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As I have said many times, back in my younger years, Good Friday was truly the kickoff for the spring gardening season.  Back then, it was ‘taters and onions, packaged vegetable seeds, cabbage and collard plants, bare-root fruit trees and roses, some grass seed, packaged privet, forsythia, bridal wreath spirea, and a few other flowering shrubs.  And, we even closed the garden stores for 2 hours so the employees could go to church, and then it was back to work.  Oh, those were the good old days! (Of course, when I was younger, you could buy multi-colored colored chicks and ducks at the local feed store or G.C. Murphy’s for Easter!)

*Whether it's the weather - Warmer weather has spring popping like crazy.  Stay focused, keep on your gardening schedule, and don't get too anxious to start planting those summer flowers.  Get the other gardening chores taken care of; we'll start planting annuals in a few weeks.  By the way, if you are planting new trees and shrubs, perennials, etc., be sure to check your watering.  This month can drive you crazy wondering if it's wet or dry or what!  Don't guess, check the soil by visual and by touch.

[How do you know if you're eating rabbit stew?  It has hares in it.]

*What's bugging you? - He's back!  Buggy Joe Boggs (OSU Extension) is reporting accumulations of robust maggots (larvae) in turf and in mulched beds (figures, huh?).  These robust maggots are not your typical ones: they range 1/2 to 1 inch in length and are grayish brown in color.  These scary culprits are the maggots of either March flies or Crane flies, also called "leather jackets".  For the most part, any turf damages are minimal, and no controls are generally recommended.  Joe also warns to keep your eyes open for both eastern and forest tent caterpillars, as well as sawflies on your mugho pines (and others).  Joe also warns for those who have had spider mite problems in the past, monitor for them this spring on a weekly basis.  Don't forget that a good blast of water about every 10 days to 2 weeks does a nice job reducing mite populations on your evergreens, especially the Alberta Spruce!    -Catch the Buggy Joe Boggs Report Saturdays at 8:42am, In the Garden, on 55KRC radio!

[What do you call a rabbit with fleas?  Bugs Bunny. Unless his first name was Joe, then it would be Joe Buggs Bunny, or Buggy Joe Bunny.]

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

"I just realized I should have cut my viburnum back in early March.  Is it too late?  And what about butterfly bush and Annabelle hydrangea?  -If you prune viburnums now, you'll remove many of the flower buds, which is fine if you don't care about the flowers.  Otherwise, wait until they finish flowering.  For the Annabelle and butterfly bush, now's the time to prune as needed!

"I heard you talking about a spray that keeps fruit from forming on trees.  What was that?"   -It's called Florel, and the success of Florel depends on timing a spray (when plant is in bloom) and how well you spray the plant.  And even if all is right, it's actually a fruit reducer, rarely fruit eliminator.  But it does work.

"Can you give me the home-made recipe for spraying and killing moss?"   -There are commercially available products for you to use as well, but dissolving one small box of baking soda in 2 gallons of luke-warm water works pretty well!  Again, this is a temporary solution.  You need to change the environment so it's not conducive to moss - check pH, soil compaction, increasing air and sunlight to the area, soil fertility, drainage - these are all factors that decrease grass growth yet encourage moss growth.

"Any way to eliminate the rubber odor of using rubber mulch since Consumer Reports states advantages of rubber mulch vs wooden mulch?"  -Not that I know of, besides NOT using it!

"In your garden at the Home & Garden Show, you had an artificial turf for the pathway, and I must admit it was very realistic.  Is that available for homeowners use?"   -Wasn't that unbelievable?  When it's wet, it really looks like grass!  Anyway, without sounding like a commercial, that stuff is the perfect solution to adding a year round usable area in your lawn, right off the deck or patio, and is especially good for folks who have heavily wooded areas and can't grass to grow, but would like a grassy area in the woods.  And, you can make a putting green as well!  That is available through Buckeye Putting Greens (www.buckeyegreens.com), a local firm, and it's more affordable than you may think!  I love that stuff!

"Ron keeps talking about using pine soil conditioner as a soil amendment, and pine bark for mulching.  What's the difference and what is the difference between all the different pine bark mulches?"   -Good question!  Pine bark is available in many different types, from the finely shredded pine bark (Natorp's labeled as 'Pine Soil Conditioner'), the Pine Bark (a small chipped bark usually less than 1 inch in size), and then there are 2 to 3 Pine bark nuggets (which are medium to large sized chunks, and usually not sold as much as the smaller sized pine bark).  I like to use the pine soil conditioner as a soil amendment and as a mulch, or the next sized pine bark for mulching.  But, mulching becomes a personal preference, and that's when some folks like the looks of the larger chunk pine bark, or something entirely different. 

"Is it too late to prune my Abbottswood potentilla?"  Not at all!  As a matter of fact, timing is perfect.  Remember, prune spring flowering shrubs after they flower, prune summer flowering shrubs in the spring.

"My neighbor uses a mulching blade on his mower, yet bags the clippings.  Sound unusual to you?"   -Yep.  I'm a firm believer in mowing on a regular basis (never removing more than 1/3 of the grass blade each time you mow) and returning those blades right back to the turf.  This does not cause thatch!  It adds organic matter back to the soil, as well as the nitrogen and other nutrients left in the cut off grass blades.  And the mulching mower blade chops those grass blades even finer for a quicker breakdown!  Don't bag your clippings unless you have a lawn disease problem or need the clippings for your compost pile (clippings without herbicides).

[How can you tell which rabbits are the oldest?  Just look for the gray hares.]

This week's Success Tip for you garden - A ROSE IS A ROSE IS A ROSE – Okay, the waiting is over.  Feel free to uncover those roses, and get them ready for the summer season.  Now the reason we’ve asked you to wait is that if you prune your roses early in the season, or uncover them too early, they obviously become susceptible to late frosts and freezes.  Okay, here’s the scoop from our rose professionals:  1.)    The week of April 15, or as the dogwoods begin to show flowers, uncover roses completely, rake and clean away debris, and prune to get rid of all dead wood and dead canes.  Hybrid teas, grandifloras, and floribundas will be pruned leaving the healthiest 5-7 canes, remaining at around 15 - 18 inches in height.  Shrub and mini roses are cleared of deadwood and pruned to the desired size and shape. Climbers will receive structural pruning as needed, and removal of winter damaged canes.  For you Knockout rose owners, you do have the option of simply removing deadwood and lightly reshaping the plant, leaving it taller and giving it the opportunity to get taller (they can reach 5 feet easily), or simply cutting the entire plant back to 8 – 12 inches above the ground, keeping it a bit more compact for the upcoming growing season.  2.)    Go ahead and spray your roses with lime sulfur spray, or dust with dusting sulfur.  This will help to kill any disease spores that may have over-wintered on the rose plants.  3.)    An initial feeding (1/2 normal rate) can be applied over the next couple weeks.  As we get more into the growing season (May and further), go ahead and begin feeding at normal rates.  4.)    Re-mulch the soil around the roses with Pinebark mulch, and your roses are good to go!  5.)    If you’ve had problems with insects and diseases in the past, keep in mind using ‘Bayers 3 in 1 Rose Care’ for systemic action, and Bonide’s ‘3 in 1 Rose Care’ for Foliar applications, as the season progresses.  Note:  If you had problems with rose slug, rose sawfly, or bristly rose slugs last year, now is the time to use the Bayer's 3 in 1 as a soil drench.

EASTER LILIES - This favorite holiday flower can be recycled back into your garden.  After it finishes flowering, remove the flower and keep it growing inside until the weather is good for planting outside.  Cut it in half, plant in a sunny area in the perennial garden, and it may even re-bloom this year; if not, it should next year and years to come.  By the way, this is one plant that is toxic to cats, so keep it away from Fluffy, or Tom Tom, or Zoey, or Eddie or whatever your cat's name is.

[What type of jewelry do rabbits wear?  14 carrot gold.]

*From the Garden to the Kitchen / Hey Rita, what's cooking? - Yardboy, there are lots of our readers having people over for the holiday. The recipe I’m sharing today is one of our favorites, and it’s great for an Easter brunch, a springtime luncheon, even as a dessert for a dinner buffet. The best thing about this recipe, Yardboy?  You can make it up the night before and bake it fresh the next day!  Oh, and guess what I’m garnishing this cake with? Edible violas and pansies from Natorp’s, of course. CRUNCHY OVERNIGHT CINNAMON STREUSEL CAKE FOR BRUNCH OR ANYTIME! (This can be made right away, also.  If refrigerated overnight, allow extra baking time.)

Filling: 1 stick unsalted butter, softened, 1 cup sugar, 2 large eggs, room temperature, 8 oz sour cream, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon ea: baking powder and soda, Dash salt (if using salted butter omit salt)

Streusel:  Mix together 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar, 1 cup chopped toasted pecans, 2 teaspoons cinnamon.

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray a 9x13 pan.  Beat butter sugar and eggs together until blended and light, about 2 minutes.  Add sour cream and vanilla and blend.  Combine flour, baking powder, soda and salt and add to batter slowly and blend well.  Pour into pan.  Sprinkle streusel on top.  Bake 35-40 minutes.  Freezes well.

Tips from Rita’s kitchen - Leavening power: Put a pinch of your baking powder in a bit of warm water – it should fizz up right away if it’s fresh; for baking soda, do the same in an acid solution – a bit of vinegar or lemon juice in water. Store these away from heat and light.

-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]

"When the Garden Meets the Grill": Jungle Jims, May 8, 6:30-9:30pm and May 9, 11-2pm. The Yardboy and the Cook are back together again at Jungle's Cooking School - Ron Wilson and Rita Heikenfeld will share their secrets for growing herbs, vegetables, flowers and just about anything else in containers and in the ground. Ron, the Yardboy, will also fill you in on what's happening in the garden and share a few great gardening tips, while Rita, the cook, creates a complete summer grill menu using the herbs and produce you may grow in your garden! Call 674-6059 to register.  Hurry - seating is limited so call today!

[What do rabbits have that nothing else does?  Baby rabbits.]

*Yardboy's plant to ponder - With spring flowers really starting to show, then next week or two will be highlighted by the flowering of the ornamental pears.  Many years ago, it was Bradford and Aristocrat pears making their ways into everyone's yards, and they still have a presence in many landscapes.  Ornamental pears have been great for tolerating a wide range of soil conditions, and have held up nicely through drought conditions.  And over the years, we have been enjoying many new introductions of ornamental pears into the market.  But one of the newer varieties that I feel is  really  proving to be something else, is  'Cleveland Select'.  Similar to Bradford, but more of an upright grower, this one seems much more tolerant of windy areas, and still has the great show of spring color, as well as spectacular fall colors (depending on the weather!).  I still like the ornamental pears, and I really like Cleveland Select.

[What do you call a line of rabbits walking backwards?  A receding hareline.]

A little bit of this and a little bit of that - YOUR YARD IS BECOMING A SALAD BOWL – At least that’s the way deer and rabbits look at it!  And as things begin to grow, deer and rabbits begin to eat.  Start now using your repellents and plant protection plans before it’s too late.  Train them to go to the neighbor’s yard instead of yours. Nylon netting, chicken wire, Scarecrow critter chaser, DEERSCRAM and LIQUID FENCE, or whatever else you use, get on it now.

GET THOSE SUCKERS!– If you have serious problems with sucker growth at the base of your crabapples, cherries, or any plant that sends out those annoying suckers that you keep cutting off week after week, there is now a miracle cure to stop those suckers and stop you wasting good gardening time cutting them off.  It’s called (appropriately enough) ‘Sucker Stopper’, and this stuff really works!  Simply cut off the suckers, give the fresh cuts a shot of Sucker Stopper, and it will prohibit re-growth for one entire season!  As a matter of fact, I haven’t seen any re-growth so far this spring, on the ones I treated last year.  Again, read the label before using, but this one’s a real time saver in the garden!

DOUBLE YOUR PREFERRED POINTS - Hey, Preferred Gardeners - Wednesday, April 19, is double your preferred points day on all garden store purchases!  Don't forget!  (Not a Natorp's Preferred Gardener?  Then get to one of our stores, or visit our web site for the Preferred Gardeners Club sign up, and get yourself involved!)

ORNER'S - For the finest in Amish built pergolas, playhouses, arbors and barns, visit Orner's.  You'll also find fine indoor and outdoor furnishings, as well as a wonderful gift shop.  Orner's is located at 5371 Merten Dr., Mason, right next to our garden store!  Stop in and see Karen and Daryl Orner.  229-0222 

Classes, Seminars, and upcoming Special Events - 2006 Jenny's Dream Celebrity Golf Classic (Supporting the Jennifer Leigh Kynkor Foundation - www.jennysdream.org) - Saturday, May 27 - Special Guest Anthony Munoz - Crooked Tree Golf Course, Mason, Ohio.  Play with a celebrity, or bring your own foursome.  Great time, great cause!  Visit their website or call 513-266-4404.

Garden Club of Ohio, Inc. will hold its first ever, state-wide flower show “Ohio’s Tapestry” June 2 & 3 in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. Entries are open to all members of Garden Club of Ohio, Inc. and to Ohio Residents. The Flower Show will be open to the public from 3-5 pm on Friday, June 2 and from 11am to 4pm on Saturday June 3. Admission is free.  This Standard Flower Show will include 84 Designs, 36 Classes of Horticulture, 10 Educational Exhibits and Youth Displays.  For entry information call Lynn Fronk 614-885-4177

Granny's School Garden still needs you!  Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eads Fencing is providing lumber and fencing for rebuilding in the gardens.  We need experienced and inexperienced workers to build and paint the structures.  Bring cordless drills and other woodworking tools (levels, tape measures), paint brushes, drop cloths,  if you have them.  If you have any connections for getting paint, that would be great too!  We still have lots of spring gardening cleanup jobs as well.  We are providing lunch so please let me know if you are coming to help.  Thank you, Roberta
324-2873 (Located at Loveland Elementary School) 

I hope you are registered for the exciting talk on “Dogwoods”, by famous author, Paul Cappiello at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 15 at the Boone Co. Extension Office in Burlington. If not, you can still do so by calling 859-586-6101, or by e-mailing your name and address to Laura Kline at laura.kline@uky.edu.   This is a free class!

That's it for this week.  It's Easter Weekend, and no matter what your religion is, do yourself a favor.  Go out and make this weekend 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.]