name by the Entomological Society of America),
and the Hedgehog Caterpillar. The scientific name for Wooly Worms is
Pyrrhactia Isabella, and they are the larval stage of the Isabella
Tiger Moth, and orange – yellow moth with a wing span of about 2
inches. (The genus Pyrrhactia has many species; some are solid black,
without any bands and others have bands varying in sizes.) Wooly
Worms are most noticed in the fall, as they travel about, especially
crossing the streets, looking for that perfect place to curl up and
spend the winter, which is usually under bark, a rock, a log, etc.
Their heavy coats, along with producing natural organic antifreeze,
help them over winter. They can actually survive -90 degree
temperatures! In the spring, they warm back up, begin to feed
for a while, and then form a cocoon, pupate and emerge as the Isabella
Tiger Moth. Fertilized female moths then lay eggs on a variety of
plants including birch, elm, maples, asters, sunflowers, spinach,
cabbage, grass, plantain, etc., where the eggs hatch, the small
caterpillars begin to feed on their host plants (which makes them
herbivores), and the process starts all over again. There are usually
2-3 generations each year, and it’s the last generation that over
winters as the Wooly Worm. Wooly worms have very tiny eyes, and a
limited range of sight. They also have 13 segments to the body, and 3
sets of legs (one each one the first 3 body segments). And they
actually go through up to 6 larval stages before entering their pupal
stage. That means molting 6 times before reaching the stage that you
see in the fall, during which the color and size of its bands on the
13 body segments may change. And it’s those 13 bands that folklore
uses to help predict the winter. Now, according to folklore, the
amount of black on the Woolly Worm in the autumn varies
proportionately with the severity of the upcoming winter. The longer
the black bands, the longer, colder, snowier and more severe the
winter will be. The wider the middle brown band, the milder the
winter will be. And the position of the bands indicates which part of
winter will be the coldest. If the head is dark, the winter starts
out severe. If the tail is dark, the end will be cold. And, being
the Woolly Worm has 13 body segments; folklore says each one
(beginning at the head) corresponds with the 13 weeks of winter. So
reading each band could actually forecast each week of the winter.
Other signs from the Woolly Worm include thicker coats meaning colder
winters, and if they seem to be traveling south, they are trying to
escape the cold conditions of the north. On the other hand, if they
are traveling north, that indicates a milder winter. (I still don’t
understand why they enjoy crossing the roads so much!) But,
through the years, research has shown us that the Wooly Worm’s
coloring is actually based on how long the caterpillar has been
feeding, its age, and of course, the species. The better the growing
season, the bigger it will grow, and this results in a narrower
red-orange band in its middle. So, the width of the banding is
actually an indicator of the current or past season’s growth, rather
than an indicator of the severity of the upcoming winter. And, these
caterpillars may molt as many as 6 times before reaching adult size
and the colors will change with each molt, actually becoming less
black and more reddish. So, now you know the rest of the story.
Nevertheless, I still think using folklore signs to help predict the
winter weather is a lot of fun and in many cases, turn out to be
exactly on the mark!
[Just curious -
why are a "wise man" and a "wise guy" opposites?]
*Question mark and the Mysterians
- Here are a few gardening questions from this weeks emailed news bag:
"Ron, you wrote
that "for the final couple mowings (if it makes you feel better) feel
free to lower the mowing height 1/2 inch." Do we lower the mower 1/2
inch each time we mow?" -NO! Sorry about the confusion. Lower it
one time, 1/2 inch, for the final couple mowings. So, you're mowing
1/2 inch lower than you normally have been mowing. And do make sure
you keep mowing until the grass has completely stopped growing. Then,
you feed for the last time.
"We're into
November. Can I put my roses to bed for the winter?" -No, no you
may not! Way too early - be patient.
"Can I still
spray with Roundup?" -Absolutely. As long as the vegetation is
still growing, you can spray. By the way, still time to spray weed
killers on the lawn.
"What is the
bright green small leafed weed I'm seeing growing in my beds
already?" -That's either chickweed or henbit. They're 2 winter
annuals, and their seeds begin to germinate in the fall. From the
looks of things, they're already getting a good foothold for 2007.
Take a rake and pull them out of the ground. They're very shallow
rooted. Remember, applying Preen in the fall helps to stop those
winter annuals from germinating.
“I have moss
growing on my landscape rocks. How can I get rid of it?” -Shady
conditions may always provide a good place for the moss to grow, but
it can be controlled by regular sprayings of ‘Algae – Moss Killers’
available at the garden stores, or by dissolving 1 small box of baking
soda in 2 gallons on warm water. This spray will kill moss on the
rocks, on soil, on plants, in the grass, etc, without harming the
existing plants.
“I cut back my
Endless Summer Hydrangea about 5 inches all around. The foliage
looked spotty and ugly. Did I do a bad thing?” -Well, not really.
Couple things here for you to remember; just because the foliage looks
bad doesn’t mean you should cut it back, especially on a woody shrub.
Let the foliage fall naturally, and then it’s gone and you won’t have
to look at it any longer. Secondly, many flowering shrubs have
already formed their flower buds for next spring. If you prune them
now, you lose the flowers. Fortunately for you, this hydrangea
flowers on old and new growth, which makes it so special, and it
should flower next year no matter what you did this fall.
"Do you know how
to distinguish an Asian from the other Lady Beetles?" -They have
dots or black markings on the back of the head that form an “M”. Look
closely next time you see a Lady Beetle. Hey, did you know that the
Lady Bug (or Lady Beetle) is Ohio’s state insect? There are over 450
species found in North America. Did you know that the Black Racer is
the Ohio state reptile? Of course, you know “Hang on Sloop” is the
state rock song, but do you know the state beverage? It’s tomato
juice!
"I heard you
saying that it's better to NOT have grass growing around the base of a
tree. Why's that?" -Well, research has shown that grass around the
base of a tree can actually compete with trees (especially newly
planted ones) for nutrients and water, and will slow down their growth
rate. And, having grass around the base of a tree also sets the tree
up for possible lawn mower damages (mowing and nicking the tree) and
long term string trimmer damages (string trimming around the base of
the tree). So if you have grass growing around the base, get rid of
it and replace with a nicely mulched area. Remember to mulch 1-3
inches deep, and never place the mulch against the trunk of the tree.
When finished mulching, your mulch ring should look like a donut!
[Just curious - why
do "overlook" and "oversee" mean opposite things?]
This week's Success Tip for your garden
- Winter is right around the corner, and the colder it gets, the more
deer salivate thinking about eating your valuable plants. Keep those
deer salivating by protecting your plants with DeerScram! Sprays may
not do the job but DeerScram will – it comes with a 100% guarantee.
DeerScram is all organic, safe, easy to use, and the all natural
granular formula works great in the winter; even under the snow!
Sprinkle DeerScram around your landscape for 90 days of solid winter
protection. You can find DeerScram at our garden stores, or if you'd
like more information, visit DeerScram.com.
*Late Fall is one
of the best times for feeding your trees. And if you’d like to do it
yourself, I’ll show you the 3 easiest ways to do it.
1.) If your trees
are newly planted, use a root stimulant such as Bonide’s Plant
Starter. It’s a light and easy feed for new trees, and has vitamin B1
to help promote early strong root development. This is mixed with
water and poured around the base of the tree.
2.) If your trees
have been in the ground for 1-2 years, still use a water soluble
fertilizer, but this time, use something stronger like Miracle Gro.
Again, pour it around the base of the tree. You also have another
option, which is the Ross Root Feeder. This unique tool injects water
soluble fertilizer right into the soil.
3.) If your trees
have been planted 3 years or more, you have several options for
feeding. -Fertilizer spikes, although not one of my favorites, make
it pretty easy to feed the trees. I do suggest you calculate how many
are needed, then break them in half and evenly distribute them around
the tree. Be sure they go 6-8 inches down into the ground. -Ross
Root Feeder again is one of the easiest ways for homeowners to feed
their larger trees, by injecting a water soluble fertilizer directly
into the soil. This is the same process many professional tree care
companies will use. -Vertical mulching is a process of drilling
holes in the ground around the tree with an auger, and then putting
granular fertilizer into the holes, followed by a good watering.
Although this really is a great way to feed the trees, it takes a lot
of time and hard work - and this process may be one to consider having
the professional tree care companies take care of for you! Whichever
method you use, now’s the time to feed your trees.
*TAKE THE WORRY
OUT OF CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR – Don’t let Christmas get you upset and
frustrated. Since 1916, Natorp’s has been a family holiday tradition
with our fresh wreaths and greens, live and cut Christmas trees,
custom decorations, and of course, our Natorp grown holiday
poinsettias. And, if you’re not sure what to buy your favorite
gardener this year, why not buy a Natorp’s Gift Card? Available in
any amount, and can be purchased at the stores or on our web site
www.natorp.com. Come see us this holiday season!
*Now’s the time to
redo your landscape, or add those trees or shrubs, or screen
plantings, or update that tired looking entry way. Call Natorp’s
Landscape today, 513-398-2550, and see what our landscape designers
can do for you and your landscape. Natorp’s Landscape - providing
award winning landscapes since 1916. Call today!
[Just curious - if
nobody buys a ticket to a movie, do they still show it?]
*From the Garden to the Kitchen / Hey Rita, what's cooking?
- Yardboy, one of our readers emailed me saying she can’t find two of
her favorite side dish recipes for Thanksgiving which I’ve shared in
the past. So here they are again, for Elizabeth. And really, Yardboy,
these recipes have stood the test of time and are among my most
requested. For the next couple of weeks, I’ll be helping our readers
gather the best recipes for their holiday table.
WHITE & WILD RICE DRESSING WITH SAUSAGE, EXOTIC MUSHROOMS & SCALLIONS
-
Wonderful if you want a new twist to that old favorite dressing
recipe. This works well with your holiday ham or turkey breast.
Yardboy, you can also use regular button mushrooms and your favorite
kind of sausage. Here's what you'll need: 3-4 cups chicken broth,
1/2 cup wild rice, 1 cup white rice OR use one box wild and white rice
blend and follow instructions for cooking, substituting broth for
water, 1 cup chopped celery, 1 generous cups chopped onion, 1-2
teaspoons minced garlic, 1/2 pound Italian sausage, 4 oz mixed exotic
mushrooms, sliced and/or chopped as necessary, 1/2 to 1 teaspoon ea:
dried rosemary and dried thyme, Salt and pepper to taste, 1 bunch
scallions, sliced, both leaves and white part. Bring broth to a
boil. Add wild rice, cover and cook 15 minutes. Add white rice and
continue to cook 20 more minutes, or until rice is done. If
necessary, add a bit more broth as needed while rice is cooking.
Meanwhile, sauté onions, celery, mushrooms and garlic with sausage
until sausage is cooked. Add rosemary and thyme. Adjust seasonings.
Combine sausage mixture with rice. Add parsley and blend well. Serve
with scallions sprinkled on top.
ROASTED HERBED
SWEET POTATO SLICES - Again, go to taste on the seasonings here.
If you want to cut the potatoes in wedgest, that’s fine, too. Just
increase the cooking time. You'll need: 4 medium sweet potatoes,
peeled & cut into 1/4” rounds, Extra virgin olive oil to coat (start
with 3 tablespoons), 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon
dry, Few sprigs for garnish, 2 small garlic cloves, minced, 1/2
teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (opt), 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to
taste. Preheat oven to 400. Toss potatoes with oil, thyme, garlic,
red pepper and salt. Transfer to rimmed sprayed baking sheet. Roast
until tender and starting to brown 20-25 minutes uncovered. Season
with more sea salt and freshly ground pepper, if desired. Garnish and
serve.
-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]
[Hey Riat - Just
curious - if you have a cold "Hot Pocket", is it just a "pocket"?]
*Yardboy's
plant to ponder
- Holiday Bulbs! If you’re looking for a way to may your holidays a
little bit brighter, then I’ve got a solution - plant amaryllis and
paperwhite bulbs now! The amaryllis, and non hardy bulb that can
produce some of the most spectacular flowers you’ll ever see - some
even with a light fragrance. They come in many colors, as well as
single and double flowers. When purchasing your amaryllis bulbs,
you’ll find several sizes available. Remember the larger the bulb the
more flower stalks with flowers you’ll have to bloom. Once you’ve
chosen your bulb or bulbs, plant your amaryllis in a 6 or 8 inch pot
with good drainage holes. Use a soil-less potting mix, and be sure to
bury your bulb up to its neck. Water well, and place in a bright,
warm place in the home (no direct sunlight). Water sparingly (using
luke warm water) until the bulb produces a stem, then increase your
watering as needed. Once the stalk is growing, the best indoor
temperatures for your amaryllis are 65 – 70 degrees during the day,
and cooler at night. When buying amaryllis bulbs, buy several.
Remember, they take about 6-8 weeks to flower, so stagger your
planting times, so you’ll have amaryllis flowering not just for the
holidays, but throughout the winter season. And don’t throw them away
when they’re finished flowering. Cut off the old flower stalk and
grow the foliage like a houseplant indoors. We’ll get these to
flower for us again, next winter.
Paperwhite bulbs
are a non hardy narcissus bulb that will provide your home not only
with wonderful colorful flowers indoors, but will add a wonderful
fragrance as well. And these bulbs are so easy to grow, they’ll do
just fine in gravel and water! Now, although you can pot your
paperwhites in soil, it’s easiest to simply use a saucer filled with
fine gravel. Take several paperwhite bulbs and gently nestle them
into the gravel. Put them close together, as they will help to
support each other as well as give you a great show of colors. Add
water to your saucer, so that the water is gently touching the bottom
of the bulbs, and keep it at that level. With paperwhites, once the
bulbs touch water, they respond by starting to grow, so stand back!
Place them in a bright cool area, and in 6-8 weeks you’ll have a
saucer full of fragrant flowering bulbs. Again, buy several
paperwhite bulbs and plant them on a staggered basis, so that you’ll
have bulbs in flower all winter long. And unlike amaryllis bulbs,
these are a once shot deal, so once they’ve finished flowering, throw
them away. And a couple tips for growing paperwhites. They can get
leggy, so keep them cooler and they usually stay a bit stockier. Or,
add just a splash of gin to your water, and that also helps to keep
them shorter and stockier. No foolin’!
[Just curious -
why does "slow down" and "slow up" mean the same thing?]
A
little bit of this and a little bit of that
- GARDENING TRENDS FOR 2007 ARE IN! The Garden Media Group has
released their annuals Garden Trends Report, and here's "What's In"
and "What's Out" for 2007: In / Outdoor Living Out / Indoor
Living - In / Escape Gardens Out / Everyday Gardens - In /
Streamlined Gardens Out / Shabby -Chic Gardens - In / Eco -
Chic Gardens Out / Chemical Needy Gardens - In / Small Space
Gardens Out / Colossal Gardens - In / Larger than Life
Accents Out / Peek-a-boo accessories - In / Multi-Tasking
Gardens Out / Time Consuming Gardens - In / Fancy Plants
Out / Basic Plants - In / Designer Veggies Out / Store Bought
Veggies - In / 24 Hour Gardens Out / Daytime Only Gardens
- In / Foliage in Focus Out / Colorless Masses
(Consumers are
opting for sleek but approachable contemporary designs, thus the
streamlined garden trends. Gardens with strong architectural, bold
lines, colorful foliage are in. Gardeners are thinking super sized
plants and jumbo containers. Foliage in Focus is the use of colorful
foliage and no blooms. Mutli-tasking gardens will integrate
ornamental and edible plants. Mass plantings of junipers are being
replaced with mass plantings of hydrangeas, shrub roses, flowering
shrubs etc. And gardens now need to be functional day and night!)
[Just curious -
doesn't "expecting the unexpected" make the unexpected expected?]
Classes, Seminars, and upcoming Special Events
- "Jenny's Dream" (The Jennifer Leigh Kynkor Foundation) 2nd Annual
Fundraiser, Sunday, November 19, from 6-9pm, at the Brazenhead Irish
Pub in Mason, Ohio. Great food (expanded menu) and drink, great
atmosphere, live music, raffles and silent auctions with some of the
coolest items ever found at fundraisers, all for one great cause -
"Jenny's Dream". You will enjoy this fundraiser! $40 per couple.
For more info, call (513) 266-4404 or 604-8733. Tickets go fast, so
call today.
www.jennysdream.org
November 15.
Okra’s Book Club
at the
Civic Garden Center, Noon-1pm. Bring your
lunch and join us for a lively . Visit the website for the book
selection. Free, but a reservation is appreciated, 513/221-0981, Ext.
18.
November 18.
Cornhusk Dolls – A Native American Tradition at the Civic
Garden Center, 11am-Noon. Instructor: Corina Bullock, Civic
Garden Center Youth Education Coordinator. Here’s a chance to
incorporate a Native American tradition into your Thanksgiving. Learn
about the legend of the corn husk doll and make one for yourself.
Cost: $10 per family. Registration appreciated, 513/221-0981, Ext.
18.
November 30. Silk
Scarf Painting
at the Civic
Garden Center, 6-8pm Instructor: Kathy Mills, of Silk
Wings. Maybe you have noticed the flags hanging in our lobby –
they were hand-painted by community gardeners to celebrate the 25th
Anniversary of the Neighborhood Gardens Program. We are offering
another class for everyone to learn silk painting techniques on
scarf-sized pieces. Make one for yourself and one as a gift! Cost:
$25 (covers two scarves) Registration required and size is limited,
513/221-0981, Ext. 18.
[Just curious -
if the Wicked Witch of the West melts in water, how did she ever take
a bath?]
That's all for
this week. Now, do yourself a favor. Go out and have the best
weekend of your life. See ya. RW, the Yardboy. (Go Bearcats, Go
Bengals, and GO BUCKS!)
[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 (except during Buckeye Football
Season!) -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.)
[Just curious -
is it a good thing if a vacuum really sucks? -Big Dog's point to
ponder] |
