Wichita Eagle: Home and Garden

On the grapevine (Feb. 8)

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:20 CST

Enter our home-decor contest

Perhaps it’s a mirror at the end of a dark hallway or a picture on an easel serving as a headboard for your bed. Do you have a favorite decorator touch that you’ve added to your house, or a design solution that you’ve found for a problem area? Snap a photo and upload it at Kansas.com/upload, along with a brief description of what is pictured, by Feb. 20.

Your photo will be featured on Kansas.com and will be entered in a drawing for a $50 gift certificate. Three readers will win. Readers’ photos may be featured in a future Home & Garden story. Please be sure to include your name and contact information so we can reach you.

Gardener’s almanac (Feb. 4)

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:10 CST

Project Beauty luncheon – Robin Macy, musician and owner of Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine, will be the speaker at a Project Beauty luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at Wichita Country Club, 8501 E. 13th St. The cost is $17, and everyone is welcome. Make a reservation by calling Marilyn at 316-618-4282 by Feb. 13.

Free family fair today – Botanica is having its free Family Fun Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Children can take part in nature-related activities, and admission to the gardens is free.

“The Employment Practices of Flowers” talk – Retired biology instructor James Taylor will be at Botanica on Wednesday to talk about flowers and their pollinators. The lunchtime lecture will be at 12:15 and is included in Botanica admission. Syl’s will have lunch for sale for $7 beginning at 11 a.m.

Your new to-do list

Allen Norwood — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:06 CST

Today’s houses are filled with components that weren’t so common years ago. They make your home more efficient and less work. You can’t ignore them entirely, though. So, as you plan your chores and projects for the coming year, here are some to keep in mind.

Limestone/marble

These ancient materials are more popular than ever. Not all stones need sealing. Ask your stone pro. Buy the best sealers you can afford. Grit and acids are the biggest threats to marble and limestone. So:

Garden show’s loss is home show’s gain

Annie Calovich — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:05 CST

The Home Show will have a little more variety this year after picking up a few businesses that used to be part of the now-closed Wichita Garden Show, says Wess Galyon of the Wichita Area Builders Association. The builders association sponsors the Home Show, which will be Thursday through Feb. 12 in all three halls of Century II.

The Home Show could have picked up more garden-related businesses, but it simply ran out of room, Galyon said.

“The show was sold out early. … I wish we had two Expo Halls — we’d fill them up in a heartbeat.”

Enjoy those early blooms, even as temperatures may fall

Annie Calovich — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:06 CST

Daffodils are blooming today in extension agent Bob Neier’s yard.

He saw some crabapple buds slipping out of their scales Wednesday. And those pesky weeds henbit and chickweed are in some Wichita yards growing healthy and big as dinner plates. To add insult to injury, a cutworm was crawling across one chickweed sample that Neier examined this week. In Sumner County, he’s seen chickweed blooming.

“I’m seeing crazy things out there,” Neier said.

Clever disguises hide home design problems

Mary Beth Breckenridge — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:07 CST

Just about every home has an eyesore.

Maybe it’s a wonky window or flooring that’s seen better days. It grates on your nerves, but fixing or replacing it is too expensive, too impractical or too far down the priority list.

That doesn’t mean you have to look the other way. We’ve gathered a few solutions for disguising some common decorating problems, so put on your can-do attitude and get ready to tackle that trouble spot.

Gardener’s almanac (Jan. 28)

Annie Calovich — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:33 CST

Grass around trees – Ward Upham of K-State reminds us this week about research done by Jason Griffin and others at the John C. Pair Horticultural Center in Haysville regarding the competition that grass poses to trees. Their studies showed that keeping grass, especially fescue, at least 3 feet from the trunk of a tree increases tree growth. The diameter of tree trunks was twice as large for trees without fescue or bluegrass around them, and 50 percent bigger for trees without bermudagrass competition. Redbuds showed 300 percent more top-growth weight and pecans 200 percent more in plots without grass. Leaf areas were 200 percent larger in trees grown in plots without grass competition and leaf weight showed a 300 percent increase.

The bare soil was maintained with herbicides, or with mulch 3 inches deep.

“Photographing Birds from Ecuador to Kansas” – Bob Gress, director of the Great Plains Nature Center, will give a presentation at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston on Tuesday showing his latest photos of birds, from tropical birds in the high Andes of Central Ecuador to the snowy owls that have been roosting lately in Kansas. His lecture will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the arboretum’s new Prairie Pavilion and will be preceded by an optional soup supper at 6 p.m. in the Visitors Center. The cost is $2 for the lecture, $7 for soup and the lecture. Call 620-327-8127 for reservations by noon Monday.

New map, garden grants announced

Annie Calovich — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:02 CST

I can’t remember a newsier January in the garden world, with headlines being made on the global, national and state level. Here are a few of them:

• The international requirement that Latin be used in the naming of new plants is dropped.

• The U.S. plant-hardiness-zone map is updated, making most locales half a zone warmer.

On the grapevine (Jan. 28)

Annie Calovich — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:07 CST

White-sale primer: Towels

The cotton choices that apply to sheets also apply to towels. The two most popular types of towel construction are combed cotton and ring-spun cotton, said Keith Hagood of The Company Store.

Combed cotton has undergone a combing process that removes uneven threads, resulting in a short pile and a sheared effect. With ring-spun cotton, the yarns are twisted or looped together for strength and absorbency.

New USDA plant hardiness map: Wichita’s a little warmer

Annie Calovich — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:27 CST

Wichita has warmed up half a zone, from 6a to 6b, under a new plant hardiness map released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The hardiness zone map, which helps gardeners determine which plants will survive the winters where they live, was last updated in 1990. Under that map, Wichita’s winters averaged lows of 10 below to 5 below zero. The new map is based on average lows from 1976 to 2005, which were 5 below zero to zero in Wichita.

The new map is much more sophisticated than the old one because of advances in technology and can’t be exactly compared to the old map, said Kim Kaplan of the Agriculture Research Service in Washington. It shows that some areas of the country have become warmer and others have become cooler since the issuance of the last map but takes into account only low temperatures and makes no claim for or against climate change, Kaplan said.

If we’re not eating tomatoes, we’re planning for them

Annie Calovich — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:49 CST

I don’t know if it’s because of a bad tomato crop in 2011 or despite it, but there’s been plenty of conversation about tomatoes to go around for a January.

A friend of mine who is allergic to tomatoes said her husband wonders why she still grows them. One could wonder why, in January, we speak of them. It doesn’t matter. They’re the common denominator among gardeners. If we can’t eat them — either because we’re allergic (and I think I’m borderline, but I don’t want to find out for sure) or because it’s not the weather for growing them — be assured we will be planning for a way to eat them.

Johnson’s Garden Center on 13th Street has tapped into this desire by growing tomatoes in black plastic bags in its greenhouse this winter. Customers can pick from the vine — a pretty neat prospect in January — or buy already picked tomatoes that sit in a basket by the cash register.

What’s up with wallpaper?

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:51 CST

You could say Amy Reich and her husband, John Pracher, entered the new world of wallpaper by accident.

Based on advice from a designer, the couple painted the large hallway of their Leesburg, Va., house a chocolate brown and immediately regretted their choice. Desperate to cover it up, they met with a succession of decorators. Finally, one firm, the Mill Co., suggested wallpaper.

“We looked at each other and said, ‘Wallpaper!?’ ” Reich remembered. “We both grew up in the 1970s with flocked wallpaper, but they found us beautiful wallpaper, and we thought: ‘They’re right. It will cover our mistake and introduce beautiful color.’ ”

Gardener’s almanac (Jan. 21)

Annie Calovich — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:52 CST

Warm winter days — As the temperatures continue to yo-yo this winter and the forecast shows no indication of moisture, look for the warmer days for a chance to water outdoor plants. Extension agent Bob Neier also suggests mulch-mowing leaves that have blown into the yard or raking them into perennial beds on such days. If you see that your spring-flowering bulbs have put on leaves, not unusual in the warmth, rake some leaves around them as a mulch and remove it in March, Bob recommends.

When to start seeds — If you’re growing plants from seed this year, you need to know when the plant can be planted outside and how long it takes for the plant to grow to maturity. Taking the time it takes for the plant to go from seed to maturity, count back from the time you want to plant it outside. The target date for transplanting cool-season crops such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and onions is the end of March to the beginning of April, Ward Upham of K-State says. Warm-season vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and most annual flowers are usually planted outside in early May. When in doubt, count back from the last frost date, which is around April 15 in Wichita.

Testing seed viability – Many types of seed can stay viable for three years if it’s kept in a cold, dark, dry place, Upham says. There are exceptions, including members of the carrot family (carrots, parsnips and parsley), usually good for a year or two. If you have plenty of seed of a particular plant, you can test their viability with this method, Upham says: Place 10 seeds on a paper towel moistened with warm water and cover them with a second moistened towel. Roll up the towels and place in a plastic bag with enough holes for air exchange but not so many that the towels dry quickly. Place the bag in a warm place such as the top of a refrigerator. Remoisten towels with warm water as needed. After the first week, check for germination. Remove sprouted seed and check again after another week. Add these numbers together to determine the percent germination.

On the Grapevine (Jan. 21)

Annie Calovich — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:53 CST

White sale primer: sheets

When buying sheets, focus more on the quality of cotton rather than thread count, experts say.

Egyptian cotton is generally considered the best quality for sheets because of its absorbency and sturdiness, said Mika Swiderski of Bed Bath & Beyond.

Tangerine Tango sets the tone for action and energy in 2012

SAMANTHA CRITCHELL — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:16 CST

The world doesn’t need more gray, and the blues are covered, too. What people need is a jolt, a shot of energy and boldness, Pantone is signaling in selecting reddish-orange Tangerine Tango as its top color for 2012.

“There’s the element of encouragement with orange. It’s building on the ideas of courage and action, that we want to move on to better things. I think it would be a disservice to go with a relaxed, soothing color now,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, the research division of Pantone. Pantone creates color standards for the fashion, beauty and home industries.

The annual forecast for the year’s dominant color takes into consideration what Pantone thinks shoppers want and need. Those are influenced by designer runways, fabric shows, news events, pop culture and consumer habits. “Part of what we do is look at the zeitgeist,” Eiseman explained. “We have to look at everything in the world around us. It’s not an arbitrary choice.”

Gardener’s almanac (Jan. 14)

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:16 CST

Basic Vegetable Gardening Series – K-State Research and Extension will offer a two-evening series on vegetable gardening. The sessions will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and will cover an introduction to vegetable gardening on Jan. 31 and raised-bed gardening and extending the garden season on Feb. 7. The cost is $5 whether you attend one or both sessions. Register online at vegclass.eventbrite.com or call 316-660-0100. The series will be at the Extension Education Center at 21st and Ridge Road.

Central Kansas Market Vegetable Growers Workshop – The third annual workshop for market vegetable growers, both beginner and experienced, will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 17 and 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Extension Center, 21st and Ridge Road. The workshop is sponsored by Sedgwick, Butler, Harvey and Reno County Extension. It’s designed to give beginning and experienced growers new skills to improve their production methods and marketing of their vegetables. The Friday portion of the workshop is new this year and will explore tomato grafting techniques in depth, including a hands-on tomato grafting exercise.

On Saturday, Feb. 18, speakers will include Lance Chastain of Chautauqua Hills Blueberry Farm, Mark Jirak of Jirak Farms and Becky Walters of Walters Pumpkin Patch. The workshop will cover the production of basic vegetables and fruits as well as niche crops. Topics will include biopesticides, food safety, marketing, water challenges, growing herbs, tree fruit, nuts and melons.

Annie Calovich: Houseplants good for the soul and body

By By Annie Calovich — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:46 CST

I have a peace lily that I keep around because it was a gift to me after my mother died. It doesn’t flourish, and any other plant that looked this scraggly would have been tossed long ago, but I keep it for sentimental reasons.

One houseplant that I do own that does well is a philodendron my sister gave me after it was banned, along with other plants, from her place of business. It seems someone complained of flying insects, and the office plants got the blame. And the boot.

I didn’t hesitate to take the philodendron up to The Eagle newsroom, figuring it could greenify my desk the way Bonnie Bing’s healthy “Phyllis” had done for hers. Bonnie had been pouring leftover coffee into Phyllis’ soil for years, and it sat far from our windows overlooking Old Town, and yet it was healthy as could be. When the Oklahoma earthquake rattled Wichita one Monday evening in early November, it was Phyllis shimmying three stories up that grabbed my attention.

The Grapevine: What’s catching your eye in the gardening catalogs? (Jan. 14)

Annie Calovich — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:04 CST

Question of the week

What seed or garden catalog or plant in it has grabbed your attention this winter?

E-mail acalovich@wichitaeagle.com. For more home and garden, subscribe to the e-newsletter How the Garden Grows at Kansas.com/newsletters.

Your house on a diet

Mary Beth Breckenridge — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 07:24 CST

Chances are you know how it feels to put on excess pounds.

You’re uncomfortable. Nothing fits right. Everything seems to take more effort.

Sharon Kreighbaum believes that’s how it is with houses, too.

How-to books take you only so far in January

By A Bit of Earth — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 07:23 CST

The first week of the new year is always so refreshing (especially if it includes days when the temperature is in the 60s) — empty of just-shed holiday pressures, full of promise, decorated with a few new calendars (though I’m missing the annual pilgrimage to Borders for half-off this year).

Reading more is always a resolution of mine, and a couple of new garden books, received as Christmas presents, seemed the best place to start in 2012.

I love the initial digging into garden and cookbooks — some of them combined in one, as in “Growing at the Speed of Life” by the Galloping Gourmet, Graham Kerr. But, at some point, you have to put them down and cook. Or sow seeds. Otherwise you’ll go crazy, as we do watching football instead of getting outside and tossing one with the boys. (Well, you boys should do that, anyway.)