The Homefront

Iconic “I Love Yous”

Flowers are a Mother’s Day staple—and for good reason, since these iconic flowers are part of what started it all.

There is no more iconic a Mother’s Day flower than the carnation. No, really; pink carnations have long represented a mother’s love, and white ones are for unconditional love. In fact, according to Farmers’ Almanac, white carnations, in particular, played a part in the first-ever Mother’s Day celebration over a century ago.

In 1907, a West Virginia native named Anna Jarvis sent 500 white carnations to every mother in her congregation to commemorate the anniversary of her own mother’s passing. White carnations were her late mother’s favorite flower, and Jarvis wanted to not only honor her mother, but to encourage everyone to celebrate their own mothers. Less than 10 years later, Mother’s Day was declared a national holiday.

Whether you’re buying the mothers in your life roses, peonies, or classic carnations, remember that the best way to make them last is to trim all the leaves below the waterline and cut 1 inch off the stems per week. May all your flowers be fresh and all your mothers be blessed this year.

The McMann for the Job

Lake Cove Pointe is lucky to have an entrepreneurial young people right in its gates. The McMann twins, Noah and Naomi, are business-minded and diligent youth. They will be turning 13 in May and are ready to get to work!

With his trusty power-washer, Noah will wash your driveway, sidewalk, and street apron like new. He can even wash your garbage cans. Pricing depends on the size of your driveway; he can give you a consultation with a quote.

Naomi, meanwhile, is available to babysit. She is CPR certified and is able to prepare snacks and meals or straighten up messes. Best of all, she can change diapers! Her curfew is negotiable. Pricing per hour is based on the number of children she’s watching.

Should you be interested in hiring either of these budding professionals, please reach out to Mary McMann on Facebook or knock on their door on Tierra Verde Lane. They accept cash, check, or Venmo for payment.

DOWN AND DIRTY

What to know about that finicky fertilizer.

Most of us can get by with two types of fertilizer for our yards: one for the lawn, and one for everything else. For lawn fertilizers, we recommend a weed and feed product, applied once in the spring and once in late summer or early fall. However, the weed control portion may damage your grass this late in the season, so you might want to only feed your lawn if you haven’t already, and only through the end of May. Florida’s summer heat and ample rains promote plenty of growth on their own. For the other fertilizer, choose a balanced product with slow release and a mix of micronutrients like magnesium, iron, manganese, and boron. The numbers on this package label should be in a 4-1-4, 8-2-8, or 12-3-12 ratio. These products have been formulated for palms and do a great job on for other trees, shrubs, and fruit trees. One more thing: Please choose a fertilizer with 0% phosphorus unless a soil test shows a need for it. Not only do plants not need much of this nutrient, but Lake Apopka is now recovering from intense phosphoros pollution, and any runoff from our driveways could really hinder its progress.

Wes & Vickie Parrish These LCP residents know their landscaping. Each has spent years studying the science of horticulture, and previously owned their own nursery. Wes frequently travels around Florida to give seminars about his passion and knowledge.