"Don’t throw in the trowel yet"

[OCT. 3, 2000]  Just because fall is fast approaching doesn’t mean it’s time to put away your garden tools. There are less hours of sunlight and temperatures are headed north, but there’s still a lot of work that can be done in the garden.

There are several reasons that fall is a great time to dig in the dirt, according to Wilma Clark, owner of Clark’s Greenhouse and Herbal Country:

*Less stress. Fall installation gives plants a chance to establish a strong root system. Plants entering dormancy are not under pressure to produce top growth and blooms. Most perennials flower in the spring. However, if planted then, they may not have enough time to bloom.

*Less water required. October and November are usually months of enough rainfall that the need for manual watering is reduced. Moisture does not evaporate as quickly in fall as it does in the summer heat. This doesn’t mean you can stop watering, however. Always check the soil moisture if the summer has been dry, and water new plants thoroughly to avoid leaving any air pockets around the root systems before the ground freezes for the winter.

*Lots of free mulch. Leaves and grass clippings are plentiful in fall. In the past, these might have been thrown on a bonfire, but now you can put them to good use on your plants. Mulch aids moisture retention, reduces weeds and adds a blanket of protection from harsh winters and early thaws.

*Cold temperatures make plants hardier. Bulbs develop root systems over the winter. Pest populations decline and give young transplants a fighting chance. Fall planting is like giving your plants a rest.

*Autumn beauty. If you only shop at garden centers in spring, you’ll miss several plants that are at their best in fall. Many nurseries stagger their planting so they have plants blooming in fall. Pansies, asters and mums are popular choices, but don’t overlook ornamental grasses and plants that produce berries.

*Sales! Fall is a good time to find reduced prices on trees, shrubs and other plants. Robbin Nickelson, owner of The Garden Path, said mulching is one of the most important things to do in the fall, because it not only protects plants from cold winter weather, it also discourages weed growth next spring. Mulching rose bushes is especially important, and several inches of material should cover the rose bush graft, where the branches form to the stem.

And even though it’s tempting — after all those long, hot hours of yard work during the summer — to hang up your garden gloves, just remember: All the work you do this fall will means less work next spring. While you’re at it, throw some bulbs into the ground. When winter is winding to a close and you see the magical green buds pushing up through the ground, you’ll be glad you did.

A fall garden checklist

*Plant trees and scrubs. Roots will grow until the ground freezes.

*Divide peonies and other perennials. Work in compost, bone meal and soil amendments.

*Plant mums for fall color.

*Dig up new garden beds for next spring. Add organic matter.

*Plant bulbs.

*Save flower seeds from non-hybrids by allowing seeds to mature. Spread seeds on newspaper, turning them to dry, and store in glass jars at 48 to 50 degrees.

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*Clean up vegetable garden and add dead plants to the compost pile.

*Transplant parsley, chives and other herbs from the garden and place in a sunny window for the winter.

*Plant or transplant ferns.

*Dig up dahlia, canna and gladiolus bulbs. Dry, clean off soil and store in vermiculite.

*Water evergreens before ground freezes.

*Drain garden hose completely. Some hoses will crack if water left inside freezes during cold weather.

*Pumpkins and winter squash should be harvested when mature but before a damaging frost.

*Dig up flower beds and add organic matter.

*Cut perennials 3 to 4 inches to clean up beds and prevent disease. Let those that provide winter interest remain until spring

*Apply fall lawn fertilizer or winterizer at the end of October.

*Rake up leaves, grass clippings and debris and use as mulch or build a compost heap.

*Protect shade trees, ornamentals and fruit trees from trunk damage with tree wrap or tree guards.

*Water and mulch evergreens.

*Prune heavy-bleeding trees like walnut, maple and birch as they go dormant.

*Protect roses by mounding hardwood mulch over grafts.

*Clean and service lawn mower.

*Clean and store garden tools.

*Clean out all birdhouses to prevent parasites from overwintering in the old nest debris.

*Take soil samples from your garden for analysis and add necessary nutrients so the soil is in optimal condition for the next growth season.

*Stop deadheading all recurrent or perpetual flowering shrub roses and climbing roses so the plants’ growth can harden off before arrival of winter frosts. Cut off any diseased leaves.

What to plant to provide fall and winter interest through color of leaves, attractive fruit, bark or texture

Trees: Ash, bald cypress, birch, black gum, crab apple, dogwood, ginkgo, hawthorn, maple, oak, serviceberry, witch hazel

Shrubs: barberry, blueberry, burning bush, chokeberry, spirea, sumac, viburnum, witch hazel, fothergilla, cotoneaster

Perennials: peony, aster, blackberry lily, black-eyed Susan, false indigo, joe-pye weed, lenten rose, liriope, ornamental grass, purple coneflower, sedum, snowdrops and winter creeper

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

"Don’t throw in the trowel yet"

[OCT. 2, 2000]  Just because fall is fast approaching doesn’t mean it’s time to put away your garden tools. There are less hours of sunlight and temperatures are headed north, but there’s still a lot of work that can be done in the garden.

In fact, not only is fall a great time to make a checklist of maintenance projects necessary to maintain a healthy landscape, but it’s also the perfect time of year to plant new trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs.

There’s a lot more to this season sandwiched in between the end of summer and start of winter than just a time to clean the shovel and mow the yard one last time.

Gardeners now tend to their yards almost year round, according to Robbin Nickelson, owner of The Garden Path in Salisbury. She said more people are stretching out the duties of being a gardener, such as mulching, planting and trimming, through the fall and winter months. And because many early flowering spring bulbs, like snowdrops, begin blooming even when there’s still snow on the ground, January is really the only month of total rest for a gardener, she said. And of course, those cold, wintry January days are spent in front of a fireplace with a stack of garden catalogues, planning for the next season’s garden.

There are many ways to keep your green thumb active during the fall season, including planting spring bulbs, dividing perennials, cleaning up dead garden material, organizing, cleaning and storing garden tools and planting evergreens.

Planting spring-flowering bulbs

Nothing heralds the start of spring more than a burst of red and yellow tulips gleaming in the sunshine. Bulbs are becoming more popular every year, according to local gardening experts, and the varieties available through bulb catalogues and garden centers are endless. Even though the old favorite yellow daffodils and tulips are still around, now an endless array of colors, sizes and shapes are being planted. From the tiniest grape hyacinth to the mammoth allium, there is a bulb to fit in everyone’s garden.

Before you plant your bulbs, the garden area should be prepared by adding sphagnum peat moss or mushroom compost in the soil along with bone meal or fertilizer high in phosphorous. Make sure to plant bulbs at the proper depth, which is usually two or three times the height of the bulb. It’s important to place the bulb right side up so the roots can go down and tops point up. Fertilize and water the newly planted area.

Fall planting is a must for all spring flowering bulbs, which should be planted when the soil temperatures have dropped to 60 degrees F and no later than Dec. 1. They need well-drained soil to thrive and bloom year after year.

Gardening experts offer several tips for planting a bulb garden:

*Plant in masses. A single row of red tulips won’t have nearly the same effect as a grouping of a dozen or more.

*Bunch bulbs of the same color. A mass of red tulips next to a mass of white tulips will draw much more attention to your yard than the same number of mixed.

*Bigger bulbs mean bigger blooms. Pick out premium-sized bulbs for the biggest, showiest blooms. Fertilizing with a food high in phosphorous also makes bigger bulbs.

*Store bulbs in a ventilated bag in a cool, dry place if you can’t plant immediately. Keep away from ripening fruit. Don’t expose bulbs to extreme temperatures.

*Naturalize ground cover areas with small bulbs such as snowdrops, Siberian squill, grape hyacinths or dwarf daffodils planted among the ground cover.

*Allow foliage of the bulbs to die down after flowering to ensure proper time to store energy in the bulb for flowering next year.

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Bulbs which appear very early in the spring include claytonia, chionodoxa, crocus, eranthis, snowdrops, striped squill and some varieties of tulips. The best bulbs for naturalizing, which last from season to season and grow into larger clumps each year, include daffodils, grape hyacinth, striped squill, Orange Emperor, Red Emperor, Red Riding Hood, Kees Nelis, Aladdin Apeldoom and Golden Apeldoom tulips.

Dividing perennials

Another important task for fall gardeners is to divide overgrown perennial plants, which not only makes healthier plants but also gives you more plants to tuck into your garden.

Spring flowering plants such as columbine, daylilies, ferns, heuchera, yucca, peony and delphinium, should be divided in early fall. They need time to establish roots before the harsh winter weather. To divide plants, dig up the clump in sections using a sharp knife or spade. Discard the older middle section if it appears less vigorous, and replenish the soil with compost. Replant sections of five or six shoots each, then water immediately.

Pressing flowers

Wilma Clark, owner of Clark’s Greenhouse and Herbal Country in San Jose, suggests that gardeners to preserve a little bit of their summer garden before frost hits. "Don’t let summer slip away without preserving some flowers between the pages of a flower press or sandwiched between a discarded telephone directory," she said. She advises using the pressed souvenirs of your summer garden to make floral stationery, bookmarks or framed collages.

Flowers should be picked after dew has dried from the petals. Good candidates for pressing include coral bells, bleeding hearts, candy tuft, verbena, lobelia, lavender, nigella blooms, phlox, larkspur, alyssum, baby’s breath, viola, borage and pansies.

"Don’t throw in the trowel yet. Fall is the best time to spruce up flower beds with bulbs and perennials. It’s also a good time to overhaul your flower beds by dividing plants and sharing some with your friends," she said.

(To be continued)

[click here for Part 2 of this article]

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

The whole story began when Jason's mom, Julie, rescued their female Golden Retriever, Casie. Julie "adopted" Casie into the family when the dog was 11 months old. Casie had had a less-than-perfect early life and was desperately in need of security and loving care. She found it with the Nicholses, and with their love and some diligent, top-notch training, Casie blossomed. Jason says of Casie, "Casie was a very badly behaved dog and the people that we 'rescued' her from didn't know how to handle a dog. We took lessons, and with the help of Clay Glover she is now the sweetest thing in the world."

Julie eventually decided to breed Casie. Julie makes it clear that this was not a decision she made casually. After careful consideration, thorough education, and all the proper medical screening (for eye, hip and heart problems), Casie was bred and had 11 puppies.

*Please see link below regarding "What you should know before breeding your dog."

The Nichols family kept a female puppy from the litter, Holly. Holly, now 3 years old, has turned out to be a real canine dynamo. Jason, age 13, and Holly, 3 years, took first place in the 4-H Obedience class at the Logan County Fair this past summer, and went on to win first place at the Illinois State Fair competition as well.

There was a lot of competition, especially at the state level, but Jason and Holly did Logan County proud! Jason has been involved in 4-H for five years.

Julie Nichols credits the pair's success to a lot of hard work on both Jason and Holly's parts, as well as to the wonderful trainers they have worked with. She says the help of trainers Clay Glover and Cherie Kupish has been invaluable, and heartily recommends them to anyone wishing to get first-class training for their dog. Mr. Glover can be reached through Dr. Phillip Gillen's office, where he has a sign-up sheet available. The office number is 217-732-1719. Ms. Kupish is located in Decatur, and can be reached at 217-422-9933.

In addition to their impressive obedience wins, Jason and Holly have some other talents. Together they completed a "rehabilitation" class. Initially, Holly was exposed to and familiarized with wheelchairs, walkers and other ambulatory aids. She was also conditioned to unexpected loud noises and unfamiliar environments. Then, together, Jason and Holly completed eight weeks of nursing home visits. Holly took to being a "therapy dog" and the pair completed the course with flying colors. Holly has also done some agility work and has done quite well.

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Holly has a talented sibling, also a female, named Nikki. Owned by the Lawrence family of Lincoln, Nikki played the part of the dog Sandy in the Lincoln Community Theater production of Annie. Jason was involved in her training also, especially in the early stages.

Jason, Julie, and their talented dogs are a shining example of what can happen when a dog finds a loving home, as well as what can happen when people take the time to properly train and socialize their pets!

Jason says, "I think that many people think that a dog is a very low-maintenance job and all you have to do is feed, walk and water it. I think the reason that so many dogs are in shelters is that people don't know how to handle them and need to learn how."

He also emphasizes the bonding experience that training can be for you and your pet. "It is very, very rewarding when you have a better behaved dog, and through training you and your dog have a special bond that no one can break...My dogs are special to me because they love me and I love them."

If you'd like more information regarding obedience training, you can begin by contacting any of the numerous 4-H clubs in the area--any 4-H member is entitled to 10 free weeks of obedience training through the program. According to Jason Nichols, the 4-H program "is great for beginners that just want a well-behaved dog and for people that are interested in showing also."

This is the final article in our "National Dog Week" series. It has been a pleasure introducing you to the Nichols family and their lucky, well-loved pooches, and it has been a great opportunity for education for those considering getting a puppy or a dog.

Please check out our earlier articles, especially if you're thinking about adding a dog to your family. In addition, please see the link below if you're at all considering breeding your dog. This is not a decision to be made lightly, and not one to be made with the goal of simply making a profit. The link is:

http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeding.html 

We hope you have enjoyed our weeklong celebration of our canine companions. Have you hugged your dog today?

[Cherie Rankin]

[SEPT. 28, 2000]  Set back off the road at 1515 N. Kickapoo sits Logan County Animal Control. Originally they were located out at the Scully Farm and were known as American Humane. They moved to the new site in 1989 and became Logan County Animal Control.

Logan County Animal Control

The county agency serves many functions. They provide pickup of domestic nuisance animals; care for and maintain the animals that were brought in by their owners or that they went out and picked up; handle dog license registration; and arrange adoptions. They also provide limited veterinarian services for spaying, neutering and declawing (cats only declawed at time of fixing) for adoptees.

The staff is made up of two full-time employees and a veterinarian who comes in as needed. In charge of the facility is Warden Sheila Farmer. Farmer, a mother of young children, began working at the Logan County Animal Control six years ago. Before working there she groomed dogs. She’s had a lifelong love of animals and now works with them, lots of them, every day. She bestows her love and care on an average of 100 newly brought in animals per month.

Warden Farmer’s duties include pretty much everything there is to do in running the facility. She does the office work, answers calls, does the bookkeeping, processes papers, then records and files lots of them. She schedules appointments for veterinarian services of animals that have been adopted from there. She cleans the floors and the animal cages, feeds the animals, takes all the dogs out daily, and goes out to pick up nuisance domestic animals all around the county. Not many days are easy, though some are better than others. Most days are hectic, with lots of people coming in and calling with questions. Lots of days it’s nonstop, exhausting and difficult to get everything done, but she knows this leads to adoptions quite often. Farmer puts in 40-plus hours per week.

So, what makes it a job she says she likes? Farmer lights up, softly saying, "I love animals! Getting them together with people for adoption is a great feeling. They’re so happy to get out!"

The worst part of Warden Farmer’s job is, as you can probably guess, knowing a good animal is out of time. "I don’t like putting animals to sleep. I’d rather see them adopted," she says sadly.

Farmer herself now has three dogs and five cats, all adopted from Logan County Animal Control.

Working right alongside Farmer performing all the same duties is gentle-natured Assistant Warden Michelle Mote. Like Farmer, Mote shares all the duties for keeping everything running in the facility — from office work to cleaning the facility, caring for the animals by taking the dogs out, cleaning the dog and cat kennels, and feeding everyone and giving them some attention, as much as is possible in spare moments. She works 38 to 40 hours per week.

[Michelle Mote takes a dog out to "take care of business."]

Mote says it was just "lucky timing" that she got her job there. She started in February. She, too, loves animals and was looking for a new job when she found this one.

When you see her with the animals you can see how much she likes them. She’s very easy and loving with them. She brings out the dogs each week for LDN to take their pictures, speaking nicely to them and patiently handling them.

She has recently adopted a cute little longhaired calico she named Sassy. She was able to see her as a newborn there.

Assistant Warden Mote's answers are the same as Warden Farmer when asked about her favorite and worst part of the job. "The best part is the animals. I love them." The worst part is "putting them down" when they don’t get adopted.

Dr. Lester Thompson is the house veterinarian. Limited veterinarian services are provided for adoptees from the facility. Appointments are made for spaying and neutering before the animals go to their new homes. Cats may be declawed at the same time as fixing.

Dr. Thompson was not available for interview this week. He will be interviewed sometime in the future.

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Farmer and Mote run the entire daily operation of the large facility. These two hard-working women deserve our respect and appreciation for their dedicated hard work and doing an emotionally challenging job as well! Be sure to tell them how much you appreciate the availability of the facility and the work they do there.

If you’re looking to adopt, call Logan County Animal Control at (217) 735-3232 or stop in and pick one out at 1515 N. Kickapoo in Lincoln.

The facility also accepts monetary and product donations.

Regional sources of
shelters, humane societies, animal controls

You love animals, except for one reason or another can't have a pet. So how can you help your local animal control or animal shelter? Whether or not your local animal control or shelter receives tax dollars, they always appreciate donations. The donations may be monetary, time (some locations) or consumable products. Animal controls and animal shelters obviously need a lot of food, toys, hay, shavings, liter and shampoo, but they can also use cleaning products for the facilities and office products for the front desk. Please call before you donate items, as different locations may require different products.

If you have room for a pet in your home, think about adopting one of the animals waiting at animal control or a shelter. You can go in and visit the animals until you find the perfect match. Usually the animal keepers can tell you a little something about the animals. They can help recommend the cat or dog that fits your preferences. Adoption is a lifelong commitment that will enrich your life and the life of your new friend.

The fees are nominal, and help defray the cost of the medical care your pet received while at the shelter. If you are able to give an additional donation when you adopt, it will help feed and care for the other animals still waiting for a home. All of your efforts are greatly appreciated.

The best way you can help animal control and local shelters is to have your pet spayed or neutered. Some shelters receive as many as 7,000 animals annually. In just seven years, two dogs and their offspring have the potential to produce 4,372 more dogs, and two cats and their offspring could produce 420,000 more cats. If you have your pet spayed or neutered, you can help prevent future animal control problems.

If your pet disappears, call as many shelters as you can as soon as possible. Animals can cover amazing distances, so try shelters even if you think they may be too far away. If animal control workers have a description of your pet, they can help watch for it and identify it when it is brought in. If your pet appears at animal control or a shelter, it is important that you retrieve your pet as soon as possible, because they have a limited amount of space. Remember to keep your pet’s tags on him at all times, because you never know when he might wander away.

Lastly, how can they help you? Visit their website, or any humane society website, for valuable information on all sorts of animal care.

The Humane Society of Southern Illinois (www.geocities.com/morganarowan52/) lists household dangers for pets — many dangers are the same as if you had a baby or toddler in your home. Also, they give information on three animal control facilities in southern Illinois.

The Champaign County Humane Society (www.cuhumane.org) offers a pet library that covers topics such as behavior, care and human-animal bonds. It posts recent legislation about animals, an alumni page to view happy-ending adoptions and a calendar of events.

McLean County Humane Society (http://cube.ice.net/~mchs/main.htm) gives a specific list of common, poisonous plants pet owners should avoid. They say even a nibble can cause illness or death.

A simple search on any search engine will provide a flood of animal resources and ideas for where one might volunteer.

[Jan Youngquist and Jean Ann Carnley]

Ten reasons to adopt a shelter dog

1. I'll bring out your playful side!

2. I'll lend an ear to your troubles.

3.  I'll keep you fit and trim.

4.  We'll look our for each other.

5.  We'll sniff out fun together!

6.  I'll keep you right on schedule.

7.  I'll love you with all my heart.

8.  We'll have a tail-waggin' good time!

9.  We'll snuggle on a quiet evening.

10.  We'll be best friends always.

Animals for adoption

These animals and more are available to good homes from the Logan County Animal Control at 1515 N. Kickapoo, phone 735-3232.

Fees for animal adoption: dogs, $60/male, $65/female; cats, $35/male, $44/female. The fees include neutering and spaying.

Logan County Animal Control's hours of operation:

Sunday  –  closed

Monday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Tuesday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Wednesday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Thursday  –  8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Friday  –  8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Saturday  –  closed

Warden: Sheila Farmer
Assistant:  Michelle Mote
In-house veterinarian:  Dr. Lester Thompson

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