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Saturday, July 4, 2015 An Advertising Feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

Jaime Hancock Garden Column – 2 Danner claims Best in Show at annual Daylily Club flower show – 4 Vintage planters get new life – 6 Eco-friendly mosquito control – 7 TCJ Pin of the Week – 10

2 | Saturday, July 4, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

Sick Plant Clinic Jamie Hancock

jamiehan@ksu.edu If you have an ailing plant, a “mystery” plant, a pesky insect or weed take advantage of this opportunity to bring in a sample for diagnosis or identification.

WHEN: Monday, July 6, 2015 TIME: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM WHERE: In the Fairlawn Plaza Shopping Center Mall (21st & Fair-

lawn in Topeka) This event is designed to help people with their ailing plants including ornamentals (trees, shrubs, flowers), vegetables, fruit crops, turfgrass, and indoor plants, insect and weed issues.

A Note From

The Gardener

Master Gardener volunteers, local Extension personnel, and specialists from the Departments of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Horticulture at Kansas State University will be on hand to diagnose plant problems, identify plants, weeds and insects and discuss general plant care.

The Sick Plant Clinic is sponsored by the Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners (a volunteer program of the KSU-Shawnee County Extension Coun-

cil).

See the checklist of pertinent information so that you can be prepared for the specialist’s questions.

Collecting plant samples for diagnosis Tree and shrub samples - should consist of a section of twig or branch, with leaves attached; multiple samples that reflect different stages of the problem are

helpful

Garden Crops and Annual Flowers - in-

clude entire plant with roots intact

Perennial Flowers and Ground Covers - try to dig portion of the affected part

(with some roots) Turfgrass - samples should be six to eight inches across and a couple of inches

HANCOCK continues on 3A

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Hancock: Store your sample properly Continued from 2A deep, taken at the interface between good and bad grass (with some of each) Plant Identification - the presence of flowers makes weed or landscape plant identification easier Insect Identification - insects with all body parts intact are easier to identify

Handling insect samples Fleshy Caterpillars and “Worms” -

place in a liquid tight container of white vinegar.

Moths and Butterflies - place in a freezer for 24 hours - then place in a crush-proof box cushioned with tissue paper (never cotton - legs and antennae get tangled up in cotton and break off) Hard Bodied Beetles – white vinegar or freezing is acceptable

Checklist of pertinent information 1. Kind of plant - variety?

2. How long has it been established in

its present location? - has it recently been transplanted?

3. Exposure - N S E or W - full sun or shade?

4. What is the nature of the soil? - tight clay, drainage (surface and internal).

5. When did the problem first appear this season - was a similar problem experienced last year?

6. Are any other plants in the vicinity similarly affected? Is there a walnut tree in the vicinity?

7. What part of the plant was affected first? Top or bottom, which side?

8. Has there been any construction near the plant? How recently? Have underground utilities been installed or replaced near the plant recently?

9. Is the soil around the plant subject to foot or vehicular traffic that could lead to compaction? Is there pavement near the plant?

10. Have there been any weed killers used nearby? If so, what and when? Has salt or other ice melting material been

used nearby?

11. What are the symptoms that have appeared? How have they progressed? Is there any pattern of development?

12. What program of watering and fertilizing has been followed?

13. Have there been any fungicides or insecticides used on the plant? If so, what and when?

14. Is there evidence of mechanical damage to the plant (e.g. lawn mower/ nylon cord trimmer) - Are stem girdling roots visible at the base of the tree?

15. Are there any suspicious insects present? What do they look like?

See you at the clinic.

Jamie Hancock is a horticulturist with Kansas State Research and Extension in Shawnee County.

Note: “Is There Really Such a Thing as an Organic Pesticide?” Join us at the Topeka/Shawnee County Public Library on July 9 at 7:00 to hear Dr. Raymond Cloyd, entomologist from Kansas State University, tell us what we need to know.

stock photo/metro creative connection

4 | Saturday, July 4, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

Danner claims Best in Show at annual Daylily Club flower show The Topeka Capital-Journal

Jess Danner’s spider flower, Yellow Monkey took the Best in Show Award at the Topeka Daylily club’s annual American Hemerocallis Society accredited flower show Saturday, June 27, at the Fairlawn Plaza Mall.

Also earning American Hemerocallis Society Rosettes in the horticulture division, which attracted 170 entries, were Chris Tyler (Best Extra Large Flower, Best Small Flower, Best Double Flower, Best Unusual Flower); Judy Briggs (Best Large Flower, Best Miniature Flower); Jess Danner (Best Spider Flower); Tatiana Halupa (Best Youth Entry).

The best in show award went to Jess Danner for his spider flower, Yellow Monkey.

Chris Tyler earned the sweepstakes award while purple ribbons also were awarded to: Helen Fry (one), Tatiana Halupa (three), Jess Danner (four), Jim Fry (five), Judy Briggs (eight), and Chris Tyler (fourteen).

In the flower design division, Elaine Holmstrom earned all three blue ribbons and

DAYLILY continues on 5A

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TOPEKA DAYLILY CLUB

Top winners at the Topeka Daylily Club flower show left to right: Chris Tyler, Judy Briggs, Jess Danner and Tatiana Halupa

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Daylily: Mack earns three blue ribbons in photography division Continued from 4A the top design award, the Tri-Color Award.

Red ribbons were awarded to Marilyn Kido (two) and Jess Danner (one).

In the photography division, Eric Mack earned all three blue ribbons and one purple ribbon, the top award. Red ribbons were awarded to Jim Fry, Helen Fry, and Dorothy Hancock.

The Peoples Choice Award, voted on by the public, went to Tatiana Halupa for Horticulture, Jess Danner for design, and Eric Mack for photography.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TOPEKA DAYLILY CLUB

Left: Elaine Holmstrom’s design presentation that tool the Tri-Color Award.

Righ: Jess Danner’s spider flower - Yellow Monkey

6 | Saturday, July 4, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

Vintage planters get new life

By Jenni Harrison Special to The Capital-Journal

About a decade or so ago I began purchasing vintage planters. When I would spot one in an antique store that appealed to me, I would swoop it up without rhyme or reason (actually, I still do). I especially become weak in the knees when I find a 1940’s-50’s era planter in the shape of an animal. They are eye candy.

The vintage planters I like are whimsical, nostalgic. Their faces deliver good cheer. Shiny ceramic, vibrant colors, doe eyes, warm smiles, innocent faces. There is no explanation for my planter purchases except that many are inexpensive and most are just plain cute. Originally I thought they could occupy my shelves as figurines who came with extra space. A button, a peculiar spare lego, a flattened tourist attraction penny; all of these things and more have been thrown into one of the many planters that sit around, waiting for their chance to be reunited with what or whom they belong to. They have been used as mere decorations while I bided my time in finding just what it is I would like to use them for.

I remember vaguely Martha Stewart using them for other uses besides planting, therefor when I first began picking them up, I reasoned that they could be purposeful too. Aside from storing small trinkets, I have upcycled my planters as well, using them to hold cotton swabs and small baby supplies, remotes and ink pens, even business cards. As unique vessels they add flair compared to a typical container and nowadays Pinterest is an easy tool for ideas. I recently found a pin (no pun intended) for a pincushion. The directions I found are quite simple and it seems quite easy with

supplies nearly any crafty person would have on hand, including a scrap of fabric, polyfill stuffing and hot glue. To make mine I used a scrap that was about an inch longer than the opening of the container on each side. I filled it with the stuffing, tied it off at the bottom and lightly glued it to the inside of the container, allowing the cushion poof to pop out just a bit.

Other upcycle ideas, or things to put in planters are: n Charger cables n Notepads n Coupons n Cell phones n Paint brushes n Wrapped candy n Napkins n Makeup brushes n Keys Essentially any collection of small items that need gathered can be gathered using a planter. Overtime my vintage planters have served me well but feeling inspired recently, I decided to let them serve their original purpose of containing plants. I chose succulents because of their ease in growing and the fact that they don’t need a lot of watering. Succulents also have a slow growing root system, ideal for smaller spaces. Since the vintage planters don’t have holes, I lined the bottom with aquarium gravel to allow drainage. Now I’m enjoying my planter collection grouped together in windowsills, holding individual succulents or succulent gardens.

The selection of planters available are unlimited with many to choose from ranging from retro thrift store to classy and elegant. You can find your style by browsing antique stores, local sales or online at Etsy or Ebay.

Jenni Harrison/Special to The Capital-Journal

Top left: Vintage bird planter doubles as pen holder. Top right: Vintage cat planter turned into a pin-cushion.

Middle left: Vintage Pluto planter holds a low maintenance succulent. Middle right: Vintage planter is home to a succulent since it is a slow growing plant.

Bottom left: Vintage planters can create a fun table display especially when they hold different succulents. Bottom right: Vintage lamb planter is now a toothbrush holder, creating a fun addition to a family bathroom.

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Eco-friendly mosquito control

By Melinda Myers Gardening expert, TV/audio host, author & columnist

Don’t let mosquitoes keep you from enjoying your garden and outdoor parties.

Look for environmentally sound ways to manage these pests in your garden and landscape.

Start by eliminating standing water in the yard. Buckets, old tires and clogged gutters and downspouts that hold water make the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Drain water that collects in these as well as kids’ toys, tarps and pool covers. Store these items in the garage or turn them over to keep them from becoming a mosquito breeding ground. Even small containers hold enough water for hundreds to thousands of mosquitoes to breed.

Change the water in birdbaths at least once a week. Consider installing a small pump to keep water moving to prevent mosquito breeding. Or use an organic mosquito control like Mosquito Dunks and Bits (SummitResponsibleSolutions.com) in rain barrels and water features. The Mosquito Bits quickly knock down the mosquito larval population, while the Mosquito Dunks provide 30 days of control. They are both certified organic and safe for pets, fish, wildlife and children.

Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing. These pests are less attracted to the lighter colors and can’t readily reach your skin through loose clothing. And be sure to cover as much of your skin as possible with long sleeves and pants.

Add a few birdhouses to the landscape to bring in the birds. You’ll enjoy their beauty and benefit from their diet of insects, including many garden pests and mosquitoes.

Keep the garden weeded. Mosquitoes rest in shrubs, trees and weeds during

MOSQUITO continues on 8A

Photo courtesy of James Gathany CDC

Weeding the garden, adding some birdhouses, eliminating standing water and using fans and citronella candles are just a few of the eco-friendly ways to keep mosquitoes at bay this season.

8 | Saturday, July 4, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

Mosquito: Adding protection Continued from 7A the day. Removing weeds and managing neglected garden spaces will make your landscape less inviting to these pests.

Consider using a personal repellent to protect you against disease-carrying mosquitoes. For those looking to avoid DEET, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has also approved products with the active ingredient picaridin (found in Skin so Soft products), IR3535, and the synthetic oil of lemon and eucalyptus. Avoid products that contain both sunscreen and insect repellents as you need to apply the sunscreen more often than the repellent.

Add a bit more protection while sitting or eating outdoors. Use a fan to create a gentle breeze that keeps the weak flying mosquitoes away from you and your guests. Some gardeners even take a small fan into the garden, while weeding.

Then add a bit of ambience to your next party by lighting a few citronella candles for your evening events. Citronella oil and the scented candles do have some mosquito repelling properties. Scatter lots of candles throughout your entertainment space. Position the candles within a few feet of your guests. This can provide some short term relief from these pests for you and your guests.

Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening and the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything: Food Gardening for Everyone” DVD set and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment segments. Myers is also a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ web site, www.melindamyers.com, offers gardening videos and tips.

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Service Directory

Service Directory

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10 | Saturday, July 4, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

The Topeka Capital-Journal Pin of the Week Follow all of The Capital-Journal Pinterest boards – www.pinterest.com/tcjmedia/

S’mores In A Bag 1.

2.

Gives you the yumminess that is s’mores... without the mess!

Here’s what you need….

n marshmallows, n chocolate (chocolate chips work great for this) n cookies in a bag. cookies, fudge stripes, teddy grahams, they have mini Nilla wafers, and even animal crackers! And they usually come in boxes of 12… so you can feed lots of friends! (realistically you could probably get

3.

a sandwich baggy and crunch some cookies in it!–but these little packages are the cutest and perfect size!)

Here’s what you do….

1. Pick your cookies and open them up. Break up some chocolate and put in the bag.

2. And roast—I’m a very light brown toasted fan.

3. After you have it done to your liking… slide marshmallow into bag and mix it all up!

4. And enjoy! They are PERFECT! And no sticky hands!

source: www.thirtyhandmadedays.com

To get more information on this project and others, visit The Topeka Capital-Journal’s At Home Living - Yummy in my Tummy Pinterest Board.

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12 | Saturday, July 4, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home