2020 Home & Garden

HOME & GARDEN SPRING

SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2020

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globegazette.com |

SECTION C

Water landscaper provides pond therapy Bernd’s Pond specializes in ponds, water features for your front, back yard MARY PIEPER

Special to the Globe Gazette

The sight and sound of moving water can be just what the doctor ordered in these stressful times.

Bernd Wittneben, owner of a water landscaping business called Bernd’s Pond that serves customers in North Iowa and all around the state, said people like having ponds and other water features in their yards because of their soothing effect.

Bernd’s Pond opened in a double garage in the central Iowa town of Wellsburg in 2011. The business moved into a former grocery store building in the fall of 2012.

No other store in the state focuses exclusively on ponds and other water features, according to Wittneben.

“There was a demand for something like this in Iowa,” he said.

“You can get anything you need for your pond.”

Bernd’s Pond offers installation services and repair, but customers can also do part or all of the labor themselves if they choose.

In addition to building supplies for those into DIY, the store sells

pond plants such as lotuses, water lilies and hyacinths, and fish and other pond critters such as goldfish, koi, giant snails and tadpoles.

Bernd’s Pond has all kinds of fountains in stock. Wittneben said they provide the sound of flowing water, but ponds are even more of “an eye-catcher” because of the beautiful plants such as water lilies and colorful fish.

You don’t need a huge back yard to have a water feature, according to Wittneben. One option is a small pond with just one or two fish, he said.

If a pond is built right, it Please see POND, Page C12

SUBMITTED

Bernd’s Pond designed and built this pond for Larry and Judith Gerken of Osage.

Area businesses have advice for your garden

MARY PIEPER /SPECIAL TO THE GLOBE GAZETTE

Opportunities, services offered locally KAYLEE SCHUERMANN

Special to the Globe Gazette

Spring is finally here, marking the start of consumers looking for opportunities to improve their homes through landscaping and gardening.

Several businesses in Clear Lake and Mason City offer these opportunities and services.

Master

Gardener

program emphasizes education, service MARY PIEPER

T

Special to the Globe Gazette

he Master Gardener program provides the opportunity to learn more about horticulture while serving the community.

It’s also a great way to meet new people, according to Master Gardener Debra Sjolinder, of Mason City.

“You develop a community of friends,” she said.

Debra and her husband, John, became Master Gardeners in 2006.

The Master Gardener program is part of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Individuals who complete the training share their time and expertise as volunteers in community gardens, city beauDebra tification projects and Sjolinder farmers markets.

Debra’s family roots are in agriculture and gardening. Her father and her paternal grandparents were farmers west of Fertile, while her maternal grandparents were “forever gardeners,” she said.

Debra wanted a garden of her own when she became an adult, but for a

The Basic Birder

The Basic Birder, located in Mason City, has been in business for 25 years and sells garden art, gifts, bird feeders, garden flags and more.

The business is stocking a large variety of products for the season, including hydroponics systems, birdbaths with solar changing lights under them, squirrel-proof bird feeders (squirrel busters) and solar-balancers.

Manager Kelly Biery believes the company’s hottest trends are going to be wind spinners, garden flags and bee-themed products because they add color and character to gardens.

She wants visitors to know products are new and different from previous years and encourages them to stop in.

The Basic Birder is opening up a second location with two floors in Clear Lake this spring.

Ressler Custom Landscapes

indoor and outdoor plants, herbicides and pests.

Completing the required classes to become a Master Gardener takes about four months, which is followed by an

Ressler Custom Landscapes out of Mason City started about 11 years ago, previously known as A+ Lawncare Landscape of Mason City. The business mainly focuses on landscaping, but also offers lawn maintenance.

The company offers hardscaping projects like patios, retaining walls, and outdoor living spaces, as well as softscaping projects, such as tree and shrub planting and putting down rock and mulch beds.

The business does not keep a lot of supplies on hand, but this season Ressler Custom Landscapes will be stocking items, such as river rock, gravel and sand.

Owner Josh Ressler said the

Please see GARDENER, Page C12

Please see ADVICE, Page C12

SUBMITTED

The Shade Garden at Debra and John Sjolinder’s home. MAIN IMAGE: The snowdrops planted in Debra and John Sjolinder’s back yard have started to bloom. number of years she lived in cities. She registered for the Master Gardener program when she returned to North Iowa.

“It has been a wonderful way to become educated about all sorts of gardening things,” she said.

Master Gardeners learn about seeds,

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C2 | Sunday, March 29, 2020

Globe Gazette

Flowers and floral design are abloom in 2020 decor KATHERINE ROTH

Associated Press‌

HYGGE & WEST VIA AP‌

Bloom Wallpaper in Bluebell (left) and Storyline Wallpaper in white (right). offerings include chandeliers with bouquets of crystal flowers, a wall fixture with lights surrounded by delicate petal shapes, and a variety of ceiling lamps and sconces reminiscent of leaves, buds and blossoming flowers. Ben Marshall, Hudson Valley Lighting Group’s creative director, says florals create “a lively energy in the home which is both beautiful and powerful.’’

“Florals are about nature, but they’re also about culture, and bringing plants and plant imagery into the domestic sphere,” says Geall.

In her book, she offers practical advice on flower arranging, as well

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as floral style.

“Somewhere along the line, floral design got divorced from the idea of home gardening,’’ says Geall. “My focus is on the basics.

And understanding the principles will help you adapt to what’s around you.” Foraged branches, twigs, invasive species, and even fruits and vegetables can be made into stunning arrangements, she says. Some of the arrangements featured in her book include tiny yellow tomatoes mixed with flowers. Grapes and berries are also fair game.

“Just because it’s edible doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful,” she

FRED MOSER‌

This photo provided by Hudson Valley Lighting Group shows the Alyssa Chandelier by Mitzi. In lighting fixtures, wallpapers, bedding and wall art, floral design is having a big year in 2020. There’s also a renewed interest in flower arranging and floral-inspired table settings. says.

In their new “Gathering: Setting the Natural Table” (Rizzoli International Publications), authors Kristen Caissie and Jessica Hundley explore ways to marry flowers and handmade objects into table designs. Photographed

by Gemma and Andrew Ingalls,

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‌In lighting fixtures, wallpapers, bedding and wall art, flowers are coming up all over in 2020. Along with floral design in furnishings, there’s also renewed interest in actual flowers: floral arranging and floral-inspired table settings.

“Flowers have always made people feel happy. They can be feminine but they can also be used in a maximalist style,’’ says Christin Geall, author of the new “Cultivated: The Elements of Floral Style” (Princeton Architectural Press). ``As we move away from beige interiors, flowers are a great way to liven things up.”

Aimee Lagos, co-founder of Hygge & West, which sells a range of wallpapers and home goods, concurs: “Floral decor is having a major moment in 2020, especially wallpaper.”

Floral patterns bring a touch of nature and an organic element into a room, she says, noting the popularity this spring of bold, largescale floral murals.

“While floral patterns are nothing new, we’re seeing modernized versions that appeal to people who in the past may have shied away from florals as being too fussy or old-fashioned,” Lagos says.

At Hudson Valley Lighting, floral

the table settings include ceramics with floral patterns, colors and designs inspired by nature, and natural-looking floral arrangements.

“When life gets overwhelming, I try to find my way back to my original love of flowers,” says Caissie, a floral designer at Moon Canyon, in Los Angeles.

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SPRING HOME & GARDEN

Globe Gazette

BARGAIN

Sunday, March 29, 2020 | C3

DREAMSTIME

Start with a few tools

ardening doesn’t have to be expensive. But tell that to your pocketbook after you’ve made a trip to your local nursery or garden center.

Between the bags of special soils, tools, hoses, fertilizers, seed packets and, of course, plants, your plan to grow edibles or even a modest balcony of flowers was never going to be a budget project. Even worse: when all those new acquisitions result in a poor-performing garden, or it never even gets planted.

We’ve all been there, especially as beginners. Take a deep breath, forgive past indiscretions and read on for some practical ways to put more joy and less money into gardening.

You don’t need many tools to have a good garden, said Yvonne Savio, creator of the Gardening in LA blog and a retired director of the Los Angeles County Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program.

She recommends starting with a sturdy hand trowel, a hand fork for scratching fertilizer and mulch around plants and a large garden fork. Using a fork instead of a shovel is easier on your back and better for the soil, she said.

You might also invest in a good shovel to dig large holes for trees or shrubs and a pair of sturdy hand clippers. Scout out garden tools at garage and estate sales. It’s wise to buy sturdy, well-made equipment, but high-quality tools don’t have to be the most expensive.

For instance, Swiss-made Felco 1-inch hand pruners are the gold standard for garden tools (about $60), but Corona tools (based in Corona) makes excellent 1-inch hand clippers as well for about half the price (about $33).

Make a plan and start small

Check out local gardens

GARDENS Get growing without spending too much green JEANETTE MARANTOS | Los Angeles Times

G

Break your garden plan into several easy-to-accomplish steps. You’ll be less likely to spend impulsively or kill the plants you bought because you didn’t have time to plant them. Be realistic about your space and goals; do you really have time this weekend to prep your garden bed and plant 60 seedlings? Do you have room for 60 seedlings? Spreading out the work will make things easier on your wallet, too.

Gardening experts say soil preparation is the most important thing you can do (after figuring out the sunniest spot

in your yard or patio). Make your first task and purchases devoted to soil prep, whether it’s buying good organic potting soil for a few containers or adding organic amendments, such as compost, aged manure, coffee grounds and seaweed, to a garden patch in your yard.

Typically, you have to wait a week or two to plant after adding organic amendments because they raise the temperature of the soil as they decompose and “cook.”

You can’t plant until the soil cools, so wait a couple of weeks to buy plants.

Before you plant, find out what grows well in your area.

Go on an organized garden tour or two or visit nurseries and take notes about what plants you love and the conditions in which they’re grown.

And don’t forget your nearest resource: your neighbors.

Many gardeners are eager to talk about what they grow and may even be willing to share seeds or volunteer to give you some seedlings or show you how to propagate plants from cuttings from their yard.

Be realistic

Make a list again, this time of the plants you want and where you will put them, to keep impulse spending at a minimum.

If you’re planting an edible garden, grow vegetables your family will eat, Savio said, and look for plants that provide the biggest bang for your buck. For instance, you might love cabbage or cauliflower, but they require lots of space and produce only one head per plant. Broccoli keeps producing smaller bunches of tender edibles after the main head is harvested.

Grow with seeds

That doesn’t mean seeds only, Savio said, but some plants such as beans, corn, squash, leafy greens, radishes and cucumbers grow easily from seed. Instead of buying lettuce seedlings, for instance, buy just a few to get a head start on your harvest and sow the rest for a staggered crop.

Compost

Compost is vital for healthy soil, and you can make it cheaply and easily from kitchen scraps, lawn clippings, fallen leaves, shredded newspapers and other materials that would otherwise go to landfills. Many municipalities offer free composting workshops and discounted compost bins.

If you want more hands-on instruction, call your county or city public works department or go online to find composting classes and special deals on bins. Short on space? Lots of municipal and other government agencies offer instructions for worm composting as well as free workshops and discounted worm bins, which are small enough to fit on a balcony or porch.

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C4 | Sunday, March 29, 2020

Globe Gazette

March is a great time to prune many shrubs, but not all LEE REICH

Associated Press‌

‌Don’t prune your forsythia, lilac or mock orange yet. Anything you cut off now will result in that much less of a flower show this spring.

Except for these and many other spring-flowering shrubs, however, March is a fine time for pruning many trees and shrubs.

It’s easy to see what to cut on leafless plants, and cuts heal quickly. So here’s a list of some pruning jobs to take on now.

GET YOUR TOOLS READY

Before you start, sharpen your pruning tools. Plants heal most quickly from the clean cuts that result from sharp tools. Get out a whetstone or file to touch up blades on hand shears and loppers.

With an anvil-type pruning tool, where a sharp blade closes against the flat edge of an opposing blade, sharpen only the sharp blade, on both sides.

With a bypass-style tool, which has two sharpened blades sliding past each other like scissors, sharpen both blades, but each only on its outside edge.

FOR BEAUTY

Prune summer flowering shrubs such as butterfly bush and summersweet clethra severely, today or sometime before growth begins. These plants bloom only on new shoots, and the more new growth they make, the better the bloom. Stimulate luxuriant new growth by lopping these plants to within a few inches of the ground.

As soon as buds start to swell on hybrid tea roses, remove wood chips, Styrofoam rose cones or any winter protection you’ve provided, and prune. Cut any canes blackened by disease or winter injury back to healthy

JOE LAMP’L, MCT‌

Cutting just above these dormant buds will produce two new branches. tissue. Then shorten remaining healthy stems according to the size of the plant and the number and size of blossoms you desire.

As a general guide, cut weak rose stems back to about a half-foot and strong ones to a foot or more. Less severe pruning results in a plant that is larger, with blossoms that are more abundant and earlier, but smaller.

Prune shrubby dogwoods (Tartarian, silky, bloodtwig, gray and red-osier). Their youngest stems are the ones that are the brightest yellow or red in winter. Cut to the ground some or all of the older stems to make way for new ones that will provide next winter’s show.

Shrubs such as witch hazel, flowering quince and rose-of-Sharon require little regular pruning. Do look them over now, though, and cut away diseased or dead wood, as well

as any stems that are obviously out of place, either visually or because they are rubbing other stems.

Prune hydrangea according to what kind it is. Hills-of-snow (smooth hydrangea) flowers on long, new shoots later in summer, so cut all stems down to the ground now. Also prune bigleaf hydrangea and oakleaf hydrangea, but shorten stems only a tad, back to the fat flower buds near their ends. Prune the tree-like PeeGee Hydrangea very little, snipping off old flower heads if you find them unattractive and removing and shortening stems here and there.

FOR FLAVOR

Shrubs bearing edible fruits, although they blossom in early spring, do need pruning — now. That will increase the quality of fruits

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by letting the plant pump more of its energy into perfecting fewer of them. Pruning also allows stems to bathe in more light and air.

Since most of these shrubs blossom in spring and those blossoms go on to become fruits, their stems shouldn’t all be lopped to the ground. Instead, some of the oldest stems should be lopped to the ground to make way for younger ones, and some of the youngest ones should be lopped to the ground so the remaining ones don’t crowd each other as they age. What’s left are some older, some middle-age and some young stems.

How old is a stem when it’s time for its removal? That depends on the type of plant.

For instance, blueberry stems are most productive on stems up to 6 years old, and gooseberries on stems 2 and 3 years old. So cut away stems older than 6 from blueberry bushes, and stems older than 3 from gooseberry bushes.

Red raspberries are a little different. They bear on stems in their second season. Prune by lopping to the ground any stems that bore fruit, as evidenced by remains of fruit stalks and peeling bark. That leaves an abundance of stems that first grew last year and will bear this year. Remove enough of them to leave the sturdiest and healthiest ones with about 6 inches of space between them.

“Everbearing” raspberries bear fruit on both first- and second-season canes. For a harvest season from midsummer through fall, prune as described above. But for the easiest of all pruning, just mow the whole planting to the ground now. This pruning does sacrifice the midsummer harvest, but you still get a late summer and fall harvest.

By the way, those forsythias, lilacs and mock oranges do need annual pruning, but the time to do it is right after their flowery show is complete.

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GLOBE GAZETTE

SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2020 |

C5

CEILING STYLES

ASHTON WOODS

Top: This ceiling design matches the green on the kitchen island, so it ties the room together and makes the space feel that much more special. Middle: This bedroom features a painted beam ceiling. Above left: Designer Gideon Mendelson turned traditional Tudor style on its ear by creating a modern design made of oak for the ceiling. Above right: In this home, the design team used faux wood wallcovering to add a beachy feel to the ceiling.

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New trend will make you want to look up more often KIM COOK | Associated Press

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00 1

he ceiling — sometimes referred to as a room’s fifth wall — often gets short shrift in decorating schemes. Walls and furnishings take center stage, while the acreage overhead receives a coat of neutral white paint, with perhaps a snazzy ceiling fixture.

That wasn’t the case historically. Plaster ornamentation and murals were used centuries ago, and the Victorians really went to town on the ceiling, with elaborate moldings and stamped tin sheeting.

Ceiling medallions graced more formal spaces like dining rooms and parlors, while timber beams and tongueand-groove boards were popular in kitchens, bedrooms and common spaces.

Through the early 20th century, curvy coving, paneled grids and ornate moldings were popular. But with the advent of modernism after the 1930s, ceilings became the serene planes most of us are familiar with.

Now we’re looking up again. Designers are really getting creative with architectural elements as well as paint, wallpaper and lighting.

“Statement ceilings are a great way to bring detail and visual interest to a room,” says Gideon Mendelson, founder and creative director of his New York-based eponymous design group.

“We see them as an opportunity to create something unexpected that adds to the space.”

For one client in the New York suburbs, he’d been tasked with creating a classic white kitchen, but he wanted to add some personality.

“The client loved checks and plaids, so a decorative painter painted a green checkered design on a canvas and then installed it on the ceiling,” Mendelson said. “The color matches the green on the kitchen island, so it ties the room together and makes the space feel that much more special.”

The positive reaction to that ceiling spurred Mendelson’s team to include them in other projects.

“We quickly realized how impactful and powerful they can be. It immediately makes the space feel like one-of-a-kind. In almost every project we do now, there’s some ceiling treatment,” he said.

He turned traditional Tudor style on its ear in another project by creating a modern design made of oak for the ceiling.

And in a Hamptons re-

treat, faux-wood wallcovering from the French firm Nobilis added a beachy feel to the ceiling, punctuated with fresh Lilly Pulitzer-esque green paint.

As well as millwork and wallpaper, Mendelson’s done custom hand-painting on ceilings.

“It sets it apart from the rest of the home and gives the space its own personality,” he says.

Miami interior designer Christopher Coleman had some fun with a child’s bedroom in Coral Gables, Florida, putting a deliciously glossy deep pink Stark patent leather on the ceiling.

In the same home, Coleman installed a series of architectural wood beams across the ceiling in both the dining area and a bathroom, giving the spaces a Japanese country-house vibe.

In a Roxbury, Connecticut, country home, designer Philip Gorrivan ran wallpaper up the walls and across the ceilings in several rooms, including a Cole & Son’s Fornasetti leaf print in the dining room and a stormcloud print called Nuvolette, also by Fornasetti, in a boy’s room. Wrapping rooms in strong patterns like this creates drama and, in nurseries and childrens’ rooms, can spark imagination.

Smooth-finished ceil-

ings make it easy to apply whatever you can dream up: paint, peel-and-stick or traditional wallpapers, or even ornamentation like origami, decals, buttons, faux jewels, botanicals, twigs, garlands, ribbon, stencils or scarves.

Command strips will hold most lightweight objects firmly to a smooth ceiling, but if you’re stuck with one of those textured ceilings, you’ll either have to refinish it or opt for wood paneling or tin sheets.

Not ready to fully dress your ceiling? You can still add some excitement there with a light fixture.

“A ceiling statement doesn’t have to involve complicated architectural details,” points out Leigh Spicher, design studio director for the Atlanta-based homebuilding group Ashton Woods. “It can also be created by adding a chandelier that contrasts in either style or scale to the room.”

Sometimes an unexpected bonus comes from creating a statement ceiling.

Chris Coleman remembers a project in Manhattan a few years ago, in a 39th-floor apartment: “The husband said, ‘What do we do with the ceiling?’ And I said, ‘Lacquer it,’ and they were so ecstatic when they saw the yellow taxis reflected in the ceiling.”

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SPRING HOME & GARDEN

| SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2020

GLOBE GAZETTE

Do Use gray for some of the primary furniture pieces in a room such as sofas, area rugs and tables.

GRAY’S ANATOMY

Do’s and don’ts for using the neutral color

Don’t Forget the opportunity to use shades of gray as accent walls or rugs.

Do Use gray to highlight architectural features such as moldings, fireplaces and trims.

CATHY HOBBS | Tribune News Service

F

or a couple of years, gray was the “it” on the runway, and the trend certainly extended to home decor. Gray remains a go-to color for those looking for a neutral color that blends well with other colors without feeling overly harsh.

Contrary to some opinions, gray doesn’t have to feel tired or drab. It can instead feel bold, modern and fresh. In fact, various shades of gray can even be blended in the same space to help create a mood or complement a certain aesthetic. When considering shades of gray, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Do Pair gray with pastel colors such as blue, pink, yellow and green. The combination can feel soft and soothing.

Do Consider blending multiple shades of gray in the same space.

Don’t Overuse dark shades of gray in small spaces, as it may close in a space. Opt for lighter shades.

Do Use shades of gray in overly bright spaces, as the color can help add a sense of calm and tranquility.

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Globe Gazette

Sunday, March 29, 2020 | C7

Make

yourselves right at home

Tips for blending two styles into a shared space MELISSA RAYWORTH

Associated Press

S

haring a home with someone you love can be wonderful. But decorating together isn’t always easy, especially when your tastes aren’t the same.

If one partner loves filling every space with mementos and the other is clutter-averse, who gets their way? It can be hard to find good compromises when one loves bold colors and patterns while the other favors calming shades of gray.

Interior designer Penny Drue Baird draws as much on her doctorate in psychology as on her design training when she works with couples decorating a home.

“I’m there as the mediator, like a marital therapist,” Baird says, “working out how to approach it so both persons don’t feel like they’re the one that can’t get what they want.” Here, Baird and two other New York-based interior designers — Deborah Martin and Michelle Gerson — discuss how couples can tackle the sometimes challenging task of decorating shared space.

Sharing your vision

All three designers begin by doing an intake meeting with a couple to find out “everything that they are hoping to achieve and the look they feel like they’re going for,” Baird says. Clients will bring photos they’ve ripped from magazines or show pages from design books to help explain what appeals to them.

A couple can sit down together and have this sort of meeting even if they

aren’t working with a designer. By showing your partner what you envision, you may find that you have more common ground than you realized.

Martin says that sometimes a client begins with a preconceived notion that they don’t like a certain pattern or style, but when they see it in context, they do like it.

“It’s about discovery,” Martin says.

Just as a designer must “take some risks and present what you feel will work very well in the home,” a partner can take the risk of showing their vision and taking in their partner’s vision with an open mind. Both may end up happily surprised.

In some cases, one partner might say they’re fine turning over the reins completely. If you’re redecorating a home or moving to a new one and your partner says you can make all the design choices, keep them updated along the way to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

the stuff. When stuff looks organized and purposeful, and not just like stuff all over the place, then people start to realize they do like having stuff around.”

For one client who had a collection of music memorabilia, Gerson added built-in shelving in a home office to display the collection in an organized way that pleased both partners.

If a home is big enough, couples with differing taste might find it’s easier to compromise on the main rooms if they will each have more influence on one other room, Baird says. One person might choose darker colors for a home library, for instance, while another can use bright, bold colors for their home office or hobby space. The main rooms can serve as a bridge, connecting those styles together more smoothly.

Martin agrees: “I try not to create a ‘his space’ or a ‘her space’ in favor of creating spaces that flow nicely and have continuity.””

Cohesive compromises

Take your time

Gerson recommends making a list of items you both need in the room or home you’re decorating. These are the shared must-haves you can agree on, like plenty of seating in the living room if you both like to entertain.

Find that common ground, she says, and try to agree on one major piece of furniture. Maybe it’s a sofa that one partner loves the shape of and the other likes the fabric.

Once each person feels like their biggest requests have been heard, it may be easier to compromise on other details.

Another way to compromise: If one person likes a space full of colorful things and the other dislikes clutter, Gerson says, “then we try to organize

Gerson says people often are in a rush to completely decorate a room and fill every space. That can lead you to compromises that neither of you like, she says. Don’t be afraid to leave a bit of empty space until you discover the right piece to put there.

“It’s OK if you have a fabulous sofa and a great coffee table and a rug,” Gerson says, to then wait until you stumble upon a wonderful chair you both like that can complete the room.

Time also makes the shared decorating process easier: “I find that the longer a couple has lived together or been married, the more likely they are to have the same design objectives,” Martin says. “They’re on the same page, especially older couples.”

PATRICK CLINE, MICHELLE GERSON VIA AP

When one partner has a collection to display and the other partner prefers an uncluttered space, it’s important to take an organized approach, as seen in this home office space created by designer Michelle Gerson, where custom shelving was designed to prominently but neatly display a collection of music memorabilia.

FRANCIS HAMMOND, PENNY DRUE BAIRD VIA AP

If a home has enough rooms, designer Penny Drue Baird says couples who have conflicting tastes may choose to compromise on the style of common areas like the living room or entryway, and then each has a few separate spaces that express their personal style.

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SPRING HOME & GARDEN

C8 | Sunday, March 29, 2020

Globe Gazette

`RE-WILDING’ YOUR LAWN Takes work, especially at first DEAN FOSDICK

Associated Press‌

‌“Re-wilding” is the trend toward diversifying traditional lawns by putting in native plants that flower and fruit, boosting wildlife populations. It returns more control of the home landscape to nature.

But such conservation landscaping involves more than simply quitting pruning or letting properties go to seed. ``More often than not, that would result in a yard dominated by European turf grasses and invasive species,” said Dan Jaffe, horticulturist and propagator for the Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary in Wales, Massachusetts. ``With good planning and establishment of a well-built landscape, it will mature into a space that can be easily cultivated with lazier gardening,’’ Jaffe said. ``When it comes right down to it, naturalistic landscapes can be very low-maintenance.”

White clover, is attractive to a variety of pollinators. Rewilding is an apt description for diversifying traditional lawns by using native plants that flower and fruit, boosting wildlife populations.

Find plants that are suited to your growing conditions and also to your goals for the site, Jaffe said. ``The great thing about working with native plants is that these are plants that will grow in any conditions you can think of,” he said.

``There is no need to bring in problem plants when there are so many other options.”

Weigh the risks against the rewards. Blackberries and thistles, for example, are popular with pollinators but painful to handle and difficult to contain. ``Instead, work with wild strawberries or flowering raspberries (no thorns on those) or bee balm or meadowsweet, or one of the hundreds of other options,” Jaffe said.

Re-wilding also means relaxing maintenance standards. Don’t rush to clean up the garden at the end of the growing season. Seeds are food to wildlife, and lifeless hollow stems are shelter. ``Birds who eat seeds appreciate it when you don’t deadhead flowers,” said Theresa Badurek, a horticulture agent with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. ``Less frequent mowing allows pollinators to visit flowers before

PHOTOS BY DEAN FOSDICK‌

This assortment of foxgloves,is attractive to a variety of pollinators, especially bumblebees. The wildflowers were encouraged to bloom on a naturalized border between a fence and a lawn. you mow. Less raking leaves provides habitat for beneficial insects.”

No area is too small. ``Every space we can provide for nature to blossom is valuable,” Badurek said. ``Re-wilding containers can be helpful, especially if you need to add more flowers to the garden.”

Talk with your neighbors and check local ordinances before going ahead. Your project can be a positive influence on others, but let them know ``the early stages of the work can look like a mess,” Jaffe said. ``Converting a lawn into a meadow will look great in three years and fantastic in six, but the first

year can be tough going. ``Without an explanation, neighbors could very well interpret your work as simple laziness instead of habitat construction,” he said.

Herbicides should be a last resort only, Jaffe said. ``Chemicals are a tool in the toolbox, and there are some situations where invasive species have taken such a foothold that the use of herbicides can mean the difference between a project being accomplished or failing,” he said.

People are beginning to realize that healthy landscapes with improved air and water quality benefit humans as much as they do wildlife,

Jaffe said. ``Some folks are looking for lower maintenance landscapes and find that going wild is a good choice,’’ he said. ``Other people are concerned about the changing climate and habitat loss.

Still others look toward conservation as something anyone can do instead of being restricted to the untouched portions of the country and only accomplished by professional conservationists.”

Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

On Gardening: Growing your 2020 victory garden NORMAN WINTER

Tribune News Service (TNS)‌

‌Shazam! All of a sudden everyone is thinking about growing a vegetable garden.

Essentials disappearing from the local supermarket is at best a wake-up call. One thing for certain now that families are all together — there is no better way to teach children a little horticulture, pollination and where food comes from than a vegetable garden. If you want to, call it a corona victory garden or a victory garden 2020.

You are probably thinking you have no plot, and besides don’t you need an acre? The answer is, no you don’t need an acre. You can go small and intense. French intensive, square foot, interplanting, vertical, wide row, gardening by the yard and succession planting are all names for intensive gardening.

The purpose of intensive gardens is to harvest the most produce from a limited space. These spaces usually are small blocks, compared to traditional gardens which consist of long, single rows widely spaced. Much of the traditional garden area is taken by the space between the rows.

An intensive garden minimizes wasted space, but there is a limit on how much you can reduce open space.

When you go beyond those limits, you open the door to control nightmares from disease and insects.

Intensive gardens concentrate efforts to create better yields with less labor.

Fewer pathways and closely spaced plants often mean less weeding, but the work usually must be done by hand.

Some gardeners prefer using machine cultivation on long rows to hand weeding.

Soil preparation is the key to successful intensive gardening. Plants must have adequate nutrients and water to grow together so closely.

Providing fertilizers and irrigation helps, but there’s no substitute for deep, fertile soil, high in organic matter — just 3% to 5% would probably give you that proverbial green thumb.

Humus rich soil will hold extra nutrients, and existing elements locked up in the soil are released by the actions of earthworms, microorganisms and humic acids.

Nurseries and garden centers have specially prepared mixes that are excellent to use alone or incorporated in your soil. Use landscape timbers or railroad cross ties to enclose your bed. A 6- to 8-inch high bed would be ideal. I even bought a kit from a local grocery store.

NICK UT/AP‌

The purpose of intensive gardens is to harvest the most produce from a limited space. These spaces usually are small blocks, compared to traditional gardens which consist of long, single rows widely spaced.

A good intensive garden requires early, thorough planning to make the best use of time and space in the garden. Consider the interrelationships of plants before planting, including nutrient needs, shade tolerance, above and below ground growth patterns and preferred growing season.

It is suggested if possible to run your rows north to south

which allow for most sun exposure, The raised growing bed is the foundation of an intensive garden. Several beds allow the gardener to focus soil preparation in small areas, resulting in effective use of soil amendments and creating an ideal environment for vegetable growth. Beds are generally 4 to 5 feet wide and segregated into blocks. This allows gardeners to work from either side of the bed, reducing the compaction on the soil.

The first step in deciding what to grow is to select what your family likes to eat.

Next, look at what costs you the most at the market per pound. Tomatoes, green onions, leaf lettuce, turnips, summer squash, beans, beets, carrots, cucumbers, peppers, broccoli, head lettuce and cauliflower are all among the top 15 economic crops to grow.

Consult your local county agent for recommendations on spacing for interplanting. In general, however, add the inches of recommended spacing for the two crops to be planted together and then divide the sum by two.

Prime example, tomatoes have a 24-inch spacing and leaf lettuce has a 4-inch space recommendation. The total of 28 inches divided by

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two means that you can plant your leaf lettuce 14 inches from your tomatoes. A caged tomato surrounded by lettuce sounds like a good salad combination. By all means, grow up! What I mean by that is take every opportunity

to grow vertically with pole beans, cucumbers and more.

Try a smaller garden but one that is intensive and your success may be greater. Even if you live in an apartment you can grow and harvest a bounty of produce from

baskets and containers. If you are blessed with a large plot then grow enough to share.

Your local garden center will have everything you need from seeds to transplants, soil and fertilizer and best of all, expertise.

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Globe Gazette

Sunday, March 29, 2020 | C9

BENJAMIN MOORE

This room is painted with Benjamin Moore’s 2020 Color of the Year called First Light, a dreamy, soft shade of pink.

Start small. Afraid to take the plunge? Testing the waters by infusing elements such as accessories and accents is a good place to start.

1

Consider an accent wall or softer allover shade of pink. A bold pink accent wall could make a dynamic statement, while a softer shade will give a more neutral look.

2

Think

TNS

Use shades of pink in bedrooms. Softer shades can create a sense of calm, while bolder shades can add interest.

6

Try mixing shades. Don’t be afraid to mix and blend different shades of pink.

7

Trendy color is flush with possibility TNS

for portable decor 3 Look items such as toss pillows and area rugs. Items you can move from room to room and swap in and out are wonderful ways to incorporate the color.

Use artwork. Artwork remains one of the top ways to kick off a color story in a space.

4

Go light and dark. Consider pairing lighter shades of pink with deep foundation colors such as charcoal gray, black and even brown.

5

CATHY HOBBS | Tribune News Service

W

hether in fashion or home decor, pink is no longer considered uniquely feminine. In fact, especially when it comes to shades such as power pink, hot pink, even INSIDE, PAGE ZX shades of blush and mauve, the color Pink paint colors to try and how the different pink is being infused into everything shades get their names. from artwork and textiles to furniture. Why pink? In many cases, pink is neutral and versatile enough not to clash with other colors and can both complement and elevate other colors. Looking for ways to infuse pink into your home? Here are some top tips:

Add a pop of pink. Bring pink elements into an otherwise neutral social space.

8

Try pink furniture.

Consider pink upholstery pieces such as side chairs and ottomans.

9

AMAZON

Pair both silver and gold finishes and accents with elements of pink. Pink blends well with both in interior spaces.

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SPRING HOME & GARDEN

C10 | Sunday, March 29, 2020

Globe Gazette

How to solve plant disease problems Improving soil health is the first step HOWARD GARRETT

The Dallas Morning News (TNS)‌

‌ hen teaching how to solve W plant disease problems, I spend about 20% of the time talking about disease control compared to 80% or more of the time on insect control. That’s because disease control issues are so much easier to solve when they occasionally pop up in the organic program.

Plant diseases are all about microbiotic activity being out of balance. When microbes are out of whack, pathogens create problems.

When the microbes are in their proper proportions, pathogens

such as rhizoctonia, pythium, fusarium, etc., function in a positive way. That’s why the toxic chemical disease control products like Bayleton and Daconil don’t work very well — especially long term. They indiscriminately kill the good guys as well as the bad, throwing things further out of balance.

Most plant diseases can be solved by improving the soil to a healthy condition.

All organic products in Basic Organic Program help control disease to some degree because they all help improve the soil. When soil is healthy, plants are healthy.

In healthy soil and healthy plants, there is a never-ending microscopic war being waged between the good and bad microorganisms

? and the good guys win. Disease problems are simply situations where the microorganisms have gotten out of balance.

The primary cause of imbalance of soil leading to plant disease problems is the use of high-nitrogen synthetic fertilizers and toxic chemical pesticides. Plant diseases are usually caused by three major types of living organisms: fungi, bacteria and viruses. A good thought process when purchasing gardening products is to ask yourself this question: If I buy and use this product, will it help or hurt the life in the soil? Pretty simple.

Soil moisture is also important for the health of the soil. Moisture is needed, but not too much moisture. Drainage is a key ingredient

for the prevention of diseases.

Beds, lawns and tree pits that hold water and don’t drain properly are ideal breeding places for many disease organisms to flourish, get out of balance and damage or even kill plants. Once again the natural organic program helps.

All the recommended products help the life in the soil, and healthy soil holds moisture at the proper level longer and helps drain away excess moisture more efficiently.

High-quality compost alone will cure many plant diseases. Whole ground cornmeal will do it even more efficiently. They both work by stimulating a beneficial fungus called trichoderma that overpowers the pathogens to bring them and the soil back into balance.

AMAZING RANCH HOME!

FIRST CLASS FAMILY RANCH located in Briarstone. You will love the size with a floor family room family room that has a slider to ap rivate patio and brick fireplace. Nice formal living room that flows into the dining and kitchen. Eat-in updated kitchen with tons ofcupboard space. Additional feature include a Master bed & bath, newly updated full hall bath, lower level super sized family room, 3/4 bath, shop and bonus room Appliances to stay.

Jane Fischer 641-425-4900

641-424-HOME (4663)

www.janefischer.com

1002 East State St., Suite B, Mason City

641-424-HOME (4663)

www.janefischer.com

1002 East State St., Suite B, Mason City

Jane Fischer 641-425-4900

106 10th St NW - Mason City $125,000 | 2,304 Sq. ft. | 3 Bedrooms | 1.5 Baths

CHARMING HOME FILLED WITH CHARACTER ON A BEAUTIFULLY TREE LINED STREET. Prepare to be impressed by the homes space & character beginning with the large enclosed front porch that welcomes you into the living room with a spectacular fireplace, mantle & built-ins on each side then opens into the dining room with a one of a kind built in hutch perfect to display your fine china pieces. The kitchen includes newer appliances & hickory cabinetry with a view out to the back patio and rear yard. Newer windows throughout the main floor. The lower level has workbench & laundry area along with several storage room spaces.

Jenna Sheriff 641-420-1955 jenna.janefischer.com

1002 East State St., Suite B, Mason City

UniqUe 5 bedroom home • 5 bedroom home with OLD WORLD CHARM • All new amenities & modern features.

• Huge closets everywhere • Main floor laundry and two full baths.

• 2nd floor view balcony

115 N Jefferson Ave., Mason City $142,000 | 3,453 Sq. ft. | 5 Bedrooms | 2 Baths Looking for unique 5 bedroom home with OLD WORLD CHARM & craftsmanship! All new amenities & modern features. Beautifully refurbished from top to bottom! Nice open floor plan! Custom design kitchen, welcoming 18’ ceiling, natural wood open staircase. A finished third floor can be used as the 5th bedroom or family room. Huge closets everywhere. Newer floor coverings, windows (etc bed, windows retained), and appliances.

Jane Fischer 641-425-4900

641-424-HOME (4663)

www.janefischer.com

1002 East State St., Suite B, Mason City

READY TO MOVE RIGHT IN! • Master bedroom with 1/2 bath • 4 Bedrooms 2.25 Bath • Large corner lot • 2 spacious family rooms • Fenced yard & large deck

1410 9th St SW - Mason City $164,900 | 2,320 Sq. ft. | 4 Bedrooms | 2.25 Baths

THE HARD WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE - READY TO MOVE RIGHT IN! Located on a great corner lot! The open flow of this home is sure to please not to mention the outstanding natural light streaming from the windows throughout the main floor.

The living room opens to the kitchen & dining room with a slider to the back deck and fenced yard. Master bedroom with 1/2 bath, 2 additional bedrooms, & full bathroom are just around located comfortably down the hall from the main entertaining space.

Jenna Sheriff 641-420-1955 641-424-HOME (4663) 1002 East State St., Suite B, Mason City

jenna.janefischer.com

• PICTURE PERFECT LAKE VIEWS • 3.79 Acres Of Lake Front Property • Private Deck • 3 Season Room • Family Room with Pool Table and Wet Bar

• New updates throughout • oversized back patio with fenced in yard • welcoming front porch • Main floor master bedroom with laundry

8 S. Virginia Ave - Mason City $155,000 | 3,538 Sq. ft. | 4 Bedrooms | 1.75 Baths

WHERE FAMILY FUN BEGINS! If you’ve been looking for a charming home with all the updates and loads of space located across the street from the park - THIS ONE IS FOR YOU! Adorable front porch, oversized back patio with fenced in yard & second lot with detached garage and basketball hoop. Recent updates include: interior doors, flooring, attic area, banister/steps refinished, and bathroom vanities. Bright and airy living room connects to the dining room and continues on into the kitchen featuring newer appliances. The bedroom on the main floor is being used as the master suite with a full bath and laundry.

Jenna Sheriff 641-420-1955

1027 Meadow Lake Dr, Mason City, Ia 50401 $395,000 | 4,448 Sq. ft. | 3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 3.79 acres lot picture perfect lake views, this Home is situated On 3.79 acres Of lake front property. 2 lots total. possibility to Build On Or sell 2nd lot. relax in the living room with a roaring fire and stunning views Of the lake. enjoy the 3 season room. the lower level Boasts a Beautiful fireplace, table with room to play, and wet Bar. the Basement also Has storage Galore. a sought after Neighbor Hood awaits You and Your family.

Cheryl Thompson 641-430-3225

641-424-HOME (4663) 1002 East State St., Suite B, Mason City

641-424-HOME (4663) 1002 East State St., Suite B, Mason City

LAKE HOME!

FAMILY SIZED HOME!

jenna.janefischer.com

3. Sugars like molasses and cornmeal.

641-424-HOME (4663)

www.janefischer.com

CHARM AND CHARACTER • Newer appliances • Beautiful hardwood floors and Built-ins • Large Enclosed Porch • Spectacular Fireplace • Oversized 2 stall detached garage

2. Rock minerals like lava sand and Azomite.

King Sized Family Home with OLD WORLD CHARM. Inviting Open Front Porch that enters to the one of a kind beautiful open staircase that frames a leaded arched window. Great main floor plan with the supersized living room, dining room & kitchen flowing together. Back mud room 3/4 bath and laundry. The upstairs features 1.75 baths, master bedroom with a 6 foot walk out veranda.

• 1/2 acre by the historic Music Man Foot Bridge

Jane Fischer 641-425-4900

1. Compost and organic fertilizers.

510 N Washington Ave - Mason City $128,000 | 3,332 Sq. ft. | 4 Bedrooms | 2.75 Baths

• Beautifully restored Georgian Colonial • Master Bed/Bath • Breathtaking river views • Magnificent open stair case.

IS LOCATION IMPORTANT? Want to own you own beautifully restored Georgian Colonial that sits on a 1/2 acre by the historic Music Man Foot Bridge. A perfect blend of the Old and New with breathtaking views. This family home rich in history sits next to the MacNiderArt Museum and library. Set into the treed bluffs you will overlook the water below from the back decking. Main floor offers a family room, library, main floor laundry, formal dining and living rooms. Fireplaces and hardwoods and magnificent open stair case. Built-ins galore, master bed, sitting room and bath.

What are those products?

• Inviting Open Front Porch • Master bedroom with a 6 foot walk out veranda • 4 Bedrooms 2.75 Baths • Supersized living room, dining room & kitchen

ONE IN A MILLION

317 2nd St SE - Mason City $345,000 | 2,946 Sq. ft. | 3 Bedrooms | 3.25 Baths

These products help the life in the soil, and healthy soil holds moisture at the proper level longer and helps drain away excess moisture more efficiently.

OLD WORLD CHARM

• Master Bed/Bath • Oversized Updated Kitchen • Brick Fireplace • Double Stall Attached Garage • Basement Rec & Shop

1100 Brentwood Dr., Mason City $230,000 | 3,464 Sq. ft. | 3 Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths

Help your soil thrive

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Exit Realty Mason City 641-424-3005

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SPRING HOME & GARDEN

Globe Gazette

Sunday, March 29, 2020 | C11

CORNER LOT!

PICTURESQUE SETTING!!

• Great neighborhood close to schools and trail • Wood deck with concrete patio • 1 car attached garage • Easy main level living

200 L Street, Charles City $95,000 | 1,152 Sq. ft. | 3 Bedrooms | .75 Baths

Classic 3-bedroom home on a 0.2-acre corner lot! This traditional ranch style home offers easy main level living with a full basement with bath rough-in prefect for storage or finish. The comfortable living room features neighborhood views through picture windows. The eat-in kitchen has sliding doors to a wood deck, concrete patio and backyard. Down the hall are 3 bedrooms and a hall bath. Laundry hookups available in the kitchen or basement. Attached 1-car garage. Great neighborhood close to schools and recreational trail. Come see the pride of ownership in this home!

Veronica Litterer 641-330-6732

Realty Company Veronica@StewartRealtySells.com Stewart 641-2281111

• Beautiful kitchen-Granite countertops • Gorgeous Great Room with fireplace • Dining Room with fireplace • New Masterbath tiled shower • Main floor laundry Room • Finished lower level • Tranquil covered deck & circular patio

514 W Lake St. - Ventura $459,000 | 4420 Sq. ft. | 4 Bedrooms | 3 Baths

Tremendously solid amazing home off the beaten path with all the comforts imaginable. Meticulously cared for and numerous improvements inside and out. 12 x 20 shed with overhead garage door, walk in door, 4 windows and electricity. Spacious Triple garage. Cedar Ridge HOA with Pond & walking paths & restored prairie land with wildflowers. View of Ventura Marsh.

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Julie McQuaid 641-529-3799

www.McQuaidAgency.com

1411 Clark Street, Charles City $124,900 | 1,452 Sq. ft. | 3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths

Character abounds inside this beautiful 3-bedroom home! Custom built-ins and quality finishes make this home one-of-a-kind.The formal dining room features hand-crafted built-ins including a window seat and custom storage. The updated kitchen and butler’s pantry offer function and convenience. A main floor bath is tucked off of the kitchen and dining room. Upstairs are three bedrooms with large walk-in closets and a full hall bath. Outside, the 0.24-acre lot offers attractive perennial landscaping. Come see the charm of this great home!

Veronica Litterer 641-330-6732 Veronica@StewartRealtySells.com

Stewart Realty Company 641-2281111

• • • •

Classic lake-shore home with 60 ft. of frontage, Main floor laundry. Wood Harbor kitchen, spacious living room, formal dining room, and main floor bedroom with lake view. Great street appeal plus extra parking with circular driveway. Call Diana today!

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Diana Symonds 641-529-0082

www.McQuaidAgency.com

404 River Bend Drive, Mason City $224,900 | 1992 sq. ft. | 2 Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths

Make an appointment today to view this beautiful townhouse. This home features, formal living room with gas fireplace, master bath, family room, open staircase, screened in porch with beautiful views, large kitchen with granite countertops, and attached 2 car garage.

This home is move in ready and includes all appliances.

Realty Company Veronica@StewartRealtySells.com Stewart 641-2281111

PICTURESQUE SETTING! Move-in ready Quality finishes throughout Backdoor river access 0.62 Acres, close to parks, trail, and pool

124 Cedar Circle, Charles City $225,000 | 2,028 Sq. ft. | 3 Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths

This 3-bedroom, 2.5 bath home features beautiful river views, large fenced yard and updated home with modern floorplan. Open concept living room, dining room and kitchen with many high-quality updates throughout. The living room has expansive picture windows with river views and a stone fireplace with gas insert. A sunroom provides added space for relaxation or entertaining with access to the backyard. A rare find!

Veronica Litterer 641-330-6732

Realty Company Veronica@StewartRealtySells.com Stewart 641-2281111

! t s i L Wish g

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r u o Y On

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• Move in ready, Appliances included • Screened-in porch • Granite counter tops • Three levels with finished basement

Veronica Litterer 641-330-6732

• • • •

(some restrictions apply)

BEAUTIFUL TOWNHOUSE!

• 0.64-acre lot with attractive yard • Two-car heated garage • Open concept floor plan • Master suite with full bath • Convenient circular driveway

An open concept kitchen, dining room and family room for today’s modern living, plus a separate living room. The kitchen has stained wood cabinets and an island with cooking and eating space. The family room features a handsome fireplace with brick surround and sliding doors to the brick patio and backyard. The full basement has added living space including a rec room/man cave, second kitchen, nonconforming third bedroom, ¾ bath and storage. Come see the pride of ownership throughout this property!

Beautiful lakefront property.

Attached 2 car garage.

Spacious Circular Driveway.

Custom Woodharbor kitchen with Stainless appliances

1615 N Shore Dr., Clear Lake $799,900 | 2272 Sq. ft. | 3 Bedrooms | 2.75 Baths

PARK & RIVER VIEWS!

113 Park Drive, Charles City $178,500 | 1,592 Sq. ft. | 2 Bedrooms | 3 Baths

641-357-3330

CAPE COD CLASSIC!

BEAUTIFUL 3 BEDROOM HOME! • Classic hardwood floors throughout • 16 ft X 20 ft heated garage with attached carport • 0.24 Acres near parks and downtown • Move-in ready with many updates

(some restrictions apply)

NorthernIowaRealEstate.com

Connie Springer 641-512-1705 connie@americanrealty-ia.com

641-484-6705

SPRING HOME & GARDEN

C12 | Sunday, March 29, 2020

Gardener From C1

internship period. Participants must complete a certain number of service hours.

To maintain their status, Master Gardeners must receive continuing education and complete service projects.

Debra and John have done some service projects together, such as starting garden plots on either side of the front entrance of the North Iowa Christian School.

The Sjolinders, along with NICS parents, planted hydrangeas, allium, spearmint and peppermint. HyVee Drug and Hy-Vee East donated materials.

Two summers ago, Debra and other members of the Gardeners of North Iowa, one of two garden clubs in Mason City, revived the garden at the Salvation Army, which had been dormant for a decade.

Mason City’s other gardening club is called Rake and Hoe. Debra said volunteers work on pollinator gardens with Todd Von Ehwegen, conservation education manager for Cerro Gordo County Conservation.

A group of women who call themselves the Shady Ladies maintain the Shade Gardens at Central Park.

Other volunteers keep the gardens at East Park beautiful.

“You develop great friendships” through working on these projects, Debra said.

When they aren’t doing volunteer horticulture projects, the Sjolinders take care of the gardens at their home.

They name their gardens “just for fun,” Debra said.

The Dining Garden gets the most sun, so they have

Pond From CC1

shouldn’t require a lot of time or money to maintain it, according to Wittneben.

The ecosystem of a pond “takes care of itself” if it is established correctly, he said.

Wittneben not only understand how ponds should be built, but also has the ecological knowledge to recommend the right kinds of plants and fish to put in them.

When he was a young man in Germany in 1984, he worked for a friend who had a pond building business. Then he started taking university classes, eventually earning the equivalent of a master’s degree in water landscaping.

When Wittneben’s friend retired, he took over the business.

Wittneben moved to the United States in 2011. He and Burdette Waters, who handles the financial side of the business, opened Bernd’s Pond.

In 2019, Bernd’s Pond installed or repaired more than 30 ponds, more than 10 fountains and five lake aeration systems in communities such as Osage, Iowa Falls, Waverly, Waterloo, Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.

The staff also made 100 calls for seasonal start-up, shut down and cleaning of ponds.

One of the most important things Bernd’s Pond offers is advice. Wittneben said customers from around the state call the store with questions, and he and his staff can give answers that specifically apply to Iowa.

For example, many websites advise that ponds should be at least two feet deep, according to Wittneben. However, he said ponds in Iowa must be at least three feet deep so there’s still some water under the ice even during the harshest winters.

Wittneben has written articles on ponds for trade magazines. He also goes to five home and garden shows

hydrangeas and several perennials there.

The Shade Garden, located under a tree in the backyard, has hostas and other shade-loving plants.

The plot behind the couple’s gardening shed has gone by several different names over the years, including the Nursery and the Experimental Garden.

Last summer, the Sjolinders pulled out several bushes that came with the property when they bought it but never liked and planted a row of six different varieties of hydrangeas.

Debra said she loves hydrangeas because of “the beautiful variety of blooms.”

Hydrangeas have different kinds of flowers in various colors. Debra said the plants can be kept short or groomed to grow taller.

New varieties of hydrangeas are available every year, she said.

Some of the plants in the Sjolinders’ gardens have sentimental value.

“There’s a lot of heart pieces to gardening that I love,” Debra said.

For example, the couple has some rhubarb dug up from John’s great-grandmother’s garden planted in one of their gardens.

Debra said she has some plants that a dear friend started in her own garden, and vice versa.

She and John also took some things they started but never got planted in the ground last year and took them to her father’s garden. Debra is currently designing a garden in front of her house so when her dad needs more space in his garden for vegetables, he can bring back the plants she and John gave him.

The Sjolinders’ gardening shed is also sort of a heart piece, according to Debra.

Their neighbor, the late Ed

Lala, helped John build it.

John and Debra’s anniversary date was inscribed in the cement poured for the floor before it dried.

Debra said she loves this time of the year because some early plants are starting to poke out of the ground. Her snowdrops began to bloom in midMarch.

Although spring in North Iowa can sometimes be interpreted by the return of snow, “the frost date never changes,” Debra said.

Those who are worried about planting too early in the season can use a ground thermometer to test the temperature of the earth, according to Debra.

Also, when forsythia bushes start to bloom, it’s warm enough to start planting, she said.

You don’t need a big yard, or even a yard at all, to be a gardener, according to Debra. She said container gardening is a good option for apartment dwellers.

According to Debra, a good resource for anyone who wants advice on gardening is Iowa State University Extension’s Hortline at 515-294-3108.

The Hortline is available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m.

Debra said she encourages anyone with an interest in gardening to enroll in the Master Gardener program, join a club or look for information online.

Whether it’s cactuses, African violets or exotic plants, “there’s something for everyone,” she said.

July 31 is the deadline to register online for the Master Gardener program.

Classes start in mid-August.

Visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener/become-master-gardener for more information on the program.

around the state each year, including the North Iowa Home & Landscaping Show.

Last year, Wittneben designed and built a pond for Larry and Judith Gerken of Osage.

“There’s something so soothing and peaceful about running water,” said Judith, who grew up near Beeds Lake in rural Hampton.

The couple recently moved to a new home near the Cedar River. However, Judith and Larry couldn’t see the river from their house during the summer because of the trees blocking the view. They also weren’t close enough to hear the river flowing.

Judith’s first idea was to have a small waterfall in the back yard. However, when Wittneben came to their place to have a look, he told them the yard was so big that the waterfall would

look too small.

Wittneben designed a stream with a series of small waterfalls, with the water falling into a pond.

The building materials Bernd’s Pond uses, such as liners and pumps, are more expensive than those from other places, according to Judith. However, they are better quality so “they will last longer,” she said.

Currently, the Gerkens have a water lily, some water irises, cattails and century grass in their pond. It wasn’t finished until August, so they decided to wait until spring to add koi and some more plants.

The Gerkens enjoy sitting on their deck, which has a great view of their pond.

Judith said her husband initially wasn’t on board with the idea of building a pond, but now “Larry is very happy, too.”

Globe Gazette

Advice From C1

company may be stocking some shrubs and trees for this season as well.

Overall, the company mainly works through orders and contacts.

Ressler expects sifted dirt to continue being one of the hottest items for the business due to it being “good dirt for various applications.”

He also predicts low-maintenance plants like spireas and hydrangeas to be popular again this year.

“If anyone is interested in landscaping and having something done on their property, what I tell people is to get on the schedule sooner than later because it tends to fill up pretty quickly,” Ressler said about signing up for landscaping projects.

Country Landscape and Nursery‌

JERRY SMITH/GLOBE GAZETTE‌

The Basic Birder in Mason City has an entire section devoted to yard ornaments. mental grasses and panicle hydrangeas to be their most sought-after items.

He is very excited for customers to see the unique evergreens the business will have to offer because they are a “diamond in the rough” and “most of the taller ones make a great focal point” for a garden.

Koppes encourages everyone to come out to the business at least two or three times a season because flowers bloom at different times, allowing customers to get a better idea of how they want to organize their gardens.

“If you want a very small project or a very big project, we have it,” Koppes said.

Country Landscape & Nursery will be holding a mulch sale this spring.

Country Landscape and Nursery in Clear Lake is a landscaping company that provides commercial and residential work, while also offering a retail nursery.

According to retail manager Aaron Koppes, the business tries to keep a wide variety of products for everyone while they “try to carry the newest and the very best.” They are always Natural Plus Nursery‌ looking for new cultivars of Natural Plus Nursery is a plants to make it easier for 42-year-old retail nursery customers to care for them. out of Clear Lake that sells Koppes expects orna- plants, tree shrubs and pe-

rennials, as well as rock and mulch in bulk.

“I think there is a trend going back to homesteading in a way,” owner Mary Hopper said. “People want to be self-sufficient.”

It is because of this, Natural Plus Nursery is stocking up on edible plants like apple trees and strawberries.

Hopper also believes wind-breaks like rows of evergreens and shrubs to block the wind will continue to be popular for farmers.

She also expects bright-colored maple trees and shade trees to be trendy this year.

The business plans to highlight a few items, including bloomerang lilacs, summer crush hydrangeas and perennials like lemon puff shasta daisies.

The nursery plans to hold their open house sale (10% off everything) the first week of May.

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