The Grapevine
In My Garden: poolside
This is a peaceful spot to sit, relax and enjoy the pool and abundance of flowers in our backyard garden. Surrounded by lantana, cobalt blue pots filled with hibiscus and creeping Jenny, angelonia, and a backdrop of Arizona Blue Ice cypress and Spartan junipers, it is a wonderful location for reading, meditating and taking in all the joys of our backyard oasis.
John Moriconi, Wichita
In bloom at Botanica
Tropical water lilies (Nymphaea) are blooming at Botanica, including this Foxfire variety in the reflection pool of the Martha Parriott Terrace Garden.
When to clean air ducts
There’s no scientific evidence that vent cleaning has a direct and significant benefit, but experts agree there’s some benefit to having air ducts cleaned, particularly if you hire a skilled professional. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends cleaning air ducts when:
▪ You suspect mold in them.
▪ You notice a vermin infestation somewhere in the home, or you see insects or rodents entering or exiting ductwork.
▪ You see a poof of dust from the registers when air comes out.
Ed Mack of Air Duct Professionals in Lake Elsinore, Calif., also recommends cleaning if you see black debris around the outside of a vent or dust build-up in the area where you change the filter.
Angie’s List
FloraKansas this weekend
The FloraKansas native plant sale continues this weekend at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston. Perennials, vines, shrubs and trees will be for sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at 177 W. Hickory in Hesston. Admission is free. For more information, see the website dyckarboretum.org.
This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 2:46 PM with the headline "The Grapevine."