by Kidd & Elizabeth in the Morning,posted Oct 26 2011 12:28PM
Forbes Magazine came out with their list of the best Christmas Deals this holiday season, check it out by clicking here.  Are you done with your Christmas shopping already?  When do you start putting up your decorations? When do you like to start hearing Christmas music on the radio?
I would like to hear Christmas music on the mix NOW!
11/05/2010 4:42AM
Jamie
I have not started my Christmas shopping yet and usually wait on the Christmas decorations until the middle of November. I can't wait until the Christmas music on the radio starts though! I wish it would start now! That is what really starts to get meinto the holiday spirit. Please don't make us wait any longer- start the Christmas music now!
11/05/2010 7:12AM
Mark
ASAP!!! It is so peaceful and relaxing!
11/05/2010 9:58AM
Calvin
5 days ago would of been nice! I want the Christmas Mix now and I know I'm not alone! The 99.1 Facebook page is filled with people requesting Christmas music! I know your getting emails and phone calls too! The stores are decorated for Christmas, Kohls is playing Christmas music, the Salvation Army red kettles are out with bells ringing and I just bought some Christmas lights today to hopefully put up this weekend!! It's time for the Christmas Mix!
11/05/2010 11:23AM
Jen D
Pleaaaaaaaaaaaase start the Christmas music now!! It's so relaxing to listen to. All the businesses are ready for Christmas. You might as well be too!
11/05/2010 12:10PM
Derek M
While I would love you to play Christmas Music now, I would just like to know a date so that we can look forward to it. Christmas Music on the radio is so much fun for a lot of people and everyone looks forward to Nov 1st because you usually swiched then. If that is not the case anymore, advertise another date and say this is when we will switch every year or around this time. Thanks and hopefully we will hear a date soon or Christmas Music.
11/05/2010 12:11PM
Mark
I want to hear the Christmas music now. I usually listen to a different station but I have been checking this one constantly just waiting to hear Christmas. Its so relaxing and cheerful and as we all know we could use more of that this time of year. Hurry up and switch to the holiday stuff please.
11/05/2010 2:45PM
Katie
My 9yr old can not wait anymore. She wants her christmas music now.
11/05/2010 3:31PM
Jessica M
I Would LOVE if you PLAYED CHRIRSTMAS MUSIC now.....PLEASE
11/05/2010 4:02PM
Josh
You should start Christmas nov.6 that's tommorow, it actually should of started nov.1st.
I have my outside Christmas lights up already.
Please play Christmas music NOW!
11/05/2010 7:24PM
Bryan
Want christmas music on the Mix NOW? Like us on facebook, and let's keep pressuring our favorite christmas music stations to make the flip NOW! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christmas-Music-on-Milwaukee-Radio/163322077025487
11/06/2010 6:38AM
Rachel
I tuned in November 1st when I thought the Mix would be playing Christmas music. I was SO sad when I realized the Christmas tunes haven't started yet. However, I still love the Mix! Start ASAP though!!!
On the flip side, I can understand why some wouldn't want it playing so early. People are focused on Thanksgiving right now.
Even though I want the music on now... maybe waiting until the day after Thanksgiving would be the right time?
11/06/2010 6:40AM
Ally S
Nah, I don't usually do my Christmas shopping until 2 weeks before the big day. Personally, I want to hear Christmas music on the Mix right now! But I know there are party poopers ;-) out there who don't want to hear it until after Thanksgiving. So I propose a compromise. How about starting the Christmas music November 14?
11/06/2010 4:48PM
Mike
WE NEED THE CHRISTMAS MUSIC NOW. AS SOON AS POSSABLE PLEASE PLAY IT. I went to target today it was all set up for Christmas AND the bell ringers are outside of the stores now!!!! PLEASE NOW!!!
11/06/2010 8:34PM
Martin
I have to say Nov 1st is the right time its the official start to the Holiday seasons lately. I would love for it to start anytime I enjoy it so much and since you have different music than I do on CDs its always a pleasure to do the Major holiday cleaning while listening to the Christmas mix.
11/07/2010 5:46AM
Mike
NOW PLEASE! As the weather gets colder it is nice to have christmas music to warm you up inside :) Even the guys at @thesantatracker (people behind santa-tracker.com) are calling you out!
11/07/2010 12:16PM
Jay
I'm so extremely happy to see other people want the Christmas music to start as badly as I do. I was all ready to go on Nov 1st and listen to that wonderful music only to have my heart broken.
Come on, don't make me beg for it. Please start the Christmasmusic?
11/07/2010 9:25PM
Martin
Just dont judge who is asking for it on here check out your facebook pageand 99.1s you will se many many people want to hear christmas music why not just ive what the people want?
11/08/2010 2:44AM
Joelle
Can you please start playing Christmas music this week. You guys play the best music at Christmas and this anticipation is killing me!! I can't focus on anything because I keep thinking about this!!!
11/08/2010 6:07AM
Martin
I dont get it people what Christmas music and your not playing it. You disappoint me so much. I dont know what kind of idiot is your station manager? Stations over the country are playing but not in Milwaukee Wi cause 99.1 is being a scrooge. I say BAH HUMBUG to you. If any other Milw starts playing it I will be going to them and staying.
11/08/2010 9:20AM
Jen
Cannot wait to hear the Christmas music. I am already halfway through my shopping and starting dragging my decorations out of storage to go up around Thanksgiving. Really puts me in a happy mood when I hear holiday music.
11/08/2010 12:07PM
Chris
Alright either play it now or tell us when you are going to play it this is like not announcing a day and time when the packer game is you will just have to flip through and find out yourself.
You guys are just ignorant and obviously don't care about the fans of your radio station who have been asking when and requesting christmas music for the past week. When you don't respond to your fans that have been asking that says that you don't care even though we all know you do put up a date so we can all know when to tune in and start enjoying our holiday season at that time
11/08/2010 1:16PM
Bob
First of all. I will take a guess and say Christmas music will start on Nov 12th. Which around the same date it started last year.
All of those people saying the station doesn't care about its listeners are being silly. They DO care. But, a radio station is also a business. With the new methods for radio ratings, stations need to be careful not to alienate existing users who are not ready for the format flip.
I'm pretty sure the audience who isn't ready for christmas music is bigger than the audience who is.
I for one LOVE Christmas music, but...it is WAY to early for that. I'd prefer they don't start it until Thanksgiving, but doubt they will wait that long..
11/08/2010 5:08PM
Jordan
Christmas music ASAP!! I would love to wake up tomorrow to christmas music! I have been in the christmas mood since september!!!! Don't let me down please and thank you!! :)
11/09/2010 6:16AM
Jordan
THANK YOU! haha I woke up to them previewing Christmas music! I guess i got what i asked for, but now how about some continuous Christmas music. :)
11/09/2010 3:33PM
Paul
I agree with some. You know when your going to start playing it, just inform people so they don't have to worry about it. Enough with all this "Santa tells us when to start"! Just inform people! I'm ready but why wouldn't you start? 2 years ago the Mix was the highest rated station around the time they were playing Christmas music.
11/10/2010 7:17AM
Paul
The least you could do is let everyone know the day you are going to start. WMYX knows exactly what day and time but enjoys the attention. They were the highest rated station 2 years ago around the holidays because of Christmas music. Enough with the "it's up to Santa" nonsense.
11/10/2010 1:56PM
Tara
NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW! PLEASE!! This is just plain mean! I need the Christmas music! How can you not listen at ALL to your listeners!?
11/12/2010 8:19AM
Cal
If it was up to Santa or your listeners. The Christmas music would of started November 1st!! My guess is some Scrooge there is delaying the start of Christmas music! Last I checked, the Grinch and Scrooge lost out to Christmas!!
11/13/2010 12:48AM
Kimberly
I Am 13 Years Old & I Always Look Forward To Listening To The Christmas Mix Every Year Im So Disapointed That You Haven't Started Playing It Yet , I Mean The Stores Already Have Christmas Decorations Up & At My House We've Already Started Decorating & People Around My Neighbor hood Have Already Started Decorating Too , I Absouloutly Love Love Love Christmas & It Sucks That I Can't Listen To The Christmas Mix Yet , But Please Tell Us When Your Gonna Start Playing It , Because As I Can See A Lot Of People Are Ready For It & Im Glad To See Im Not The Only Person Anxcious For Christmas Music . Also Im Homeschooled & I Always Looked Forward To Waking Up Every Morning & Doing My SchoolWork & Listening To The Christmas Mix It Was Something Fun So Pleasee Start Playing Christmas Music Soon . Thank You & Happy Holidays Kim (:
11/13/2010 2:34PM
ANDY
Man i cant believe christmas is a few weeks away and i cant wait to hear CHRISMAST music everysingle day on december. Come on we need that music now please
10/02/2011 3:25AM
rewfarasfvmsdr
Websites you should visit...
I really liked your blog, appreciate the great information....
How To Help Tornado Victims
The tornadoes in Moore, Oklahoma, as well the twisters as Kansas and Texas, have killed dozens and left thousands homeless. Officials expect the death toll to rise.
Relief efforts are underway. Right now, the best way to help the victims is a donation to major relief organizations.
Here is a list of organizations that are accepting donations:
American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund: Click HERE to donate online. You can also text REDCROSS to 909999 to immediately donate $10 to the Red Cross Disaster Fund.
Phone: 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767); for Spanish speakers, 1-800-257-7575; for TDD, 1-800-220-4095.
Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief: The Oklahoma Baptist Convention says says donations will "go straight to help those in need providing tree removal services, laundry services and meals to victims of disasters." For more information, and to donate, visit Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief's website by clicking HERE.
You can send checks to:
BGCO
Attn: Disaster Relief
3800 N. May Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK. 73112.
Salvation Army - The Salvation Army is deploying mobile kitchens that can serve to 2,500 people a day. Click HERE to donate via their website. You can also text the word STORM to 80888 to make a $10 donation from your mobile phone.
You can also donate to the Salvation Army via check: Put the words "Oklahoma Tornado Relief" on the check, and mail to:
The Salvation Army
P.O. Box 12600
Oklahoma City, OK. 73157.
Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).
Feeding America - Feeding America says it utilize its 200 foodbanks to deliver food and supplies. Click HERE for their website.
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma - Text the word FOOD to 32333 to donate $10 to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
How To Help Tornado Victims
The tornadoes in Moore, Oklahoma, as well the twisters as Kansas and Texas, have killed dozens and left thousands homeless. Officials expect the death toll to rise.
Relief efforts are underway. Right now, the best way to help the victims is a donation to major relief organizations.
Here is a list of organizations that are accepting donations:
American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund: Click HERE to donate online. You can also text REDCROSS to 909999 to immediately donate $10 to the Red Cross Disaster Fund.
Phone: 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767); for Spanish speakers, 1-800-257-7575; for TDD, 1-800-220-4095.
Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief: The Oklahoma Baptist Convention says says donations will "go straight to help those in need providing tree removal services, laundry services and meals to victims of disasters." For more information, and to donate, visit Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief's website by clicking HERE.
You can send checks to:
BGCO
Attn: Disaster Relief
3800 N. May Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK. 73112.
Salvation Army - The Salvation Army is deploying mobile kitchens that can serve to 2,500 people a day. Click HERE to donate via their website. You can also text the word STORM to 80888 to make a $10 donation from your mobile phone.
You can also donate to the Salvation Army via check: Put the words "Oklahoma Tornado Relief" on the check, and mail to:
The Salvation Army
P.O. Box 12600
Oklahoma City, OK. 73157.
Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).
Feeding America - Feeding America says it utilize its 200 foodbanks to deliver food and supplies. Click HERE for their website.
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma - Text the word FOOD to 32333 to donate $10 to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
Low Maintenance – Big Impact Perennials
Don't let a lack of time, energy or space stop you from growing perennials. Instead select and grow low maintenance plants with big impact.
Start with your design. Once you develop your plan, cut the number of different perennials in half and double the number of each. You will have fewer perennials to identify as they emerge in spring, less maintenance to learn and bigger impact.
Edge your beds to keep unwanted grass out of the bed and make managing the surrounding lawn much easier. I dig a small trench around the edge of my gardens and fill with woodchips.
Always select plants suited to your climate, soil and natural rainfall. You'll have healthier and more beautiful plants with much less work.
Look for perennials that require no staking and little or no deadheading. Avoid those that reseed, are aggressive and do not plant perennials that tend to escape the garden and invade our natural spaces.
A bit more information: Use color to help increase the impact without increasing the number of plants. Warm colors of red, orange and yellow grab your attention. Repeat colors, known as color echoing, from one plant to another to provide unity and balance. Use complementary colors, those across from each other on the artist color wheel, like red and green and blue and yellow to create a focal point.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Grow Your Own Pickles & Celebrate National Pickle Week
Celebrate National Pickle Week by growing a few of your own cucumbers for pickling.
All you need are a few seeds, a sunny location and a bit of garden space or a large container. Train these large vining plants up a fence, trellis or decorative obelisk to save space.
Consider planting National Pickling Cucumber Seeds developed by the National Pickle Packers Association and Michigan Agriculture Experiment station. These were bred for their versatility and perfect pickle shape. You'll be harvesting cucumbers in about 52 days after planting.
Or save some space with Bush pickle. This cucumber forms a 3 to 4 foot wide mound and produces an abundance of 4-inch fruit. It's a perfect size for containers. And save even more space and grow straighter fruit by training these smaller plants up a cage or trellis. Cucumbers are ready to pick in about 45 days.
A bit more information: Cucumbers are generally ready to harvest in 45 to 60 days after planting. This makes them a great option for mid and late season plantings. Just calculate the number of frost-free days left in the growing season to see how late you can plant. And further extend the season by using floating row covers like ReeMay, Harvest Guard, and Frost Covers to protect plants from frosty weather.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Celebrate Clean Air Month – Grow Some Air-Purifying Houseplants
Celebrate National Clean Air Month by growing a few houseplants to improve your indoor air quality.
NASA teamed up with PLANET (Professional Landcare Network, formerly ALCA) and found adding 15 to 18, 6 to 8 inch diameter container houseplants will improve the air quality in an 1800 square foot house. Keeping them healthy will increase their beauty and ability to cleanse the air.
Consider adding a bamboo palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii). Use this large houseplant to create a warm welcome for guests, dress up a blank wall or mix in with other houseplants for an impressive indoor garden.
This palm is an understory plant in Central America. It is hardy in zones 10 to 11 and adapted to the lower light conditions indoors. Grow it in a brightly lit location and keep the soil slightly moist.
Cut off fronds as they die, leaving the leafy stem covering intact. Once it is fully dried, remove to expose the attractive stems.
A bit more information: Start new plants by division. Remove suckers and offshoots that form at the base of the plant. Slide the bamboo palm out of its pot. Use a sharp knife or drywall saw to separate the offshoots from the main plant. Repot the parent plant and offshoots in a container slightly larger than the remaining root ball.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
We get your letters...
What an amazing weekend!
First of all, a very big THANK YOU to everyone who came out to Grafton and Mukwonago and waited in line amid cold, windy and rainy conditions for those Wisconsin Dells Season Opener Cards.
For me, it is a chance to meet / hang out with YOU the listener and give you goodies!
Second, got this letter from our 99.1 The Mix Contact Us forum, from the Dawson family of Port Washington and was truly surprised that my "simple gesture" warranted the following...
Question: Your Name:
Answer: Michelle
Question: Your City:
Answer: Port Washington
Comments:
Yesterday I took my parents to Grafton to wait for season opener cards. It was quite a cold morning. We arrived at 10 because in the past there have been huge lines. My mother is recovering from a recent open-heart surgery. She is a very petite older woman.
Van McNeil was interacting with people people in line and I asked him if it would be possible for my mom to going to the bank to warm up. He unexpectedly took my mom's hand and escorted her into the building. He was so kind to her and gave her a hug. He made sure she was warm and dry and took very good care of her.
My mom and dad are thrilled to be going to the Dells. Unknown to Van my dad just got out of The hospital last Friday after 4 1/2 weeks of being in. It's been a very rough couple of months for my parents and their health. My mother was just beaming about how nice Van was.
I wanted to thank you for the season opener cards which will allow my parents and my family to enjoy a vacation in Wisconsin this summer, and send a special thank you to Van for being so wonderful to my parents.
You're welcome and THANK YOU Michelle!
Just doing what I do because that's how my mama raised me!
Enjoy the Dells!
-Van
#everylistenermatters
Perennial Garden Renovations
Give your tired perennial garden a boost without a total renovation. Topdressing your garden with compost every year or two provides most if not all the nutrients your perennials need.
Pull back the mulch if needed. Then spread an inch of compost over the soil surface. You can buy a quality compost or make your own.
Leave the compost on the surface or lightly mix it into the soil. The earthworms, ground beetles, and other organisms will take it from there – moving the compost into the soil and around the plant roots where it is needed.
Or, do a bit of vertical mulching. Use an auger bit on your cordless drill. Simply drill holes into the soil between plants. Then fill the holes with compost. This gets the compost closer to the plant roots and soil organisms that will help mix it into and improve the soil.
Soil preparation and repair will help transform your garden.
A bit more information: Apply a plant strengthener such as JAZ spray to increase plant vigor and their natural ability to tolerate environmental stresses, insect attacks, and disease problems. These natural products aren't fertilizers or pesticides. They can be applied to established plants at the beginning of the season to boost their ability to deal with stress or as soon as problems arise.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Growing Banana Plants Indoors or Out
Add a bit of the tropics indoors or out with a banana plant.
The large leaves are great for screening views and creating a bit of privacy on a balcony, patio or in the yard. Add a wicker planter or chair and you have your own tropical get-away.
The fiber banana (Musa basjoo) is hardy in zones 5 to 11. It grows in full sun. It will die back to the ground and benefit from winter mulch in northern areas of its hardiness zone.
Less hardy and smaller, the blood banana (Musa acuminata 'Zebrina'), has large leaves with red markings on 6 to 8 foot plants. It's only hardy in zones 10 to 11, but can be overwintered as a houseplant or allowed to go dormant in other areas.
Combine these tropical beauties with palms, ginger and bird-of-paradise. Or add some hardy tropical look-alikes such as Japanese forest grass, large leaf hostas and trumpet vines.
A bit more information: Push the limits of your growing region with special wintering techniques developed by Dr. David Francko, author of Palms Won't Grow Here and Other Myths: Warm-Climate Plants for Cooler Areas. And for those in warmer regions check out Creating the Tropical Look.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Preserving the Asparagus Harvest
Preserve the flavor and nutrition of asparagus to enjoy year round.
This flavorful vegetable is low in calories and high in Vitamins A and C as well as fiber. Unfortunately, it is most readily available and at the best price in the spring.
Insure the best flavor with proper harvesting. Select young tender spears 8 to 10 inches tall. Wash, remove the ends, and then cut to fit the freezer bag or container.
Blanch the asparagus before freezing to lock in flavor, color and texture. Dip the asparagus into boiling water. You'll need a large pan with a lid. Blanch small spears for 2 minutes, medium spears for 3 minutes and large spears for 4 minutes.
Remove and immediately set the blanched spears in ice water for 5 minutes to cool. Drain and freeze.
And, if you don't have an asparagus patch, you may want to consider planting one this year.
A bit more information: May is National Asparagus Month. For tips on planting and harvesting asparagus listen to my audio tip. And check out the National Center for Home Food Preservation website for helpful tips and guidelines for preserving your harvest.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Mexican Mint Marigold (Tagetes lucida)
Add a little color and flavor to your garden and salads with Mexican tarragon.
This subtle beauty is really a type of marigold, but the leaves and flowers have a tarragon fragrance and flavor.
Wait until after the danger of frost has passed to plant this zone 8 to 10 hardy plant. Grow it in full sun to part shade and well-drained soils. It is somewhat drought tolerant. Northern gardeners can treat it like an annual and those in the northern range of its hardiness zone may see it die back to the ground in a hard freeze. But don't worry its root hardy.
The yellow flowers appear in late summer and persist through fall. The 14 to 20 inch tall plants make a nice addition to herb gardens and flowerbeds.
Harvest the new growth to use fresh. Preserve the flavor by freezing the leaves or storing in vinegar. They tend to lose their flavor when dried.
A bit more information: You can find this plant listed under several common names including Mexican tarragon, Texas tarragon, pericon, and sweet mace. No matter the common name you can use the leaves and blossoms in soups, sauces and chicken dishes as well as salads. Some gardeners even seep it for tea. Visit Bonnie Plants for more information and gardeners ideas for growing and using this plant in the garden.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Year of the Watermelon
Year of the Watermelon
The National Garden Bureau has declared 2013 the Year of the Watermelon. Be part of the celebration and consider planting watermelon in this year's garden.
Don't let the sweet flavor deceive you – these are nutritious as well as delicious. High in Vitamin C, low in fat and calories - it is a great way to boost your energy. Plus, all parts are edible.
You can pickle the rind, eat the fleshy portion fresh or roast or grind the seeds for flavoring. In china they stir fry watermelon while the Russians often pickle it before eating. You may want to try some new ways of enjoying this tasty summer treat.
Grow watermelon in full sun and well-drained soils. Save space by growing these plants on a trellis or decorative obelisk. Just secure the heavy fruit to the support with a cloth or macramé sling. Or plant a few seeds in a container and let the vines wander over your balcony or trellis.
A bit more information: Try planting one of the large picnic-type watermelons that can weigh 15 to 50 pounds. These are sure to get everyone in the family excited about growing and eating this, the largest edible fruit in the United States. Or perhaps you want to try one of the icebox melons that is much smaller at 5 to 15 pounds and easier to squeeze into the fridge. And don't forget about those with unique colored rinds and flesh and of course those that lack seeds.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Clematis Stem Wilt
Clematis Stem Wilt
Your clematis looks beautiful until suddenly the stems and leaves start turning black. Though it looks bad your clematis will survive.
The fungus that causes this disease enters your plant through wounds and cracks in the stem near ground level. Fortunately new growth arising below this point will be disease free.
Reduce future problems by pruning out and destroying infested stems. Disinfect tools between cuts to reduce the risk of spreading this disease.
As new growth emerges from the soil carefully secure it to the support to reduce the risk of cracking and damage. Eliminating the entryways for the fungus will reduce the risk of disease.
In the future consider planting the crown of the clematis below the soil surface. This allows the plant to produce new shoots below the point of infection.
Try growing small flowered clematis that tend to resist this disease. Alpina, macropetala and the viticella types are a few to consider.
A bit more information: For a disease to occur you must have the causal organism (fungus, bacteria, virus) present, disease-promoting weather and susceptible plants. Remove one of these factors and you eliminate the disease. Keep this in mind when managing clematis stem wilt and other plant diseases in your garden.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
I'm a fan, are you?
Who doesn't LOVE a good Roller Coaster? Am I right?! I've been so very lucky to been have rasied in the Midwest, a stones throw away from Six Flags Great America, where I practicaly spent my summers as kid with my best bud Edgar!
Mom and dad would drop us off at open and pick us up at close. 10a-10p. Don't think I could handle that now. Heck, I could barley make it on one run of Batman The Ride Backwards!
Yes, that's right, for a limited time this season, (BTW... I tried to find out when from officials, they wouldn't budge, so get there soon!) Batman The Ride will be running BACKWARDS!!
MOBILE USERS: Click here to WATCH Van rides Batman: The Ride Backwards!
www.SixFlags.com
My Lucky Brewers Socks
I've been wearing these sock to the last few games I have attended at Miller Park and the crew always wins when I have them on. Do you think my socks lucky?
Matt Nathanson AND Plain White T's coming to Festa!
YES! That headline is correct...Matt Nathanson AND the Plain White T's will be performing at Festa Italiana, Saturday night, July 20th and I have the honor of being your ON STAGE HOST!!
I'm super stoked and looking forward to hanging with Platinum-selling singer-song writer Matt Nathanson, and Grammy-nominated Chicago-bred Plain White T's again!
Check out the videos from both groups last visit to The Mix Studios:
WATCH Matt Nathanson Interview and Performance.
WATCH Plain White T's Interview and Performance.
Watch for and Prevent Borers on Trees and Shrubs
Extreme heat and cold, droughts and floods can leave our plants stressed and more susceptible to damaging borers.
These insects are the immature stage of moths and beetles that feed under the bark and inside the stems of plants. Their feeding weakens and in some cases kills the plant.
Many borers are opportunists, attacking already stressed trees. We can't control the weather but we can help reduce stress on our plants. Start by growing plants suited to the climate and growing conditions in your landscape.
Mulch the area under and around the base of trees and shrubs. Organic mulches like wood chips keep the roots cool and moist and reduce competition from grass and weeds.
Be sure to water new plantings thoroughly and as needed the first few years. And do the same for established trees and shrubs during extended drought. This will keep them healthy and help ward off borers.
A bit more information: Incorporate trees and shrubs into perennial planting beds. You will create an attractive garden and better environment for the plants. Plus, planting beds as well as mulching will reduce the need for hand trimming and will keep weed whips and mowers away from the trunks of the trees. And don't pile soil or mulch over the stems of shrubs and the trunks of trees. These practices create entryways for pests and encourage disease problems.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
Lawn Revival
If sparse, bare spots or lots of weeds describe your lawn, it is time for a little lawn revival.
Start by evaluating the current state of your lawn. If more than 60% is bare or filled with weeds, it is time to start over. Look at this as an opportunity to properly prepare the soil, select a more drought tolerant lawn or convert it into a no mow or low maintenance lawn or planting bed.
Overseed thin sparse lawns. Core aerate first or use a slit seeder to insure good seed-to-soil contact. For small bare spots use a lawn patch kit or make your own. Mix a handful of quality grass seed into a bucket of topsoil. Remove any dead grass and roughen the soil surface. Then sprinkle the commercial or homemade lawn patch over the prepared bare spot.
Keep the soil moist until the grass seed begins to grow.
A bit more information: Larger areas will benefit from the addition of organic matter into the top 6 inches of soil before sowing the grass seed or laying sod. Keep the soil moist until the sod has rooted into the soil below and the grass seed begins to grow. Consider overseeding the lawn to help create a more uniform appearance in the lawn. For more information, click here.
For more gardening tips, how-to videos, podcasts and more, visit www.melindamyers.com
