Home & Garden 2016 by Northern Virginia Daily

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Home&GARDEN

March 26, 2016

The Northern Virginia Daily

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Home&GARDEN

The Northern Virginia Daily

March 26, 2016

Six steps to creating fairy gardens for children Gardening can be an enjoyable activity for adults and children alike. Gardening encourages creative thinking and can make for an eco-friendly activity as well. Adding a touch of whimsy to gardening can make it that much more attractive to children. Perhaps that is why fairy gardens have become so popular among youngsters. Fairy gardens can be designed in outdoor gardens or in containers that children can nurse and enjoy indoors. Here are six steps to get your fairy garden up and running. 1. Choose your container or location. Decide where to place the fairy garden. Hollowed-out tree stumps are both contained and outdoors, and kids may feel like the fairies inhabited this neglected area of the yard and made it their own. Otherwise, use containers you already have, such as old pots, hanging baskets, picnic baskets or cookie tins. Wooden birdhouses with their roofs removed also can make for clever places to house the gardens. 2. Choose a theme. Fairy houses can take on any theme their creators prefer. Themes help children decide what to include in their gardens. For example, a

seaside retreat may work well with little reclining chairs, sea grasses and succulents. You can then complete the theme by adding some seashells and colored stones. 3. Draw up your design. Before securing anything in the container or digging into your garden bed, sketch out a garden design. This gives you an idea of how the finished product will look. Even before planting, gently place plants and other components in their spots and move them around accordingly until you find the desired look. 4. Include similar-needs plants. Mixing plants that have different requirements can make it challenging to care for the fairy garden, so select plants that require similar levels of sunlight, prefer similar soil conditions and require roughly the same amount of watering. Herbs are a smart choice because they stay small and are easily maintained. 5. Don’t forget a fairy dwelling. You will need to add a house for the fairies to inhabit. Small bird houses can work, but you also can consider old teapots, bird-nesting boxes or even homemade

houses assembled out of bark and twigs. Use your imagination and the garden will take on a life of its own. 6. Invite the fairies. Children can invite fairies to take up residence (fairies often show up at night and tend

to remain unseen), or children can create their own fairies using craft materials. Fairy gardens are a fun way to introduce children to gardening. Once families get started, they may want to create entire fairy villages.

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(second floor lobby, north end of building; parking in rear off Cameron St.)

March 26, 2016

Home&GARDEN

The Northern Virginia Daily

Rich Cooley/Daily

Mike Rose, co-owner of Rose’s Plumbing, checks a water softener he installed in a Toms Brook home recently. A water softener allows for softer skin and hair and takes the minerals out of water - including the calcium the causes build-up in hot water heaters.

Romance creates Strasburg plumbing company By Tom Crosby

Twenty-eight years ago Brenda Beatley was a secretary for a plumbing company and bored when one of plumber Mike Rose’s assistants unexpectedly quit. She asked if she could be a replacement apprentice plumber. Mike Rose said, “Yes” and three years

later Brenda said, “Yes” to his marriage proposal and together they launched Rose’s Plumbing Service of Strasburg in 1994. As master plumbers (Rose also has a B Class contractor’s license) they have handled flooded basements, frozen pipes, leaky water heaters, dripping faucets, plugged

toilets, clogged sewer lines and bacteriaspewing well pumps. “The worst is getting in crawl spaces with snakes and bugs or working long hours when it is freezing cold,” said Mike Rose, 52, who has been dealing with vexatious plumbing problems for 33 years. The major culprit is the limestone geolo-

gy dominant in Shenandoah, Frederick and Warren Counties (limestone contains 50 percent or more of calcium carbonate). Even after city or county treatment, public drinkable water remains “hard” with high levels of dissolved minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, that cause scaly buildup inside pipes and hot water

The Northern Virginia Daily heaters, restricting water flow and creating soap scum difficult to remove from sinks, tubs and appliances. “Hard water increases the energy needed to heat the water as the calcium builds up,” said Mike Rose, “so the water heater needs to be drained regularly before it gets to where it clogs and the heating element burns out. It increases an electrical bill pretty good.” While the price for an installed water softener system can range from $1,200 to $3,000 or more depending upon access, size of the water heater and age of the home, it makes a difference. “It really shows up in way it affects the skin and hair,” said Wesley Larrick of Strasburg, who had the Roses install a water softener in his house. He also added a water filtration system to get rid of chlorine and iron “so we can drink water from the tap and not have to store it in a pitcher before drinking it.” Larrick lives in a house between his daughter’s home and mother-in-law’s and all three use Rose’s Plumbing exclusively. The water softener - or conditioner - uses an ion-exchange to remove the excess minerals from the water and requires minimal

Home&GARDEN We don’t use cheap stuff. We don’t waste our time or yours. We put in what we would use in our home so it lasts.”

bacteria in the water. Abby Walters, a realtor with Sager Real Estate, knows the issue well, having called Rose’s Plumbing more than 100 times in the past eleven years to purify the water in order to close a sale. An ultra-violet purification system is BRENDA ROSE, installed on the well system and in the CO-OWNER OF ROSE’S PLUMBING well pit experience has taught Mike Rose maintenance, reducing plumber visits. that the government-mandated fluorescent “It makes quite a mess when they pop,” light bulbs fail to give off enough heat to said Brenda Rose. Mike Rose added, “The keep well pipes from freezing in winter. water heater may leak a little at first and “They may be efficient but they make no my theory is it then scabs over the leak heat,” said Mike Rose. and next time it clogs.” While business slows some with spring Over the years, the couple has installed winter is high volume with the bursting of hundreds of water softeners and carbonfrozen pipes - the Roses recommend water based water filtration systems. heater maintenance and in new homes “We don’t use cheap stuff,” Brenda Rose checking outside water faucets to make said. “We don’t waste our time or yours. We sure they haven’t been damaged by put in what we would use in our home so freezes. it lasts.” They recommend opening vents in crawl They strongly recommend against the spaces - close in winter to retain heat - and tankless water heater trend because they in newly built homes researching where require excess maintenance and “don’t pipes are located before a problem occurswork long with hard water,” Mike Rose especially making sure pipes aren’t flush said. with outside walls and subject to freezing And with numerous wells in the threein extreme cold. “It’s very common in new homes,” Mike county area, a problem often emerges with

March 26, 2016

Some of their tips: • Don’t use colored perfumed discs in toilet tank water because the chlorine will deteriorate the toilet’s rubber flapper. • Check well pumps and water heaters annually. • If you have just moved into a new house, have a plumbing assessment done. • Seek ways to reduce income taxes by investing in upgrading the water service in your home. Rose said, “and sometimes in really nice homes.” They correct the problem with insulation or in some cases, relocate the pipe trail. “I recommend them to all my friends, family and clients,” said Walters. “They all have nothing but good things to say about their customer service.” With 25 years plumbing together, Brenda Rose said, “Our customers have become our friends. When they call with a problem we can’t say no.”

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Home&GARDEN

March 26, 2016

The Northern Virginia Daily

Rich Cooley/Daily

Debbie Meuser, of Lake Frederick, surveys her stone patio and fire pit that was designed and built by Prosperity Landscaping of Stephens City.

Printouts add new dimension to landscaping

By Tom Crosby The digital age has entered the landscaping business in Frederick County. Sitting at his computer using a complicated software construction program, Rich Cooley/Daily

On the cover: Debbie Meuser walks outside her Lake Frederick home in front of her stone walkway designed and built by Prosperity Landscaping of Stephens City.

Brian Wismer carefully entered the measurements of a potential customer’s yard. He creates 3-D images of walkways, fire pits, patios, waterfalls and pergolas along with appropriate flora for a complete landscaping design - sometimes populated with moving people images for perspective. Wismer is president of Prosperity Landscaping on Front Royal Pike in Stephens City, and along with his brother Michael and Project Manager Brandon Hughes, says, “Our specialty is outdoor living spaces and the computer allows us to

show an entire design concept.” For the past two years, he has created “our hard niche” allowing the 20-employee company to show customers potential hardscaping - the building of concrete and stone structures incorporated into traditional landscapes. Using colored computer printouts, he shows clients like Charles Warren, of Middletown, how to improve the look and utility of 2 acres surrounding Warren’s 7,000-square-foot log and stucco mountain lodge home.

“They show different views of what he proposes and helps us decide what to do,” said Warren, a retired Washington, D.C., lawyer. “The (printouts) show us what the bushes and flowers will look like full grown.” A class A contractor, Wismer has been studying landscaping and the recent emergence of hardscaping technology ever since he graduated from high school 16 years ago. Employees use hardened concrete paver stone, brick or block installation instead

The Northern Virginia Daily

Home&GARDEN

March 26, 2016

Rich Cooley/Daily

Lorenzo Zootez, a laborer for Prosperity Landscaping in Stephens City, prepares this yard in Lake Frederick for planting beds.

of poured concrete, which Wismer notes tends to crack over time. The 2 1/2-times stronger concrete paver stone allows any unexpected replacement with the same color stone - all guaranteed not to settle for three years. “We build following the standards of the Interlocking Concrete Paving Institute,” Wismer said, “ by installing over gravel. It can last a lifetime if installed properly.” The integration with flowers, bushes and trees can turn an unattractive grass yard into a neighborhood showpiece. Debbie Meuser downsized to Lake Frederick from Winchester’s Oakdale Crossing last year to a much smaller backyard. “We wanted to make the yard into something special but not have to slave in it every weekend,” said Meuser. Looking at printouts, they picked the type and color of stone for their patio and fire pit and “it looked fabulous,” she said. The fire pit was used for the first time on a chilly March night and neighbors have gotten excited about the Meuser’s backyard. “We have two neighbors who are now hiring Prosperity,” she said. That pleases Wismer but also frustrates his sense of service. “There is always chaos around here before Easter and July 4th because people want projects done tomorrow when they need to have planned three months out. Once the weather improves, the phone starts ringing,” he lamented. Rachel Payne, also of Lake Frederick, understands because she had to wait two months to get her fire pit built, but it was finally finished before this winter’s record snowstorm. “My husband dug a path to the fire pit

and we used it for the first time,” she said. “It was fun.” Interest in hardscaping began to escalate when the economy soured between 2008-2010, Wismer said. “People began thinking they would be stuck in their home for a longer time and began deciding to make their back yard something nice,” he said. “Home TV shows helped because people became more aware of what could be done,” he said. With landscaping demonstrations at fall garden shows, like the one held this past March at the Apple Blossom Mall, the company generates interest, especially with examples of the 3-D images. “We really listen to the customer and we are flexible,” said Wismer, often altering and tweaking plans to reflect a homeowner’s desires and sometimes making suggestions based on the more than 35 years of experience gained by Wismer and his team. “We work to develop a complete design and then break costs down to see what is first wanted to be done,” he said. “Many times we come back and do more later that year or next.” The Warren’s have been using Prosperity annually for the past five years and now boast a paved patio, garage stone steps, split rail fence and flowering garden beds. “We have a steep slope behind the house that had brambles and bushes and didn’t look nice,” Warren said. Prosperity cleared the area and used different rock sizes and shapes to cover the slope and planted holly and crepe myrtle trees. “I can’t wait to see how they do,” said Warren.

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March 26, 2016

Home&GARDEN

The Northern Virginia Daily

Going Kondo: How I decluttered the Marie Kondo way By Beth J. Harpaz Associated Press

NEW YORK — Reading Marie Kondo’s best-selling books about decluttering is intimidating. I have a complicated relationship with many of my possessions: souvenirs from favorite places, gifts from loved ones. Even if I never use them, how could I part with them? And how could I face my overflowing cupboards and scary closets? But I got over my fears. Ultimately, Kondo’s books, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” and “Spark Joy,” are not so much about throwing things out as they are about “choosing what we want to keep,” as Kondo puts it. Here’s what it felt like going Kondo.

THE BATHROOM WAS EASY

Kondo says sentimental things should be left for last. So I started with the most unsentimental place: the bathroom. There’s no emotion in tossing expired medication, used Ace bandages and unclaimed toothbrushes, or in consolidating half-empty boxes of Band-Aids. Those baby steps strengthened my discard muscle. Next I said goodbye to fragrances and lipsticks I never use. In cleaning out, I unearthed a cache of skin creams and cleansers that I like. I now keep some handy for daily use, and store others in a beautifully decorated gift box I’d been reluctant to part with. Keeping and using the box this way fit several Kondo principles. First, she says, “Everything you own wants to be of use to you.” Second, she says, don’t buy storage containers. Instead, use things you already own: shoeboxes, stationery boxes, decorative bowls. Third, Kondo is no minimalist. “Adorn your home with the things you love,” she urges. My pretty box now brightens a shelf. Folding is also critical. Kondo says every foldable object has its own “sweet spot … a folded state that best suits that item.” I’m still working on folding the bathroom towels just right, but after studying her techniques, I get the origami-like art of folding shirts.

In the kitchen, I surveyed all the bakeware at once, shedding excess cookie cutters and muffin tins. A dozen random mugs and two teapots were given away. I counted a dozen vases and kept four. I was stunned to find nearly 40 portable water bottles tucked in cupboards; I kept two. I also stacked items by shape, as Kondo suggests, transforming cluttered shelves. Then I gathered decorative platters and bowls, many of them gifts that weren’t to my taste, and employed her ritual: “Take each item in one’s hand and ask: ‘Does this spark joy?’ If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it.” As I proceeded, I contemplated the giftgivers’ kindness. “You don’t need to feel guilty for parting with a gift,” Kondo writes. “Just thank it for the joy it gave you when you first received it.” SORT BY CATEGORY Along the way, I found things I love, like Don’t clean shelves and drawers one by one, Kondo says. Instead, sort by category a carved wooden dish I now use to display fruit. I hesitated over my mom’s ornate, to “compare items that are similar in silver-plated sugar-and-creamer, which I’ll design, making it easier to decide whether you want to keep them.” never use. But I cleaned the tarnish off

i Ten Speed Press via AP file

Above, a wooden tray is used for fruit and a gift box is used to store skin care products. The items were repurposed by their owner, who decluttered her home using Marie Kondo’s best-selling books “Spark Joy” and “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” At left, Marie Kondo works at a client’s home in Tokyo to clear away everything that is unneeded and fails to “spark joy.” and a friend pronounced them “shabby chic.” They now decorate a windowsill. As Kondo says, “If you have items that you love even though they seem useless, please give them a turn in the spotlight.”

TACKLING CLOTHES I dumped all my clothes on my bed and dove in. Some didn’t fit, or were stained or damaged. Some were gifts, or I’d bought them on vacation. I sent the rejects off with Kondo’s blessing: “Thank you for giving me joy when I bought you,” or “Thank you for teaching me what doesn’t suit me.” “By acknowledging their contribution and letting them go with gratitude, you will be able to truly put the things you own, and your life, in order,” she writes. Kondo is fine with keeping things you don’t use, as long as “you can say without a doubt, ‘I really like this!’” So I kept the flowered confection of a hat I bought in England, although I’ll never wear it. She also says nothing is too special for everyday wear. So now I wear a favorite

black velvet top to work.

SCARY PLACES, BEAUTIFUL SPACES I have a dark, scary closet under the ceiling that I’ve been throwing stuff into for 20 years. Kondo emboldened my excavation. Crumbling 1970s luggage? Out! Subzero military boots bought secondhand for a winter trip to Alaska? Donated to the Salvation Army. My outdoorsy son’s camping equipment stayed, but Kondo’s folding techniques helped reduce the space needed for his weatherproof clothing and bedding. Once again, forgotten treasures emerged: artwork from Morocco, a carved wooden bowl that belonged to my late mother-in-law. Both are now on display. “By the time you finish, you’ll see something you love everywhere you look,” Kondo writes. And that’s her real genius: “You are not choosing what to discard but rather what to keep.”

Home&GARDEN

The Northern Virginia Daily

March 26, 2016

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Home&GARDEN

The Northern Virginia Daily

Rich Cooley/Daily

Dan Weir, owner of Dan’s Decks, builds this Trex composite deck in the back of a home in Winchester.

Dan’s Decks found on 700-plus valley homes

By Tom Crosby Dan Weir has been decking out homes in the Shenandoah Valley for nearly three decades. Weir is the owner and one-man building crew for back yard decks with a color portfolio on his website, dansdecks.net, of 80 decks of various materials, shades of

color, big and small and one to two stories tall. He estimates that by concentrating on his skillset, he has built or worked on more than 750 decks in the past 26 years in new and old subdivisions throughout the valley. “When I moved to Front Royal in 1988

from Lorton, I was told I couldn’t make a living just building decks, but I found I didn’t need a crew to do what needed to be done,” said Weir, 56. His craftsmanship shines like a portrait artist. The deck function may not change much but the designs differ as creative solutions are made with the owner.

Barbara Bernard, of Front Royal, is a Weir fan. He built a deck for her 15 years ago and she recently moved into a cedar chalet home with a rear view overlooking the Shenandoah River and national forest. The chalet’s deck is 17 years old and was crumbling.

solution to help protect it. “You can do cleaning on older composite that has fungus or mold but it can resurface on them,” he said. “Trex was the first to put a hard layer on their composite five to six years ago and solved the problem of fungus and mold,” said Weir, who is a Trex-approved contractor. “It is the best thing they have ever done.” When customers insist on wood, he recommends tropical hard woods. Still, he prefers the more expensive but more durable composites “which will look the same 20 years from now. I don’t make any more money, I just pass on the material costs,” he said. Frank Joyce, of Winchester, recently had Weir renovate his 11-year-old deck. “We had some wooden boards that were deteriorating, just rotting, that needed to be replaced and he helped convince us to use Trex,” said Joyce. “He resurfaced our existing deck and I have nothing but good things to say about him; he was always on time and the quality of the work was first rate,” added Joyce. With a recent need for rotator cuff surgery, Weir admits, “I don’t do tall decks anymore,” although he is thinking of hiring a college student to help this year. Beginning his career as a general carpenter, Weir said he remembers a fellow carpenter saying the building code “is the

March 26, 2016 11

Rich Cooley/Daily

Dan Weir works on a Trex composite deck. minimum the inspector has to see and the maximum I have to do.” “There is a lot of bogus stuff out there in online references and they give us all a black eye,” Weir said. He recommends searching company websites for trained contractors and always getting the required building permit. “Some builders will say you don’t need one but they are wrong,” Weir said. “I am

proud of my reputation and I always send out questionnaires afterward asking for constructive criticism.” And he has gotten it. “Some say I don’t clean up enough after a day’s work,” he laughed, shaking his head. “But I am coming back again the next morning. If I have a weakness, that is it. I accept it.”

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“We were thinking of replacing the entire deck with Trex (a composite used instead of wood),” she said, “but Dan convinced us it might be too heavy and suggested a cedar deck to match the rustic look of our chalet. He said it would save money and he wouldn’t have to replace the deck footings.” Bernard described the old wooden deck as “warped with nails popping out and we couldn’t walk on it without shoes, and when it was windy furniture would blow into the railings and knock some of them out.” Weir resurfaced the deck with cedar, installed new railings and used horizontal instead of vertical anchoring cables “so they almost disappear and don’t interfere with our view of the river,” said Barnard. “Dan doesn’t just know all the technical things; he has an terrific artistic side, too,” she added. Weir notes pressure-treated wooden decks have an Achilles heel, over time often warping, shrinking or splintering as the sun dries the treatment and fastgrowing wood, like southern yellow pine, dries quickly. “The warranty is against fungal decay and termites,” Weir said. “It doesn’t cover all the things that happen to wood in sunny areas, even with the best of care.” He recommends tightening of galvanized fasteners, and on wooden decks after one year, cleaning and using a UV protective

Home&GARDEN

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The Northern Virginia Daily

12 March 26, 2016

Home&GARDEN

The Northern Virginia Daily

Growing up on farm nurtured passion for landscaping

By Tom Crosby Eric Beaune got hooked on gardening while growing up on a farm in Shenandoah County with six brothers and two sisters. “There was always a garden and lots of flower beds,” said Beaune, 35, “and it became a passion of mine.” After graduating from Central High School in 1998, Beaune decided to attend Lord Fairfax Community College’s landscape program with a focus on horticulture so he could help friends and relatives rather than leave the area for college. Today, he is president of Beaune Brother’s Landscaping in Woodstock with 12 employees, including two brothers - one of whom is a graduate of Virginia Tech’s nationally recognized landscape architecture program. And after 16 years of toiling in soil, Beaune has learned to solve some perennial problems like what is the best ground cover in shaded areas. “There is always something to learn,” said Beaune, who recommends ground cover plants such as hostas, lilies, coral bells and astible and notes, “it is the amount of sunlight that determines their blooming time.” “When I first started I didn’t know about some things, like Bermuda grass,” Beaune said. “When there is a drought, it will take over and then next year it goes brown. Keeping a lawn healthy is the best defense against it.” He has learned - and advises - to never plant under the area’s many walnut trees because the acidity of the nuts will kill anything under them. When customers want an active yard, Beaune recommends black-eyed susan and hydrangea to attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Other flowering magnets are bee balm, columbine, wisteria and day lilies. “I am a master gardener and I love working with someone like him,” said Jane Tesh ,of Edinburg, who has been a client for six years doing landscaping and hardscaping (sidewalks, patios, etc.) for three homes with Beaune Brothers. She reeled off a list of spring plantings they have done because, “I like three season colors. He likes green things. We have put in a row of sweet bay magnolia which grows quickly with beautiful leaves, fragrant blooms and fills in spaces.” Among the flowering flora around their home are caryopteris plants with blue or

white flowers pollinated by butterflies or bumblebees, knockout roses, penrose in shady spots, azaleas, rhododendron and peonies. Beaune notes this is the time of year to take advantage of early planting, sprucing up beds or mulching before growth gets out of control because later “it is costly to correct the negligence. June and July is when we get calls from those who didn’t do anything in the spring.” Spring triggers the company’s heaviest workload with “reduction” of overgrowth and mulching before bulbs come up. “April and May are our busiest months,” Beaune said. “Spring means getting rid of leaves, tree pruning for fruit trees and such,” said Beaune, who notes most things they plant have a bloom except for boxwoods and evergreens, but everything needs some maintenance. He meets with current and potential clients to get a feel for their gardening preferences, sketches a plan with dimensions, and finalizes details. The Virginia Tech connection is valuable when the company needs soil tested or encounters a pest infestation they are not familiar with and need to eradicate it. The school provides needed research and possible solutions. “His estimates are true,” said Mrs. Tesh, who plans to move to a new home soon in Woodstock and “Eric and I will do our dance again. I want a formal French Garden with boxwood and lots of lavender.” When Peter Zarrella retired from the Department of Defense and moved from Bristow to Strasburg four years ago, he hired Beaune Brothers to change the look of his 9,000-square-foot lot. “The prior owners were over-the-top with their landscaping,” said Zarrella. “They worked on it 365 days a year. We wanted to downsize it and we regrouped.” Beaune Brothers replaced mulch with stones, added a stone walkway from the front to the back of the house and “made it usable for our grandkids. They love it,” Zarrella said. “We are trying to do what is natural and they showed us which plants are better kept and those that are more finicky,” said Zarrella. “We have been very happy with everything they have done.” Rich Cooley/Daily “This is very much a word-of-mouth business,” said Beaune. “When we leave a Eric Beaune, owner of Beaune Brothers Landscaping LLC in Woodstock, job we want everyone to tell what a good arranges a group of gold mop cypress shrubs that were recently shipped job we did. That’s our goal.” for the spring season.

Home&GARDEN

The Northern Virginia Daily

March 26, 2016 13

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14 March 26, 2016

The Northern Virginia Daily

Home&GARDEN

The Northern Virginia Daily

March 26, 2016

SHOP LOCALLY - CLOSER IS BETTER! Remember when you shop at home the dollars you spend are invested in our community! A garden store nestled WEST of Toms Brook on a small farm where we grow most of our plants. Casual setting with free range colorful turkeys and chickens to greet you - Cameras welcome. We grow plants for great gardens. Gardens, Galleries and Grapes APRIL 23-24 Young Artist Felicia Grim - Whimsical Art Sale Agriculturer Jamie Cotton - Rare Chick Sale Bee Display Tag Sale “5 tents’

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GROW YOUR OWN FRESH, HEALTHY PRODUCE! Huge selection of heirloom tomatoes, peppers, squash cucumbers, cold crops & herbs. Open-pollinated seeds & sets ALSO: Fruit trees, strawberries, blueberries, brambles, asparagus, sweet potatoes and more! Lots of annual & perennial flowers for your beds & containers. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. • Closed Thursdays rheishma@shentel.net • www.gabalotgardens.com

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We carry a wide selection of Organic gardening supplies and a great selection of gardening products and much, much more.

Fertilizers, pest control, repellents, seeds & bulbs, seed starting supply, potting soils, soil amendments, soil testing, animal feed, lighting for indoor growing, gardening tools, gloves, hydroponics & aquaponic systems, solar panels, canning & preserving supplies and crafts by local artists. Ask about bulk supplies! Stop in today and let us help you get started to a new Organic life style. 181 West King St. • Strasburg, Virginia 22657 • 540-465-4444 Hours. Mon- Sat 9am-6pm • Closed Sundays

Fine Meat Products Since 1962 Located in the Heart of the Shenandoah Valley 3149 Riverview Dr. • Toms Brook, VA 22660 FRESH STEAKS • CHOPS • HAMBURGER • HAM AND MUCH MORE! We also sell BEEF & PORK by the QUARTER or HALF! Come try out our delicious RIVERVIEW CLOTH BOLOGNA from our full service deli.

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Best Selection of Herbs and Vegetable Plants Fresh Vegetables, Fruit, Honey, Farm Fresh Eggs, Milk, Cheese, Meat, Peanuts, Country Ham and so much more. Stop by and see us sometime!

www.MoweryOrchard.com 24247 Senedo Road, Woodstock, VA (540) 459-8645 Open Daily April 1st-Dec. 23rd • Open weekends Jan.- March 270144

Home&GARDEN

14 March 26, 2016

The Northern Virginia Daily

Home&GARDEN

The Northern Virginia Daily

March 26, 2016

540-436-3746

herbs@shentel.net

Open Mon-Sat 9-6, Sun by chance

ALWAYS WORTH THE TRIP

DAVID AUSTIN • Climbers • Rugosas

Flowering Shrubs Quince • Spirea • Pussywillows Virburnum • Forsythia • Hibiscus & more

10% Tuesdays & Barter Days call for details

PLANTS * SEEDS * SOILS * GARDENING SUPPLIES ORGANIC SPRAYS & FERTILIZERS MULCH

Mt. Jackson Farm Service, LLC

GABALOT GARDENS

URG, VIR SB

NIA GI

SPRING IS HERE!

ST RA

5385 N. Main St. * 477-3157

A.K.A Cedar Hill Gardens

373 Green Acre Dr., Strasburg, VA • 540-465-3246

WOODBINE FARM MARKET 5199 John Marshall Hwy, Strasburg, VA • (540) 465-2729

A GARDENER’S SUPPLY STORE

Let us help you grow a safer, healthier, chemical free garden or lawn!

Get a better idea of our market and what we have to offer at www.woodbinefarmmarket.com OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Shelter Rental for Family Reunions & Birthday Parties!

FRomESthHe fr GROUND UP!

Gift certificates available

We carry a wide selection of Organic gardening supplies and a great selection of gardening products and much, much more.

540-436-3884 • Open Mon.-Sat. 8am-5pm

Best Selection of Herbs and Vegetable Plants Fresh Vegetables, Fruit, Honey, Farm Fresh Eggs, Milk, Cheese, Meat, Peanuts, Country Ham and so much more. Stop by and see us sometime!

www.MoweryOrchard.com 24247 Senedo Road, Woodstock, VA (540) 459-8645 Open Daily April 1st-Dec. 23rd • Open weekends Jan.- March 270144

Home&GARDEN

16 March 26, 2016

The Northern Virginia Daily

How to make spring projects more eco-friendly The arrival of warmer weather means different things to different people. Some anticipate opportunities for outdoor fun, while others may be considering redecorating or remodeling their homes. For the latter group, home improvement season provides a great opportunity to make homes more eco-friendly. When planning home improvement projects, it’s best to first choose a project and then look for ways to make the project more environmentally friendly. Such an approach may not only benefit the environment, but it also may benefit homeowners’ bottom lines. INTERIOR DECORATING Longer days and warmer temperatures often translate into wanting to freshen up the interior of a home. Heavy draperies and comforters are put away, and lighter fabrics are taken out of storage. Whenever possible, reuse or repurpose items you already have rather than purchasing new items. Longer drapes can be cut and hemmed to be used as window treatments in other rooms. Making a patchwork blanket out of old T-shirts is a crafty project

that makes use of items that would otherwise be destined for landfills. When laundering linens, skip the energyusing dryer and let items line dry in the sun and fresh air. If you decide to purchase some new items, look for products made from sustainable or organic fabrics. Hemp and bamboo textiles have grown in popularity. Hemp and bamboo plants grow quickly, and their durability makes these materials smart choices. When replacing items around the house, donate older items to a charitable organization. FLOWERS AND PLANTS Spring and summer call to mind beautiful blooming plants. Relying on native, sustainable plants is practical, environmentally friendly and cost-effective. According to the National Wildlife Federation, sustainable plants are native plants. Native plants sustain local wildlife more effectively than non-native alternatives, so include native plants in your sustainable garden. Native plants also are less reliant on pesticides and herbicides to

keep them healthy and viable. Don’t forget to bring plants indoors as well. Even though you may be opening the windows more, indoor plants can filter and purify indoor air. The NASA Clean Air Study, led in association with the Associated Landscape Contractors of

America, found that certain common indoor plants naturally remove toxic agents such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from the air. Efficient air cleaning is accomplished with at least one plant per 100 square feet of home or office space.

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potentially harmful products. Before discarding something, see if it can be donated or sold. This will result in fewer items ending up in landfills. Exercise caution outdoors as well. Runoff from cleaning products used on home siding or driveways can leach into the surrounding soil or find its way into sewage drains that ultimately direct fluids to public waterways. Choose environmentally responsible products whenever possible. Springtime renovation and cleaning projects provide the perfect opportunity to adopt eco-friendly practices that pay dividends for years to come.

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Home&GARDEN

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The Northern Virginia Daily PROPER DISPOSAL Spring cleaning is another tradition for many families come the end of winter and dawn of spring. Many people use spring as a time to go through closets and garages to remove items they no longer use or need. In an effort to clean up fast, some people may dispose of chemical products, paints, treated lumber, and many other items in ways that can be damaging to the environment. Always learn local municipal guidelines for proper disposal of potentially harmful products. Area recycling centers may have drop-off areas for stains and paints, used motor oil and other

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Home&GARDEN

18 March 26, 2016

The Northern Virginia Daily

‘Spring cleaning’ is a chance to update decor; some trends By Kim Cook Associated Press

For some people, spring cleaning entails not much more than a good shake of the carpets. For others, it’s an excuse to update room décor. Here’s a sampling of this season’s new palettes, patterns and styles: COLORS

Neither boring nor drab, new neutrals are about bringing home a sense of calm and comfort. Some pastels are chalkier, like sorbet that’s been given a whisk of cream. Then there are the organic hues of earth, sky and water. We see neutrals most often in minimalist décor, like an unglazed, branch-shaped pitcher at CB2 the color of a stormy sea, or Ikea’s trim Mostorp media unit in a soft, rosy hue. Even Le Creuset is offering its signature cast ironware in pale pink and lemon. Los Angeles designer Joy Cho’s new collection at Target is filled with fun, frothy pieces like an acrylic side table covered in polka dots, animal figurines in little party hats, and printed throw pillows and wall art saying, “You’re okay.” Warm neutrals — peach, blush, putty, mint and charcoal — contribute to the airy, feel-good vibe. West Elm has partnered with Roar + Rabbit design studio on a home collection that includes a sexy, midcentury-modern swivel chair dressed in shades called lichen, nickel or dusky blush velvet. The energy shifts with several bold hues that ride the current retro wave. Turquoise, acid yellow, emerald, pink and red are showing up, mostly in accessories and textiles. Kirstin Hoffman, merchandising director for online decor retailer Dot & Bo, says hot pinks are trending: “Whether they’re incorporated in an accent chair or a planter, the look instantly adds energy to a room.” A range of new baking items and dish towels at Crate & Barrel come in a yellow as cheery as a sunny-side-up egg. And you’ll be seeing lots of lush, green, tropical motifs for spring and summer. Beautiful blues — sapphire, navy and a variety of turquoises, teals and pale blues — are strong players on the spring palette. Wisteria has a settee in a rich jewel tone, while Ikea’s got new loveseat covers in deep and delicate blues. Boston Interiors’ Conrad chair is upholstered in a watercolor-blue abstract, while Farrow & Ball has added some lush hues, including Vardo, a teal, and Inchyra Blue, a dramatic bluegray. White — which Benjamin Moore named color of the year — is also trending. The timing’s perfect, says Kimberly Winthrop of Laurel & Wolf: “Bright white is spring cleaning in its truest sense. There’ll be a lot of focus this year on incorporating whites with natural elements and textures into one’s space.”

Boston Interiors via AP

A comfortable chair is upholstered in an Impressionist watercolor blue print that hits all the style points for spring 2016. Consider painting an existing piece of furniture, bringing in side tables or lighting, or changing window coverings to white.

pleasant feel, but it’s in furniture now, too. Ikea’s new Sinnerlig collection from London designer Ilse Crawford includes stools and benches with cork seats, as well as coffee and dining tables. Cork lampshades at AllModern ON THE SURFACE and Luxe Décor throw a warm light. And check out Surfaces are the focus in distressed rugs, textured 1stDibs, Chairish and eBay for ‘70s-era vintage cork throw pillows, and relief-patterned and pin-tucked textable lamps. tiles and wall coverings. Metallics aren’t going away, says Chicago interior Printed, dyed velvets with flora or fauna-inspired patdesigner Mikel Welch. But warmer versions are overtakterns are luxe and painterly; Kevin O’Brien and Beacon ing the chillier chromes and silvers. Hill have collections. “This spring, we’ll begin to see a twist added,” he says. Some furniture designs play with layers and lines. “From warm, rich, metallic upholstery and galvanized West Elm has a mirror named Tree Ring that fuses mirwallpaper to shimmering coffee tables, luxurious metalrored glass with a slice of Vietnamese hardwood. An Indian pouf at the retailer is crafted from chunks of jute lic finishes in pewter, gold and bronze will command and cotton like a 3-D rag rug. attention.” Cork has popped up in lots of new décor. Accessories in Look for brushed copper, soft rose-gold accents, and particular lend themselves to the sustainable material’s painted metallics on throw pillows and wall art.

Home&GARDEN

The Northern Virginia Daily

March 26, 2016 19

MOD AND MODERN

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On the heels of the midcentury revival, some retailers are banking on the 1980s Italian postmodernist style known as Memphis to be the next big thing. Characterized by bold geometric designs and often clashing colors, it’s not for the faint of heart. Musician Lenny Kravitz has collaborated with CB2 on a furniture collection inspired by ‘70s-era New York club culture and the California music scene. A white lacquered media cabinet with brushed steel doors and a round, walnut-topped, white coffee table with concealed storage are standout pieces. Neon-hued acrylic fits the era’s vibe; Land of Nod has flamingo and palm-tree nightlights, while Los Angeles designer Alexandra von Furstenberg displayed a suite of sleek, neon acrylic serveware at the recent NY Now show. Crate & Barrel has launched ARTWORKS, a limited-edition collection of Modernist canvas prints. BOHO COMES HOME

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Free-spirited, colorful and often pattern-happy, bohemian style is easy to embrace. Its influences are global: India, Africa, Latin America. But the eclecticism often comes from a mashup of decorative styles and layered elements. At NY Now, New York designer John Robshaw showed a collection of softly hued woodblock-printed textiles inspired by the gardens, crafts and clothing seen on his travels in Northern India. Hudson & Vine stocks a whimsical collection of animals crafted from reclaimed oil drums. Urban Outfitters has African mudcloth-printed bedding from Deny Designs; medallion-printed tapestries, rugs and pillow covers; and a selection of eclectic headboards made from macramé, reclaimed wood, rattan and iron. Homegoods has some carved and painted African objets d’art, trays and vases as well as kuba cloth poufs. One of Hoffman’s favorite trends this spring is a combination of boho and minimalism. Designs are pared down to core elements — color, pattern and texture. She suggests getting this eclectic style by using neutrals and accenting furniture with hints of deep indigo.

Home&GARDEN

The Northern Virginia Daily

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The Northern Virginia Daily

Home&GARDEN

March 26, 2016 21

By Diana Marszalek Associated Press

With a house close to the Eastern Pennsylvania woods — and the wildlife that lives there — Jeff Acopian wrestled with a problem that afflicts homeowners around the country. “Birds were hitting our windows and dying,” the Easton resident says. “And we didn’t like it.” An engineer by profession and a naturalist at heart, Acopian came up with a solution: Acopian BirdSavers, a fixture that involves dangling pieces of parachute cord in front of windows to keep birds from flying into them. “It sounds pretty bad when you tell someone to hang strings on their front window,” says Acopian, who nixed his original remedy, hanging strings of beads, because it made his house look like “a hippie pad.” “But when people actually see it, it is not objectionable at all,” he says. BirdSavers (at birdsavers.com) is one of a growing number of options available for folks who want to keep birds from crashing into their windows but don’t want to hurt their home’s curb appeal in the process. Christine Sheppard, who runs the bird collisions campaign for the American Bird Conservancy, cites a range of relatively simple ready-made products — BirdSavers, window tape and external screens among them — as well as DIY fixes like washable window paint or hanging branches in front of windows, that are effective enough while also being subtle. “You can reduce collisions without making your house ridiculous,” Sheppard says. While bird collisions are hardly new, she says, the magnitude of the problem is increasing, largely due to more widespread urbanization and a trend toward larger panes of glass in both residential and high-rise construction. Birds are either fooled by the transparency of the glass, or believe the reflections they see in them — trees, shrubs and the like — are real, and die

trying to reach them, she says. Window collisions kill hundreds of millions of birds each year, making them, with cats, one of the two leading humanrelated causes of bird mortality. Conservationists say the number of birds killed by collisions and cats will soon rise to 1 billion per year. But Joanna Eckles, the National Audubon Society’s bird-friendly communities manager, says individuals can easily reduce those numbers simply by putting some visual barrier on the exterior of the windows that birds are drawn to. “The big thing that people need to get is that this isn’t something that has to happen,” she says. “This is preventable.” That prevention, she says, could take a range of shapes. The American Bird Conservancy’s Bird Tape, available at abcbirdtape.org, is translucent and can be used to design patterns on windows. Bird screen, available at birdscreen.com, creates a barrier between birds and windowpanes. CollidEscape, available at collidescape.org, is a film that you put on outside windowpanes to reduce reflection. The options are infinite for do-it-yourselfers, Eckles says. With washable paint, you can use stencils or let the kids create holiday decorations. Hanging virtually anything easy on the eyes — ribbons, delicate branches, strings — in front of windows will do the trick. So will the unobtrusive netting that’s used to protect fruit trees. Not every window needs to be made bird-safe, nor do all windows need the same remedy. It’s up to homeowners to decide, based on which windows attract birds, and at what time of day or year. “There are a million ways people have handled this in beautiful ways,” Eckles says. “You are only restricted by your own rules.” Sheppard agrees. “No one should feel constricted with what they use.” “Most conservation stories just make you depressed, feeling like there is little you can do about it besides giving money,” Sheppard says. “But in this case, you can actually do something.”

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Are your windows killing wild birds?

22 March 26, 2016

Home&GARDEN

The Northern Virginia Daily

Want farmland or garden space in the city? Look up By Katherine Roth Associated Press

NEW YORK — Looking out across an urban or even some suburban skylines, most people see an expanse of rooftops. A few enterprising gardeners, however, see something different: wasted acreage just waiting to be planted. Rooftops are an underutilized resource “in precisely the places where space is everything and fertile land is most scarce,” says Annie Novak, author of a new book, “The Rooftop Growing Guide” (Ten Speed Press). “It makes you want to roll up your sleeves and get growing.” Novak is co-founder and head farmer of the Eagle Street Rooftop Farm, in Brooklyn. Her book is filled with images of rooftop gardens and farms in cities and suburbs across the country. “Rooftop growing is nothing new,” Novak says. “It’s actually an ancient tradition that has been largely overlooked. Urban people in tight spaces have always made room for rooftop gardens.” She offers a 5,000-year timeline that includes Scottish sod-roof houses dating to around 3000 B.C.; Mesopotamian ziggurats featuring rooftop shrubs and trees; the Hanging Gardens of Babylon; European rooftop gardens of the 17th and 18th century; and recent green-roof projects in Chicago, Portland, New York and Montreal. “It’s important to reconnect with that long tradition and realize that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You just need to try to improve upon it,” Novak says. “There’s a big community of expert rooftop gardeners out there, with lots of experience and wisdom to share.” She advises beginners to search online for “rooftop,” “garden” and their city’s name to find like-minded gardeners. Successful rooftop gardeners, she added, must be energetic and unafraid of standing out in a crowd. “You have hard work ahead of you,” she writes in the book’s introduction. “You will find yourself climbing multiple flights of stairs, or riding up in an elevator in which you are the only person carrying a bag of potting mix, your flats of lettuce next to someone else’s briefcase.” In addition to bringing fresh food and jobs to urban centers and helping the environment, some types of rooftop growing also help keep buildings cooler in summer and warmer in winter, proponents say. “Green roof” growing systems, in which the rooftop

Naima Green/Ten Speed Press via AP

Annie Novak is author of the book “The Rooftop Growing Guide,” published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

Naima Green/Ten Speed Press via AP

Stacey Kimmons, Windy City Grower at McCormick Place in Chicago, holds swiss chard included in the book “The Rooftop Growing Guide” by author Annie Novak. is protected by waterproofing membrane and layered with a relatively lightweight soil mix engineered for rooftop use, can add to a flat roof’s longevity by reducing UV light exposure and helping with common problems like stormwater runoff. Not all rooftops are created equal, though, and the first step is to check your building’s specifications and how much weight the

roof can handle, along with local laws. There must be safe access to the roof and some sort of wall around the top so that no one falls off. “Rooftop growing requires permission, practicality and patience,” Novak writes. Consider building codes, zoning, climate and wind (a major challenge in this type of farming).

John Stoddard, whose Higher Ground Farm in Boston serves restaurants and farmers markets, says rooftop growing is unlike other kinds of gardening in many ways. “We don’t have rabbits to contend with, but we have seagulls here and we have wind, so we need to stake our tomatoes accordingly,” he says. On the upside, “Bees somehow find their way up here. We’re on the ninth floor, but I’ve seen dragonflies and plenty of ladybugs.” There are three main systems used for rooftop gardening: container gardens (easiest for novices or gardeners on a budget), greenhouse gardens (more common in fourseason climates where they can be productive even in winter), and green roof growing. “Unlike the other two, the green roof has environmental benefits, provides an insulating layer to the building, holds storm water and can allow for gardening much the way it’s done on the ground,” Novak says. Her guide includes sections on soil, seeds, pests, microbiology (“those teeny guys are important”) and even business 101 for when it comes time to sell the rooftop produce. Nicole Baum of Gotham Greens, a hydroponic greenhouse grower with a staff of 120 and a total of 4.5 acres of rooftop greenhouse space in Brooklyn, Queens and Chicago, says, “People can easily farm in cities, be it on the windowsill or on a commercial scale like us. We bring our produce down on the elevator every morning. It’s way fresher and tastier this way, and there’s plenty of potential for more.”

Home&GARDEN

The Northern Virginia Daily

March 26, 2016 23

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24 March 26, 2016

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The Northern Virginia Daily

Super kitchens: Stove, sink, fridge … and Wi-Fi countertop? By Melissa Rayworth Associated Press

This kitchen has an oversized island with ample seating. The era of the “super kitchen’’ has arrived, say interior designers and trend-watchers: People are building or remodeling kitchens that include work and entertainment space, too.

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Home Depot via AP

American kitchens have always served as more than cooking and eating spaces. Generations of kids have done homework at kitchen tables. Parents claim counter space to organize family miscellany, tap out work emails on laptops or install a television. But now those work and entertainment uses are part of kitchen design from the get-go. The era of the “super kitchen” has arrived. “Our findings show that homeowners expect kitchen renovations to go far beyond improving flow, storage or aesthetics,” said Nino Sitchinava, principal economist at Houzz.com, in announcing the site’s 2016 Kitchen Trends Survey. “The ‘super kitchen’ has literally become a living room, family room and office, with finishes, layouts and decor that challenge us to define where the kitchen ends and the rest of the home begins.” Interior designer Mikel Welch calls the kitchen “the new epicenter of the house.” “Everybody’s working from home,” and they often prefer doing that in an open

HIGH-TECH STATIONS Designer Tiffany Brooks, host of HGTV’s “Most Embarrassing Rooms in America,” says homeowners want technology within easy reach, but protected from food and drink spills. Some add a built-in iPad docking area or laptop station on a counter, while others choose the less expensive option of adding a tablet dock mounted under a cabinet, with an arm that swings out. People also want power. Pop-up outlets are being installed directly into countertops, says Sarah Fishburne, director of trend and design for the Home Depot. Wireless “charging countertops” are also available, including LG’s Tech Top and Dupont Corian. And homeowners are adding extra power outlets throughout the kitchen, and designing dedicated charging areas with power strips. The goal, says Fishburne, is to have “many outlets readily available for anything you might need to plug in, from computer to glue gun.” Another tech choice: Dishwashers that run almost silently, so they won’t distract you while you’re working in the kitchen. And full-size televisions are being added to the main cooking area so you can do your binge-watching in the same place where you try to avoid binge-eating. The traditional focus of kitchen planning — a stove-sink-refrigerator triangle — has become a square, Welch says, with the TV added as a core necessity. Occasionally, new kitchen technology does involve food: “Warming drawers are huge,” Brooks says. Because many people work nontraditional hours, “somebody is cooking at 2,” she says, “but then somebody is eating at 5, and somebody is coming home at 9.” And some people, Welch says, “want to essentially bring Starbucks to them.” Restaurant-quality drink facilities are being added to home kitchens, including elaborate built-in tea and coffee stations, built-in soda systems, faucets with a sparkling water spigot and temperature-controlled wine refrigerators.

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MORE SURFACES, MORE SEATING, MORE STORAGE “An emerging trend is two islands being incorporated into a kitchen, if there is space,” says Fishburne. “This allows for a prep island and an island to accommodate other family functions like work or homework while you are preparing dinner.” Several of Welch’s design clients have requested oversize countertops that “allow six to eight people to comfortably sit with barstools,” he says. Lounging-friendly seating is a priority, whether or not guests will be eating. If a kitchen doesn’t have space for a sectional sofa or other large seating, some homeowners are knocking down walls to merge the kitchen with other rooms. Houzz says half of its survey respondents reported making their kitchens more open to other indoor spaces. And along with opening up the kitchen to the rest of the house, many homeowners are decorating the kitchen to match other rooms. “The kitchen is becoming a lot prettier,” Brooks says. “It is what the living room was” years ago. The kitchen backsplash area can be a creative showcase, the designers say, using custom-made tiles or even antique mirrored glass. Kitchen storage, too, is becoming more stylish and more organized. Closetdesign systems originally conceived for bedroom closets are now being used to organize kitchen cabinets and pantries, Brooks says. And rather than cramming work papers or family files into a cabinet designed for dishes, designers are building office and crafts storage into the kitchen. Many kitchens now have desks or computer workstations, and the days of bringing in “horrible, chunky rolling cabinets” to store files is over, says Welch. Non-kitchen items are stored in “built-ins that match the rest of the kitchen.” Whether they’re asking for the most flattering lighting or details like highend brass cabinet pulls, clients want everything to be beautiful, Welch says. More than ever, they want “that visual ‘wow’ factor.”

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kitchen rather than a sequestered home office. What are the features of a true “super kitchen”?

Home&GARDEN

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540-333-1104 260071

The Northern Virginia Daily

Jamie 540-335-8383 7995 Back Road • Maurertown, Va 22644

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Home&GARDEN

SHENANDOAH COUNTY LITTER PICK-UP DRIVE

The Northern Virginia Daily

• Rototillers • Mowers • Chippers • Chain saws • Trenchers • Skid Loaders • Straw Blowers 261555

Organizations will receive prize money based on the number of bags of roadside litter picked up by your group.

For more information, please call the Shenandoah County Landfill at 984-8573 or visit our website www.shenandoahcountyva.us/landfill

540-635-3789

711 Belair Avenue, Front Royal dp rentals Monday - Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Construction Equipment • Lawn & Garden Tools

...ARE YOU PREPARED?

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT OUR 5 STEP LAWN MAINTENANCE PROGRAM?

(maintenance program not required)

113 E King Street Strasburg, VA 22657-2238 Bus 540-465-3879 Fax 540-465-4709 brenda.parsons.lnll@statefarm.com www.brendaparsons.com

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CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE (540) 635-8930 • (800) 296-8930 www.bestexterminating.com

Brenda K Parsons, Agent

• Spring/Fall Seeding • Aeration • Lime Treatment • Lawn Pest Control

Providing Insurance and Financial Services

Get a Jump on Spring - Save Now CUB CADET ZERO-TURN HEAVY-DUTY RIDER

Z-Force S 48

22 HP1 KAWASAKI® FR SERIES V-TWIN

• Easy-to-use steering wheel with four-wheel steering • Revolutionary Synchro Steer® Technology give total control on all terrain • 48” heavy-duty triple-blade sloped nose fabricated deck

Model 725DT MaxTorque™ diesel for reserve power. • 54.9 cu. in. (900 cc), 3-cylinder, liquidcooled Kubota MaxTorque™ diesel engine.

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Locally Owned & Operated Since 1976

• Early Spring fertilizing and weed control • Late Spring fertilizing and weed control • Summer Fertilizing WE’RE THE • Early Fall Turf Builder BEST, FORGET • Late Fall Turf Builder THE REST! ADDITIONAL SERVICES

g& Weldinngine e ll a sm repair

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All non-profit organizations are encouraged to participate.

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April 1, 2016 - May 31, 2016

• T6® hydrostatic transmission with tandem 16cc Parker Hannifin pumps-in-reservoir, in-line CoolFan™ for cooling efficiency and long service intervals, design-matched Parker high-torque wheel motors. • Bar tread, low-pressure, high-flotation tires.

Service. Knowledge. Selection. Financing. Delivery.

S.R.S., INC. 1021 LAKEVIEW DRIVE WOODSTOCK, VA (540) 459-4826

1 as rated by engine manufacturer Models subject to limited availability

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Home&GARDEN

March 26, 2016 27

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The Northern Virginia Daily

Home&GARDEN

28 March 26, 2016

The Northern Virginia Daily

...and visit all of our listings at www.SkylineTeamRealEstate.com

...or visit with us at 917 Susan Avenue Woodstock, VA 22664

(540) 459-5555

MT. JACKSON

NEW MARKET

STRASBURG

WOODSTOCK

TOMS BROOK

LURAY

$119,900

$129,900

$324,900

$106,650

$194,900

Completely Remodeled 2 BR Next to Town Park

Great 2 BR Cabin on 5 Acres in GW National Forest

Beautiful 4 BR, 2.5 BA w/ Bsmt in Crystal Hill

Spacious 4 BR, 3 BA, Energy Efficient Features

Bank Owned Auction Property, 3 BR, 1.5BA, Garage

Charming Historic 3 BR, 1.5 BA w/ Updates

NEW MARKET

EDINBURG

FORT VALLEY

MT. JACKSON

NEW MARKET

WOODSTOCK

$169,900

$349,000

$119,000

$169,900

$200,000

$272,900

Cute 3 BR w/ Basement, Peaceful Setting

Old Time Charm w/ Modern Updates on 9+ Acres

Sweet 2 BR Cabin w/ Finished Attic, 1.4 Acres

Open Plan 3 BR 2.5 BA w/ Finished Basement

Farmette on 8 Ac, 3 BR House, Conv Location

Spacious 3 BR, 2 BA, Basement & Upgrades

Robin Siomone Gochenour Alsberry

Randall Anderson

Barbara Bailey

Clara Barden

David Barden

Linda Bruno

Sandra Fitchett

Donna Foster

Nathan Gochenour

Misty Jenkins

Gary Rutz

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We can help you BLOOM into your new home!

Larry Turner

540-325-6837 540-233-1034 540-931-5028 540-335-2884 540-630-1686 540-630-0061 540-847-3999 540-975-0836 540-975-0022 540-325-4062 540-325-4235 540-975-1648 540-335-6447