TheState.com: Home and Garden

Garden ideas from books to the Web

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:39 EST

Wouldn't you like to have some fresh ideas, month after month, for projects and plants to try in your garden or home landscape? All sorts of garden magazines offer color photographs of model gardens, articles on topics ranging from specific plant profiles to general how-to advice, and plenty of sources for decorative elements and supplies that gardeners need.

If you're trying to think of holiday gifts for gardening friends and relatives, subscriptions will deliver a year-round present. Rates vary, so look for special holiday offers.

Here are some favorites:

"Horticulture: The Art & Science of Smart Gardening." www.hortmag.com. Glossy photos and well-known writers make some interesting reading. William Cullina's feature on native grasses in the current issue is insightful.

"The Herb Quarterly." www.herbquarterly.com. This publication, with cozy watercolor illustrations and photos, has been published since 1978. Herb and edible-flower growing, recipes, use and lore, and garden reviews are included. The current issue's feature "African healing herbs" covers unusual plants including neem and nutmeg.

Gourds Galore: 8 uses for fall's favorite produce

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:18 EST

Those jolly round veggies are ripe for the picking. But brainstorming what to do with them beyond October 31 can be tricky. Never underestimate the creative power of a gourd, especially while they're super cheap.

1. Make some music.

The gourd maraca has long been a staple in various indigenous African and South American tribal music. Not only are they cheap, but also easy to make and just plain funny looking. You have several options ranging from rain makers and harps to drums and guitars - the sky's the limit on your creativity and level of difficulty! Check out this article which includes tips on creating instruments used in the Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra.

2. Toast the seeds.

Forget trying to segregate the pumpkin mush from the seeds. Lucinda Scala Quinn, executive editorial director of food for Martha Stewart Living, says to spread out the sloppy mess in a thin layer on the pan and bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. The goop will easily separate from the seeds. Toss with olive oil and salt; or cinnamon, brown sugar, and salt for a delicious afternoon snack. Always season after baking the seeds.

Awards honor those who helped beautify city

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:29 EST

The Columbia Choice Awards, which recognize individuals, businesses, schools and organizations that add to the city's appearance and quality of life, will be presented this week.

The Columbia Tree and Appearance Commission and Columbia Green co-sponsor the awards.

The awards ceremony is at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Columbia Museum of Art. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door. The event is free for Columbia Green members.

Here are the winners in each category and comments from judges.

New Construction/Site Development: CanalSide Streetscape and Parks.

Energy audits help save cash

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:34 EST

SCE&G energy audits help homeowners save cash - and resources

John Elmore is doing everything right when it comes to conserving energy in his Elgin home.

He turns off lights, keeps the water heater and thermostat at recommended levels, changes air filters every 30 days "whether they need it or not" and even blows the dust off his refrigerator coils once a year.

So he couldn't figure out why his monthly electric bill was $20 to $40 higher than most of his neighbors, who live in similar and even slightly bigger houses.

"When it's that far off, you start questioning yourself," he said.

Tips to save energy

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:32 EST

Air filters

Use plain fiberglass filters. Thicker and ribbed filters restrict air flow and cause the system to work harder. Derrick says homeowners who are worried about allergens are better off using an air purifier

Water heater

Keep water heater at 120 degrees or below. And drain it once a year to get rid of sediment build-up so it runs properly. You don't have to drain all the water. Two to five gallons should be sufficient. If the water heater feels hot to the touch, it probably needs to be insulated by a professional. Most of the ones built after 1996 should be well insulated.

Washer and dryer

Use fall floral designs to beautify your home

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:36 EST

Having trouble falling in love with fall? It's time to face facts and the calendar. It's November, and that means it's time to put away the pastels and primary colors and embrace the browns.

But autumn is about transitions, and moving slowly into the cooler temperatures and warmer designs. You don't have to change everything at once, and you don't even have to change everything.

"Keep the pillows, rugs, throws, draperies - they're too expensive," said interior designer Toni Berry. "Look to your table tops, counter tops, coffee tables, bars, buffets, end tables, consoles; even your bathroom vanities can be turned into a fall display with fall colors. Those are the best places to switch out the season."

A good way to turn those flat spaces into autumn vignettes is with floral displays. Ria Sim, owner of a floral design business in Danville, Calif., says a centerpiece or an accent display can set the tone for autumn without having to redecorate the entire house.

It doesn't have to be complicated, Sim says. There are ways, she says, of making your decor more seasonal just by adding some flowers with an autumn color palette.

Interest in wine goes mainstream

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:41 EST

More people are decorating with the fruit of the vine in mind

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Wine is climbing like a vine to an important role in the American home.

Home-decor catalogs are filled with items related to corks, labels, bottles and barrels. New homes are constructed with wine bars and even cellars. Neighborhood block parties are turning into wine tastings. What gives?

"There is something sexy about it," said Ryan Sciara, managing partner of Cellar Rat Wine Merchants in Kansas City, Mo. "Even my sister, who doesn't drink wine, decorates with it."

The 37-year-old Sciara, who will be a contestant on Season 2 of the public television reality series "The Winemakers," sees the correlation of wine's rise in popularity with its pricing. As drinkable wines from Spain and Australia became available for $10 or less, more people invested because it was a way to travel the world without buying a plane ticket.

Keeping cozy: Wood stoves vs. pellet stoves

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:40 EST

For 23 years, Julie Gore has heated her Ada, Ohio, home with a wood-burning stove. When the old one wore out, she didn't hesitate to buy another for her family room.

"It's warm and toasty," said Gore, an administrative assistant at Ohio Northern University. "I wouldn't trade it. If you get a chill you can stand by it and warm up."

Stoves as secondary heating sources are growing in popularity, and come in two basic varieties: wood stoves and pellet stoves.

Some proponents say the stoves can be more environmentally friendly and help cut energy costs; other experts say that can vary from household to household.

Traditional wood-burning stoves like Gore's enjoy stronger sales, but pellet stoves, which burn compressed sawdust, may be gaining, according to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, a manufacturers trade group. Wood stoves and wood fireplace inserts saw an 81 percent increase in shipments in 2008, the association said. Pellet stoves and pellet fireplace inserts increased 161 percent that year.

Leaf-raking as aerobic exercise

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:39 EST

It's a workout that's great for you and your yard

You could be called the lawn Luddites.

You're the holdouts who shun leaf blowers and lawn vacuums, the hardy types who find satisfaction in the scrape of tines on grass.

You're the leaf rakers, and we salute you.

We'd also like to make your job a little easier and your backs less sore. We're here with tips on the right equipment, the proper technique and some ideas about what to do with the fruits of your labor - the leaves.

Pansies, violas provide long season of winter splendor

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:39 EST

In many parts of the country, garden centers are loaded with fresh bedding plants to give you months of cool-season color and splendor. Pansies, violas, snapdragons, dianthus, flowering kale, cabbage and a host of others are waiting for you to give them a home in your gardens.

Pansies, of course, are the favorites, and rightfully so. You'll likely be buying 4- to 6-inch transplants that will offer bloom and performance until the high heat of late spring or early summer takes them out.

If I asked you to name a pansy, you would probably say Majestic Giant. This series has been around a long time and has been steadily improved. New, large-flowered varieties like the Matrix and Colossus have started eating into Majestic Giant's market share. All are good performers.

The Mammoth series is new this year. It is an extremely large-flowered variety boasting several colors, and each has a unique name. One of my favorites at the trials was On Fire, which gives that illusion with its fiery yellow, orange and red blooms.

Perhaps you are toying with the idea of going with violas this year, but are wondering if you can develop a landscape sizzle with these smaller-flowered cousins of the pansy. Let me put the answer in simple terms - absolutely.

Set the stage for a sale

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:39 EST

Staging a home for sale can set it apart from the competition. Kiplinger's Personal Finance has these suggestions for staging your home for less than $1,000:

- Stage it virtually. This option is aimed at empty homes, because photos of bare walls and floors can make online shoppers lose interest. You just snap photos of the empty rooms and send them to a virtual stager, who uses computer imagery to "furnish" them. The photos can be posted online or used in marketing materials.

Kiplinger's says prices range from around $200 for three rooms to $325 for five rooms, although rates vary by city. Type "virtual staging" into an online search engine to find companies.

- Pay for a plan, but provide the muscle. Many stagers will work as consultants, touring your house and offering suggestions on presenting it. Barb Schwarz, founder of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, says the average fee for a consultation is $350.

Then it's up to you to do the cleaning, decluttering and rearranging. Kiplinger's suggests renting a portable storage unit if you have a lot of stuff to store.

Home and garden calendar: Nov. 8, 2009

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:39 EST

Events

- Learn how to build a rain barrel at a workshop Nov. 17 at the Lexington County EMS Training Facility on Ball Field Road. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $20, which includes rain barrel materials. Space is limited. For more information: www.clemson.edu/public/carolinaclear/consortiums/lcsc_home/programs.html

Workshops

- Join S.C. Midlands Master Gardeners to learn how to prepare beds for a late winter vegetable garden or for spring planting. Learn a no till, no digging, no weeding method of bed preparation. Raised beds and cold frame alternatives for protection of winter vegetables and tender perennialso will be discussed.

Today, 3 p.m. Main branch of the Richland County Public Library. 1431 Assembly St. Reservations not needed.

Highest-priced property transfers

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:39 EST

RICHLAND COUNTY'S TOP 3

$405,000 304 Upland Trail Road, Elgin 29045, from S.E. Ayers Company Inc. to John Hopkins

$380,000 1527 Kathwood Drive, Columbia 29206, from Samuel and Lisbeth Agee to Chadwick and Evelyn Knight

$364,900 217 River Creek Drive, Irmo 29063, from Thomas and Catherine McNeal to John and Cathleen Jernigan

LEXINGTON COUNTY'S TOP 3

When all else fails, try sand blasting

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:39 EST

We have a large stone (about 30 square feet) in our yard that was coated with asphalt by a previous owner of the property. We would like to restore it to its original appearance but had no luck with solvents or pressure washing. Any ideas? -D. Woods

Asphalt is very difficult to remove and I don't think solvents or even pressure washing is the best solution. I think you should try sand blasting, which is not as difficult or expensive as it might sound. You should be able to rent sand-blasting equipment at a tool rental agency near you. You will need an air compressor, a special sand-blasting gun, and some blasting sand.

Once you get the equipment home and set it up, you should be able to do the job in an hour or two. The fine, hard sand will peel off the asphalt and probably a thin layer of the stone's surface. Be sure and wear, goggles, gloves and other protective clothing, and keep children and pets away while blasting.

We had beautiful ceramic-tile floors in our bathrooms, but the gray grout has become discolored and I can't seem to get it clean despite lots of scrubbing. Is there a way to restore the grout color? -D. Johnson

A colored grout stain could be the answer. These stains are available in a variety of colors, including light gray, white and darker tones such as green, brown and black. Grout stain is not difficult to apply, but you should read the directions and cautions carefully. The surface must be clean and dry before application, which is done with a sponge or brush.

Property Transfers

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:39 EST

RICHLAND COUNTY

The property transfers listed below are from the descriptions on legal documents on file in the Richland County Courthouse.

29016

110 Coopers Pond Drive, Blythewood, from C and C Builders to Charlotte Lewis, $202,168

29045

Don't bring pests inside with your plants

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:39 EST

Last year we had a dining room full of insects after bringing the houseplants back inside. My cats enjoyed batting at the white flies, but left the leaves pretty ragged. Any tips on avoiding gate-crashers this year?

Get rid of those mooching plant suckers before you bring your tender babies in. Put on your dog -washing clothes and give your plants a good outdoor shower. I like to work on a plastic tarp (so I don't get grass and mud all over the containers). Lay your plants on their sides and rinse them thoroughly, being especially careful to spray under the leaves where whitefly eggs and nymphs will be.

After the plants dry, you can follow up with insecticidal soap which only works if you spray it directly on the insects; it has no residual activity. You need to spray on top and under every single leaf, on the stems, the soil surface, and the pot itself for good control - definitely an outdoor or bathtub exercise.

Avoid the temptation to "save" money by using your neighbor's recipe based on dishwashing liquid; the products labeled for use on plants have been tested and give you the exact concentration to control insects but not burn your leaves. Always read the label completely as there are some plants that seem like they'd be tough as nails that absolutely hate to take a bubble bath and cannot be treated with this product. After several hours you can rinse the soap off treated plants - the soap kills only on contact. If the label recommends re-applications, follow the guidelines if you didn't get complete control with the first spray.

Our erratic temperatures are really your friend when it comes to houseplant pest control. We have at least a month or so before we won't get a warm day when you can tote those plants back out for another treatment if needed. Use tepid water from inside for mixing so you don't shock your plants with what comes out the hose even on a pleasant day.

Columbia housing market gets new spark

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:03 EST

The suddenly surging Columbia housing market just might have gotten more juice.

The tax credit that helped fuel the Midlands' first year-over-year homes sales gain in more than two years got extended and expanded by Congress on Thursday.

Now most anyone who wants to buy a home can get a bonus from Uncle Sam if they put a contract on a house before May.

Area real estate experts say the help already on the books from Washington - an $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers -spurred a 21 percent jump in October home sales, compared to a year earlier.

This was after a 2.4 percent sales increase in September, according to industry data. Now the Midlands has had back-to-back home sales increases after 25 consecutive months of decline.

Bam-boo!

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:32 EST

Sean Bigley knows bamboo can be scary, the stuff of backyard nightmares.

Like something out of a horror movie, the world's fastest-growing plant can creep along underground and pop up uninvited, again and again and again. One little root can sprout a forest. Bamboo can swallow up space and make the rest of the backyard simply ... disappear.

"Bamboo has this reputation," Bigley says. "It can go crazy and get out of control. I'm working to change that concept of bamboo as an instant nightmare."

In bamboo, the Rocklin, Calif., resident has found instead a gardener's dream of easy-care beauty. Bigley fell in love with bamboo's versatility and variety, from tiny pygmy miniatures nested in pots to majestic giants more than 100 feet tall. Most are drought-tolerant, too.

Bamboo is gaining fans throughout California for its fast growth and good looks. It has become a favorite for privacy screens and thick hedges, and for quickly covering ugly walls, even with little sun or water. Bamboo thrives where other plants never take root.

Mysterious, sophisticated black plants

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:12 EST

Welcome to the dark side.

This is where the other plants grow, the ones that defy the cheery kaleidoscope of nature. They're black plants, some with names that underscore their eerie appearance - names like Dracula orchid and bat flower, voodoo lily and mourning widow.

They're odd and striking and, as Paul Bonine puts it, "They're really weird."

Bonine, a nursery owner with a penchant for these horticultural curiosities, celebrates them in the new book "Black Plants: 75 Striking Choices for the Garden" (Timber Press, $14.95).

Black plants lend an aura of mystery to a garden, but they also provide a dash of sophistication, Bonine said.

Who you gonna call? The mouse hunters

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:42 EST

Small and nimble, with bright eyes and big ears, the suspect made a dramatic early-morning appearance in the kitchen sink.

In the ensuing chaos, he jumped into the air, attempting to hurdle the slippery stainless steel walls that surrounded him. The woman of the house gasped and called for help. Her husband made a citizen's arrest, covering the intruder with a small box and then depositing him in an insulated Whole Foods shopping bag with a zippered top.

The husband's theory was that "Mickey," aka Ben, aka 911, a rather small specimen, even for a house mouse, would stay put due to the strength of the bag and the enticement of a few snacks considerately placed within.

No such luck.

By 1:30 p.m., Mickey was on the run once again, and the woman, who declined to be named for this story, was more than a bit frazzled.