At
HOME
Spring decorating Get your home ready for the new season
Fairy gardens Make a garden for children and adults
A special publication of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer
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Table of Contents KID CRAFTS
LETTER from the
EDITOR Spring has officially arrived. Monday marked the first day of Spring and warmer weather is just around the corner. But with Spring, comes a lot more house and yard work. Tending to your lawn, planting and caring for a garden is a lot of work. In this edition of At Home you will find how to create a fairy garden, tips on how to revive dead grass and how to choose the right trashcan for you. This edition also features tips on how to prep your home for Spring and instructions for a DIY craft. I am still looking for homeowners who have tackled a big DIY or home renovation project or anyone who has an interesting story about their home. If you would like your story told, please contact me at mrichardson@ messenger-inquirer.com or 270-691-7233. — Meghann Richardson Special Publications Editor
Springtime is great for creating decor with kids. pages 4-5
WHIMSICAL GARDENING
Fairy gardens great for all ages. pages 5-6
RESTORING DEAD GRASS Identify the source of the problem before fixing it. page 8
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_ the art _ of picking the right trash can 7 things to consider before you decide While nearly all municipalities or waste haulers provide trash carts and cans, most let residents and businesses use more as needed. “It can be tempting to select an additional trash can based on cost, but looking at other factors can make your life easier,” says Andy Bardsley, Vice President of Retail and Pro Sales at Toter, a leading manufacturer of trash cans and carts. Bardsley advises consumers to take the following factors into consideration:
ANIMAL-PROOFING
While this is a major consideration in high bear population areas, it’s extremely common for small animals like opossums, raccoons and rats to get into trash, leaving a mess and hazard in their wake. Choosing a certified animal-proof cart with a locking lid can eliminate this problem. Many products claim to
be animal-proof, so look for a rating by an outside group, such as the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC), which performs exhaustive testing to determine which products are strong enough to withstand repeated clawing, toppling and chewing.
ODOR CONTROL
Carts stored indoors or in areas prone to heat can pose an odor problem. Select brands offering accessories like cart liners or odor eliminators to keep your cart clean and aid in deterring animals.
DESIGN
Hoisting heavy carts can pose an injur y risk, so look for lighter containers with a higher strengthto-weight ratio to ensure safety and ease. Wheels are critical, but be sure to “test-drive” the cart first to see how it maneuvers. This will tell you
how much force is needed to tip roll the cart, and how stable it is when loaded.
DURABILITY
Waste haulers and consumers alike are tough on cans and carts, so choose one designed for industrial use. Plastic cans are lighter and more portable than metal ones, but avoid lightweight plastics that wear quickly. Drilled areas create weak spots, so look for solid-molded plastic carts that are reinforced in key areas, such as along the rim, handles and bottom. Remember, a well-made cart from can last 10 to 15 years under normal use, and will likely come with a warranty.
LOCAL REGULATIONS
It’s becoming increasingly common for municipalities or haulers to regulate cart size and weight, so check for any suggestions or
restrictions first. The number to call for this information is usually stamped on the can provided.
CAPACITY
While 96-gallons is generally the hauler standard, carts are available in 32-, 48-, 64- and 96-gallon capacities. Seniors and individuals with physical impairments often prefer to use a 48-gallon “half cart” to keep weight to a minimum.
SUSTAINABILITY
If you’re concerned about your carbon footprint, select products made with a higher percentage of recycled plastic, which are easily recyclable when they reach the end of their ser vice life. A higher-quality can will last longer and prevent being landfilled. Dealing with trash is never fun, but making informed choices can help make the chore hassle-free.
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WELCOME SPRING BY BPT
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kid-friendly crafts for this season
Spring is the perfect time to shake things up with your home decor. As Mother Nature transforms her landscape with fresh buds and blooms, you’re probably longing to refresh your home, too. These five easy craft projects are perfect family activities and the results will add touches of springtime throughout the house.
PEEPS spring centerpiece
CRAFTING TIME: 1 HOUR SUPPLIES: 4-inch cube vase 6-inch cube vase Jelly beans 30 Gerbera Daisies or silk flowers of choice 20 PEEPS Bunnies
DIRECTIONS:
1. Center one vase inside the other and insert jelly beans (in any colors you like) between the walls of the two cubes. 2. Place PEEPS on top of jelly beans, making sure to save a few for the corners of the vase. Don’t be afraid to squeeze them into the space. You should have enough to fill in any gaps. 3. Gerberas are usually sold with plastic tubes on the stems for support. Keeping the plastic in place, cut the flowers to desired length and arrange them in the smaller vase. 4. Cutting shorter stems for the outside flowers and longer stems for the inner ones will give you a nice rounded top. And don’t skimp on flowers: If you don’t want to use that many gerberas, find a pair of smaller vases.
RAIN BOOT DECOR
Do you have a pair of rain boots your kids have grown out of? Use these as an adorable way to display silk flowers in the entryway. Simply select your favorite long-stem flowers from your local craft store (hint: tulips are perfect for spring). Have kids help arrange flowers inside boots and then either hang on your door or fence or sit them in the entryway.
THUMBPRINT FLOWER POTS
Jazz up boring terracotta pots with acrylic paint and the tiny fingerprints from your mini helpers. Have kids wear a smock (acrylic paint can stain), then carefully dip fingertips into paint and press onto the pot. For example, red fingerprints can be turned into cute ladybugs with a few black details when dry. You can also use fingerprints to create flowers, butterflies and more.
FLIP-FLOP WELCOME SIGN
Favorite warm-weather foot gear can be used to create a cute sign welcoming guests to your home. Buy four pairs of colorful flip flops from any dollar store. Line up and then adhere each side together with hot glue (eight flip-flops total glued together). On the heel of each sandal paint a letter from “Welcome!” When done, let kids adorn with colorful gems, stickers, and other fun spring details.
PASTEL PAINTED PINE CONES
Take kids on a nature walk and collect pine cones. Brush off dirt and allow to dry if moist. Then, lay out paper and have kids paint pine cones in festive pastel colors. Mint green, soft pink and sky blue are classic spring hues. Once dry, display in a decorative bowl and hang from strings in front of a window.
1019 Lincoln Ave. t Evansville, IN 812-423-2338 t therugmerchantevansville.com
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MaGic A TOUCH OF
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fairy gardens
captivate
imaginations of both kids and adults BY TRACEE M. HERBAUGH ASSOCIATED PRESS
A set of little wings. Ceramic fountains. Tiny versions of ornate cottages and brick walkways fit for the English countryside. These are just some of the whimsical decorations that adorn fairy gardens. When such miniature decorations are paired with similarly diminutive plants, these gardens — aimed at luring fairies — can captivate the imaginations of children and adults alike. “I think it is in our DNA,” said Brenda Williams, a master gardener at Pesche’s Greenhouse, Floral and Gifts in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. For the last four years, Williams has been teaching classes to 4H students and through the University of Wisconsin’s continuing education program on how to create fairy gardens. We have the itch to garden, she believes, to satisfy some lingering part of our hunter-gatherer past. “That gene is still very present in modern people who no longer need to garden,” Williams said. And designing a little fairy abode turns a garden into “a living artwork,” she said. Fair y gardens’ appeal is similar, perhaps, to that of Japanese bonsai, the ancient practice of grooming small trees inside containers. In 1893, fairy gardens surged in popularity in the United States because of the Japanese Pavilion at the Chicago World’s Fair. No two fairy gardens are the same. Some people use creative containers, especially antiques — a wash tub, bird cages or pickle bottles. “I tell people to imagine something in your head and try to recreate it in in a pot, or whatever,” Williams said. The gardens can be designed underwater or with silk plants if the creator is more of a “set and forget” type of plant
Above: A fairy garden at the home of Michelle Peebles is shown in Broomfield, Colo. Peebles — along with her two children — made the fairy garden following the death of daughter Amanda Peebles, 12, who died of complications following a rare form of cancer. Photo by Michelle Peebles via AP
Left: A fairy garden made by Victoria Hannley, in Tuscon, Ariz. Hannley writes the DIY blog “Dazzled While Frazzled” and created the fairy garden with objects left over from her daughter’s birthday party and an empty tin soup can. Photo by Victoria Hannley via AP
person, Williams said. Often, fair y gardens are a creative bridge between adults and children. Jayme Tortorelli Benko, a 37-year-old mom from Denver, saw photos of fairy gardens online and wanted to make one for her young daughter, Alora. In a large pot, Benko put a ceramic flower with a resting fair y (named Nata), some rocks and an assortment of potted plants. Creating the garden was about spending time together, Benko said, adding, “Kids love magic.” Fairy gardens are also part of a larg-
er DIY movement. Victoria Hannley, a 39-year-old mother of three who runs the DIY blog “Dazzled While Frazzled,” made her first fairy garden with items left over after her daughter’s birthday party and some empty soup cans from the kitchen. “It makes me think back to the days when I had a dollhouse,” Hannley said. “You’re able to take everyday stuff you have and make something with it.” Yet fair y gardens also can take on more solemn meanings. The 15-footwide fair y garden on the side of
Michelle Peebles’ home commemorates her daughter Amanda, who died at age 12 from complications from a rare form of cancer. Peebles, 46, of Broomfield, Colorado, planted the garden two years ago with Amanda and her other children. “She helped me plant some snapdragons and she used to dig for roly polies (beetles) there,” Peebles said. There are still snapdragons in the spot, as well as a little fairy home and seashell walkway. Amanda’s digging tools are still there. “It’s just a little peaceful place, and it’s incorporated with her little stuff,” Peebles said.
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HOW TO REPAIR YOUR DEAD GRASS
A
patch of dead grass on an otherwise lush lawn can be a frustrating eyesore for homeowners. Whether lawn care is your passion or just something you do to maintain the value of your home, dead grass can be exasperating. But as unsightly as dead grass can be, addressing it and restoring the dead patches can be somewhat simple. Before you can restore grass, however, you must first identify the source of the problem. Grass often dies because of urine damage, which is typically characterized by a dead spot surrounded by otherwise green grass. Grub infestation might be at fault when dead grass appears, and such an infestation often produces patches of light brown grass that are scattered throughout the lawn. It’s also possible that dead grass is a result of human error. If your lawn was overfertilized, then patches of gray-green grass may
appear. Fungal disease is another common culprit behind dead grass, and such disease can manifest itself in different ways. Once you have identified why the grass is dead, which may require the help of a professional, then you can begin to treat your lawn.
water the spot. Grass should grow in and stay green so long as you prevent further urine damage.
INSECT DAMAGE
Addressing dead spots caused by insect damage can be a little more complicated, and some homeowners may prefer to hire a professional. URINE DAMAGE If you want to handle the problem Urine damage is often limited to a on your own, apply pesticide to the particular area of the grass where your affected areas so the insects behind family pet routinely relieves itself. the problem are killed. Once the Once a particular patch of grass has insects are no more, cut the grass, worn down, the pet may move on to raking the affected area to remove another spot. But if you quickly notice the dead grass and any additional a dead spot due to urine damage, debris. Scatter grass seed over you can train the animal to urinate the affected areas and then apply elsewhere, limiting the damage it an appropriate fertilizer and water causes. When repairing the grass, immediately. Professionals may know dig a hole that’s roughly four inches just the right fertilizer for your lawn, deep and fill it with fresh soil until it’s so even if you want to go it alone, level with the soil surrounding the visit a local lawn care center to ask dead patch. Then you can sprinkle for advice about addressing your seed on top of the freshly laid soil and particular problem.
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FERTILIZER DAMAGE
Fertilizer damage can also prove difficult to address, as applying fresh seeds too soon can kill any freshly growing seedlings. So grass that has been damaged by over-fertilization must first be allowed to fully die. Once that has happened, the grass can be cut and any remaining debris or dead grass can be removed. Seed can then be scattered, and you can even add some additional soil before laying down an appropriate amount of fertilizer and watering the lawn immediately. If you don’t trust yourself to use fertilizer correctly, then hire a professional to do the job for you. This will cost a little more, but you likely won’t wake up to more dead patches of grass down the road. Dead grass can be unsightly and turn an other wise lush lawn into a patchy eyesore. But addressing dead grass can be easy and can quickly restore a lawn to its green grandeur.