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 Writing Samples by Linda Kay Harrison



 Anti-Mosquito Tips For Your Yard
By Linda Kay Harrison

There are few things in life that are as enjoyable and memorable as a warm summer evening out in the backyard,… and there is nothing that can ruin one as quickly as mosquitoes. Nothing sends us running indoors quite like that annoying little buzz in our ears that we know will turn into itchy welts later.  

The reality is that mosquitoes are more than just annoying.  Mosquitoes carry many diseases that can cause serious health issues.  So how do you go about driving away these tiny pests once they’ve made their appearance?

Here are some great environmentally low-impact tips to take back your yard.

1. Start by checking your yard for any sources standing water.  Female mosquitoes can lay up to 300 eggs at a time, and do so in multiple water filled locations.  Sources of standing water can be ponds, birdbaths, flower pots and sauces, kiddie pools, the dog’s water dish, even low spots in your lawn. 
1. Drain and cleanse birdbaths, pools, dishes and other standing water sources at least once a week. 
2. For ponds that you can’t drain weekly use mosquito dunks that are safe for fish and plants.  You can also use a product that contains Bacillus Thuringiensis, BT, which is a bacteria that kills mosquito larvae, but will not do harm to animals or humans.  Dennis’ 7 Dees has both of these products.
3. You might also add a spitter or fountain head to create movement in the water.  Mosquitoes use standing water to incubate eggs.
4. Stock your pond with fish that eat mosquito larvae like Shubunkins, Koi and Sarasa Comets.  These fish can eat up to 500 mosquito larvae a day.
   
2. Attract birds to your yard. A good bird population can make a huge difference in mosquito population. Many common backyard birds eat mosquitoes, so try putting out a bird feeder and a bird house. Don’t forget the hummingbird feeder. Over 10% of a hummingbird’s diet is small insects like mosquitoes.
3. Although some might say they’d rather have the mosquitoes, attracting bats to your yard is an excellent way to get rid of mosquitoes.  One bat can eat up to 600 mosquitoes in one hour! That’s a good reason to consider putting a bat house in your yard.
   
4. There are several plants you can use in your landscape and patio pots that will help you get rid of  mosquitoes naturally.  And most are beautiful and low maintenance.
1. Try planting crocosmia, monarda, fuchsia, honeysuckle and trumpet vine to attract hummingbirds.
2. Echinacea, coreopsis, and sunflowers attract finches and other insect-eating birds to your yard. 
3. Some plants repel mosquitoes with their scent. Sassafras and sweet basil repel mosquitoes for short distances, so these are good choices for the pots in and around seating areas, decks and patios.
   
   Other plants you might use for their various repellant qualities are:
   Citronella Grass (Cymbopogon nardus)
   Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
   Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
   Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
   Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)
   Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
   Garlic (Allium sativum)
   Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)
   Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.)
   Lavendar (Lavandula angustifolia )

         If you’re just itching to get outside, don’t let mosquitoes spoil your fun! 

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June Plant of the Month

Something Old, Something New, Something Easy, Something Blue
by Linda Kay Harrison

“I love it because it reminds me of my grandmother’s yard when I was little.”

I hear that a lot about hydrangeas. There is something nostalgic and even comforting about a hydrangea in bloom, their big soft mop-heads bobbing gracefully in the breeze.

Hydrangeas have been a part of our yards and gardens since the early 1800’s. No wonder they are so loved and well known. And while some of those original varieties like ‘Pee Gee’, are still available today, there are many new cultivars that bloom longer, stronger, and more beautiful than ever.

Some of the newer hydrangeas include the ‘Endless Summer’, ‘Incredi-Ball’, ‘Invincibelle’, and ‘Pistachio’, just to name a few. The blooms on these newer varieties can begin in May and continue through September. Some varieties can produce blooms up to 10” across. Others are so colorful they look like they’ve been finger painted by a kindergarten class.

Hydrangeas come in a wide variety of sizes from about 3 feet up to 8 feet tall. With some afternoon shade, and good acidic soil, they require very little effort to keep looking lovely year to year. Hydrangeas do benefit from a good ‘hair cut’ each year. Since most hydrangeas bloom on old wood, it’s best to prune them right after blooming.

Colors vary greatly too, from white, blue, red, purple, green and multi. In some cases, the color can even be controlled by the grower to “change” from pink to blue by changing the acidity of the soil. Blue seems to be the most popular color for hydrangeas, and one of the most amazing blue hydrangeas is Nikko Blue. It starts out a pale blue and becomes brighter with maturity. Add a little sulfur to make the soil a bit more acidic, and the Nikko Blue is almost neon blue.

Stop by and let us help you find the right hydrangea for your own little piece of nostalgia. At Dennis 7 Dees, we really do have “Something Old, Something New, Something Easy, Something Blue.”

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Sid's Silicone Situation
by Linda Kay Harrison

I really have a wonderful family.  Really, I do.  But we seem to have this one,… well… genetic flaw.  I’m not proud of it. Sometimes, (although rarely), I actually even try to hide it.  This was one of those times when I tried my darnedest, albeit unsuccessfully, to hide it.

The other night, I was sitting at my computer checking my email, when my sweetie, Sid, walked in and sat down beside me.

“I think I need your help.” He said nonchalantly, as he handed me a wadded up paper towel. “I think I got some silicone in my hair.”  He turned to show me the back of his head.

As I looked at his head, I felt that familiar feeling start deep down in my stomach, that ol’ family flaw…

The back of his head looked like the end result of a full-on sneeze from a bull mastiff.  There were big globs that looked like snot, with a fine snotty mist covering the surrounding area.  My stomach began to shake as that ol’ feeling grew stronger. I felt my face contorted as my eyes squinted and my cheeks tightened.  I struggled to control it.

“Um,… yeah, you do have a mess there…” I managed to get out. 

My shoulders began to tremble and shake. I was glad he was turned away from me so that he couldn’t see how hard I was fighting this urge – so that he couldn’t see how difficult it was for me to hide this hideous flaw.

“So what gets out silicone?” I snickered.  I was loosing the battle…

“Nothing. It’s 50 year silicone!” He sounded a bit put out.

“Nothing?!?” 

At this point, my entire body was racked with tremors.  I was picking gingerly at the mess in his hair with my fingers.  My cheeks ached. I wanted to let fly with the bust-a-gut laugh that I was trying so hard to suppress. 

“What about WD-40?  Paint thinner?  Acetone???”  I asked with tears in my eyes, still grateful that his back was turned to me.

“Nothing!” He responded, “It’s silicone for Christ sake. It’s meant to stand up to anything and everything!”  His frustration was apparent now. “Can’t you just comb it out or something?” 

“Uh,…” *snicker*, “A,… a comb is NOT going through this,…” I giggled, poking at matted blob with my finger. I was trying to leave him some small shred of dignity, but OH GOD, it was hard!

 “Well then CUT it out!”  I could tell he felt foolish,… poor bastard.  *snort!*

The hair/silicone globs were matted and stuck so tight, right to his scalp.  There were two different places that were about the size of quarters. I had to peel the plastered mess off his skin before I could even begin to cut it away.  He howled in pain as I did so, which didn’t help any in trying to suppress the urge to laugh.  I could see it pulling on his skin. *giggle*   I’d peel and snip and snicker,… peel, snip, snicker…

“God damn, can’t you be gentle?”  He whined. “Am I bleeding???”

“Not yet,…”  I tittered.  Oh, man, I was sure I was gonna pee my pants.

“Well, I’m glad you get so much enjoyment from my pain, you evil Witch!”  He tried to share a little humor.

“Oh, buddy,… you have NO friggin’ idea…”  I muttered under my breath.

More peel, snip, snicker… I worked on the mess for about 20 minutes.  Peel, snip, snicker.  Then I suggested he go take a hot shower to possibly loosen up the remaining silicone.  We both needed a break anyway. 

So Sweet Sid hit the shower, and I locked myself in the other bathroom and let fly with a fit of laughter that made my stomach hurt.  I tried to call my sister, because that’s another part of that little family flaw, the sick-o need to share.

At the end of the cutting, he had two huge bald holes in the back of his head, with an occasional tuft of ragged hair sticking out.  He reminded me of my sister’s dog, Daisy,  The one that had the serious case of ‘mange’.  Eew! 

So now, you have to understand something here,…  Sid has the most beautiful black hair I have ever seen.  At 56 years old, it is full, think and not a gray hair in it. It WAS beautiful. (WAS being the operative word there… *snort!*)

I told him we should do a full haircut, and cut it really short so that everything kind of blended in and the holes wouldn’t be so obvious.  But his response was, “Oh don’t worry about it.  It’s fine!  I can’t see it.”  He truly couldn’t care less.

But the problem is, I CAN still see it, and every single time I do,… I feel that feeling again… it starts in my stomach,  then my shoulders begin to shake....

P.S.  I’ve tried twice to sneak up behind him with a camera, but he keeps catching me!!! 

(BAD GIRLFRIEND!  BAD!!!)   *giggle…*


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The Matriarch of the Pacific NorthwestMay 2012by Linda Kay Harrison

When you mention the Pacific Northwest, one of the first things that come to mind is the magnificent rhododendrons that seem to be everywhere. Their spring display can be seen in front of homes, along shopping centers, and around commercial buildings. rhodys, like us, love the Pacific Northwest; and we in return, love rhodys. Why is that?

For starters, rhododendrons love shade from the hot afternoon sun and they like moist acidic soil. We have plenty of both here, and because of that, rhodys are very easy to care for.

When newly planted, rhododendrons do need watering on a regular basis, but once established, they are usually happy with getting their moisture from the rain. They do need good drainage, so we suggest planting them with our Black Forest compost to break up the clay soil. If planted in dry area, you can also top dress with Black Forest to help hold moisture.

Rhododendrons typically bloom without much effort, but an organic fertilizer, like Dr. Earth’s Rhododendron and Azalea Fertilizer can boost blooming to amazing levels. Fertilize once a year, either in the fall or early spring.

In addition to being easy to care for, we also love our rhodys because they are so versatile. They are evergreen, come in sizes from 1.5 feet to 12 feet, and bloom in almost every color, white, pink, red, purple, yellow and orange.

Newer varieties flower longer and at different times, from late winter to late spring. If the right cultivars are planted together, you can have rhododendrons blooming in your yard for about 3 months.

Rhodys are at their best in a natural, woodsy type setting, but can also pull off a very formal look. Under-plant your rhododendrons with other acid loving plants like ferns, calluna, hardy gardenias and rock rose.

Visit any Dennis 7 Dees for a great assortment of rhodys and all the professional assistance needed to choose the right ones for your garden.

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Container Gardening On A Small Balcony

by Linda Kay Harrison

My 3 year old granddaughter, Koby, has been fascinated by the flowers and vines I have growing on the tiny balcony of our apartment. It dawned on me that, being a city girl, she’s never experienced gardening, or even seen a garden.To Koby, food comes from a grocery store, and flowers are often just seen from a distance.So when I noticed that the strawberries at work, (the Dennis 7 Dees on Butner Rd.), had some big, almost ripe berries on them, I decided to grow some on my balcony for Koby. So I chose two Quinalts and two Tristar strawberry plants because they are everbearing and tasty.I also bought one Hood, because they are the sweetest strawberries I’ve ever eaten. (It’s a shame Hoods are only a June producer, but they are so yummy I had to have at least one.)

When Koby saw that I had big red strawberries growing in a planter, her eyes grew wide with excitement.“Mommy, look!Grandma Lala has strawberries with leaves!”To her, strawberries have always come in a clear plastic container from Albertsons.She was pretty impressed that Grandma Lala could make them appear on plants. We picked those first few ripe berries and she was hooked.Knowing that my five little strawberry plants were not going to produce enough berries to keep a 3 year old's attention, I also added raspberries. Now, every day, as soon as she gets home from her daycare, she runs to the balcony to check to see if any berries have ripened since the day before.

Now, my little balcony garden , no… OUR little balcony garden has flowers, vines, strawberries, raspberries, and even a bonsai’d Virginia creeper.I can't believe how fun it is to share gardening with a toddler.