2020 Fall Home and Garden

Fall

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020

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& Garden A Special Supplement to The Tidewater News

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Fall Home & Garden

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Grayson and Emma’s is a garden spot of fall STEPHEN H. COWLES/STAFF WRITER Stephen.Cowles@TheTidewaterNews.com

STEPHEN H. COWLES | THE TIDEWATER NEWS

Peyton Gay, 6, with her mother, Ashley Gay. They picked out a wagon-full of pumpkins and seasonal flowers at Grayson and Emma’s Garden Spot a few weeks ago.

COURTLAND Driving by Grayson & Emma’s Garden Spot (G&E) in Courtland is a visible barometer of the seasons. In this case, the large outdoor display of pumpkins, gourds and mums in front of the shop shows you it’s autumn.

On a recent Saturday morning, owner Neil Drake pointed out that the store offers a fall package of decorative gourds, squash, mums, hay bales and, of course, pumpkins. If you’re a little concerned that there might not be enough of the latter, fear not.

“We’ve got a lot of variety,” said Drake. and added there are about nine acres largely dedicated to growing the pumpkins. He also buys locally from other

sources if need be.

“We’re doing something a little differently this year with making kid-friendly activities on the weekend,” Drake said.

But G&E is more than just a place to get bedding plants such as pansies or the aforementioned autumnal decorations.

There’s also a specialty grocery shop that can include barbecue, chicken salad, seafood — tuna, salmon and crabs to name a few. Displays of beverages, snacks and cookies are close at hand. Sandwiches can be ordered and made on the spot. Yum! Don’t take our word for it. Come find out for yourself.

Grayson & Emma’s Garden Spot is located at 28412 Southampton Parkway and Agri Park Drive in Courtland. The site is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

Call 757-653-9652 or visit the Facebook page for more details.

Whether you’re looking for seasonal plants such as mums, or pumpkins and other decorative gourds, there’s a large variety and supply at Grayson & Emma’s Garden Spot on Southampton Parkway in Courtland.

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Fall Home & Garden

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Ivor Furniture continues to take care of its customers Store is weathering pandemic crisis MERLE MONAHAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER merlemonah@aol.com

IVOR While the country is going through more turmoil than it has in years, the trauma has affected business very little at the Ivor Furniture Store, said store owner Alice Scott.

“We have been lucky,” she observed.

“Ours is one of the businesses that was not required to close during COVID-19 and it’s just been business as usual. Actually, maybe a little better.”

Scott said she believes that “staying home” has given customers more time to pay attention to furnishing and decorating their homes and they’re taking advantage of this time.

Ashlyn Scarborough, Scott’s daughter and the store bookkeeper, agreed.

“Customers come in, they take their time, sometimes ask for our help in decorating, almost always make a purchase and leave happy.”

“That’s what we strive for,” she added with a smile.

Scarborough noted that this is the way she was taught to deal with customers by her mother, who was taught by her father, Russell West, who founded the more than 70-year-old business.

“Granddaddy’s motto was to always take care of the customer and that’s what we have done. We’re especially aware of a customer’s safety during this pandemic,” she said. “We adhere to the governor’s SEE FURNITURE, PAGE 11

SUBMITTED | MERLE MONAHAN

Alice Scott, owner of Ivor Furniture, with her daughter, Ashlyn Scarborough, store bookkeeper. Seated on the seaside blue sofa, they hold up matching throw pillows covered in one of the numerous choices in fabrics.

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Fall Home & Garden

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Parker Oil’s ready to keep you warm in fall, winter STEPHEN H. COWLES/STAFF WRITER Stephen.Cowles@TheTidewaterNews.com

STEPHEN H. COWLES | THE TIDEWATER NEWS

Kevin Lackey, plant manager for Parker Oil Co. in Franklin, stands beside one of the newer delivery trucks. The business is ever-ready for all your oil and propane needs, especially when it comes to staying warm this fall and winter.

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FRANKLIN Don’t be too late when it comes to preparing for the cold nights and days ahead this season and next.

“The first little cold snap, everybody cuts their heat on,” said Kevin Lackey of Parker Oil Co. for Franklin and surroundings.

“We often get thousands of customers calling all at the same time,” he continued, and urged current and potentially new customers that, “if possible, always give themselves time” by calling ahead and scheduling delivery of propane or heating oil to keep their homes warm.

Lackey, who’s been with Parker Oil going on 20 years, said the company supplies propane, kerosene and heating oil.

For farmers, they have the options of offroad diesel, highway diesel and gasoline for use in harvesting. They’ll also use propane as a way of drying peanuts.

He reiterated that customers should “Never let their tank get too low. Allow for two or three days at least for refueling.

Automatic deliveries are recommended.

We’ll keep the tanks full.”

There is 24-hour emergency service for customers using the automatic service.

For those who use propane, having a gauge is “a very good thing to have. The rule of thumb is that if you check and the level’s at 20 percent, give us a call so that you don’t run out.”

There are also, of course, gauges available for heating oil tanks placed above ground.

He acknowledged that “Propane is the thing of the new age. It’s cheaper and upkeep is cheaper.” But noted that a person can get “a hotter heat with oil. There are more BTUs, but it’s just not as cost-effective as it used to be.”

The initialism BTU stands for British Thermal Units, which is a way of measuring energy. In this case, it’s the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree F. One of the advantages of propane, said Lackey, is that it can serve as a back-up

even if your central heating system stops when the power goes out.

The company can provide on-demand water heaters, which only come on when needed.

“That saves a ton on money and electricity. Same with a cooking stove. There a lot of accessories.”

He added that there are generators that kick on when power goes out.

“Fuel oil is still a very good heat,” Lackey said. “A lot of older residents swear by it.”

He added that during hurricane season, teams will be sent to disaster sites to help with relief efforts.

Parker Oil Co. is located at 2365 Carrsville Highway, Franklin. The business is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For questions or to arrange for deliveries, call 757-562-3400 or visit www.parkeroilcompany.com.

This display at Parker Oil Company features fireplace heating with its gas logs through Heatmaster.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

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Fall Home & Garden

Walters Outdoor Power Equipment supplies, services seasonal landscaping needs

BY BARBARA HERRALA AND STEPHEN FALESKI

WALTERS During the autumn and winter seasons, Walters Outdoor Power Equipment’s (WOPE) focus is on sales and service of such landscaping equipment as blowers and pruning tools. As leaves fall and need to be removed from walkways, gutters, driveways, etc., backpack blowers and handheld blowers make the work much easier. Both versions come either gas-powered or battery-powered. Additionally, handheld corded electric blowers are available.

Pruning needs require equipment that can reach up high as well as low. Pole pruners, extended reach or regular hedge trimmers, saws and shrub shears are handy tools to help with frequent or occasional pruning jobs, and all are available in gas or battery power versions. WOPE also handles some quality hand tools for prun-

ing: pruning saws, hand pruners, hand loppers and hand hedge shears to use to prune your fall or summer blooming plants. And, of course, associated protective gear is stocked.

Winter, of course, is always the best time to bring in equipment for maintenance (oil, filter, engine checks, etc.) so they will be ready to go when spring breaks! December and January are the best months for overall maintenance care.

WOPE began in 1981 shortly after owner and Isle of Wight County resident Ted Herrala left his position with the Virginia Department of Forestry and began marketing his services as a repairman to friends and neighbors.

Herrala, who is originally from northeastern Pennsylvania, has a degree in forestry from Pennsylvania State University, but says he has always been a mechanic at heart. “My father was a lifelong mechanic,” he said.

Herrala’s business, named for the unin-

corporated community in which it is located — halfway between Windsor and Franklin along U.S. Route 258 — has been a fixture of the Walters area for the past 35-plus years, and, according to the company’s website, has become “one of the largest power equipment dealers in the area.”

It began as a repair shop that also sold parts, but later picked up its first outdoor equipment product lines, which included Snapper, Briggs & Stratton Power Products and Toro.

Today the business focuses solely on Toro, which is a line of mowers and other lawn care equipment, and Stihl, which is a line of chainsaws and other handheld power equipment.

True to its roots, the store still includes a repair service, but this too is now primarily focused on Toro and Stihl products. Currently, there are six full-time employees.

“Servicing the equipment we sell is our primary goal,” Herrala said. “We do service other lines as necessary.”

The store is located at 27739 Walters Highway (U.S. Route 258) and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and closed on Sundays.

More information on Walters Outdoor Power Equipment can be found at www. waltersoutdoorpowerequipment.com, or by calling 757-562-4760 or emailing waltersoutdoor@gmail.com.

Walters Outdoor Power Equipment has all the tools you need to keep your lawn and yard in shape!

Our trained and certified staff can service your Stihl, Toro and Briggs & Stratton equipment and Briggs, Kohler, Honda and Kawasaki engines.

STEPHEN H. COWLES | THE TIDEWATER NEWS

Time to trim the lawn and garden? Walters Outdoor Power Equipment services the line of Stihl products for this and many other landscaping needs.

Walters Outdoor Power Equipment waltersoutdoorpowerequipment.com • waltersoutdoor@gmail.com • 757-562-4760 Halfway between Windsor & Franklin on Hwy. 258 • Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 8-5 • Wed, Sat 8-12

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Fall Home & Garden

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Leave bird, squirrel or bat houses in the yard. This is a fun and crafty project that can ward off winter boredom while also providing a safe place for local wildlife to shelter in winter.

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Establish winter habitats for backyard animals Preparing a property for winter involves putting away lawn furniture, raking leaves and removing any annual plants that have shriveled up and spent the last of their energy. It can be tempting to want to clean up completely and leave a blank slate in the yard. But by doing so, you may be robbing wildlife of the resources they need to overwinter.

Plants and animals depend on one another to survive. During the winter, animals may struggle to find adequate shelter and food, especially when there is a lack of sufficient plant matter available. In turn, these animals may actually take up home in people’s residences, turning into pests in the process. Bats, field mice and even opossums and raccoons may move indoors into attics or basements, leaving behind waste and damage if they can’t find adequate shelter outdoors.

Homeowners concerned about potential pest infestations can take steps to ensure animals have places to bed down and escape the cold in their yards this winter. These tips can help local wildlife when the temperatures dip.

• Leave parts of the yard wild. Animals can make a nest in leaves or piles of brushwood.

Just make sure piles left out are away from the home so curious critters don’t try to get inside. Leave the task of tidying up shrubs and garden borders until spring, as shrubs can be dense areas to hide for both insects and animals.

• Consider planting animal food sources prior to winter. Plants like elderberry, holly, mulberry, sumac and crabapple will grow in colder months, and animals can enjoy them as a vital food staple.

• Don’t forget water sources. Provide access to fresh water and replace as needed if the water freezes. For homeowners with fish ponds in their backyards, use a hot pot to melt a hole in the top of the pond and allow gases that have accumulated underneath to escape. This allows oxygen to reach fish and frogs in the pond.

• Leave bird, squirrel or bat houses in the yard. This is a fun and crafty project that can ward off winter boredom while also providing a safe place for local wildlife to shelter in winter.

Animals and insects need some extra help staying comfortable when cool temperatures arrive. Leaving some clean-up tasks for the spring ensures that there are plenty of backyard habitats available to local wildlife.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

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Fall Home & Garden

Home office must-haves Remote work has been around for many years, though it certainly picked up steam in 2020. In an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, in March 2020 government officials implemented stay-at-home measures that mandated many working professionals to begin working from home.

That transition occurred seemingly overnight, forcing people to find somewhere in their homes to work.

As the dust settled and working professionals grew accustomed to working from home, many recognized the need to have an office in their homes. Various factors can make home offices more conducive to getting work done, and the following are some home office must-haves that can help people be more productive while working from home.

LIGHTING Lighting is important in a home office.

It’s easy to overlook natural light, especially for workers who previously worked in offic-

es that did not have windows. But natural light can help save on energy costs and boost mood. In fact, natural light is a valued commodity for people used to working in office settings.

A 2018 survey of more than 1,600 workers conducted by the human resources advisory firm Future Workplace found that access to natural light and views of the outdoors were the most sought-after attribute of a workplace environment. In addition, 47% of workers surveyed admitted they felt tired or very tired from the absence of natural light or a window at their office.

When designing their home offices, homeowners should keep this in mind and choose areas of their homes that get ample natural light during a typical workday. Additional lighting also will be necessary.

Recessed lighting can give an office a sleek look, and lights that can dim can allow workers to adjust their lighting based on how much they need at any given point

in the workday.

QUIET

useful home office, but make sure the room already has cooling and heating and, ideally, windows.

Professionals forced to work at home when social distancing measures were implemented may not have had much quiet, especially for those with young children whose schools were closed. But when designing a home office, homeowners have the chance to make their offices more conducive to concentration.

Soundproofing walls may not be necessary, but look for areas of the home that don’t get much foot traffic. Kitchens are very popular rooms in many homes, so try to locate your home office away from the kitchen. A spare bedroom upstairs may make for the most ideal home office setting if the home does not have a traditional den. Spare bedrooms come with doors, which can instantly create a sense of quiet when closed.

A converted garage also can make for a

Recently built homes tend to be equipped with enough outlets to accommodate our increasingly connected lifestyles. But older homes may need some electrical updates before they can capably accommodate home offices. When updating your electrical, replace existing outlets and fixtures with energy-efficient LED fixtures, which save money and benefit the environment. Before updating the electrical, decide on how you want the office to be laid out so you can have outlets installed where your computer, devices and other items, like a printer and television, will be. This makes it easy to hide cords and give the office a clean, professional look.

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Fall Home & Garden

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

How to recognize when you can stop mowing

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Each weekend in spring, summer and fall, millions of homeowners fire up their mowers and cut the grass in their yards. A few hours spent mowing the lawn can be a great time to get some sun and some exercise in the great outdoors.

As fall gradually transitions to winter, homeowners may wonder when to stop mowing their lawns. Each lawn is different, and when to stop mowing may depend on a host of factors, including local climate and the type of turf. In addition to climate and turf, homeowners can keep an eye on these conditions to determine when the time is right to put their mowers away for the winter.

• Frost: Warm-season grasses typically go dormant after a couple of significant frosts. Homeowners can jot down each frost during fall. Frosts are most noticeable in the early morning hours, so be sure to check lawn conditions each morning as the weather begins to grow cold.

Frost may be noticeable without even going outside, but homeowners may need to go outside to check on chilly mornings or on days when the previous night was especially cold. If you must go outside, stay off the grass to protect it.

Two or three frosts might be enough to make warm-season grasses go dormant for the winter. Cool-season grasses may keep growing and require moving even after a few frosts, so it’s imperative that homeowners determine which type of

grass is in their yards.

• Soil temperature: If it’s hard to determine if frosts have occurred, homeowners can try checking the temperature of their soil to decide if they need to keep mowing. The lawn care experts at Pennington recommend homeowners continue mowing warm-season grasses so long as they keep growing. Lawns may not grow as quickly in fall as they do in spring or summer, and growth may not be as visible to the naked eye during this time of year as it is in other times.

Homeowners can routinely check soil temperature to determine if their grasses have stopped growing. Warm-season grasses tend to stop growing once the soil temperature is consistently at 55 F or below, while cool-season grasses tend to stop when temperatures are 45 F or lower.

Falling leaves have long been a barometer used by homeowners to determine if they need to keep mowing their lawns.

That’s not necessarily a reliable metric, as grass can still keep growing even if leaves have been falling for weeks.

In addition, using a mulching mower when leaves begin falling is a great way to provide the lawn with nutrients it can use throughout the winter.

Some trees shed their leaves more quickly than others, but it’s a good rule of thumb that lawns will need to keep being mowed if trees are still retaining more than half their leaves.

DID YOU KNOW? Fall is the season for pumpkin-picking. Picking pumpkins to eat or decorate the home is a popular fall activity, one that families often enjoy together.

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Fall Home & Garden

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2020

Laundry room renovations you’ll love Does it seem like your hamper is always full and the washing machine is running constantly? You may not be imagining it.

The average household washes 50 pounds of laundry a week and 6,000 articles of clothing every year. Families with children at home are doing laundry most often, and those with pets may find there is ample laundry to wash as well.

With so much laundry being generated, homeowners may want to consider paying extra attention to the space in the house where their clothing is being cleaned. Laundry room renovations may not top homeowners’ priority lists, but it may be time to give these rooms another look.

ASSESS YOUR EQUIPMENT If your appliances are aging, a laundry room renovation can start with an investment in new appliances. New models have large capacity loads, tend to be energy-efficient and could have innovative features that help fit with your laundry lifestyle.

Purchasing front-loading models also can free up design space, as you can install a counter directly above the units, saving room for other items like drying racks.

FURNITURE: FROM PAGE 3

guidelines, for both employees and customers, and we’re happy to say that not a single employee has missed a day’s work because of illness since the virus began.”

Scarborough said the biggest problem the store has had since March is a longer wait time for ordered furniture.

“We can promise that the order will come in, we just can’t say exactly when — could take a few days or maybe a few weeks.”

Scott feels that the departments — furniture, bedding, appliances and floor coverings — are steady, noting that sales are about what they were a year ago.

“Ashlyn does a good job in keeping up with changes that may come up,” she went on, recalling that a few things were not the same because of the virus.

FIGURE OUT YOUR ROOM NEEDS A laundry room need not be limited to laundry only. Many homeowners make large laundry rooms catch-all spaces that can serve as utility or mud rooms, pantry overflows or off-season storage areas. Consider the functions you want the room to serve and include those ideas in your designs.

ADD SOME NATURAL LIGHT If possible, include a window in your laundry room. Natural light can help make the room more enjoyable. It also can help you identify stains on clothes that need to be addressed and make it easier to fold matching items like socks.

THINK ABOUT A UTILITY SINK Many washing machines drain out directly to waste pipes in the floor or wall, but you also can opt to have them empty into a utility sink.

This sink also provides a convenient place to hand-wash items, clean tools or paintbrushes, or store items that perhaps you do not want to bring into a bathroom or kitchen sink.

“For instance, during the summer, she realized that sales on outdoor grills, as well as some patio furniture, had slowed considerably. We checked and sure enough, people just were not having outdoor gatherings like before.”

“We of course still offered for sale the merchandise we had on hand,” she added, “but we did not re-order.”

“We’ve tried to keep things the way daddy would like, yet still allow for change, if that’s what a customer wants,” said Scott.

She smiled.

“It seems to be working. We have some of daddy’s customers who still stop by today — some just to say hello, others continue to buy.”

Ivor Furniture is located at 35569 General Mahone Blvd. The store is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday. For details, call 757-859-6231 or email ashlyn. scarborough@gmail.com.

Laundry room renovations may not top homeowners’ priority lists, but it may be time to give these rooms another look.

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