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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2009)
20 country living november 2009 Diggin’ In The Dirt: November is Downtime By Kim Camarda November for the gardener tends to be a downtime. We start to real- ize that the growing season and harvest are over and the mud is here. Beauty has to be seen in what’s been left to go to seed. Plans for next year start. Remem- ber the primrose and pansy can provide a nice variety of color for the winter season. The fragrant varieties are a nice winter surprise. Both are very cold tol- erant. For winter fragrance and bloom, I especially like the Sarcococca rusci- folia in the winter. Sometimes called sweetbox, it is an evergreen shrub with waxy oblong leaves and miniscule white flowers that waft in the cold winter air. It’s quite a fragrant surprise when most things smell of dirt and evergreens. Reduce fertilizer applications to your houseplants and frequently check them for bugs. Sticky residue, fluffy white powder and anemic-looking plants are all signs that you may have trouble. Often, a mild soapy water will rid your houseplants of many indoor pests. For color and a reminder of spring, you can force spring bulbs for indoor blooms in December through February. Good choices for winter flow- ering are tulips, narcissus (daffodils), hy- acinths, crocus, scillas, grape hyacinths, and lily of the valley can be forced into flower in late winter and early spring. A pot of tulips on the window sill in Febru- ary can bring a smile to any gardener’s face. An easy way to grow your paper- whites or hyacinths is to place them in a bowl with a few stones anchoring the bulbs then add enough water to reach the base of the bulbs, keep it filled to this level. Keep your paperwhites and hyacinths in a cool spot until they have rooted, then move them to a sunny win- dow. For blooms throughout the colder months, pot your bulbs one week apart then move them out as they start. For indoor winter amaryllis, place the root area of the amaryllis bulb in lukewarm water for a short while so that it gets a good shot of moisture be- fore potting. Next, plant it in a good quality potting soil at a depth where only the top of the bulb is showing. Amaryl- lis should be kept at room temperature and will require more watering once the leaves begin to grow. Once the flowers are finished and the stem begins to die back, you can cut them off and store them in a cool dark place. Be sure to keep information on the amaryllis types you purchase as some bloom only every second year. As with anything in nature, re- sults can and will vary. You can do ev- erything right and it can still go wrong. The surprise of gardening is what makes us try again and again. Sometimes re- search will give you information that is contradictory. You just have to stick with what works for you and expand on that. Barnyard News: Caring For Your Horse In Winter Horses usually adapt easily and quickly to winters; but it’s important to provide a little extra care during the colder winters we periodically have here-- especially the older, the younger and the health challenged horses Don’t forget to get a pre-winter dental check- up. If your horse isn’t grinding up food properly, he may not be getting all the nutrients and energy out of the food that he needs. Food is energy and energy creates warmth! Remember to check and keep the hooves in good condition, too. Well-trimmed hooves will chip less, hold less snow, and provide better grip on slippery ground. As pasture quality or accessibility decreases, increase hay. The best heat source for your horse is extra hay. During the cold weather, it’s better to in- crease the amount of hay than it is concentrated feeds. Hay is digested in the cecum and colon which results in heat production by bacterial fermentation. If you ping the stalls. Horses kept in air-tight stalls can develop respiratory problems, and direct drafts are a health hazard as well this time of year. Make sure the stalls are well-ventilated and ammonia from urine does not build up. If your stall floors are cement, add rub- ber matting or extra bedding for insulation. There are many different types of bedding and floor prod- ucts available. If they are on mud/dirt floors, keep them dry by rerouting the water in the first place. Do not expect a horse to stand ankle-deep in mud and remain healthy. I have also heard and read that a geotextile fabric (aka cow carpet) can be used over the dirt. Horses need to have a dry area to get into-- this will keep their hooves and legs healthier and less prone to diseases, bacteria and funguses. Be sure to provide adequate water during the winter. Horses may not drink enough if the water is very cold. Try to keep the water temperatures as far above freezing as possible to increase water consumption and avoid dehydration. Heated buck- ets are an option for very cold or freezing nights. Watch for frozen Remodeled Backyard Deck puddles around the water troughs. These can be really dangerous to your horse. Sprinkle alfalfa meal Live Music on the icy spots. Alfalfa contains “Lock, Stock & Barrel” nitrogen to promote melting and Good Southern Country Music has a texture to provide traction. November 6th 6-9:30PM Non-toxic and cheap! Fireplace ashes and plain old dirt can provide Grocer y and Liquor traction, too. Mon-Sat 8am to 6pm & Sun 9am to 5pm If you have concerns about your horse or other animals, you Café open daily f rom 9am - 4pm should always consider consulting 11139 Highway 202 - Birkenfeld with your veterinarian. are unsure of what to safely feed your horse, talk with your veterinarian so you don’t give your animal something that may cause him or her to colic. Consider blanketing during wet, very windy, or frigid weather. Like a wet down jacket, your horse’s haircoat loses its effectiveness and won’t hold body heat when it’s wet. Older horses, horses unused to the cold or clipped horses will need blanketing. Remove the blanket every day and brush your horse, checking for chafing and irritation from the blan- ket. Don’t neglect grooming during the winter. A dirty, matted coat loses much of its ability to insulate. Even if you put your horse in a stall during very cold weather, keep in mind it may still need blanketing. In the wild, horses forage, move continually and huddle together during cold weather to keep body tempera- tures up. These options are not available to a stalled horse and body temperatures can decline. Inside the barn, consider weather-strip- Birkenfeld Store and Café TACK, FEED AND FARM ENGLISH AND WESTERN November Specials! Featured Sale Items Include... (503) 755-2722 - Winter Horse Blankets $99.99-$149.99 - Atlas Wood Pellets $239/ton, $4.95/bag - Polar Shield Goat Coats $24.95 - Heated Bucket $34.95 - $48.95 - Tank De-Icer $37.95 - $47.95 Bedding Specials - Cedar Shavings $7.95 - Pine Shavings $8.95 - Straw $6.00/bale www.birkenfeldcountrystore.com We Carry Hillsboro Feed! Get It Locally! Get Ready For Winter expires 11/30/09 10% off next purchase (excludes Atlas Wood Pellets) Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm and Sun 12-4pm 1103 Bridge Street (on the corner of Rose & Bridge) Dawn@DoubleCTack.com 503-429-TACK (8225) www.doublectack.com Hunting Season is Here! Ammo - Rivers West - Calls - Cammo - Bog Boots - Binoculars - Scent Killers - Targets Family owned & operated for 40 years 834 Bridge St., Vernonia (503) 429-6364