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About The Redmond spokesman. (Redmond, Crook County, Or.) 1910-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 2021)
THE SPOKESMAN • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2021 P3 GARDENING CORNER ATTRACTING POLLINATORS Perennial plant of the year — calamint — has long lasting blooms BY LIZ DOUVILLE • For The Bulletin F ebruary is a good month to dedicate a small spiral note pad, one that fits in your purse or your pocket, to start a plant shopping list. You know my favorite saying: good memory but short. The Perennial Plant Association announced the 2021 Perennial Plant of the Year. It is calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta, or the common name of calamint, lesser calamint. Calamint has two important qualities that appeal to gardeners: bees and other pollinators work the long-lasting bloom period, plus the aromatic foliage is deer-resistant. One fact sheet described the foli- age as being mint-scented, orega- no-like foliage. Calamint is rated as hardy. It is probably less well-known in our area due to its plant hardiness rat- ing of Zone 5. Preference in plant selection for Central Oregon is usually for up to a Zone 4. The blooms differ from the blue tones of the more common walkers low catmint. Calamint blooms with plumes of tiny, tubular lilac to white flowers. The perennial needs full sun and soil that has good drainage. The low mounding or bushy habit is ideal for the front of a border or in rock gardens according to the Pe- rennial Plant Association. The National Garden Bureau has declared 2021 to be The Year of the Monarda. Monarda has a history of being used as a medicinal herb. The Oswego Indian tribe used the plant to make an herbal tea. They taught American settlers how to make it, which came in handy following the Boston Tea Party in 1773. The settlers revolted against the British tax on tea so the settlers thumbed their noses at the tax and drank monarda tea instead. The native plant was named for Nicholas Monardes, a physician from Seville. Monardes conducted trade between Seville and Ameri- can, part of which included receiv- ing medicinal plants. Monardes wrote about his findings in the publication “Joyfull Newse out of scented and unappealing to deer and rabbits. Some monarda variet- ies are more susceptible to powdery mildew than others. Jacob Cline, also spelled Kline, variety shows ex- cellent resistance to mildew. Wide spacing between plants is advised to promote good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew. Most monarda are listed as a growth height of 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. The height and width of this size make them valu- able as the back of a garden bed. Newer cultivars grow 8 to 12 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide. Make sure when you are shopping you are aware of the mature size of the variety. Companion plants could include oxeye daisy, blanket flower and the native white yarrow. If you are a trendsetter, you will be interested in the latest an- nouncement from Pantone for the 2021 Colors of the Year. The colors are Pantone 17-5104 Ultimate Gray plus Pantone 13- 0647 Illuminating (a vivid yellow). The color combination is intended to send the message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting. The bright yellow flower selec- tions would be easy to choose. The gray plant pallet for us would be more limiting. Dusty Miller, artem- esia varieties and Tanacetum come to mind. Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development in multiple industries from home fur- nishings, fashion and landscaping. Keep your notepad handy, we have lots to talk about in the com- ing months. File photo Monarda is a member of the mint family but it won’t take over the garden. The foliage is minty scented and unappealing to deer and rabbits. the Newe found World in 1577.” The plant was thought to soothe stings and bites from various in- sects resulting in the common name of bee balm. Monarda is cold hardy in plant hardiness Zones 3 to 9, plant in full sun with moderate moisture. Monarda is considered a pollina- tor magnet. Each one of the flower heads is a cluster of long tubular, nectar-filled blooms. The shape of the bloom makes it easy for but- terflies and hummingbirds to take a drink. Magenta or red varieties draw in the most pollinators to the garden. Bloom time is from mid-summer to fall. Monarda is a member of the mint family but it won’t take over the garden. The foliage is minty HEARING IS NOW MORE ESSENTIAL THAN EVER! MADRAS Miracle-Ear is here for you! Councilor offers resignation following Facebook row We have remained open to our community throughout this worldwide crisis to service our community with their hearing needs. We understand how crucial it is to hear and now more than ever. Curbside assistance is being offered along with personal care one-on-one appointments. Our offi ce is taking all precautions to provide a safe and clean offi ce for you to visit! Austin Throop called fellow official ‘pathetic terrorist’ for not wearing mask BY GARRETT ANDREWS The Bulletin A Madras City Councilor who drew ire for a Facebook post calling a fellow elected official a “terrorist” will resign. Austin Throop submitted his letter of resignation to the city administrator following a special meeting Friday to dis- cuss the online incident, ac- cording to Lysa Vattimo, city spokeswoman. Councilors ended the meet- ing by saying they would ac- cept public input and decide what to do with Throop at the council’s next meeting, Feb. 9. Now, the council will vote whether to approve Throop’s resignation on that day. His seat would be filled by the rest of council through an appointment process. “We’ve never had to do this before so we’re still figuring it out,” Vattimo said. Throop, 30, is a self-em- ployed web developer and life- long Central Oregon resident. He was a councilor for only two meetings after defeating Republican challenger Mathew Birchard in the November gen- eral election. Throop quickly set to ruf- - Colleen Greene, Bend Miracle-Ear patient of 12 years! Miracle-EarMINI TM Dean Guernsey/Bulletin file photo The “South Y” or the South Madras Gateway in Madras. On Jan. 27, Throop commented on a photo showing fellow councilor Jennifer Holcomb and three other people maskless at a local gym, calling them “pathetic terrorists.” fling feathers on the council, according to testimony from fellow councilors, who said he quarreled with them and wrote unprofessional communica- tions to staff. On Jan. 27, Throop com- mented on a photo showing fellow councilor Jennifer Hol- comb and three other people maskless at a local gym, calling them “pathetic terrorists.” He said Friday he was frus- trated with a movement un- derway in Madras involving business leaders and mem- bers of the city council to flout COVID-19 guidelines, which could accelerate the spread of the deadly virus. Holcomb read a statement Friday chastising Throop for his unprofessional conduct and calling on him to resign. Another incident involv- ing a councilor was discussed by the council Friday. Royce Embanks had raised his voice and stormed out of a meeting during public comment after a resident criticized Embanks’ wife, The Madras Pioneer re- ported. Embanks apologized and the council decided it was suf- ficient to not sanction him. e e 1 FOR $ 595 Save on Our Custom Digitial Hearing Aids! 2/12/21. ALL RECHARGEABLE HEARING AIDS % BOGO 50 off ff Save on Our Rechargeable Hearing Aids! 2/12/21. 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