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FALL IS FOR PLANTING!

We're half way thru November and it's flying by faster than I had anticipated!  Next week is Thanksgiving week, so try to keep your 'fall clean up' - 'gardening wind down' on schedule.  And, I'm sure you'll want to be finished in the garden on Saturday by 3:30pm., to watch the Buckeyes take on that team from up north!

[I had a friend who was always late.  Even her ancestors showed up on the June Flower.]

*Whether it's the weather - No complaints here!  Cool weather and timely rainfall is keeping our plants well watered.  Again, check the rain gauges to make sure your yard is receiving 1 inch of rainfall every 10 days or so.

[I went to a nice restaurant called "Deja Vu".  The waiter came up to us and said, "Don't I know you?"]

*What's bugging you? - Nothing, other than the Holiday season is coming at us like a runaway freight train!  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 (and artificial) wreaths and greens, live and cut Christmas trees, custom decorations (Yes, decorations made specifically to your wants and needs!), 'Porch Pots', Cemetery vase arrangements, 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!

COME ENJOY OUR HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES:

"Natorp's Holiday Open House" - MASON STORE - Saturday, Nov. 25, 9:30 to 6:00pm.  Free in-store holiday demonstrations, plus a Fall Clean-up Seminar at 4:30 with Pat Greeson.  Other events including a fire truck display with the Deerfield Township Fire Dept / Sheriff's Crime Prevention from 10am to 2pm, Cincinnati SPCA from 12-4pm, Tri-Weh Duct cleaning experts on hand all day.  Enjoy a Bake Sale (proceeds benefit the SPCA).  Kids get a small present from Santa's bag while mom and dad shop.  Mason H.S. Band members will be providing holiday sounds!  BE THERE NOV.25th!

"Natorp's Winterfest"- FLORENCE STORE - Saturday, Dec. 2nd, 9:30 to 6:00pm.  Come see Santa and have your picture taken with the jolly old Elf.  See Mr. Cowpie's Party Animals from 2:30 - 5:00pm.  Attend one of the morning holiday decorating demonstrations ($5 per class, materials included, please sign up ahead of time) with a door prize given away at each session.  Learn to "winterize your landscape" from 2-3:00pm.  And enjoy treats, refreshments and a little Natorp Holiday Cheer.  BE THERE DEC. 2!

[The older you get the better you realize you were.]

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

“Can leaves be used for winter mulching of my perennials and roses?”  -Yes, finely ground leaves can!  And that’s the key, finely ground leaves.  They don’t pack down like full sized leaves will.  Although we like to wait to final mulch until the soil temperatures dip below 40 degrees, if you’re headed out of town or just don’t like working in the colder weather, feel free to final mulch in the next week or so.  We’ll talk about winterizing those roses within the next couple newsletters.

“I get confused on how to prune my ever-bearing raspberries.  Can you explain the process to me?”  -Pruning brambles can be a bit confusing as they are each pruned differently.  And the ever-bearing raspberries can be pruned 2 different ways!  What I would like you to do is go to OHIOLINE.OSU.EDU, click on Yard and Garden, click on Fruits, then go to Raspberries and Blackberries.  Great info with great pictures that you can print out and save forever!  Also a great site for visual instructions for pruning grapes (which should happen late winter).

"I was told that it is possible to dissolve a tree stump in a matter of a few weeks by drilling holes in the stump, pouring urea in the holes, and covering with plastic.  Does that work?"   -Well, it could certainly help speed up the process, but trust me, it will take more than a few weeks to "dissolve" a tree stump!  Especially if it's a hard wood like oak.  The above process will help, and you can get by using a thick layer of mulch or leaves or compost over the stump.  But the quickest and most effective way to get rid of a tree stump, is to have it ground out with a tree stump remover.  Usually takes less than an hour!  If you try to dissolve the stump, it will take a long time (months / years), and you're almost guaranteed the use of picks, axes, etc for final removal.  Just call in the stump grinders!

“When do I cut my ornamental grasses back, or what do I do with them over the winter?”  -Well, ornamental grasses not only provide great character to the landscape in the summer with their foliage and movement with the wind, but they also add winter character to the landscape with their foliage, the colors, the plumes and seed heads, and again, their movement with the wind.  So I suggest you leave them be for the winter and enjoy what they add.  Then, in late winter or early spring, cut them back just above the ground, and allow the new grass clumps to begin to grow for the summer season.  Now, if by chance you don’t like their winter look, feel free to cut them back this fall, after they have turned totally brown.  On the same token, a lot of gardeners have enjoyed the summer flowers of the butterfly bush, but again the question comes up, when should I cut back my butterfly bushes?  Fall or spring?  Butterfly bushes will keep those small leaves well into the late fall and early winter.  Again, I like to leave them be and enjoy their winter look, and then cut them back in the spring.  As a matter of fact, they seem to do better over-wintering by leaving them alone and cutting them back in the spring.  But, again, if you don’t like the look, cut them back late fall.  And as the season winds down, right now the biggest question is from gardeners growing roses, asking if it’s okay to cut back their roses and put them away for the winter.  The answer is - NO!  It’s way too early to be cutting back roses and getting them ready for winter.  Keep reading the newsletters, and I’ll let you know when the time has come.

[Women like silent men.  They think they are listening.]

This week's Success Tip for your garden - Okay, you've just finished cleaning out the leaves and debris that had blown into your landscape beds, and from a distance, they look pretty good.  But if you get down and look closer, in some beds, you may see it’s getting ready to be invaded by 2 very obnoxious weeds!  Look closely and you’ll see small sprigs of green starting to show.  And if left alone, these little critters will slowly take over the bed and by spring, already have you way behind in weed control!  What you’re seeing is Chickweed, and Henbit - Two of early spring’s most noxious weeds.  Chickweed and henbit are winter annuals.  Their seeds germinate in the fall, they grow slow and low over the winter, and come on like gang busters in the spring!  But if you react now, you’ll head of the spring weed rush.  Clean out your beds of leaves and debris, and then look for these weeds coming up.  If you see them, rake hard and pull them out of the ground - they’re very shallow rooted.  If you can’t do that, a quick shot of Roundup should do the trick.  Then, apply a pre emergent herbicide such as Preen.  This will stop any remaining chickweed or henbit seeds from germinating, and come next spring, your landscape beds should be chickweed and henbit free. By the way, these also grow in thin or bare areas of the lawn.  I've seen where they’ve already gotten a good start in several bare spots.  Again, rake them out, get rid of them now, and work on getting these thin or bare spots thicker next spring with grass.  They only grow in the lawn, where the grass has thinned or died out.  Another good reason to keep your lawn as thick as possible.

[Before they invented drawing boards, what did they go back to?]

*From the Garden to the Kitchen / Hey Rita, what's cooking? - Yardboy, the countdown for Thanksgiving begins! Here are two wonderful recipes, and the best part is, they can be done ahead, leaving the cook more time to enjoy what we’re really celebrating here, being with those we love and thanking the Lord for our abundant blessings.

Easy and Elegant Pumpkin Squash Soup with Roasted Red Pepper Coulis - Make this up to 2 days ahead. Here's what you'll need: 2 tablespoons butter, 1 generous cup chopped onions or leeks, 1 large garlic clove, smashed, Curry powder to taste: start with 1 teaspoon – I usually wind up with a couple of teaspoons, 1/2 teaspoon salt or more to taste, Pinch or two of ground coriander, Pinch or two of ground cayenne pepper or use hot sauce (opt), 3 cups chicken broth, 15 oz canned pumpkin, 1/2 cup whipping cream.       Melt butter in pan. Stir in onions, garlic, curry, salt, coriander and cayenne. Sauté until onions are translucent. Add broth and pumpkin, whisking well. Bring to a boil and then lower to a gentle boil for 10 minutes. Process until smooth with a hand blender, blender or food processor. Stir in cream and cook a little more. Adjust seasonings.  Makes about 6 cups.

Serve with roasted red pepper coulis: and this is optional, but good. -Roast a red bell pepper: cut in half and remove seeds. Place, open side down,  under the broiler or, skin side down on the grill. After pepper blisters and blackens somewhat, put in bowl and cover. When it cools, peel off as much skin as you can.  Even easier: Buy a jar of roasted red peppers. Puree peppers until smooth. Swirl on top of soup.

PUMPKIN PIE CAKE - You can make this a couple of days ahead, and store, covered, in the frig.  Bottom Layer: 1 stick butter or margarine, melted, 1 package (approx.18.24 oz) yellow cake mix (reserve one cup), 1 egg.  Filling: 1 large can (29 oz) plain pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix), 3 eggs, 1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, ½ cup packed brown sugar.  Topping: 1 cup reserved cake mix, ½ stick butter or margarine, ½ cup sugar, ½ cup or more to taste, walnuts.   Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bottom layer: mix butter with cake mix and egg.  Press into bottom of sprayed 13x9 pan.   Filling:  Beat pumpkin, eggs, spice and sugar together and spread over bottom layer.  Topping:  Mix reserved cake mix with butter, sugar and nuts and crumble over filling.  Bake 50-60 minutes .  Serves 12-15. 

-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 - Is it true that cannibals won't eat clowns because they taste funny?]

[Hey Riat - If you ate pasta and antipasta at the same time, would you still be hungry?]

*Yardboy's plant to ponder - I think it is only appropriate this week to ponder the overall genus "Aesculus", which is the genus for many different species in the wonderful world of The Buckeye (as well as the Horsechestnut).  Now, when we think 'Buckeye', many times we immediately think of Thee Ohio State Buckeyes, and rightfully so!  Buckeyes, Ohio State, National Champs, best team in the land, they simply go hand in hand.  And, some of you may also think 'Buckeyes' and immediately reflect to the chocolate covered peanut butter balls, and again, if you've ever eaten my mom's special Buckeyes, I can understand your thinking.  Simply outstanding and a wonderful treat.  And then again, when we think 'Buckeyes', many of us think about the many species of Buckeyes that grace our woods and landscape.  The Yellow Buckeye, the Red Buckeye, the Bottlebrush Buckeye, and of course, The Ohio Buckeye.  Truly a group of wonderful and unique trees and shrubs!  Or maybe the word "Buckeye" takes us to exactly that - the Buckeye, a brown hard shelled tough to break poisonous nut, protected during it's maturing stages by a spiny covering.  The toxins in the Buckeye have potent pharmacological properties, causing severe gastrointestinal and nervous system symptoms, much like those the opposing football players experience when playing against The Ohio State University "Buckeyes".  The same symptoms that will be seen this Saturday as the Buckeye toxins take their hold on those wolverines.  "Go Buckeyes!"

[One thing nice about egotists - they don't talk about other people.]

A little bit of this and a little bit of that - GREAT AMERICAN BALL PARK gets a new field!  Immediately after the last game of the Red's season, Doug Gallant (head groundskeeper) had the old bluegrass field  ripped out and a new one put back (or started) - literally just that fast!  It's a system developed by local experts at The Motz Group, which is a hybrid system of natural grass and artificial stabilizer.  This is the same system used at Ohio State, Findlay, and Dayton Universities.  A stabilizer mat is rolled out and back-filled with sand, then seeded with the grass of choice.  This time, the turf is not bluegrass, but is a blend of 5 types of perennial ryegrasses, chosen for their excellent resistance to diseases.  And, we're happy to report that over the short period of time, the new field is filling in quite nicely and has been mowed twice already!  Opening Day is April 2nd, 2007.

*HELP THOSE EVERGREENS AGAINST OLD MAN WINTER - The fall season is slowly winding down, and that means it's time to take a few extra steps, to make sure your evergreens are ready to take on Old Man Winter!  When deciduous or leafy plants lose their leaves in the fall, they literally ‘shut down for the winter’.  But for the evergreens, both needle and leafy evergreens, they may ‘slow down for the winter’, but they don’t shut down.    Throughout the winter, these evergreen needles and leaves continue to transpire, or lose moisture.  And windy days or warm sunny days really speeds up the loss.  Unless there’s moisture available in the ground to replace the moisture lost from the leaves or needles, (whether the soil is dry or the ground is frozen), they draw moisture from the cells in the stems, which can result in desiccation or drying out, and that means needle or leaf browning, or actual killing of the needles, leaves and the stems.  So, what can you do to help protect your evergreens?  1.)    Make sure your evergreens have good soil moisture going into the winter.  Good soil moisture also means good moisture in the plant.  Water as needed right up until cold weather sets in.  And, if it’s a dry winter, try watering on a warm day to get moisture back into the ground.  2.)    Make sure your evergreens have a nice mulching, to help retain even moisture levels in the soil.  3.)    Late in the fall, spray your evergreens with an anti-transpirant such as Wilt Stop.  This is an all natural product, that forms a protective coating on the leaves and needles to help retain moisture in the needles and leaves, reducing water loss, and of course, winter burn.  4.)    And in very high wind areas, you may resort to building a burlap screen around your plants, to help reduce the wind, provide a bit of shading from the sun, and reduce excessive transpiration.     As always, be sure to read the label before applying Wilt Stop, as there are a few restrictions.  And always follow the directions.  Be sure to pick up extra Wilt Stop, as it will come in handy later, as you’re getting ready for the holiday season.  We’ll talk more about that later!

*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.

*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!

[Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.]

Classes, Seminars, and upcoming Special Events - This week is Mathew :25 Ministries Food Drive!  The goal is to collect 25,000 pounds of food during this week, that will help local food pantries during the Holidays.  Friday, November 17 is 55KRC Day!  Folks from 55KRC will be joining Tim Mettey on the roof of the building to help draw attention to this worthy cause.  Here's the schedule- drive by and drop off some canned foods:  7-9am  RON WILSON (come see the yardboy and bring canned food to drop off!)   10-12pm Bobby Leach (55KRC traffic)  10:30 - 11:30am Marilyn Harris (Cooking with Marilyn)   12-1pm  Rob Williams  (55KRC production and truly a funny, funny man!)   1-2pm Tony 'Big Dog' Bender (program director and philosopher)  2-3:30pm Gary Sullivan (radio and TV star / home improvement expert).  55KRC will be registering folks who stop by to win a Family Four Pack to the movies, as well as handing out activity books from the movie "Happy Feet".   11060 Kenwood Road in Blue Ash.  See you there Friday morning, and bring some canned foods!

"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 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 25^th 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.

Master Gardener Winter Program 2007 (Kenton County Cooperative Extension Service) -  The Northern Kentucky Master Gardener Program begins January 11 and runs thru April 19th, from 12:30 - 4:30pm at the Extension Office.  For more information, call (859) 356-3155. 

Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum presents its first annual Second Sunday Salon Series (dates include 12/10, 1/14/07, 2/11/07).  $5 per lecture / held at the Norman Chapel, 4521 Spring Grove Ave, at the cemetery.  For more information call 681-6680 or visit www.springgrove.org.

[Do pediatricians play miniature golf on Wednesdays?]

That's it for this week.  Next week is Thanksgiving, so be prepared for your annual Turkey Trivia!  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.)

[Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.  -Big Dog's Point to Ponder]