Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 27, 2015 9A
Polk County Living
Hanging baskets put the color in summer
Hanging a basket filled
with colorful plants gives
decks and gardens another
dimension.
“You’ll have color where
you wouldn’t have any oth-
erwise,” said Brooke Ed-
munds, a horticulturist for
Oregon State University’s
Extension Service.
With all the plants on the
market, getting started can
be intimidating, she ac-
knowledged. But checking
out finished hanging bas-
kets at garden centers or
looking through magazines
or books can help you figure
out the colors and designs
you like.
“Think about the finished
product — how you’d like it
to look — and go from
there,” she said.
A basket that will be
hanging high looks great
with trailing plants like
petunia, ivy geranium, cali-
brachoa, alyssum, lobelia,
verbena and fuchsia, she
said. If you choose a spot
where you’ll see the entire
container, think about the
“thriller, filler and spiller”
concept, which features a
taller plant in the middle,
K YM
P OKORNY
Your
Garden
clumping plants to fill in
and trailing plants around
the edge.
Thrillers include upright
geranium, nicotiana, salvia,
daisy and heliotrope. For a
more dramatic effect, high-
light extra-tall plants like
dracaena, small ornamental
grasses or cordyline. Around
the center choose clumpers
like upright geranium,
marigold, lantana, mound-
ing petunias, nemesia and
coleus.
When designing a hang-
ing container, Edmunds said
to determine how big plants
will be when fully grown and
then choose the number per
basket accordingly.
“You don’t want to use too
many at first or they won’t
reach their potential,” she
pointed out. “And too few
and the plants will never fill
in fully.”
Tips for hanging
baskets
• Choose a container that’s
not too heavy such as plastic,
peat or wire baskets lined with
moss or coir. Avoid materials
such as ceramic or terra cotta.
• Don’t use soil dug from the
garden because its heavy struc-
ture inhibits good drainage,
which is essential for containers of any kind. Instead, select
a good-quality potting mix. If reusing a basket from the pre-
vious year, replace the soil.
• If the potting soil doesn’t contain fertilizer, mix in a
slow-release type when planting. If plants start to look
ragged mid-season, apply a water-soluble fertilizer once a
week.
• Leave about an inch of space between soil and the top
of the container to allow room for watering.
• One way to tell when a basket needs water is to lift
up from the bottom. If it feels light, it’s time to water. As a
benchmark, do the test once when the basket has been wa-
tered so you’ll know the difference in weight.
• To keep the plants looking their best, pinch off dead
flowers at least once a week. Cut back foliage if it starts to
look leggy.
Most important, don’t mix
plants that perform best in
shade with those that do
best in sun.
“Definitely match plants
to conditions or they won’t
perform well,” Edmunds
said.
A guide put out by Exten-
sion’s Master Gardeners of-
fers additional ideas for
plants, plus detailed instruc-
tions on planting and main-
taining a hanging basket.
MI TOWN
Today I’ll be reading the I-
O online as I’m in sunny
Miami, to celebrate grand-
son MacKenzie Kram’s grad-
uation from high school. It’s
been quite a journey for
Mack, who has also been
awarded an academic schol-
arship to Miami-Dade Col-
lege. Mack was diagnosed
with autism when very
young, and we’re grateful for
the therapy, education and
hard work by his parents,
teachers and others who
have given him the opportu-
nity to reach these goals.
—
W i t h Me m o r i a l D a y
weekend just past, we all
celebrated the beginning of
summertime’s arrival to MI
Town and throughout our
wonderful Willamette Valley.
Whether your family trav-
eled to the Oregon coast or
to the mountains or down
by the riverside for the first
swim of the year, those
P ATTY
T AYLOR
D UTCHER
Columnist
three bonus days of sun-
shine and blue skies were
wonderful. Backyard picnics
with hot dogs, potato salad
and baked beans just
seemed to be the perfect
combination for a good
time for many of us. We
proudly flew Old Glory from
front porches and lamp
posts and took the time to
remember and honor all
veterans who have given so
much to ensure our coun-
try’s freedom — and sent
prayers and good wishes to
our best young men and
women who are proudly
serving in the armed forces
all over the world.
—
What a special treat to dis-
cover the Explore Polk Coun-
ty section tucked into last
week’s Itemizer-Observer.
Many MI Town’s businesses
and organizations were fea-
tured, as well as some really
fun places to go on upcom-
ing days and weekends. Ex-
plore Polk County is perfect
to share with family and
friends who will be visiting
during the summertime —
and we can plan many won-
derful activities without trav-
eling far from home.
—
This afternoon, stop by
the Hamersly Library on the
Western Oregon University
campus to meet former
WOU faculty member and
published writer, Kate Ris-
tau. She will be reading from
her recently published
young adult novel, ‘Shadow-
girl’ from 4 to 6 p.m.
Wednesday (today). Signed
LUCKIAMUTE
DOMESTIC WATER
COOPERATIVE
BOARD MEETING
Monday 7:00 p.m.
June 8th
503-838-2075
Location: Business Office
8585 Suver Rd. • Monmouth
7 – Auto swap meet
7 – Flea market
8 – 4-H archery club
9 – France School of Dance
9 – Open weigh-in
9 – Spring Valley Riders
10 – Polk Soil and Water Conservation
District budget hearing
11 – Dog obedience
11 – Spring Valley Riders
11 – Saddle-ites Meeting
12 – Gun show vendor setup
13-14 – Summer gun show
13 – Wagon Wheelers
Fitch - 100th
Charles H. Fitch was born
May 20, 1915, in San Francis-
co. He has resided in Polk
County since 1979. He re-
tired in 1977 as the vice-
president of Operations for
Aeronautical Radio Inc.
(ARINC) from Annapolis,
Md.
Charles enjoys going to
lunch at Murphy’s Grill in
Dallas, and he can be seen
scooting around Dallas in his
golf cart.
His family includes David
and Linda Fitch of Reno, Nev., Michael and Jackie Fitch of
Clearville, Pa., Richard and Lin Fitch of Cape May, N.J.,
step-daughter Alison Warman of Thousand Oaks, Calif.,
and step-sons Brian Bratager of Seattle, and Mack
Bratager of Seattle. He has seven grandchildren, 14 great-
grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.
BIRTHS
Nisley
Allison Faye Nisley was born to Austin and Natalie Nis-
ley of Woodburn at 2:08 p.m. on May 19 at Salem Hospital
Family Birth Center.
She weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounce, and was 20 inches
long.
Allison is the couple’s first child.
Grandparents are Scott and LouAnne Wagner of Dallas,
and Noel and Emilie Nisley of Hillsboro.
Great-grandparents are Ted and Alice Nisley of Culver,
and Larry and Lou Loomis of Independence.
VOLUNTEER CALENDAR
books will be available for
purchase.
—
Many MI Town residents
remember Howard Wilson
and all the good things he
did as a volunteer at the
Monmouth Senior Center,
where he helped with con-
struction and was a good
friend to all throughout the
years. Howard’s memorial
celebration will be Monday
at 11 a.m. at Monmouth
Christian Church, where he
was a dedicated member of
the congregation.
—
MI Town will be very busy
June 13, when newly-minted
university graduates, their
friends and family members
will celebrate commence-
ment at McArthur Stadium
on the WOU campus. The
doors open at 9 a.m., with
the graduation and com-
mencement exercises at 11
a.m.
FAIRGROUNDS CALENDAR
POLK COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
& EVENT CENTER
520 S. Pacific Highway (99W), Rickreall
503-623-3048 • www.co.polk.or.us/fair
—
MAY
28 – Dog obedience
—
JUNE
2 – Market meeting (Kids)
2 – 4-H rifle and pistol practice
4 – Dog obedience
6 – Flea market set-up
6 – Wagon Wheelers
MILESTONE
14-18 – SKP RV rally
16 – France School of Dance
16 – Spring Valley Riders
18 – Fair board meeting
18 – Dog obedience
19 – Hancock Fire training
22 – 4-H archery club
23 – France School of Dance
23 – Spring Valley Riders
25 – Dog obedience
27 – Rev Pro Wrestling
30 — France School of Dance
30 – Spring Valley Riders
Schedule Subject to Change
Gabrielle Haugen
Chosen for 2015 Congress of Future
Medical Leaders in Boston MA
A West Salem High School Junior
has been nominated to attend the Con-
gress of Future Medical Leaders on
June 24-26 2015. The Congress is an
honors only program for high school
students who want to become physi-
cians or go into medical research fields.
Gabrielle was nominated by D. Connie Mariano, the medical
Director of the National Academy of Future Physicians and Med-
ical Scientists based on her academic achievement, leadership
potential and determination to serve humanity in the field of
medicine.
During the three day Congress, she will join students from
across the country and hear Nobel Laureates and National
Medal of Science Winners talk about leading medical research;
be given advice from Ivy League and top medical school deans
on what to expect in medical school, witness stories told by pa-
tients who are living medical miracles and learn about cutting-
edge advances and the future in medicine and medical
technology.
Gabrielle is the daughter of Alan and Brenda (a 1979 alumni
of Dallas High) Haugen, and the granddaughter of Richard and
Renate Armstrong of Dallas, and Lou Haugen of Salem.
These Polk County groups would welcome individuals
who have time or expertise to volunteer. Organizations
that would like to be added to this list should call 503-
623-2373 or email IOnews@polkio.com.
—
• After DARC — 503-623-9501
• Arc of Polk County — 503-949-5552
• Central School District — 503-838-0030
• City of Dallas — 503-831-3502
• City of Independence — 503-838-1212
• City of Monmouth — 503-751-0145
• Crime Victims Assistance Program — 503-623-9268
• Dallas Area Chamber of Commerce — 503-623-2564
• Dallas Food Bank — 503-623-3578
• Dallas Kids, Inc. — 503-623-6419
• Dallas Police Department — 503-831-3582
• Dallas Public Library — 503-623-2633
• Dallas Retirement Village — 503-623-5581
• Dallas School District — 503-623-5594
• Delbert Hunter Arboretum — 503-623-7359
• Girl Scouts of Southwest Washington and Oregon — 503-
581-2451
• Ella Curran Food Bank — 503-838-1276
• Falls City Arts Center — 503-559-6291
• Falls City School District — 503-787-3531
• H-2-O — 503-831-4736
• HandsOn Mid-Willamette Valley — 503-363-1651
• Heron Pointe Assisted Living — 503-838-6850
• Independence Health and Rehabilitation — 503-838-0001
• Independence Public Library — 503-838-1811
• Kings Valley Charter School — 541-929-2134
• Luckiamute Watershed Council — 503-837-0237
• Meals on Wheels — 503-838-2084
• Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce — 503-
838-4268
• Monmouth-Independence YMCA — 503-838-4042
• Monmouth Public Library — 503-838-1932
• Northwest Human Services — 503-588-5828
• Oregon Child Development Coalition — 503-838-2745
• OSU Extension Service - Polk County — 503-623-8395
• Perrydale School District — 503-623-2040
• Polk County Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
— 503-623-9268, ext. 1301
• Polk Community Development Corporation — 503-831-
3173
• Polk County Community Emergency Response Team –
503-623-9396
• Polk County Museum — 503-623-6251
• Polk County Public Health — 503-623-8175
For a complete list visit www.polkio.com