http://http://www.kentucky.com/150/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Kentucky.com en-us Copyright 2009 Kentucky.com Home & Garden 60 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:01:03 EST http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench webmaster@kentucky.com http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/645345.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/645345.html Sat, 03 Jan 2009 02:56 EST
It's not just surviving, it's thriving in her Lexington home. Now in glorious bloom, the poinsettia is covered with dozens of red flowerlike bracts, which were perfectly timed for the holiday season.

Curious about just how large it had grown, she and husband Omer measured the plant recently. It's now 12 feet around, up from about 2 feet originally. It's "a monstrosity" according to Omer, but for Dorothy, it's a wonderful treasure that she hopes to trim back and keep for the 2009 season, if only she can persuade her children and grandchildren to cart it around for her.

Potted poinsettias commonly lose their leaves, shrivel up and die, then are thrown in the trash or recycled after Christmas. They are known to be very fussy to care for and inexpensive enough to be expendable. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/645491.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/645491.html Sat, 03 Jan 2009 09:52 EST http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/645501.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/645501.html Sat, 03 Jan 2009 09:56 EST
Founder's Lecture by Robert Lyons: Secrets of an Attention-Deficit Gardener: An Unembarrassed Account of Using Annuals and Tender Perennials to Create Brilliant Landscapes That Change Every Year. 7 p.m. Jan. 8. University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center, Lexington. $5. Free to friends of the Arboretum and students with ID. Advance registration required. (859) 257-6955.

At Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. Clermont. (502) 955-8512. www.bernheim.org.

Raptors! 1-3:30 p.m. Jan. 10. See and learn about North American birds of prey. $8 each member family, $12 each non-member family. Advance registration not required. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/638807.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/638807.html Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:57 EST
Generously planted with an array of flowers and trees, it brings gardeners and visitors together to celebrate life in the great, green outdoors. Home to the Garden Club of Kentucky headquarters, the Wallis House was bequeathed to the club in 1971 by Nannine Clay Wallis with the stipulation that it be maintained as a garden sanctuary. Wallis, an avid gardener, had been president of the National Council of State Garden Clubs. She left a legacy that includes many stately trees and the framework of a beautifully designed garden, as well as the historic home built around 1850.

Winter

It's all about evergreens, fragrant boughs, boxwood, swags and wreaths when garden club members put on a winter open house. The Garden Club of Kentucky is an umbrella organization that connects many local garden clubs throughout the state. In return, members volunteer to maintain the arboretum and manage the club. Individual clubs have meetings and projects, and the group as a whole sponsors activities and a quarterly newsletter. If you're interested in joining a garden club, you may contact the Garden Club of Kentucky, which is affiliated with National Garden Clubs Inc. It will help you find a contact name and number in your area. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/638812.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/638812.html Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:57 EST
Try placing a few butterfly houses, bee blocks or bat houses around your yard to encourage these hard-working pollinators to become long-term tenants.

Inexpensive ($15 range) bee houses are proving popular with gardeners looking for pollinators, particularly the ground-dwelling kind.

The four habitat requirements for luring wildlife food, water, shelter and space apply to beneficial insects, too. It pays to know something about the life cycle of pollinators if you're to succeed at attracting them. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/638811.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/638811.html Sat, 27 Dec 2008 08:58 EST
No cause has been found for the worldwide decline in pollinators, but contributing factors include pesticides, habitat loss, pollution, disease and pests.

An estimated 200,000 species act as pollinators, transferring pollen grains from one flower to another, facilitating fruiting and seed production. About 1,000 are birds, bats, and small mammals such as mice and voles. The rest are insects: bees, hornets and wasps, butterflies and moths, ants and beetles, even houseflies and mosquitoes.

On nearly every continent, native bee populations have seen dramatic declines, said Gary Mast, a deputy undersecretary with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/638808.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/638808.html Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:57 EST
All about sensational, freewheeling modern living and daring new designs, deco was hit hard by the looming second world war. It was time to pack up the Charleston records, put away glamorous accoutrements and face harsh reality.

But the style never seems to go quietly, or for long.

The reason art deco furniture is popular again now is easy to figure, says James Caughman, senior marketing director for Chicago-based Baker Furniture, part of the Kohler Interiors Group. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/633028.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/633028.html Sat, 20 Dec 2008 08:32 EST
One way to provide a bit of welcome inspiration and encouragement to gardeners who are already pining for spring is to surprise them with a good read.

Here are a few suggestions that might save you some time while searching for a perfect book as the clock ticks down to Christmas Day.

First, consider your gardeners and their preferences. Are they avid readers, or would a book with lots of pictures be the best choice? Do they need good, basic advice to get started, or specialized information about a particular subject? ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/633030.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/633030.html Sat, 20 Dec 2008 02:57 EST
Push, don't toss: Snow shovels are designed for pushing snow aside, not scooping it up and tossing it, Lambert says.

"Snow is very heavy," he says. "If you start picking it up, you are going to wear yourself out very quickly."

Every winter, there are reports of people who have heart attacks from the unaccustomed exertion of snow shoveling, so choose your tools to make it easy on yourself. Have a snow thrower? You still need a shovel or two for tight spaces and exceptionally wet, heavy snows. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/633031.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/633031.html Sat, 20 Dec 2008 02:57 EST
Use these ideas as inspiration to create your own family fireplace.

Wintry wonderland

Silver, gold and white, and faux snow will look great through the holiday season and into the early months of 2009. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/633032.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/633032.html Sat, 20 Dec 2008 08:27 EST
At the Arboretum. 500 Alumni Dr., Lexington. (859) 257-9339. Advance registration required unless noted. www.ca.uky.edu/arboretum.

Little Elves Day Camp (ages 7 and older). 9 a.m.-noon Dec. 22-24. Monday: holiday spices; Tuesday: winter in the garden; Wednesday: fragrant herbal gifts. $20 a day, $50 for all three days; Friends of the Arboretum receive 10 percent off.

Founder's Lecture by Robert Lyons: "Secrets of an Attention-Deficit Gardener: An Unembarrassed Account of Using Annuals and Tender Perennials to Create Brilliant Landscapes That Change Every Year." 7 p.m. Jan. 8. University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center, Lexington. $5, free to Friends of the Arboretum and students with ID. (859) 257-6955. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/625458.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/625458.html Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:50 EST
Feng shui pronounced "fung schway" is the Chinese practice of arranging surroundings to affect personal fortune, influencing everything from finances to relationships. You find it in your own house, and Hess, a history buff, says that you find it in the great houses of history.

Some houses, Hess says, simply hit on all cylinders, at least during certain periods, whereas others are calamity magnets.

There are various forms of feng shui many consumers simply content themselves with the feng shui-lite that includes crystals, octagonal mirrors and home decluttering and there are numerous feng shui schools, including Form School, Compass School and Black Hat. All are concerned with maximizing the flow of beneficial energy through a house. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/625460.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/625460.html Sat, 13 Dec 2008 08:34 EST
Lexington resident Christine Chowning keeps a tropical paradise growing year-round in her climate-controlled greenhouse, filled mostly with orchids that she has gathered from all corners of the earth.

Chowning is an active member of and judge for the Central Kentucky Orchid Society for about 35 years. Her passport is filled with stamps that mark journeys to places Ecuador, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Botswana, Scotland and elsewhere.

On a collecting trip to New Guinea about 10 years ago, she found an unusual staghorn fern growing on the side of a tree. Although it wasn't her customary orchid find, at about 6 inches in diameter it fit easily into her collecting bag. Staghorn ferns in their native habitat are epiphytic, clinging to trees or other surfaces where washed-in organic material provides nutrients necessary to support growth. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/625462.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/625462.html Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:51 EST
Fix it!

In one of his ubiquitous commercials, Billy Mays tells me loudly that Fix It! is the cure I need for all the little door-opening dings and shopping-cart scratches my car has endured.

Well, not exactly. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/625461.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/625461.html Sat, 13 Dec 2008 08:28 EST
Holiday Historic Homes Tour. 11 a.m. Dec. 13. Woodford County Historical Society, 121 Rose Hill, Versailles. $10. (859) 873-6786. www.woodfordkyhistory.org.

Christmas Candlelight Tours. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 13. My Old Kentucky Home State Park, 501 E. Stephen Foster Ave., Bardstown. $5.50 adults, $5 seniors, $3.50 children. (502) 348-3502.

Christmas Candlelight Self-Guided Tour. 6-9 p.m. Dec. 13, 14. Waveland State Historic Site, 225 Waveland Museum Rd., Lexington. $7, $6 seniors, $4 students. (859) 272-3611. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/617526.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/617526.html Sat, 06 Dec 2008 08:51 EST
She likes "the fact that on Main Street, we can walk to shopping, and Bill wanted to walk to the courthouse, and we didn't want to be dependent on driving when we get older."

The LaBach house, built circa 1821 by James Emison, will be open for the Christmas Historic Home Tour from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Previous owners updated and renovated the row house. After they bought it, the LaBachs stripped wallpaper in the front hall and changed the pastel colors to the jewel tones of the Federal era. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/609575.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/609575.html Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:25 EST
But a live Christmas tree is completely different. Either cut or balled and burlapped, bring it into your home and before a single ornament is added, you've transformed a room with its fresh scent and natural form. And when the holidays are over, many can be planted and enjoyed for years.

Farms throughout the state offer customers a chance to visit and choose their own special tree. Here is a selection of locations, most within a short drive of Lexington.

For more information about other area Christmas tree farms, go to www.kychristmastreefarms.com. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/600741.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/600741.html Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:47 EST
And the best thing about creating one is that you might already have a supply of greenery and goodies to fill this horn of plenty. Look in your garden for herbs, colorful leaves and branches; in your refrigerator for fruits and vegetables; and in your attic for ribbons and saved treasures to personalize your arrangement.

Cornucopias come from ancient mythology. The story is that the Greek deity Zeus created the first one from a goat horn broken from the head of his nurse, Amalthea. To honor her, he made the horn magically fill with whatever the bearer desired. This symbol of plenty came to the new world with the colonists, and it has represented a plentiful harvest throughout our history representing prosperity at Thanksgiving and in other contexts.

As a container for floral arrangements, horn-shaped baskets woven from grape vine, wicker or other natural materials are generally used. They can be found seasonally at many local craft and hobby shops. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/584776.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/584776.html Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:50 EST
Fossils of the Bluegrass. 2 p.m. Nov. 9.

Little Explorers Nature Walk. 1 p.m. Nov. 23. Registration required. For ages 3-7.

Blue Grass Hemerocallis Society meeting. 7 p.m. Nov. 10. Lexington Public Library, Northside Branch, 1737 Russell Cave Rd. Don Eller of Eller's Sunshine Garden in Leesburg, Ga., will speak. (502) 857-8600. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/575571.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/575571.html Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:01 EDT
The connection between humans and the big plants became obvious when we asked readers to tell us about their favorite Lexington trees.

Here are a few of the best responses.

]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/575706.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/575706.html Sat, 01 Nov 2008 02:59 EDT
Seems the pink flamingo-breast cancer awareness Christmas tree needed additional pinkage and the skeletons in the pickup needed some cold Coronas and the University of Kentucky area needed some glossies of Rich Brooks and Billy Gillispie.

"Oh, and we put together a Joe the Plumber, toilet and plunger and all," says Debbie Wagner.

The national television win came as a huge surprise to the Wagners, who until Monday didn't even know their house had been entered in the contest. In fact, the final tally on the Today show Web site was incorrect, with another of the three finalists showing a larger vote total (albeit with the disclaimer that viewers needed to watch the show to see which home was the winner). ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/576342.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/576342.html Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:05 EDT
Wildlife of McConnell Springs. 10 a.m. Nov. 1. McConnell Springs, 416 Rebmann Ln., Lexington. Free. (859) 225-4073.

Heritage Makers Digital Storybooking Workshop. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Nov. 1. Joseph Beth Caf Conference Room, 161 Lexington Green Cir., Lexington. www.myelementofstory.com. (859) 269-3443.

At the Arboretum. 500 Alumni Dr., Lexington. (859) 257-9339. Advance registration required unless noted. www.ca.uky.edu/Arboretum. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/568227.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/568227.html Sun, 26 Oct 2008 06:59 EDT
Along West Main Street in front of Lexington Center are displays of electric cars and solar energy, and a portable sawmill that can turn a big, dead tree into boards instead of the firewood or mulch that usually is their destiny.

Inside Heritage Hall are rows of booths touting green building products, green books and even food that is produced with minimum environmental disturbance.

The fifth annual Bluegrass GreenExpo, which continues Sunday, is filled with the ideas that participants say are the way of the future. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/566922.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/566922.html Sat, 25 Oct 2008 02:56 EDT
Ayers, who first set the Guinness record as the world's fastest pumpkin carver in 1999 with a time of one minute, 37 seconds during an appearance on the CBS's Saturday edition of The Early Show , will appear Saturday at e_SDHpSpringhouse Garden's Fall Planting Festival and demonstrate his techniques.

He routinely knocks out detailed jack-o'-lanterns in less than two minutes flat.

He beat his own record in 2000, with his fastest-ever official carving time: one minute, 18 seconds. "I've done it even faster than that unofficially," said Ayers, 68, a native of Baltimore, Ohio. "But the whole concept of pumpkin carving is having fun, and not speed." ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/483952.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/483952.html Sat, 09 Aug 2008 06:23 EDT
Consider this: three years without a shower. Not them, their home. They kept a gym membership just for access to running water.

We showered at the gym and lived in one room with construction going on all around it, Kimberly Brown said.

For several weeks, a sign in the Browns' front yard had proclaimed that the house would be featured on HGTV. But broadcast plans have changed, and the house will be part of a segment of What You Get for the Money on a sister network, Fine Living. An air date has yet to be set. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/474979.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/474979.html Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:58 EDT
Last year, we had lots of condos that were finished but no one had moved in yet, said Diane Bonfert, on the staff of the Downtown Development Authority that organizes the tour to promote downtown living.

A number of houses will be on this year's tour, which will have 20 sites total. Condos open for tour will be scattered throughout downtown including the Nunn Building, Kimball House, 500's on Main and Main & Rose.

The tour will be noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 21. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/471913.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/471913.html Sat, 26 Jul 2008 08:17 EDT
By popular demand, The Arboretum will be holding its annual Tomato Festival on Aug. 9. At the free event, you'll be able to sample tomatoes from around the world, take a tour of the demonstration vegetable garden and pick up some tips from Master Gardeners about tomato growth and care.

Also, you can learn how to save seeds with Roger Postley; and listen to Brook Elliott's lecture, Heirloom Tomatoes: Why All the Fuss?

UK College of Agriculture Extension Consumer Horticulture Specialist Rick Durham will be holding a preliminary blind taste test to determine whether your palate prefers hybrids or heirlooms. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/465578.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/465578.html Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:16 EDT
Children's Garden Time: Veggies and Herbs. 9 a.m. July 19. For all ages. $1.

Monthly Hike: What's e_SDHpBlooming? 9 a.m. July 19. $1.

From Garden to Kitchen. July 21 through 25. 9 a.m. to noon. Pre-registration requested. $40 ($35 for friends). ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/452895.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/452895.html Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:41 EDT
Bluegrass Beekeepers Association meeting. 7 p.m. July 8. Fayette County Cooperative Extension Service, 1140 Red Mile Pl. (859) 527-3535.

Electronics Recycling. 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. July 7-12. Electronic items may be dropped off for recycling at the Versailles Road Government Campus, 1306 Versailles Rd. Acceptable items: televisions (no console units); audiovisual equipment such as turntables, VCRs and DVD players; radios; cell phones; microwaves; computer components such as printers, monitors and CPUs. In addition, residents may drop off fluorescent light bulbs (tubes and the compact bulbs) and mercury thermostats. For residential e-waste only; only three of the same type of e-waste components will be accepted per household. Call LexCall at 311 or (859) 425-2255.

Lexington Lions Club Bluegrass Fair Horticulture Contest. July 9-13. Sponsored by Fayette County Master Gardeners Associations. Masterson Station Park. Entry rules: One entry per person in each class. $1 per entry. Open to all amateur growers; not limited to Fayette County residents. Entries accepted 5 to 7 p.m. July 9 and 10 a.m. to noon July 10. Entries will remain on display until July 13. No items will be returned. Items will be discarded, or edible products will be donated to God's Pantry. All entries must be grown by the exhibitors. Flowers must be grown for at least three weeks in display container. First-, second- and third place ribbons in each category. $3, $2, $1 premiums for each class. For more information contact the Fayette County Cooperative Extension Service at (859) 257-5582, Jamie Dockery at Jamie.Dockery@uky.edu or go to www.lionsclubbluegrassfair.com. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/426832.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/426832.html Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:38 EDT
Newman wanted a project close to the center of the city that would bolster a transitioning area.

That described the second block of Owsley Avenue, and the second block of other streets in Kenwick, whereas the first block off Richmond Road has pretty much come around, he said.

Generally, the second and third blocks contain a mixture of houses, some in good repair, others candidates for fixing up. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/420201.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/420201.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:57 EDT
Ferns have been around in various forms for more than 300 million years. With an understated elegance, these natives return year after year in the wild, dressing the Earth in green petticoats with a ruffle of delicate arching forms and lacy fronds.


Most like a shady spot where they can hold rich, woodsy earth under their roots, but others seek out rock crevices and a bit of sun.

In Harlan County near Pine Mountain in southeastern Kentucky, ferns begin to send up their fiddlehead crosiers in late April, after the first spring wildflowers have gone by and the leaves of trees overhead have come out to shelter the forest floor. The slightly acidic soil there is perfect for many ferns. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/420202.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/420202.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:57 EDT
From contemporary flatware and melamine dishware to stylish wine totes, we've spotted everything you'll need to ensure that you and your loved ones have a fabulous day outdoors.

Picnic in a bag

For a true dining experience, Table in a Bag features a collapsible hardwood table that unrolls in seconds. Stow it in its red cotton bag for easy transport. $39.95, Crate and Barrel. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/420204.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/420204.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:57 EDT
This strikingly beautiful compendium makes a good case for why these overlooked plants could and should be a part of more gardens.

Horticulturist William Cullina's witty and personal writing style is extremely readable. Native Ferns, Moss and Grasses is the final book in Cullina's native plant trilogy, which also includes Wildflowers and Native Trees, Shrubs and Vines .

Cullina begins with the basics. He defines native plants, clearly explains the concept of plant hardiness zones, including a map projected for 2075, and discusses the importance of ecological cultivation. But the encyclopedic chapters on ferns, mosses, and grasses, sedges, and rushes form the heart of the book. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/413958.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/413958.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 07:57 EDT
Ongoing preservation projects, like those at the Alcatraz Garden in San Francisco, and Yew Dell Gardens in Crestwood, are just two examples of many that can be glimpsed in the photo slide show at www.gardenconservancy.org.

The conservancy also organizes open days throughout the season, in which regional private gardens open their gates to the public for a peek at what's ordinarily hidden from view.

There is a self-guided tour of five gardens in and around Louisville scheduled for June 14. Included this year are Running Water Farm, which is a 35-acre garden of outdoor rooms, including an Elizabethan-style viewing mound with a spiral walkway and a sunken garden graced by a wisteria-covered pergola. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/413960.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/413960.html Sat, 24 May 2008 08:47 EDT


Stri , ragging, color washing, spatter, faux finishes, stamping, stencils and murals: Who knew there were so many techniques for applying paint to walls?

Benjamin Moore Paints has a professional connection, and it shows in the luxurious use of color and the clear presentation of tools and processes used to produce each special effect. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/413961.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/413961.html Fri, 23 May 2008 19:42 EDT
From teak to powder-coated metals to all-weather wicker, this stuff is meant to last. And no longer do modernists have to go without, as more manufacturers are offering contemporary designs. Here are a few choices.

The Robinwood Deluxe Collection

Philippe Starck has joined forces with David Sutherland in creating a Robin Hood-inspired collection of outdoor furniture. With names such as Marian, Tuck and Sherwood, the teak-and-polished-aluminum designs are a far cry from anything you'd likely find at Nottingham Castle. Instead, the 31-piece RobinWood Deluxe Collection features what you'd expect from a collaboration between design titans: well-crafted pieces with an unexpected sense of irreverence. To see more, go to www.sutherlandfurniture.com. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/373769.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/373769.html Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:41 EDT
The market starts out small with only a few vendors, but as the growing season gets underway, the produce choices expand. And often it's more like a gourmet market instead of a farmers market. The selection can include fresh produce, baked goods, plants, meats and eggs, soap, imported olive oil, dried herbs, honey, cheese and floral bouquets. And often you'll find live music and radio broadcasts.

At the season opener Saturday, Chef Josh Moore of Good Foods Market and Cafe will be preparing a dish from produce available at the market.

Throughout the season, cooks can find awesome ingredients to prepare meals for the family or entertaining. And at its peak in mid summer, the crowd is often so thick on Saturdays it can be difficult to maneuver between the shoppers, the dogs and the baby strollers. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/373768.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/373768.html Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:29 EDT
This year, you can help plant some of the 5,000 seedlings needed at Jacobson Park. Lunch and a T-shirt are provided. The event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m April 19th. Pre-register by calling LexCall at 311, or (859) 425-2255. For more information call (859) 425-2820, or e-mail jsaylor@lfucg.com. The Web site is www.lfucg.com/streets/08reforest.asp.



Springhouse gardens seminars ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/373772.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/373772.html Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:35 EDT
Good, rich compost is worth its weight in gold to experienced gardeners. Its value lies in improving soil structure and invigorating its complex of nutrients and micro-organisms. It supports gardens that produce bountiful harvests, while at the same time recycles left-over organic material instead of sending it unused to landfills. The Complete Compost Gardening Guide is a treasure map to discovering that this often overlooked resource is within your reach.

Pleasant and Martin don't just cover the basics with information on setting up compost bins and establishing a good C/N, or carbon-to-nitrogen, ratio; they have created fun, new ideas for integrating composting into the gardening process, like using Banner Batches', Honey Holes' and Layered Craters'.

With a sense of humor, sound facts, and a conversational style, topics from vermiculture to selecting plants as Perfect Matches for various composting methods are presented. There are wide-ranging discussions about not only composting, but many aspects of gardening. Almost every page contains a helpful idea, be it tool selection, worm reproduction, relative values of odd raw materials for compost, or seed-saving. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/373771.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/373771.html Sat, 12 Apr 2008 09:11 EDT
Answer: Steam ovens have been used for many years by professional bakeries and restaurants because of the quality of the cooked foods and the dramatically reduced cooking time. Professional ovens, steam or conventional, often do not have the necessary safety features required for use in homes. Nearly everyone has used a small countertop steamer for vegetables and rice. The foods cook fast without losing as many of the natural flavors and nutrients as other cooking methods. With more natural flavors, less salt and other seasonings are needed which further enhances the health benefits.

Within the past several years, steam oven models have become available for home use. They are typically about the size of a microwave oven and are available as countertop or built-in models. The built-in models look similar to a conventional wall oven. Most models have a small water reservoir so they do not require a water line connection. The efficiency and energy savings from using a steam oven results from the greatly reduced cooking time as compared to using a conventional oven. Roasting a large chicken in a steam oven takes about 20 minutes as compared to two hours in a conventional oven. The overall heating element wattage in a steam oven is also less than for the elements in a conventional oven. There are additional energy savings because the entire meal (meat, vegetables, and potatoes) can be made in the steam oven without the need for using separate pots on the stovetop. Stovetop cooking is particularly energy inefficient because much of the heat never gets to the food. Instead, it escapes around the sides of the pot into the room air.

Since steam cooking at home is relatively new, most people don't know how to cook with it. Most of the new steam ovens have a menu of foods from which you select. The oven determines the proper cooking time and settings. Some of them, such as Miele's models, have hundreds of food items stored in memory, and combinations can be selected. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/360157.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/360157.html Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:42 EDT
Give it a good cleaning with a solution of 1 3 cup of powdered laundry detergent to one gallon of hot water. Scrub vigorously with a stiff nylon brush or bristle broom and thoroughly rinse with fresh water. Add one quart of liquid chlorine bleach to the solution if mildew is present.

If your deck or patio still looks dingy, consider using a deck cleaning or brightening product to restore the appearance of the natural wood. Use a concrete cleaner to remove oxidation on concrete and restore the appearance of your patio. Wear eye protection and rubber gloves.

Finish the job by repairing damaged decking, securing fasteners and applying a fresh coat of deck finish. Although not necessary, a concrete sealer can improve the appearance of your patio and protect it from freeze-and-thaw damage if you live in a cold climate. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/360159.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/360159.html Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:42 EDT
Designers are putting a fresh spin on traditional baby furnishings for a generation of parents who favor contemporary d cor. Americans spent about $1.2 billion on infant furniture in 2006, according to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association.

People want to apply the same aesthetic to the baby's room that they have done in the rest of the house, says Christiane Lemieux of DwellStudio, which has launched a line of baby furniture, rugs and clothing at Target. I also think that more and more parents want to surround their kids with great design right from the start.

The trend is spurred in part by celebrity moms whose offsprings' cool digs make the pages of magazines. And it helps that new parents are willing to surf the Internet for stylish design. Retailers expect a further bump in the next few years, when millions of Generation Y women reach peak child-bearing age and more Baby Boomers become grandparents. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/346887.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/346887.html Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:21 EDT To celebrate, there will be a $1,000 drawing. Admission, which is $2, can be used as credit in the snack area and, yes, bean soup is on the menu. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
See www.bigblueantiques.com or call (859) 255-7309.

Earth Hour 2008
8 p.m. March 29. That's when Earth Hour, as ­designated by the World Wildlife Fund, begins. As that time crosses the globe, businesses and individuals are asked to turn off lights as a message to heed the need to reduce global ­warming. In the United States, Chicago's 110-floor Sears Tower will go dark, as will the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
See the global statistics and join the movement by ­going to www.earthhour.org.
What will you do with your hour?

Introducing eXtension
There's a new way to access information from the ­Cooperative Extension ­Service. On Feb. 21, an interactive Web site, ­eXtension.org (pronounced e-extension), was launched in Washington, D.C. The site, a collaborative ­workspace supported by a partnership of more than 70 land-grant universities nationwide, is designed to instantly connect you with a wealth of extension information.
I found some timely information on the care of Easter lilies. You'll find topics ranging from horticulture and entomology to horses and ­financial security, with answers and educational information available with the click of your mouse; further questions are answered by experts via e-mail.
So, go eXplore!

St. Patrick's Day
and shamrocks
Monday is St. Patrick's Day, and people already are starting to get their green on. Shamrocks, aka trifolium or clover, ­usually appear as three-lobed leaflets chosen to signify the Holy Trinity or as their lucky four-leafed cousins. The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture ­maintains the National Plant ­Germplasm Repository for clover, safeguarding the genetic diversity of more than 200 species.
Norman Taylor, who began the collection in 1953, has traveled the world searching for unique species. Kentucky rare native running buffalo clover is being preserved at Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate. See www.uky.edu/Ag/Agronomy/Department/CloverGC and www.henryclay.org/flora.htm for more information.

New organic greens
The first day of spring this year is Thursday. That is a sure signal to home gardeners that it's time to get going with cool-weather greens planted under row covers. Organic Gardening magazine has tested 70 new varieties in gardens across the country. Recommendations for greens mixed with other colors include brightly ribbed Orange Chiffon chard and heat-­tolerant Danyelle red oak-leaf lettuce, both from John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds (www.
kitchengardenseeds.com), and Purple Peacock broccoli/kale, with green florets on purple stalks from Wild Garden Seed (www.wild
gardenseed.com). Find Organic Gardening online at www.organicgardening.com.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/346889.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/346889.html Sat, 15 Mar 2008 08:49 EDT
She could grow these, she thought. (But they're really hard.)

She could grow them from seed, in fact, she thought. (Have faith.)

She's a master gardener, for Pete's sake, she thought. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/346893.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/346893.html Sat, 15 Mar 2008 08:52 EDT
An outdoor storage shed might be just the ticket if you have the room.

What you need to know: Does your town have zoning rules about sheds? The information generally is available from municipal building departments. Even if there are no rules, consider your neighbors. No need to create ill will with a shed that blocks sunlight to the garden next door.

Shabby isn't chic: If the shed looks shabby, it will make your yard look that way, too. If you're not willing to pay a bit more for quality, you might as well keep your equipment where it is. Typically, the difference between attractive and ugly is only a few hundred dollars. A shed is an investment in your property, so you don't want to create a stumbling block to a sale in the future. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/340295.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/340295.html Sat, 08 Mar 2008 09:19 EST
TLC's Clean Sweep expert Peter Walsh has the answer — but don't expect him to mince words in the new book, "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?" ($25, Free Press).

The organizational consultant, satellite radio host and regular on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" asks readers to take a long, hard look at their messy kitchens and emotions to get their homes and lives in order.

In this follow-up to his best-seller, "It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff" ($14, Free Press), Walsh contends that a cluttered home can lead to, essentially, cluttered thighs.

Walsh splits time between Los Angeles and his native Australia, often crisscrossing continents to help people get their homes and lives in order. Recently, he sat down to discuss several topics: the food-clutter connection, a two-month project involving more than 3,000 pairs of shoes, and being in Oprah's Network of Friends.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/340255.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/340255.html Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:55 EST
If you never read a word of the text in his new book, the color photos alone will leave you wanting more from your garden. The seasonal projects are plentiful: Spring suggests salad sprouts and armfuls of daffodils; in ­summer, try tying up a clever hyacinth bean vine trellis or lighting the night with a twilight planter; autumn means apple-tasting and gourd garlands; and winter is an opportunity for a wildlife garden party.

The book has more than 50 projects, and many of them are child-friendly. Smith's easygoing, first-person narrative style creates the down-home mood of an annual journal, yet the ­instructions are clear, ­detailed and well organized.

He writes, “I grow plants for food and for pleasure. One nourishes my body, the other my soul. I need both to feel complete.” This book is about bringing those two reasons together, thoughtfully and with grace.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/333273.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/333273.html Sat, 01 Mar 2008 07:21 EST
They're flowers that have been given names like Cadillac , Lexus , Kelp , Aztec and Sasha .

These pieces of wall jewelry flower sculptures decorated with crystals and pieces of antique jewelry are the creations of Lexington mother-daughter duo Susan Westrom and Grace Becknell, and they have begun to get attention from area art lovers.

Four flowers created by Westrom and Becknell are on display at the Arboretum and the University of Kentucky Singletary Center for the Arts as part of the annual Glories of the Garden exhibit. More than 100 art items inspired by nature, including quilts, hooked rugs, photographs and paintings by various artists, will be on display through March 21. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/489836.html http://www.kentucky.com/150/story/489836.html Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:26 EDT
She and husband Gerry lived in the Beaumont subdivision, and they had just finished breakfast at a downtown restaurant last May.She was nine months along, and she thought a walk might help encourage the birth. Gerry said he wanted to show her a nearby house that they couldn't afford.

The house under construction on Old Georgetown Street was mostly just a shell. But some of the University of Kentucky students who helped design and build it were working there that morning.

"We begged for them to let us come in, and they must have taken pity because I was so fat," Kathy said. "Within two hours we bought it."

The Swans are UK education professors. The $575,000 price tag meant "calling in inheritances" and selling furniture.]]>