2013 Dispatch Home & Garden Guide

Home Garden

May 5, 2013

2 SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 a cdispatch.com HOME & GARDEN GUIDE HOME & GARDEN GUIDE a cdispatch.com SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 3

ADVERTISER INDEXBella Interiors ............................................................................. 3Biddy Saw Works ........................................................................ 3Bloomers .................................................................................... 5Busy Bee Nursery & Gift Shoppe ................................................ 3Cash & Carry Building Supply .................................................... 5Evans Plumbing & Air Conditioning .......................................... 16The Franklin/The Waverly Apartments ......................................... 5The Granite Guys ....................................................................... 3Hancock Hardware .................................................................... 5Handyman Rentals ..................................................................... 2JaSan Carpet & Flooring .............................................................. 2Johnson Carpet ......................................................................... 15Lighting Unlimited ...................................................................... 7Lowndes Farm Supply ................................................................. 7McBride & Co. Real Estate .......................................................... 7Modern Pool & Spa .................................................................. 14Northeast Exterminating ............................................................. 7Palmer Home for Children ........................................................ 15Palmer’s Interiors ........................................................................ 2Quality Aluminum & Canvas .................................................... 13Ron Lor Window Fashions ........................................................ 15Senter’s Hardware ..................................................................... 11Smith Landscaping & the Greenhouse ...................................... 15Something Southern ................................................................. 11Southern Awning & Construction .............................................. 11Town & Campus Realty ............................................................ 13Trinity Place Retirement Apartments ......................................... 13Weems Landscape Services ...................................................... 13Yardworks ................................................................................. 11


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Right at HomeShow features cookware, creativity

By Kim Cook | For The Associated Press

On New York’s Pier 94, this spring’s Architectural Digest Home Design Show was a chance for professionals and armchair decorators to see a sampling of what’s state-of-the-art in

everything from appliances and room finishes to, well, art.Premium kitchen and bath manufacturers deployed exhibit teams and

chefs at the late March show to display the finishes and features of high-end equipment.

There was a yin and yang feel to the booths in the cookware section: On one side, La Cornue, Viking and Sub-Zero showed professional style ranges and ovens with lots of high-profile dials and burners, in the ubiquitous stainless, but also in interesting new colors like deep orange, marigold and blue. Muscular and serious, they were matched in some cases with Old World-style cabinetry, cornices and flooring reminiscent of French chateaux, or maybe Downton Abbey.

If those were the Bentleys, on the other side of the aisle were the Ferraris: the sleek, polished kitchens of SieMatic, Scavolini and Miele. Stainless, glass and lacquered cabinetry in white, merlot and stone hid the major appliances; countertops were smooth runways with integrated stovetops and no discernible controls. Even when knobs were raised above the surface, there were custom covers to make them disappear. (www.siematic.us; www.scavolini.us; www.miele.com)

And there were even a few hybrids, including a kitchen from DOM with faux weather-bleached cupboards and tables coupled with sleek opaque glass cabinetry. Jenn-Air combined rustic veneers and whitewashed storage with professional steel equipment. (www.dominteriors.com; www.jenn-air.com)

Sculpture met function in many of the range hoods — some were mighty-looking machines that seemed powerful enough to suck up the cat, while others had a more decorative feel.

Sorpresa’s Sphera, a sculptural air extractor, mounts like a pendant light; Lipstick resembles a cosmetics tube in saucy red lacquer. Elica showed its jewel-encrusted orb light and exhaust combination. Streamline offered custom hoods clad in colored glass and steel, as well as the option to cover the hood in your own photographic art. (www.bestsorpresa.com; www.elica.com)

At the other end of the Pier, the show took on a different vibe. Big companies making big things gave way to what’s often the most intriguing area of the Architectural Digest show: the “MADE” wing of juried galleries, where artists and artisans display their creativity. This year, there were some fun, quirky pieces attracting passers-by and buyers.

At Wild Chairy, Andrea Mihalik recycles vintage chairs into functional art using bold combinations of textiles, and embellishments like organza petals or laced grommets. (www.wildchairy.com)

Francine Gardner’s Interieurs booth had a rectangular light fixture made of iron pipe, chandelier bulbs and crystals that somehow bridged the worlds of steampunk and high style. Perhaps as an ironic twist on the spotlight, Re-Surface Design’s Solo lamps re-imagined classic microphones as pendant lights. And Fiyel Levent turned a series of intricate pen and ink drawings into laser-cut paper and brass table lamps evocative of Noguchi and Asawa. (www.interieurs.com; www.re-surface.net, www.fiyellevent.com)

John Eric Byers carved hardwood cylinders to resemble hammered metal, then blackened them and clad the ends in gold leaf to make a striking series of tables. (www.johnericbyers.com)

Kaiser Suidan’s overscale, wall-mounted, ceramic toy jacks and cubes were eye-catching; he’ll work with clients to match colors or themes. (www.nextstepstudio.com)

Eric Boos showed a curvy, stylized collection of ceramic fruit bowls. (www.ericboos.com)

And Clark Sorensen got attention with his handmade porcelain urinals (“inspired by nature — and the call of it”) shaped like seashells and flowers. (www.clarkmade.com) a

Upholstered chairs by Andrea Mihalik. (AP Photos/www.wildchairy.com)


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UnlikelyAllies

Looking for some help in the garden? Many of nature’s most useful

critters lie literally at our feet, underappreciated and ignored despite their ability to eliminate insects, condition soils and pollinate plants.

Turtles, moths, moles, dragonflies, snakes, toads and spiders are among the many wild things that can help maintain a landscape. The payback is minimal — food, water, shelter, and easing off on harsh lawn and garden chemicals.

“I believe in teamwork, using all the creatures that live in your garden,” said Sharon Lovejoy, author of Trowel and Error (Workman Publishing, 2003). “Start from the ground up with night crawlers as part of your workforce.”

Add to the earthworms already in your plant beds with commercially available red worms.

“Build a worm bin or a place where they can’t get out,” Lovejoy said. “Use all of your leftovers — your kitchen compost. Worms can process up to 6 pounds of garbage in a week.”

“Grow an assortment of native plants, which will draw a great many bird species,” Lovejoy said. “Add plant hosts as food for butterfly and moth larvae.”

That list would include milkweed (monarch butterflies), borage (green lacewings),

sunflowers (ladybugs) and yarrow (hoverflies). Many insects in the larval stage are voracious predators. Green lacewings as juveniles are aptly named “aphid lions” because of their appetite for the sap-sucking pests.

“I would certainly place spiders near the top of underappreciated life in the garden,” said Whitney Cranshaw, an extension entomologist with Colorado State University. “Although sometimes I think it is less that they are not appreciated but rather people don’t want to think of them.”

Spiders are credited for as much as 80 percent of all predator control in the garden. Jumping spiders, wolf spiders, lynx spiders and crab spiders are the standouts, Cranshaw said.

Most predatory insects aren’t selective, though, feeding on anything that comes within reach. “Praying mantises are generalists,” said James Dill, a pest management specialist with University of Maine Extension. “So are many spiders. They’re very efficient but don’t discriminate in what they eat. They’d just as soon grab a honeybee if it happens by.”

Maintain a healthy garden with ample spacing if you hope to attract beneficial insects, Dill said.

“Spacing allows you to observe things better if you’re walking around, looking for trouble,” he said. “It also reduces the odds for (plant) disease.”a

By Dean Fosdick | For The Associated Press

Nature’s full of garden helpers

OTHER GREAT GARDEN HELPERS:

TOADS: “Harmful insects make up 62 percent of a toad’s daily food supply,” said Lovejoy, who stacks rocks and wood in secluded spots to shelter toads, frogs, turtles, salamanders and lizards.

DRAGONFLIES can capture over 400 mosquitoes a day.

MOLES: “They eat their body weight in insects, slugs and grubs while aerating the soil,” Lovejoy said.

SPHINX WASPS can pollinate 200 flowers in less than seven minutes, Lovejoy said.

SNAKES: “Most snakes — about 99 percent of those found in gardens — are harmless helpers, and eat rodents and insect pests,” Lovejoy said. Garter and gopher snakes top her “beneficial” list.

BOX TURTLES feast on slugs, snails, insects, larvae and grubs. “They’re slow but sure,” Lovejoy said.

BATS: These nocturnal aerialists pollinate flowers, spread seeds and devour upwards of 600 mosquitoes an hour.

Photos this page and cover by Matt Garner | flickr.com/photos/mattgarner


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By Lee Reich | For The Associated Press

For a time many years back, I would become nervous every time I went out to my garden to weed. The weeds were so few that I

feared something was wrong with the soil.True, I had taken deliberate steps to create this

condition, but initially it was hard to believe that results could so well bear out theory.

The first step in creating this “weedless” condition was to stop turning over or tilling the ground.

Buried in every soil are countless dormant weed seeds just waiting to be awakened by exposure to light and/or air. Not tilling — whether with a shovel, garden fork or rototiller — keeps those seeds buried and dormant.

Added bonuses to the no-till approach are preservation of valuable soil humus (organic matter), earlier planting in spring, more efficient water use and, of course, not having to go through the trouble of tilling.

KEEP THE SOIL INTACT AND COVEREDI now take great pains to avoid disturbing the

layering that naturally develops over time in any soil.

I clean up old marigold plants, tomato vines and other spent plants during and at the end of the growing season by just jerking them out of the ground, coaxing out plants with large roots, such as corn, by first cutting around their main roots with a garden knife.

I also enrich the soil from the top down, spreading fertilizers and compost or other organic materials right on the surface. Most of a plant’s feeder roots — the roots that benefit most from organic materials and fertilizers — grow near the surface anyway. And near or on the surface is where organic materials can also do the most good offering protection from the pounding of raindrops and the summer sun.

Still, there are always those weeds that arrive in the garden as seeds hitchhiking in with the wind or dropped by birds. Each year, I smother them by spreading a thin, weed-free mulch over the soil. The mulch of choice depends on the look I want, the plants and the soil.

Poor soil and hungrier plants demand the most nourishing mulch. So every year, compost gets slathered an inch thick over the ground where vegetables grow.

Buckwheat hulls, straw or wood chips are adequate and attractive for most flowers.

DON’T WALK ON MY BED!Of course, you can’t just stop tilling, throw

mulch on the ground and garden as usual. Walking on the soil and rolling a wheelbarrow, garden cart or tractor over it compacts the soil; tillage is then needed to aerate it.

The way to avoid compaction in the first place is to lay out the garden with permanent areas for plants and for traffic. Trafficked areas also need to be mulched, in this case with some lean, weed-free material such as wood chips, gravel or straw.

Planted areas in my vegetable garden consist of rectangular beds 3 feet wide surrounded by 18-inch-wide paths. Beds in my flower garden are more free-form or have stepping stones.

Planted areas in a vegetable garden don’t need to be raised beds, however; they can be laid out flat on the ground.

A big advantage of bed planting is that you can pack more plants into less space. Instead of planting carrots with 18 inches between rows, four or five rows can be planted with only a few inches between them. (That 18 inches is to let you walk between the rows for planting, weeding and harvesting. With a 3-foot-wide bed, you can do all that from the paths.)

Also, different vegetables, flowers, or vegetables and flowers can be grown together in beds.

DRIP THAT WATERChanging watering technique was the final

step on my road to “weedlessness.” Not all plants need regular watering, but for those that do, drip irrigation is the way to go.

Drip irrigation puts water near garden plants, so none is wasted or promoting weed growth in the areas between plants or in paths.

This is not to say that with the above four steps — drip irrigation, mulching, keeping traffic off planted areas, and not tilling — weeds never appear. They do. But weed problems do not.

What few large weeds do appear get yanked out of the soil, roots and all, coaxed out, if necessary, with a garden knife or trowel at their roots.

Colonies of small weeds are quickly done in with a “winged weeder,” colinear hoe or some other hoe with a sharp blade that can be slid along parallel to and just a fraction of an inch below the soil surface.

Also important in keeping a garden weed-free is to search regularly for them. With the above four steps, this activity is pared down to nothing more than a few pleasant minutes per week. a


Rows in a weedless vegetable garden in New Paltz, New York. (AP Photo/Lee Reich)

A (Nearly) Weedless Summer

Lee Reich is the author of Weedless Gardening (Workman, 2001) | leereich.com

Recent improvements in the design and engineering of gas grills have transformed the art of grilling. From searing and

rotisserie cooking to planking and smoking, gas grills now provide chefs with several different grilling techniques to develop flavors, textures and aromas. With a quality gas grill, the right set of features and these grilling methods, the culinary possibilities for a backyard chef are endless.

So what features do you need? To get the most out of different cooking methods, a gas grill has to be designed with these performance features: Excellent heat retention; searing power and flavor vaporization at the grids; full coverage stainless steel flavor wave, or heat medium; precise heat control; a side burner and a rotisserie burner.

MASTERING THE TECHNIQUESOne of the unique and delicious methods

to grill food uses a wooden plank. The smoke created from the plank sitting directly above a lit burner infuses the meat with a delicate smoky flavor.

Using a plank is simple:• Soak it in water for at least an hour and pat it

dry.• Pre-heat your grill on high for 10 minutes.• Coat both sides of the plank with olive oil

then place the seasoned meat on it.• Place the plank on the grill directly over the lit

burner and reduce the heat to medium-low.• Cook the meat to its desired doneness.

Grilling planks are specifically designed for the grill and there are a variety of flavors to choose. Cedar planks are ideal for salmon, but don’t be afraid to try other meats. Pork goes great on a maple plank and lamb is delicious on alder.

Try planking today with this easy recipe for salmon using a cedar plank.

SPRING CLEANING TIPS FOR YOUR GRILLNo matter whether you grill year-round or put

the grill away for the winter, it’s always a good idea to clean it thoroughly once or twice a year.

You will need:• Sturdy bristle brush• Grill cleaner• Toothpicks• Soap and water• Venturi brush

STEP 1:Remove all the cooking grids, grates and burners and use a sturdy bristle brush to remove the buildup of grease on the inside of the oven. Using a grill cleaner, scrub the inside and outside of the oven and then rinse with water. Never use oven cleaner on your grill. It is corrosive and can damage the other components.

STEP 2:Inspect the burners, making sure there are no holes rusted through any of the components. If there are, it’s time for a replacement. Clean out any clogged burner ports using a toothpick, being careful not to damage the ports. Check all igniter contacts to ensure they are not corroded or loose and remove any debris from the electrode. Next, clean out the burner venturi tubes using a venturi brush. It’s very important to keep these tubes clean. Spiders love to make nests in these tubes, creating blockages that can cause serious damage.

STEP 3:Examine the heat medium. If you have a heat plate, remove any grease buildup and make sure there are no holes rusted through. If you have briquettes make sure they aren’t crumbling and the pores aren’t clogged with grease.

STEP 4:Check the cooking grids and make sure no welds are broken and brush off any stuck-on residue. If you have cast iron cooking grids, season them with oil to help keep food from sticking and help prevent rust.

STEP 5:Inspect the gas hose to make sure there aren’t any cracks or leaks. This can easily be done by preparing a soapy solution and applying it to the connections at the tank and valve. Turn the tank on slowly and watch for bubbles to form, which indicates that there is a leak. Try tightening the connections and re-test. If persistent leaking or blistering is detected, stop using your grill and replace the gas assembly.

Finally, check the condition of your control knobs, thermometer, and handles. Replacing small items like this can refresh your grill and make it look new again.

(More tips on mastering the methods along with recipes ideas are available online at www.broilkingbbq.com.) a

It’s Grilling Time!


Is your grill ready for yourculinary imagination?

TAHINI-SESAME SALMON

1 cup tahini (sesame butter)1 cup honey1 cup soy sauceWhite wine (for consistency)

• Coat the salmon fillets with a light dusting of salt and black pepper.

• Mix the tahini, honey and soy sauce. Add white wine as necessary if the mixture is too thick. It should be creamy but still light enough to drizzle and baste.

• Coat the filets with the glaze and arrange them on the planks and place planks on the grill.

• Close the lid and cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Salmon is cooked when it is opaque in color and flakey to the touch of a fork.


Allergy sufferers are often advised to steer clear of pets, as brushing up to a cat or dog can trigger an allergy attack or a

rash. Those with pet allergies may be willing to spend any amount of money to get a pet that is dubbed “hypoallergenic.” Although there are some breeds of dogs and cats that are less likely to trigger an allergic attack, some research indicates that a hypoallergenic pet is a myth.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, one out of every four people struggles with allergies and asthma on a regular basis, and 15 to 30 percent of these cases are dog- or cat-related. Those with allergies may think a hypoallergenic pet will be the answer to their watery eyes and sneezes. But a study published in the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy raises issues about hypoallergenic dogs. People who spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on a dog purported to be hypoallergenic may just be wasting their money.

Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit took dust samples from 173 dog-owning households, where 60 breeds were represented, including 11 breeds that are considered to be hypoallergenic. What they discovered was that homes with allegedly hypoallergenic pets contained just as much of the prime dog

allergen, known as Can f 1, as those of the other breeds. According to senior author and epidemiologist Christine Cole Johnson, “There is simply no environmental evidence that any particular dog breed produces more or less allergen in the home than another one.”

That doesn’t mean that all dogs produce the same amount of allergen as others. In fact, genetics and environmental factors, including how often a dog and a home is cleaned, can contribute to the dander and allergens produced by a particular dog. Dogs within the same breed may vary as to how much Can f 1 one dog creates compared to another. In essence, one labrador may induce an allergic reaction, while the other doesn’t even cause a person to sneeze.

The hypoallergenic label is often given to dog breeds that have short fur or do not shed much. But allergens are not attached to the fur. They are actually a secretion from the skin that produces an allergic reaction from dogs and the saliva of cats. Unless a geneticist is able to create a cat without allergens in saliva or a dog that does not secrete allergens from the skin, no pet will be hypoallergenic.

That isn’t to say choosing a dog that sheds less may be beneficial, since dander with allergens is generally attached to shedded fur. a

Here are a few dog breeds that may be better for people with allergies:

• Poodle (pictured at left)

• Bedlington Terrier

• Bichon Frise

• Chinese Crested

• Portuguese Water Dog

• Schnauzer

• Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

• Irish Water Spaniel

• Maltese

For the Love of Fido

Make Your Garden Dog-friendly This Spring

Biloxi - Sun Herald, American Kennel Club — Now that it’s spring, many people will soon begin planting and tending to their gardens. While humans love their gardens, they can actually be dangerous to our four-legged friends.

To help keep your garden dog-friendly this spring, the American Kennel Club offers the following tips:

Avoid using dangerous plants: It’s important to do research on the plants that you will be using in your garden.

There are common flowers and plants that can be unsafe or even fatal for dogs. Some plants to avoid are calla lilies, sago palm, azalea and Rhododendron, among others. Be mindful of flowers and plants, such as roses, that have thorns.

Be careful of pesticides: Pesticides used to control insects and weeds in your garden can be hazardous for your pup.

Do not use pesticides with snail bait with metaldehyde and fly bait with methomyl.

Be sure to follow directions and be sure that pesticides are stored in a place where your dog cannot get to them.

Designate a play area: Give your pup a designated area to play that is away from your garden.

It’s a space where your dog can run around, burn some energy or even do some digging. Having this designated play area will help prevent your pup from causing damage to your garden. a

Hypoallergenic pets more hype than fact


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By Kim Cook | For The Associated Press

The silky petals of a fragrant pink shrub rose; the crunchy texture of a gravel path; a nook where grass rustles and a stream runs. What we smell, see, hear, touch and taste can make a garden walk a wonderful

sensory experience.If you’re designing a garden, consider creating one that’s a feast for one,

several or all of the senses.Public examples that can provide inspiration include the William T.

Bacon Sensory Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden, and the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses at the Coastal Maine Botanic Garden in Boothbay.

At the Bacon, a large sycamore tree with mottled bark sits at the center, while a crabapple meadow bursts into a cloud of sweet-smelling pink and white in spring. At the Lerner, a labyrinth path made of smooth stones is a reflexologist’s delight. Weeping larches flank the entry, and vertical cage planters called “flower towers” are stocked by garden staff with a variety of flavorful plantings. Stone sinks offer water to cleanse the palate.

In California’s Napa and Sonoma valleys, there are wine sensory gardens; the Kendall Jackson Wine Estate has a pinot garden where visitors sample the strawberries, cherries and blackberries that inform the varietal’s flavor.

If you want to create your own sensory garden, consider two things: your area’s hardiness zone and which senses you want to focus on.

The former can be ascertained at www.garden.org; knowing your zone will help you choose plants that will thrive. If your regional public garden has a sensory exhibit, representatives there can help with sources and inspiration. And even if you find something you love that’s a bit tender for your zone, you can still plant it — just use a container so you can move it to a warmer, protected area when weather threatens.

As for the senses, think about what attracts you to a garden. Is it mostly the scents, or is it the visuals? Perhaps you’re moved by how elements in a garden sound. Or are you a tactile person who likes to touch every plant, rock and tree?

Make sure guests to your garden can linger and enjoy its sensory pleasures, says Margie Grace, a garden designer and owner of Grace Design Associates in Santa Barbara, Calif.

“There should be places to sit; places to slow down; places to feel the warmth of the sun, drink in the fragrant flowers, and hear the trickle of a stream or the music of wind chimes,” she says.

Sensory gardens are also a great way to involve kids in gardening, says Emily Jackson of the Appalachian Sustainable Agricultural Project in Asheville, N.C. Plant herbs such as mint and lemon that are easy, prolific

A Haven for the Senses

This undated publicity photo provided by the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens shows the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses in Boothbay, Maine. Visitors partake in a sensory outdoor experience immersed in a broad array of fragrant, colorful, edible and textured plantings. There is a reflexology labyrinth, sound stones, benches, walkways, raised beds and water features, allowing visitors of all abilities to explore the garden. (AP Photo/ Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, William Cullina)


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If only fi nding your dream home were this easy! Navigating the real estate market can be tricky on your own, so put our experience to work for you.

ERA Real Estate has been in the business of fulfi lling the dream of homeownership since 1972. By working with a member of the ERA® family, you benefi t from a variety of programs, services, and methods created specifi cally to meet your needs.

At ERA, we are never too busy to take good care of you.

Each ERA™ of ce is independently owned and operated

If only finding your dream home were this easy! Navigating the real estate market can be tricky on your own, so put our experience to work for you.

ERA Real Estate has been in the business of fulfilling thedream of homeownership since 1972. By working with amember of the ERA® family, you benefit from a variety ofprograms, services, and methods created specifically to meetyour needs.

Let us take you to the right address!

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•Patio Covers•Vinyl Siding•Screen Rooms•Carports•Glass Rooms•Replacement & Storm Windows•Seamless Aluminum Gutters

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM!Quality Aluminum & Canvas

“Serving the Golden Triangle Since 1980”1514 Gardner Blvd. • Columbus • 329-2525

WWW.QUALITYALUMINUMANDCANVAS.COM

Sweetnin’ RussellResident Since 2008

Studio, One-Bedroom and Two Bedroom Apartments

HUD RENT ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY.

Call Michelle Crawford at 662-327-6716

4.4 • ER • AE • 1/4 • HOME & GARDEN


Modern Pool & SpaCOLUMBUS:415 Wilkins-Wise Rd

662.327.6724

LivingOUTDOOR

SPAS

LOTS MORE THAN POOLS: PATIO FURNITUREPOTTERYOUTDOOR RUGSGRILLSOUTDOOR ACCESSORIES

POOL ACCESSORIESCHEMICALSPOOL SERVICE

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and have familiar scents. Or think about the ingredients of kids’ favorite foods — the oregano, tomatoes, onions and basil that go into spaghetti sauce, for example.

Try growing some unusual things, too: carrots and potatoes in unusual colors, purple beans that turn green when you cook them, or watermelon radishes.

“Radishes are very easy to grow. Kids don’t seem to like them much except for these watermelon ones, which are colorful and less spicy,” says Jackson, who works with an initiative called “Growing Minds: Farm to School,” which helps schools build gardens.

And make a sensory garden for kids as circuitous as you can, she says, with winding paths and structures that double as hiding places. Bean tepees and sunflower houses are a big hit.

SIGHTA swath of cool blues, purples

and whites provides a soothing, tranquil atmosphere. Warm yellows, oranges and reds are more energetic. Varieties of green

— pines, grasses, ornamental shrubs — can bring a Zen vibe to the garden.

You may want to add some artistic elements as well, especially if you have small children: hanging ribbons or mobiles, or ornamentals that attract wildlife. Consider bee balm, red columbine, lantana and trumpet vine to draw hummingbirds. Echinacea, buddleia, black-eyed susan, Joe Pye weed, coreopsis and violets will call the butterflies.

How is the garden experienced at night? Grace asks.

“Think of white blooms and foliage to reflect moonlight, lights under water with a rippled effect,” she says.

TOUCHConsider plants with an

interesting feel. Fuzzy lamb’s ears, soft mosses and succulents, cottony silver sage, prickly or spiky thistles, broom, conifers and other trees with intriguing bark.

For the hardscaping, you’ll want pebbles, stones or gravel, or a padded path of grass, fine mulch

or sand.A metal bench that warms in

the sun and cools in the shade provides additional tactile interest, as does fencing, and vessels made of textured or smooth materials.

SOUNDPut seating near rustling grasses

or hard-stemmed plants like bamboo that make knocking noises in a breeze. Deciduous tree leaves whoosh, and pine trees whisper.

A little portable trickling fountain makes even a small garden feel grounded in nature; a water feature of any sort will likely attract songbirds and small animals or reptiles.

A wind chime may play a tune in the slightest breath of air.

TASTEPlant edibles like nasturtiums,

mint, pansies and berries that can be eaten right off the bush as visitors walk your garden.

SMELLJasmine, geranium, rose,

honeysuckle, gardenia, lavender. If your zone allows for one or two of these heady scents, you’ll have a featured performer in your sensory garden.

Herbs like lemon balm, thyme and peppermint are aromatic and easy to grow. Consider blending scented plants like chocolate cosmos and mock orange; pineapple sage and vanilla-scented clethra; curry plant and ornamental pine or cedar.

Besides jasmine, Grace suggests Fringe Tree, Lilac and Carolina Jessamine as fragrant botanicals that grow in many zones.

“Low herbs like thyme and oregano in the pathway will give off their aroma when walked upon,” she says.

Night bloomers like tuberose, moonflower, white nicotiana, and peacock orchid have intense perfumes that give the evening garden a chance to perform.Be mindful of planting them too close to a bedroom window, however, if there are sensitive noses indoors. a


Consider It Done!1825 Main Street • Columbus • 328-1522

Tommy Johnson has been in business since 1972 and our staff offers 85 years combined experience. When you come to us with a job...

• Hardwood Flooring • Natural Flooring • Porcelain Tile• Vinyl Tile • Sheet Vinyl• Carpet • Wall Coverings• Custom Shower Backsplashes

Our wide selection of products and design service will help you put together the perfect home!

Palmer Home

Spring Flower Sale

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Saturdays in MayGreenhouses open 10-2

912 11th Ave. S., Columbus

Grown by the children of Palmer HomeGerber Daisies • Pentas • New Guinea Impatiens

Geraniums • Scavola • Petunias • Dragon Wing BegoniasMixed Baskets and Pots • Annuals • Herbs • Vegetables

And Much More!

Regular Palmer Home Greenhouse Hours:Monday-Friday 9am-4pm

Saturday 10am-2pm

“If we don’t have it, you probably don’t need it!”

604 18th Ave. N. • Columbus, MS • 662-327-6664Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-6pm • Saturday 8am-5pm • Sunday 1-4pm

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Now open Sunday 1-4pm!

A Complete NurseryLandscape • Irrigation • Maintenance

We Specialize InA wide variety of unusual and favorite

perennials, hostas, natives, herbs, ferns, trees and shrubs.

Windows! Windows! Windows!That’s what we do.

Ron Lor Window Fashions130 S. McCrary Rd. • Columbus, MS • 329-1557

Roller Shades • Wood Blinds • Vertical BlindsMini Blinds • Plantation Shutters

Free Estimates • Residential • Commercial

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Evans Plumbing & A/CHamilton, MS • 662.343.5391 • www.evansplumbingandac.com

Call us today for a free estimate on making

your home more comfortable by installing

an efficient Trane system tailored to your

home’s needs. Financing available.

Summer is coming.Beat the heat with your local independent TRANE® dealer.

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“It’s Hard to Stop a Trane.”

Documents

2013 Dispatch Home & Garden Guide