[JAN. 27, 2001]  We will never know why she was discarded like so much unwanted trash. Likewise, we cannot imagine why she was still available almost two weeks after having been left at the Logan County Animal Control, along with a cat that was also unwanted. Yet, there she was, just waiting for me on the day I decided to "just walk through" the shelter.

I had gone there to get our schipperke Tommy’s county license for this year. Our beautiful, sweet, intelligent dog, Hana, had gone to doggie heaven exactly one week previously. Hana was a golden retriever-German shepherd mix who had been adopted from a shelter almost 15 years ago, when she was 8 weeks old. My husband, John, and I had talked about when we might be ready for another dog and what type it might be. John had gone on the Internet and searched animal shelters in the area. Yet, we had made no real decision.

As I entered the shelter on that day, almost all the poor, discarded, mostly large dogs started up with a terrible cacophony, each trying to attract attention to himself. There were, unfortunately, a couple of dogs that seemed to have given up hope and just stood quietly in their kennels. I spoke to each one as I walked down the aisle. But my eye had already been drawn to the beautiful, intelligent face of a medium-sized, shorthaired white female down the aisle. She was white with light ticking through her coat and had a brindle ear on the right and a brindle eye on the left. She was standing up in her kennel, wagging her tail so furiously her whole body wiggled. She was looking at me as if I were her long-lost friend. She was ecstatic when I spoke to her. Nevertheless, I continued my rounds. Yet, on my way out, I inquired about her. The staff of the shelter told me that her name was Iris. She was 1 year old, of mixed breed (of course) and housebroken. Her former owners "didn’t have time for her."

I went home and called John at his office. I mentioned her as we talked. He was interested but was distracted by work, so I didn’t push the issue. Yet, as I tried to do some work myself, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. She just pulled at me and wouldn’t let go. Finally, I grabbed a leash…just in case, you understand…and went back. This time I took her out of the kennel. She was in my lap and all over me, smothering me with kisses and whining with excitement. Her size was perfect, just a little larger than Tommy. Her body was well-muscled, very agile and athletic. Except for a couple of thin patches worn in her coat from scratching, she appeared to be in excellent health. I put her back in the kennel — no small feat — and went up front to tell them I would take her. They drew up the papers while I left for a couple of hours to do some work. Then I returned to pick up the newest member of our family.

There is frequently a problem introducing a new dog to an established one. Not in this case. Tommy had never been an only dog, as I bred him myself and had several adult schips as well as his sister and, later, Hana. Iris had been extremely friendly to the house dogs and cats running around the shelter office, and so I just brought her into the yard and let Tom out of the house. It was love at first sight. Tommy finally had someone to play with, Hana having been too old for the last several years, and Iris approached him with just enough submission mixed in with her playfulness.

From the family room, I could see John pull into the driveway when he got home from work. Then it was time to introduce her to her new daddy. I let John get through the gate into the back yard before letting both dogs out the back door. As she ran toward him, he guessed immediately who she was. "Is this Iris?" he asked as she got to him and jumped and wagged her tail furiously. No fear of men here, fortunately. As soon as he sat down in his chair in the living room, she was on his lap, kissing him madly. As I saw the delighted smile on his face, I knew I had done the right thing. Although he was still grieving for his lost Hana, he immediately fell in love with this exceptional little lady.

[to top of second column in this article]

[Iris]

I can’t describe what a delight Iris is. She has not set one foot wrong in the house. She has no propensity for chewing inappropriate objects, is, indeed, housebroken, and won’t even bark at the mailman…although I’m sure Tommy will change that by his bad example. She is completely affectionate, very playful and will cuddle when tired. She sleeps in the bed with the three of us, taking the spot at the head between John and me that Tom doesn’t want (he prefers the foot), curled up in a little ball, unless you pull the covers over her, at which time she stretches out into the longest small dog you can imagine. She plays with all the toys that Tommy never really did like.

The worst thing she’s done was to take a chew bone I gave her and bury it in the couch. She stuffed it down between the cushions and then industriously pushed the slipcover over it. In fact, she was so industrious about this that I finally realized that was the reason she had a pink spot on her nose. It was worn there from "burying" things. I finally had to take the bone away when her nose started bleeding.

Iris is one of the smartest dogs I have worked with, and I showed in obedience trials for 17 years. She learned to sit and lie down in three tries. Now she comes and sits on her own when we give treats. She’s learning to come on command, but that will go more slowly as she is intensely interested in the world around her. No bird or squirrel goes unnoticed — or unchased, I might add. We took a walk in one of our rural parks, and she was driven completely wild by all the smells and animal tracks. I do believe the ticking that is in her white coat comes from a hunting breed in her background, for she was enthralled by the fields of tufted grass and would have coursed them for hours if allowed. Unfortunately for her, she was on a 16-ft leash. Fortunately for me, the ice had gone from the road, or she would have killed me as she jerked me from one place to another.

On the whole, I cannot imagine a more perfect dog for us. She will play ball, tug-of-war and Frisbee with John…just like Hana enjoyed doing in her younger days. She will outlast me on hikes through the woods. She would be great at competitive agility if I wanted to do that. Her temperament and personality are marvelous.

And yet, someone else discarded her. Unbelievable! And no one else adopted her during the time she sat in the shelter. Inconceivable! My friend, Brenda, didn’t call me about the Westie that needed a new home (and whom we surely would have taken) a week ago because Hana wasn’t gone yet. All these coincidences led to her being brought into our family, and for that we will be eternally grateful. Thanks a million to all those people who could not see her potential. Your loss is truly our gain.

[Kitty Pokrzywinski]

[JAN. 17, 2001]  After several months of frigid temperatures, piles of snow and gray skies, most area gardeners are suffering from a severe case of cabin fever. Even though promises of warmer temperatures and the official start of the gardening season are still in the distant future, there are many things you can do right now to brighten up your home and spirit.

[click here for Part 1]

[click here for Part 2]

Forcing bulbs

Jennifer Krick, program coordinator at Washington Park Botanical Garden in Springfield,
says two of her favorite things to do this time of year are poring through garden catalogues
and forcing bulbs.

"This is a good time to go through catalogues and decide what kind of plants you want to try
next year," she said.

She also recommends forcing bulbs such as grape hyacinths and crocuses, two of her
favorites. "Bulbs are awesome. I especially like grape hyacinths, which are very easy to
force. You can plant them in soil or rock, stick them in a dark closet for 10 days, then place them in the sun and water them," she said.

Even though spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and crocuses usually signal the
beginning of spring in the Midwest, many bulbs can also be forced indoors during the winter
months. If properly planned, you can have the heady scent of spring flowers indoors from
January until spring.

The forcing of these bulbs actually begins in the fall, but you can buy some easy-to-force bulbs like hyacinths and paperwhites — a sweetly scented daffodil variety — throughout the winter months. Paperwhites and hyacinths are bulbs that do not need special treatment. Just plant them in rock, soil, marbles or any kind of material that will keep the bulbs from sitting in water, and watch them grow. It’s almost embarrassing how easy they are to grow and how much joy they bring from such little effort.

[to top of second column in this section]

For bulbs that need extra care to bloom, make sure to plan ahead in the fall. Buy good-
quality bulbs and well-drained potting mix. You’ll also need containers and cold storage facilities. Most bulbs can be forced, but best results are achieved by selecting varieties recommended for forcing and choosing large, firm bulbs.

The forcing procedure is as follows:

*Fill a container with potting mix; then place the bulbs in the pot so the tip of each bulb is
even or slightly below the rim of the container. Plant bulbs close together.

*Add potting mix and firm it around the bulbs, but don’t cover them. Keep soil level slightly
below the container rim. Water.

*Label each container as planted, including planting date.

*Place bulbs in a cold place like a root cellar or refrigerator for 12 to 16 weeks at a temperature of 40 to 45 degrees. The bulbs should be kept in the dark and watered periodically.

*After the designated time, place the bulbs in a cool, semi-dark location and keep the potting soil moist. Move the pots to a warmer area with direct sunlight when the sprouting shoots turn green. You should be rewarded with flowers in a few weeks.

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

[JAN. 17, 2001]  After several months of frigid temperatures, piles of snow and gray skies, most area gardeners are suffering from a severe case of cabin fever. Even though promises of warmer temperatures and the official start of the gardening season are still in the distant future, there are many things you can do right now to brighten up your home and spirit.

[click here for Part 1]

Indoor plants

Floral designers say placing a few blooming plants around your house can brighten up your home and your mood during even the dreariest of winter days. Sales of houseplants and blooming plants drastically increase from mid-January through February.

Plants are especially important after the holidays are over, when the house looks barren once the
Christmas decorations are stored away once again.

A few indoor blooming plants to try:

*Orchids. Dendrobium, paphiopedilum (ladyslipper orchid), phalaenopsis (moth orchid) and cymbidium will adjust to light from a west or south window. Be sure to research orchids before buying plants, because they are among the most expensive of houseplants and require special care, such as a bark chip planting medium and regular fertilizer. They are worth the trouble. Mature orchid plants will initiate at least one spike each winter, and blooms last two months or more.

*Cape primrose or steptocarpus. A blooming plant that's a cousin to the popular African violet, but easier to keep blooming. This plant sports long, fuzzy leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers in bright pink and purple shades.

*Angel-wing begonia. Similar to the common begonia found in many summer flower beds, this plant has great leaves and blooms.

*Clivia, Lady Clive or Duchess of Northumberland. Large masses of soft orange petals contrast nicely with shiny foliage. Although these plants are slow growers, mature plants bloom nicely. The secret to blooms is to keep the plants pot-bound. Allow the soil to dry out thoroughly between waterings beginning in October, then move the pot to a warm, sunny window in January and resume regular watering. A flower stem should appear within a month.

*Christmas cactus. If you received one as a gift this year, don't toss it out with the wrapping paper. This plant is easy to care for and will add a burst of color to any décor.

[to top of second column in this section]

Besides buying new blooming plants, winter is also an ideal time to thoroughly inspect the plants you already have and check for pests, diseases and problems. Poorly performing plants could signal poor growing conditions.

The correct amount of light is vital to indoor plants, and although a plant may not show the effect of inadequate light right away, it will eventually kill the plant.

Plants are usually classified as needing low, medium or high light. As a guide, consider that low light means light coming from a north window, medium from an east or west window, and high light coming from a south window. If the shadow cast by a window is barely noticeable, the light is low; if the shadow is present but indistinct, light is medium; and when the shadow is clearly visible, it’s a bright light. Choose plant types according to your existing light conditions.

Too much light can also be harmful to a plant and cause stunted growth and burned leaves. Sometimes placing a sheer curtain on the window is enough to correct the problem.

Plants sitting on a windowsill often grow toward the light, so turn the pots frequently.

Besides correct light, most plants also like humidity, which can be accomplished by a light misting several times a day. Another way to increase humidity levels for your plants is to group them together on a tray of wet gravel so pots will not sit directly in water.

Periodic grooming keeps houseplants looking their best. Clip dead flowers so the plant’s energy is spent on flower, not seed, production, and pinch the growing tips of foliage to encourage lush growth.

(To be continued)

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

[click here for Part 3:  Forcing bulbs]

[JAN. 16, 2001]  After several months of frigid temperatures, piles of snow and gray skies, most area gardeners are suffering from a severe case of cabin fever. Even though promises of warmer temperatures and the official start of the gardening season are still in the distant future, there are many things you can do right now to brighten up your home and spirit.

Quotes to brighten your winter days

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant. — Anne Bradstreet

In the depths of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. — Albert Camus

From December to March, there are for many of us three gardens — the garden outdoors, the garden of pots and bowls in the house, and the garden of  the mind’s eye. — Katherine S. White

We go, in winter’s biting wind,

On many a short-lived winter day,

With aching back but willing mind

To dig and double dig the clay.

— Ruth Pitter

Statuary, urns, gazing balls, ironwork and fountains are all being used indoors these days to bring the look of nature inside your home, helping a lot of people get through the depressing winter months.

Instead of wistfully counting the days until you can dig in the dirt, use the dreary days of winter to keep busy planning and preparing for the upcoming season. The cold months offer a great chance to analyze what you liked and didn’t like about last year’s garden and landscaping plan. Start a garden journal and sketch out plans for a new rose garden or make a list of what new vegetables you want to try this summer. Browse through the barrage of
seed catalogues filling your mailbox and make an order list. Bring in some garden furniture or garden accessories like sundials and birdhouses that may make their home in the summer garden but bring a breath of fresh air to your living or dining room.

One of the fastest ways to bring a hint of warmer days ahead into your home is adding some new houseplants.

(To be continued)

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

[to top of second column in this section]

February’s gardening chores

(source: County Living Gardener)

*Look through garden catalogs and place orders for bulbs, seeds and plants.

*Thoroughly clean any flats or pots for seedlings.

*Set aside a potting area for starting seeds indoors and gather necessary equipment.

*Sow the seeds that will need 10 to 12 weeks indoors before they can be transplanted outdoors.

*Beware of a February thaw!

*Continue looking for plant damage in the garden.

[click here for Part 2:  Indoor plants]

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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