Category archive for ‘Gardeners Forum’ 
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Pruning tips and techniques, Part II
According to dictionary.com, one of the definitions of the word “dwarf” is “an animal or plant much smaller than the average of its kind or species.” This seems to be a very concise definition.
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Reasons to consider pruning your plants this spring
Pruning is a common spring gardening chore. When done correctly it can lead to increased flowers, neater appearance, and better plant health. When done incorrectly it can affect the shape, health, and flowers on plants for many years to come. This Gardener’s Forum will be the first of a two-part series on pruning.
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Tips on lawn care from a longtime friend, Part II
About eight years ago, my husband picked up a small wooden plaque at a garage sale and hung it above our pantry door. At dinner, our daughter Sarah’s chair faces in such a way that she looks directly at this plaque.
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Tips on lawn care from a longtime friend, Part I
A very special childhood memory for me is when my mom would take me to the Huntley Bank. The bank was located on Main Street in the building just west of the Village Inn. She would set me up on the counter while our bank teller—her good friend, Marlene Manke—would process her bank deposit. Marlene was always very kind to me and probably found a candy treat for me to enjoy while I was there.
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A guide to the difficult process of choosing a landscaper
This is a column I have thought about writing for a year. I have hesitated because I wanted it to be educational, perhaps empowering, with the right mix of humor and completely void of any criticism of fellow landscape contractors. I wasn’t sure I could pull it off. I am still not sure, but here it goes.
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Know what to look for when considering replacing a plant
Whenever I drive with my husband, he is consistently pointing out schools where he has overseen the construction of gym floors. I notice plants.
About 6 years ago I noticed an evergreen tree in early March that I could not quite identify. It had a nice shape, the needles were full and long, but the color was slightly different than the color of any other evergreen tree that I had seen. The tree was planted in the front yard of someone’s home on a well traveled street in Sun City. -
Spot animal damage and prevent it from happening next year
Much like me standing in front of that tray of cherries on Christmas day, rabbits are standing in front of your shrubs to enjoy the season to the fullest extent possible by eating the branches of those shrubs. Animals can cause extensive damage by eating the stems, bark, and foliage from plants.
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Some parting words until the next time we garden
A few weeks ago I visited the campus of my alma mater, Texas A&M University. On a Friday afternoon, I sat on a bench reading The Battalion newspaper while being drenched in the warmth of the sun. Everything was right with the world. That experience reminded me of how much I love newspapers.
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How our lovely leaves get their colors
This afternoon, my daughter Mary and I will make our second trip to Milwaukee in three days. We will drive up there again next Wednesday. When the kids were younger, a drive in the car was peaceful. We would listen to books on tape (The Jungle Book was our favorite), Spanish music (to promote language learning), or if I needed some adult conversation, they would read books and I would listen to WGN Radio.
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Make the most of fall in your garden
Fall may be considered nature’s last Hurrah! A spectacular show of color prior to a period of hibernation during the winter. Fall is a superb time to work in your yard. The days are a bit cooler, the sun isn’t as bright, and the mosquitoes and beetles are gone. What better way to spend the day than in your yard? Whether you have a small area that is in need of a little attention or a whole lawn that needs renovating, here are some ideas of what can be done.
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Make this fall special with a scenic country drive
Fall is the favorite season for many. My husband, Chris, pointed out recently that in our life, we will only experience, at most, 100 seasons of fall. Get-togethers with family, dinners out with friends, hugs from grandchildren—all things we will experience more than 100 times. Fall is, as they say, a “limited-time offer.”
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The answers to some frequently asked questions
This week’s column is a compilation of ‘This and That.’ It contains a series of observations and information regarding frequently asked questions (FAQ’s). I hope you find it helpful.
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Go back to school with gardening classes
My Grandmother did something in July that she hasn’t done in five decades. Any guesses? She went back-to-school shopping. The process that leaves most moms feeling like they just got off a tilt-a-whirl, she went out of her way to do. She purchased a myriad of supplies including notebooks, pencils, and folders and donated them to children who wouldn’t otherwise have new school supplies.
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Making your garden a little more private
Several times a year I get a phone call in which the caller is speaking in hushed tones. At some point in the conversation, the reason for the call becomes apparent. “I want to block my neighbors,” the caller whispers.
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What the drought spells for your lawn
“We have to do something about this!” my son demanded as we got out of the car. “Do something about what?” I asked. “The grass,” he responded. “Look at this.” I looked down past his size 8 feet and noticed what he was looking at. His obscenely large Osiris shoes were walking on ugly brown grass as we approached our front door. “We will not do something about that” I exclaimed. “When it rains, it will come back!”
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Using a multi-faceted approach to stop Japanese Beetles
As I write this, my daughters and I are enjoying a stay in The Galena Territory. We have shopped till we dropped on Main Street, enjoyed an afternoon at the pool, and played Sorry and pinochle. I still haven’t managed to win a single game. What I have managed to do is notice the damage on the Linden tree outside our townhome.
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Travel destinations for the roaming gardener
Over lunch today, my children and I discussed our travel plans for the Fourth of July holiday. We usually try to set out for a travel adventure for a few days around our favorite summer holiday.
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Who to call when you need garden help
Lifelines. Who do you call when…? Besides the obvious answer: (Ghost Busters), who do you call when you need help? On a picture perfect day in the summer of 2006, my then 6-year-old daughter was picking flowers in our yard. She was simultaneously stung by seven bees. Who did I call?
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Learn some tips with me from an expert in gardening
Experienced observer. I write this column not as a gardening expert or guru, but as one who has extensive experience observing gardening and landscaping successes and failures. As only a brother can, my brother Jim pointed out years ago that I garden by pointing.
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Giving your garden a strong foundation
A solid foundation is the key to strong marriages, well built houses, and well adjusted children. As T. F. Hodge stated, “You cannot build a dream on a foundation of sand. To weather the test of storms, it must be cemented in the heart with uncompromising conviction.”
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A spring gardening to-do list
In 1968 Spencer Silver accidently invented what I would consider the greatest invention of the 20th century. Any ideas? Anyone? Post-it Notes! They are the single biggest factor behind the efficiency by which I run my company. Without to-do lists, forms, and Post-it Notes, I think I would just cease to function.
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Some tips on classifying and protecting plants
Daffodils, Magnolias, forsythia, Oh My! Spring’s beautiful blessings graced us early this year. The bountiful array of flowers and colors are almost overwhelming. We have hyacinths blooming at the same time as serviceberry. The delicate purple flowers of redbuds are occurring at the same time as the large red flowers on the quince. The white and purple flowers of crabtrees bring back memories of our childhood. (My Grandmother told Tom and I not to eat those apples…)
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Sharing my gardening roots and upbringing
“Look!” My daughter exclaimed. “They‘re blooming.” Sarah had just spotted a cluster of purple-and-yellow crocus flowering on the south side of our home. She saw something beautiful in the landscape and wanted to share. Sharing, that is what this column is all about.
