Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. With summer, come visions of fresh veggies from the garden or from the local farmer’s market. I don’t have a garden now… too many pests to fight off, but I do have six potted tomato plants that I keep up close to the garage away from prying eyes and mouths. They are primarily cherry tomatoes, and the first few have ripened and been devoured. There is nothing like a tomato right off the bush. As a footnote, tomatoes are actually a fruit, but in 1893 the Supreme Court ruled…
Browsing: Commentary
If you are like me, then your heart is heavy this week. Actually, my heart has been heavy for longer than just this week, as our country is being torn apart from the inside out. This has been an emotional, frightening, and depressing week. But in reality, hasn’t every week provided us with something that makes our heart hurt? Two black men were shot and killed by police officers this week, and police officers in Dallas were killed in an alleged “revenge” style attack. There was death and destruction on our media networks streaming 24/7. How can you not be…
A few days after I arrived in Africa, I learned of the floods that ravaged the state of West Virginia and western portions of Virginia. My wife’s uncle was in White Sulphur Springs when this catastrophic event took place. He said that it had stormed and rained started at about 3 a.m. that morning, an unbelievable amount of rain fell in about an hour’s time in the afternoon. Rivers and creeks could not contain the torrent of water that would flow down from the mountains. Cars, houses, and people were swept away by what could be labeled the extreme of…
Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. Well, not so wonderful at this point in time. I finally decided to have my decade (plus) colonoscopy done Monday…so I’m sitting here on Sunday drinking this terrible tasting salt mixture. They want me to drink a gallon of this in five hours. I don’t drink that much water in two days, let alone in five hours! Plus I am not allowed to eat for the next 24 hours…so that kind of puts the crimp in the weekend activities. Then to add insult to injury…when I signed up to…
Hello, everyone, and happy belated Independence Day. July 4 is the mid-point of gardening season, too, as gardeners typically enjoy their hobby from April through October. By now, the early blooming plants are spent and the mid-season blooming plants are thriving. Half-way does not mean cruising to the finish line. Now is the time to give your landscape the mid-season jolt that can provide benefit for many weeks to come. Summer annuals require a little TLC at this time so they continue to produce the blooms which make them so attractive. Remove spent blooms and cut back weak stems. Fertilize…
Fire departments are dealing with an increased number of calls caused by issues with pool chemicals. There have been responses to both privately owned and public pools. While it is important to maintain pool water at proper levels, it is equally important that pool owners and mangers understand the chemicals that they are using. It is not my intent to make you hazardous materials specialists, but to prevent a hazardous environment. I will attempt to approach this from two directions: the cause and effect of problems associated with pool chemicals and the actions that you must take when a problem…
Hello and welcome back to the wonderful world of the Dogpound. We here in the pack, hope you had a great three day weekend…as for me, I don’t know yet. I am typing this ahead of schedule since my play-date book has been pretty full the past four weeks. As I mentioned in my past article, I had the opportunity to attend the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, where we got to stand in lines for hours under a hot sun, and pay $30 for two brats sandwiches and soft drinks…but what are you going to do? Then this…
To the Editor: I am writing this letter concerning the speed limit on West Hundred Road in both directions. The speed limit is 35mph not 55 or 60 mph. Why are you speeding every day? I see drivers of cars, pickup, FedEx, postal delivery and dump trucks as well as school buses speeding, also there is a work zone on Jefferson Davis Hwy past Lowe’s posted 35mph. Why are you speeding? I hope the police will start taken action as these speeders are breaking the law. I suppose they are late for work, school, doctor or dentist appointments, shopping, etc.…
To the Editor: In my 70 plus years,I have never seen a political candidate such as Donald Trump. He has his opponents, some in the media and even the RINO’S in the Republican Party. So far he has overcame them All. He has turned his back on Political Correctness, A Disease that is destroying America today) that some of our people and Politicians seem to be infected with. Speaking as a long-time member of the National Rifle Association, as Trump and his son are also members, our 5 Million member organization just Endorsed Trump for President. You can be sure…
Odocoileus virginianus – or the white-tailed deer as it is commonly known – will certainly cause people to stop and gaze at its activities. Many will comment on its beauty and grab their cell phone for pictures. Now put that same deer in your garden or manicured landscape, and your opinion may change. For over a decade, I have established my landscape while cohabitating with these guys. Here are a few lessons I have learned, as well as some cooperative extension research results that may serve you. Start with planting deer-resistant plants. I planted a few hostas when I first…