Wednesday, July 5, 2023
10 tasty heirloom seed varieties to include in your garden this year - The Washington Post
Monday, July 3, 2023
Native Plants: The best bloomers for hot, dry corners - Los Altos Town Crier
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Example: 138 Main St. When your current subscription expires later this year, you will be able to renew at losaltosonline.com/users/admin/service/purchase. If you have any trouble accessing your account or linking your subscription, our Subscription FAQ may have the answer you need. Contact howardb@latc.com or call him at (650) 397-5213 with any questions or to learn more. Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code. Promotional Rates were found for your code. Sorry, an error occurred. do not remove Sunny. High 64F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Clear skies. Low 44F. Winds light and variable. Updated: January 25, 2023 @ 8:46 am The intensely colored golden-orange flowers of Palmer’s Indian Mallow (Abutilon palmeri) are especially attractive to native solitary bees. Sierra Starr Fairy Duster, right, a hybrid of the native California species and the Baja species, is hardy to 18 F. It grows into a 4- to 5-foot mound, covered with red flowers that attract hummingbirds. In late fall, shrub abutilon, above, still has an abundance of flowers. Its soft silvery-gray to gray-green leaves provide a textural contrast in the dry garden. Apricot Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) comes in shades from the palest salmon to deep red-orange, with flowers from half an inch to 2 inches across. The intensely colored golden-orange flowers of Palmer’s Indian Mallow (Abutilon palmeri) are especially attractive to native solitary bees. The bladderpod shrub I can see from my window has had abundant yellow flowers nearly year-round. Other California native plants from chaparral and desert areas can also have a long bloom time. What sets these particular plants apart is that they grow in full sun, need excellent drainage and will thrive in the hottest part of your garden. Desert plants can benefit from the reflected heat of a south- or west-facing wall, an adjacent sidewalk or a big boulder that absorbs and radiates the heat of the day. Using a mineral mulch such as gravel or decomposed granite instead of an organic mulch such as arborist chips can also help these plants to thrive. Apricot Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) comes in shades from the palest salmon to deep red-orange, with flowers from half an inch to 2 inches across. To ensure good drainage, you can plant on a slope or make a mound so that the crown of the plant, where the above-ground stems originate, never sits in a puddle of water. The mound can be 6-12 inches higher than the surrounding soil, at least a foot in diameter and constructed so that the soil surface gently slopes away from the crown of the plant. These plants are generally drought tolerant once they are established and need minimal care. If you’re looking for a challenge, try a couple of stunning frost-sensitive plants from Southern California and Baja. Plant them under the eaves if your garden gets frosty, or cover them if the temperature dips occasionally. The following plants can sustain damage if the mercury falls below 25 F. • Palmer’s Indian Mallow (Abutilon palmeri) has striking golden-orange flowers set off by soft silvery gray leaves. The flowers are larger, deeper and more intensely pigmented than those of California poppies. This is an important plant for native bees. At 3-5 feet tall and wide, the shrub can be covered in blooms from spring to fall. Native to desert scrublands where summer thunderstorms are not uncommon, this plant likes the occasional sprinkle in the summer to wash off the leaves. It may also benefit from some afternoon shade at an especially hot site. In late fall, shrub abutilon, above, still has an abundance of flowers. Its soft silvery-gray to gray-green leaves provide a textural contrast in the dry garden. • Baja Fairy Duster (Calliandra californica) is a hummingbird magnet. Its airy bright-red starbursts are actually inch-long stamens, covering the 3- to 5-foot mounded form for much of the year. The delicate tiny leaves are evergreen. It can be pruned to fit into smaller spaces. • Sierra Starr, a red-flowered hybrid of the Baja Fairy Duster and the native California Fairy Duster (C. eriophylla, which has pink flowers), is hardy to 18 F. Sierra Starr Fairy Duster, right, a hybrid of the native California species and the Baja species, is hardy to 18 F. It grows into a 4- to 5-foot mound, covered with red flowers that attract hummingbirds. • Apricot Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), also known as Desert Globemallow, tolerates a wider range of temperatures, though it is particularly sensitive to wet conditions in the colder months and must have excellent drainage. In the summer, it will thrive in the hottest spot in your garden. It’s approximately 1-2 feet high and a little wider, with flower stalks rising 1-4 feet above the grayish leaves. Native solitary bees and hummingbirds are drawn to the flowers, which vary from half an inch to 2 inches wide and can be pale to deep shades of orange and red-orange. A couple of deep summer waterings can prolong the bloom. To keep the plant lush and longer-lived, trim the flowering stalks back to 3-6 inches in the winter. Although it may not live longer than three to five years if untended, this plant can reseed and is relatively easy to find in nurseries. Tanya Kucak gardens organically. Email her at tanyagarden@gmail.com. Your comment has been submitted. Reported There was a problem reporting this. Log In Keep it Courteous. Be respectful, truthful, and use no threatening or hateful language. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts and the history behind a news event. 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Sunday, July 2, 2023
A place for coffee and community - Las Cruces Sun-News
Saturday, July 1, 2023
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
Handyman Do's and Don'ts
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If you own a home, you are well acquainted with the maintenance required to keep everything running smoothly. Patch and repair work will always be necessary for as long as you own a dwelling. Some homeowners are staunch do-it-yourselfers while others can't even stock a proper tool box. If you fall into the category that could use a bit of help around the house, hiring a handy person can be a wise idea. Here are some dos and don'ts for hiring a repairperson.
Do:
- Check his or her references. Ask for references and call them all. A word-of-mouth referral from a trusted source is even better. You want to employ someone who has done similar work for a friend, relative or neighbor. Ask about his or her reliability, skill and timeliness in job completion. If possible, take a look at the handiwork that the repair person did for your source.
- Talk about money up front. Get specifics in terms of fees and payment. Does the repair/crafts person charge by the job or by the hour? It is easier to gauge the price tag with a per completion cost agreement. It may sound like you're getting a great deal if they charge a low hourly fee, but if it takes them three times as long as the next person, the charges will add up. If they aren't sure how long something will take and only will accept the hourly wage, think long and hard about running an open ended tab. Who knows how high the final tally might end up?
- Do get more than one estimate. Price shouldn't be the only consideration, but it is one of them. Also notice whether the bid is given in a timely and professional manner. This will tell you a lot about his or her work ethics.
- Don't think every handyman is male. This occupation should actually be called "handy person" because there are many competent repair and craft persons who are female.
Don't:
- Don't pay them everything up front. It's customary to pay a down payment on the day that they start the job, something in the middle and the bulk at the end of the job. If you don't hold out the carrot for the end of the job, satisfactory completion may never occur.
- Don't accept a verbal estimate. Be sure that everything is done in writing. A written estimate is your contract and you won't have a leg to stand on without an agreement on paper.
- Don't hire a handyman without a license for crucial building components such as plumbing, electrical and roofing. It is important to select a highly skilled and experienced professional who is licensed with the Board of Contractors whenever dealing with the installation of plumbing, roofing and electrical.
- Don't forget to thank your handy person for a job well done. A verbal thank you, gifts of food while he or she is working and prompt payment will all show your appreciation.
A house should be well maintained in order to retain its property value by employing a handyman or handy woman.
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