At Home Living 043016

Saturday, April 30, 2016 An advertising feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

Backyard projects Getting into the swing of play sets, page 6 n Jamie Kidd on monarch butterflies, page 2 n Decorating trends for nurseries, page 5 n Refreshing your raised garden’s soil, page 7 n Online sources for redecorating, page 10

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Plant gardens to attract monarch butterflies Spring is arriving in great style this year.

I have been cautious, waiting for that last hard frost, but, alas, I haven’t seen anything that might do damage to our early leafing trees and flowers.

Phew.

So it’s time to turn our thoughts to planting our gardens and our continued efforts to help the pollinators, especially monarch butterflies.

Each fall, monarch butterflies use their specialized body parts to navigate their way to a forested area in the mountains of central Mexico, where they stay during the winter.

They travel from Eagle Pass and Del Rio, both in Texas, and ride wind currents that help them

Jamie Kidd Jamie KiDD

jamiehan@ksu.edu jamiehan@ksu.edu

travel long distances in a single day.

In late March, they begin their long journey north. Females stop in Texas and lay the first generation of eggs. The eggs hatch and become butterflies that continue to make their way north in May. Second, third and fourth generations hatch in June, July and August.

The fourth generation monarchs are the great-great-grandchildren

of the butterflies that left Mexico in March.

A similar generational pattern happens when the monarchs return to Mexico. This is why it’s so necessary to provide food sources for the monarchs throughout the growing season.

Perennial milkweed is the only plant monarchs will lay their eggs on and the only plant the larvae will consume. Asclepias tuberosa is the most common perennial milkweed in our area. Annual milkweed is a great nectar plant for the monarch butterfly, as are many other nectar producing flowers and shrubs (see a list at www.shawnee.ksu. edu).

The decline of the monarch butterfly has reached

national proportions and is receiving national attention. The decline has several underlying causes: loss of habitat in Mexico due to logging; use of insecticides for mosquito control; crop land replacing prairies and pastures; fence-tofence farming leaving no room for wildflowers; and weather changes.

The Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners has stepped up its efforts to help alleviate the loss of food sources for monarch butterflies.

The Master Gardeners group has two Monarch Watch stations: one in the Xeriscape Garden at the Shawnee County Extension office; another in the

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Gardeners can plant milkweed and other annual and perennial flowers to help create food sources for monarchs and other butterflies.

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Kidd: Sale offers plants to help pollinators Continued from 2 Native Plant Garden at the corner leading up to Cedar Crest, the governor’s mansion. Plans for a third station are in the works.

Master Gardeners members are selling milkweed and other species of annual and perennial flowers that feed butterflies and pollinators at its Plant Sale Extravaganza from 9 a.m. to noon in the parking lot of the Shawnee County Extension office, 1740 S.W. Western Ave.

Plants at the sale have been grown by Master Gardeners members, and the annuals and most of the vegetables and herbs have been grown in the Master Gardeners greenhouse. Other perennials and vegetables have been grown in members’ yards and homes and have been donated to the sale.

Gently used and donated gardening-related items and tools will sold in The Garden Shed during the plant sale. The Garden Shed will open at 8 a.m.

The sale falls on Mother’s Day weekend, so Master Gardeners members have prepared hanging baskets and patio pots to delight the mother in your life. An information booth will be available to answer gardening questions; another booth will focus on community gardening.

The Master Gardeners’ mission is to “improve our community through horticulture.” Your support through this plant sale helps the organization continue to provide

classes, events, scholarships and demonstration gardens to educate and motivate citizens and visitors of Shawnee County.

Additionally, Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners also has a Response Line to answer gardening questions that operates from April through October.

To reach the Response Line, call (785) 232-0062, extension 105 or 106.

Jamie Kidd is a horticulturist with K-State Research and Extension in Shawnee County.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

n The Master Gardeners Plant Sale Extravaganza is from 9 a.m. to noon May 7 in the parking lot of the Shawnee County Extension office, 1740 S.W. Western Ave. Come early, because plants go quickly. n The Master Gardeners will offer a free hands-on gardening workshop from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 11 behind the Southern Hills Mennonite Church, 511 S.E. 37th. The workshop is geared toward beginners and those looking for tips on how to be a better grower. Registration is suggested; call (785) 232-0062. n The Master Gardeners will present “Community Gardens” at 7 p.m.

May 12 at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave. The program focuses on the history of community gardens, how to establish a garden, how to operate one and more. n If you’d like to know more about growing asparagus, peas or radishes, you can pick up tips and ask questions at 9 a.m. May 14 at the Master Gardeners vegetable garden, on the southeast corner of the Expocentre parking lot at S.W. 21st and Topeka Boulevard.

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Add visual impact with pairs, trios of objects

By Cathy Hobbs Tribune News Service

Open nearly any design magazine or shop in any furniture retail store and you are bound to notice that decor pieces are seldom displayed by themselves.

Indeed, you are more likely to see items displayed in groupings, typically either two identical items side by side or three in a row.

The power of the pair and using three identical items in a series has long been a trick of prop stylists, and the technique can be easily translated into your own home.

Why groupings?

In general, many items look barren or isolated when displayed by themselves. Instead of having

the single lonely item that may get lost or hidden in a space, creating individual groupings of decor items is a powerful design tool.

Where to begin?

Groupings are different or similar items that may or may not have any relationship to each other, but look cohesive and attractive together. Begin by in-

corporating your favorite decor items or those that inspire you.

Be sure to use items purposefully. Too many items can be just as unattractive as too few items.

Pairs and threes

Pairs and threes are the secret weapon of the styling world. A visual impact occurs when items are

displayed as a pair or in threes that doesn’t occur with a single item or when you group large amounts of items together.

Placing two identical items together often creates a look of simplicity and elegance.

Three identical items, such as artwork placed in a series, can actually trick the eye.

Looking for a large piece of art to display on a wall?

Simply place two or three

identical pieces of art side by side and it will appear as if the art pieces are part of a series. Similar techniques can be used when displaying flowers or general decor items.

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.

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Nursery design trends you’ll love now — and later Brandpoint When you’re decorating a nursery, it makes sense to design a room that pleases you as much as it will thrill your little one. After all, you’ll be spending as much time in the room as your baby, if not more.

You crave a room that you can love for its beauty and functionality, but you also want it to be trendy and fun. Here are four nursery design trends that can help you create a room that fits your design tastes and will thrill your little one.

Whimsical woodlands

An earthy trend is bringing the great outdoors into nursery design. A woodland theme in a nursery is the perfect stepping stone to get imaginations spinning and curiosity for nature growing.

There is a warmth and coziness that comes from

nature-inspired decor.

Think fuzzy animal mobiles, natural wooden accents and a whimsical birch tree wall mural from Murals Your Way to create a space where you’re little one will feel calm and peaceful.

Pastels are back

Soft colors and baby’s nursery go together like peas and carrots, so it’s no surprise that pastels are back and better than ever.

On the heels of Pantone’s announcement of not one but two pastels, Rose Quartz and Serenity, as colors of the year, this trend is legit. These shades add a slight twist on the traditional pink and blue: Rose Quartz is a softer pink with a hint of peach, and Serenity is a periwinkle blue with shades of lavender pushing through.

Creative cribs

Traditional nursery fur-

niture has long included a crib, changing table and a rocking chair where parents can sit for those late-night feedings. Today, parents are thinking outside the crib when choosing furnishings for their baby’s room. Cribs can be a design statement instead of just a place where baby sleeps.

From minimalist cribs with slender railings that evoke a graceful, modern air to acrylic cribs that afford parents a completely unobstructed view of their little ones, parents are branching out from traditional wood frame cribs.

Gender-neutral nursery

He or she, what will it be? If you’re planning to be surprised by your baby’s gender, design a genderneutral nursery that works for either a boy or a girl.

Moving away from the standard yellow or green for “surprise” babies, start

with a color palette using subtle tones, like heather gray, beige and rich charcoal.

To avoid “boring,” layer in lots of texture and organic materials like natural wood furniture, linen curtains, fluffy pillows and soft rugs like the RH Baby & Child chunky braided wool rug in cream.

A plus with this trend is that you can pair this gender-neutral palette with accessories of any color.

A whimsical birch tree wall mural can bring a touch of the outdoors into a nursery. Subtle design stylings also can bring a coziness and a trendy look.

BRANDPOINt

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Backyard play sets: Surface materials, safety important Redwood play sets range from $500 to $3K or more

By Linda A. Ditch Special to The Capital-Journal

What child can resist a play set? Take a kid to any park or playground and the play set is often the first place they go. Who could blame them? With stuff to slide down, swing on and climb, play sets have all the elements to spark a child’s imagination and keep them busy for hours.

Backyard play sets are scaled-down versions of the ones found in public parks and schools. Most come equipped with the basics of a slide, swings and something to climb, such as a climbing wall or rope ladder. Many have an upper deck covered with a canvas or wooden roof.

Extra options can include slides with curves and monkey bars, plus steering wheels for future drivers and telescopes for wannabe pirates. Play sets can be dressed up to match just about any of your child’s interests.

“The play sets people really like lately are the ones with a playhouse or a picnic table down below,” said Matt Heerey, general manager of Backyard Specialists in Olathe and Wichita.

While many play sets have cool designs and accessories, safety should be the No. 1 consideration in the purchasing process.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 200,000 children go to a hospital emergency room each year due to playground-related injuries. A majority of these injuries are due to falls, though swings are also an injury culprit in backyard play areas.

Planning ahead can help

could catch clothing and cause a problem. You’ll also want to look for moving parts that could pinch or crush skin, fingers and limbs.

Play sets range in price from about $500 to $3,000 or more for redwood sets.

Heerey advised diligence if choosing a set less than $1,000 because of the possibility the set is made from lesser-quality materials.

keep kids safe. Before installing a backyard play set, consider these tips:

Tip 1: Where?

Most people put play sets right on the grass in the backyard. However, once the kids get to playing, that nice, lush grass becomes hard, compacted dirt (or mud on a rainy day.) Plus, you should never set one up on asphalt or concrete.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends the use area for a play set extend at least 6 feet in all directions from the equipment. Some of the suggested surface materials include doubleshredded bark mulch, wood chips and fine gravel to a depth of 6 to 12 inches, depending on the height of the structure. Rubberized mulch also works as a surface cover. So does fine sand, but Heerey doesn’t recommend it “because it just becomes the neighborhood litter box.”

Tip 3: Maintain

Tip 2: What?

Now, it’s time to choose what play set to buy.

Heerey said to proceed with caution.

“When you look online, they look cool, but then you get it home and see the boards are thin and it’s not a good-quality set.

Always go look in person,” he said.

The play sets Heerey’s company installs are designed for the whole family, with heavy-duty, sturdy boards and recessed hardware. He recommends parents pay attention to the slide’s weight limit and the age range recommended for the set.

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Backyard play sets can keep the kids busy for hours, but safety, quality of materials and location need to be considered before installing the equipment.

“The set might be great for a 2- or 3-year-old, but not for a 10-year-old. You want something that is structurally sound,” he said.

It’s also important to watch out for entrapment hazards, such as a climb-

ing net with too small of an opening. If a child’s body can go through an opening but their head can’t, they could strangle. Any opening should be smaller than 3 1/2 inches and larger than 9 inches. Anything in between is a problem.

Be sure to avoid open “S” hooks, which are often used to hang swings.

Again, a child’s clothing could get caught and cause strangulation. Close the “S” hook tightly or find a substitute. Also, look for other protrusions that

Just like any other outdoor structure, the play set will need regular maintenance to ensure longevity.

Wooden surfaces will need staining or sealing to protect against decay. Also, inspect the set on a regular basis for loose or worn hardware, rusted metal components, chipped paint, splinters and cracks.

Any missing or damaged components should be replaced or repaired.

Also, check for wood decay where the structure meets the ground, and measure the depth of the surface material to make sure it’s still at the proper level.

For homeowners planning to put up the play set themselves, Heerey advises they make sure the structure is level to avoid tipping over. His company installs play sets from many manufacturers in multiple price ranges, and will do follow-up service when necessary.

Also, most of the large home improvement centers offer installation services for backyard play sets.

If you’re unsure about doing the set-up yourself, or you don’t have help (it takes at least two people), then let the pros do the installation.

Linda A. Ditch is a freelance writer from Topeka. She can be reached at lindaaditch@gmail.com.

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Secret substances renew raised beds

By Maureen Gilmer Tribune News Service

Making a raised bed vegetable garden is simple and successful because the potting soil is fresh and fertile. Vegetables will grow like crazy that first season, but the ensuing years may prove less and less productive. Why? Because even the best potting soil loses its fertility due to very heavy feeding of annual vegetable plants at super high density.

After each year, the nutrient content of the soil declines and so do your yields.

When growing in natural ground, you can add endless amounts of compost and manures each year, so nutrient deficiency is rare. But in raised beds with a limited amount of manmade soil, low nutrient malaise, microbe decline or actual nutrient deficiencies are common, particularly when poor potting soil was used to fill them in the first place.

Vegetable plants need three macronutrients in generous amounts: nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Required only in trace amounts are the micronutrients, which include calcium, magnesium, sulfur, chlorine, iron, boron, manganese, zinc, copper, molybdenum and nickel.

When one or more of these are low or absent, you can’t solve your soil problems without gobs of compost, which may not fit into existing raised bed gardens.

Organic gardeners use these three important forms of plant nutrition to maintain fertility without over-filling: guano, kelp and worm castings.

Guano

Ounce for ounce, guano is the richest source of organic nitrogen available, so you need a lot less of it to boost the nutrient than with any other natural fertilizer. It is harvested from bat caves and places seabirds have congregated for a long time.

There are two common forms, bat guano at 9-3-1 (9 percent nitrogen) and more potent seabird guano at 12-12-3 (12 percent nitrogen).

Tribune news service

When raised beds are planted densely with annual vegetables, each season removes some of the fertility. That’s why it’s important to add organic materials to the bed.

One of the interesting aspects of guano from caves is the microbes that live in the deep cumulative layer that builds up over eons. These organisms add incredible diversity to soil microorganism populations when you use bat guano.

Seabird guano is the highest available source of organic nitrogen with a bonus of root and fruit benefiting phosphorous as well. Blend either or both into the top foot of soil, or mix with water to make tea to pour around large plants during the growing season.

Kelp

Fish emulsion fertilizer has

long been an organic favorite, but only recently it was discovered to contain a lot of kelp. Giant kelp is the fastest-growing plant on Earth. This rapid cell division is driven by high levels of cytokines in the tissues, which are hormones that naturally make plants grow.

The Irish have used beach kelp for centuries as fertilizer that helps plants take extremes of heat and cold or drought. Now you can buy wet or dry all-kelp fertilizers to stimulate growth and yields.

Worm castings

This bagged dry organic matter is a byproduct of fish-

ing worm farms that is praised for its effect on holistic plant health. Castings are valued for both micronutrient content and microbes. Microbial activity in worm castings is 10 to 20 times higher than the soil and organic matter that the worm ingests.

Nothing works better as insurance against hard-to-diagnose nutrient deficiency.

The sooner you add these materials to the spring garden, the sooner they become available to plants. Integrate one or all three generously into all your raised beds to bring them back to life before sowing and planting.

Here’s a tip: Don’t use all of it at planting time. All three can be used during the growing season

to stimulate plants during midsummer malaise. Be sure to add guano in the fall so your autumn sown winter greens will be large and luscious.

It’s easy to make a raised bed, but nobody talks about long-term maintenance of its soil. If the soil level falls as organic matter decomposes, add compost to bring it back up. If the bed is full and soil is aged, resort to these three secret substances that will contribute invisible vigor for your most productive year ever.

Maureen Gilmer is an author, horticulturist and landscape designer. Learn more at www.

MoPlants.com. Contact her at mogilmer@ yahoo.com or P.O. Box 891, Morongo Valley, Calif. 92256.

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Digital decor: Harnessing the riches of online design sites

By Sarah Wolfe The Associated Press

There’s Houzz. Remodelista. Home design Twitter feeds. Tumblr accounts.

And of course, the granddaddy of all online decor depositories — Pinterest.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by online resources when remodeling or redecorating. Where should you start?

For homeowner Sarah Schuster Canahuati, creating an “ideabook” on Houzz was the perfect way to mesh her rustic, farmhouse style with her husband’s more modern tastes when they began renovating their Los Gatos, Calif., home recently.

“It was a very helpful way to give our architect and designer very clear ideas of what we wanted in our remodel, from paint colors to

appliances to overall style,” she says.

Home design experts and contractors echo those thoughts, and offer the following tips on how to harness the bounty of the Internet for your next project: n Get organized.

First, figure out the scope of your project and your goals. Redoing your kitchen, for example, is a lot different and more involved than finding a few natural accents for your living room mantle.

Are you going to do the work yourself? Howto blogs and sites like All Things Thrifty, DIY Network and This Old House are your new BFFs. Looking more for ideas to pass on to a contractor or designer? Head over to Houzz or Pinterest.

Don’t overlook retailers though. Paint company

websites are an underutilized home-design resource, says New York designer Karen Gray Plaisted.

“Many times, clients have problems with colors,” she says. “Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and PPG Paints all have fantastic interactive sites to allow them to ‘try’ a color out, or find a palette virtually first.

It also helps me as a decorator to then narrow down the array of colors to find the right one for them.” n Find your style.

Figure out what you love.

Are you a boho-chic kind of girl or do you gravitate more toward the clean, traditional lines of craftsmanstyle homes?

“To use home-design websites to find your own style, I’d advise you to pin or bookmark photos of every single room you love,” says Amy Bell, owner of

Red Chair Home Interiors in Cary, N.C. “The more rooms you save, the larger your ‘data sample’ will be.

Once you have collected many images, take a step back and look for common themes that the images share.”

Are there recurring colors or color combinations? Are you drawn to dramatic contrasts, like white cabinets paired with dark floors? Are the rooms sparsely or heavily furnished and accessorized?

What do you notice about architectural elements like windows, doors, fireplaces and ceiling height?

“Having a theme and palette in mind really helps narrow down the infinite options on design sites and blogs,” says Patricia Leitao, marketing manager and blogger for the Bostonbased site homeyou, which

matches homeowners with area contractors. n Create a project page or board.

“Collection” sites like Houzz and Pinterest allow users to create an unlimited number of boards or “ideabooks.” Go big and create one board for your entire project, or go smaller with more specific boards like “paint colors,” “accessories,” “furniture,” etc.

As a way to keep track of ideas, these are easier and more visual than a list of bookmarks or a scrapbook of pages ripped from books and magazines.

They’re also a great resource if you decide to hire a contractor or home designer.

“We love going through our clients’ inspiration boards on content-rich sites. It gives us an immediate look into their personal

style and preferences, and we can help them narrow down exactly what will fit into their space and budget,” says Margo Nathanson, a designer with San Francisco-based InteriorCrowd. n Design it yourself.

If you’re looking for the ultimate in control, IKEA, Lowe’s and smaller sites like Roomstyler let you design your own rooms from scratch with a virtual planner. Type in your room’s dimensions, then drag and drop furnishings, windows and other elements where you want.

Try an unlimited variety of cabinet and countertop combinations when remodeling your kitchen. Or see what your living room would look like with wooden floors. Then tile. Maybe concrete.

Don’t like it? Simply press delete.

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