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- Thursday, May 23, 2013 DAWSONVILLE, GA
Archive By Section - Lifestyle Columnists
Forsythia signals the arrival of spring
Early March can be one of the blandest times in the landscape. It can be downright depressing not being able to see any green leaves or any signs of colorful flowers. However, as the month moves on, March soon becomes one of my favorite times of the year. Seemingly out of nowhere, small clusters of bright yellow flowers begin to pop up on shrubs all over town. These flowers belong to one of the most revered shrubs in our area - forsythia.
Sticks, stones really not that bad after all
There are a few words that my child knows I will not tolerate being uttered. Fat. Stupid. Retarded. Hate. Ugly.
Take a dog’s approach to life
I wish I were more like my Border collie. Really, I do. She is the happiest soul I have ever met. Pumpkin has zero worries, is always happy to see everyone, and never gets upset - she's quick to forgive even after the Evil Beagle has attacked her over nothing. Of course, Pepper can either cuddle to make up for her poor manners or Pumpkin will sit on that rotten little hound's head, either one ...
Crabgrass control
After a chilly weekend with daytime temperatures in the 40s, it can be hard to think about your summer lawn. However, now is the time to start thinking about controlling that most hated of all lawn weeds - crabgrass. Crabgrass is a summer annual weed, which means it germinates in the early spring, grows throughout the summer, and dies off in early fall. By the time you see it invading your lawn in early summer ...
Every daughter’s nightmare, turning into Mama
My friend Ashley posted one of those funny photos on Facebook the other day that made me laugh - until I realized how true it was. It read: "Sometimes when I open my mouth, my mother comes out."
And you will call him ‘son’
The he'ing and she'ing started in Pre-K and a beautiful little angelic looking blonde announced to me she and Cole were to be married. "You have plenty of time to worry about getting married, Miss Mo," I told her. "You both have college, he has vet school to attend. This is a long way off."
Start spring with sale
I often get asked when the best time to plant is. Of course, the answer varies from plant to plant, but as a general rule, late-winter and early-spring are the best planting times for most. This timing gives the new plants time to build a strong root system before the harsh heat of summer sets in. This also happens to coincide with sunny days and warmer temperatures that drive gardeners back outside for a new season.
Watch for winter burn
Each spring, many homeowners in Georgia discover dead, brown foliage on their evergreen plants. Often mistaken for diseases, most of these dead spots are the result of cold damage. Even after a seemingly mild winter, evergreen plants in Georgia can still be susceptible to winter desiccation injury, also known as "winter burn."
Not quite smart enough for second grade math
Math is not one of my strong suits. When I was in grade school, I always preferred English, literature and science - namely because chemistry meant I had the opportunity to blow something up or at the least, start a fire. In college, I changed majors twice because of the math requirement. Heck, I actually ended up commuting to Mercer when I lived 20 minutes from Athens simply because I could avoid a statistics class ...
Celebrate Arbor Day
Arbor Day celebrates awareness of trees within our communities and promotes tree planting across the country. We all know the benefits trees bestowed upon us: Shade, cleaner air, erosion control, wind buffering, wildlife habitat and aesthetic beauty. Of course trees deserve an official day.
The sweetest of hearts
Love is in the air and all around us. Of course it is - tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Or the day some women get to shove it in other's faces that their guys are more romantic than theirs. I have lamented that I am not a romantic at heart; I yearn to be, would love to get caught up in the hoopla; maybe it's because I have never been the object of affection that would be in a romantic comedy.
My mama’s driving this crazy train
I love my Mama. I do. But if there is one person who can get me on the busy end of a hissie fit, it's that woman.
The difference between old dogs, Southern women
Inside my jaded little dark heart, I hold a tremendous amount of compassion for children, animals, the elderly and disabled. Three of my four dogs fall in three of those categories. They are old - their human year age rank up in the 90s - they can barely get around and need diapers for dogs; and well, the given is, they are dogs.
Liming your landscape
January and February are busy months for soil testing here at the extension office. Most people have some free time to prepare their lawns and gardens for the upcoming spring planting.
Farewell to old style filth and debauchery
I don't know how they are going to do it, but they are going to kill off J.R. Ewing. They tried before back in the '80s when Mary Crosby shot him. I remember it, even though I was probably about 8 or so. Mama guessed it was Sue Ellen's sister, Kristin, in the office contest and won a T-shirt that said "I Guessed Who Shot J.R."
Articles by Section - Lifestyle Columnists
Calibrate weed sprayers
I have answered many calls at the extension office in the past few weeks dealing with weed control in home lawns.
It truly takes a village to raise a child
"I don't like change," Cole said solemnly one day. "I'm like a cat that way."
The legend of my first cat, Callahan
"Mama, do you like cats?" Cole asked one day. This was shortly after I had brought the latest puppy home a few weeks ago.
Prevent termites
I have had several cases within the past year of people coming into my office, handing me a plastic baggy or jar filled with small, winged insects and saying: "Tell me those are flying ants!" Unfortunately, more often than not, they turn out to be termite flyers.
Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes the bug
Everyone has disappointments. It's a part of life and sometimes those disappointments can offer us many learning experiences.
Mama in Wonderland
One of my biggest pet peeves is someone being late. So why I am constantly late getting my child to school, I have no idea.
When to prune azaleas
Azaleas are a staple of traditional southern landscapes.
What causes pollen
Spring is a beautiful time of year. Longer days, green grass and leaves reappearing on the trees really brighten up my mood.
Controlling moles
Have you started noticing mysterious raised tunnels forming seemingly overnight in your lawn or garden? If so, you probably have a mole infestation. Don't worry, you are not alone. We have received many calls in the past week regarding tunneling activity.
My manifesto of life to my darling son
Children learn a lot more by what they see us doing than what we tell them. I can tell Cole all day long the things he shouldn't do, but it's my example he's watching. I don't want him to follow my example, but to be better than I am at this game of life.
Take pictures for diagnosis
We have all heard the saying "April showers bring May Flowers." Rainfall in April helps replenish our plants as they gear up for another growing season. However, this precipitation also brings unwanted consequences to our landscapes - disease.
Running with the big dogs
It had been a long time since I had a puppy and I forgot how much work they are. Middle of the night feedings and potty outings, crying incessantly. I think comparing them to a newborn would be reasonable. I was on night five of no sleep - Angel the parking lot pup would wake me up at 1 a.m., wanting to play after sleeping all day. I was exhausted.
Annual 4-H rabies clinic scheduled for April 13
Dawson County 4-H Club, All Animals Veterinary Hospital and Dawsonville Veterinary Hospital will be hosting an annual rabies clinic on April 13. It will be held at several locations throughout Dawson County. Because of strict vaccination laws, rabies outbreaks have become much less prevalent since vaccination programs began in the 1940s.
Once you name the puppy, it becomes yours
There was an unspoken law at my house growing up for every stray critter that managed to find its way in our yard. Once my uncle Bobby named it, it was ours. If the animal made it to day two without Bobby sticking some name on it, we were safe according to Granny. Of course, no animal made it beyond a few hours, let alone two days.
Middle of a mid-life crisis
I think when I turned 40, something happened. Not to my posterior either - that happened a long time before I hit the big 4-0.
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