At Home Living 062417

Saturday, June 24, 2017 An advertising feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

home.cjonline.com

topeka daylily club show

In full bloom Daylily growers show off their flowers page 6 n Learn all about herbs, page 2 n 10 ways to dress up your kitchen, page 5 n Materials add a dash of disorder, page 8

ann redmon

2 | Saturday, June 24, 2017 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Herbs can spice up your garden An herb is a plant traditionally valued for its medicinal, culinary or fragrant properties.

Now, herbs also are grown for use in crafts Brenda Jarboe and for therapeutic and environmental benefits.

Originally, herbs were grown in specialty gardens: herb gardens, knot gardens, kitchen or chef gardens, medicine gardens and fragrance gardens. More recently, herbs are being used in edible landscaping and theme gardens, such as pizza or salsa gardens, and to help bees and butterflies.

Herbs also do well in containers, either outside or

inside, in a sunny location.

Most herbs need four to six hours of sunlight a day.

In winter, herbs growing indoors will benefit from 12 hours of artificial lighting.

Growing herbs in containers allows gardeners to move tender perennials, such as scented geraniums, patchouli and bay, indoors before a cold snap. Also, some herbs — chervil, cilantro, cumin, chamomile, French tarragon — don’t tolerate wet feet. In containers, they can be moved out of the rain.

All containers should have drainage holes so water doesn’t pool in the bottom of the pot. Any saucers under the containers should be kept free of standing water.

While most herbs prefer full sun and well-drained

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

n Shawnee County Master Gardeners will present a worm composting workshop from 1:30 to 3 p.m. July 12 in the upper meeting room at the Shawnee County Extension Office, 1740 S.W. Western Ave. Participants will assemble and take home a functioning, indoor worm composting bin, including the worms. Registration and a $10 materials fee are due July 7 at the Extension Office, which is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MondayFriday. soil with a pH range of 6.0-7.5, many can grow under adverse conditions.

Sweet woodruff, parsley, bee balm, comfrey and mints do fine in shady, moist locations. Thyme can tolerate some gentle abuse and often is planted along walkways where bruising of the leaves emits a pleasant fragrance.

Culinary herbs are grown for their flowers, foliage, roots or seeds and can be used fresh, dried or frozen. Dried herbs are

about three times more potent than fresh or frozen herbs.

To dry herbs, tie them in a bunch and hang them bloom-side down in a dark, dry, well-ventilated but warm environment.

Label them because herbs are hard to identify after drying.

Fresh herb leaves may be rinsed, patted dry and frozen in plastic bags or containers. Another method is to drop leaves into ice cube trays, cover with water and

freeze. Once frozen, the cubes can be removed from the tray and stored in the freezer in plastic bags or containers.

Harvesting herb foliage can be done anytime. Harvesting just before blooming will capture the highest concentration of essential oils, making the flavor and fragrance the strongest.

Seeds, such as dill and fennel, are harvested once they have matured. Dill and fennel both reseed profusely, so deadheading before seeds mature is best to control their invasive tendencies if you’re not wishing to harvest the seeds.

Herbs are sometimes used in companion planting and as trap crops in conjunction with other pest management plans.

Companion planting uses

two or more species of plants together for pest control, greater production or other mutual benefits without compromising the production of any of the plants.

Research is limited on companion planting, but enough has been completed to validate certain claims.

Using dill as an example, squash bugs, cabbage loopers, spider mites and aphids are repelled by dill, while beneficial insects, like bees, butterflies, hoverflies and predatory wasps are attracted to dill. Dill also augments the growing of spinach, onion, garlic, lettuce, cucumbers, melons and cole crops, such as broccoli and cauliflower.

Trap cropping is the JARBOE continues on 9

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, June 24, 2017 | 3

Furniture repair can freshen decor

By Emily Simpson Angie’s List

Whether your furniture is outdated or you like changing your decor regularly, refreshing your current furniture or a garage sale find is a great way to get an updated look.

One of the easiest ways to update a piece is to paint it. Painted furniture isn’t limited to wood; you can update metal, wicker, even upholstery. Personalize any piece to match your style; add a funky design or go with a classic antiqued look. Your furniture will determine the paint you use: n Stain. Wood stains are an ever-popular choice and come in a variety of hues, from cherry red to dark espresso. n Spray paint. A great option for furniture with details or lots of curves. You can choose various colors and finishes, include matte, satin or metallic. Works for various materials, such as metal, wicker or wood. n Chalk paint. Increasingly popular, very little prep work is required, and it gives furniture a nice antique look. True to its name, it provides a matte, chalky finish. n Latex. Available at many hardware stores, it lets you choose a vibrant color or

specific shade. Latex paints offer a variety of finishes, from shiny satin to flat matte. n Acrylic. Available at craft stores, works for many different pieces, making it an almost universal option. n Fabric medium. Mixed with an acrylic or latex paint for painting upholstered furniture.

Slipcovers

Slipcovers are a simple, fast way to refresh any furniture. You can switch colors and patterns for the season, or simply choose a new neutral color to hide an outdated floral or plaid piece. You can try to make your own slipcovers to match your home’s decor and furniture’s specifications. Otherwise, you can buy one that ties on, snaps on or has an elastic band.

Reupholstering

Reupholstering furniture is a bit more expensive than painting, but it’s much cheaper than buying a new chair or couch. By reupholstering that ugly wingback chair, you can choose the fabric you want, add some updated elements such as tufting or nail-head trim and make sure you have the exact look

you want.

Accessorize furniture

Some old furniture just needs a bit of a touch-up to give it a fresh look. You could swap old handles and pulls for updated pieces, paint outdated gold handles and hinges, add a nail head trim to the arms or backs of chairs and couches, or buy or e-cover pillows and cushions on couches and chairs.

4 | Saturday, June 24, 2017 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Waterproof panels can be placed over shower tiles Installation also gives a new look

By Ed Del Grande Tribune News Service

Q: Dear Ed: We have an older shower stall, and the mixing valve has to be replaced. The valve is installed in an area

hard to access, and we need to open up the tile. The present tile can’t be matched. Any ideas on how we may avoid extensive remodeling work and best deal with this big problem?

— Rich, Florida

A: Solid-surface shower wall panel kits are becoming very popular for new shower stall installations.

The good news is these durable waterproof panels also can be custom-cut and installed over existing tile walls. So, to avoid extensive demo work, you can open

up only the wet wall area needed to install the new mixing valve.

Once the plumbing is completed, the wall panels, along with the corner joint kits, can be installed over the existing tile. This not only can make the job easier, but it also can give

your shower stall a brandnew look.

I’ve worked with a shower wall material called Serica, which is available in many color patterns and textures.

Bottom line: To get rid of a big problem, sometimes you might be better off if

you just cover it up.

Master contractor/plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book “Ed Del Grande’s House Call,” the host of TV and Internet shows, and a LEED green associate.

Visit eddelgrande.com or write eadelg@cs.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, June 24, 2017 | 5

10 ways you can dress up your kitchen year-round

By Cathy Hobbs

Tribune News Service

When it comes to entertaining, it’s common to dress up a dining table to enhance food pairing or to create a decorative table scape. But why not dress up your kitchen and casual din-

ing areas year-round? Many homeowners embrace the opportunity to showcase decorative elements in a creative way. If you’re looking for ways to include these elements into your home, here are some creative tips. n Select some of your favorite things to display.

n Look for both color and texture. These elements can often serve as your creative guide. n Don’t overdo it. In many instances, less is more. n Transition your decor.

Experiment with rotating your decor depending on the season or occasion.

n Don’t forget to incorporate black or white. White is a wonderful foundation color, while black adds a sense of glam and elegance. n Stay away from trendy pieces. It’s better to choose pieces that will stand the test of time. n Add reflective surfaces,

such as mirrors. n Try using real or dried fruits as decor elements.

They add color and are easy to rotate. n Look for interesting bowls and vessels to display the items. n Don’t be afraid to display a minimalist look. Of-

ten, single items done well can have impact.

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs. com or cathyhobbs.com.

6 | Saturday, June 24, 2017 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

topeka daylily club show

Growers showcase blooms at event Annual show also features photo contest

By Jan Biles

jan.biles@cjonline.com

jim fry/Submitted

A daylily hybridized by Topekan Jim Fry in June 2016.

Eric mack/Submitted

A sculpted seedling grown by Topekan Eric Mack.

If you have a daylily that you’ve grown and especially adore, you might think about entering it in the Topeka Daylily Club Flower Show.

The show, which is open to the public, will be from 1 to 4 p.m. July 1 at Fairlawn Plaza, 2114 S.W. Chelsea Drive. The theme for the American Hemerocallis Society-judged show is “Topeka’s Daylilies,” with each design section reflecting a different city park.

Chris Tyler, publicity chairman for flower show, said daylilies will be judged in a number of categories based on qualities such as size, form and if grown from seedlings. A youth division will be available, and visitors can vote in a regional popularity poll.

“There will be a whole array of shapes, colors and forms of daylilies, all grown locally,” Tyler said. “The public can get an idea of what people can grow in their yard.”

Daylily growers can enter their blooms from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. the day of the show at Fairlawn Plaza. Tyler said rosettes will be awarded to winners in each category.

However, only members of the American Hemerocallis Society can receive rosettes;

TOPEKA DAYLILY CLUB FLOWER SHOW

What: A daylily show featuring about 150 entries, a daylily photography contest and a daylily sale When: 1 to 4 p.m. July 1 Where: Fairlawn Plaza, 2114 S.W. Chelsea Drive

winning entrants may join the society the day of the show.

The public also can be a judge during the show by voting on their favorites in three categories: scape horticulture, design and photography.

Daylilies will be given away and also sold, Tyler said. Cost is $10 for two daylily fans.

In addition to the show and sale, a daylily photography contest will be offered, Tyler said. Entrants don’t have to be a member of the American Hemerocallis Society or Topeka Daylily Club.

Entries will be received from 8 to 9:30 a.m. July 1 at Fairlawn Plaza and judged at 10:30 a.m. Categories are Class A, individual daylily bloom; Class B, multibloom; and Class C, Artistic Garden Image Award, which should include part or all of the daylily bloom but may also include segments or parts of a bloom, profile shots of a bloom or blooms, garden art, garden critters, or images taken around the garden.

Ribbons will be awarded to the first three places in each class. An overall purple ribbon will be selected from the blue-ribbon winners.

The photographs can be picked up at 4 p.m. July 1.

Photos not claimed by July

17 become the property of the Topeka Daylily Club and may be discarded.

Other guidelines for the photography contest include: n A daylily or daylilyphotograph must be the focal point of the entry. No people can be in the photo.

No Photoshopping allowed.

No date or time stamped on the photo. n The photo must be an 8-by-10-inch glossy color print, mounted on a backing and matted. Prints must not be framed or under glass. n The following information should be submitted on the back of the photo: indication of the top of the photo; class in which to enter; name, address, zip code, phone number and email address of photographer; and name of cultivator, if known. n Photos must be taken by the entrant, but don’t have to be of flowers in the person’s yard or taken recently. n An entrant can submit two photos in each category.

Previous winning images shouldn’t be re-entered.

Tyler said last year’s flower show received more than 160 entries — 130 in the scape horticulture division, 13 in the design division and 24 contest photographs.

Contact niche editor Jan Biles at (785) 295-1292.

homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, June 24, 2017 | 7

In full bloom: A daylily gallery Here are some examples of the daylilies grown by Topekans Jim Fry and Eric Mack and Manhattan resident Ann Redmon, all members of the Topeka Daylily Club.

eric mack/Submitted

Barbara Mitchell

jim fry/Submitted

Carnival in Mexico

eric mack/Submitted

Critical Mass

ann redmon/Submitted

Caught Red Handed

jim fry/Submitted

Heavenly United We Stand

eric mack/Submitted

Smith Brothers

Manhattan resident grows hundreds of daylilies

By Jan Biles

jan.biles@cjonline.com

Manhattan resident Ann Redmon loves daylilies. She has 900 registered varieties growing on the 2/3-acre lot at her home, as well as in three community garden plots.

She is drawn to the different colors, shapes, petal patterns and heights of the

popular flower.

“I’m a bit of a collector,” said Redmon, president of Region 11 of the American Hemerocallis Society.

The world is home to about 80,000 varieties of daylilies. Some growers, like Redmon, are also hybridizers, meaning they spread the pollen of one variety of daylily to another, harvest and plant its

seeds and wait to see what new type of daylily might emerge.

“The first year, there will be no blooms. The second year, some will bloom, and the third year, most of them bloom,” she said of the new plants.

Redmon, a member of the Topeka Daylily Club who will help with classifications at its upcoming

flower show July 1, said daylilies are easy to grow, especially in Kansas.

She suggested these simple tips for growing and caring for the flowers, whose blooms only last a day: n Plant daylilies in a spot that has at least a halfday of sunlight. n While daylilies don’t need much water to sur-

vive, watering will help them bloom and grow better. n Add organic matter to the soil, especially if the soil is clay-like, to loosen it up. n Deadhead the plant — remove fading blooms — so it looks “neater.” n Watch for aphids.

Spray the plant with water from a garden hose or use

an insecticidal soap to get rid of the pests. n Divide daylilies when they become crowded or aren’t blooming as expected. She suggests digging the plant out of the ground, cutting it into quarters and transplanting each part in a sunny spot.

Contact niche editor Jan Biles at (785) 295-1292.

8 | Saturday, June 24, 2017 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | homes.cjonline.com

Natural materials provide appealing disorder

By Mary Carol Garrity Tribune News Service

Interior spaces that are too fussy make me uncomfortable. I think when you really live in a home, there needs to be a bit of disorder: A messy stack of books next to your reading chair in the living room floor. A cat asleep on the duvet at the bottom of your bed. A piece of furniture with a story to tell, like a chest with chipping paint or an ottoman upholstered in a worn old rug.

Maybe that’s why I love to weave natural materials into my home. They provide Mother Nature’s restorative palette of cream, tan and brown. They’re beautifully imperfect and a wonderful backdrop for more refined treasures you want to spotlight.

Sometimes, people get confused about the difference between wicker and rattan. The quick answer is that wicker is not a material, but an ancient technique for weaving natural materials like willow, rattan and bamboo into furniture or baskets or whatever. Wicker furniture can be made out of any sort of natural or syn-

bryan e. mccay

A stack of wicker suitcases is used to build a side table in a study, adding to the earthy warmth of the room. thetic material.

Rattan, a vine that grows in the shape of a pole about 3 inches in diameter, is a strong wood and can be used to construct

furniture, from outdoor chairs to hutches and bed frames. Bamboo looks similar but has a hollow core so it’s not as strong and durable as rattan.

I love them both. They are at home anywhere, from a seaside cottage to a mountain lodge, in formal spaces and in those that are more relaxed.

Woven wooden blinds also add delicious texture to a room. When she was decorating her little cottage in Atchison, my friend Cynthia used bamboo shades to bring a bit of rustic charm to the spaces. I like how they contrast with the more formal furnishings in the room.

I adore lovely old oriental rugs and have a patchwork quilt of them in my home. But underneath it all, natural fiber rugs like sisal or sea grass are a must-have. They wear like iron, are forgiving when stained and provide a lovely base for a room.

A common mistake people make when buying area rugs is to get a size that’s too small. Understandable when you consider how much a really good rug costs. But natural fiber rugs are so affordable you can use them to cover the entire room without breaking the bank.

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homes.cjonline.com | The Topeka Capital-Journal | Saturday, June 24, 2017 | 9

Jarboe: Planting dill will attract butterflies Continued from 2

planting or sacrificing of one crop to benefit another crop. An example is planting dill to attract swallowtail butterflies to help pollinate the garden.

Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars use dill foliage for food before morphing into butterflies.

Dill also attracts tomato hornworms, so sacrificing dill to keep the hornworms away from tomatoes benefits tomatoes if the dill is planted

a distance away. Dill and tomatoes aren’t compatible when planted close together.

So whatever your purpose, herbs can be grown in containers, as part of your landscape or in your garden to spice up meals, help other plants grow or just for enjoyment of your environment.

Brenda Jarboe is a nutrition educator, coordinator for the Community Garden Network for the Shawnee County Extension Office and a Shawnee County Master Gardener.

Alternative uses Try out these alternative uses for everyday items: n Use baby wipes to clean phones, sticky purses, dirty hands, faucets and sinks. Beware: Baby wipes aren’t safe for marble or granite. n Turn a checkbook wallet into a coupon organizer. n Use coffee cans as containers for small items in your garage or children’s room. n Put a coffee filter between plates when storing. For nonstick pots and pans, use one to keep the surface from being scratched when you stack them. n Use a newspaper as a whisk broom. Roll a section of the newspaper lengthwise, then cut across one end a few times and spread out the fringe.

Use to brush away cobwebs or crumbs, then toss it out.

Source: heloise via goodhousekeeping.com

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