Polk County Living
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 30, 2015 9A
Tip of the hat to top garden stories
The end of the year snuck
up on us and now come the
perennial lists — best
movies, top albums and
most-watched TV shows.
Not to be outdone, we pres-
ent the five most popular
Oregon State University Ex-
tension Service stories of
2015.
How this list was com-
piled is a bit unscientific. We
looked at which stories got
the most hits on the website;
how they panned out on
Facebook; and what experi-
ence tells us. Some articles
like renovating lawns, mak-
ing compost and harvesting
pears and apples regularly
make their way into the top
10.
A rundown of trees with
beautiful fall color grabbed
readers’ attention this year,
as did a wrap-up of cean-
othus (aka California lilac)
that perform best in western
Oregon. Not surprisingly,
people always want to learn
about aggravating and
sometimes devastating pest
and disease problems, edg-
ing stories on those matters
into top slots. In that catego-
ry, ash whiteflies and box-
wood blight were the biggies
for 2015.
But while all those topics
ranked near the top, five
others rose above. Here’s the
chance to take another look.
HOW TO GROW HOPS: It
was inevitable in beer-
thirsty, hop-growing Oregon
that home brewers would
K YM
P OKORNY
Licona
PHOTO BY LOTUS JOHNSON
Planting drought-tolerant perennials like pineapple
sage saves water, time and money.
an Extension horticulturist,
shares 10 suggestions of
water-wise perennials that
thrive with a minimum of
moisture. (http://bit.ly/
1S67hdi)
MOLES, VOLES AND GO-
PHERS: Nothing seems to
get to gardeners more than
these mound-making ro-
dents. Some eat roots and
bulbs, some rotor through
the lawn leaving long run-
ways where they’ve been
dining on grass. Others are
underground just eating
bugs, but still leaving trip-
worthy holes and mounded
soil. How you deal with
them depends on identify-
ing them correctly. Dana
Sanchez, an Extension
wildlife specialist, gives the
s c o o p. ( h t t p : / / b i t . l y /
1mwLnny)
SWEET POTATOES: Who
knew Oregonians would be
so excited about growing
sweet potatoes? It must be a
case of “I want what I can’t
have.” At least, that’s what
most people thought until
Gary Jordan, a master gar-
dener with OSU’s Extension,
set out to bust the myth.
And bust it he did. All it took
was one successful crop and
people wanted his secrets.
Only they’re not secrets. Jor-
dan will tell anyone listening
— or reading. (http://bit.ly
/1S67qxe)
P ATTY
T AYLOR
D UTCHER
Columnist
something most of us do as
a matter of habit — or hav-
ing thoughts about making
positive changes in our-
selves and our lives. It
seems like we all plan to
lose 20 pounds and love our
enemies and be one with
nature and the world, at
least for a couple of days or
so. Then reality rushes in
and most of the unrealistic
expectations disappear as
quickly as they arrived.
Wouldn’t be great if we
could make some positive
resolutions everyone can
live with — and enjoy —in
the coming year.
—
How about bundling up
in warm clothes on these
cold mornings and take a
walk around the neighbor-
hood? It’s a great way to beat
the winter doldrums and to
something good for yourself.
Better yet, talk a friend into
walking with you and cele-
brate the day with a cup of
coffee or hot chocolate at
one of MI Town’s restau-
rants. If you aren’t physically
able to get out and about,
take the time to write a letter
to a friend or family mem-
ber that you haven’t heard
from in a long time. A hand-
written letter brings a per-
sonal and special treat to a
friend or family member,
and can be taken out to be
read again and again.
Jayden Leonardo Licona was born to Daniel Licona and
Esmeralda Arredondo of Monmouth at 11:38 p.m. at
Salem Hospital Family Birth Center.
He weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and was 20 inches
long.
Jayden is the couple’s first child.
Grandparents are Elvira Landeros of Independence,
Porfirioa Arredondo of Salem, Jose Antonio Licona Escor-
cia and Maria Eugenia Licona of Moreno Valley, Calif.
Great-grandmother is Simona Ochoa of Independence.
MILITARY
Sipe
Riley Sipe, of Dallas, graduated from
the Marine Corps Recruit Depot on
Dec. 19.
Riley is the son of Bekki and Donald
Sipe. Grandparents are Sharon and
Lester Martin, both former Marines.
Siblings are Tim Huff, Mel Gross,
Brian Sipe and Jessica Pollen.
Riley is off to his future endeavors in
the Marine Corps. Semper Fi.
RESERVE NOW
2016 WHO’S WHO
MI TOWN
The beautiful Christmas
carols have taken flight
from the airwaves and it’s
somewhat bittersweet to say
good-bye to music that
helped transform the dark
and rainy days in this wintry
season. One moment, we’re
sharing good times and
making happy memories,
and it seems like in the
blink of an eye, we’re back
to our usual routines like
work and other responsibili-
ties. Let’s hope the true
meaning of the Christmas
season lingers in our hearts
throughout the next several
weeks, and we can look
back and remember those
special times.
—
With a brand-spanking
new year just around the
corner, it’s time to think
about making resolutions —
Henschel
Louisa Virginia Henschel was born to Raymond and
Evelyn Henschel of Salem at 4:02 p.m. on Dec. 18 at Salem
Hospital Family Birth Center.
She weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces, and was 19.75 inch-
es long.
Louisa joins Teddy, 4; and Elsie, 2.
Grandparents are Kathleen Edwards of Salem, and Ray
and Shelia Henschel of Monmouth.
Your
Garden
start raising their own.
They’re hungry for informa-
tion on how to get to the
point of harvesting precious
hops — or cones — from
fast-growing vines that can
easily get out of control.
Shaun Townsend, OSU hops
breeder, shares his wisdom
for growing, controlling and
enjoying. (http://bit.ly/
1QUYyJZ)
MASON BEES: In spring,
industrious mason bees are
busy pollinating the season’s
earliest-blooming plants.
Brooke Edmunds, a horti-
culturist with OSU’s Exten-
sion, makes a case for the
important place mason bees
have in the cool, wet shoul-
der season before honey-
bees wake from their winter
naps and tells you how to
get and keep them.
(http://bit.ly/1Ysjzlo)
DROUGHT-TOLERANT
PERENNIALS: It’s not exact-
ly the Sahara in western
Oregon, but summers are
hot and dry and setting
records for getting hotter
and drier. Even if that wasn’t
the case, saving water only
makes sense and many gar-
deners want all the informa-
tion they can get on this red-
hot topic. Gail Langellotto,
BIRTHS
—
A friend shared a great
New Year idea, and that’s
one resolution I am going to
keep. Set aside a jar (with a
lid) and put it, along with a
pencil and pad, on a kitchen
counter or a bedroom dress-
er where you know you will
see it every day. When good
things happen, write a note
and put it in the jar. Next
New Year’s Eve, open the jar
and read all the notes you’ve
saved and revisit all the
good and happy memories. I
have a pretty, blue Ball can-
ning jar that we’ll use — the
half-gallon size — as we
begin 2016 with hope and
optimism that it will be a
good year.
—
Best wishes to everyone
and have a safe and Happy
New Year!
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