The task of un-decorating

Historically, removing Christmas decorations took place on Epiphany, the 12th day after Christmas. It is the religious observance of the visit of the three kings. And it is the unofficial kickoff of the un-decorating season and a busy time for those who are prone to be more of the serious organizers.  Take your time. Use the same amount of care you used when you were putting them out for display.

New family traditions and the desire to put our homes back to normal may have moved un-decorating to an earlier date on the calendar. If decorations have been up since before Thanksgiving, removing them right after New Year’s Day may be recommended. It just might be that even your neighbors are tired of your lighted Santa, reindeer and trees. Still, many people are sad to see their own outdoor and indoor decorations go and have the finality of the season sewn up.

When taking the decorations down, remember that next Christmas will be here before you know it, so use a few tips compiled by professional decorators to get you ahead of the game for next season:

• Take photos of inside decorations and groupings you especially like so you will have a guide for next year. Box the groupings together.

• Discard broken pieces and donate redundant pieces to a charity. If you have ample storage space save the give-away items until next October and donate them when they will be more exciting and special for the recipient.  It may uplift you and your family as the season gets underway too.

• Clean decorations before storing them. Dust shiny tree ornaments. Clean white cotton objects, like white lambs, with a toothbrush and then coat with cornstarch. Toss artificial poinsettias in a bag with a half cup of salt to move the dust.

• Store decorations thematically or in their original boxes. For tree ornaments, it can be convenient to store according to color. Next year it will be easier to evenly distribute colors on the tree.

• Put artificial trees the in their original boxes to protect them for future use and for convenient storage.

• Store outdoor decorations together in the garage, basement or attic.

by Owen Strand

Do it yourself and save some cash.  You can find out how to do just about anything on the internet today and the fact is it will take you through a multitude of home repairs and redo’s one step at a time.  It can’t be too hard right?  That is possibly true for many repairs and updates but there are a few you should steer very clear of and leave them to the professionals.  Let’s face it, a lump in the spackling or gap in the flooring are some things we can all live with, a water leak that ends up rotting the bathroom cabinet or a spark flying each time you plug into a kitchen outlet is an entirely different beast.  Look out for projects that require more expertise than any of us can obtain through a quick read or video view.

Three major areas that should cause you extra consideration: Electric, Gas and Water:

Electrical Repairs
If you are extremely comfortable switching out a ceiling fan, they are among the simplest of electrical repairs.  But don’t be fooled even a bit by that MINOR word in this type of (minor) repair.  It is still electricity and electricity is extremely dangerous for a novice and should be approached with extreme caution.  If your electric repairs go beyond the very simple, call in a professional.  There are two different negative outcomes in the diy electric arena where mistakes create extreme consequences.   Get it wrong and electricity can cause a home fire or worse, get it wrong and electrocution could occur for someone in the home.

Gas and Gas Appliance Repairs
Most diy gas work around the house is actually other home repairs that require an appliance to be moved or replaced.  Whether you are moving a gas appliance to make repairs, moving a wall or replacing a simple gas water heater, the critical issue is assuring that a leak does not exist after reconnection.  The problem for a diy-er in this area is two -fold.  Working with gas is dangerous at the time and dangerous after, should the repairs not have been made 100% correctly.  Save yourself worry and maybe extra cost, call on the professional for this critical fix-it-upper. Note that monoxide poisoning kills more than 400 people per year in the United States alone, it is not worth the risk.

Plumbing
The very smallest water leak can lead to thousands of dollars worth of damage if it’s not caught in time. If you’re a capable DIY-er and there is existing plumbing in place, you can possibly manage some minor repairs.  Things like replacing faucets or changing out shower heads. Where you can get in over your head is if you try to modify your plumbing system; things like extending hot water lines and re-routing sewer pipes. Although this isn’t as dangerous as electric work, plumbing problems can get out of hand fast and lead to an expensive and timely fix. Remember –with water, if there’s a way out, water will find it.

My Dad’s ole barber would always say, “I won’t do the plumbing and he shouldn’t cut hair” Maybe, he had that right all along.

So far 2010 has proved to be another interesting weather year here in Texas. A very nice, cool, and fairly wet spring in North Texas has been followed up by a hot and semi-dry summer.  Nothing compares to the benefits we get from rainwater. I tend to rant and rave about different things, but the “art” of watering tends to come up on a weekly basis this time of year.

September has proven to be our third month of summer here lately and conserving water and proper watering should be on everyone’s mind – actually year around! I highly encourage everyone to check into rain barrels. We let so much good free water run down the storm drains when placement of a rain barrel can help decrease your water bill. It is as simple as buying a 55 gallon drum and diverting your gutters into it. Install a faucet at the base and off you go! Your plants will thank you each time you use rainwater instead of tap water.

Now, for those of you who rely on a sprinkler system to water your lawn and gardens, there are some basic guidelines to follow. Quit Watering Every Day! It just makes me crazy to see a home with their sprinkler system running every day. I just want to go knock on the door and tell them to shut the darn thing off. Proper watering once a week is plenty for your plantings. If it is an automatic system, try starting the system at 1:00 a.m. and set the individual zones to water no more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. When all zones have been run, set your controller to run through them again. This will give you a deeper water penetration, with little or no run-off. During the heat of summer you can set it to go a third time. Now soils vary around the area so I suggest you watch your system run and judge for yourself. Sloped areas may not be able to run for more than just a few minutes before running off. Use the basic system for setting up your manual sprinklers.

It all comes back to common sense. Take the time to watch your own little eco system. If you have planted water wise plants and Texas natives, you may not even need weekly waterings. Also, some plants may need individual watering with a water hose. However, remember never to water in the heat of the day. You will get a better feel for your garden’s water requirements if you hand water some plants. This is a good time to evaluate how your plants are doing, look for diseases and insects, and what you may “not” want to plant again. In my own yard I try to let nature run its course. The only spraying I do is a mixture of Garrett Juice or Maestro-gro Sea Mist combined with Plant Wash as often as possible. If the plants cannot make it with minimal care, they become compost.

Don’t forget the use of soaker hoses – the weeping ones only. Most of these are made from recycled rubber materials and will last years in your garden, use them in place of the sprinkler system as much as possible.

Hear Tropical John and “The Dirt Doctor” Howard Garrett on Sunday Mornings 8 am to 11 am on KSKY AM 660. Tropical John’s Gardens, phone 972-771-2449.

by Sue Newhouse, auntsue@auntsuesbarn.com

When was the last time you bit into a warm, ripe peach?  I can’t imagine you’ve never done that, but imagine picking that fresh peach right from the tree and biting into it – the juice dripping  down your chin so you have to catch it with the other hand; the ripe flavor causing your mouth to water at the very thought. These aren’t the peaches you get at the grocery store; they can only be experienced in person at a local farm.

Here in North Texas we have not only our local grocer,  but farms and day trips within driving distance that can let us experience the farm first hand. This not only supports the grower with the maximum return on their product, it incorporates family time, educational opportunities and lets your kids experience just what it takes to bring that produce to their table.

Want a day trip?  The Texas Hill County peach growers are known for great produce! Peach farming isn’t as easy as it looks. Because the hill country peaches flower early to mid-March, a frost could occur that may negatively impact a significant percentage of the peaches. That Texas Hill Country farmer is out there going to great lengths to save their crop.  One farmer, who also employs a wind turbine to promote air movement during frost periods, engages a helicopter to fly over the fields in the early hours of the morning to prevent frost from settling on the peaches. Quite an expense, but needed technology at times to save a crop. These farmers may contract with private weather services as well as monitoring moment by moment temperatures through downloadable devices kept out near the trees.

If you’re interested in visiting a local peach orchard, we’re fortunate to have the Red River Peach Orchard just 30 minutes away in Gainesville (www.redriverpeachorchard.com). Not only do they have fabulous peaches June into August, the owner, Norman Miner is available to talk about his orchard with you at great lengths. And lastly, don’t forget about Weatherford, Texas – home of the Parker County Peach Festival scheduled for July 10th (http://www.peachfestivaltx.com/).

Thinking about growing your own? The best time to purchase and plant is during the winter months when the trees are dormant. Although stores don’t usually stock them at that time, you might consider Womack Nursery in De Leon, Texas. This is a local grower who has healthy bare root fruit trees and can provide them at the time they need to be planted. A benefit to buying them directly from the grower is they have the knowledge and are willing to take the time to share it with you.  You can get on their catalog list at www.womacknursery.com.

So think again about what that fresh, dripping warm peach will taste like and support the local growers.  It’s a summer treat your family will remember forever.

Bluebonnet Season

Let me ask you, what does spring in Texas mean to you? Is it just the end of winter or a time to put the cold clothing away?  To me, it’s slow, meandering drives down endless country roads, blooming dogwoods and open windows; the fragrances of everything blooming wafting through the air. However, when I talk to people outside the Texas borders what I mention first are wildflowers!  Those spectacular color-ramas that span a hillside and let us photograph our families amidst the bluebonnets.  Nothing says Texas quite like bluebonnets.

We first see the bluebonnets peeking out at us from along the roadsides down in the hill country in late March, early April. Denton, being a climate zone or two north of the Hill country sees bluebonnets from early April to early May depending of course on current climate conditions. A lingering, colder winter may mean a slight delay in the flowers; a warmer, drier winter may mean we see them slightly earlier.  Along with those brilliant blue spikes we see the beginnings of the summer wildflowers – Indian Paintbrush with its brilliant, almost iridescent red plumes and finally, the daisy-like flat red and yellow colors of Indian blanket.

The Bluebonnet was adopted as the state flower of Texas by the Texas Legislature in 1901. It was named the bluebonnet for both its spectacular blue color and the resemblance of the petal to a woman’s bonnet. “It’s not only the state flower but also a kind of floral trademark almost as well known to outsiders as cowboy boots and the Stetson hat.”, wrote historian Jack Maguire. Seeds were gathered by early-day Spanish priests and grown around the missions. As a result, a myth was generated that these flowers were brought by the settlers from Spain. In fact though, the two predominant species of bluebonnets are only found growing naturally in Texas – nowhere else in the world.

These and other wildflowers can be easily grown in your own yard. The key is fall planting and the removal of weeds and other perennials. Most of the flowers go to seed in late spring or summer and naturally the seeds would be spread by birds, insects, animals as they dried and fell to the ground.  Once you grow your first bluebonnets, watch for the seed pods to appear. The pods will twist as they dry and eventually split open, so make sure you pick the pods before they split, open the pods and save the seeds for fall planting again.

Before this wonderful spring wildflower season blends into summer, get in your car and take in those fabulous Texas wildflowers along our highways and back roads. You might even get that perfect Christmas card photo you can use for next year! To find out more about wildflowers go to www.wildflower.org or www.lone-star.net/wildflowers/.

Photograph courtesy of Dimples Photo Journeys  |  www.dimplesphotojourneys.com |  940.372.5002

by Sue Newhouse, suenewhouse@yahoo.com

Every year, after New Year’s creeps past, there’s one nice warm day that hints at the fact that spring is just around the corner. It’s the day I run to the nursery to see what’s available, knowing realistically I should wait until it’s at least close to April first before planting to avoid the last frost. However, even before I plant there are a few things that need to be done.

First and foremost, feed your soil! If you do nothing else, do this. Some people use fertilizers, I prefer organic material. I start by adding 2-3” of composted manures blended into the existing soil.  This nutrient rich material improves the soil’s texture as well as retain moisture. It allows the roots to penetrate clay soils and allows plants to take up more air and water. The nutrients in the compost feed the plant and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers and lastly, compost has been found to help suppress plant diseases. I can’t stress this enough – it all starts with the soil.  The North Central Texas College Gainesville Campus Equine Facility has composted horse manure they freely give to anyone who wants to pick it up. They’ll tractor load your truck or trailer, or you can shovel it yourself.  Contact Kelly Carr at kcarr@nctc.edu before you access the campus.

Next, get those roses and fruit trees pruned before first bud break. Since tree fruits are pruned differently than roses, you should locate specific information for each plant in question.  Texas A&M has an extensive online library of information at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu and look for pruning information.

Lastly, for this new 2010 year, do something different! Grow vegetables instead of flowers; plant a beautiful, edible vine; consider a new method of growing – square foot gardening perhaps (www.squarefootgardening.com).  How about companion planting? This gardening method places beneficial plants together, such as asparagus and tomatoes allowing the tomatoes to protect the asparagus from the asparagus beetle.  A companion planting chart can be found at  http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/complant.html#chart.  Learn something new by checking out www.FeedTexasFirst.org. This site connects you to local farmers who are having workshops specifically in the north Texas area. Suppose the small farmer needs help putting it in a drip irrigation system and you need to learn how to do this for your own garden. You provide the help the farmer needs and in exchange you gain the educational hands-on experience. Most of these sessions last only a few hours on a Saturday, so it’s minimal time investment on your part but a huge educational and networking opportunity for you.

Are you ready for spring? Gardening – whether it’s for food, aesthetics or just plain fun is guaranteed to encourage a lifetime of learning. Every year is a new opportunity to try new methods, varieties and styles of gardening. Happy planting!