Sunday, September 29, 2002  Poinsettias can be a challenge:
One of the most frequently asked questions right now at the greenhouse is, "When do I start to cover my poinsettia from last year to make it change color?"
Saturday, September 28, 2002 Stamps feature variety of holiday celebrations:
The series of 2002 "Holiday" stamps by the U.S. Postal Service is now off the presses.
Trees that will put you in the shade:
Here are a few of the questions I've received recently. The answers might help you prepare for the fall gardening season ahead.
Saturday, September 21, 2002 Frame outshines print:
Dear Helaine and Joe: I found this picture in my grandfather's attic. The scene depicts a raging forest fire. The words "American Colortype Co. Chi. & N. Y." are at the bottom left and "Copyright 1909 by A.G. Voss" is on the bottom right. There is some damage to one corner of the frame, but none on the picture. What is the history and value? --R.W., Falls Church, Va.
Check gardens for mosquito hot spots:
West Nile virus has come home to roost (so to speak). Dead birds — crows, blue jays, an owl and others — discovered in three neighborhoods near my home have tested positive for the disease. Officials confirmed it last week.
Bulb sale:
September is the best time to plan for a lovely and colorful spring garden and the Lake County Extension Foundation will help by holding its third annual fund-raising fall bulb sale.
Getting the most from a photo workshop:
Photography workshops are growing in popularity. Seems there's one in just about every part of the country — from Maine to Florida and from New York to California — every month.
Saturday, September 14, 2002 Postal Service honors Irving Berlin:
America fervently sings God Bless America. The U.S. Postal Service echoes with "God Bless Irving Berlin."
Autumnal orchestra:
The symphony of autumn — flaming reds, fiery yellows, sultry burgundies — is performed in every outdoor venue each October. Nature is the composer of this complex and masterful work of art, but within our own gardens she allows each of us artistic license to interpret the piece as we choose.
King Solomon loved cedar:
"King Solomon built his temple with cedar because of the wood's unique and valuable qualities. Cedar is highly resistant to decomposition, symbolizing the eternity of God. The wood naturally repels insects, keeping the contents of a cedar chest permanently free of pests. Some considered the beautiful wood to be as valuable as gold — a fitting honor for God in both its beauty and richness. ...Unfortunately, Solomon's relentless demand for cedar left few of the ancient giants standing, and we can now only imagine what those lofty groves must have looked like thousands of years ago."
Works of art: Hang 'em high:
For people whose art collections are dominated by crayon drawings of flowers and papier-mache handprints created by children, shopping for and displaying other art can be intimidating.
Good, bad news about bedside table:
Dear Helaine and Joe: I recently purchased this bedside table at a local flea market and was told the piece was originally part of a larger bedroom set. Inside the drawer it is signed "Limbert's Arts and Crafts, Grand Rapids and Holland." The frame is in scuffed condition with water stains and rings. What is it worth? I hope it is more than the $10 I paid for it. — D. M., Dresher, Pa.
Friday, September 13, 2002 House-sitting for fun and profit — mostly fun:
Depending on where you want to go, house-sitting is a definite possibility.
Why are we bugged by bugs?:
It's a bug-eat-bug world out there. Though gardeners all over the country are stubbornly shaking their heads right now in disagreement. Gardeners know that bugs eat plants.
Sunday, September 08, 2002 Where has summer gone?:
Due to the un-seasonal cool weather and the late spring it seems that we just completed the planting in our gardens.
Wednesday, September 04, 2002 Out of the attic:
Bats won't nest in your home's attic if you put up a suitable bat house for them. If bats are in your attic already, wait until the young can fly and watch to see where they leave your house. Tape a piece of netting over the entrance with an opening at its bottom. The bats will crawl out the opening on the bottom when leaving. But when the bats return, the net will stop them from getting back in.
Tuesday, September 03, 2002 In Puerto Rico, tiny frogs that hold symbolic role threatened by encroaching concrete:
CAIMITO, Puerto Rico — The resounding calls of "ko-KEE, ko-KEE" ring out in a cadence that brings music to Puerto Rican nights.
Monday, September 02, 2002 Four generations of nursery workers have championed native plants:
LAFAYETTE — Corliss "Jock" Ingels was a prairie grass pioneer. He crisscrossed the Midwest, lecturing on the aesthetic and environmental benefits of native prairie plants. In his early years, his lecture fee was a homemade rhubarb pie.
Sunday, September 01, 2002 Wildflowers give people sense of place:
Good plants are where you find them. And American gardeners are discovering that an exploration of the magnificent flora of our own continent cannot only yield great plants for our gardens, but they can contribute an important sense of place.
Colors can help bring your home together:
Wonderful color in your home creates an experience, both for you living there and for guests visiting. How do you know what will work best? Innately, you'll be able to feel when it's right. You'll know.
Saturday, August 31, 2002 A vase that could be worth thousands:
Dear Helaine and Joe: I am enclosing a photograph of a 10-1/2-inch-tall Quezal vase that is in perfect condition. I am interested in knowing its value. — V.A.M., Clinton, Iowa.
Tuesday, August 27, 2002 Fragrant tobacco: an August garden's highlight:
Dusk soothes the garden's ruffled feathers, as if apologizing for the harsh glare of late afternoon. Foliage blends and softens around the edges, dark colors recede, and weeds seem to disappear.
It's August, time for lawn renovations:
There can be no argument that a beautiful lawn is immediately pleasing to the eye and relaxing in its appearance. Lawns help to soften and reduce reflected light, because of less glare.
Saturday, August 24, 2002 Needlework's origin difficult to determine:
Dear Helaine and Joe: This is a silk embroidery that measures 12-by-10 inches. It was given to me by a woman whose husband was an internationally known musician. They traveled extensively and found this needlework picture in Eastern Europe. Can you tell me anything about it? — B.H., Augusta, Ga.
Friday, August 23, 2002 Kudzu vine goes 1-on-1 with Army:
FORT PICKETT, Va. — In little more than 100 years in the United States, kudzu has marched across farm fields, shoved aside native plants and disrupted ecosystems with its smothering blanket of green leaves.
Sunday, August 18, 2002 Summer's end means duty calls:
Well, it is all part of "end of summer gardening." I am sure all gardeners have been doing this all summer and probably getting a little tired of it by this time.
Treat your yard like interior during summer:
Beachcombing is one of my favorite vacation activities. It combines the thrill of the hunt with the joy of discovery. And it's free.
Saturday, August 17, 2002 Why are we bugged by bugs?:
It's a bug-eat-bug world out there. Though gardeners all over the country are stubbornly shaking their heads right now in disagreement. Gardeners know that bugs eat plants.
Registration marks help identify English pottery:
Dear Helaine and Joe: This sky-blue pitcher is 9 inches tall and has two holes in the back of the rim, one of which seems to be filled with lead. I have drawn the mark. What is the history and value? — I & J.B., Naples, Fla.
Friday, August 16, 2002 House-sitting for fun and profit — mostly fun:
Depending on where you want to go, house-sitting is a definite possibility.
Wednesday, August 14, 2002 For the garden and lawn, the going gets tough in August:
You know what they say: "When the going gets tough, the tough get going!"
Tuesday, August 13, 2002 More grandparents raising grandchildren:
According to the census, 2.4 million grandparents are primary care-givers to their grandchildren, a phenomenon that the U.S. Census Bureau tracked for the first time in 2000. Roughly one in five (18.9 percent) life in poverty.
Sunday, August 11, 2002 Bird Haven celebration planned:
Bird Haven sits on three acres of land within a 660-acre site, comprised of Pilcher Park and Higginbotham Woods. The greenhouse is one of Joliet's secret jewels. It was constructed at its site in the early 1900s. The Italian Renaissance-style Conservatory was designed by the Lord and Burnham Company.
Saturday, August 10, 2002 Unusual Nippon vase has striking design:
Dear Helaine and Joe: I have enclosed a picture of a vase given to me by my mother, who received it on her 13th birthday in 1912. It is 9 inches tall and was once part of a pair; one belonged to my mother and the other to her twin sister. The matching vase, however, has been broken. I would very much appreciate knowing the history and value. — T.M.B., Draper, Utah.
It's August, time for lawn renovations:
There can be no argument that a beautiful lawn is immediately pleasing to the eye and relaxing in its appearance. Lawns help to soften and reduce reflected light, because of less glare.
Fragrant tobacco: an August garden's highlight:
Dusk soothes the garden's ruffled feathers, as if apologizing for the harsh glare of late afternoon. Foliage blends and softens around the edges, dark colors recede, and weeds seem to disappear.
King Solomon loved cedar:
"King Solomon built his temple with cedar because of the wood's unique and valuable qualities. Cedar is highly resistant to decomposition, symbolizing the eternity of God. The wood naturally repels insects, keeping the contents of a cedar chest permanently free of pests. Some considered the beautiful wood to be as valuable as gold — a fitting honor for God in both its beauty and richness. ...Unfortunately, Solomon's relentless demand for cedar left few of the ancient giants standing, and we can now only imagine what those lofty groves must have looked like thousands of years ago."
Friday, August 09, 2002 Home, garden chores overwhelming? Get help:
How many times have you wished you had another pair of hands or could clone yourself to get everything done around the house and garden?
Tuesday, August 06, 2002 'Gadgets' improve quality of life:
Dear Savvy Senior: My sister and I recently bought our grandmother, who has difficulty hearing, an amplifier for her telephone so she can hear us when we call. Grandma, who is 79, is in good physical condition but along with her hearing, her sight and memory also are fading. I have heard there are other household gadgets for elder people that can help make their life easier and more convenient. Can you give us some other recommendations that can help grandma maintain her independence? Thank you. — Gadget Goobers
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