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Show The Magna TimesAVest Valley News, April 18, 2002 5 Garden Spring into garden color Earth Day Celebration Color is starting to creep back into our landscapes. Bulbs are beginning to blossom, and spring perennials will soon bloom. Before long we will be shopping at nurseries and garden centers, picking out annuals of every color to fill the empty spaces in our yards. Consider these tips to help make your landscape colorful and interesting: . Plan what to plant in the vacant spaces. Design the flower bed before ever entering a garden center. This ensures that the flowers will fit the design and not the other way around. Begin by measuring the flower beds. Then use graph paper and draw the beds to scale. To make it easy, make one square on the paper equal one square foot. Make drawings as close as possible to the actual shape of the beds, then make several copies. Next, use colored pencils or crayons to start the design. Draw in borders and group plantings, indicating desired colors and mixes. Play around and have fun with the design. Do not think about the type of flowers, just use the colors and pretend any color is available. If you don't like the design, you can always use another copy and start again. You do not have to be an artist to design a beautiful flower bed. Any color will look better than brown. Certain colors give different effects. Warm colors such as red, yellow and orange, bring a sunny feeling to a cool shady area. Celebrate Mother Earth and learn how you can make a difference as Hogle Zoo pays honor to the earth and its inhabitants. Earth day activities will begin Saturday, April 20 at Hogle Zoo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cooler colors such as blue, green and violet bring a soothing coolness to a hot patio or walkway. Complementary colors draprovide matic plantings. ' Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel, so plant blues with oranges, purples with yellows or reds with greens. Interesting designs include complementary plantings. Purple nierembergia is attractive planted with deep yellow Dahlberg daisies. Harmonious colors can make a garden. Harmonious colors are next to each other on the color wheel, such as combinations of red with purple or orange, blue with purple or green, yellow with green or orange, or orange with yellow or red. These plantings are not as vivid but have a more softening effect. This is why red geraniums look at home surrounded by violet and pink lobelia or alyssum. g, soft-looki- Monochromatic plant- ings can also be quite attrac tive. These color schemes use different flowers in a single color throughout a flower . bed. For example, an allpink garden might use pink geraniums, petunias, verbena and vinca. The different hues and forms add interest and appeal. After determining the colors needed to fill the design, calculate the need- ed flowers by counting the number of squares on the graph paper in any color. Most annuals are planted on one-focenters. However, you may consider planting them closer so they fill in quickly and look full the entire summer. The last step is going to the nursery to buy the flowers in the desired colors, taking them home and incorporating them into the beds. Try different annuals from year to year. You may consider staying away from the predictable petunias and marigolds. There are many other beautiful annuals with fewer problems and that are in less demand during the spring planting rush. ot For more information on gardening see: Children of all ages are invited to participate in the "All Species Parade." Everyone is invited to dress up as their favorite animal, or have their face painted the day of the event, and parade through the Zoo. Everyone is welcome to participate in the costumed parade to celebrate the diversity of life and to raise awareness about the plight of all species. Young participants (12 and under) will be given prizes for the best, scariest, cutest, most original and realistic costumes. Dazzle animals and other visitors alike! for the parade is requested. Check the zoo's website at www.hoglezoo.org for a registration form. Children from Shriner's Hospital, Volunteers of America and the Christmas Box House will also be participating in the parade. The parade will begin at a.m. in the zoo's Entry Plaza. At the end of the parade, join Hogle Zoo's Executive Director Craig Dinsmore as he greets parade participants and welcome everyone to the Earth Day activities. Guests may participate in the Earth Day Craft Carnival. The craft carnival will include activities where kids of all ages can make a potato porcupine planter, make a bracelet or button, decorate their own visor to protect them from the sun and many other crafts. There is an additional cost for the craft carnival with all proceeds benefiting Hogle Zoo. Wind your way through the conservation maze. This maze will teach young and old about the right choices to make to help our Earth and its inhabitants stay healthy. Check out the future of automobile industry and see some of the new "hybrid" gas and electric powered cars. Visitors will receive a seedling to start their own 1 1 "green space" at home. Enjoy the grace of the Native American dancers as they uniquely honor Mother Earth, listen to the storytellers, take a "Zoofari Tour" of the Zoo or meet with Hogle Zoo animal care staff to leam about the Zoo's animals. Visitors will have a chance to leam all about Earth Day from more than 30 conservation organizations and environmental groups in attendance at the event. Guests are encouraged to ride Trax to the University Station and then hop on board bus 4 to ride to the Zoo. Those who show their April 20 Trax ticket at the Zoo's admission window will receive a $1 off the regular admission price. Guests who also have a transit pass from UTA can also receive a $1 off the regular admission price when they show their pass at the admission window on April 20. Admission to Hogle Zoo is $7 for adults (age $5 for children (age and seniors (age 65 and older). Children two and under are free. 13-64- ), Water, Water Everywhere are some tips (NAPSA)-Her- e on the intelligent use of water for gardening : lawns Avoid and gardens. Instead of watering for 20 minutes straight, water four times for five minutes each session. This allows water to soak in while minimizing runoff. Watering in the evening isn't a good idea because leaf surfaces, can remain wet NunirsiiiM over-wateri- fungal diseases. Try to water between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. when the sun is low, winds are calm and temperatures are cool. Divide your yard and landscaping into separate irrigation zones so grass can be watered separately and more often than groundcovers, shrubs and trees. Trim grass at a higher mower setting to shade roots overnight-invitin- g from sunlight and encourage deeper roots. Consider direct application of water to roots using low volume "drip" emitters. By applying water slowly to soil, drip irrigation is by far the most efficient way to water. g Mulch, a layer of material covering the soil surface around plants, conserves water significantly. Horn Costs Worry Yon? SENIORS UNAWARE OF GOVERNMENT ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM FOR NURSING HOME CARE! Learn about a government entitlement program that pays for nursing home care. Seniors are permitted to keep their Home and Money. There are alternatives to lone term care insurance. Call (Toll free 24 hrs.) To hear about a FREE SEMINAR Tues. April 23, 10am or 1pm Hunter Library, 4740 W. 4100 S., West Valley City Sponsored by SLC Elder Law Attorney, Jeffrey Brown FOR SENIORS (If married, both spouses should attend) I COPY! non-livin- |