Newspaper Page Text
Page 12A
The Braselton News
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Use minor bulbs for springtime opening show
Piano concert to benefit local charities
The only thing minor about
some spring bulbs is their size.
Because a number of these put
on a reliable show year after
year, gardeners should consider
using them more.
While large-flowering bulbs
remain more popular because of
their stature, many of these tend
to fade in our climate due to the fact that optimum
springtime weather is short-lived and too quick to
become more like summer. Among these, hyacinths,
tulips, and Dutch iris are notorious for delivering
disappointing results after their first big show.
Crocus, wood hyacinths, aliums, snowdrops, and
some species narcissus are among the most reliable
minor bulbs suitable for our area. Equally suitable
for underplanting beds of pansies, low groundcovers,
or just naturalized under deciduous trees, these will
generally multiply and flower prodigiously for a life
time as long their growing conditions remain fairly
constant from year to year. For optimum results,
however, planting techniques for colder climates
should be adapted to our milder winters.
If, for example, the printed instructions on a pack
age of minor bulbs recommend a planting depth of
four inches, I suggest cutting that in half.
And if you or your neighbors own dogs that like to
dig holes on occasion, do not use bone meal when
introducing news bulbs or top-dressing existing bulb
plantings. Though dogs usually won’t munch on the
bulbs themselves, they’11 frequently dig them up in
search of the source of the bone scent.
You can avoid this problem without sacrificing the
quality of your spring flowers by using a granulated
bulb food in the planting holes as well as on the
ground surface.
However, if your bulbs are installed under pansies
or groundcovers, pansy food or a good lawn starter
fertilizer is just as effective.
Also, avoid using a deep mulch over bulbs, as this
will tend to keep the soil too warm too long. Minor
bulbs do best when exposed to an extended period
of cold soil temperatures just a few degrees above
freezing.
Unfortunately, squirrels and other rodents tend to
damage beds of minor bulbs by either digging them
up for food or to replace them with acorns. In areas
where this is a problem, it pays to cover the bulbs
with a wide mesh screen before fdling in that last
inch or two of soil over planting sites. In areas where
this technique isn’t practical, consider using granu
lated animal repellants or mothballs.
For wooded areas where a natural look is most
desirable, wood hyacinths (sometimes called Scotch
blue bells) seem very much at home with native
ferns, violets, and other native perennials. These
produce an abundance of pink, white, or blue bell
shaped flowers more loosely arranged on the flow
er stalks than the blooms of
Dutch hyacinths. These bulbs
not only multiply quickly from
offsets, but they can also be
increased by seed.
I found that by allowing the
spent flower stalks to remain
in place, my wood hyacinths
produced a large number of
seed capsules, apparently without diminishing the
flower-power of the bulbs for the next spring.
And I also discovered that, by hand-stripping the
capsules off the stalks, and just tossing them where
I wanted more bulbs, I would get large drifts of new
bulbs and flowers in just three or four years.
Species crocus, often called snow crocus because
they bloom so much earlier than the larger flower
ing Dutch types, are also great for naturalizing with
quick results. These produce plentiful clusters of
smaller flowers near the ground followed by shorter
grass-like foliage after blooming.
This makes them ideally suited for naturalizing in
fescue lawns, where the leaves just blend in with the
blades of grass and they benefit from a higher mow
ing height. A scattering of shallowly planted species
crocus can turn a green fescue lawn into a spectacular
flower show, and seeds have a way of starting more
clumps by washing all over the lawn. Do not use cro
cus in Bermuda or zoysia lawns, however, because
the lingering foliage will bring an unkempt look to
an otherwise weed free lawn of finer texture.
A few species of fall-blooming crocus would be
equally welcome in fescue lawns, except for one
major drawback. They normally come into bloom
when you’re not only still mowing the lawn, but using
a bagger to pick up early fall leaf litter. Consequently,
it’s best to site these in beds of groundcovers or in the
foreground of shrubs and taller perennials.
The same is true of species tulips and daffodils.
They look best at the edges of lawns where their
foliage can ripen naturally without becoming and
eyesore.
Although it’s far from too late to plant spring
bulbs, I’ve noted that supplies are a little scanty at
many of our normally well-stocked garden centers.
So you may have to resort to mail order sources this
year, particularly for the less-common minor bulbs.
Don’t be afraid to purchase bulbs on sale, how
ever, as garden departments cut prices and clear
out remaining stock. As long as the bulbs remain
hydrated and firm, you can plant them as late as mid-
December and still expect good, if not terrific, results
this coming spring.
Fil Jessee lives in Braselton, where he works as
a freelance journalist. He is a Georgia Certified
Plant Professional with experience in ornamental
horticulture and landscape design. Reader questions
relating to gardening can be sent to Fil at filwrites@
aol.com
Gardener’s
Grapevine
with
Fil Jessee
filwrites@aol.com
Snipes named independent director at company
Hoschton resident Fynne
Snipes was recently promoted to
BeautiControl independent direc
tor, one of the company’s most
prestigious leadership levels in its
field sales organization.
In celebration of her achievement
as a new director, Snipes is now on
her way to earning a dream vaca
tion and a Ford Mustang convert
ible, according to the company.
Independent directors with
BeautiControl can earn a trip of their
choice to Hawaii, Vail (Colorado)
or Walt Disney World and then
begin a period of qualification to
earn a new Ford Mustang.
BeautiControl independent
consultants offer at-home “Spa
Escape,” where guests enjoy one
hour of complimentary pampering.
The “Spa Escape” includes educa
tion on caring for your skin with
skin care solutions.
For more information about
BeautiControl, call Snipes at 770-
757-9433.
Lawrenceville author releases teen fiction novel
Focal author Diana Kain, Fawrenceville, has
released her first book, a teen fiction novel entitled
“Hidden Tomorrows: Shadows of Saving Grace.”
Published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises,
Kain’s book tells the story of Robin Evans, a sev
enteen year-old girl who is desperately trying to up
hold her high moral standards amidst the onslaught
of temptation and falsehood. Caught in a moment
of weakness, Robin betrays Michael, the love of
her life, and must live with the consequences and
broken promises.
According to the author, the novel describes how
love and faith can free people from deception, heal
deep wounds and provide a place for someone in a
world that has drawn so far from God.
The book is available at any bookstore nation
wide or can be ordered through barnesandnoble.
com, amazon.com or walmart.com. Audio versions
of the book are also available.
Kain currently resides in Fawrenceville with her
husband and several of their children and grand
children.
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Dare to Share, a charity based in Braselton, will
benefit from a classical concert featuring Russian
pianist Sergey Pashkevich on Saturday, Nov. 3, at
7:30 p.m.
The concert will be held at Pearce Auditorium at
Brenau University, Gainesville.
Dare to Share supports local charities such as:
Challenged Child and Friends of Hall County,
Dream House for Medically Fragile Children of
Gwinnett County, Boys and Girls Clubs of Barrow
and Jackson counties, Autism Society-Greater
Georgia Chapter, The United Mitochondrial Disease
Foundation and The Smile Train. The charities will
benefit from the concert.
The concert marks the second time that Pashkevich
has performed at Brenau University, the first time
being also for a benefit concert for Dare to Share
last year.
Pashkevich said he is excited about his repeat visit
and the lineup of local youngsters who will start off
the evening by showcasing their talents.
Those local residents include: Katie O’Shea,
vocal; Emily Jackson, violin; Anna and Kristiina
Fugus, and Brelin Zimmerman, dance; Ashlee
Fane Fincher, vocal; Kunal Fahiry, Piano; Tiffany
Milagro, vocal; Courtney Piedrahita, violin; and
Austine Scales, cello.
Pashkevich will perform a mix of works by
Beethoven, Chopin, Fiszt and Rachmaninov.
General admission tickets are $35 and students are
$15. VIP tickets are $50 and include reserved seat
ing, invitation to a reception to meet Pashkevich and
the local artists, and a silent auction.
Tickets may be purchased by contacting Dare to
Share at 770-868-8319 or Dtshare@windstream.
net.
For more information about Dare to Share, visit
www.Dare-to-Share.org.
Olive Branch opens personal care home in Braselton
The Olive Branch has opened its
personal care home located at 639
Davenport Road, Braselton.
The home offers a number of
services, including an in-house
beauty shop, housekeeping, laun
dry services, medication remind
ers, outings, personal assistance,
daily recreational activities, three
meals a day and two snacks a day.
The Olive Branch also offers
other social activities, such as arts
and crafts, bird watching, Bible
trivia, guest speakers and parties.
Kathy Stone is the owner of the
Olive Branch. The home is state
licensed for four residents.
For more information, call 706-
654-5700, e-mail thelivebranch@
windstream.net or visit www.theo-
livebranchpch.com.
Braselton officials approve business permits
Braselton officials recently approved the following
business licenses.
•Sonia’s Professional Cleaning (cleaning service),
1634 Jesse Cronic Court
•Dallas Enterprises International (contractor), 2234
Northern Oak Drive
•J&O Contracting (contractor), 6342 Grand Hickory
Drive
•Mongus Painting (contractor), 1714 Ammons Falls
Court
•Olin Dillard, Inc. (contractor), 5743 Berkshire
Trace
•Triple J. Equipment (contractor), 6342 Grand
Hickory Drive
•Floor and Home Design Center (floor covering
sales), 982 Hwy. 124
•Consumer Consultants (foreclosure mitigation),
2895 Shumard Oak Drive
•Travel Rite, d/b/a Duncan’s Comer Bottle Shop
(liquor store), 7437 Spout Springs Road
•Fa Hacienda of Braselton, Inc. (restaurant), 5391
Hwy. 53
•Emma’s Attic, EEC (retail sales), 2201 Spout
Springs Road
•Faux Maison (retail sales), 7421 Spout Springs
Road
•Spiff Web (web design), 1713 Ammons Falls
Court
To place a classified ad, call 706-367-5233
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Braselton’s
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5757 Old Winder Hwy. • West off 1-85 @ Exit 126 in Mulberry Place
Shopping Center. 1/4 mile on right past Thompson Mill Road.