mup-2010-06-03-b-004
1
The Associated Press Care to go a different tack with your spring- time gardening? Plant a living wreath for the front door or garden gate. Upscale catalogues, such as Viva Terra, have been selling living wreaths for years. The rub is they can be expen- sive (at Viva Terra, $98 plus other charges that tip one wreath toward $122 to receive). The upside is they’re easy and fast to assemble on your own, and require a minimum of care. Re- wards include a summer- time of enjoyment and do-it-yourself satisfac- tion. The instructions below are taken from the pages of the DIY magazine “Fresh Home.” Editor Karol K. Nickell, from the magazine’s offices near Milwaukee, advised gardeners to have fun with this wreath. Want to plant a kitchen herb garden? Go for it. Thinking succu- lents? That’s great. How about a holiday-themed living wreath? Nickell suggests planting a Fourth of July wreath with red, white and blue annuals. (There are more blue flower hues on the market than ever before.) There are only a few rules to plant by: Consid- er the sunshine and wa- tering needs of the herbs or annuals, and plant ac- cordingly. For example, stick to either shady or sunny plants — don’t mix the two. And if you’re apt to forget to water the wreath, you might want to lean to- ward drought-tolerant succulents. Aim for variety: plants of varying color, variega- tion and leaf shape and size. Nickell says smaller plants work best. They cost less, are easier to plant in a wreath and al- so grow faster. “That’s the nature of a small plant — to really push growth,” says Nick- ell. Armed with these tips, you can plant this novel garden with creative abandon. An example that appears in the spring issue of “Fresh Home” includes wiry chives and other, bushier herbs. Another wreath is planted entirely with variegated ivy. LIVING WREATH Adapted from “Fresh Home” magazine Supplies: Pre-made sphagnum peat moss wreath Small plants (such Most of us have fa- vorite tools we use in the garden. We reach for the old familiar friends when heading out to weed, dig and prune. But there are new tools in the market- place and some items you might not have thought of as garden tools. A new set of tools came out from Ra- dius this year (www.ra- diusgar- den.com). The digging fork, shovel, spade, long handle weeder, bulb auger, transplanter, etc. all have a top handle that is round and cush- ioned, providing four times the gripping space. Radius also makes a Pond Shark for cleaning out the koi pond and a Gator Grabber that is wonderfully easy to use for picking up leaves and other garden debris with- out stooping over. To make the watering easier this summer, con- sider adding a new hose and an Excel Wobbler (http://bit.ly/aKQo0D). Space the Wobblers every 24 feet, turn on the water and sit back. A hose bib extender could reduce the hose dragging hassle and make life a little eas- ier, too. And, when shopping for a new garden hose, you will find rubber, vinyl and combination materials. For longer life and greater strength, look for a reinforced hose with crush proof cou- plings. The inside of a garden hose grows mold and bac- teria. If your pets and children like to drink from the hose while play- ing outside, look for Ames Microban antimi- crobial hoses or products made from 100 percent new, non-recycled, non- carcinogenic materials. Traditional cultivation tools include flat-bladed hoes and hand held weeders. Long handled barbeque tongs, screw drivers, kitchen paring knives, grubbing knives and other unlikely tools also find their way into gardeners’ hands at weeding time. The taproot weeder has a forked end and a bulky handle. Several compa- nies make a long-han- dled, ergonomic version that reduces bending and kneeling while pulling deeply rooted weeds. A Warren hoe has a pointed end for pulling out weeds between rows. For a large garden a Scuffle, Stirrup or Dutch Hoe is the tool of choice. The tool end has an oscil- lating stirrup with two sharp sides, that move back and forth on a hinge. They come in 3-, 5- and 7-inch widths. The DeWit Spork from Holland is a combination of a spade and a garden fork (http://tiny.cc/lurel). It has a long T-handle and a sharp-edged, car- bon steel, head that is shaped like a shovel with broad forks at the end. Fiskars makes dozens of new-design tools for just about every use. Their PowerGear and rear pivot pruners are easier on the hands. The PowerGear and Power Lever loppers have shock absorbing bumpers that work to reduce muscle exhaustion from reaching and pruning. The company that makes Liquid Wrench makes several items that are helpful for gardeners. Their Silicon Spray ap- plied to a shovel makes cleanup easier. It will al- so waterproof plastic, metal and wood tool parts. Use Penetrating Oil to get rid of rust and lubricate squeaky gate hinges. White Lithium Grease is useful on all- weather items such as hinges — it resists both melting and freezing. Chain Lube applied to a garage door will prevent weather related corro- sion, and Lubricating Oil applied to hedge clippers will prevent hinge rust. A useful tool for relax- ing after the gardening is done for the day is Ther- maCELL, a mosquito re- pelling patio lantern that works up to 225-square feet. The lantern is a portable light with a bu- tane cartridge that pow- ers the mosquito repel- lent. Two batteries pow- er the LED lights. The repelling mats are good for 4-hours. Therma- CELL also makes a portable, butane-pow- ered mosquito repellent to tuck into a pocket or onto a belt (www.ther- macell.com). Father’s Day is around the corner. Give the men on your list something they can use. Muskogee Phoenix Thursday, June 3, 2010 Section B, Page 4 Life • Leilani Roberts Ott, features editor, 684-2908, lott@muskogee phoenix.com • Fax: 684-2865. • Online: www.musko- geephoenix.com We welcome your com- ments and story ideas. Gannett News Service Brace yourself for a blood-sucking summer dou- ble play. CW is pairing "The Vampire Diaries" (7 p.m.), which tonight offers a re- peat of the first post-pilot episode, with repeats of corporate-cousin CBS's "Moonlight" (8 p.m.). Though whether that has more to do with CW's love of vampires or the larger company's love of "Moon- light" star Alex O'Loughlin (who will be back on CBS this fall in the "Hawaii Five- 0" remake) is open to ques- tion. For those who prefer the living to the undead (and who don't plan to watch basketball on ABC), the big doings tonight are over at USA, which returns two of summer's biggest script- ed hits. First up is "Burn Notice" (8 p.m.), where Michael faces a terrorist threat, a lawyer who needs protection from a biker gang, and a possible new partner. That's fol- lowed by "Royal Pains" (9 p.m.), which features a recurring guest turn by Os- car-winner Marcia Gay Harden. Over on CBS, "The Men- talist" (CBS, 9 p.m.) offers one of its more amusing mysteries, as Simon Bak- er's Patrick spars with a rich, luxury-car loving mur- der suspect (Currie Gra- ham) who comes on to Lis- bon. The show is usually better when the suspect can hold his or her own with Patrick — and this is one of those times. It's worth watching just to see Patrick drive blind-folded, a neat trick if ever there was one. Well, if you could actually do it. Actor Tony Curtis is 85. TV producer Chuck Bar- ris is 81. Actress Irma P. Hall is 75. Author Larry McMurtry is 74. Rock singer Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) is 71. Singer Eddie Holman is 64. Musician Too Slim (Rid- ers in the Sky) is 62. Rock musician Richard Moore is 61. Singer Suzi Quatro is 60. Singer Deneice Williams is 59. Singer Dan Hill is 56. Actor Scott Valentine is 52. Rock musician Kerry King (Slayer) is 46. Rock singer-musician Mike Gordon is 45. CNN host Anderson Cooper is 43. Country singer Jamie O'Neal is 42. Singers Gabriel and Ariel Hernandez (No Mer- cy) are 39. Tennis player Rafael Nadal is 24. Actress-singer Lalaine is 23. While fishing with his cousin, Dustin Kusler, An- drew Clay caught this big fish and three smaller ones. No fish fry though, they were released. Photo taken by Grandpa Donald Clay. E-mail your snapshots to features@muskogee- phoenix.com. To contact us: What’s on TV Happy birthday Slice of life Molly Day All the Dirt on Gardening The right tools can make time in the garden easier Special photo by Molly Day This ThermaCELL Mosquito Lantern is a portable light with a butane cartridge that repels mosquitos for 225-square feet. Some tools you might not even have thought of as garden tools AP This photo provided by Fresh Home/Reader’s Digest Association shows a living wreath. Care to go a differ- ent tack with your springtime gardening? Plant a living wreath for the front door or garden gate. Living wreath’s appealing surprise? It’s alive (See PLANTS, 5B)
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Molly Day E-mail your snapshots to features@muskogee- phoenix.com. • Leilani Roberts Ott, features editor, 684-2908, lott@muskogee phoenix.com • Fax: 684-2865. • Online: www.musko- geephoenix.com We welcome your com- ments and story ideas. All the Dirt on Gardening This photo provided by Fresh Home/Reader’s Digest Association shows a living wreath. Care to go a differ- ent tack with your springtime gardening? Plant a living wreath for the front door or garden gate. (See PLANTS, 5B) AP
Transcript of mup-2010-06-03-b-004
The Associated Press
Care to go a differenttack with your spring-time gardening? Plant aliving wreath for thefront door or garden gate.
Upscale catalogues,such as Viva Terra, havebeen selling livingwreaths for years. Therub is they can be expen-sive (at Viva Terra, $98plus other charges thattip one wreath toward$122 to receive).
The upside is they’reeasy and fast to assembleon your own, and requirea minimum of care. Re-wards include a summer-time of enjoyment anddo-it-yourself satisfac-tion.
The instructions beloware taken from the pagesof the DIY magazine“Fresh Home.” EditorKarol K. Nickell, fromthe magazine’s officesnear Milwaukee, advised
gardeners to have funwith this wreath.
Want to plant akitchen herb garden? Gofor it. Thinking succu-lents? That’s great. Howabout a holiday-themedliving wreath? Nickellsuggests planting aFourth of July wreathwith red, white and blueannuals. (There are moreblue flower hues on themarket than ever before.)
There are only a fewrules to plant by: Consid-er the sunshine and wa-tering needs of the herbsor annuals, and plant ac-cordingly. For example,stick to either shady orsunny plants — don’tmix the two. And ifyou’re apt to forget towater the wreath, youmight want to lean to-ward drought-tolerantsucculents.
Aim for variety: plantsof varying color, variega-tion and leaf shape and
size.Nickell says smaller
plants work best. Theycost less, are easier toplant in a wreath and al-so grow faster.
“That’s the nature of asmall plant — to reallypush growth,” says Nick-ell.
Armed with these tips,you can plant this novelgarden with creativeabandon. An examplethat appears in thespring issue of “FreshHome” includes wirychives and other, bushierherbs. Another wreath isplanted entirely withvariegated ivy.
LIVING WREATHAdapted from “Fresh
Home” magazineSupplies:Pre-made sphagnum
peat moss wreathSmall plants (such
Most of us have fa-vorite tools we use in thegarden. We reach for theold familiar friends whenheading out to weed, digand prune. But there arenew tools in the market-place andsome itemsyou mightnot havethought ofas gardentools.
A newset of toolscame outfrom Ra-dius thisyear(www.ra-diusgar-den.com). The diggingfork, shovel, spade, longhandle weeder, bulbauger, transplanter, etc.all have a top handlethat is round and cush-ioned, providing fourtimes the gripping space.
Radius also makes aPond Shark for cleaningout the koi pond and aGator Grabber that is
wonderfully easy to usefor picking up leaves andother garden debris with-out stooping over.
To make the wateringeasier this summer, con-sider adding a new hoseand an Excel Wobbler(http://bit.ly/aKQo0D).Space the Wobblers every24 feet, turn on the waterand sit back. A hose bibextender could reducethe hose dragging hassleand make life a little eas-ier, too.
And, when shoppingfor a new garden hose,you will find rubber,vinyl and combinationmaterials. For longer lifeand greater strength,look for a reinforced hosewith crush proof cou-plings.
The inside of a gardenhose grows mold and bac-teria. If your pets andchildren like to drinkfrom the hose while play-ing outside, look forAmes Microban antimi-crobial hoses or productsmade from 100 percent
new, non-recycled, non-carcinogenic materials.
Traditional cultivationtools include flat-bladedhoes and hand heldweeders. Long handledbarbeque tongs, screwdrivers, kitchen paringknives, grubbing knivesand other unlikely toolsalso find their way intogardeners’ hands atweeding time.
The taproot weeder hasa forked end and a bulkyhandle. Several compa-nies make a long-han-dled, ergonomic versionthat reduces bending andkneeling while pullingdeeply rooted weeds.
A Warren hoe has apointed end for pullingout weeds between rows.For a large garden aScuffle, Stirrup or DutchHoe is the tool of choice.The tool end has an oscil-lating stirrup with twosharp sides, that moveback and forth on ahinge. They come in 3-, 5-and 7-inch widths.
The DeWit Spork from
Holland is a combinationof a spade and a gardenfork (http://tiny.cc/lurel).It has a long T-handleand a sharp-edged, car-bon steel, head that isshaped like a shovel withbroad forks at the end.
Fiskars makes dozensof new-design tools forjust about every use.Their PowerGear andrear pivot pruners areeasier on the hands. ThePowerGear and PowerLever loppers have shockabsorbing bumpers thatwork to reduce muscleexhaustion from reachingand pruning.
The company thatmakes Liquid Wrenchmakes several items thatare helpful for gardeners.
Their Silicon Spray ap-plied to a shovel makescleanup easier. It will al-so waterproof plastic,metal and wood toolparts. Use PenetratingOil to get rid of rust andlubricate squeaky gatehinges. White LithiumGrease is useful on all-
weather items such ashinges — it resists bothmelting and freezing.Chain Lube applied to agarage door will preventweather related corro-sion, and Lubricating Oilapplied to hedge clipperswill prevent hinge rust.
A useful tool for relax-ing after the gardening isdone for the day is Ther-maCELL, a mosquito re-pelling patio lantern thatworks up to 225-squarefeet.
The lantern is aportable light with a bu-tane cartridge that pow-ers the mosquito repel-lent. Two batteries pow-er the LED lights. Therepelling mats are goodfor 4-hours. Therma-CELL also makes aportable, butane-pow-ered mosquito repellentto tuck into a pocket oronto a belt (www.ther-macell.com).
Father’s Day is aroundthe corner. Give the menon your list somethingthey can use.
Muskogee Phoenix Thursday, June 3, 2010 Section B, Page 4
Life
• Leilani Roberts Ott,features editor, 684-2908,[email protected]
• Fax: 684-2865.• Online: www.musko-
geephoenix.comWe welcome your com-
ments and story ideas.
Gannett News Service
Brace yourself for ablood-sucking summer dou-ble play. CW is pairing "TheVampire Diaries" (7 p.m.),which tonight offers a re-peat of the first post-pilotepisode, with repeats ofcorporate-cousin CBS's"Moonlight" (8 p.m.).Though whether that hasmore to do with CW's loveof vampires or the largercompany's love of "Moon-light" star Alex O'Loughlin(who will be back on CBSthis fall in the "Hawaii Five-0" remake) is open to ques-tion.
For those who prefer theliving to the undead (andwho don't plan to watchbasketball on ABC), thebig doings tonight are overat USA, which returns twoof summer's biggest script-ed hits. First up is "BurnNotice" (8 p.m.), whereMichael faces a terroristthreat, a lawyer whoneeds protection from abiker gang, and a possiblenew partner. That's fol-lowed by "Royal Pains"(9 p.m.), which features arecurring guest turn by Os-car-winner Marcia GayHarden.
Over on CBS, "The Men-talist" (CBS, 9 p.m.) offersone of its more amusingmysteries, as Simon Bak-er's Patrick spars with arich, luxury-car loving mur-der suspect (Currie Gra-ham) who comes on to Lis-bon. The show is usuallybetter when the suspectcan hold his or her own withPatrick — and this is one ofthose times. It's worthwatching just to see Patrickdrive blind-folded, a neattrick if ever there was one.Well, if you could actuallydo it.
Actor Tony Curtis is 85. TV producer Chuck Bar-
ris is 81. Actress Irma P. Hall is
75. Author Larry McMurtry
is 74. Rock singer Ian Hunter
(Mott The Hoople) is 71. Singer Eddie Holman is
64. Musician Too Slim (Rid-
ers in the Sky) is 62. Rock musician Richard
Moore is 61. Singer Suzi Quatro is
60. Singer Deneice Williams
is 59. Singer Dan Hill is 56. Actor Scott Valentine is
52. Rock musician Kerry
King (Slayer) is 46. Rock singer-musician
Mike Gordon is 45. CNN host Anderson
Cooper is 43. Country singer Jamie
O'Neal is 42. Singers Gabriel and
Ariel Hernandez (No Mer-cy) are 39.
Tennis player RafaelNadal is 24.
Actress-singer Lalaine is23.
While fishing with hiscousin, Dustin Kusler, An-drew Clay caught this bigfish and three smaller ones.No fish fry though, theywere released. Photo takenby Grandpa Donald Clay.
E-mail your snapshots [email protected].
To contact us:
What’s on TV
Happy birthday
Slice of life
Molly Day
All theDirt onGardening
The right tools can maketime in the garden easier
Special photo by Molly Day
This ThermaCELL Mosquito Lantern is a portable light with a butane cartridge that repels mosquitos for 225-square feet.
Some tools you might not even have thought of as garden tools
AP
This photo provided by Fresh Home/Reader’s DigestAssociation shows a living wreath. Care to go a differ-ent tack with your springtime gardening? Plant a livingwreath for the front door or garden gate.
Living wreath’s appealingsurprise? It’s alive
(See PLANTS, 5B)
