10 minute read
HOME & HEARTH
Bring the Beauty of Succulents Into Your Home
By Katherine Gotthardt
If you have ever looked around your house and thought, “This place could use a few good plants,” and you thought you might try bringing home some succulents, you’re not alone. Home décor can come alive with the right succulents. Their thick leaves and stems made for storing water are interesting and attractive, making them popular choices. What’s more, succulents can improve air quality and help regulate humidity. Plus, some succulents, like aloe, have medicinal value. If all this sounds appealing, you’ll need to know the basics on buying and caring for this unique type of plant.
Planning for Your New Plant
Before purchasing any houseplant, be sure to scope out your home to ensure you have the right kind of space to accommodate the variety of plant you’re looking for. Ask yourself these questions:
n Do I have spots that allow several hours of sunlight per day?
n Are those spots safe from animals that might knock over or eat my new plant?
n Do I have shelving or windowsills where my plant can live?
Next, you will need to choose the right kind of succulent. There are hundreds of varieties, and not all are meant to grow indoors. Some things to consider are:
n How often do you plan to give your plant attention (for example, watering it)?
n What colors will help bring out the beauty of your home?
n What size, shape and style of plant and pot will fit in the space you’ve designated in your home?
Once you have answered these questions, you’re ready to start purchasing.
Purchasing Your Succulent
You’ll want to think through which purchase options work best for you, as there are many ways to acquire your new succulent. You might choose to order your plant from one of the thousands of online outlets. Or you might visit a local nursery. No matter what you decide, it’s best to speak with a professional about your particular needs to ensure you choose the right variety. As you make your selection, also check for the following:
n Does the plant have bumps, bruises, mushy spots or discoloration? If so, you could be looking at an unhealthy plant that won’t live long, no matter how well you treat it. don’t want to bring home unwelcome guests.
n Is the plant small, full of roots and being sold in a tiny pot? If so, you will need to transplant it and keep a closer eye on its growth.
Be sure to purchase everything your succulent will need. This includes:
n The right size pot to accommodate the plant while allowing for growth
n Potting soil designed for succulents
n A water bottle or watering can to help you water evenly
You might also want to purchase a guide on caring for your new succulent.
Helping Your Succulent Settle In
When you get home, if you need to transplant your succulent, you can do it right away, using the appropriate soil in the right amount. Arrange your plant, taking care that all roots are covered and soil is evenly distributed. Don’t forget to water it. Direct water into the soil, taking care not to over water. Doing so will cause it to grow mold and rot. You know your plant has enough water when the water runs into the drainage holes at the base of the pot. Going forward, you will know it’s time to water your succulent if the top inch of the soil is dry.
Now it’s time to sit back and take in your succulent in its new environment. Enjoy the color and vibrance it brings to your living space. With the right care, your plant can remain a healthy, beautiful part of your home for several years.
Katherine Gotthardt (kgotthardt@princewilliamliving.com) is Director of Content Marketing for Prince William Living and an award winning author and poet. Read more about her at KatherineGotthardt.com.
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Takeout or Delivery Local Restaurants Adjust to Quarantine
By Marianne Weaver B y Friday, March 13, school and business closure rumors were swirling, but no one was prepared when Gov. Ralph Northam issued an executive order Monday, March 23, 2020, shutting down all non-essential services, limiting restaurants and bars to carry-out, curbside and delivery services only.
“Right around the beginning of March, we noticed a significant drop in the number of customers dining in at the restaurant,” said Kyle Donovan, manager of Blue Ridge Seafood, a 41-yearold, third-generation restaurant located at 15707 Lee Highway in Gainesville. “We met as a family to brainstorm ideas for moving forward. We still offer our current lunch/dinner menu and our seafood market carry-out items, but we have started to offer more family-style meals to offer more options for families.”
Specials are posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
As other restaurants in Prince William took a break to reassess, Kumar Iyer, owner of Rangoli Indian Restaurant at 10223 Nokesville Road in Manassas, tried to maintain his business. Before the pandemic, he said he was serving about 500 meals a week, with about 60% dine-in.
“We stayed open for dine-in even when most stores closed or started restricting the hours until the governor's order to shut down seating,” he said. “When we were open for dine-in, last few days, we had a sanitizer dispenser at the entrance for all guests to wipe their hands. We allowed no more than 10 guests at a time in the dining room. We would wipe down the tables and chairs with Clorox wipes after each seating.”
Monza staff preparing to serve during the pandemic.
a unique position to adjust her business to adhere to new regulations.
“I have a neuro-immune condition,” she said. “I think all of my years of having to be extra careful came into play in realizing just how serious this situation was and that it warranted the extra precautions for everyone.”
Something for Everyone
Prince William is a diverse region, and the vast array of restaurant specialties reflect the residents’ wide range of tastes. Although some restaurants have opted to take a break and wait for the all-clear, there are plenty of restaurants in this region ready to fulfill any cravings.
Weed said prior to the pandemic, Three Monkeys specialized in serving traditional American classics.
“We were a hot spot in town for food, drinks, concerts and so much more,” she said. “Now, we have limited our food menu to our most popular pub grub items. We switched to strictly to-go food early on — before it was mandated — because we saw the need to protect both our customers and our employees. We took a massive hit on sales, but in hindsight I’m relieved we made that tough decision when we did.”
The menu is posted on their website at threemonkeysmanassas.com
Dixie Bones BBQ, 13440 Occoquan Road in Woodbridge, closed their dining room in mid-March but has continued serving customers takeout and delivery throughout the shutdown.
“We have not changed our menu except to showcase our frozen meats,” said Nelson Head, chairman. The most popular items, he said, are hickory smoked ribs, macaroni and cheese, collard greens and pecan pie. The menu and specials are posted on their Facebook page.
Uptown Alley, an entertainment and restaurant venue in the Manassas Mall, previously generated about 98% of food sales through dine-in sales.
“When the governor’s mandate came out for gatherings of 10 guests or less, we realized we needed to make a drastic change to our business model,” said Monica Harmison, director of sales and marketing. “We created a specific menu for curbside to-go for both food and beverages. We also offer a weekly heat-andserve family meal on Sundays for curbside pick-up. And we have delivery partnerships with Uber Eats and DoorDash.”
The menu and specials are posted on their Facebook page.
Iyer said he revamped Rangoli’s Indian menu, removing slow-moving items and dishes that need expensive or unique ingredients. In addition to curbside pick-up, they also schedule deliveries to nearby communities. Visit their Facebook page for menu and delivery schedule.
Arthur Lampros, co-owner of Giorgio’s Family Restaurant at 4394 Kevin Walker Drive in Montclair, said he closed the Mediterranean/American restaurant for a month to devise a plan for serving customers during the pandemic. During the break, he reached out to loyal customers and friends in the business to find out what was working … and what wasn’t.
Monza serves a variety of brick-oven pizzas and flatbread.
“We wanted to do this safely,” he said. “We limited the menu to things we can control — things that can be put together with just two people in the kitchen and that reheat well at home.”
The family-style menu is available at giorgiosfamilyrestaurant. com. He said the weekly specials are always a hit. So far, they have offered lasagna, crab cakes and cannelloni Bolognese. Orders must be placed prior to arrival; no walk-up orders are accepted.
“In the end, it is about focusing on quality and making sure that if they can’t come inside and eat, what they take home is just as good, if not better,” said Lampros.
Alice Pires, owner of Carmello’s and Monza in Downtown Manassas, has been serving Portuguese- and Mediterraneaninfluenced food since 1987. Prior to the pandemic, the more casual Monza filled a few takeout orders, but Carmello’s was exclusively dine-in.
“Right away, after we were mandated to close, we immediately went to all takeout and delivery for Monza and closed Carmello’s,” said Pires. “We re-opened Carmello’s at Easter and now offer only Friday and Saturday takeout/delivery on a limited menu.”
Carmello’s limited menu is available at carmellos.com. Monza’s full menu is available at eatmonza.com.
Sean McNamara, owner of Preston’s Pub, 9103 Andrew Drive in Manassas Park, thought he was doing a brisk to-go business earlier in 2020, but little did he know how much he would step it up by mid-March.
“It was a rollercoaster ride for the first couple of weeks after the governor shut down restaurants. We scrambled every day to (continues on page 35)
