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www.reporterherald.com Saturday, September 3, 2011 Reporter-Herald
Real EstateMatters
• •
Refinancingcan saveyou moneyPAID ADVERTISEMENT
Over the past few years, itseems as though everyonekeeps saying, “now is the
time to buy – interest rates couldn’tbe any lower.” While this statementcertainly applies to many first-timehome purchases, you should alsoconsider this option if you alreadyown your home.The refinancing business has been
booming ever since the drastic dropsin interest rates over the past fewyears — and with good reason. Fred-die Mac recently released in its quar-terly findings on refinancing trends,that three out of four people who re-financed their home in the secondquarter were able to either maintainor lower their unpaid principal bal-ance.More specifically, 51 percent of all
refinanced loans in the second quar-ter maintained the same principalbalance (meaning less than a 5 per-cent increase of the unpaid loanamount) and 26 percent were ableto lower their principal balance. Theremaining 23 percent, classified as“cash-out” refinances, increasedtheir principal balance by at least 5percent or more.Additionally, Freddie Mac’s data re-
ported that the median reduction ininterest rates was about 1 percent-
age point. In real numbers, if youhad a loan for $200,000, the reduc-tion in interest payments wouldroughly equate to $1,550 in the firstyear.For many first-time home pur-
chasers, buying now could result inavoiding refinancing later on.Interest rates are still at all-time
lows, no matter what type of buyeryou are, said David Powell, managingbroker for Re/Max Alliance in Love-land.“There is still a lot of negative per-
ception out there in the media thatmakes people think they can’t quali-fy for a loan,” he said. “Yet what peo-ple fail to realize is you never knowfor sure until you ask.”Powell adds that the low interest
rates, coupled with lower market val-ues, has multiplied buying power.People who had considered buying ahome just a few years ago, may nowbe able to qualify for a loan.“In the aftermath of our nation’s
economic problems, we’ve managedto come out ahead by finding tons ofnew ways to help folks buy a home,”Powell said. Whether it’s with downpayment assistance programs, orother options, such as no privatemortgage insurance, talking to ahome mortgage consultant can helpyou determine the loan that worksbest for you.In terms of both first-time home
purchases and refinances, there’s afew things your mortgage consultantwill need to know.Lenders will take many factors in-
to consideration when prequalifyingyou— factors such as your creditscore, your income, other assets anddebt, and the value of the propertyare all taken into consideration.There’s also a multitude of factors
that can go into your decision to re-finance your home. Powell said thebiggest influencing factor is alwaysthe interest rate.“No matter what type of loan you
have, if you are able to lower your in-terest payments in any manner, youwill save yourself some money,” hesaid.If any of those base factors have
changed since you applied for your
loan, it would be a good idea to con-sider refinancing. Of course, some-times the changes in these factorsmay not always be in your favor.There are also other programs
available, such as the government’sHome Affordable Refinance Pro-gram, that help prevent foreclosure.This program helps those homeown-ers who may not be able to refi-nance, due to decreases in home val-uation and are struggling with theircurrent mortgage payment.Powell said the best way to figure
out if you can benefit for a refinanceor other programs is to start shop-ping around. You may not always getthe best deal with your currentlender, and by shopping around youknow you will receive the best termspossible.At Re/Max Alliance, Powell adds
that their in-house mortgage ser-vices, Colorado Mortgage Alliance,are always available and willing totalk to any current homeownersabout their refinancing needs.“Our team of home mortgage con-
sultants at Colorado Mortgage Al-
liance work hard to make sure theycan help all their clients as best aspossible,” Powell said. He adds thatCMA has access to many versatileprograms, enabling them to helpmany people in a multitude of ways.Colorado Mortgage Alliance, now
one of the largest mortgage firmsspanning across the Front Range andDenver, has lenders in each Re/MaxAlliance location along the FrontRange in Fort Collins, Loveland,Greeley and Longmont.You can also find more informa-
tion, such as current mortgagerates, refinancing calculators andmore at www.coloradomortgageal-liance.comPowell adds that while not every-
one may benefit from a refinance, itnever hurts to ask.“Based on these statistics from
Freddie Mac, more people should betalking to mortgage consultants,” hesaid. “It would be nonsensical to notpick up the phone and talk to some-one, when that phone call could saveyou $1,500 next year on your mort-gage.”
Re/Max Alliance encouragescurrent and new homeowners
to take advantage oflow interest rates
“Based on these statistics ...more people should be talking
to mortgage consultants.
It would be nonsensicalto not pick up the phone and talk to someone,
when that phone callcould save you $1,500 next year
on your mortgage.”—David Powell, managing broker for Re/Max Alliance in Loveland
Know whenyou havecause forlitigationILYCEGLINKTRIBUNEMEDIA SERVICES
Question:My real estateagent failed to notify me ofa valid bid for my property.
He claimed to have opened thebid on a Sunday evening and failedto realize the bid expired on thenext day at noon. He failed in otherareas, as well. He inaccurately filledout the paperwork for the localBoard of Realtors, put up inaccu-rate information on the local MLS,estimated the value of a swimmingpool at $70,000 instead of the ac-tual retail price of $46,999, andquibbled with us over whether tolist a new park and library withinwalking distance of our property.He was even going to miss our
closing. After all that, but mostlybecause he missed letting us knowabout an offer, I terminated the re-lationship.The new agent sold the house
within 120 days, in January, duringthe housing and mortgage marketcollapse of 2010. I feel the ineptagent owes me. What do you see?Answer:Maybe I'm missing
something, but I wonder exactlyhow you've been damaged in thistransaction. Did you sell the prop-erty for less than you would havewith the original agent?How did you deal with the origi-
nal agent through all of these mis-takes? Did you go to his managingbroker to complain and ask for adifferent agent? How did you evenfind the agent to begin with? Didyou interview several and were youimpressed with this person's re-sults? Or, did you pick the firstagent in the phone book?For a lawsuit to produce the de-
sired results, you'd have to start byshowing that you were somehowdamaged by the agent's actions —and that you have a legal right tocollect as a result of those actions.A litigator who specializes in realestate cases should be able to help.Question: I wrote to you a few
months ago and never thought Iwould get a response. To my amaze-ment, I was reading your column inSunday's paper and you answeredmy letter.Since I wrote you, I was able to
sell my mobile home and now have$50,000 in savings plus a 401(k)with $30,000 in it. I also have myemergency fund in place. My mort-gage is approximately $600 amonth with taxes.If I make an extra principal pay-
ment with each payment, I couldpay this off in 15 years or sooner if Icontinue to work. Is this a smartmove?Answer: I'm sure you would like
to be able to pay off your mortgage.Unfortunately, since you don't
have enough cash to pay off thehome in full, and can only do so byworking and saving so much ofyour monthly income, paying offyour mortgage doesn't seem like areasonable goal.
www.HomeStateBank.com(970) 203-6100
An FHA 203(k) mortgage allows you to finance both your homepurchase and renovation with a single loan. Call now to learn more.
Loans and rates subject to credit approval. FHA conditions and restrictions apply.
Vivian DeVoe, VP Mortgage Banker, 970-227-4702
Buying a home that needs work?Call the experts in FHA 203(k)renovation financing.
Think big Bank small
D2 Saturday Reporter-Herald September 3, 2011
To add a listing or speak to an advertising representative,call the Reporter-Herald at 669-5050
For details about these open houses, see the ads in this section. For additional open houselistings, please check the “Real Estate Classifieds” section of this publication. This guide is
brought to you by the Daily Reporter-Herald, local real estate agents and area builders.
WWW.HOMEANDREALTYGUIDE.COM•CLICK ON OPEN HOUSE MAPS
saturday sundayPrice Location Address Hours Office Phone
$135,000 Loveland 2026 Dove Creek Ct. 1 - 4 PM RE/MAX Alliance, Jeannine“j9” Gibson
970-689-4824
From the $150,000’s Milliken 110 Traders Lane 12 - 3 PM The Group Inc., Tracy Wilson 970-567-0907
From $159,900 -$229,000
Loveland 1899 East 11th Street 10 AM - 6 PM Midtown Homes, Wayne Lewis 970-456-4600
Starting at $195,900 Berthoud Peakview Meadows 11 AM - 3 PM Century 21 Humpal, Inc.,Chris Rampone & Leroy Gabriel
970-481-8168,970-430-0845
$198,000 Loveland 3314 Apple 1 - 3 PM Coldwell Banker,Sirmula Lansky
970-691-0468
$199,000 Loveland 2640 SE 14th St. 1 - 3 PM Century 21 Humpal, Inc.,Todd Murray
970-290-8899
From the $200,000’s Loveland 4453 Pika Drive 1 - 4 PM Coldwell Banker ResidentialBrokerage, Barbara Giesey
970-222-4035
From the $200,000’s Loveland 930 Crabapple 12 - 3 PM Coldwell Banker, Dominic East 970-667-4540
From the 200,000’s Windsor 241 Saratoga Drive 1 - 4 PM The Group Inc., Kelli Couch 970-310-8804
$239,900 Windsor 4607 Pompano Drive 12 - 5 PM The Group Inc., KristenSpecketer
970-290-8097
$263,000 Loveland 1658 Stove Prairie Circle 12 - 2 PM The Group Inc., Cindy Kutin 970-391-4735
$264,900 Berthoud Collins Park Subdivision 1 - 3 PM REMAX Alliance, Kathy Beadell 970-566-4627
$279,000 Loveland 1529 Dryland Street 11 AM - 1 PM The Group Inc., Mark Moran 970-218-1891
$323,400 Loveland 3464 Peruvian Torch Drive 12 - 4 PM ERA Herman Group, GlenMarketing Venna Hillman
970-663-4522
$342,500 Loveland 3480 Peruvian Torch Drive 12 - 4 PM ERA Herman Group, GlenMarketing Venna Hillman
970-663-4522
$347,900 Loveland 920 Norway Maple 1 - 3 PM The Group Inc., Rich Gardiner 970-227-0964
Open Friday - Sundayfrom $357,000
Loveland 302 Lyra Place 1 - 3 PM The Group Inc.,Georgena Arnett
970-481-9801
$374,945 Loveland 4790 Wisconsin Avenue 12 - 3 PM The Group Inc., Tracy Wilson 970-567-0907
$400,000 Loveland 288 Reservoir Drive--Pittington Ranch
1 - 4 PM Premier Lifestyle Realty,John Mathey
970-481-5512
$425,000 Loveland 535 Marcellina 1:30 - 3:30 PM RE/MAX Alliance, Don Riedel 970-679-8265
$450,000 Loveland 2009 Morning Drive 12 - 2 PM The Group Inc., John Simmons 970-481-1250
Price Location Address Hours Office Phone
From $159,900 -$229,000
Loveland 1899 East 11th Street 10 AM - 6 PM Midtown Homes, Wayne Lewis 970-456-4600
$188,000 Loveland 3255 Adelaide Place 1 - 3 PM The Group Inc., Diane Iwanicki 970-412-7082
Starting at $195,900 Berthoud Peakview Meadows 11 AM - 3 PM Century 21 Humpal, Inc., ChrisRampone & Leroy Gabriel
970-481-8168,970-430-0845
From the $200,000’s Loveland 930 Crabapple 12 - 3 PM Coldwell Banker, Dominic East 970-667-4540
From the 200,000’s Windsor 241 Saratoga Drive 1 - 4 PM The Group Inc., Kelli Couch 970-310-8804
$239,900 Loveland 1506 Gloria 1 - 3 PM ERA Tradewind Real Estate,Rodney Carlson
303-684-6321
$239,900 Windsor 4607 Pompano Drive 12 - 5 PM The Group Inc., KristenSpecketer
970-290-8097
$264,900 Berthoud Collins Park Subdivision 1 - 3 PM REMAX Alliance, Kathy Beadell 970-566-4627
$323,400 Loveland 3464 Peruvian Torch Drive 12 - 4 PM ERA Herman Group, GlenMarketing Venna Hillman
970-663-4522
$342,500 Loveland 3480 Peruvian Torch Drive 12 - 4 PM ERA Herman Group, GlenMarketing Venna Hillman
970-663-4522
$347,900 Loveland 920 Norway Maple 1 - 3 PM The Group Inc., Rich Gardiner 970-227-0964
Open Friday - Sundayfrom $357,000
Loveland 302 Lyra Place 1 - 3 PM The Group Inc., GeorgenaArnett
970-481-9801
$400,000 Loveland 288 Reservoir Drive--Pittington Ranch
1 - 4 PM Premier Lifestyle Realty, JohnMathey
970-481-5512
$525,000 Loveland 2951 Culebra Peak Drive 1:30 - 3:30 PM RE/MAX Alliance, Don Riedel 970.669.1234
Just Completed! Large covered porch, mainfloor laundry, open kitchen w/dbl pantriesand eating nook, upgrades include woodfloors, granite, tile, stone fireplace, 3 cargarage. Neighborhood pool.
930 Crabapple, Loveland
ALFORD MEADOWS OPEN HOUSESATURDAY & SUNDAY 12-3
Dominic EastColdwell Banker(97) [email protected]
We never stop moving:
Move in Ready! 3 bdrms up, main floor bdrmw/3/4 bath, vaulted ceilings, SS appliances,gas stove, main floor laundry. Finished bsmthas bdrm/bath, rec room & Theatre room.Hosted by John 222-9616.
4453 Pika Dr., Loveland
OPEN HOUSE 1-4PM SATURDAY
Barbara GieseyColdwell Banker Residential [email protected]
PRICE REDUCED!!! Ditch water Available.Bring your Horses. Wonderful ranch stylehome located on 5.43 acres. 3 bed, 2 ba, 3car garage. 1/16th share of the Big ThompsonDitch and Manufacturing Company.
2640 SE 14th St, Loveland
OPEN HOUSE SAT 1-3
Todd MurrayCentury 21 Humpal, [email protected]
Maintenance FREE* Patio Home-Great openfloor plan-Split 3 bdrms - Upgrades anddesigner tile! Alder doors, trim & cabinets, 5pc. master bath. Stone fireplace.. 2 1/2 cargarage. MLS#611670. $342,500
3480 Peruvian Torch Drive, Loveland
BUILDERS MODEL - DAKOTA GLENOPEN HOUSE 12 TO 4 THURS.-MON.
CLOSED LABOR DAY
Venna HillmanERA Herman GroupGlen Marketing970-663-4522 [email protected]
Don’t miss this very nicely updated three bedroom, 2bath and 2 car garage tri- level located near Loveland’ssculpture park and within walking distance to LovelandHigh and Lake Loveland. Practical and clean home,ready to be occupied with large yard, all fenced. Newwindows and new paint inside out. No HOA.
3314 Apple Ave., Loveland, CO 80538
OPEN SATURDAY 1 - 3 PM
Sirmula LanskyColdwell Banker(970) 691-0468 [email protected]
Peakview Meadows Sales office open Sat12-4 and Sunday 11-3 Prices starting at$195,900. 5 Models to choose from.
Peakview Meadows, Berthoud
OPEN SAT. 12-4 PM & SUN. 11-3 PM
Chris Rampone & Leroy GabrielCentury 21 Humpal, Inc970-481-8168 Leroy970-430-0845 Chriswww.berthoud.org
Looking for Maintenance-FREE* lifestyle?Open floor plan, patio home w/2 bdrms/2baths, granite kitchen island, backs togreen belt with mountain views! Convenientlocation. MLS#622329. $323,400
3464 Peruvian Torch Drive, Loveland, CO
BUILDERS MODEL-DAKOTA GLENOPEN HOUSE 12 TO 4 THURS.-MON.
CLOSED LABOR DAY
Venna HillmanERA Herman Group/Glen [email protected]
Introducing Pittington Ranch! Panoramicviews, open floor plans, room for your horses!90 plus acres of riding space. Model homeopen! 13 homesites to choose from, startingin mid $400’s.
Just West of Loveland 288 Reservoir Drive!
OPEN HOUSE SAT. & SUN. 1-4 PM
John MatheyPremier Lifestyle(970) 481-5512
UP TO $199,999UP TO $199,999 $200,000 - $299,999$200,000 - $299,999
$300,000 - $399,999$300,000 - $399,999 $400,000$400,000 -- $499,999$499,999
Visit our website at
Online + Print = a Powerful Combination!
homeandrealtyguide.com
Featured Properties
Saturday Reporter-Herald September 3, 2011 D3
Mortgage rate update
30-year fixed
15-year fixed
5/1 ARM
This week Last week Trend
3.75%
3.50%
2.99%
4.19%
3.43%
2.92%
Home & Real Estateis produced everySaturday by the
Loveland Reporter-Herald.
EDITORIAL INFORMATION635-3656
DISPLAY ADVERTISING669-5050
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING635-3650
For home and real estate advice,features and information, visitwww.homeandrealtyguide.com
Regional Snapshot for Loveland/Berthoud Residential
May June July
Active Listings 1004 973 938Previous Year Active Listings 1117 1101 1092
Sold Listings 126 155 134
Median Sales Price $200,000 $220,000 $208,958Previous Year Median $214,500 $234,000 $238,000
Average Days on the Market 107 121 103Previous Year ADOM 118 121 122
Year to Date Listings Sold 521 676 810Previous Year YTD Listing Sold 559 728 839
no change
no change
no change
H& Real Estate MattersRE
Fence matters indicatewrong property lineILYCEGLINKTRIBUNEMEDIA SERVICES
Question:We found out that the proper-ty line between my home and myneighbors’ home is different from what
the builder said when he sold us our home.Our neighbor had a survey done to put up a
fence. During the survey, they came over andinformed us that according to what was regis-tered with the county, our “zigzag” propertyline is off by 3 feet and goes over to the middleof our back yard. Oh, and my septic tank ap-pears to be on my neighbor’s lot.How in the world did the county sign off on
permits and zoning that allowed my house tobe 3 feet from the property line and my septictank being on my neighbors’ property? Howdo we go about getting this issue fixed? Canwe simply have a surveyor draw a new line,have both parties sign some document, andregister the new document with the county?Can we get the county to help us fix this prob-lem?Answer: Before you run out and start signing
documents, you need to figure out what youown and what your neighbor owns. When youpurchased your home, you should have receivedthe deed that transferred title to the home toyou, along with a title insurance policy and sur-vey.The deed to your home contains basic infor-
mation to convey title from the builder to you:the name of the seller, your name, the addressof your home, the property tax parcel numberand a legal description. That legal descriptiondescribes the legal boundaries for your proper-ty.Sometimes these descriptions are brief and
describe that, say, the buyer is buying lot one ina particular subdivision; there may be an addi-tional paragraph or two. In other cases, the le-gal description takes you from a starting pointwith certain coordinates, and those coordinatestake you step by step around your land untilyou get back to the point of beginning.In either case, the legal description on your
deed must match exactly with the legal de-scription that is listed on your title insurancepolicy and the survey you received when youpurchased your home.The title insurance policy is the document is-
sued by the closing agent or title company thatguarantees your ownership to the land, subjectto certain matters listed on that policy. Thesurvey is the document that depicts the landyou purchased. It’s a document thatshows the boundaries of your land,and where your home and other im-provements are located on the land.If you have the survey, your deed
and the title insurance policy fromyour purchase, review these docu-ments and make sure that the legaldescriptions in all of the documentsmatch each other.If the legal descriptions match, and
if you find that the survey seems to accuratelydepict where your house is located on your lot,your neighbor’s surveyor may have made a mis-take in preparing the newer survey. If the sur-veyor made a mistake, he or she can reviewyour documents to determine what descriptionshould be used for the survey of the fence.If you don’t have a survey from the time you
purchased your home, and if you were able todouble-check and confirm that the legal de-scription used by the surveyor for your neigh-bor’s land is correct, then you have a biggerproblem than you imagine.To answer your first question, the county may
not have a responsibility to fix any issues relat-ing to the construction of your home or its lo-cation on the lot. But the county can still comeafter you if your home does not comply withthe applicable building laws and zoning re-quirements – in some cases even if the countysigned off on original building plans and zoningchanges.If you and your neighbor are in complete
agreement as to how you would want yourproperty line to be drawn, you would have tostart with a surveyor to draw that line exactly.Then, you’d have to have a land swap betweenthe two of you.You’d have to convey some of your land to
your neighbor and your neighbor would do thesame for you. However, frequently a land swapof that type may need added approvals by yourmunicipality and other agencies. And, in somecases, you might be required to go before cer-tain municipal boards to get their approval forthe swap.You and your neighbor would both be advised
to hire an attorney that specializes in zoningand real estate issues to help you out.In addition, you and your neighbor would
have to get the consent to your swap from eachof your lenders. If you don’t get the lenders in-volved, part of the loan that you have would en-cumber your neighbor’s land and vice versa.You would never want to be in a position whereyour neighbor’s loan goes into default and fore-closure and that lender would have a right tosell some of your land along with his. You’dneed to clean up any issues with your mort-gages and your loans at the time of the landswap – and getting lenders to cooperate onthat issue might not be easy.Finally, you’ll need to make sure that the gov-
ernment agency that prepares the real estateassessments for your and your neighbor’s prop-
erty knows that the land swap has occurred, sothat each of you will be assessed for the landthat you own after the swap.If all that seems too complicated, and you
and your neighbor are content with the wayeach of you owns your land and the way thingswere, and there are no other legal issues withyour boundary that could cause problems withmunicipal authorities, you and your neighborcould enter into an reciprocal easement agree-ment that would allow your neighbor to put thefence up where you both decide, allow you tokeep your septic tanks where they currently
For more information, callGlink’s radio show at800-972-8255 on Sundaysfrom 9 to 10 a.m., write to RealEstate Matters Syndicate, P.O.Box 366, Glencoe, IL 60022 orvisit www.thinkglink.com.
Real Estate Matters
are, and obligate you to maintain your septicsystem.As a practical matter, you and your neighbor
could live on your properties as you have for thelast several years. If you find out, however, thatyour seller failed to do something to changethe lot lines, and if you find other obstaclesthat prevent you frommoving forward in anamicable way with your neighbor, you mayhave to dig deeper into the documents andthe development of your parcel, and hire areal estate attorney to help sort out your prob-lem.
NEWNEWNORTHERNNORTHERNCOLORADOCOLORADOHOMESHOMES Megan Wachtman
8z Real EstateBroker/Owner
970-217-7977www.MeganWachtman.8z.com
www.cohomefinder.comA better way to buy and sell a home in Colorado!
Priced from $270K
www.CosBuilders.com
Priced from $210K
New Construction
17-326536
• $3,000 BUYER CREDIT
MONTHLY PAYMENTS
• STARTING AT $999• OVER 10 MODELS
• CONNECTED TO CITY TRAIL
GREAT VALUE
GREAT COMMUNITY
GREAT LOCATION
NEW HOMES
FROM
$159,900 - $229,900
Sales Office Open 10-6 Daily1899 East 11th Street, Loveland, CO 80537
Phone: (970) [email protected]
FHAApproved Community
Loveland, Colorado
Experience Counts, Especially Now!ExE
Don A.Riedel
RE/MAX ALLIANCE
970.679.8265cell
970.669.1234office
www.RiedelGroup.comwww.RiedelGroup.com
Featured Properties
535 MARCELLINA, LOVELAND(Mariana Glen) Superb 2 story, 5bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 fireplaces,awesome kitchen and breakfast nook,formal dining, a master suite guar-anteed to make you feel like royalty,fully finished basement done “right”and an oversized 3 car garage with anawesome workbench setup.$425,000MLS #663870
5548 STONE CHURCH CT, LOVELAND(Mariana Cove) Simply one of Love-land’s best neighborhoods and one ofLoveland’s best 2 story homes. Sitedon a 1/3rd acre lot that overlooks sub-staintial open space areas. 4,218 sq ft allfinished to the “nth” degree. The walkout basement and patio provide privacyand views. $450,000 MLS#659284
2951 CULEBRA PEAK DR, LOVELAND(Seven Lakes North) The ranch youhave been waiting for!! One of Love-land’s best! 4,422 sq ft nearly all fin-ished with a huge 27 x 47 family room,plus a gathering room off the kitchenwith cozy fireplace, 5 bedrooms, 4baths, and a 3 car garage. Beautifuldeck/gazebo overlooking a .44 acre lot.Neighborhood lake access too!$525,000 MLS #663378
2001 PONDEROSA PLACE, LOVELAND(Namaqua Hills) 360 degrees view.Spectacular “Loveland at night” viewand westerly views for 50 miles or more.Huge rooms, LR 32 x 20, DR 19 x 20,KIT 31 x 16, MBRM 21 X 17, Quality“Anderson” windows, 2 fireplaces (lowerone is stone), 4+ car garage and RVparking. $595,000 MLS # 656245
OPEN SATURDAY 1:30 3:30 OPEN SUNDAY 1:30 3:30
D4 Saturday Reporter-Herald September 3, 2011
H& Front Range GardeningRE
Fall Gardening choresCAROLO'MEARACSU EXTENSION
Perfect gardeners are those that work withthe rhythm of the seasons, rolling withthe vagaries of the weather. Rain or sun
doesn’t ruffle their feathers; they simply are onewith the Earth and its little mood swings.I am not a perfect gardener. If I were, the lin-
gering heat wave wouldn’t bother me. But I’mshocked at the temperatures whenever I stepoutside, my mind insisting that Mother Natureis going to have to use the same calendar as therest of us, darn it, and start cooling off. Nowthat we’re into September, it’s time to startplanning for fall, not hosting a pool party.Each season brings with it a list of chores
that promote good plant health, and in fall,perennial beds and borders should be rejuvenat-ed with a little late season planting andcleanup. Local garden centers offer an excellentassortment of these long-lived plants, bringingin fresh material for shoppers’ delight.“People come in this time of year dismayed
because nothing is blooming; they think they’lladd color,” says Connie Smith, Manager atSturtz and Copeland in Boulder. “Others knowfall’s a good time to plant if you get it in duringSeptember. But it’s still pretty darned hot, sowater them carefully after they’re in.” The 20-year veteran of gardening also encourages peo-ple to plan to winter water plants, especiallytheir first year in the ground.Cleaning up after plants stop growing for the
season removes insects, their eggs and any dis-eases that over-winter on fallen leaves. But ingood gardener fashion, there are several schoolsof thought on how to care for perennial beds infall. For those who like their beds tidy, cuttingback the foliage once it is dead gives it a neatappearance throughout the winter.Others subscribe to the “do-it-later” tack of
leaving all the plants in place, frozen into a win-ter tableau of browned leaves, spent seed headsand dried flowers. Both techniques have prosand cons; cutting some perennials back willopen up stems to drying winds of winter and ac-celerate winter-kill, while leaving dead, decom-posing plants in the garden increases risk of
spreading disease.Hedge your bets by cutting some perennials
back after it dies to the ground but leave orna-mental grasses, seed heads of Rudbeckia, Echi-nacea or poppies until late winter for textureand food for birds. If you do this, leave onlyhealthy plants standing; if they’re diseased, re-move them and throw them out.Leaving your plant clean up until spring al-
lows the plant to capture more snow, funnelingmoisture to the soil. Snow, along with mulch,gathered at the base of plants sitting close toeach other in a winter garden also gives themsome added protection from wind. After theground freezes, apply mulch to stabilize soiltemperature and prevent alternate freezing andthawing of soil, which can lift crowns above soillevels.Dig and store tender summer flowering bulbs
and corms after frost has nipped the foliage andleaves are blackened. Gladiolas, cannas and cal-adiums need to be lifted and kept in a cool loca-tion through winter. Dig carefully to avoid injur-ing corms since wounds are often entry pointsfor disease organisms. Clip off and destroy planttops immediately, then let the bulbs dry for afew days before storing them in a cool, dry area.Our Colorado Master Gardener program in
Boulder County is currently taking applicationsfor the spring class. If you are interested inhelping others garden, the Colorado MasterGardener program is for you. Classes run Jan-uary through March and will be held every Fri-day, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please contact the Col-orado State University Extension Office in Boul-der County, at 303-678-6238, to receive an ap-plication.
Carol O’Meara is withCSU Extension inBoulder County.Contact her at303-678-6238 [email protected].
Front Range Gardening
Age never a factor inobtaining a mortgage
MARCIEGEFFNERBANKRATE.COM
Ask mortgage banker Michael Becker theage of his oldest-ever mortgage client,and he’ll tell you: 97.
“She was lucid, owned her house outrightand had retirement income,” says Becker, ofWCS Funding Group in Lutherville, Md. “Shewas helping out her son.”While 97 might seem old to be getting a
mortgage, age is never a factor in a loan ap-proval. In fact, it’s illegal for lenders to dis-criminate against borrowers on that basis,Becker says. Age is a protected category with-in the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, a federallaw that also bars credit discrimination basedon race, color, religion, national origin, sex,marital status or receipt of public assistancebenefits.Regardless of the borrower’s age, sufficient
income will be required to obtain a mortgage,Becker says. Some elderly people still earnpaychecks or are self-employed. Others qualifyusing nonemployment sources of income,such as Social Security benefits, a corporate,government or military pension, capital gainsfrom investments, interest income or propertyrents.“If you’re old and living on a fixed income,
you may have trouble qualifying for a mort-gage,” Becker says. “But I’ve seen it happen.”Most older homeowners own their home free
and clear and don’t want a new mortgage, saysMark Given, a Realtor and seniors real estatespecialist with Coldwell Banker Advantage inLittleton, N.C. But he adds that some olderhomebuyers are more receptive to financing
than they might have been in the past becausethey’re reluctant to part with cash reserves.“Maybe they’re getting a 15-year mortgage,
anticipating they’ll pay it off when they can,”he says.Still, a mortgage isn’t necessarily a good
idea for an elderly person because there arerisks as well as benefits, according to MichaelHalloran, a wealth management adviser at Es-tate Strategies Group in Jacksonville, Fla., andpast president of the National Association ofEstate Planners and Councils.One risk is that seniors living on a fixed in-
come might not be able to make monthly pay-ments, even if they can meet the lender’sguidelines.“The main question is: Do they have the
cash flow to pay for a mortgage?” Halloransays.Another concern, specific to married cou-
ples, is that the death of a spouse can cause asignificant reduction in household income,making a payment unaffordable in the future.Add inflation or an adjustable rate to the
equation, and an income squeeze becomes aneven greater risk. Rising property taxes, livingcosts or interest rates can make a mortgagequite uncomfortable for seniors who have fixedincomes or who want to protect their assetsfor their heirs.“If a mortgage could erode their wealth be-
cause of a change in interest rates, I wouldn’tadvise it,” Halloran says.One more risk is fraud. Foreclosure rescue
scams, inappropriate reverse mortgages andbogus home-improvement refinancing grabthe headlines, but any type of loan can exposean elderly person to financial abuse.
CindyKurtz
970-613-0700office
970-679-1545office direct
970-962-6832mobile
Executive Listing
www.thegroupinc.com
7803 Windsong RdWindsor$880,000
Beautiful and spaciousexecutive home. Attached 4 cargarage perfect for showcasingautomobiles. Extensive upgradesinclude Brazilianmaple/cherry flooring, importedtile, iron inset railing. Panoramicmountain views, only minutesfrom I-25. Over 2 acre lot. Alsoincludes a 3,000 sq ft. heatedworkshop/barn. Up to 7 garagespaces in the barn or expand theworkshop. MLS# 663034
Open Houses This Weekend - www.thegroupinc.com
SATURDAY 12:00-2:001658 Stove Prairie Circle, Loveland Stucco ranch style homewith an inviting tile entry. Great room w/gas fireplace opens tokitchen & breakfast nook. Tharp cabinetry, slab granite countersw/full tile backsplash & hardwood floors. Master w/5-pc bath &large walk-in closet opposite 2 guest bedrooms. Formal diningroom. Central air. Unfinished bsmt. Private patio.
$263,000MLS# 663127
Call Cindy Kutin391-4735
SATURDAY 12:00-3:00110 Traders Lane, Milliken Pick your own fixtures, carpet &colors. Wonderful ranch style & 2-story home plans to choosefrom. Your choice of 3 great subdivision to live in – SettlersVillage – Colony Point or Centennial Farms. VALUE YOU CANSEE… QUALITY YOU CAN COUNT ON with a WINDMILLS HOME.Visit us at 110 Traders Lane in Settlers Village.
Prices starting in the $150’sMLS#
Call Tracy Wilson567-0907
NEW CONSTRUCTION
SUNDAY 1:00-3:003255 Adelaide Place, Loveland Beautiful end unit town home inHunter’s Run. 2-story, kitchen has SS appliances, tile backsplash,wood floors, maple cabinets and pantry. Upstairs loft is perfectfor office or exercise room. Master has 2 closets, huge tiled tub,fantastic shower & double sinks. Unfinished basement. Home looksout to landscaped open space. Stop by today!
$188,000MLS# 653469
Call Diane Iwanicki412-7082
FRIDAY - SUNDAY 1:00-4:00241 Saratoga Drive, Windsor Greenspire at Windsor Lake. It’smore than just a home… IT’S A QUALITY OF LIFE! Miles of biketrails, open space & parks. Personalize your home from framingto finish! Extraordinary floor plans – Ranch & 2-Story. Lotsavailable on Windsor Lake! Visit our Sales Center at 690Moonglow Drive or call for a personalized showing today!
Homes Starting in the $200,000s!MLS# 647386
Call Kelli Couch970-310-8804
SATURDAY & SUNDAY 12:00-5:004607 Pompano Drive, Windsor 3 bedroom, 3 bath ranch with3-car garage. Loads of upgrades, backs to open space! All of ourhomes are energy-efficient on oversized lots! Visit our modelsfor other plans available starting at $239,900.
$287,296MLS# 661199
Call Kristen Specketer290-8097
NEW CONSTRUCTION
NEW HOMES BUILT BY WINDMILLS, LLC
SATURDAY 11:00-1:001529 Dryland Street, Loveland Brand new ranch style homebuilt in Taft Farms by Keirns Construction. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathsand a 3 car garage. Several other plans and lots to choose from.Call for details.
$279,000MLS# 624979
Call Mark Moran218-1891
SATURDAY & SUNDAY 1:00-3:00920 Norway Maple, Loveland New custom home by TroendlyConstruction. Ranch w/2 bedrooms & den on main level. Bdrm,bath & family room finished in basement. Tandem 3 car garage.Nice finishes included granite, Alder cabinets & stainless steelappliances. Fully landscaped w/auto sprinklers. Move in ready -see this lovely home today.
$347,900MLS# 654230
Call Rich Gardiner227-0964
NEW CONSTRUCTION
FRIDAY - SUNDAY 1:00-3:00302 Lyra Place, Loveland Colorado Craftsman Style Home!Hardwood floors, designer tile, slab granite, alder trim & doors,mission style alder cabinets. Gourmet kitchen. Formal diningroom & breakfast nook. Deck overlooks open space w/accessfrom kitchen & master bdrm. 3-car tandem garage. Garden levelbsmt. Full yard landscape. Close to I-25.
$357,000MLS# 657756
Call Georgena Arnett481-9801
NEW CONSTRUCTION
SATURDAY 12:00-3:004790 Wisconsin Avenue, Loveland Energy Star Rated & BuiltGreen Home! Tharp cabinets, 3cm granite, huge walk-in pantry,gas cooktop, vent hood, built-in oven, microwave, refrigerator.Solid wood doors, wood trim & custom tile work. Finishedbasement w/wet bar & fireplace. Finished, insulated 3 cargarage w/work bench & epoxy sealed floor.
$374,945MLS# 658861
Call Tracy Wilson567-0907
NEW CONSTRUCTION
$450,000MLS# 661575
Call John Simmons481-1250
SATURDAY 12:00-2:002009 Morning Drive, Loveland Spectacular Views –COMPLETELY Remodeled on 1.48 acres. Private, peaceful &serene mountain feeling, yet the convenience of paved roads,natural gas, city water & public sewer. All-season sunroom w/radiant heat. Upgrades include iron railing, wood floors, high-end finishes, granite counters, SS appliances....
AN EXCLUSIVE SERVICE OF THE GROUP, INC. REAL ESTATE
Northern Colorado Real Estate SourceThe Real Estate Source is a magazine produced by The Group featuring
homes for sale and new home neighborhoods throughout Northern Colorado.
eNorthern Colorado
Real Estate Source
Saturday Reporter-Herald September 3, 2011 D5
Real Estate Transactionsare supplied by ProspectsUnlimited Inc., 1151 EagleDrive No. 467, Loveland,CO 80537, 667-1537.
Loveland• William Ververs from
Ida Alexander, 2380 OpalCt, Loveland, $140,000,home• Douglas & Janice
Harbe fromWilliamValasek, 7612 W CountyRoad 20, Loveland,$455,000, home• Kevin & Connie Cook
from Gary Foster, 2252 Ul-mus Dr, Loveland,$179,900, home• Timothy & Heidi Miller
from Frazer RevocableFamily Trust, 4412 Creek-wood Dr, Loveland,$252,000, home• Curtis & Marsha Zim-
merman from HJ Bell Con-str Inc, 956 Pegasus Ct,Loveland, $215,800, home• Timothy Moeller from
David Jauregui, 1775 TwinLakes Cir, Loveland,$185,000, home• Jared & Jennifer Ride-
nour from Craig Kiebler,4909 Otero Ave, Loveland,$289,900, home• Ahmad Shirazi from
Loveland Southwest LLC,100 Sw 12th St, Loveland,$750,000, home• Russell Stringham
from Rocky Mountain In-vestment Grou, 336 ScenicDr, Loveland, $269,000,home• Gary Foster from Paul
Schwerdtfeger, 3555 Leop-ard St, Loveland,$248,000, home• Dean & Barbara Dob-
bins from Dale Boehner,735 Beaver Cove Ct, Love-land, $865,000, home• Niki Jakobitz from
David Bovie, 3420 RedMaple Ct, Loveland,$227,500, home• Joyce Parks from Helen
Brown, 1100 Taft Ave Unit36, Loveland, $147,500,condo• Ultimate LLC from Er-
ic Chappell, 4009 Ash Ave,Loveland, $120,000, home• Craig & Amanda
Cameron from AspenHomes Colorado Inc, 4443Elliot Pl, Loveland,$215,000, home• Sarah Westerbuhr from
Aspen Homes ColoradoInc, 4439 Hayler Ave, Love-land, $385,600, home• Jodee McCloughan
from Jean Compeau, 2070Manitou Ct Unit 106,Loveland, $162,500, condo• Emma Houser from Ed-
ward Elshof, 1100 Taft AveUnit 35, Loveland,$144,500, condo• David & Ellen Kisker
from Larry Heckel, 6681Apache Rd, Loveland,$120,000, home• Christopher Wagner
from Donal Jackson, 2456Mary Beth Ct, Loveland,$207,000, home• Derald & Naoma
Pechin from Dorothy Lutz,1512 Florida Dr, Loveland,$225,000, home• Judith & Gregory
Oehmen from Mel JoyceRossi Living Trust, 5145Coral Burst Cir, Loveland,$335,000, home• John & Vicki New from
Dorothy Thurman, 2295Security Ct, Loveland,$180,000, home• William & Cathy Cahill
from RR Homes Lov Inc,1635 Rhode Island St,Loveland, $384,900, home• Robert Beekman from
Angelica Perino, 404Chestnut Dr, Loveland,$158,900, home• Roy & Anna Nitschke
from R Dale Adams Trust,1904 Leila Dr, Loveland,$185,000, home• Marlowe Stein from
Lisa Rachlin, 2019 GraysPeak Dr Unit 102, Love-land, $115,000, condo• David & Amanda
Brigham from MichaelSchroetlin, 5176 FallgoldDr, Loveland, $625,000,home
• Rochele Eddins fromLavern Tjaden, 235 WEisenhower Blvd, Loveland,$124,900, home• Michael & Michelle
Truex fromWilliam Bent,6241 Sea Gull Cir, Love-land, $245,000, home• James & Sandra Pe-
tersen from HectorBermudez, 811 S Van Bu-ren Ave, Loveland,$178,000, home• Dennis & Lorraine Jan-
son from Custom OnsiteInc, 4686 Dillon Ave, Love-land, $203,700, home• Barbara & Tommy Lo-
bato from Teri Danielson,2187 Monte Vista Cir,Loveland, $290,000, home• Brian Kelly from Dmell
LLC, 1111 Jennifer Dr,Loveland, $140,000, home• Michael & Judy Franze
from RR Homes Lov Inc,4710 Georgetown Dr,Loveland, $348,900, home• Kenneth & Judith
Jackson from LanetteSpotanski, 2229 WoodyCreek Cir, Loveland,$305,000, home• Michaelle Thorn from
Bank America, 702 W 29thSt, Loveland, $420,000,home• Charles Reddick from
Michael Clark, 155 John-son Dr, Loveland,$174,000, home• John & Joan Tadlock
from Barbara Ericson,1920 Canterbury Ct, Love-land, $233,000, home• Sandra Strine from Sw
16th Financial Trust, 83216th St Sw, Loveland,$156,000, home• John & Sara Turner
from Keith Turney, 3402Windsor Ct, Loveland,$320,000, home
Berthoud• Willis & Staci Wetzler
from Utes Real Estate Co,436 WWeld County Road10e, Berthoud, $172,500,home• Francis & Karin
Thompson from JohnHammel, 4980 GetawayDr, Berthoud, $670,000,home
Estes Park• Colleen Wittstruck
from Vickie Cody, 170Stanley Circle Dr, EstesPark, $259,000, home• Don & Pam Peterson
from Doris E Wagner Trust,1361 Raven Cir, Estes Park,$293,000, home• Dalyn Schmitt from
Demitros Joint RevocableTrust, 1440 Bluebell Dr,Estes Park, $325,000,home• Anna Powers from Mar-
ketto Family Trust, 2710Longs Trl, Estes Park,$269,900, home• Donald & Allison Rice
from Sloan InvestmentsLLC, 800 Macgregor AveUnit F1, Estes Park,$285,000, condo• Ward & Patricia Nelson
from Edward McKee LivingTrust, 150 Boyd Ln, EstesPark, $271,000, home• Jeffrey Legler from
Don Peterson, 920 OldRanger Dr, Estes Park,$350,000, home• Zachary & Scott Miller
from Fannie Mae, 2516Pine Meadow Dr, EstesPark, $218,000, home• Jerrold Brown from
Jonathan Whitlock, 1451Matthew Cir, Estes Park,$258,000, home
Johnstown• Jamie & Jessica
Croteau from OakwoodHomes LLC, 5127 Ridge-wood Dr, Johnstown,$289,900, home• Robin & Michael Papp
from Baessler Constr CoInc, 478 Frontier Ln, John-stown, $187,200, home• Matthew Bachicha
fromWilliam Chatel, 4313Onyx Pl, Johnstown,$195,000, home• Charles Sheppard from
Jeffrey Tippets, 230 WyssSt, Johnstown, $310,000,home
Milliken• WilliamWhaley from
Farmers Bank, 295 W For-est St, Milliken, $150,000,home
Windsor• Keith Mutz from Bank
New York Mellon, 1409Boardwalk Dr, Windsor,$160,000, home• Laura Sizemorewilliam
from Dtlt LLC, 909 ConiferCt Unit A1, Windsor,$119,000, condo• Patrick Macken from
Bruce Gorze, 70 LodgepoleDr, Windsor, $123,000,home• Christopher & Erin
Vegter from GustavoLechuga, 108 Poudre Bay,Windsor, $264,000, home• Tisha & Scott Werners-
bach from Melody HomesInc, 631 Camberly Ct,Windsor, $260,000, home• Randy Marlow from
Saint Aubyn Homes LLC,602 Babine Ct, Windsor,$239,400, home• Scott Strader from Sa-
vant Homes Inc, 8745Blackwood Dr, Windsor,$420,800, home• Thomas & Anna Bell
from Aspen Leaf Construc-tion LLC, 7291 CaledonianCt, Windsor, $464,900,home• James & Tamra Beach
from Robyn Esch Robyn,6676 Royal Country DownDr, Windsor, $500,000,home• Robert & Nicholle Per-
alta from Andrew Higa,1265 Ridge West Dr, Wind-sor, $420,000, home• Ferd & Monique Ander-
son from Highpoint VistaLLC, 6025 Stone Chase Ct,Windsor, $135,000, home• Andrew & Tracey Davis
from Strathmore Homes IInc, 7005 Royal CountryDown Dr, Windsor,$419,000, home• Meghan & Sean Mal-
one from Fed Home LoanMtg Corp, 4 Aspen Ln,Windsor, $152,000, home• Scott & Keslie Astley
from Saint Aubyn HomesLLC, 633 Shoshone Ct,Windsor, $279,600, home• William & Zeta Gray
from Mark Weeks, 518Lakewood Ct, Windsor,$384,900, home
H& Real Estate TransactionsRE
KATHY VANMULLEKOMDAILY PRESS
Before planting a tree make sure youknow how to do it properly, advise treeexperts.
The way you plant a tree governs how itgrows or dies. For example, girdling rootsstrangle a tree, and roots planted too deeplysuffocate a tree.Here’s how to correctly plant a tree, cour-
tesy the International Society of Arboricultureand the website TreesAreGood.com.
PREPARE THE PERFECT HOLE
Dig the hole two to three times the width ofthe root ball. Do not dig deeper than root balldepth. Make the sides of the hole slant gradu-ally outward.• For bare root trees, neatly cut away any bro-ken or damaged roots. Soak the roots for a fewhours prior to planting to allow them to ab-sorb water.• Container-grown trees should have the plas-tic or metal containers completely removed.Carefully cut through any circling roots. Re-move the top half of pressed peat/paper con-tainers.• Balled and Burlapped ("B&B") treesshould have all of the ropes cut. Pull theburlap at least one third of the way down. Slitremaining burlap to encourage root growth. Ifin a wire basket, cut away the top of the bas-ket.
PLANT THE TREE
Gently place the tree in the hole. Partiallybackfill with the soil from the hole, water tosettle the soil, then finish back-filling the hole.Tamp the soil gently, but do not step on theroot ball.
PLANTING POINTERS
• Remove tags and labels.• Do not stake unless the tree has a largecrown or the planting is situated on a sitewhere wind or people may push the tree over.Stake for a maximum of one year.• Prune only the damaged branches.• Soak the soil well, making sure no air pock-ets form between roots. Wait until next year tofertilize.• Spread 2 inches of mulch over the plantingarea, but do not place it up against thetrunk.•Be sure the root ball has plenty of waterthroughout the year.For additional information on planting andtree care topics, or to find a local ISA CertifiedArborist, visit www.treesaregood.com.
Plan, prepare then planta tree properly
viewmore properties at:
Each office independently owned &operated
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750W.Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland669-1234www.HomesInColorado.com
2026 Dove Creek Ct, LovelandWOW!!! You won’t BELIEVE the differ-ences this home has from ALL the othersin the neighborhood! Completely remodeledkitchen,with theW/Dmoved out & upstairs
by the bedrooms. CentralA/C.HURRY!$135,000 | MLS #664273Call Jeannine“j9”[email protected]
OPEN SATURDAY 1 4 PM2821 Glendevey Dr, Loveland
Updated tri-level on a large lot backing toprivate open space. 3+ bedrooms, 4 baths,fireplace, hardwood, vaulted ceilings, veryopen floor plan. New furnace & A/C.
VIEWS!$240,000 | MLS #654946
Call Julie [email protected]
PRICE REDUCED227 Johnson Drive, Loveland
SW Loveland - Awesome 2 story in Mead-owbrook Heights! 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathsfinished basement, master bedroom 5 piecesuite, master bedroom deck, gas fireplace,
central air & a 3 car attachedgarage all on a quiet street.$239,500 | MLS #638800Call Julie [email protected]
PRICE REDUCED
4228 Foothills Dr, LovelandCorner Lot in Mariana Butte backingto Greenbelt! 4BR 3BA 2Car, FP, A/C,Sprinklers, Dining Rm & Eat-in Kitchen.Basement set up forTheatre Room.
Upstairs Laundry. Close toGolf Course, Park & ACE!$217,000 | MLS #663578Call FranciWunderlich667-1828YourHouseInColorado.com
JUST LISTED4230 Julesberg Dr, Loveland
Ranch w/ garden level bsmt, 4 Bd, 3Baths, new carpet, 5 pc bath, new roof,A/C, sprinklers, fenced yard, great condi-tion, ready to move in, close to schools,
parks, great NW location.$219,900| MLS #664312
Call Kathy [email protected]
JUST LISTED2629 N Gilpin Ave, Loveland
Like a patio home without HOA.New de-cor paint. 1/2 duplex, 3BR,Master oversizeshower, kitchen door to covered privatepatio. Large backyard, ample storage in
garage. You’ll feel right athome! Newer furnace.$159,900 | MLS #664129Call Jan [email protected]
JUST LISTED
D6 Saturday Reporter-Herald September 3, 2011
MAUREENGILMERSCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE
While studying horticulture decadesago, there was a clear division betweenthe "ornamental" students and the
"agricultural" ones.With organic gardening now mainstream,
these two polar camps are coming together.Designers are looking to add food plants toboth their residential and institutional projects.To do this, they are looking more closely at vari-eties that have evolved throughout the last 20years to make food plants better suited to thelandscape.The result is a more productive home land-
scape without sacrificing any of its beauty.It is a place where we are considering manyfood plants in lieu of very similar ornamentalones. For example, design classes emphasizedfruitless cherries, plums and pears to bringspring color into ornamental gardens. Theywere some of our most widely used landscapetrees, and remain so to this day. But now weask: Why grow a fruit tree if it doesn'tfruit?Let's consider Bradford and Kawakamii pears,
two long-standing fruitless pears. They are sosimilar to gourmet Seckel or Bosc pear trees,and just as easy to grow. Only with fruiting ver-sions you enjoy spring flowers, summer fruit
and fall color. What makes fruiting trees evenmore useful is that the same variety can be pur-chased in dwarf, semi-dwarf and full-sized trees.Such variation offers a size suited to both smallspaces or an average yard.Artichokes are large perennials with truly
lovely foliage. Their large, deeply cut leaves aresilver in color and stand out crisply againstdark or vivid backgrounds. The strong stalksthat rise from the plants produce the flowerbud that we love to eat, scale by scale. The budsare attractive in their own right, but if left onthe plant to mature, the result is a gorgeous
blue thistlelike flower the size of a softball. Inthis case, you can enjoy foliage, food and flowerall in one plant.
Another plant with multiple crops is fennel,because virtually every bit of it is edible. This isa beautiful, drought-resistant perennial thatbears very finely textured foliage to create acloudlike mass. Forms sold as Purpurea or Ni-gra bear attractive bronze foliage that is out-standing in the perennial garden. The plant'sflavor is that of anise and vital to Mediterraneancooking. Foliage is easily snipped to add depthto all sorts of fresh summer dishes and salads.Fennel also produces a bulb at the base fromwhich the stems rise, much like fine celery. Thethick, corrugated bases are quite tasty, particu-larly when lightly sauteed in olive oil. When fen-nel blooms, it resembles dill with tall umbels ofsmall golden flowers. Even the seed is valued, asit is the most intensely anise-flavored part ofthe plant.
Plants like rosemary are a great alternative toordinary shrubs, particularly in the dry garden.This tough shrub is extremely heat-resistantand virtually nothing kills it but excessive wetin poorly drained soils. There are varieties thatdiffer in proportion, though all bloom blue-vio-let. For very small gardens, creeping rosemarymakes a great alternative as a groundcover.Identical to its full-sized cousin, this one is fa-vored for cascading down the outside of raisedplanters.
It really goes without saying that grapes be-long in gardens because this fast-growing vinemakes quick shade for outdoor living areas.Rather than a wisteria, plant table grapes thatdangle fruit instead of flowers; you'll enjoy vividautumn color at season's end. You'll even havegrapevine runners to cut during the dormantseason to fashion into free wreaths and gar-lands.
If you're planning a new landscape or revisingan existing one, use this list of plants toinspire you to make it more productive.Integrate them into your plan to make thelandscape beautiful, and enjoy fruit, vegetables,herbs and garnishes for many years tocome.
Maureen Gilmer is an author, horticulturistand landscape designer. Learn more atwww.MoPlants.com. Contact her [email protected].
Make a productivehome landscape
SHNS /Couresty Maureen GilmerThe cascading growth of prostrate rosemary brings this popular herb into theornamental garden as a groundcover.
Top 20 Edible andOrnamental Plants for
Landscaping• Artichoke• Asparagus• Banana• Citrus• Currant• Fig• Grape• Kiwi• Lavender• Natal Plum• Olive• Oregano• Pineapple Guava• Pomegranate• Raspberry and Bramble Fruits• Rosemary• Stone fruits (apple, pear)• Strawberry• Sweet Bay laurel• Thyme
SHNS /Courtesy Maureen GilmerTable grapes grown on an over-head arbor offer shade andfood, as well as vivid autumnfoliage color.SHNS /Couresty Maureen Gilmer
The foliage and buds of artichokes thrive in this perennial border beside foxgloves.
SHNS /Courtesy Maureen GilmerFennel, a beautiful ornamental, offersfoliage, bulb and seed for use in thekitchen.
Enjoy fresh foodyear-round byadding ediblesto your yard
