Home and Garden 07/15/17

HOME & GARDEN • SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2017

Look inside for these specials and many others.

Water features

Photo courtesy of Purely Ponds Fine Landscapes

Water plants for any garden Keeping the home cool What weeds are telling you

YEAR ROUND GARDENING

Edible flowers

This article ran in The Gazette’s Home and Garden section last Saturday, July 8, under the incorrect author. Deepest apologies to Susan Christine Jones, who wrote this thorough, informative and useful article on edible flowers. Full credit for this article goes to Susan Christine Jones.

E

BY SUSAN CHRISTINE JONES, COLORADO MASTER GARDENER

dible flowers have been part of human culinary history for thousands of years, though their popularity has varied regionally. In the 1980’s, chef Alice Waters brought attention to edible flowers in American cuisine through her innovative use of them at restaurant Chez Panisse, in Berkeley, California. In addition to being visually dazzling, flowers impart unique flavors as well as nutrients to foods. Most edible flowers contain significant amounts of vitamins A and C in addition to potassium. As in fruits and vegetables, the vivid colors of flowers denote the presence of phytonutrients, reflecting the composition of compounds they contain.

Many flowers can be eaten, though not all taste good. Flavors vary even among the same type of flower. The rose flower’s aromas and colors vary much like its taste. Some are superb in sorbets and ice creams with their delicate, sublime flowery taste, while others are bitter, metallic and quite undesirable for culinary use.

Easy to grow nasturtiums are a popular edible flower. These tender annuals come in several colors, but unlike roses, all nasturtium flowers have the same radish and cress like bite; peppery, spicy and quite unique. Experiment to find varieties that suit your own taste.

Take inventory in your garden — you may already have plants with edible blossoms, though you may have to wait until the right time of season to taste them. It is extremely important to positively identify any flowers for consumption by their scientific name. Carefully evaluate the plants growing environment, and do not consume flowers exposed to pesticides, untreated manure, or other potentially toxic substances. Florist, nursery and garden center flowers are often grown with chemicals not permitted on food by the FDA. Do not ingest flowers grown along roadsides, as pesticides may have been sprayed and particles from car exhausts have built up. Ensure that you only ingest flowers intended for consumption by

com/ColoradoMasterGardeners.EPC For current classes visit elpaso.extension. colostate.edu.

PALATE PLEASING FLOWERS

growing your own. When tasting new flowers, sample a small amount to be sure you are not allergic. To make sure you properly identify edible flowers and familiarize yourself with common toxic plants, consult a trusted reference. For a list of recommended plants with edible flowers and common toxic plants go to extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yardgarden/edible-flowers-7-237.

After discovering edible flowers already growing in your garden, consider adding new ones. For a long harvesting season, include plants with a variety of bloom times from early spring through fall.

Consider trees, shrubs, bulbs, veggies and herbs of both annual and perennial types.

A large garden space is not required. A planting box, or small raised bed, can support a variety of edible flowers as long as it has good drainage and sunlight. Most plants with edible flowers need at least six hours of sun a day. Carefully consider where to plant, as site selection will affect overall health. Many edible flowers are easy to grow, while others require special care in our climate but are worth the extra effort. See the CSU extension website for help with plant selection, proper planting techniques, and soil preparation.

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For best taste harvest flowers early in the day, choosing insect and diseasefree blooms. Remove stems, pistols and anthers, and on roses, remove the bitter white part at the base of the petal. Flowers bruise easily and wilt quickly so consume soon after picking. To store them place between damp paper towels in a covered container in the fridge. Before using wash gently with running water. Use flowers in both sweet and savory dishes, as a garnish, in salads, butters, beverages, sorbets, ice creams and baked goods.

Preserve them in syrups, liquors, jams, vinegars and oils. Store oils and vinegars in the refrigerator due to their limited shelf life. Candied flowers make delectable, intriguing decorations for desserts.

Relish your own creativity in the kitchen while working with nature’s most festive ingredient.

When you have questions, Colorado State University Extension has research based answers. Get answers to your horticulture questions by ask.extension.org any time, day or night. Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. — 12 p.m. you can phone 719-5207684 or emailing CSUmg2@elpasoco.com.

For current garden tips visit www.facebook.

ANISE HYSSOP Agastache foeniculum APPLE BLOSSOMS Malus spp.

ARUGULA Eruca vesicaria BEE BALM Monarda didyma TUBEROUS BEGONIAS Begonia x tuberhybridia BORAGE Borago officinalis BROCCOLI Brassica spp.

CALENDULA Calendula officinalis CHIVES Allium schoenoprasum, A. tuberosum CHRYSANTHEMUM Chrysanthemum x morifolium, C. x grandiflora CILANTRO Coriandrum sativum CITRUS BLOSSOMS Citrus spp.

DAYLILIES Hemerocallis spp.

DIANTHUS Dianthus spp.

DILL Anethum graveolens ENGLISH DAISY Bellis perennis FENNEL Foeniculum vulgare HONEYSUCKLE Lonicera japonica LAVENDER Lavandula augustifolia LILAC Syringa vulgaris MUSTARD Brassica juncea, B. spp.

NASTURTIUMS Tropaeolum majus PINEAPPLE GUAVA Feijoa sellowiana PLUM Prunus Spp. RADISHES Raphanus sativas ROSEMARY Rosmarinus officinalis ROSES Rosa spp.

RUNNER BEANS Phaseolus coccineus SAGE Salvia officinalis, S. elegans SQUASH BLOSSOMS Curcurbita spp.

SOCIETY GARLIC Tulbaghia violacea STRAWBERRIES Fragaria x ananassa THYME Thymus spp.

TULIPS Tulipa spp.

VIOLAS, PANSIES, JOHNNY JUMP-UPS Viola x wittrockiana VIOLETS Viola odorata

O

Water plants for any garden

BY JULIE MCINTYRE, SUMMERLAND GARDENS

n a hot summer’s day, there is nothing more tranquil, more relaxing, more soothing than sitting next to a pond or fountain with water flowing in some form. With our recent hot weather, we’ve needed the allure and sound of fresh water to cool our savage heat, now more than ever. Adding water to your garden can be as simple and as trouble-free as a

tabletop fountain or a colorful bowl that holds water, to creating an elaborate outdoor pond with waterfalls and winding waterways. Add the correct plants, and you’ve created a peaceful oasis that offers the senses a cool drink on a hot day.

Water plants are pretty easy, that’s the good news. There’s not a lot weeding or watering going on. And few flowers are more beautiful than the grand dame of water plants, the water lily. Lilies require at least eight hours of full, direct sun in order to bloom and are well worth trying CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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YEAR ROUND GARDENING

What your weeds are telling you

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BY EILEEN TULLY, COLORADO MASTER GARDENER

confess to being a compulsive weed puller. Not just in my own garden. Often, when visiting friends or chatting with neighbors, I am compelled to reach down and yank out the offending stealer of moisture, nutrients and light from plants that — in my opinion — don’t deserve to grow.

Now I’m learning some weeds, called indicator weeds, can tell us a lot about our soil and gardening practices. Geochemical botanists read the kind of plants growing in an area, and are then able to determine what minerals are in the soil. Horticultural educator, Kelly Alllsup of Illinois State University, states “If you have the following weeds, your soil may be letting you know about a gardening issue.”

Note: if you don’t know the name of your weeds, check online images to find a match or email a photo to extension at CSUMG2@elpasoco.com.

• Chicory and bindweed are indicators the soil is too compacted. Aeration and a soil conditioner like compost or cover crop can help reduce the populations of these offenders.

• Foxtails, dock and horsetail thrive in wet conditions. Try growing goldenrods, joe-pye weed and other moisture-loving perennials and grasses.

• Dandelion and stinging nettle is an indication of acidic soil. Most plants prefer a slightly acidic soil so a soil test may be necessary to determine if the soil is too acidic for plant growth.

• Thistle is an indication your soil needs more acid. This can be achieved with soil amendments like ferrous sulfate or aluminum sulfate. A soil test will indicate how much will be needed to apply.

• Wild carrot, wild radish and wild parsnip grow in infertile soils. A fertility treatment, cover crop or additions of compost to condition the soil may be needed.

• Pigweed indicates an abundance of nitrogen.

• Red clover indicates an excess of potassium.

WEED ID: North Carolina State University (an actual key) http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/turfid/ Photo by Eileen Tully, Colorado Master Gardener

• Purslane and mustard are an indication of an abundance of phosphorous.

• Crab grass is an indication of poor fertility.

Observing what weeds you have, and the conditions they prefer growing in, can indicate how to discourage them.

However, the science of reading weeds could not only reduce the population of the most detested pests but with the proper soil amendments make everything else grow better. Begin by having your soil tested to find out exactly what needs to be added to any crop (vegetables, trees and grasses). Cover crops are an excellent way to deter weeds, add organic matter and can improve the health of next year’s gardens.

HG 4 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JUL 15, 2017

Michigan State University (an actual key) http://www.msuturfweeds.net/ Color Atlas of Turf Weeds. 2008. John Wiley and Sons.

Excellent guide to ID of common broadleaf and grassy weeds Weeds of the West. 1991. The University of Wyoming. 630 pages.

I.D. of many Western weeds, both grassy and broadleaf.

Another thought gaining popularity in the horticulture world is to be more accepting of weeds because they are a habitat for wildlife and a food source for insects.

Wild Queen Anne’s lace is a great larval food for swallowtail butterflies, and dandelions are an excellent source of nectar and pollen for honeybees.

When you have questions, Colorado State

University Extension has research based answers. Get answers to your horticulture questions by ask.extension.org any time, day or night. Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. — 12 p.m. you can phone 719-5207684 or emailing CSUmg2@elpasoco.com.

For current garden tips visit www.facebook. com/ColoradoMasterGardeners.EPC For current classes visit elpaso.extension. colostate.edu.

AROUND THE HOUSE

Keeping the home cool through the summer

BY KEN MOON, SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

Dear Readers: How hot is your attic? We’re coming into a time of year when it might be nice to know. Excess attic heat can slowly leak through the bedroom — and that’s KEN MOON what keeps you tossing and turning all night.

Newer homes usually don’t have enough fresh air flow through their attic interiors.

Builders are often blamed when winter winds blow snow in through the vents, so they supply the bare minimum of vented openings; and they have a heavy snow screen on their undersides. So, even though your attic is vented according to the code, it can be unbearably hot up there, especially if you have a dark roof.

You can check this yourself with an inexpensive remote-sensing thermometer.

Put the sensor half way up in the attic air

space and take readings in the middle of the day. If they are consistently over 120 degrees, you’ve got some work to do. You can add passive ventilation: gable vents, more roof vents, turbines or a ridge vent. But my preference is mechanical ventilation. A whole house fan is best — it cools the house and the attic at night. Or you could install a simple, powered attic vent fan in the roof or on one wall. Either way, you’ll get continuous cooling. Each lower degree means lower cooling costs, and more longevity for your roof.

By the way, any vents you add now can be shrouded with heavy plastic in the fall to keep out the winter snows and retain some “free” solar heat gain.

Dear Ken: I have a tri-level home and of course the bedrooms are hot. I’m confused about the ceiling fans. Blow up or down?

— Yvonne

In the summer they should blow air down towards the floor (usually rotating counter-clockwise). That will force that hot air back through the furnace’s cold air return to be reconditioned by the A/ System. In the winter, reverse the fans so that they wash warm ceiling air up, across and down over the colder walls and windows. One other trick in a tri-level: when you get home after work, turn the furnace fan on continuously so it mixes up the cooler air from the family room with the warm bedroom air. That can lower the temperature of the whole house five degrees or more.

Dear Ken: Our back yard is mostly dirt and cockleburs. Also, we have big dogs, and they are affected by all the mess. We are thinking of concreting most of it. What do you think?

— Cheri

I think it’ll be very expensive. The guys will have to haul the concrete back there in wheelbarrows, and that will run up the cost big time. Besides, concrete is quite permanent, and might not be the choice of a future buyer. Why not consider one of two options: You could spread a generous layer of fine pea gravel over the whole area you’re concerned about. Or, check out artificial turf.

It’s no longer the ugly stuff you remember from the ’80s. Today’s material is made of soft, plastic fibers that not only look real, but feel nearly like natural grass. There’s even a style with drain holes to let your dogs “do their thing.” In either case, at some future time, another owner can remove these improvements and revert to a regular yard.

Ken Moon is a home inspector in the Pikes Peak region. His radio show airs at 9 a.m.

Saturday and is carried on KRDO, AM 1240 and FM 105.5. Visit AroundTheHouse.com.

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THE NEXT STEP IN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN:

Bringing the weather indoors ••

A

Dancing sunlight patterns reflected onto an interior ceiling from a wind-disturbed external water surface.

Photo by Kevin Nute

BY KEVIN NUTE, THE CONVERSATION

building’s primary purpose may be to keep the weather out, but most do such an effective job of this that they also inadvertently deprive us of contact with two key requirements for our well-being and effectiveness: nature and change.

In the 1950s Donald Hebb’s Arousal Theory established that people need a degree of changing sensory stimulation in order to remain fully attentive. And 30 years later, landmark research by health care designer Roger Ulrich showed that hospital patients in rooms with views of nature had lower stress levels and recovered more quickly than patients whose rooms looked out at a brick wall.

Unfortunately, many buildings — especially in cities — are not blessed with green surroundings. I am part of a group of architects and psychologists at the University of Oregon that has been examining ways to overcome this problem using an aspect of nature available anywhere: the weather. Think of rippling sunlight reflecting from water onto the underside of a boat, or the

dappled shadows from foliage swaying in a breeze. Other examples can be seen at vitalarchitecture.org.

When we brought these kinds of natural movements indoors, we found that they reduced heart rates and were less distracting than similar, artificially generated movement. Early results suggest that seeing live natural movement of this kind in an indoor space may be more beneficial than viewing outdoor nature through a window, and could not only help to keep us calm but also improve our attention.

BEYOND GREEN BUILDING

Over the last two decades architects and engineers have developed approaches to building design that greatly reduce the impact of buildings on the natural environment (“green” buildings) and their human occupants (“healthy” buildings).

But these movements focus primarily on new buildings, which benefit only a relatively small number of people compared to the many who could be helped by making existing structures more habitable.

Moreover, most people — including many of those responsible for ordering the construction and remodeling of buildings

HG 6 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JUL 15, 2017

— are not aware of these advances. Many key features of green buildings, such as energy and water conservation, for example, are not immediately noticeable, and as a result, these simple but important practices are significantly underused.

Several leading commentators on sustainable design, including Judith Heerwegan and the late Stephen Kellert, have suggested that in order to have any meaningful impact on the daunting environmental problems we now face, green buildings can no longer simply “do no harm.” Rather, they argue that buildings need to actively demonstrate ways of living in harmony with nature. Our work suggests that bringing the movements of sunlight, wind and rain indoors could make passive energy-saving features in buildings more obvious to the people who order and occupy them, and so greatly increase their usage.

BRINGING THE WEATHER INDOORS

Light shelves, for example, are devices that are commonly retrofitted to the windows of existing buildings to reflect daylight deeper into an interior. Former University of Oregon master’s degree student Aaron Weiss and I have shown that

when a shallow layer of water is added to the top of a light shelf and is disturbed by the wind, the shelf reflects moving sunlight patterns onto the ceiling inside.

In controlled experiments using a windowless room, with a fan and powerful light to represent the wind and sun, we found that this kind of wind-animated light not only lowered occupants’ heart rates but was also less distracting than similar, artificially generated moving patterns.

Importantly, adding wind movement did not reduce the amount of light the shelves transmitted. However, it did make the shelves much more visible to people using the space.

We found the same was true of a range of other key passive energy-saving techniques, including solar heating, shading and natural ventilation. Adding sun, wind or rain-generated movement did not reduce their environmental performance, and in many cases it revealed their operation to those using the building.

But how can we invite the movements of the elements indoors without undermining a building’s first task — sheltering us from the weather? There are three simple ways. We can enclose weather-generated movement in glass courtyards; use sunlight

to project movement from outdoors onto interior surfaces; or project it onto the outside of translucent materials, such as obscured glass.

NO REAL SUBSTITUTE FOR LIVE NATURE

There are many kinds of recorded natural phenomena available today. We can watch videos of gently rolling ocean waves, or fall asleep to the recorded sounds of falling rain. There are even sophisticated software programs that can generate these effects digitally. So why go to the trouble of redesigning buildings to bring these effects indoors?

To answer this question, former University of Oregon graduate student Jeffrey Stattler and I projected a digital tree shadow onto the wall of a windowless room and tested whether there was any difference in people’s responses depending on whether the electronic tree moved with live changes in the wind outside, or according to a computer program.

Most people could not tell whether the tree movements were generated by the wind or by computer. But when

they believed the movement was windgenerated, their assessments of its beneficial effects were significantly higher in all categories.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, most people in the United States now spend more than 90 percent of their lives inside buildings.

Features that make us more relaxed and productive in those indoor environments, then, could have significant positive effects on a great many lives.

Lighting, heating and cooling those buildings accounts for almost 40 percent of U.S. energy consumption. The same natural indoor animation effects could also help to reduce that figure by increasing public awareness of passive energy-saving in buildings.

In addition to its practical benefits for people and the environment, weathergenerated indoor animation also shows us that, while separating us from its extremes, buildings can also reconnect us with nature.

The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.

Artistic by

Nature

Water light shelves being tested on a dental clinic waiting room in Eugene, Oregon.

Photo by Kevin Nute

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One of the pieces on this wall is actually a television. (Hint: it’s the television-shaped one.)

Samsung’s The Frame is the latest attempt to get your TV to blend in. Photo courtesy of Samsung Group

Hide the TV or just frame it?

BY CINDY DAMPIER, TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

T

elevisions are the design world’s version of a Rorschach test. To take it, just ask yourself this question: Does a television hung above a fireplace mantel make you want to settle in with a bowl of popcorn … or scream?

If you fall in with the primal screamers, you might be a woman (designers find that men tend to focus on TVs and electronics in the home, while women focus on how to hide them) or a design nerd, or you might just be someone who isn’t attuned to the nuances of “The Great British Baking Show.” The reason’s not important. What is important is making sure you’re not looking at a shiny black box in the middle of your living room that makes you want to scream.

Weirdly, one form of relief comes from Samsung, the people who are responsible for a lot of the giant black boxes hanging on living room walls. Earlier this year,

HG 8 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JUL 15, 2017

the company announced The Frame, a television designed specifically to not look like a television. Instead, it masquerades as framed artwork.

Recently released in the U.S., The Frame has a charcoal black edge that looks like a sleek, modern frame for artwork. (Frames in walnut, “beige wood” or white are sold separately.) And it comes with an “art mode” that allows you to program artwork or photos (choose from a free offering of 100 pieces, ranging from nature photos to modern drawings, or purchase additional options, or use your own image) to remain on the screen when you’re not watching TV. You can even choose a matte color and layout to give your artwork that custom framing look. Sure, it’s expensive (about $2,000 for the 55-inch model, www. samsung.com) but it’s all in the name of fooling the eye, and soothing that savage design beast — while not giving up “Game of Thrones.”

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Recuperate from your hectic day with free moments, listening to the soothing sounds of water gardens and taking in the sight of a professional, low-maintenance landscape. Many satisfied homeowners readily profess that having Purely Ponds Fine Landscapes install their landscape was the one of the best investments they’ve ever made.

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BEAT WATER PLANTS THE RUSH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

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to add to a water pot or pond. As the leaves of the plant float on the surface of the water, they can spread from six inches to four feet across, depending on the variety. Place them in their pot with at least four to 18 inches (depending on variety) of water over them, fertilize regularly, and wait to be rewarded with their flowers in pink, yellow, red, orange and white. Water lilies grow larger and more spectacular year after year, so make sure they don’t freeze solid over the winter. If your pond isn’t deep enough to keep ice off the crown of the plant, then you’ll have to overwinter them in an unheated garage or basement. Ask us and we’ll talk you through overwintering pond plants.

Other plants to consider are marginals, or plants that grow along the margins of water, just where their roots stay wet.

This includes cattails, Louisiana iris, lobelia, rushes, arrowheads, cannas and more. These make great additions to a pond or water bowl because they can

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make great additions to bowls of water, small fountains and ponds. The most popular floaters are water hyacinths, which produce pretty purple flowers, water lettuce, frogbit, fairy moss and duckweed. All of these floaters are rapid multipliers, meaning you’ll have a lot more plants by the end of the season than when you started. They can be removed and composted if they get too plentiful during the summer. Floaters are also tropical in origin and will not survive our winters, so after the first frost they will need to be removed from the pond and composted.

Water gardening offers some of the most distinctive plants to enjoy. Add to that the cooling effects of water, the soothing sounds of water flowing, and the tranquility offered, and you’ll be glad you added that pond or fountain to your landscape.

To learn more, visit a gardening professional at Summerland Gardens, 124 E. Cheyenne Rd., Colorado Springs.

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WITH BOB JONES ©2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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provide height, as well as help soften the edges of a pond to create a more natural look, hide rocks, or just add interesting textures, colors and flowers. These only want to have water as deep as the pot they’re planted in, and depending on variety can take full sun or some shade.

The biggest challenge with water gardens is keeping the algae at bay.

Whenever you add sun plus water, you’re in for algae. One of the ways to combat that is to shade the water a little and keep some of the sun off of it. This can be done with the lily pads, but also with plants called floaters. These are plants that are not planted in any soil, but just float on the surface of the water — their roots dangling below — providing shade to the water below. They help the water garden by not only providing shade, but also by consuming some of the excess nutrients that algae thrive on. And, these are just about the easiest plants on the planet to grow: no potting, no soil, no fuss — just toss them in the water. They

What call would you make? q 4 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠qJ7♥632♦A♣k98764

♠ A k 10 9 3 2 ♥ 9 4 ♦ q 10 8 ♣ J 4 SOuTH 2♠ ? *Asking

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What call would you make?

Look for answers on Monday.

(Bob Jones welcomes readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001.

E-mail: tcaeditors@tribpub.com)

denniS The menaCe

The Family CirCuS

by hank ketcham

Sherman’S lagoon

PiCkleS

by Brian Crane

mr BoFFo

by Joe martin

by J. P. Toomey

by Bil keane

rhymeS wiTh orange by hilary Price

marmaduke

by Brad and Paul anderson

Baldo

by hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos

SATURDAY, JUL 15, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 11

Blondie

by dean young and John marshall

muTTS

by Patrick mcdonnell

Funky winkerBean

luann

by greg evans

PeanuTS

by Charles Schulz

by Tom Batiuk

HG 12 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JUL 15, 2017

loS angeleS TimeS CroSSword

non SequiTur

by wiley

edited by rich norris and Joyce lewis

lola

by Todd Clark

BeeTle Bailey across 1 Shoots down 8 More than just passed 14 “My two cents ...

16 Variation of the Latin square puzzle 17 Motherboards, etc.

18 They may be ribbons 19 You usually can’t see your shadow on it 20 Scornful grin 22 Underhanded type 23 Sebastian in “The Little Mermaid,” e.g.

25 High wind?

27 They get checked at airports, briefly 28 One on the E. Coast?

31 Mechanic’s supply 34 Does some yard work 35 Shreds comics?

36 561-piece White House, for one 38 Works on, as comics 39 Shortcuts 41 Sun Devils’ sch.

42 Grammy winner James 43 It has a Yakutsk card 44 Be prudent 48 Dodge two-seater 50 Yemeni neighbor 51 Grinch victim 54 Not coastal 56 Habitat that comes and goes 58 No. 2 terminus 59 Like some stag party members?

60 Blush producer 61 Venus, say down 1 “George’s Marvelous Medicine” author 2 Morales of “La Bamba” 3 __ call 4 Amer. capital 5 Old 34-Down preceder 6 Name that means “cool breeze” in Hawaiian 7 Parts of some stable relationships

8 9 10 11 12 13 15 21 23 24 25 26 29 30 31 32 33 34 37 40 42 45 46 47 48 49 51 52 53 55 57

Hieroglyphics creature Maledictions Minneapolis suburb One or two may arrive on Valentine’s Day Furniture giant Mastodon feature Have trouble balancing Engine concern 60-Across supply Grammarian’s concerns Goes on first It’s often labeled “B” Suggestive dance Insurance co. requests Second-largest branch of Islam Nickel-and-dime “Given the circumstances ...”

Fox product President for 200 days Swahili word for “problems” Bacon recipient?

Form for a letter?

Seeking damages Heighten Hotel upgrade option Cross letters Sported Does some yard work Auto pioneer Hang on a line Walker, for short

by mort, greg, and Brian walker

hagar The horriBle

moTher gooSe

by Chris Browne

by mike Peters

Friday’s Puzzle Solved

Tundra

by Chad Carpenter

SATURDAY, JUL 15, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 13

Bizarro

by dan Piraro

argyle SweaTer

by Scott hilburn

CeleBriTy CiPher by luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

B.C.

by hart

ziTS

by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

JumP STarT

Frazz

by robb armstrong

by Jef mallett

HG 14 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JUL 15, 2017

dilBerT

by Scott adams

Sally ForTh

by Francesco marciuliano and Jim keefe

BaBy BlueS

by Jerry Scott and rick kirkman

PearlS BeFore Swine by Stephan Pastis

PooCh CaFe

by Paul gilligan

SATURDAY, JUL 15, 2017 I THE GAZETTE I HG 15

TAKE OUR ADVICE ADVICE

Dear Amy: There is a lot of animosity and competitiveness between my sister and me. I don’t trust her with my feelings because I always get hurt. My parents have never had to worry about me. However, she is always demanding their attention (and I AMY DICKINSON really don’t like attention) and I have started feeling invisible.

My sister recently had a baby girl, the first grandchild. She never sends me pictures but sends them to others, hasn’t invited me to see my niece, and phases me out from the rest of the family. But what bothers me is that my parents are phasing me out, too. They send me a text every now and then to see how I’m doing, but they never visit me.

I am visiting their beach house for a short stay. I tried to plan the trip around them, but they are always busy. When I asked if they would be around, they said they are going to visit my sister. We haven’t seen one another since Christmas, and my feelings are hurt that they aren’t making an effort to see me. I didn’t realize I’d become so irrelevant when my sister had her baby.

I thought about talking with them about it, but how will I know if their response is genuine, or just something they have to do to make me happy? Am I being selfish? — Upset Dear Upset: You aren’t being selfish to want to have a relationship with your parents. The trick is how to do that when you feel so alienated.

It is every family member’s right and responsibility to respectfully express their feelings, regardless of what the response might be. I suggest you do this with your parents. You say that you don’t really like attention, so this sets up a conflict; if you don’t like attention, then how are you to get it when you do want it? They may read your independence as a lack of interest.

You should tell your parents that you understand they are busy, but that you really want them to be in your life in a more active way. I don’t think you should frame this in a way that calls their relationship with your needier sister into question, but simply ask for what you want.

—

Send questions to askamy@tribune.com or to Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.

ADVICE

DR. OZ AND DR. ROIZEN

Roseanna G., Atlanta

Question: I was told that I have frozen shoulder.

It’s painful and restricting. What can I do for it, and what kind of specialist should I see for effective treatment?

—

Answer: Frozen shoulder syndrome, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition in which connective tissue surrounding your shoulder joint (the capsule) thickens and adheres to adjacent structures, making the shoulder so tight that moving it causes pain. An orthopedic doctor who has handled many cases of FSS is your best bet for diagnosis and treatment.

FSS progresses through three stages. No. 1 is called “freezing.” Over six weeks to nine months, pain worsens and motion becomes restricted. The second stage, “frozen,” lasts four to six months; though pain may lessen, it can become even more difficult to use your shoulder or arm. The last stage, “thawing,” is a return to normal or near-normal function, which takes from six to 24 months. (But you don’t want to wait that long to feel good again!)

FSS affects women twice as often as men, usually between the ages of 40 and 60. And while around 2 to 5 percent of the population contends with FSS, more than 13 percent of folks with diabetes have the condition. Although FSS is also associated with thyroid and heart disease, an accident or sports injury and some medications, there’s usually no obvious cause.

Treatment options: 90 percent of the time, you can improve substantially with physical therapy, using pain-relieving NSAIDs or taking a course of prednisone. There also are injections that can break up adhesions and restore motion.

Surgery may involve manipulation that stretches or tears the capsule and adhesions, restoring movement, or shoulder arthroscopy, in which the surgeon cuts through the tight areas of the joint capsule.

We are sorry you have to contend with the dis-

ADVICE

Dear Heloise: I’m big on saving money, and lowering my air-conditioner bill is a great way to do it.

Here are some hints I use, even in the heat of summer: • Comfort is key, but I’ve gotten accustomed to a room temperaHINTS ture of 78 to 80 degrees.

FROM • I keep my outdoor unit free of HELOISE grass and bushes.

• Ceiling fans often are all that I need to cool off, especially at night.

• Closing blinds and window treatments, I’ve discovered, keeps the house cooler.

• I replace and clean the AC filters regularly.

• I don’t have a room AC unit, but it’s best to keep these out of direct sun.

• I close the doors and vents to rooms I don’t use, so they don’t get cooled.

• I turn up the AC when I’m away from home.

My unit is fairly new, but if you have an older model, it’s probably not as energy-efficient as it could be. I’d consider an upgrade. — Mike C. in Arizona Great hints! Use some of the dollars saved to have an ice-cream treat or cool glass of iced tea!

— Heloise Dear Heloise: I bought an ice bucket with a good-fitting lid from the thrift store and lined it with a plastic produce bag.

I put the waste from my cat’s litter pan in it and change the bag once a week on trash day. The insulated bucket completely contains all the odor.

Works great! — Vicki L., Mansfield, Ohio Dear Heloise: My complaint is that many stores have their cart return far away from the accessible spots. I’m not disabled, but my wife is.

— Gary H. in Maine Dear Heloise: An old golf bag can be used in the garage to store mops and brooms, etc. It holds a lot and doesn’t take up a lot of space. — Elaine H., Port Charlotte, Fla. —

Send hints via email to heloise@heloise.com or via post to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPES BY JERALDINE SAUNDERS ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19) Only an octopus can do eight things at once. You may find yourself overwhelmed if you try to take on too many tasks at the same time.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20) Don’t expect others to do something for you unless you reciprocate. Finding a mutually beneficial compromise is the surest way to break an impasse.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Probing too deep for answers may unearth sensitive subjects that are better left alone. Board games or sports are a great way to break the ice.

CANCER (June 21 July 22) Make the most of your day by getting out the golf clubs, having a picnic or taking a walk. A significant other may have grand designs for the evening.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Make the most of it. Turn wherever you are into the place to be, whether you are off on an exciting trip or just hanging around the house.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Even the smallest of favors may have strings attached. To make a group project work, let everyone know what is expected of them.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) The weekend brings renewed energy and allows you to tackle tough tasks. The object of your heart’s desire may have their sights set on you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You need to find ways to keep your mind and body occupied. Competitive events may be right up your alley but don’t emphasize winning or losing.

HG 16 I THE GAZETTE I SATURDAY, JUL 15, 2017

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Be mindful of what you are saying and who you are saying it to. Avoid blurting out confidential information. You’re more comfortable in intimate settings.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Let the creative juices flow. Put your imagination to good use and think outside the box. The sparks of romance may grow into a roaring inferno.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Tie up loose ends. You’ll be better off trying to fix nagging problems than starting anything new. Set aside time to spend with a significant other.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20) Get going while the going is good. It will be a good day to knock off those household tasks you may have been putting off.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

July 15

Although you may be focused on business and money the next two to three weeks, you will find social activities grow more important by August. You may receive more invitations than usual. Get your vacation out of the way in early September when your willingness to explore new places and thirst for romance is at a peak.

Be prepared to work hard in October.