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Mother Nature continues to tease us into the spring season.  But as far as I'm concerned, that's a good thing.  As I have said before, the more she teases and holds us off, the quicker things will pop into flower once the weather does break.  So don't blink!  (ps. Sorry about the date typo error last week.  It wasn't April 30th!  Guess I was thinking  ahead!)

[Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.]

*Whether it's the weather - No doubt about it.  Cooler weather continues to hold back those ready to go flowers on many trees and shrubs.  It has also held back leaf development, which helps extend transplanting times!  Timely rainfall has been good in some areas, and not so good in others.  Looks like eastern Kentucky is still in a moderate long term drought (thanks Arbor Doctor for the update).  Please make sure your rain gauges are up and working so you know how much rainfall you've received in your own yard.

[The nice thing about being senile is you can hide your own eggs.]

*What's bugging you? - It won't be long (some may be seeing them already) until the Eastern Tent caterpillars will be making their debut in cherry trees, apples, crabapples, peach, plum, and a bunch of other selected trees.  Once they appear, knocking their nest (and the caterpillars) out of the tree with a stick or strong stream of water works great!  Sprays include Bt (use this one!), Sevin, Eight, Insecticidal Soap, and a whole bunch more.  See a bagworm?  Pick it off!  Leaf-footed bugs, boxelder bugs, Asian lady beetles, even a few attic flies continue to appear indoors.  If you're experiencing them, that only means that somewhere in your home, are cracks and crevices where they can get in!  Adelgids and psyllids will be appearing soon, especially for you boxwood owners (with cupped leaves).  Bayer's Tree and Shrub insect control is best for control, but needs to be applied early to get the ingredient into the plant's system.  Damages from both are usually minimal.  BREAKING NEWS!  OSU Extension Educator Joe Boggs (aka Buggy Joe, or Mothra) has emerged from his winter cocoon, his wings have dried, and is now ready to begin invading homes through this newsletter and on 55KRC (In the Garden), starting next week. Comments from Joe as his wings were drying, "bldksioqndnes-nsjajs-cough, cough - sdkujxjxx - where's my coffee?!" 

[Just curious - why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when they throw a revolver at him?]

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

"My forsythia have finished flowering!  Am I too late for applying pre emergent herbicides?"   -Not at all.  That's a good time to have them in place, but not all weeds (and crabgrass) germinate at one time.  They will be germinating over the next few months.  So, get on it as soon as you can.  For the lawn, you may want to consider using Greenview's Fairway Formula Spring Application which is actually applied later in the spring - like anytime mid April thru May.  It's a pre emergent, post emergent (weed killer), and slow release fertilizer that will feed up to 12 weeks after application.  Don't forget to reapply your Preen (landscape beds) in about 70 days or so after the first application.

"Okay, is now the time to cut back my roses?”  -If you can’t stand it any longer you can go ahead, but as the professional rosarians in our area will tell you, be patient, and wait until after tax day, April 15^th.  Some will wait as late as the last week of April, to cut back their roses.  But if you can't wait, go for it.

“Last year I had bagworms galore on my evergreens.  What can I do to prevent them this year?”   -There are no preventions for bagworms, besides making sure you’ve hand picked and destroyed any remaining bagworms still hanging on your plants.  These little bags can have as many as 500 eggs in them, so pick and destroy before they hatch, which usually occurs late May.  If they show up at that time on your plants, then spray with Bt.  But not before you see the whites of their beady little baggy eyes!

“When applying my Preen, do I need to put it on top of the mulch, or underneath the mulch?”  -That’s a great question!  And the answer depends on the situation!  -If its bare soil and you’re mulching for the first time, apply Preen to the soil first, then mulch.  If your budget allows, a second application on top of the mulch will be helpful for weed seeds blowing into the mulch.  -If you’re simply top dressing or freshening existing mulch, apply Preen before you add the new mulch.  -And if you’re already mulched and ready to go, simply apply Preen to the top of the mulch.   And in all cases, make sure that the Preen gets watered in!  As a reminder for those of you interested in using organic or natural products in your gardens, both Preen and Espoma now have their all natural pre emergent made from Corn Gluten.  It needs to be reapplied more often, but it is a natural alternative for you.

"Last week, I saw an advertisement from one of the mass merchants for annuals!  Isn't it too early for those?"   -Why yes, yes it can be.  Don't be bamboozled with those ads or worse yet, actually buying and planting summer flowers like geraniums, impatiens, begonias and the such.  Save those for May plantings.  One other note:  be cautious buying nursery plants right now that have a lot of new growth on them.  That means they were brought up from the south or a warmer area, and have been growing.  They probably won't enjoy our still to come cold temperatures, and you may experience die back on the plants.  Make sure they're acclimated and ready to plant outside. 

   By the way, for cold hardy  flowers to add color now, both in containers and in the ground, look at ranunnculus, pansies and violas, dianthus, osteospermum, primrose, and even flowering spring bulbs already growing in pots!

"I dormant seeded in February.  The lawn has received a pre-emergent with fertilizer treatment yesterday.  Will core aerating break the barrier, and if so, how long do I need to wait?"   -Two things here - core aeration will break the pre emergent barrier, and how long you need to wait depends on the chemical used.  Technically you could core aerate and reapply the pre emergent. You may wind up just waiting until fall to core aerate the lawn.  Secondly, if a regular pre emergent was used on your lawn, it will take care of the weed seeds as well as the grass seed you dormant seeded with!  There are pre emergents for newly seeded lawns.  Hopefully that is what was used!

"Can I core aerate in the spring?"  -Yes!  Spring and fall being the best 2 times to do this.  See above concerning pre emergents.

"Ron, I agree with your comments about not using rubber mulch.  It was used on a landscape job in Georgetown and the problem there was the SMELL!  It smells like a tire recapping store today, and was applied over 15 years ago."  

"When I read your comments about the morning glory seed fad possibly coming back into the scene with teenager abuse (possible substitute for LSD), it brought back memories of an article I wrote many years ago about this, and how it was a popular hallucinogen "hippie fad" in the 60's.  As a matter of fact, it inspired rock group names including "The Seeds", "The Heavenly Blues", and "Morning Glory".  Fortunately we gardeners aren't interested in getting high.  I will be growing morning glories in my garden again this year, as always, so now my husband jokes, "I know that Linda wants to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, but what is she going to do with the hippies?"   -Good point!  (Note: Parents beware if your kids are buying large amounts of morning glory seeds - seriously.)

[Statistics on sanity say that one out of four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness.  Think of your three best friends.  If they're okay, then it's you!]

This week's Success Tip for your garden - Salad Bowl Add-Ons - A plain old lettuce salad can be pretty boring.  But in today’s produce areas, you’ll find bags of mixed greens to add a little extra something to your lettuce salad.  And typically, these bags aren’t cheap.  Well guess what?  You can most of these greens, and you can do it in a pot on your own back porch!  I call it my “salad bowl add-ons”, and it’s really simple to do. Here’s how:  1.)  Get yourself 2 or 3, 12-14 inch shallow containers, always making sure they have good drainage.  Plastic bowls, ½ bushel baskets, anything close will do just fine.  2.) Fill your containers with our container mix we’ve been talking about - soil-less potting mix, a little Osmocote for a gradual feeding, and some Soil Moist to help cut down on our watering.  And now you’re ready to plant!  3.) So what do you put in your salad bowl add-ons containers?  Try growing Upland cress, dill, radicchio, arugula, basil, parsley, chives, mixed greens, and of course, my favorite, cilantro.  Any of these greens which can be added to a salad bowl of lettuce will work.  4.) Plant your add-ons closer than you would normally, keeping in mind you’ll be harvesting these on a regular basis.  Many of your plants are “cut and come agains”, which means as your remove or harvest the young leaves, more will regrow later.  So by planting several containers, you can rotate your harvesting from basket to basket.  5.) Water your plants in well, and water as needed throughout the spring season.  Come June, many of these greens will begin to poop out, and at that time, your can remove the greens, and replant these planters with your favorite herbs.  Then you’ll have fresh herbs to harvest, all summer long.   As most of these greens do best during cooler temperatures, ‘salad bowl add-ons’ can also be planted in August for late summer and fall harvests.  Natorp06

[How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?]

*From the Garden to the Kitchen / Hey Rita, what's cooking? - Yardboy, it’s almost Easter and that means lots of baskets hidden for the little ones. We always do an Easter brunch, so this week and next I’m going to be sharing some favorite Easter and springtime brunch recipes. The beauty of recipe is that you can assemble it the night before and bake it in the morning.  What an invitation as guests walk in the door – enticing aromas from the oven!  And talk about variations on a theme – they’re endless and I’ve given some of them below.

MASTER RECIPE
1 dozen eggs, 3 cups milk, 1 pound grated cheddar or favorite shredded cheese, Handful of fresh parsley and chives (opt), Sea salt and pepper to taste [Optional: any add-ins you like: a pound of sautéed sausage, bacon, mushrooms, shallots, asparagus, spinach, roasted red pepper, sautéed spinach, etc.]

Preheat oven to 350. Whisk eggs by hand or use a mixer to blend well.  Add milk and blend. Add herbs and salt and pepper.   Pour into sprayed or greased 9x13 pan – depending upon the size of the eggs, you will have enough to fill another small casserole, about 1 quart or so.  This will take anywhere from about an hour or hour and a half to bake, depending upon what’s in it and if it was left overnight in the frig. You’ll know it is done when it’s all puffed and golden.  Note: you can use less cheese, or none at all, if you wish.  Copyright 2006  Rita Nader Heikenfeld

-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 / Part time Witchdoctor and maker of strange potions    [life@communitypress.com attn: Rita or www.abouteating.com] 

[If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?]

*Yardboy's plant to ponder - Plants today, as we ponder the early flowering magnolias, namely Ann, Jane (both hybrid magnolias), and Royal Star.  These early bloomers are way under used in the landscape.  Granted the early flower colors of reddish purple, purple, and white and great welcomers to the spring season, but for the rest of the season, these plants offer a wonderful alternative for larger shrub or small tree forms.  Ann and Jane are shrubby upright growers, reaching 15 feet or so, while Royal Star may top out around 10-12 feet, but also be 10-12 feet wide.  Great for a part in screen plantings, as a specimen plant (give them proper room to grow), and where smaller tree or larger shrub like plants are needed.  Easily limbed up for a multi-stemmed ornamental small tree.  Check all 3 out!

[My mind works like lighting.  One brilliant flash and it is gone.]

A little bit of this and a little bit of that - "COME GROW WITH US!"  -Natorp's Garden Stores are now hiring part-time seasonal help for customer service - cashiers, part-time sales, and material handlers for our garden stores in Mason and Florence. One of the great benefits - enjoy an employee discount on plants and gardening products!   Apply at the store of your choice!

Classes, Seminars, and upcoming Special Events - April 8th is a busy day at Granny's Garden School in Loveland!  Rummage Sale is from 9-1 (drop off rummage sale donations on 4/7 from 3 - 9:30pm), and volunteer clean-up for the gardens (general spring clean up as well as cleaning us the mess from the vandals) will be from 10-2.  Visit schoolgarden@fuse.net or call 324-2873.

The Southwestern Ohio Daffodil Show is April 8 and 9 at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (Coors Pavilion).  Entries must be complete by 10:30am (4/8).  The show then opens to the public at 1:30, and runs thru Sunday.  Hundreds of daffodils will be on display - members will be available to answer your questions.  For more info, email blee811@aol.com.

The Cincinnati Flower Show (held at Coney Island) is coming up!  This year it runs April 22 thru April 30!  Loads of new things going on this year, so be sure to check out the new schedule of events.  Visit www.cincyflowershow.com for show info and to order tickets online.

Is your non-profit club, group, or organization looking for a great fundraiser?  Why not try selling Natorp's Gift Cards?  For more information, email me at rwilson@natorp.com. 

[My memory's not as good as it used to be.  And, my memory isn't as good as it used to be.]

Okay that's it for this week.  Things are really starting to go - brace yourself - spring is here!  Now, do yourself a favor.  Go out and have the best weekend of your life.  See ya.  RW, the yardboy.

[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 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, occasional appearances on 'Homeworx' (Sundays at 11:30am Local 12), and read his monthly column in your local Community Press Papers.]