summer home lawn garden 2014

LawnHomeS U M M E R

Kitchen lighting p2

Eco-friendly lawn care p9

Outdoor living spaces p14

Young gardeners p23

A better bathroom p18

More kitchen space p20

&Garden

The Crescent-NewsFriday, June 6, 2014

1

2 Summer Home, Lawn & Garden, The Crescent-News, Friday, June 6, 2014

A lighting scheme that works(MS) — When design-

ing a kitchen, homeown-ers typically give substan-tial consideration to many elements of their dream design, including cabinet and countertop materials and which brand of appli-ances they most prefer. But few may consider the light-ing for the room as thor-oughly.

Lighting is an important consideration in any room, but most especially in the kitchen, where people tend to gravitate and spend a good portion of their time. The right lighting can have a dramatic effect on the functionality of the kitchen, including how the space feels when you enter it. The right blend of lights can cre-ate a vibrant mood in the kitchen, while light can be adjusted according to what needs to get done in the

space.Establishing a lighting

plan in a kitchen requires a combination of differ-ent lights. The main focus should be on three distinct lighting types: task lighting, ambient lighting and accent lighting.

Task LightingTask light is beneficial

anywhere a person will need to perform tasks that require close concentra-tion, such as chopping veg-etables. Task lighting shines direct light onto a surface, illuminating it thoroughly, and it can be turned off when it is not needed.

Task lighting is generally placed above counters and islands where one will be slicing vegetables and pre-paring food.

There may be lighting over the sink to illuminate

dirty dishes. If a kitchen has a desk area, lighting above the desk will make that area more functional. Many task lighting designs include lights under cabinetry to shine down onto counters and eliminate shadowed recesses. Under-cabinet lighting is a relatively inex-pensive add-on for existing kitchens. Homeowners can add lighting afterward to focus more light onto coun-tertops.

Ambient LightingAmbient lighting is

another name for all-over lighting that fills a room. During the day, ambient light may stream in from windows and skylights. However, at night, ambi-ent lighting is created by different light fixtures in a room. In the kitchen, over-head fixtures are a popular

choice for ambient lighting. A blend of hanging pen-dant lamps, chandeliers and recessed lighting can create

• LIGHTING, Page 4

Metro Services Photo

Under-cabinet task lighting sheds light on areas where cooks do their prep work.

In the kitchen

2

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Summer Home, Lawn & Garden, The Crescent-News, Friday, June 6, 2014 3

Cherry sage sizzles with color and loved by hummingbirds

(MCT) — If you think the color red evokes passion and excitement in your chil-dren, you haven’t seen any-thing until you watch hun-gry hummingbirds visiting a sweep or drift of cher-ry sage. The cherry sage, also called autumn sage, is known botanically as Salvia greggii. Here at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, they have seemingly turned on the welcome sign to all those feasting, darting acro-bats we adore.

The cherry sage is native to Texas and is cold hardy in zones 6-9. Even if it is not a perennial in your region you will enjoy growing it as an annual. By all means don’t let the other common name of autumn sage throw you as it blooms until frost. Our cherry sage, which was purchased generic, has been blooming since mid-April.

There are several named varieties in the market

place like Furman’s Red, Wild Thing, Lipstick, Flame and the fairly new Mesa series that comes in scarlet, purple and rose. You can’t go wrong with your selec-tion. They thrive in full sun but I love its appearance in morning sun, and after-noon sun as well. The one prerequisite for success is good soil drainage. In fact well-drained soil just may encourage a spring return further north than expect-ed. Salvia greggii may also offer you a perennial-like performance by reseeding.

When you get yours, plant on raised beds in fertile soil and you’ll be thrilled with the gardening talent you have discovered. I have grown them in miserable conditions in South Texas and in a drought-tolerant Mediterranean garden here in Savannah, Ga., and in both instances they are truly champions.

These are considered subshrubs in their native habitat and will reach 3 feet tall and as wide. So if

you want a cluster or drift, space plants 3 feet apart. Although drought tolerant, the cherry sage will need a little supplemental water as it is getting established in your bed.

In the fall, when the plant has received signifi-cant frost damage, prune to ground level and add a layer of mulch for win-ter protection. Feed in the spring with a light applica-tion of fertilizer with the emergence of growth or when seedlings are 8 inches tall. Thin the seedlings to proper spacing. The shrub can develop a woody habit so don’t be afraid to cutback to encourage fresh growth and blooms. A spring prun-ing is particularly impor-tant in milder areas to keep the plant less woody and more compact.

Even though I’ve been touting the hummingbird activity, you’ll also note that butterflies and bees also find the plant irresist-ible as the warm growing season approaches.

By NORMAN WINTERMcClatchy-Tribune News Service

McClatchy-Tribune News Service Photo

The ruby-throated hummingbirds loves the tubular flowers produced by the cherry sage.

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the amount of light need-ed. Homeowners should pay special attention to the bulbs and fixtures they choose, as not all produce the same amount of light. Those concerned about energy efficiency also must give mind to whether the bulbs will use a lot of energy or last a long time. Compact fluo-rescent bulbs as well as LED lighting are long-lasting and do not use as much energy as incandes-cent bulbs.

Indirect ambient light-ing softens shadows in a room, creating a warm, inviting glow. It is an important layer of light that is often overlooked in the kitchen. Setting ambi-ent lighting on a dim-mer enables homeown-ers to cast a mood that is desired when the kitchen isn’t being used for prep work.

Accent LightingIf there are key elements

around the kitchen that a person would like to highlight, such as a china set, accent lighting can do the trick. Spotlights can be used to show off collectibles, while a sub-tle strip of lighting can illuminate a wall of art-work. Many people like to install accent lighting inside of cabinetry to cre-ate dramatic focal points.

Some homeowners may want to incorporate dec-orative lighting in their kitchens. This is the use of ornate chandeliers, hanging pendants and other eye-catching fix-tures. Decorative lighting should be considered in proportion to the size of the kitchen.

Therefore, smaller kitchens will have smaller fixtures and vice versa. Decorative lighting may be the most expensive type of kitchen lighting, so some homeowners prefer to plan ahead for the inclusion of decora-tive accents by having the wiring ready and then adding the fixtures over time.

LIGHTINGFrom Page 2 Living smart: Unglamorous home projects

(MCT) — It’s almost pain-ful to shell out hard-earned money for some home proj-ects. Unlike adding a new deck or remodeling the kitchen, replacing a sump pump is hardly cause for a party. But that’s precisely the kind of job you need to invest in occasionally, if you want to keep your home in good shape.

Bowing to that reality, and hoping to inspire hom-eowners to plan any neces-sary maintenance they’ve been putting off, my team compiled a list of dull but important home improve-ment projects:

Gutter cleaningThis involves ladders and

getting your hands (and everything else) dirty with leaves and other gunk. It’s unpleasant, especially if you do it yourself, but you’ll have a bigger and more costly problem to deal with if clogged gutters and

downspouts cause water damage outside and inside your home. Of course, you can always decide to hire a reputable gutter cleaner or handyman for the job.

Window installationReplacement windows

can set you back thousands of dollars and even though they make your home more comfortable, reduce ener-gy usage and are easier to clean than old-style win-dows, it’s likely the neigh-bors will look right through your efforts.

Foundation repairWho wouldn’t rather

spend money on new fur-niture instead of on a fix for fissures or cracks in base-ment walls? But ignoring wall cracks, separations and crumbling concrete won’t sit well if you want your home’s basement, crawl space or slab to properly support your house.

Removing moldMold can cause seri-

ous respiratory problems. Make sure to hire a repu-table company to inspect for mold and to remove it. Don’t just paint over mold.

Toilet repairResist the temptation to

close the lid on those icky issues. If a plunger won’t take care of a clog, or you’re unable to take care of a perpetually running toilet yourself, contact a reputa-ble plumber.

InsulationIt’s easy for the insides of

your attic and walls to be out of sight, out of mind. But it’s important to invest in insulation if you want to be comfortable at home and wise about your energy spending.

Sump pumpFailing to maintain your

sump pump and backup battery could lead to many more dollars draining from your bank account.

WiringModernizing an aging

electrical system costs thou-sands of dollars, and all that work will end up hidden behind walls. However, you’ll probably sleep bet-ter knowing you have a decreased risk of fire from outdated wiring.

Septic tank pumpingPros recommend doing

this every three to five years to prevent a backup. You’d probably rather spend your money on a weekend get-away, but you’ll breathe easier knowing you’re keeping a smelly situation from bubbling up.

Replacing the sewer line

This is probably the epit-ome of a dirty but impor-tant job. It starts with sew-age backing up and ends with contractors digging out your yard. Trenchless replacement methods exist, and are less intrusive, but they’re often more expen-sive than the traditional big dig.

By ANGIE HICKSMCT Information Services

4


Follow safety practices with a riding mower

(MS) — Riding lawn mowers are tailor-made for people who have large expanses of property to maintain.

Though such mowers ini-tially may have been cre-ated for commercial land-scapers, eventually private citizens realized the ben-efits of owning a riding mower for the maintenance of their own properties.

A riding mower can con-siderably reduce the time and effort that goes into mowing the lawn.

Today’s riding mowers can do everything from cut-ting to mulching to blowing leaves and snow. Despite their convenience and availability, riding mowers are not a piece of machinery that should be taken lightly.

Various health statistics

point to riding mowers as a major cause of injury and emergency room visits each year.

A Johns Hopkins University study found more than 80,000 Americans are injured every year while mowing, and around 95 annual deaths can be attrib-uted to riding mower acci-dents. To ensure safety to yourself and others, heed these tips for operating your riding mower correctly.

• Look for a mower where the blade turns off if the machine tips or if the driver leaves the seat.

• Wear goggles and ear-buds when operating the mower to avoid eye and ear injury.

• Remove sticks, toys, rocks, and other items from the lawn before mowing.Riding mowers take a lot of the work

out of lawn projects, but riders must emphasize safety when operating a riding mower. Some good practices to

follow include never adding fuel when an engine is hot and not letting children ride on the mower.


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Some tips for the homeowner for unclogging a plugged drain (MS) — Clogged drains

can be a nuisance. And if left untreated, that minor nuisance can turn into an expensive repair.

A number of different things can cause drains to clog. Food particles, hair, grease, soap residue, oil, and even a foreign object lodged in the drain can each

cause a drain to clog. Before you have to call a plumber, there are steps to take that may get water flowing once more.

Bubbles GaloreBaking soda has many

uses in the home. This ver-satile product can be used dislodge items in drains. It is better to try baking soda

when clogs are minor and water drainage is sluggish rather than waiting for the clog to get so bad that water is impenetrable.

When baking soda and common household vin-egar are mixed together, they form a new chemical called carbonic acid. This acid immediately begins to

degrade into carbon dioxide gas, which produces foam and bubbles in the process. This bubbling action can upset the source of a clog in a pipe and dislodge parti-cles that may be causing the water backup. Keep your face away from the drain as the smell of vinegar mixing with the baking soda may

be unpleasant.Baking soda also can be

mixed with salt and boil-ing water to break down grease that may be clogging drains. Repeatedly washing this mixture down drains can gently scour pipes and keep water moving steadily.

Call a plumberUnless you feel confident

taking pipes apart to check for and clear out clogs and then reassembling every-thing, you may need to call a plumber if the clog will not relent. It may be lower in the system than at house level, especially if there are clogs in multiple sinks or appliances in the home. Multiple clogged drains may be indicative of a more serious problem.

Many clogs can be allevi-ated with simple household items. Serious clogs may require the expertise of a plumber.

Plunge aheadIf a clog is especially stub-

born, you may need to use a plunger. A plunger works by forcing the energy you push on the plunger into the surrounding water, which then applies pres-sure against the clog. Repeatedly forcing water against a clog can move it along until it frees up the drain.

Plunging can be messy, so wear old clothes when plunging. Make sure the head of the plunger is filled with water; otherwise, your work will be for naught. You may want to keep a separate plunger handy for sink work so you are not transferring bacteria and waste from a toilet plunger into the sink, especially in the kitchen.

Pop and fizzColas are loaded with

phosphoric acid, which is more acidic than lemon juice and is also corrosive. This acid will fizz in the drain and break through any greasy, stubborn resi-due.

It’s even effective at dis-solving calcium deposits, which may be a byproduct of hard water.


While some backed-up drains must be cleared by a plumber, homeowners might be able to address some clogged drains on their own.

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Now is a good time to check for roof damage after winter (MS) — Many homeown-

ers do not think twice about their roofs. But when leaks develop, roof repairs and the subsequent costs of such work shed light on how important it is for home-owners to pay closer atten-tion to the roofs over their heads.

Though certain roof issues, like shingles lost to inclement weather, are unforeseeable, many problems can be avoided with routine roof inspec-tion. Checking roof condi-tions twice a year can help homeowners avoid poten-tially costly repair work or even more expensive roof replacement projects.

Spring is a good time to inspect roofs, which are often at the mercy of harsh conditions throughout the winter. Heavy snow, ice and winds can do significant damage, making spring the perfect time to assess if any such damage occurred and address any issues.

•Start the inspection in the interior of the home. Before breaking out the lad-der and climbing up to the roof, inspect the home’s interior, pinpointing poten-tial problems that may indi-

cate roof damage. Check for stains on the ceiling which may indicate leaks that need to be addressed. Homeowners with attics should enter their attics and look for signs of water damage, making note of any damp or wet insulation. This will let you know if water has been entering the attic all winter. Pay atten-tion to the location of any wet spots or stains so you can match them up to the exterior of the roof later on. Musty smells also may be indicative of moisture prob-lems, even if there are no visible leaks.

• Inspect the roof outside. Grab a set of binoculars and inspect the exterior of the roof. Look at the roof flash-ing, including around the chimney and other areas of protruding pipes and vents. If the flashing is warped or damaged, moisture might be settling underneath. Sealant around dormers or skylights can also degrade, resulting in leaks. Check for spalling on masonry, such as the mortar of chimneys. Porous areas will allow water to infiltrate.

• Go directly on the roof and check. Work with a

partner and carefully climb on the roof while someone holds the ladder below. Walk on the perimeter of the roof, looking for peeling or warped shingles, missing shingles, holes, or scrapes. If the roof is compromised in any way, it will need to be repaired. The problem will only grow more significant and repairs more expen-sive if damage is ignored. Sometimes a repair can be as simple as patching a leak with a new shingle and roofing cement. Popped nails can be pounded down

and any curled shingles can be nailed or cemented back into place.

• Consult a roofing expert. If you are unsure if your roof has made it through the winter unscathed and would like a second opinion or if you find there is con-siderable damage, contact a roofing contractor. This person will offer a profes-sional assessment of what can be repaired or if the roof should be replaced. If your roof is metal or features clay tiles, you may not have the expertise to make repairs

yourself and will need to hire a professional.

• Check the gutters, too. While you are up on the roof, inspect the gutters and downspouts as well. Cracked or damage gut-ters will cause water to leak down the side of the home, potentially damag-ing the foundation. Clear any debris or leftover leaves from the gutters to ensure the rain can wash through unobstructed.

A post-winter roof inspec-tion can protect homeown-ers from the elements.

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How to make interior, exterior of a home handicap accessible

(MS) — Many homeown-ers have found themselves scrambling to make their homes handicap accessible after a sudden injury or illness. In addition, some homeowners have found themselves looking to make adjustments to their homes in anticipation of welcom-ing elderly, less mobile rela-tives into their homes.

Converting a home into a handicap-accessible space can seem like a daunting task that requires adjust-ments to nearly every part of the house. While the extent of those adjustments depends on the individual who needs to be accommo-dated, some of the areas homeowners must address when making their homes handicap accessible are uni-versal.

EntrywaysA home’s entryways

often must be addressed when making the home more handicap accessible. Portable ramps can be an affordable option and are often an ideal for those who only need to make tempo-rary adjustments, such as when a resident suffers an injury that requires he or she spend some time in a wheelchair. When the adjustments will just be temporary, a folding wheel-chair might be necessary, as the doorways might not be able to fit a standard wheel-chair that doesn’t fold.

When adjustments fig-ure to be permanent, hom-eowners might need to expand the doorways in their homes. Contractors typically recommend expanding doorways to at least 32 inches, which pro-vides some maneuverabili-ty when wheelchairs, which

are typically between 24 and 27 inches wide, are entering the home. Doorways at the most commonly used entry-ways, including front doors and doors to the bathrooms as well as the individual’s bedroom, will likely need to be widened.

BathroomThe bathroom might be

the area of the home that needs the most attention. Slippery conditions com-mon to bathrooms can make things especially difficult for people in wheelchairs or with disabilities. Grab bars should be installed in bath tubs and shower stalls and next to toilets.

But grab bars aren’t the only adjustment homeown-ers should make in the bathroom as they attempt to make a home more handicap accessible. Safety treads, which can provide a

secure, slip-free surface on the floors of showers and tubs, can be installed. Add a hand-held shower head to the shower stall to make it easier for those with a dis-ability to shower. Portable transfer seats, which enable wheelchair-bound men and women to transition from their chairs to showers and bathtubs, can be purchased and kept in or near the bathroom.

Water fixturesAn often overlooked

adjustment homeowners must make when trans-forming their homes into handicap-accessible spaces concerns the sinks through-out the home.

Disabled persons may find it difficult to access faucets on sinks through-out the home, especial-ly when there are vanity cabinets beneath the sinks.


Entryways into the home and into rooms in the home, such as the bathroom, are places that may have to be made handicap accessible for a person who has become disabled.

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Rebate up to a maximum of $1,200 is available on qualifying systems only and may vary depending on model purchased. Available through participating dealers only. Void where prohibited. Finance Charges accrue from the dateof sale unless the Same As Cash plan balance is paid in full prior to the Same As Cash expiration date, in which case they are waived. Regular credit terms apply after the Same As Cash period expires. Annual Percentage Rate17.90%. Minimum Finance Charge: $2.00. (APR and Minimum Finance Charge may be lower in some states.) Terms subject to change without notice. Subject to credit approval. See Account Agreement for complete informationand important disclosures. Other open-end and closed-end credit plans may be available. Ask seller for details. All credit plans subject to normal credit policies. NOTE: Rebate up to $1,200 is dependent upon systems purchase.

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Environmentally friendly lawn care is not difficult (MS) — Homeowners

know that a healthy lawn can add considerable curb appeal to a property while giving residents of the home a place to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. But few might know that a healthy lawn can also ben-efit the environment, espe-cially when homeowners take a proactive approach to lawn care that emphasiz-es environmentally friendly

techniques.A proactive approach to

lawn care can prevent cer-tain problems, including disease, insect infestation and weed growth. When such problems arise, many homeowners opt to combat them with pesticides, which can harm the environment. But a proactive approach to lawn care can reduce the likelihood of developing such problems and protect

the planet at the same time.• Emphasize healthy

soil. Healthy soil promotes strong roots, which leads to a more robust, lush and aes-thetically appealing lawn. While a lawn needs to be fertilized in the spring and at various points through-out the summer, it’s impor-tant that homeowners avoid overfertilization, which can create thatch that, when allowed to thicken, will pre-vent nutrients from pene-trating the soil. Lawns need more nitrogen, phospho-rous and potassium than soil can typically provide, so fertilizing throughout the warm weather seasons and into early fall can pro-mote a healthy lawn. But choose a slow-release fertil-izer so it gradually feeds the lawn.

Compost and grass clip-pings can also be spread around the lawn to pro-mote healthy soil. The pH level of the soil should also be checked to ensure the lawn can fully absorb nutri-ents. Speak with a local lawn care professional to determine what a healthy pH level is for soil in your area.

• Choose a grass that can thrive in your climate. Though you might prefer the look of a certain grass, choosing a grass based entirely on appearance is a mistake that could cost you money and prove harmful

to the environment. When installing a new lawn, opt for one that’s suitable to the local climate. Installing a lawn that needs substan-tial amounts of water in a region known for drought can rob the lawn of its aes-thetic appeal and will cost homeowners a substantial amount of money to main-tain.

If an existing lawn strug-gles to stay green regardless of your best efforts, then consider replacing it with a new type of grass that might be more suited to the

local climate.• Don’t cut too low when

mowing. Homeowners who don’t enjoy mowing their lawn might be tempted to simply cut the grass as low as possible to extend the intervals between cuts. But the United States Environmental Protection Agency recommends that grass never be cut more than one-third of the height of the grass blades. Longer grass can take in more sun-light, allowing it to grow in thicker and develop a deeper root system.


Homeowners can help their lawns stay healthy by using a slow-release fertilizer and not mowing the grass too short.

9

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Tiny tables can bring a new spirit to a room

PITTSBURGH (MCT) — A tiny table can tip the bal-ance in a room from banal to brilliant. It’s nearly as easy a fix to freshen up a tired space as a pillow or a plant, but far more interest-ing. The latest looks coming out of the international fur-niture markets in Las Vegas and High Point, N.C., give the drinks table some real spirit.

Most furniture mak-ers have one or more in their collections. From hand-painted to reclaimed to reinvented, these tables will restore your faith in the power of a new piece of furniture.

“I look back to the tables from the ‘30s to the ‘50s, my favorite time periods, where the tables were traditionally

much smaller than today’s because they were used specifically to place aside a club chair,” said Jonathan Sowter, CEO and designer at Jonathan Charles. “The ideal table, though tiny it may be, acts as the founda-tion for the room, offering convenience for the guest when needed.”

If you never want to drink alone, you might opt for Christopher Guy’s mosa-ic top depicting a bunch of partygoers waiting for you to join in. Alexander Julian, known for his color-ful men’s wear, has turned his attention to furnishings. In a nod to his fashion roots, he created the Cute as a Button drink table made to look like a button atop three sewing needles. The inlay work resembles but-ton holes and thread.

Aerin Lauder’s veneered

kidney-shaped Zelda tables work best as a duo, but if one goes missing, the other can maintain your room’s equilibrium. Others who understand beauty and bal-ance include Keno Bros. and Jonathan Charles. The Kenos’ Dash III and Charles’ two-tiered Art Deco Drinks both have handles for easy transport.

Jacques Garcia’s compos-ite Trefle table for Baker and the Old Wood Co.’s Scotch table with a sculpted salvaged steel base are both made to stay put.

For more metal, there is Caracole’s sleek ode to modern with an Italian smoked glass top and steel base finished in gold bul-

lion; Salvation Architectural Furnishings’ Cracked Ice — a mosaic of stone under glass framed in steel; Arteriors brass and snow marble tray tables; and Celerie Kemble’s delicate brass and glass table for Maitland Smith. That one has a bird forever perched as guardian of your gimlet.

If you like to show your state pride, Shiner by Homesource International has accent tables shaped like each of the 50 states. They are available in poplar or walnut.

Going global are Theodore Alexander’s cast-alumini-um rain drum inspired by the Dong Son original and colorful Moroccan-style

tables by Wesley Hall, for a trend that keeps on trek-king.

Pearson showed several bunching tables, including the familiar parson’s table shape in a black-and-white horizontal stripe that makes for a mesmerizing pat-tern play when more than one is used. A fan of old school elegance, Theodore Alexander presented a fine flowering cherry tree hand-painted on a silvered back-ground above splayed legs joined by an X stretcher.

“Unlike a chair, you can jazz up a table with inter-esting details that suddenly becomes a conversation starter and the centerpiece of a room,” Sowter said.

By PATRICIA SHERIDANPittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pearson’s black and white stripes bunching tables are veneered with

black agate stone and white waxstone.Patricia Sheridan/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/MCT photo

10

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It’s all about texture for today’s hardwood floors

(MS) — Experts in the hardwood flooring indus-try are seeing a major shift in the way consumers are now choosing their floors, as color is no longer king. Texture has emerged as the new “color” when it comes to the driving force behind wood flooring selections.

“For years, color was always the top consider-ation for people looking for a hardwood floor. But over the last few years, tex-ture has overtaken color as the new driver. The reason behind this movement is that texture stimulates our senses with both tactile and visual elements,” explained Michel Collin, marketing director of Mercier Wood Flooring, one of North America’s leading hardwood flooring manu-facturers.

The latest handscraped and distressed hardwood floors are good examples of how popular textures have become with discerning wood flooring consumers. According to Collin, there’s is a big demand for tex-tured wood floors across North America, where homeowners are looking to feature the distressed look of barn wood, prominent knots or the natural sculp-tural and undulating lines of boards planed the old fashioned way.

“The texture trend is very hot with homeowners today and we have a feel-ing it’s here to stay,” added designer Marie Francois of Dolce Interieur in Montreal.

To keep up with the demand for this growing texture trend in hardwood floors, manufacturers such as Mercier have developed new hardwood series fea-turing these sought-after tactile and visual elements.

This year Mercier’s

Nature collection is offering even more textures than in years past, as its new “Pub Series” features hardwood floors that perfectly cap-ture the essence of a well-worn floor. With names like Courvoisier, Spirits, Stout and Malt, the series repli-cates the unique charm of an Irish pub where its floors have seen it all and lived to tell the tale.

Mercier’s “Handscraped”

series features a hand-sand-ed feel that gives the floor deep character. A traditional effect shines though in the beautiful knots, a deeply distinctive touch that ties any room together effort-lessly.

“When it comes to floor-ing texture treatments, such as handscraping, they should be consid-ered as art forms, time-less, unique works of art

tailored to your home,” added Collin.

Design tip: A rus-tic scrape will result in a more “distressed” look and is an ideal choice for an active family.

Hardwood floors have changed over the years. Customers now want “tex-ture” in their hardwood floors, with many

people preferring the “hand-scraped look” or flooring that resembles dis-tressed, old barn siding.


The past winter was harsh and a number of plants did not survive. If you have a plant that looks like it did not make it, give it a couple of weeks. Sometimes warmer weather can stimulate the plant into growing.

Wait to pull plant

11

Bring in any ferrous ornon-ferrous metals including:Cans, Copper, Brass, Steel,and Aluminum.We will also buy your scrapAutomobiles, Farm Equipment, Aluminum or Steel Boats andmuch more!

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Recognize safety hazards during yard work(MS) — Attention, all

green thumbs — and the bodies attached to them: It’s

time to get down and dirty in the garden.

Whether you’re trans-

forming your backyard into an award winner or just trimming the lawn, the CSA Group, a leading certifica-tion and testing organiza-tion, asks that you remem-ber the following safety tips:

Yard Work• Always ensure that

products such as electric lawnmowers, barbecues, power tools, ladders, dec-orative lights, extension cords and safety apparel carry the mark of a recog-nized certification organi-zation, such as CSA Group.

• Read the manufactur-er’s operating instructions and use products only as intended.

• Wear protective eye and footwear (on eyes and feet, respectively).

• What’s that you say? Wear hearing protec-tion when operating loud machinery, vehicles or tools.

Power Lawnmowers • Know your mower and

always follow the manufac-turer’s instructions.

• Look for these safety features: a rear guard to protect your hands and feet from rotating blades;

a “deadman” control that stops the mower when you release the handle; and an “up-stop” feature to pre-vent the handle from kick-ing up when the mower hits an obstacle.

• Clear the lawn of sticks, stones, wire, toys and other objects (including that screwdriver you lost in the grass last summer), as

they could get caught in the machine or flung by the blades.

• Wear clothing that provides some protection, including long pants, a shirt with sleeves and firmly-tied shoes with non-slip soles and hard toes.

• Never cut the grass when it’s damp or wet, or when there is rain or light-ning. Wet conditions great-ly increase the risk that you will slip, suffer electric shock or clog the mower.

• Always mow in day-light, never at twilight or in the dark. Keep your eyes on the lawn and look ahead (at least three feet) for debris.

• Shut off, unplug and engage your mower’s safe-ty devices before removing clogged grass clippings.

• Shut off the mower immediately if you hit an object. Check for damage and do not restart it unless you’re sure it’s safe to do so.

• As suggested by its name, always push rather than pull a push mower.

• All extension cords should be untangled, in good repair, have a three-prong plug rated for out-door use and be of the rec-ommended gauge for the load.


Since it is yard work time, homeowners will be working with all kinds of power equipment. To be safe, follow the manufacturer's rules on care and use of equipment.

12

05627 State Route 15Bryan, OH 43506 Tel (419) 636-1303

Financing Available

Quillen Bros WindowsYour Hometown Professionals

Our Satisfied Customers“Now that we have our new Rhino Tough windows our upstairs is much warmer and I don't fear the kids breaking one of these windows. What more could you want? Seriously! We are 100% satis ed with Quillen Bros. and if you shop with them you de nitely will not regret it”Thanks Quillen Bros!

Sarah & Chad Malburg

“We rst hear of Quillen four years ago. We got two large windows put in. They also put in a Patio door. It Looked Great! Since then, They’ve been back two more times putting now windows in various rooms. Slowly but surely, we're working our way around our house until we’ve got Quillen Windows in every room”!Thanks a lot Quillen bros.

Anthony R. Butte

“I have been holding up writing this letter until the cold weather set in. Well, I got my wish, the last several days the wind chill is -20 degrees and there is not a single draft in my bedroom where the windows were replaced What a welcome change from last year.”Thank you for a great product

Doris J. March

“We purchased Quillen Bros. Windows because of a strong recommendation we received from friends who had Quillen replacement windows installed in their home. We were pleased with how well the replacement windows matched the dark woodwork in our old home. The workmanship was quality. The installers did a professional job. They did a great job cleaning up once the work was done. We would recommend Quillen Bros. Windows.

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On gardening: Peter Pan dwarf lily packed with flower power

Peter Pan is absolutely incredible in the garden and I am not talking about sandwich with jelly either. I am talking about Peter Pan, the compact or dwarf lily of the Nile that is packed with a ton of flower power.

I will confess I have always been passionate about Agapanthus or Lily of the Nile but I always went for the big selections. Even the name Peter Pan just didn’t ring my bell, so to speak. Now however as I look across a sea of blue next to our water garden and I feel so guilty that I never gave them the spot they so deserved.

The name Agapanthus comes from the Greek words “agape” for love and “anthos” for flower. Growing it will likely gen-erate an agape-type feeling for the plant. Commonly called Lily of the Nile, or African lily, the botanical name, Agapanthus africa-nus, refers to its origin.

Agapanthus africanus has been in the United States the longest, and it is actually considered an heirloom plant. Then there are Agapanthus praecox, Agapanthus campanula-tus and hybrids that lead to much arguing among taxonomists over the cor-rect names of the various cultivars. Stay out of the argument and simply grow them.

Even the variety Peter Pan causes arguments. These small plants reach about 10

to 12 inches in height then sends up a bounty of 12- 18-inch tall stalks of those glorious light blue, globe-like blossoms. There are more flowers on these pint sized plants than you ever imagined, and they just keep coming.

Most references suggest Lily of the Nile is cold hardy to zone 7. Some varieties are evergreen and some are deciduous. Many of the evergreens can lose their leaves in the winter and still put on a show for sum-mer if the temperature did not get too cold. Peter Pan dies to the ground in zone 7, semi-evergreen in zone 8 and evergreen in zone 9. We got to 18 at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens, and it didn’t flinch.

The Agapanthus is in the Amaryllis family. While the plant is listed in bulb books, it is really pro-

duced on rhizomes, which are thick, modified stems that grow below the soil. The globe-like blossoms, called umbels, may have as many as 20 to 100 flowers, depending on variety and

species blooming from mid-May into July.

As with most of our plants, soil preparation plays a vital role in success-fully growing the Lily of the Nile. The rhizomes can

rot in wet soils. Prepare the bed by incorporating from 3-4 inches of organic mat-ter and sand and till to a depth of 8-10 inches. This soil preparation will allow maximum drainage.

By NormaN WiNterMcClatchy-Tribune News Service

McClatchy-Tribune News

Service Photo

Peter Pan is a compact or dwarf form of Lily of the Nile.

13

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Ways to make outdoor living spaces more useful all year

(BPT) — No matter if you live on a coast or in the Upper Midwest, you can use your outdoor spaces to the fullest in any season by adding a few enhance-ments. Whether you do it yourself or hire a profes-sional, it’s easy to add fea-tures like a seat wall and a fire ring for an outdoor gathering spot, or an out-door kitchen to create the taste of summer all year. A few simple improvements can help you create a space that keeps you outside lon-ger into the night, earlier in the spring and later into the cooler seasons.

• Add a fire feature. Even in sunny Florida, it can get chilly at night. An outdoor fireplace, fire table, fire pit or chiminea will enhance any outdoor space. A 2013 membership survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects found that 97 percent of respon-dents saw moderate to high demand for fire pits and fireplaces.

“Some of our most popu-lar installations feature fire-places on a patio or a fire ring surrounded by a seat wall,” said Kelly O’Donahue, a landscape designer from Villa Landscapes in St. Paul,

Minn. “A fire feature is a useful and beautiful addi-tion to any outdoor living space that you can enjoy in all seasons.”

• Create a convenient outdoor cooking space. A dedicated space for the grill close to a door lets you barbecue in any season. A complete outdoor kitchen is even better. “Cooking outside isn’t just for sum-mertime anymore,” said O’Donahue. “Grill islands and outdoor kitchens are very popular requests when designing outdoor spaces.”

• Add retaining and seat walls. A variety of outdoor hardscape features can be created with Versa-Lok segmental retaining walls. “You can create a variety of features including stairs, retaining walls, freestand-ing walls, couches, tiered walls, planters, columns, multi-angled corners and curves,” said Matt Singer, director of national sales and training at Versa-Lok.

In addition to versatility in design, Versa-Lok’s ease of installation makes it a

favorite among homeown-ers and professionals alike. “With the pinning system, it’s easy to create inside and outside curves of differing radiuses and other features, like a seat wall around a fire pit or a windbreak around a patio,” said Singer.

• Add lighting. A variety of lighting options for out-door spaces exist, and it’s a

good idea to include light-ing design for safety and aesthetics in your landscap-ing plans, said O’Donahue. Low-voltage LED uplights along walls and structures and downlights along path-ways and walkways are popular. “Lighting can be installed within retaining

Brandpoint Photo

Adding items such as a fire pit or chimnea, an out-door cooking space and outdoor lighting can add to the enjoyment of your deck or outdoor living area.

• OUTDOOR, Page 16

14

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SOGGY DRIVEWAY?Ask About Our Spring Stone Sale!

(BPT) — As spring rolls around, it’s time to start thinking about yard main-tenance.

If your budget is tight, you might be tempted to let the lawn care slide, but maintaining a great lawn doesn’t need to be expen-sive — and the reward for just a small investment is a beautiful, environmentally friendly setting for outdoor activities of many kinds.

If you’re looking to ensure a healthy natural lawn on a budget, consider these four easy tips:

• Water as needed. On average, a lawn needs about one inch of water per week, from rainfall or irri-gation. This will soak the soil to a depth of four to six inches, putting water deep into your lawn’s root sys-tem. Letting the lawn dry out completely between waterings will encourage the grass to grow stronger, deeper roots as it searches for water deeper in the soil. For best results, water in the early morning when there is less wind and heat. Put a rain gauge on your porch to measure rainfall; if you receive one inch of rain in a week, skip the water-ing and save your irrigation money that week.

• Fertilize naturally. Don’t break your back try-ing to bag lawn clippings. If you mow frequently (about once a week during the growing season) and don’t remove too much height, you can leave the grass clippings on the lawn. The clippings will serve as a natural fertilizer. They contain the same nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as commercial fertilizer — and they’re free.

• Use common house-hold items. Take advantage of items already at your fingertips to keep your lawn in tip-top shape. For example:

• Ready the ruler. Mowing your grass to the right height will help you create a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant lawn. Wait until your grass is

three inches tall before mowing, and then cut it to two inches in height. By only trimming one-third of the blade length, you will avoid stressing the grass while leaving enough leaf to protect the roots from the sun.

• Let a screwdriver be

your guide. To see if your lawn needs to be watered, test for moisture by push-ing a screwdriver into the ground. If it’s difficult to push the screwdriver in, the soil is dry and your grass needs a drink. If the blade goes in easily, you don’t need to water yet.

• Use mason jars, vinegar and baking soda. Good soil is critical to a healthy lawn, and most turfgrasses pre-fer soil with a neutral pH (neither acidic nor alkaline). For a DIY pH test, pull out a pair of pint mason jars. Fill each jar about half way

full with soil samples taken from several different loca-tions around your yard. Be sure to remove rocks and other debris from your samples. Add a half-cup of vinegar to the first jar. If the


Some tips on getting a healthy lawn, even with a tight budget

• LAWN, Page 21

15

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Introducing the new Case IH 5-series Early Riser® planters.Often imitated, our Early Riser planter has gone beyond picketfence stands to deliver yield impacting photocopy plants. That’sbecause instead of introducing fancy gadgets, we focused onwhat matters most: Your land. Specifically, how the right agronomic design at planting can make a difference at harvest.From good soil-to-seed contact and proper depth, to accuratespacing and uniform soil pressure, our planters are engineeredwith just one thing in mind — higher yield. Now that’s somethingthat can’t be duplicated. Learn more about Early Riser plantersby visiting your Case IH dealer or go to caseih.com.

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walls, under capstones and among paving stone pathways and pati-os,” said O’Donahue. Even a sim-ple string of lights around a patio or deck railing adds a warm ambi-ence to evenings and cool nights.

• Install a paving stone patio. Interlocking concrete paving stones fit any outdoor landscape style, from classic to contempo-rary. Pavers are easy to install,

come in many styles and colors and require little to no mainte-nance. Some pavers, like Slatestone from Willow Creek Paving Stones, feature a surface texture like natu-ral stone.

• Select year-round outdoor fur-niture. Look for outdoor furniture that’s durable and doesn’t need storage or annual maintenance other than cleaning. “Due to dura-bility and ease of maintenance, many homeowners and businesses

choose recycled HDPE furniture like Comfort Craft line over tra-ditional wood and wrought iron outdoor furniture, which needs to be stored in the winter,” said Dave Johnson of Shop-Patiotown.com with stores in Minneapolis/St. Paul. “People like to set it out and forget about it. When you use it in fall or winter you can add removable cushions for warmth.”

• Shelter’s not just for shade. Take shelter from the elements

with a variety of pergolas, awnings and other coverings for patios and decks that not only provide shade but also help protect from wind and inclement weather.

• Turn on the heat. A variety of portable outdoor gas or elec-tric patio heaters and lamps adds warmth and light to outdoor spac-es. “Freestanding heaters, lamps and tabletop fire bowls and pots are very popular,” said Johnson.

OUTDOORFrom Page 14

Changes in appliance colors over the yearsBy ROSEMARY SADEZ FRIEDMANNScripps Howard News Service

What color are your kitch-en appliances? Did you ever wonder about the chronol-ogy of color for kitchen appliances? If so, read on.

In the beginning, the kitchen was a simple place

consisting of a fireplace or woodstove, a table and chairs and little else.

But then came came elec-tricity, and that changed everything. Electricity made the kitchen a place to cook food, keep it cold, wash the dishes, grill, toast and so on.

The kitchen has always been the place for gather-ing, sort of a hangout for the family, friends and guests. And because of that, the idea of making it more aesthetically pleasing was a natural evolution from its fireplace beginnings.

Color, an attention-getter, became important in the kitchen.

Initially, white was it as far as appliances were con-cerned. But in the 1950s, other colors were intro-duced — such as Stratford Yellow, Sherwood Green, Turquoise Green, Cadet Blue, Woodtone Brown, Petal Pink and Canary

Yellow.By the 1960s, a few new

shades were added — and quickly canceled, too. Charcoal Gray was one of the not-so-well-received colors. Yellow, pink and turquoise were the survi-vors. A new color, called Coppertone, emerged, and it was popular until the 1980s. Coppertone and tur-quoise were on the top of the list of favorite colors for appliances for many years.

Let’s go back to the ‘60s. Turquoise was replaced by avocado and Harvest Gold. Remember how popular those colors were? They were so popular that they stayed through the ‘60s, ‘70s and into the early ‘80s.

Poppy Red appeared in the ‘70s for a short time,but by the end of the decade, New Naturals — Harvest Wheat, Onyx Black, Coffee, Fresh Avocado and Almond — took over and became the colors of that era.

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Give your kitchen a mountain makeover(BPT) — Your kitchen

doesn’t need a Matterhorn vista to stay on top of the latest “chalet chic” design trend. It’s easier than you think to get this style by mixing rustic pieces with modern touches.

“Exposed structural ele-ments work well when paired against something that’s more delicate,” said David Bourke, architect and builder behind the 2014 HGTV Dream Home. Located in California just outside of Lake Tahoe, this year’s home was inspired by its surroundings: raw wood blends seamlessly with streamlined applianc-es and a bevy of windows to create a space that feels both cozy and bright.

The good news: You don’t need to build a cus-tom home to recreate this look. Through some simple updates and inexpensive additions, you can bring this same mountainside style into your home, creat-ing a kitchen that feels both on-trend and timeless.

Freshen up your fixtures

Cool finishes, like chrome and stainless, comple-ment the mountain mod-ern design theme, popping

against natural backdrops without competing for attention. While replacing all of your appliances may not be feasible, swapping out some of your kitchen’s fixtures is a cost-effective way to achieve this same result.

The Delta Trinsic faucet, which boasts a streamlined design, comes in a variety of finishes that juxtapose well with woodsy accents. Available with optional Touch2O Technology, this faucet’s water flow can be activated with a simple

touch anywhere on the spout, hub or handle.

Add unassuming accents

Bring the outside in through inexpensive accents. Natural wood trays, stone tableware or reclaimed artwork can help make a big impact with minimal investment.

“We added rustic wood frames around mirrors that were originally too small for the space to help cre-ate balance,” said Linda Woodrum, designer behind the HGTV Dream Home.

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Freshen up your kitchen fixtures with a new faucet in a chrome or stainless

steel finish to modernize your kitchen.

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Save your bulbs after plant blooms

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Build a better bath on a budget with new fixtures and paint (BPT) — Do you cringe

every time you step into your bathroom? If so, it may be time to remodel. Bathroom remodels are the most popular remod-eling project, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders. But remod-eling doesn’t have to be a budget buster. You can simply improve what you already have to get the spa-like retreat you’re seeking. Here are a few tips to get you started on your rede-sign.

Decorative detailsRemodeling is a costly job

on its own, but trying to add unique details and decor to

your project makes it that much more expensive. To get a custom look without the price tag, start bargain shopping online or at a local antique shop. Look for one-of-a-kind finds like a beau-tifully framed mirror. A mirror adds the illusion of space and changes the look of a bathroom — whether you’re going for a tradition-al, transitional or modern feel. If you find a piece that doesn’t perfectly fit, add a coat of paint to match the rest of your space.

Artwork adds a sophis-ticated touch and the best part is it doesn’t have to cost a lot. There are sev-eral websites where you can

print artwork in a variety of styles and then frame it yourself. Accessories can also make a big difference; a new shower curtain, tow-els (in beautiful patterns), candles and window treat-ments go a long way. Moen offers a variety of acces-sories to complement any bath. Pull together the look of the space by add-ing knobs and pulls to your vanity matching the finish of the faucet. You can also include other accessories like towel bars and robe hooks for organization and an updated look.

Fancy fixturesEasily bring beauty to any

bath by upgrading your

fixtures. Start by swapping the sink faucet. Available exclusively at the Home Depot, the new Darcy bath-room faucet collection from Moen blends clean lines and soft modern styling. Featuring a beautiful swan-like spout to bring a relaxed feel to the bath, Darcy is available in on-trend fin-ishes like Chrome and Moen’s Spot Resist Brushed Nickel, which resists finger-prints and water spots to help maintain the brilliance of the faucet for a fresh appearance. You can also extend the modern look of Darcy into the bath with tub and shower fixtures including a five-function showerhead, allowing each user to have a customized showering experience.

Pretty with paintPaint is your friend when

you’re on a budget — it makes the greatest impact for the least amount of money. When updating a bath, choose a satin finish for a washable surface and look for humidity-resistant paints to avoid streaks and mildew. The color you choose will set the tone — lighter colors are best for small spaces to give a spa-

cious, bright feeling; while darker colors provide a more modern look. Do you have a small space but want to use darker tones? Paint one wall dark and make it the focal point behind the vanity or against the tub.

Don’t be afraid of using color. Remember: paint can easily be changed if you don’t like it down the road. You can also add splashes of color with wallpaper bor-ders, bath rugs and soap dishes.

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How open windows can make your home healthier (MS) — Warm days full of

sunshine give homeowners good reason to open win-dows and let fresh air into their homes. Not only can open windows boost mood and create an inviting living space, but open windows also can be good for the environment.

• Open windows improve indoor air quality. Indoor air pollution has been described by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a pri-mary environmental health problem.

Indoor air quality can be up to five times worse than outdoor air. In addi-tion, the American College of Allergists states that 50 percent of all illnesses are caused by polluted indoor air.

Because many homes are built to be air-tight to con-serve energy and money, unhealthy levels of air pol-lutants can build up inside homes when windows

remain closed. These pollutants may

include radon gas, cigarette smoke, chemical fumes from paints and solvents and leached chemicals from modern building and fur-nishing materials.

Opening windows for extended periods of time allows fresh air to spread throughout the home. Houseplants can also fil-ter indoor air and make it healthier to breathe.

• Open windows reduce energy consumption. A cool breeze entering a home through open windows can reduce the temperature inside of a home without having to turn on fans or air conditioners.

This not only helps indi-viduals save money, but also it reduces reliance on electricity and fossil fuels.

Opening several win-dows on opposite sides of the home can create a cross-breeze that will keep the home cool without the help

of energy-guzzling appli-ances. Open attic vents can release hot air trapped inside the house as well.

• Open windows reduce reliance on chemical air fresheners. Fresh air can quickly remove odors from a home.

These can include old cooking smells, cigarette

smoke, pet odors, or sim-ply stale air. By opening windows, homeowners can clean the air in their homes naturally without cover-ing it up with chemical air fresheners or other cleaners.

The fresh air itself may simply smell good, or this pleasant aroma can be enhanced by blooming

flowers or other natural scents from outdoors.

• Open windows cut down on use of cleaning products. A home that never gets any fresh air can quickly succumb to aller-gens such as dust, dander and soot, necessitating the use of vacuums and other cleaning tools and products.

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Cook up some space in the kitchen(BPT) — The kitchen —

it’s the central hub of the home where we do home-work, pay bills, charge elec-tronics, surf the Web and cook up a meal or two. We spend hours in this core of the house, so it’s not sur-prising that a recent survey from the Research Institute for Cooking and Kitchen Intelligence (RICKI) found that four out of five hom-eowners want to change something about their kitchen.

Whether the change

you’re seeking is a com-plete overhaul or a simple update, the following tips and projects can help turn your kitchen from cluttered and chaotic to clean and organized.

Conquer counters and cabinets

While you may not be able to add square footage to your kitchen, there are many ways to conquer clut-ter and make the room feel larger. Start by clearing off the countertops and placing

small appliances or unnec-essary items in cupboards or closets. Next, focus on the sink area. Add some fashion and function with a new single-handle pull-down or pullout faucet; and swap the dingy bottle of soap with a permanent soap dispenser. Many soap dis-pensers, like the new pre-mium line from Moen, are available in several designs — modern, transitional and traditional — to coordinate with your new faucet.

Are you tired of the kitch-en dish towels lying on the sink or countertop, or worse yet, the floor? Towel bars, towel rings and hooks are an ideal solution to provide a permanent and convenient home for this kitchen necessity. Other accessories, such as robe hooks, can also be used to hang potholders. Whether mounting on the side of an upper cabinet, the end of the island or other work areas, Moen offers a variety of accessories, such as the Boardwalk and Banbury collections, that perfectly match Moen kitchen fau-cets.

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With customized sliding drawers, rolling cabinets or carts and towel hooks, you can find ways to get more space in your kitchen.

• SPACE, Page 22

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Your place: Hire someone else to fix leaning garageQuestion: I have a

75-year-old, one-car, detached wooden garage that has started to lean. What do I need to do to straighten it up? I am real-ly handy and would like to do it myself if I could, but I have nowhere to even start.

Answer: Your e-mail arrived as I was watching

an episode of “Emergency,” in which Engine 51 res-cued a man trapped by a beam that fell when he and a friend were attempting to do to his hillside house what you are asking about.

In his case, well, it’s Los Angeles, and that stuff hap-pens all the time. In your case, there are several rea-sons the garage could be starting to lean, including rot, termite damage, shift-

ing soil from heavy rains, or this winter’s freeze-thaw cycle. There also is an ele-ment of danger involved in simply looking for the cause. You could be lying on the ground and start pulling at some wood and bring the whole thing down on you. Start with a struc-tural engineer or a carpenter or a contractor with struc-tural expertise. I remem-ber hiring a carpenter to

replace some rotted fascia on our front porch. When his awl penetrated the fas-cia and the beam behind it, he found that the previous owner had mortised a pres-sure-treated beam and an original one, and the result was increasingly noticeable and dangerous sagging. He suggested that I hire a local firm that had the expertise to replace the beam without bringing the whole porch

down. Danger aside, do you

have any carpentry skills? Would the repair work require a municipal permit and, therefore, an inspec-tion after the job was done that would pass the munici-pality’s standards? Do you have the time to do the work? Often, what is not a very complex job takes do-it-yourselfers longer than professionals.

By ALAN J. HEAVENSThe Philadelphia Inquirer

mixture fizzes, your soil is highly alkaline and you don’t need to test the other jar. If you get no reaction, continue the test by add-ing a half-cup of water to the soil in the second jar. Mix well and then add a half-cup of baking soda to the slurry. If this mix-ture fizzes, the soil is very acidic. Overly acidic soil can be amended with lime, while alkaline soil can be amended with sulfur.

• Dish soap for the grubs. As your lawn starts its spring growth, watch

for brown patches that never turn green. Dead patches could be caused by grubs feeding on the roots in the fall. To deter-mine whether grubs are indeed the problem, dig up square-foot sections of sod to a depth of about two inches in several areas in your yard. Next, exam-ine the soil beneath your grass for short, fat, whitish C-shaped worms. If you find 10 or more grubs per square foot you should treat your lawn. To treat 1,000 square feet of grass, dilute two tablespoons of liquid dish soap in a gallon of water and spray it on the lawn, preferably immedi-

ately after a rainfall. This will cause the grubs to come to the surface, where you can collect them if the birds don’t do the job for you. Repeat the treatment weekly until the grubs stop surfacing.

• Maintain your mower. Take 30 minutes to service your lawn mower at the beginning of the season. Changing the oil, cleaning or replacing the spark plug and changing the filters once a year will help you

avoid repair bills down the road. Also sharpen the mower blade if needed. A dull blade will tear the grass rather than cutting it, which will stress the lawn and leave it vulnerable to disease.

LAWNFrom Page 15

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And, don’t stop there. Create continuity through-out your updated space with new knobs and draw-er pulls that complement your faucets and fixtures. Whether you prefer mod-ern or something more traditional, there are many options available to extend your sense of design down to the details.

“Homeowners are demanding more from their kitchens than ever before,” said Mike Maynard, product man-ager, Moen Accessories. “We know that it’s much more than a spot to cook and clean the dishes. That’s why Moen keeps consum-ers’ needs top-of-mind by offering thoughtfully designed products to fit the ever-changing demands of this vital room.”

Creative carts and savvy stools

Another option to make your kitchen feel more spacious is to invest in a rolling cabinet or cart. It can be used for storage (for example, hiding those small appliances) or serve as a kitchen island that, when not in use, can be stored in the pantry or

closet. Hosting a family get-together or party? Use the rolling cart as your bar when entertaining guests.

Already have a kitchen island? To help save even more floor space, install swivel stools without backs. They are a great solution, as they can be neatly tucked away after a meal or when homework is done.

Drawer storageWe often have good

intentions when organiz-ing our kitchen drawers, but let’s face it, they’re usually a mess! According to houzz.com, many hom-eowners are taking a new approach to kitchen drawer storage and solving space dilemmas by installing cus-tomized sliding drawers. One example is an under-sink sliding drawer which pulls out to provide easy access to cleaning supplies that often get lost behind the pipes. Another popu-lar addition is a built-in utensil drawer. Rather than using traditional hori-zontal drawers that lead to utensils being piled on and lost in the back, this vertical pullout features a variety of deep cups to hold serving ware. Or, for a more affordable solution, houzz recommends plac-ing stainless steel pots in a deep empty drawer for a DIY solution.

Order in the houseMail, iPads and keys

... oh my! Beyond the pots and pans, the kitch-en becomes a dumping ground for everyday items. Instead of having all of your paperwork collect on your island or counter-tops, create a central com-mand kitchen station com-plete with stylish baskets to hide clutter and built-in book shelves or mail slots to ensure everything has a proper place. If you have enough space, add a desk to offer a devoted area for paper storage — as well as a work center to pay bills or do school work. With a few simple projects, you can cook up some space in your kitchen and achieve maximum organization and style.

SPACEFrom Page 20Victorian garden style lives on

Those drawn to 19th cen-tury style may be pleased to learn that vintage gar-den decor is a trend this spring and summer.

The look involves florals, weathered wood, wire, period typography, bird motifs and accessories, and other elements with a Victorian vibe, said Tom Mirabile, a trend watcher for Lifetime Brands.

The appeal lies largely in the era’s garden-as-haven aesthetic, he said.

“We look at the Victorian age as an era when there was just a lot of time,” he said at an industry trends seminar earlier this year at the NY Now trade show.

Conservatories, green-houses and aviaries were popular in stately Victorian-era homes, but even modest residences might have a little bird-cage. Fashionable too were

ferns, palms and terrari-ums.

Pottery Barn’s got minia-ture greenhouses this sea-son made of white-painted distressed pine and glass, perfect terrariums for small plants. A replica of a vintage birdcage is made of wire painted hunter green; it’s tall enough to house an elegant orchid, but would also work as a tabletop accent.

On a grander scale is the retailer’s Conservatory bird cage, a nearly 5-foot-long mahogany and wire piece that would fit on a console table or atop a long shelf. While it’s dramatic in and of itself, a collec-tion of objects would look amazing inside it. (www.potterybarn.com )

Floral motifs — and roses in particular — were all the rage during the Victorian era. Art and textiles fea-tured illustrated flora and fauna from home and exot-ic parts of the world.

Bradbury & Bradbury now offers a couple of art wallpapers derived from illustrations by period art-ists William Morris and Walter Crane. Fenway has an Art Nouveau-style pattern with irises at its heart, while Woodland showcases the artistry of both Morris and Crane — winsome rabbits and long-legged deer cavort across a leafy landscape. (www.bradbury.com )

Designer Voytek Brylowski offers prints of works by Victorian illus-trators Mary and Elizabeth Kirby. Parrots, toucans, lilies and hummingbirds are hand-colored, vibrant examples that can be mounted in simple frames and placed near a patio door — or anywhere the gentility and charm of the period might be appreci-ated.

“By digitally enhancing old images, I feel that I give them new life, and

preserve historically significant illustrations and drawings by these famous naturalists,” said Brylowski, who is based in Wroclaw, Poland.

By KIM COOKAssociated Press

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Diggin’ in: Sharing techniques with young gardeners

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (MCT) — Wendy Iles grew up playing in the dirt, like most kids did 50 years ago. Her grandparents had a farm and her mother always gardened.

“With seven kids, we were expected to be out there as well,” she said. “I planted with my kids and the neighborhood kids 30 years ago. I always enjoyed sharing the information — and then the harvest. I was a culinary professional, so I expect the freshest produce to cook with and eat.”

Now, the Hampton, Va., resident wants to share her expertise with today’s young generation, teaching them how to garden and how to prepare their har-vest with tasty recipes.

To accomplish that, she founded the nonprofit Hampton Grows www.HamptonGrows.org — with the goal to “build commu-nity by building gardens.”

It’s a slow process but she’s gaining ground — seed by seed, plant by plant and ultimately garden by garden. She relies on grants and donations and the goodness of helping hands, especially husband Roger, who builds anything she needs.

“I helped implement a garden at Phoebus High School in 2012, where I met so many teens who had no idea how to garden, what ‘real’ produce looked or tasted like,” said Wendy.

“Once I looked at pov-erty and obesity rates in our schools, I knew we needed to address the bigger issue of food by teaching chil-dren and adults not just how to eat better, but how to stretch their food bud-gets and grow their own.

“After an accident left me sidelined, I started talk-ing to and planning with like-minded people in Hampton. We incorporated Jan. 1, 2013, and filed non-profit papers shortly after,

which are still pending. Last year, we created nine totally different garden projects — from vertical pallet gardens to a hoop house, and each garden has its own person-ality.”

Wendy and Roger, gen-eral manager of the Petco in upper Newport News, Va., operate out of a 10-by-26-foot greenhouse in their backyard. There he builds the vertical gardens and totem planters they sell, while she plants seeds and plots community garden projects. Now, they are experimenting with aqua-ponics, recycling fish tank water to nourish plants growing in pelletized clay.

“We’ve had eggplant all year,” she said, pointing to an eggplant blooming and fruiting in a container above the tank of tilapia.

Eventually, Wendy wants the tilapia they breed to become part of school proj-ects where kids are given baby fish in September and take home grown fish and aquaponically grown veg-etables the following June.

So far, Hampton Grows has helped implement gar-dens, greenhouses and seed-starting programs at

Virginia locations includ-ing Natasha House, a shel-ter for women in York County, Hampton History Museum, North Phoebus Community Center, Lincoln Park, Cary Elementary and Hampton Christian schools and Spratley Gifted Center. She’s also taught women to grow tomatoes and herbs in 5-gallon buckets.

She’s not limited to just working with wanna-be gardeners in Hampton ven-ues. She’ll go anywhere, anytime to teach young and old how to start and plant seeds or how to prepare a fresh veggie.

“There have been so many studies on the benefits of gardening, not only for greening Hampton, reduc-ing crime rates to improv-ing property values and most importantly, improv-ing the quality of life for our community," Wendy said.

STARTING SEEDS WITH TOILET PAPER

ROLLSWendy likes to say every-

one has empty toilet paper rolls so why not put them to good use as easy-make seed-starting containers.

• Assemble supplies: empty toilet paper rolls, seeds, potting mix, per-manent marker and plant labels.

• Fold in one edge of the toilet paper roll.

• Press in corner. Then opposite corner to create the bottom.

• Fill with potting mix. Tamp down the soil and add more as needed to fill. Make a hole in the center.

• Select your seeds. Larger

seeds are easier for kids or elderly to work with.

•Using a Popsicle stick, cover the seeds lightly.

• Label the seedlings so there’s no guess work.

• Set the pot in a shal-low bowl of water. Keep the rolls damp, but not soaked.

“The rolls can be planted directly into the ground or in a bigger pot and are easy for small hands to manipu-late without crushing the roots,” she said.

By KATHY VAN MULLEKOMNewport News, Va.

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