spring home & garden magazine 4-29-15
DESCRIPTION
Spring Home & Garden magazine print edition for The Baker City Herald and The La Grande Observer for Wednesday, April 29, 2015TRANSCRIPT
PAGE 2, HOME & GARDEN THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015
l700As you start on your Spring household projects, remember that
Globe Furniture can help. We are ready to help you spruce up yourhome. Whichever room you are ready to tackle, let us help.
room in your home. Check out these selected values:And now during our 68th Anniversary Sale you can save big for every
• •
s s,
Reclining Sofain Microfiber
Suede-Look Fabric is Easy To Cleanand perfect for Busy Households.
Sofa with 2 Built-in Recliners. Durablef~
shs j
.T
srNow only Sg6g Tigressa Softstyle is the carpet choice foluxurious softness and exceptional durabili y.• •
It's the softer, stronger carpet!5 Pc. Dining SetThe Rich Espresso Finish HighlightsThis Dining Value. The Table is 42"x 60" and Extends to 78" With theBuilt-in Leaf. Four Sturdy Side ChairsComplete the Set.
• • • •
•
~
•A A A
• •
• •
• r • r
• A • AA
•a a a
• • •
, No o.iyS66g• e • •
• - • •
• • e • • • • e • • • • •
• • •
This Howard Miller Queen Bed has aDistressed Umber Finish with a SubtleSleigh Design.
Slat Design Queen Bed
Now 0"iy 76SSAVE o 0
(arI1et70 store buying power to bring you the best pricing.
AT GLOBE FURNITURE YOU'LL FIND:The area's greatest selection of home furnishings and bedding.
68 years experience at satisfying the needs of our customers.
April 27th thru June 7th, 201 5*
Just bring this ad into our showroomR R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
Free Delivery, Free Set-Up, and Free Haul-Away and disposal of your old furniture.Convenient Financing
PrP< CARPET ONE '~HoME
HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 9:30 am-6:30 pm • Sat. 9:30 am-5:30 pm(541) 963-4144 Toll Free 888-449-2704
Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
1606 Portland St.La Grande, OR 97850
541-963-6033
Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
800 S. River St.Enterprise, OR 97828
541-426-9228
Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.Sun. Noon - 4:00 pm1520 ADAMS AVENUE, LaGRANDE, OREGON 97850 Cannot be combined with any other offers
THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015 HOME & GARDEN, PAGE 3
i ai ICI i e, I ie eiiieSSweeen I i InBy Kynn PokomyOregon State University Extension Office
CORVALLIS — When it comes to fruit inthe garden, blueberries rule.Favored for their sweet flavor, blueberries
are also known for their high level of antioxidants, thought to help protect the bodyagainst free radicals and chronic diseasesassociated with aging.
Highbush blueberries, the most commonin Oregon, are perennial, long-living deciduous shrubs with a mature height of 5-7feet, according to Bernadine Strik, a berryspecialist for Oregon State University'sExtension Service. Attractive as ornamentals, they produce a profusion of white orpink blossoms in spring and colorful foliagein fall.
'You can grow plants in beds, rows,hedges or individually," Strik said."Dwarfand semi-dwarf cultivars can be grown incontainers."
Fruiting season in Oregon is from lateJune until September, depending on thevariety.
It's best to plant more than one varietyofblueberry, Strik advised."Although mostnorthern highbush cultivars are self-fertile,cross-pollination produces larger berries,"she said."And, if you plant two or morecultivars that ripen at different times, you'lllengthen the harvest season."
Northern highbush varieties grown ingardens in Oregon include, in order of ripen
"Bluecrop,""Jersey,""Blueray,""Legacy,""Chandler" and"Elliott." The Extensionguide "Blueberry Cultivars for the PacificNorthwest offers descriptions of these andother blueberries.
The plants, which can live up to 50 years,need lots of sunshine and specific soilrequirements. When choosing a site, Strikrecommended avoiding areas surroundedby trees, which can provide too much shade,compete for water and nutrients, encourage hungry birds and deter air movementaround the new plants. The berries growbest in well-drained, light, sandy loam thatis high in organic matter and with a pHbetween 4.5 and 5.5.
Test the soil pH a year before planting. Ifyou need to make the soil more acidic, it cantake more than six months. According toStrik, poor plant growth from soil pH that istoo high is the most common problem when
Favored for their sweet flavor, blueberries are also known for their high level ofantioxidants, thought to help protect the body against free radicals and chronicdiseases associated with aging.
growing blueberries in a home garden.If the pH is between 5.7 and 6.5, Strik
said, lower it by adding finely ground elemental sulfur before planting. The amendment is available at garden centers.
The amount needed depends on howmuch the pH needs to be lowered and thesoil type. More detailed instructions onchanging pH, weed control, mulching, fertilizing, pruning, watering and care of established blueberry plants are available onlinein the OSU Extension publication"GrowingBlueberries In Your Home Garden."
If you decide to grow several plants, it'sbetter to group them in a bed or row ratherthan scattering them around the garden,Strik said. You'll get better results preparing an entire bed, rather than digging holesand preparing soil for individual plants.
Although blueberries require a uniformsupply of water, they will not tolerate poordrainage. Raised beds can provide adequatedrainage and aeration if they are from 12to 18 inches high and 3 feet wide. They canbe constructed with wood walls, or you canmake hills with just soil and sawdust."Before planting, incorporate organic
matter such as Douglas-fir sawdust or barkto improve soil aeration and drainage,"Strik said.'Yard debris compost often has ahigh pH — over 7.0, compared to 4.0 to 4.5of Douglas-fir sawdust — and can be high
OSU
Chrlmrnf m a asniag=
in salts so is not desirable for blueberries."Spread sawdust to a width of about three
Oregon State University Extension Office photo
Registrat ion/ I n f o r m a t i on: OSU Extension Off ice 2600 East St. Baker541-523-6418 or vrv r vv.extension.oregonstate.edn/bakeryhorticnl tnre
WM<~2~X ~~<
Weeds in Landscape St ra w b er r iesP rinciples o f Pruning A quap o n i csHome Greenhouses U rban T r e esWorms in Your A p p les N u t r i t i on
$50 by 4/22: $60 after-includes lunch
at Baker High School 7 :30 atn — 4 pmSaturday, May 2, 2 0 1 5
Shutters • Mi n i % Ver t ical Bl inds • Rep a i r sEnergy Efficient Cel lular Shades • Faux IZz Wood Bl inds
Qualittr Custom Wi n dour Coverings at A f f o rdable Pr ices!FREE Consultation, Measuring & Installation
Behind the Victorian house at Call for a n a p p o i n t m e n t510 Esther Ave. in Imbler 5 41 7 8 6 -1 9 9 1
seoe s e a e c . o a oS 3 P 4 0
O S V E x t e n a lo n S e r v tc e
Sue Archuleta is yourk~nr+®+ Certified Professionaltp> j:': .,-, Installer and® ~s +': , Win d ow Coverage
CCB¹ 184638 Specialist
r
Garden checklistHere's a short checklist for taking careof mature plants:• Add mulch gradually over the years tomaintain a depth of 6 inches• Apply fertilizer in the spring, startingaround bloom time• Water to maintain a uniform andadequate moisture supply• Pick fruit at optimum maturity• Prune in January or February.
feet and a depth of 3r/2inches. To aid indecomposition add two pounds of nitrogenper 100 feet of row length l10 pounds ammonium sulfate, 21-0-Ol. Dig or till in thesawdust and fertilizer.
Plant healthy two-year-old plants from areputable nursery in October or from Marchthrough April."Prune off flower buds atplanting and do not allow plants to produce fruit the first season," Strik said."Bepatient. Flower and fruit production hindersgrowth, and it's important that plants growwell the first year."
CompostingTomatoesRaised BedsSoils
City
II
PAGE 4, HOME & GARDEN THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015
in er rea ome e sa m e overWescom News ServiceBy Jeff Petersen
Curb appeal. It's whatevery homeowner wants.Sometimes it works.Sometimes it's like puttinglipstick on a pig.
Ray and Carol Westenskow have curb appealin spades. Their home onFourth Street in La Grande,built in the 1920s by theStoddards, who ownedlumber mills in the area, isa head turner.Reroofing the gingerbread
home was necessary but agamble. How would it lookwhen the job was done?
The Westenskowscontracted with Eagle CapConstruction and the company's roofing departmentmanager, Leo Bristol, to dothe work. A seven-man crewstarted the job April 1 andfinished April 10.
What the crew foundthere was amazing. Thefirst thing they had to dowas take off four layers ofcomposition shingles, thefirst layer put on in the1920s.
The Westenskows havelived in the home 25 yearsand in that time done nothing but patch shingles hereand there. Before that, whoknows?
"I think the people wholived there, way back when,were scared to tear it all offand figure how to wrap it allagain," Bristow said."Luckily, I did a gingerbread homefor Dr. Willard Bertrandin Union about a year anda half ago. I knew what toexpect and how to do it. I'vebeen roofing for 25 yearsand that's only the secondhouse like that I've done."
Westenskow knew the
The roofing gets removed and later replaced by thecrew of Eagle Cap Construction. The house was built inthe 1920s and consists of unique architectural designsuch as custom wood pieces known as valleys.
challenge the roofers' faced."The roofers seemed to
think there were 20 tonsof shingles, and they tookthat down to the wood. Itwas solid, beautiful lumber,tongue and groove. I wasafraid there would be a lotof rot, but that was not the
case. It was fun to see theworkmanship that wentinto building the roundedroof."
Bristow said it was a bigchallenge making the metalflashing on the wrap workand still have curb appealwith the composition roof.
From left, Dan Dakota, Louis Richards, AndrewWigginton and Cody Huff of EagleCap Construction remove older layers of roofing off a 1920s La Grande home ownedby Ray and CarolWestenskow. The wood carpentry on the roof is all original.
Tim MustoervvesCom News Service
eWe had to make it mergetogether," he said.
Tim MustoervvesCom News Servrce
/A'
HAGENDIRECT
surprrsmg.
What Bristow and hiscrew found when theshingles were torn off was
"All the wood framingunderneath the roofingwas hand nailed becausethey didn't have pneumaticguns back then," he said."Itwas all hand made withoutpneumatic tools."
Bristow said when theshingles were torn off itlooked like the hull of a boatturned upside down.
'The main sheeting weattached the roofing to was1-inch thick by 6-incheswide tongue and grove," hesaid."It made it easier forus. It was less labor intensive because we didn't haveto resheet it, and we werereally happy about that."
Scorpio Internat ional2628 10th Street, Baker City
Email: scorpiointl©centurylink.net
Backyard Garden PondsArriving Approximately 2nd Week of May
• Sarassa Comets • Koi • Shubunkin• In stock Tetra Pond Treatment 8 Water Conditioner
25% off thru May 23• Kaytee Premium Choice Koi Food• Eugene Danner 8 Laguna Pond Pumps
As for specific details, theEagle Cap crew put gutterson the home and dressedit up.
''We made it look likecrown molding all the wayaround," Bristow said.eWehand made all of the edgemetal on it with a splitterand a blade."
Westenskow said he waspleased with the results.
"It was old and ugly," hesaid.eWe had some winddamage. They did a nicejob."
With the house's curbappeal, and busy pedestrianand Fourth Street traffic,many people noticed thework as it progressed.
'You wouldn't believehow many people gaveus compliments when we
541-523-3156
THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015 HOME & GARDEN, PAGE 5
4 ,
cr QE
pallsau
6 5
Landsca in b
I',g
Tony's Tree Service600 Elm St., Baker City
Tim MusaoeNVescom News Service 541-523-3708CCB63504Roudy Hanna of Eagle Cap Construction rips off layers of roofing from Ray and
CarolVVestenskow's house in La Grande. The house was built in the 1920s and hasvery unique custom pieces of wood built into the roof.
were working on it," Bristow said. "A ladyeven brought us doughnuts one day."
One reason the Westenskows werepleased with the work, Bristow said, wasthe cleanup work the crew did each dayafter finishing their labors.
"We always clean up really well whenwe are done for the day," Bristow said."That way, if there are children playing inthe yard or whatever, they don't have toworry about the mess."
Bristow said his crew did a fine job."They did most of the work. I just su
pervised," he said. "I have a really hardworking, talented crew."
Westenskow, who was an elementaryschool principal for a number of years,retired trom the La Grande School Districtin 1996. But he hasn't retired to the rockingchair. This time of year, he is constantlybusy tending the yard and fertilizing it orworking on the sprinlder system, whicheach spring needs some troubleshooting.He's also busy getting fruit trees prunedand the bushes and leaves cleaned up.
What's more, as anyone who has attended the La Grande Farmers' Market knows,Westenskow is busy each spring preparingfor the year's new bee colonies.
''We hardly advertise it at all," he said.''We've done it for a lot of years, and usually
have a few hundred gallons ofhoney trommid July into the fall."
Westenskow started in the beekeepingbusiness years ago in Eugene, when he had
water.
a half-acre backyard in a Gravenstein appleorchard.
"A friend got me into it," he said."I boughta hive and got started."
As anyone familiar with bees knows, forthe past quarter century there has been aproblem with keeping bees healthy.
''What I've been able to do is buy smallcolonies in the springtime,"Westenskowsaid."The big-time beekeepers sell m ehealthy ones in the spring and buy themback in the fall. I'm a fair-weather beekeeper."
Westenskow places in bees where there'sa variety of things blooming and there's
"It's important that there's somethingblooming over a long period in the summer,to keep the hives producing and to makesome nice honey," he said.
He also is a hobby farmer with a smallacreage out of town, on Owsley CanyonRoad, with a few cows, steers, heifers andpigs and sometimes a few chickens.
Westenskow said he is fortunate to live insuch a nice house and gives all the credit tothe previous owners.
"Whoever lived here years ago put in anice automatic sprinkler system," he said.''We've been fortunate to live here in a nice
home."
Contact Jeff Petersen at 541-963-3161 orj peterSen CullagrandeObSerVer COm. FOIIOW
Jeff on Twitter C lagrandenewsGo.
3815 PocahontasBaker City541-523-6404
Flower Beds b
Flower Beds b
541-523-6595
B uildin S u l ies b
REDL Ml> sxe.
'Jtlursery
Come out and see us!Open 7 Days a Week from 10-4
541-523-6627Located in Keating Valley(Hwy 86 to 10 mile marker Keatingcut-off, 6 miles, school, stay right 3 miles)
Drivewa R Fo undation b
Eagle Cap Nursery
Atwood Road • 541-523-6648
ccb¹ 90220
LER'S LUMBER L TRUSS
307 Greenwood StLa Grande541-963-3113
39103 Pocahontas,
Baker City
541-523-7778
3205 10th Street541-523-4422
Insurance fromState FarmGregg Hinrichsen1722 Campbell
www.countrysidesheds.comShop Display:10102 S. McAlister Rd., Island City
(across from D&B Supply)
1406 5th Street • 541-963-3161
Countryside Sheds
1915 1st Street • 541-523-3673
Pa er Delivered b
Baker City Herald
La Grande Observer
S tora e Buildin f r om
Doors & Windows bCashway Lumber Co.
800-682-0589 ' 541-663-0246
THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015PAGE 6, HOME & GARDEN
m osiumo ersvarie o a r enin to icsVVesCom News Service staff
BAKER CITY — The Northeast Oregongarden symposium,"Tools to Grow By,"isset for May 2 at Baker High School, 2500E St.
The day-long seminar includes a varietyof topics for home gardeners.The $50 registration fee includes a
keynote speech, a selection of three classes,roundtable discussions and a buffet lunch.
The symposium schedule:• 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.— registration, cof
fee/muffins, exhibitor booths• 8 a.m.— introductions and announce
ments• 8:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.— keynote
speaker, James Cassidy, "Growing a studentfarm: Making it up as I go alone!"
• 8:45 a.m. to 9 a.m.— break; biddingon silent auction items, visiting exhibitorbooths
Session A: 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.Class choices:• Tomato fascination, David Cowan, OSU
master gardener.• Home greenhouses, Jan Veatch, Univer
sity of Idaho master gardener• Berries, Ariel Agenbroad, University of
Idaho extension agent• Aquaponics, Burke Smejkal and Tammy
Dowell, Baker Botanicals• 10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.— break, bid
ding on silent auction items, visiting exhibitor booths
Session B: 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.Class choices:• Soil: What it is and how it works, James
Cassidy, OSU soil scientist• Raised beds, Susan Bell, University of
Idaho extension agent• Veggie gardens in small spaces, Ariel
Agenbroad• Super foods-food hero, Rebecca Colton,
OSU health educatorSession C: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.Class choices:• Principles of pruning, David CowanLearn pruning fundamentals that apply
to all your garden plants, fruit trees, rosesand cane berries. You will practice locatingand making healthy cuts.
• Compost: What it is and how to make it,James Cassidy
Composting is more than just rotting. Ifyou really want to make compost you needto know the fundamentals of decomposition.What are the big three? Feed the herd.
• Weeds in your landscape, Arnie Grammon, weed specialist
Learn the latest weed management strategies for small acreage and suburban landowners. Noxious, lawn and garden weedswill be addressed.
• Super foods-food hero, Rebecca ColtonFocus on the nutritional value of super
foods. We will make smoothies from veggiesfrom your garden. Take home recipes to getyour family to eat their "veggies" the fun
• 2:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.— break, lastchance to bid on silent auction items andvisit exhibitor booths
Session D: 2:45 p.m. to 4 p.m.Round table sessions — each session will
last 20 minutes, with five minutes betweensessions
• There's worms in my apples, DavidCowan
Take this class to learn how to managethe greatest threat to your apple happiness— the codling moth. You will learn an actionplan for combatting this challenging pest.
• What's with that container, MindySherrieb, Ace Nursery
• Urban trees, Bob Parker, OSU forestryextension agent
This class will discuss the selection,handling and care of ornamental tress foryour home.
• 4 p.m.— pick up and pay for silent auction items, turn in evaluations
For registration information, call theBaker County Extension 0$ce at 541-5236418, email to [email protected] or go to http J%xtension.oregonstate.edu/baker.
way.
What you should know abouthousehold hazardous waste.l
~I't pQOL What is household hazardous waste?CÃNl
OI,"
•
•
What are some examples of hazardous waste?
quantities accepted daily. (541) 963-5459.
Strippers and Thinners, Gasoline and more.
HHWis anything labeled toxic, flammable, corrosive, reactive or explosive.These materials can threaten family health and the safety of pets and wildlife.
Aerosols, Bleach, Drain Cleaners, Metal Polish, Mothballs, Oven Cleaners,Toilet Bowl Cleaners, Ammonia-based Cleaners, Mercury Thermometers, Wood
Polishes, Waxes, Fertilizers, Insecticides, Herbicides, Rodenticides, Spa andPool Chemicals, Roofing Compounds, Antifreeze, Batteries, Motor Oil, Paint
Where can I safely dispose of my hazardous waste?
La Grande Facility: Open to any resident of the three counties everyother Tuesday, 8am to 12 noon. By appointment, however, small labeled
Baker City Facility: Open the first Wednesday of each month,10am-12 noon. By appointment only. (541) 523-2626.
a.m.— 12 Noon. By appointment only. (541) 426-3332.Enterprise Facility: Open the 2" and 4" Saturday of each month 10
THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015 HOME & GARDEN, PAGE 7
IWl l
T4N ~
',:r
-" = .: I
H ARD W A R EMonday — Saturday 7 am — 7 pm
Sunday 8 am — 5 pm
Come See Us For All Your Hardware,Home, Lawn Ez Garden Needs
Kerry Michaels/MCT
Plant a colorful mixture of lettuce greens and your fall container garden is also yoursalad course.
Workin inthe ar enwith lettuce varieties
i
• ' R®HQ%($4Let's talk lettuce today. It can be planted
now, but it can also be planted inSeptember and if it gets a start can winterthrough and then take offlike crazy whenthe weather gets nice.
I did that last fall again, but squirrelsdecided to dig around in the nice fresh soilin the raised garden and dug so many holesmost of it was ruined.
I might be growing peanuts this yearor maybe they were looking for some theyplanted there another time. Probably theone I found last year.
I like to plant Romaine lettuce, because itgives me the most for my efforts. Even if itis planted too thick it does fairly well. It isbest, though, to thin it when it is big enoughto use what you thin.I learned several years ago to fix a section
that is lettuce and just broadcast the seeds.That saves the stress of trying to get perfectrows, and it works very well.
When we finally have lettuce ready touse, I will tell you about the "wilted lettuce"salad I grew up on. That is one reason whyI grow it. It takes quite a bit oflettuce and
some radishes and green onions, so havethem growing too.
I learned from someone I know thatthe best green onions to plant are called"Candy." She directed me to D&B to get thestarts, and we have grown them numerousyears since. They need to be in when thelettuce is planted or close to it, but radishesgrow very fast, so plan on planting somelater so they won't be over the hill when youare ready for this salad.
That's all you need, lettuce, onions andradishes, all from your garden, of course.Of all the lettuce I grow or buy the romainelasts the longest in the fridge so that's another reason to grow it.
Do send me any garden ideas you wantto share.
CHRISTINE MARTINGRANNY'S GARDEN Ineredible Savings Close To Home
See our showroom and browse ourcatalogs for your dream appliances.
Wallowa County & free take-away!Free delivery to anywhere in
101 S Main St .joseph, OR
541.432.2271johard.com
K itch e n A I d '
ol
Reach the author by email atCrisj marCeoni.com.
PAGE 8, HOME & GARDEN THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015
orious ace o row oo 'is is a• Baker City resident sings praises of area's soil, decent weather for growing
Caurtesy phato
ForwesCom News ServiceBy Lisa Britton
If someone says Baker City'sgrowing season is tough, Ann Mehafly doesn't nod with agreement.
We have, she says, good soil anddecent weather.
When she lived in Santa Fe,New Mexico — elevation 7,000feet — she didn't even try growingvegetables in the hard soil used tomake adobe houses.
"I concentrated on flowers andornamental grasses," she said.
Now, in Baker City, her gardenoverflows.
'This is a glorious place to growfood," she says.'This is reallyparadise."
But Santa Fe did teach her howto create a beautiful landscapethat didn't need much water — a
technique called xeriscape.''We were on restricted water all
the time," she says.Although she does have some
grass in her yard, she has developeda landscape ofrock and perennialsthat don't need a lot of water, suchas waves oflavender lining a gravelpathway.
But don't let the idea of a rocklandscape putyou offxeriscaping.
As an example, Mehafly saysGail Duman has created an attractive kontyard and reduced waterusage by about 75 percent.
Duman, who also lives in BakerCity, took out the grass, then addedgravel and perennials such aslavender and Russian sage.
However, Duman warns, lavender does tend to spread beyondwhere it's planted.
says.
"People thinkxeriscape will saveyou a lot of trouble with work. Nottrue," Mehafly says.
Butit will save you water — Duman says she waters the lavenderand sage maybe twice a year.
To help local gardeners, Mehaflyhas compiled a list ofher top 19plants and ornamental grasses thatthrive in a high desert environment.
'These are tried and true," she
Her recommendations:• Artemesia: Wormwoods, zones
3-5. Grown for attractive andscented foliage.
• Centranthus: Red Valerian,Jupiter's Beard, zone 5. Bloomslate spring to late summer, can bedeadheaded mid-season for moreblooms. Easily moved and divided.
• Cerastium: Snow in Summer,
Lavender is one of Ann Mehaffy's top recommendations for lowwater-usage gardens in Northeastern Oregon. The plant is proneto spreading from its original plantings, though.
Give"Spring Cleaning"real meaning...
XHPZI0
0
aamw z
0
Oo
IiKIQEIiKEH~ .K iIE
QoMfA l297%B~KK
We offer furniturei remo val with
delivery of New!
come by today.
215 Elm StreetLa Grande
(541) 963-5440
Call, click or
• 1 • •
THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015
zones 3-5. Grows in poor soil, in hot areas,great for border and ground cover.
• Dianthus: Pinks, zones 3-5. Border androck garden pinks; can be cut back after firstblooming for later blooms.
• Echinacea: Coneflower, zones 4-5. Nativeto the prairies. Blooms mid-summer to fall.Gorgeous with late summer grasses.
• Geranium: Hardy geranium, Cranesbill.Zones 4-5. Tough, beautiful and undemanding. Can be deadheaded mid-summer formore blooms.
• Lavendula: Lavender, zone 5. Can withstand dry and heat, working well for borderor patio. Prefers high rocky ground over richloam.
• Nepeta: catmint, zones 4-5. Blooms fiomearly summer to early fall. Can be deadheaded mid-season. Tough and pretty. Sometimesself sows too fieely. Cats loaf and roll in it.
• Oenothera: evening primrose, zones 4-8.Rambler, flowers through the summer. Can bepinched back for compactness. Very carefree.
• Penstemon: penstamon or beardtongue,zones 4-8. Best grown in unimproved, nativesoil, with gravel mulch and good drainage.Great hummingbird plant.
• Perovskia: Russian sage, zone 5. Fantasticblue shrub-like perennial, blooms in late sum
Coneflower, also known as echinacea, this species blooms for mid-summer to falland is gorgeous with late summer grasses.
mer. Can be cut back to ground for winter.• Salvia: Garden sage, zones 4-5. N ative to
dry meadows. Hardy, dependable, with goodselection ofblue flowers. Attracts bees. Easy to
y
Courtesy photo
HOME & GARDEN, PAGE 9
growing season to encourage fresh bloomsand neatness.
• Stachys: Lamb's Ears, zones 4-5. Tough,easy to divide, and very drought tolerant.The non-blooming variety is most desirable,making soft gray-green mounds.
• Thymus: thyme, zones 4-5. A largeselection of color, fragrance and habit isavailable. Especially desirable are the creeping varieties for edges, borders and dryrocky areas.
Ornamental grasses• Calmagrostis: Reed Grass, zones 4-5.
Showy late summer grass, best as a backborder grass or specimen.
• Festuca: blue fescue grass, zones 4-5.Smaller, well-behaved ornamental. Worksas a specimen, in drifts or patterns.
• Helictotrichon: blue avena grass, zones4-9. Spectacular blue-graygrass witharching four-foot flower spikes. Fantasticfoundation or centerpiece plant. Can growto four feet w ide.
• Miscanthus: maiden grass, zones 4-5.Large, showy grasses. Slow to green up inspring but very rewarding for drama. Somevarieties are not hardy for our area ichecklabel).
divide and move.• Saponaria: soapwort, zones 4-5. Rugged,
creeping ground cover. Hardy, very droughttolerant. Can be cut back throughout the
) tA hu • '1t.
"Our Business Is Always Picking Up."• •
' $~ ~"G START YOUR PROJECT NOWBAKER COUNTY FAIR
OPEN CLASS CONTESTScAM"Sooper Dooper Pooper Scooper" Antique Wheelbarrow
Decorating ContestDig out that antique wheelbarrowlet your imagination run wild on
decorating and filling your wheelbarrow!Special prize for most creative
Pick any three diKrent categoriesfrom the four listed below for
your Diva entry package:
Homemade or homegrown by you
Domestic Diva
Sewing — Foods — Photography — Crafts
Serving NE OregonPortable Toilet Rental Septic Tank Pumping
Handwash Station Rental Grease Trap PumpingHandwash Trailer Rental Sept i c System InstallationPortable Shower Rental Cert if i ed Septic lnspection
RV Holding Tank Pumping S e p t ic System TroubleshootingFamily Owned & Operated since1951
Spirits of Baker CountyEnter your Home BrewSee guidelines in theFair Premium Book
Have Open Class projects readyfor the Fair by August 3, 2015Angie Turner, Manager
2600 East Street*Baker City, OR541-426-3492 54 1-5 2 3 -545 0 54 1-9 6 3 -6380
Enterprise Baker La Grande541-523-7881
rahnsanitar C1 mail.com info@steelesse tic.comDE tt 33263 & 38398 CCB t t 198802
PAGE 10, HOME & GARDEN THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015
0 eS, VO eS BI1 0• Mole tunnels can causedamage to plants
mixing nutrients, but sometimes their habits get them in trouble with gardeners.Gophers favor bulbs and roots. Voles
go for grass, but also gnaw on shrubs andstems nearest their holes and runways.Moles, which are rarely if ever seen, prefernon-plant food.
"People say moles are eating my garden, but moles are adapted for swimmingthrough the soil to hunt prey," Sanchez explained."They just tunnel through lookingfor worms, grubs and insects."
Mole tunnels can cause damage to plants,though, when their runways create pathsaround roots. And the mounds of dirt drivehomeowners crazy and interfere with mowing.
Gophers — about the size of groundsquirrels — will eat whole plants."If you see a plant disappear," she said,
"it's a gopher. They're famous for pullingthings below ground."
Though voles live in little tunnels, theyspend time above ground eating grass and
"How you deal with them depends on
whatyou have. The traps are diPerentand so are the baitsyou would use."— Dana Sanchez, a wildlife specialist forOSU's Extension Service
nibbling on other plants. The mouse-sizevoles leave a lot of sm all holes and connecting runways through the damaged grassthey've been dining on.
You can tell you have a mole on yourhands if the mounds in your yard or gardentake on a volcanic, rounded shape. Gophermounds, on the other hand, are flatter ontop, fan-shaped with the hole off to the side."The important part is for people to
assess the level of damage with the levelof control," Sanchez said."Is having a fewholes in the lawn enough of a problem thatyou need to take action?"
For those who choose combat, stick toresearch-based controls, she advised. Gadgets and homemade recipes have not beenshown scientifically to work, she added.
One way to control voles is with mousetraps, which can be set at the entrance totheir tunnels. But because of their high rateof reproduction, it can be difficult to controlthem, she said.Scissor-jaw traps are recommended for
moles, while two-pronged pincher traps areeffective for gophers, according to Sanchez.In states other than Oregon, be sure tocheck regulations as laws on which — orwhether — traps are legal.
To figure out where to set traps, find anactive tunnel by probing about six inchesdown near a fresh mound. You can alsopush down on mounds to close them andwait to see where a fresh one appears. Settraps in a tunnel near a fresh mound.
In raised beds, you can repel moles andgophers by using a barrier of welded wireon the bottom. Tilling in rows between cropsmay help. Using baits is an option, Sanchezsaid, but will be dangerous to pets and otheranimals. As with all pesticides, read thelabel carefully, she added.
By Kym PokomyOregon State University Extension Office
CORVALLIS — Spring brings buds andblooms, but it also brings moles, voles andgophers.
The small mammals take gardeners totheir knees to peer down tunnels, set trapsand toss in everything from kitty litter togum. They wage war against the critters before they know what they're fighting, whichcan lead to fi ustration.
"How you deal with them depends onwhat you have," said Dana Sanchez, a wildlife specialist for Oregon State University'sExtension Service.'The traps are differentand so are the baits you would use."M oles, voles and gophers all create tun
nels and are active underground, but whatthey eat and the damage they cause varies.They all improve the soil by aerating it and
• Reserve your HangingBaskets NOW
• Bark is Here!• Weekly shipments of
beautiful trees, shrubs,vegetables, annuals andperennials
@0liL
I I I I
a•
NURSERY RLANDSCAPING
Union County Wallowa County Nursery10707 S. Walton Rd., Island City 118 Fish Hatchery Ln., Enterprise
Nursery 541-962-0641 Nursery 541-426-8733Landscaping 541-962-0149 La ndscaping 541-432-0588EASTERN OREGON NURSERY
& LANDSCAPING OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEKMon-Sat 8-5 • Sun 10-4• • •
THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015PAGE 12, HOME & GARDEN
Masonbees pollinate plants before honey bees get busyI
By Kym PokomyOregon State University Extension Office
CORVALLIS — The gardening seasonis young, but mason bees are out for theirshort but productive foray into the blooms ofyour backyard.
These solitary native bees — most commonly the blue orchard mason bee iOsmialignarial — get busy before honeybees andset to work on early-flowering plants likeforsythia, pieris and especially fruit trees.
"Mason bees fill a spot in the seasonwhen other pollinators are not out," saidBrooke Edmunds, a horticulturist with Oregon State University's Extension Service."They're really im portant for fruit trees,
especially in cool, wet areas."As honeybees continue to struggle for
survival, mason bees take on a bigger role inthe backyard garden, according to Edmunds.Both serious and casual gardeners welcomethese earnest pollinators to get better yieldsof fruits, vegetables and flowers.
Mason bees are smaller than honeybees,have a bluish hue and are often mistaken
/~
Mason bees pollinate early-blooming plants like Oregon grape. "Mason bees filla spot in the season when other pollinators are not out," said Brooke Edmunds,a horticulturist with Oregon State University's Extension Service. "They're reallyimportant for fruit trees, especially in cool, wet areas."
for flies. Rarely do you have to worry aboutbeing stung because these unaggressivebees live alone and have no hive to protect.
I
,; ' P4~k~ .
5
(
j .
tt i'
Lynn Ketchum photo
move in a zigzag pattern, which makesthem especially efficient pollinators forsmall spaces, according to Edmunds.
The single-minded bees live to bringnectar and pollen back to the nest for theirlarvae that hatch from eggs laid betweenwalls made of mud — another material thefemale bees must haul back to the nest.Leaving patches of mud close to nesting areas in trees or other wood will help attractthem, Edmunds said.
You can also encourage mason bees bycreating a garden that includes plants thatbloom during their excursions in Marchto mid- or late May. Consider plants suchas crabapples, redbud, flowering currant,elderberry, huckleberry, Oregon grape andlupine. Even the often-dreaded dandelion isa great source of food.
If you want to introduce the bees ratherthan wait for them to arrive in the garden,she recommends purchasing a nestinghouse, which contains straws filled with cocoons that hatch in spring. They're availableonline or at garden centers.
Unlike honeybees that fly up to four milesto find their preferred food, mason beesdon't go much farther than 300 feet. They
' i r
IIW' I ' 'o-.—,'
j I
I ' • ' I '
•
IC A 8 I r E 7 R YDURASUPitENE
WESTER1V . RUSTICFURNISHI1VGSA1VD FI1VE ART• • I • •
'
•
t I '
• •
I I I I I I I VISIT OUR RETAIL SHOWROOM2018 1ST ST, BAKER CITY541-528-9528
I • •
e eo C~IH C~~. OYBZL~GHSr
•
THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015 HOME & GARDEN, PAGE 13
Working the ground
Psg
,.g'j''}}rN ~
/
S+,ee
g'e rg'L r.
7 4'
Tim MustoeNVesCom News Sennce
Doyle Slater, left, works on his backyard irrigation system that regulates his sprinklers. Every year Slater has new flowers and berries growing in his backyard. Good soiland watering, he says, help make his garden consistent each year.
• • •
• • • •
' •
• • • • •Mfe can help! • • • • • • • • •
• •
• • • • • i e • • •Nfalkways • Patio • ConcreteRocks • Landscape FillerEquipment • Residential & Commercial
• • •
• • • •
• • • • • • •
• s•
I •i •
• • • •
e • • •• •
• • • • • • • • • •
— 7• •
• e • • • • •
' l l 7 I• • • • •541-523-$$48
• • • • • I I 7 I• e
4For guiiiauce with your project I TFBlPXX'Q PROi
• • I • • •
19878 Hwy 88 • Baker Citycch¹90220
• 7 •
PAGE 14, HOME & GARDEN THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015
F
ver om e i s a wor
of art, yours should beno different.
"We Paint Ia Grande did a FANTASTICj ob
painting our three story house. Geoff and Parker,are responsible, dependable, and communitymindedindividuals. Best of all, they are localand are very acti ve in our community. They
worked around our schedules and did everythingwe asked. I was quite worried about the plants
around my home, and they did a greatj ob protecting them. I did not lose one plant! Three years later,Geoff and Parker still come over every year to spotcheck the house. I would highly recommend thispainting company to anyone! They are the BEST!"
-Lisa Nicholson, La Grande, OR
p• •
I 'm.
• We are family owned and operated. We know what it's like to balance the day today needs of family and work. We will work with your schedule to make yournext painting experience fun and relaxing.
• Our crew has many years of experience making old homes look new again.
• Our team uses only the best paint and painting products on the market today.We are backed by the Sherwin Williams 25 year - lifetime warranty! We use50-60 year caulking and only the best primer Sherwin Williams has to offer.
• We take pride in our work and look forward to getting your painting done ontime and on budget
• All work is backed b a - ear warrant !
wepaintlagrande.cumLicensed, bonded, insured. CCB¹2011946
IChS
THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015 HOME & GARDEN, PAGE 15
e inin riar a r enin s ouThough temperatures are still
too cold for m ost seed germination in April, there's still plentyhome gardeners can do now to starta productive gardening season.
For example, it's not too earlyfor gardeners to test and preparetheir garden soil."Gardeners can get soil testing
kits to see if there's anything theyhave to amend in the soil," saidEdna Carpenter of Eastern OregonNursery and Landscapingin LaGrande.'You can get those kitslocally at BiMart, and it will tellyou ifyou need more phosphorous,nitrogen or something else in thesoil. When you find out what yourgarden soil needs, D&B Supply hasa good selection of those supplies."
Adding animal manure togarden soil is also good for composition, but Carpenter offers a cautionary piece of advice about that.
TRISHYERGES
IN THEGARDEN
enough. If it remains in a ball, it'stoo wet to till.
Gardeners who have tilled theirsoil the previous fall will findthat the garden soil is noticeablyeasier to till in April. In this case,generally one pass i6-8 inchesdeep) with a rotary tiller per rowis sufficient to break up the soiland work in winter compost orother organic material. Excessivetilling will compact the dirt moretightly, which is exactly what agardener wants to avoid. Aftertilling, smooth out the soil with along-handled garden rake.
Another advantage to fall tilling is that through aeration, theloosened soil will become dry andwarm enough for planting in thespring. A temp of about 60 degreesFahrenheit is good for seed germination. To test the soil's temperature, a gardener might stick his
finger in the soil and see if it'stolerable for one minute. If not, it'stoo cold to plant seeds, which isusually the case in April.
It's always wise to employ theage-old practice of crop rotationin a home garden for the prevention of plant disease, for nutrientbalance and enhancement and forinsect control. One easy method ofdoing this is to design the gardeninto four sections for plant familieslike the leafy or flower plants, rootplants, fruits and legumes. Thenrotate those plant families throughthose sections each year.
Finally, when the garden soilis tested, amended, tilled anddesigned, it's time to select whichcold weather crops to plant.
"April is the month for planting your cold weather crops," saidCarpenter."That includes starterplants of onions, lettuce, Brussel
sprouts, Swiss chard, kohlrabi,cabbages,spinach, kale and potatoes. You may be able to also plantseed peas."
Peas, beans and other legumesare great for nutrient enhancement as they put nitrogen backinto the soil. However, while peasmay be planted as early as April,beans are more temperature sensitive and should be planted during the frost-free month of June.
"Until the snow melts off Mt. Emily, not too many seeds will germinate because it's too cold,"warnedCarpenter."Ifyou plant moredelicate starter plants before June,like tomatoes, cover them with frostcloths, which work wonderfully oruse Wall 0Water plant protectors."To see a great vegetable plant
ing chart for USDA zones 4b and5a, visit http//veggieharvest.com/calendars/zone-5.html.
"I don't recommend using horsemanure," she said, "because horsesdon't digest everything well, andyou'll end up with a lot of weedsin your garden. Use steer manureinstead. Gardeners can get baggedsteer manure at BiMart. Justcheck the bag instructions for thesquare footage of your garden,and you'll know how many bags ofmanure are recommended."
Manure and other organic matter can be tilled into the soil thismonth if the soil is suKciently dry.To see if the soil is dry enough,grab a handful of soil and squeezeit into a ball. Then poke it withyour finger to break it up. If itbreaks up easily, the soil is dry
• •
• • •
• • 0
• • •
• •
• • • •
• •
PAGE 16, HOME & GARDEN THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015
ew ome esi centero ensin a ran e• Next Step Carpet bringsin-design element to thebusinessBy Cherise Kaechele
For more than 30 years, Next Step Carpethas been installing all types of flooring.However, they're introducing their customers to a whole new element — a total design
Brent and Greg Moulton, father and son,own Next Step Carpet and recently movedto a new location on Bearco Loop in August.They decided to add the design element tothe business after seeing how many peoplein the community would leave La Grandewhen planning some home remodelingprojects.
''What we saw is them going out of townand buying materials," Greg said."They goto Home Depot and the money isn't goinginto the community. We absolutely kill
center.
mresCom News Service— Greg Moulton, owner of Next StepCarpeting
iHome Depot'si prices apples to apples."Local businesses like Ace Hardware, JC
Woodworks, Northwest Furniture, HomeMatters, Kitchen By Terrie and more are allcollaborating with Next Step Carpet to offera complete design center with expert advice,Greg said.Greg said the box stores have cheap prod
ucts and the employees don't know whatthey're doing.
'You buy from a kid who's just collectinga paycheckwithout anyreal knowledge,"Greg said.'You can't get expert advice."
He said at Next Step Carpet they look attheir business through the customers' per
"What we saw is them going out oftown and buying materials. They go toHome Depot and the money isn'tgoinginto the community. We absolutely kill(Home Depots) prices apples to apples."
I')'(
I
• 'I'
sr
Cherise KaecheleNVesCom News Sennce
Greg Moulton, left, his father Brent Moulton and Fam Saechao, Greg's fiance, offer adesign center experience at Next Step Carpet.
„.Yo iu CAN T t a st e t h e:,:,. 1rirf feI e n e e !
Your Best Place to Shop!
you'll ever make.The best gluten-free baking decisions
MarZay offers packaged mixes, including: Muffins• Waffles • Cookies • Cakes • Brownies • Pancakes
• Corn I Rice Crumbs • Gluten-free flour
• Energp Efficient Cellular Shades
• Stplish Shutters & Wood Blinds
• Answers to pour decorating questions!
Free Measuring and Instal lat ionMarZay - Gluten Free!Sue Archuleta • 541-786-1991 • www.marzay.com Call for an appointment
•A A
• Decorating Homes Since 1992• •
gm UNION WALLOWA
DL • CREDIT UNIONHOMEMATI'ERS1115Adame Aver La Grande
BAKKR FKDKRAL
Open by Appointment
541-624-2333
I
I • a • •a a • a CCB¹94700
THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015 HOME & GARDEN, PAGE 17
Ask a designer: Decorating your home with pastelsThe Associated PressBy Melissa Rayworth
After a long winter, the pastel colors ofspring look pretty appealing right now.Cheerful pastel pinks, yellows, greens andblues can seriously brighten up a room.
Decorating with these potentially toosweet shades can be tricky, but worth it.
"Pastels get a bad rap for being supergirly, sometimes being kind of'80s, and foreven skewing babyish. But they don't haveto be any of those things if you applythem in fresh ways," says designer BrianPatrick Flynn, founder of Flynnside OutProductions.
"Pastels are like Sandra Bullock or a littleblack dress. They are always going to bein fashion and will remain classic for themasses. I say, use pastels however, whenever, and just be sure to put your own spinon them."
Here, Flynn and two other interiordesigners — Betsy Burnham of BurnhamDesign in Los Angeles and Toronto-baseddesigner Meredith Heron — offer advice onmaking spring pastels work in your home.
Consider your lightThe natural light in a room impacts how
a pastel color actually appears, says Heron.East-facing windows bring a cool, blue lightduring the day, while west-facing windowsbring in a redder light in the afternoon andat sunset. Heron says south-facing windowstend to offer a yellower light.
"My rule of thumb is to avoid the pastelsthat correspond to the direction of the light,"she says."So no pinks in a western-facing
In this undated photo provided by Brian Patrick Flynn and HGTVcom, the designerFlynn used high-end performance fabrics in pastel tones to create this lounge hedescribes as 'rock and roll pastels' due to the mix of light colors with edgy accentsand retro elements.
room or they will look like something outof an antacid commercial." Likewise, avoidpastel yellow in a south-facing room andblue in an east-facing one.
Shop cautiouslyThe names of paint swatches can tell
you a lot."If something has 'baby'in frontof it — baby blue, baby pink — be careful,"says Burnham. You're safer "if you see 'paleblue.' The interpretation can be all kinds ofthings, fiom periwinkle to a gray-blue."If you're drawn to a true baby pink or
baby blue on a swatch, consider goingwith a slight variation on it. Often, on one
paint-swatch card you'll find four or fivevariations on the same color, some very
The Associated Press
• •
saturated and others with more gray mixedin. Consider picking one of the grayer, lesssaturated shades.
It's useful to look through design magazines for inspiration, but Burnham notesthat what looks great in a photo might notin real life. That's especially true if the photodepicts a"show house" designed to highlighta designer's talent, rather than a home thatpeople actually live in.
A little goes a long way"One pastel is really great," Burnham
says."It stands out and shines on its own."But the effect is lost when you bring in additional pastels; you don't want the room tofeel like a basket of Easter eggs.
If you're having trouble choosing just oneshade, Flynn suggests blue: "Robin's eggblue is probably the most iconic pastel usedfor interiors," he says."Believe it or not,robin's egg is almost like a neutral. It workswith almost any color in the spectrum. I likeputting a transitional spin on it by layeringit upon itself in different shades and tints.
-~ I LI ~ '
that will implement some design aspects.cWe want to avoid the customers running
around," Greg said.cWe've already gottenpositive results. iCustomersl think it's moreconvenient. We're making it easy for them.And we're trying to get customers to support the community — to buy local and staylocal."
Greg said to find out more informationabout the future events, go to their websiteat www.nextstepcarpet.org or their Facebook page.
Contact Cherise Kaechele at 541-786-4234 orckaechele C lagrandeobserver com. Follow
Cherise on Twitter CIgoKaechele.
ff< PLY GEMspective. Greg and Brent try to figure outhow they can make the customer stay local.
"All the employees were born and raisedhere. We didn't mean to do that, but it'strue," Greg said.cWe pay with family wages.W e offer good materials at good prices."
cWe know the kind of products customerswant," said Fam Saechao, design managerfor Next Step Carpet.cWe don't sell products we wouldn't want in our own home."
Next Step Design will offer homeimprovement cooperative sales and do ityourself events to help customers as well,Greg said.
He said one of the future events is a do-ityourself event on laminate floors and others
e•
I • • I
e e • s • • •
IIItrs~dsPsiutESlass• • • •
4 4
•
4 4
•
Benjamin
Pain sMoore e
AROORCOAT
WINDRORWS
• I ' • .
' •
• •
PAGE 18, HOME & GARDEN THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015
h, spring cleaning. All thetasks you pushed aside
earlier in the year now await you— a seemingly never-ending listofchores.
However, not everyone hasthe time or energy to scrub theirhouse from top to bottom. Forthose who need to abbreviate thisseasonal ritual, housecleaners saythe following areas are the mostessential:
Baseboards"I think the thing people have
the hardest time keeping up withis the baseboards," says JohnCrum, owner of Crum Cleaning inKansas City, Missouri.
To clean your baseboards, firstvacuum or sweep the area. Then,take a cloth or sponge and a cleaning solution — a combination ofsoap and water, vinegar or a wood
ive essenA
cleaner — and wipe down thebaseboards.
High dustingAccording to Crum, homeown
ers often forget to dust ceilinglights and fans because they'reout of reach. Others may choosenot to clean them because the jobsometimes requires a ladder.
Maria Keashon, owner of ArborCleaning Services in Feasterville,Pennsylvania, adds that homeowners forget to clean off the topof their kitchen cabinets.
Keashon says her companyalways cleans cabinet tops whencompleting a spring cleaning, asdust accumulates quickly.
LIVINGSMARTKALEY BELAICQVICH
omes rin -ce~ $ ~ IRIh ,
To clean baseboards, first vacuum around them, then wipe downwith a cloth and cleaning solution.
Those who don't want to climbatop a ladder can purchase alonger dusting wand made specifically for high fixtures and ceilings.
Walls
Crum says walls are another
I'
Ketelin Kinney/Angie'5 List
Behind appliancesAccording to Crum, many
people neglect the harder-to-reachareas, such as behind the refrigerator, oven, washer and dryer,because they take more time toclean. But once a year, you shouldtake the extra time to move yourappliances and clean behind andunderneath them, as dirt, crumbsand dust accumulate in theseplaces.
Inside the cabinetsKeashon says that most people
assume the inside of their cabinetsremain perfectly clean becausethey're only opened to remove orput away dishes.However, these areas collect
grime over time.She recommends removing
all dishes and wiping down thecabinets once a year.
neglected space when it comes tocleaning house.
However, homeowners face morechallenges when washing wallsbecause the proper method canvary based on whether walls arepainted and the paint type used.
• • g
J OHN D E E R E
• I • I • ' ' ' •
• •
• •
I I p
I •
I • I •
911 South River SteetEnterprise, OR 97828
(541) 426-3116
11201 Island AvenueLa Grande, OR 97850
(541) 963-7151
41216 HVVY 30Baker City, OR 97814
(541) 523-64911 FAMILY• 22.4 — 24.2 engine hpv (16.5 — 1 7.8 kW)
Twin Touch™ hydrostatictransmission
0% FOR 60 MONTHS AND
$500 OFF' IMPLEMENT BONUS
OR $1,000 OFF
NEW S240 SPORT
42-in. mower deck J
IOffer ends Apnl 30, 2019 52,900 off only on 2014 model year and pnor RSXBSOi models, inaddition t o f i n ancing op t ions P nce an d m o de l availability may vary b y d e a lerAvailable at participating dealers Before operating or nding, always refer to the safety andoperating i n f o rmation on t he veh i c le a n d i n the o pe r a tor's m a n ua l Act u a lvehicle top speed may vary based on belt wear, tire selection, vehicle weight, fuel condition,terrain and other environmental factors rrprices and models may vary by dealer Manufacturersuggested list pnce at 52,499 on S240 Sport Pnces are suggested retail pnces only and aresublect to change without notice at any time Dealer may sell for less Shown with optionalequipment not included in the pnce Attachments and implements sold separately Availableat participating dealers 20ffer ends Apnl 30, 2019 Sublect to approved installment creditwith John Deere Financial Fixed rate of 0% for 60 months 5900 off implement bonus is inaddition to f inancing options and requires the purchase of two John Deere or Frontierimplements In lieu of f inance offer, get 51,000 off retail bonus on the I Family TractorsSome restnctions apply, so see your dealer for details and other f inancing optionsYManufacturer's estimate of power (ISOI PER 97/68/EC *The engine horsepower and torqueinformation are provided by the engine manufacturer to be used for companson purposesonly Actual operating horsepower and torque will be less Refer to the engine manufacturer'swebsite for additional information **Term limited to years or hours used, whichever comesfirst, and vanes by model See the LIMITED NIARRANTY FOR NENI JOHN DEERE TURF ANDUTILITY EQUIPMENT at JohnDeere com/Niarranty and JohnDeere ca/TUNiarranty for detailsJohn Deere's green and yellow color scheme, the leaping deer symbol and JOHN DEERE aretrademarks of Deere 8 Company
is 5hp*(135kw603 I s2 499
THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015 HOME & GARDEN, PAGE 19
Time to tune up the mowerput away the snowblower and
tune up the lawn mower because what passes for spring thesedays has arrived.
The Outdoor Power Equipm ent Institute offers some tips forproper and safe operation of allthe things you need to keep youryard looking marvelous:
Use the right equipment for thetask. Mowers, hedge trimmers andso forth are designed to help youmanage a landscape as efficientlyand productively as possible.Select a"right-sized" product.
Ask your retailer/dealer for assistance in size, capabilities, powersources and features that fit yourneeds.
Assign the right person to usethe equipment, and allow onlyresponsible adults familiar withthe instructions to operate it. Suchtools should not be operated byyoung people who are not physi
cally or developmentally ready tooperate them.
Alert people nearby of the workto be done. Confirm the locationsof pets and children and ask thatthey be kept out of the area andsupervised.
Read the operator's manual tounderstand the controls of yourequipment.
Regularly inspect your equipment. Check for loose belts andmissing or damaged parts. Installclean air filters so your engine andequipment run optimally.
Have your mower's cuttingblades sharpened so it will operate more efficiently, cutting yourlawn more cleanly and making ithealthier.
YOUR PLACEI
= "' i' ALAN J. HEAVENS
mower.
Know your terrain. When operating on slopes, select the appropriate equipment.
Clear the area being managed.Remove any debris, wires, branches, nails, rocks, or metal that couldbecome projectiles if thrown by theblades of a lawn mower or otherequipment.
Dress properly. Wear substantial shoes, long pants, and closefitting clothes. You also may wantto wear eye or hearing protection,or both.Observe safe fueling procedures.
Fill a gasoline tank only when theengine is cool.
Do not use gas with more than10 percent ethanol iE10l in your
Contact Alan J. Heavens ataheavensC phillynews.com or write
him atThe Philadelphia Inquirer,Box 8263, Philadelphia PA 19101.
• • u I• •
Courtesy photo
Take the time to inspect and service your mower so it remainssafe to use.
• • •
• •
• •
• • - • •TO IT!• • I IOregon Trail Landscape 8t Nursery
Supply the usual and unique for your garden!• Drought tolerant trees, shrubs and
annuals R perennials• Unique garden decor
Treat your garden to something new.'
Oregon Trail Landscape 8 Nursery600 Elm Street • Ba ker Ci ty • 54 1 - 5 23 -3708
NEW Hours: 9-5 Wed-Sat (Closed Sun. Mon. ttIt Tues)
• • I •
Tony's Tree Service• Full Service Tree Care• Landscape 8t Sprinkler Systems• Insect 8t Weed Spraying• Open Monday through Friday
• s • • •
LCB 6271, LBC 12148, CCB 63504 ODA 01000
PAGE 20, HOME & GARDEN THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015
Putcli ersto oo use s correctlyn sBy Kym PokomyOregon State University Extension Office
CORVALLIS — Every gardenerowns a pair of clippers, but notevery one knows how to use themfor the daunting job of pruningshrubs.
"Prtmingis both art and scienceand not somethingmostofus gettrainingin," said Steve Renquist, ahorticulturistwith Oregon State University's Extension Service.'Prtmingshould bothenhance aplant's naturalbeauty and form, and keep the plantvigorous and productive."
People unsure ofhow to approach pruning tend to think ofit as a way to cut a shrub downto size, he said. But there is morethan one reason to pick up the
To get started, learn the twotypes of cuts used on shrubs— heading cuts remove endsofbranches to make the plant
Azaleas should be pruned lightly after they bloom in spring. People unsure of how to approach pruning tend to think of it as a wayto cut a shrub down to size. But there is more than one reason topick up the pruners.
denser; thinning cuts remove en- p l ant a more open form. It's alsotire branches or canes to give the i m portant to know the natural
Lynn Ketchum phato
shape or habit for each shrub inyour garden.
Mound-forming shrubs, such asabelia and escallionia, need thinning cuts near the ground level.Remove tall shoots that towerabove the mound form. Don'tshear mound-forming shrubs orthey will become too dense.
Cane-forming shrubs that sendup new growth from the base ofthe plant, including forsythia andlilac, should be allowed to reachtheir natural height. To keep themlooking their best prune once ayear using thinning cuts to takeout one-eighth to one-fifth of thecanes, preferably the oldest.
Upright or tree-like shrubs likerhododendron usually need littlepruning and will look best whenthinned slightly every few years.
Saveheadingcuts fbrhedges,wheetightcompactgrowthis desirable.
Plants with colorful twigs
in winter — such as red-twigdogwood and purple osier willow— can be cut back to the ground toencourage brightest color.
Flowering shrubs require alittle more thought before pruning if you want them to bloomnicely each year. Most importantly,Renquist said, consider when theybloom. If a shrub flowers in latewinter or spring, such as azalea,mock orange and flowering quince,prune after bloom. If they bloomin summer or fall, prune duringdormancy in winter.
Don't just chop the top off of ashrub, he said. Topping destroysthe natural beauty and weakens itstructurally. Instead, think about ashrub's mature size before buyingit and invest in one that will fit thespace when mature. Otherwise,you'll be tempted to prune tooseverely and chance damaging oreven killing the shrub.
pruners.
There's no place like La Grande.And, like you, we're proud to call it home.Thank you for your business and your trust.We look forward to many moresuccessful years together.
II IIII IIII I
— &arageDaars
• %%J„lE~ WA „L
With Thermospan™ do o rs, you have your cho ice of styles,colors and customizing opt ions.
W J I ll O W I A M D B Q Q R 3 Windows~ Kl u Wew a l lt l a IAtvkf
i p~AMERICAN FAMILYIei
Amerilcan Family Mutual lnsurance Companyand its Subsildiiaries
American Family Insurance CornpanyHome Qffice — Madison, Wi 53783
Ci 2Q11 uO2129 — Rev, 6/11
Brian Abell Agency109 Depot St
La Grancle, OR 97850(541) 663-1919
(541) 969-2443 mobile
Blg enough to do a la rge job . Small enough to ca re
• • •
• • • •
THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015 HOME & GARDEN, PAGE 21
Here's the scoop on chemical and organic fertilizersSome nutrients, such as nitrate, are
quickly available for uptake by plant roots,Penhallegon said. If you need only a certainelement such as nitrogen and want it to bequickly available to your plants, an inorganic fertilizer such as ammonium nitratemight be in order.
Organic fertilizers usually contain plantnutrients in low concentrations. Many ofthese nutrients have to be converted intoinorganic forms by soil bacteria and fungi before plants can use them, so they typically aremore slowlyreleased, especially during coldweather when soil microbes are not as active.But organic fertilizers have advantages.
They don't make a crust on the soil asinorganic fertilizers sometimes do. They improve water movement into the soil and, intime, add structure to the soil. Organics feedbeneficial microbes, making the soil easierto work. But they may cost more thanchemical, or inorganic fertilizers, becausethey are less concentrated, supplying fewernutrients pound for pound.
Since many chemical/inorganic fertilizersare concentrated and very soluble, it's easier
to apply too much and damage your plants.Fresh, non-composted manure can damageyour plants as well, because some manurecontains harmful amounts of salts. They canalso be a source of weed seeds.
Penhallegon has collected information aboutthe nitrogen gVi, phosphorus lPi and potassium lKI content of many of the organic substances commonly used as fertilizer in Oregon.His report, 'Values of Organic Fertilizers," alsocontains information about how quickly anorganic fertilizer releases available nutrientsand areference list on organic gardening.
"One of the most diKcult things to determine for an organic gardener is how muchorganic fertilizer to use, say on 1,000 squarefeet of garden," said Penhallegon. "For a fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 12-11-2, thismeans 12 percent is nitrogen, 11 percent isphosphorus and 2 percent is potassium. Insimple terms, this means each 100-poundbag of the fertilizer would contain 12pounds of nitrogen, 11 pounds phosphorusand two pounds nitrogen.
"For example, using 12-11-2 fertilizer, ifwe knew we wanted to apply one pound
of nitrogen, we would use V12th of 100pounds," he said. "This equals about 8pounds of this fertilizer applied to get onepound of nitrogen out there in the soil."
Blood meal l12.5-1.5-0.6i releases nutrients over a period of tw o to six weeks.
Burned eggshells l0-.5-.3i, fish emulsionl5-1-1i and urea lurinei l46-0-Oi are thefastest-acting organic fertilizers, lasting onlya couple of weeks.
To boost the nitrogen content of your soils,apply nitrogen-rich urea l42-46 percent Ni,feathers l15 percent Ni, blood meal l12.5percent Ni, dried blood l12 percent Ni.
Organic amendments highest in phosphorus include rock phosphate l20-33 percentPi, bone meal l15-27 percent Pi and colloidalphosphate l17-25 percent Pi. High in potassium are kelp l4-13 percent KI, wood ashl3-7 percent Ki, granite meal l3-6 percent Kiand greensand l5 percent Ki.
To make soil less acidic, gardeners wantmaterials rich in calcium, including clamshells, oyster shells, wood ashes, dolomiteand gypsum lall are at least 30 percentcalcium carbonate or straight calcium).
By Kym PokomyOregon State University Extension Office
CORVALLIS — Spring is the time forthinking about fertilizers. Organic optionsare a great way to go.
Organic fertilizers such as manures,compost or bone meal are derived directlyfrom plant or animal sources, according toRoss Penhallegon, horticulturist with theOregon State University Extension Service.Inorganic fertilizers such as ammoniumsulfate or ammonium phosphate are oftencalled commercial or synthetic fertilizersbecause they go through a manufacturingprocess, although many of them come fromnaturally occurring mineral deposits.
Inorganic fertilizers usually contain onlya few nutrients — generally nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur and sometimesmicronutrients, either singly or in combination. These nutrients are in a form readilyavailable to plants. However, since they arelost from the soil quickly, you may have tofertilize plants several times during thegrowing season unless you use a speciallyformulated, slow-release type.
Windows and doors, cabinets and fixtures, paint and waiipaperwhatever your home improvement plans, you'll find everythingyou need at reasonable prices at these businesses. Stop in todayl
ruce UYour Home!
llalhllaatttatau$antiN' LARGE oR SMALL29 Years Experience 1I
Residential, Rentaland Commercial Cleaning
Serving Union County since 2006
Home Repair & Remodeling Services
"No Jobs Too Small"
Shawn L Hall541-910-5590
E CAVATION INC. PI.UMSINOFor All Your Plumbing Needs
0Licensed and Insured
SItannon Carter( ) Owner
1> $1astonz g@
Done Right
PO BOX 163910305 S. Grand View Drive 541) ltIrtlt0092
54 -963-9534Ishnvy,
RAv N o a =a'. sav-vvvvnE aoovns
A Certified Arborist10. Curtiss PN-7077A CC8¹ 183649
541-7S6-S463
MICHAELLa Grande LLC
RAYNOR GARAGE DOORSSALES • SERVICE • INSTALLATION
Bob Fager ~ 963-3701 • CCB¹23272
THE DOOR GUY
ServicemasrEzThe clean yan expert. ','Qiggg QThe serviceyau Jeserve. ~ ~ rn
Janitorial erviceFire & Water Damage RestorationServiceMaster of La Grande
541-962-2639SERVINGALL OF EASTERN OREGON
~ asM.RA
PAGE 22, HOME & GARDEN THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015
Windows and doors, cabinets and fixtures, paint and wallpaperwhatever your home improvement plans, you'll find everythingyou need at reasonable prices at these businesses. Stop in todayl
S ruce U' Your Home!
4 r
IttttrW CagblreuhTIRUCTlagblttt - RrivnilibIlflLIlettagi - PublLr ILARIIVI84iLeltetrCRrTr - IBLRIYrWAVeb . 4blof'bVttbl IES - rDIjNBATiioatttgt
I ' I '
I.I ' I
I I I R AYNo R
UalityPainting
, AEAI AENI 1I IWI K tOtNIYIEAWIWIL ~
n~e ~ vee N $ 4 rl t'$1~4ICgEI4telEM~5 ~4 uI Tgttt~iM~~ I MI TI , '
I4 I ~~ ~ I
For all your indoor and outdoorpainting, cleaning, plumbing, mainte
nance, and remodeling needs.
2624 Bearco Loop • La Grande
541-910-1070 ccB¹156974
Car Detailing.
reR +<I voLIR cen4smiLlc+Iohu I4irrIbrby C(>Q3 f=' LISl(rkk4~
NEED A NEWCB's LLC You'll L ike The Way It Looks..."I Guarantee ItAPPLIANCE?Septic Tank Cleaningcfc Portable Restrooms
Call us for your 5 year maintenance cleaning today!
W 00LFE E ' SMowing N M-or-e"
Serving you since 1970 ~
~gvtsts
CNlachemA~
ELSIN541-963-5231~ EI Eg PRIQ
Rlgers~Asph'alt- Paving I.
4
43 N. 8th Elgin, OR 541-437-2054
F ree D e l iv e r y
-.' LA C.'DANIOL
(SAI'E ALC3CK
Free estimates, and for more information on our lawn care services.
Clean ups • Thatching • Fertilizing • Complete yard care
GraSS Ma ISter . ' , ~r " .
,+1„'.541- T86 5569
cau Grass Master at 541-7S6-5569
•
•
Servicing La Grande,COve, Imbler il UniOn
971-241-7069
Oregon Stote Certified
Marcus Wolfer
Ulrich Graffunder
Office 541-963-4001Cell 541-975-3010
10304 1st St, Island City
tre@ltgt Vbtt'rbigayettta~ V i tbittl ., '
+ Irtgty Atgaeble igEgshtnOnhltrn. FIN'Rxatrn sltb ptrtbtbbaanustgttge
ae E g
541-963-3633
Carpet CleaningUpholstery CleaningTile IL Grout CleaningHardwood FloorCleaningVCT Tile Stripping ILWaxingDuct, Dryer, FurnacesCleaning
Quality Safe 8c Lock Sales 8c Service
Full ServicePropane
Distributor
rTuII PreW II66'.OgB~64Aooally 'qwri'ed&sbd'Opkrated64'1,'90 OA HWTr 203 4 L'a i(trandctb, OR 97850
JOHNSONELECTRIC
Call Alex
RESIDENTIAL & (OMMER(IALUnion IL Wallowa Counties
54'l.953.5200lagrandeor.heavensbest.com
gl bI:Ed Stnub8rSonsEnergy. Community. Service.
10502 W 1st St.La Grande
541-963-8711
Residennal • Commercial • IndustrialPhone/Data Wiring & EMERGENCY
Surround Sound Vtrtring SERVICE•
•
• • • • I
I
62234 Landmark Lane • La GrandeFAX 541-963-8231 • CCB¹ 151741
HOME & GARDEN, PAGE 23THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD, APRIL 29, 2015
• g 5
A NV M A T T R E S ,@ 459 L U P „ ~
B ran w e n
SAI.E' EN~tooN~>
4 8 9 + Bo x s P R IN GF R E E
Q ueen M a t t r e s s
$
$Full Mattress t% 7 + FREE BOXSPRING
King Mattress E + FREE BOXSPRING
HoursTues-Fri 9-6
Sat 10-5
2170 Main St, Baker City • 541-523-7701 :"®H
M 0 N T H
* Free delivery from our store to your home ihUhlOh Bhd WBIIOWB COUh'tles ee ealore rorderaira Norall aieae oovered
RECEIVE UP TO A
* Free installation of allfree-standing appliances
* Free removal ofpacking materials
STOP IN TODAY FOR BETTER BUILT DEALS.
rM iiMASTERCARD® PREPAID CARD BYMAIL WITH PURCHASE OF SELECTMAYTAG® KITCHEN APPLIANCES'
MAY 1-31, 2Q15Rrfri • Rvll»,I' •
'gee store fior rebate itorm with eomi,plete detarls, Only vat d at partrr>patrng Iylar tag brand retarlers Rebate rn the formi of a Irvfaftag brrmidluasterCaid' Preipard Card by mail."Cxrfudles Irliiorowave ltood Comb niation rnodel lyluV61190 '» drar; i. »ef:;,:,rrrbem Ilh:ii; uwirro! Ivexe i »»Ifodt-,!ardlrii i. rei'II»i;;prvr»d li s. a, r ;» , .or;.;odr;;eo» rl oflt»st r!ardlnrwn»ri» Ifz." rprr I d .".»rh vrtln Iliei»ea:;ia;„sss iirl en': us der i vih„-",s Il»st r!arord'btv rdsar„ee-ep';.:I 'iw' " -,'.»". Ita.'a i elliirrlimr'»"rnnf. Ii Iemi lloleafmr I he:.;w r ft:.'a! h;;n: lme tlea .= i:» m» iagoem i'lgp i aiea
WRAT'$ IIII$lljE MATITIERS'
Q 43 N. 8th, Elgin541-437-2054