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MY SUN DAY NEWS

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Sun City in Huntley

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April 24, 2014

Bring your lawn back from rabbit damage and frost cracking

In my April 10th column, I had proposed that our readers consider using a “Winter Recovery Checklist.” The list was intended to bring awareness of problems or concerns that you may be experiencing in your yard. The following is a summary of observations of area yards this spring and some suggested solutions to common problems or concerns.

A winter recovery checklist to help your lawn spring back

We were hit with a difficult situation this winter, and we are now entering recovery. Our landscaping and lawns need our assistance this spring. To help with evaluating the state of your landscaping, I have prepared a “Winter Recovery Checklist.”

Resilient evergreens challenged through this harsh winter

April 1 always begins the same way in our home: I go into each of our children’s bedrooms, pull open the shades, look out the window, and exclaim “It snowed!” A very sleepy child who has somehow morphed into a teenager will roll over and say, “April Fools.”

Give your plants a fighting chance to last through winter

Rarely do I bring home items from work. The reality is that plants get much better care at our garden center than they will at my house. By the time I get home, I am done watering and caring for plants; they are simply on their own. It is survival of the fittest.

Save seeds for next year’s flowers

Saving flower seeds is a great way to use what you already have and to develop your gardening skills. With a little time and patience, you can save your own seeds from year to year.

Some not-so-spooky decorative ideas for your Halloween garden

Ever feel like you have been exposed to a world that you didn’t even know existed? Last evening, based on the recommendation of a 12-year-old girl, we ventured into Spirit Halloween. She knows my son likes “The Walking Dead” television show and this store features costumes from that show.

Trees, shrubs, and ornamentals to consider when shade gardening

My son, Christopher and I were driving through our home town yesterday afternoon. As we finished passing through Hampshire on State Street, I asked “Remember when we used to drive down this street, and we knew just about everybody?”

With preparation, shade gardening doesn’t need to be difficult

My 12 year old son is going through a period of self realization. He is realizing that he will not actually be marrying his first love, events around the world interest him, and that the color of his hair is really ginger (the new term for Red).

The impact landscaping can have on home values

Our home, like the homes of many readers of this newspaper, was damaged during the storm on July 20. Shuttling my son to the basement while my husband stood guard watching the hail and the swirling winds was just the start of the storm experience.

Top 15 ways to enjoy gardening for less

David Letterman’s Top 10 lists are infamous. They have covered a variety of topics, from the “Top 10 Things That Will Get You Kicked Out of Disney World” that includes going after Chip and Dale with a Weed Wacker to “Top 10 Headlines that Would Start a Panic” – “Late Night to Begin Top Twenty Lists” being one.

Make the most of this fall’s planting season

With the fall planting season approaching, I thought it might be helpful to review the dos and don’ts of planting annual and perennial flowers, evergreen and flowering shrubs, and ornamental, shade, and evergreen trees.

The busy person’s guide to summer favorites

Gardening can be a very rewarding experience. There are many steps along the way: planting, weeding, watering, fertilizing, harvesting, eating, and preserving. Some steps are more enjoyable than others.

Take your verticle garden to the top

We moved out of our former home when our daughter, Mary, was two and Sarah was five months old. Shortly after that, whenever we would drive down Main Street in Huntley and pass our house, we would say “Hi, old house, bye, old house.”

Musings on maples, mulch, and much more

We moved into our current home 13 years ago. It is situated on an acre in a small country subdivision. It was built in the ’70s, and we are the third owners.

Take time to enjoy nature’s beauty at local garden walks

On my refrigerator there is a magnet that has a picture of a woman that resembles June Cleaver. The woman is surrounded by beautiful red roses, and she is smiling broadly. The caption reads “My Garden Kicks A**.” Four words are used to sum up the situation perfectly.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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!”