10 Man Christmas Gift Ideas

Finding the right gift for my dad, fathers-in-law, brothers and brothers-in-law is always a little challenging for me. These guys don't ask for much. As a group, they are pretty content. They work hard and if they get an idea for something they want, they figure out a way to get it. When I finally think I've got their styles down, they change their whole look. I'm serious! And if I even dared to venture into the world of gadgets, I am sure to pick out the ones they'll never use.

4. Cure for Memory Loss - If there is an item he is always losing, get him one for every room of the house...and the car, if need be! For instance, guitar picks (that would be for my husband), pairs of scissors, nail clippers, slippers, tools, vitamins, ...you get the idea.8. Relaxation at Its Best - There isn't a guy I know who wouldn't want a really comfortable recliner. You can find sales on new ones all the time or if you really need to save, check out the classified ads in your newspaper or some good local used furniture stores. The ones I like to visit regularly have nice recliners at very discounted prices. Whatever you do, sit in the chair before you buy it. Some are more comfortable than others.3. Memory Film - Collect slides, photos or video footage of him as a child on one video or DVD. Put it together yourself using a home editing program, order a package deal from a reputable editing company or hire someone you know to do it for you. Add his favorite music as the background sound.10. One Man's Treasure - What does this guy collect and treasure? Make him a display or collage to put up in his office, garage or room. You may need a shelf to hold things, a board to pin items to, a scrapbook, or a closed cabinet to protect his collection. If you can't think of anything he collects, it may be that he is like my dad, who treasures his friends more than any of his "stuff". He would enjoy a framed collage with photos of his hundreds of friends.1. T-shirt With a Funny Saying - Look online for a company that specializes in unique shirts or create your own with fabric paints or markers. You can put a joke with the first line on the front of the t-shirt and the punch line on the back OR you can find humorous quotes from one of this man's favorite authors, politicians or celebrities. One idea is to take a solid colored t-shirt and put a big gold star on it that says, "TV Sheriff" with the words "REMOTE CONTROL" on the pocket. Whatever saying you choose, make him extra happy by getting the right size t-shirt. My husband is a smaller guy who really appreciates a shirt that fits him properly, after receiving many that could fit two of him! Don't forget that 100% cotton will shrink some the first time it is washed.Well here are ten man holiday gift ideas I have found that almost any guy would like. Quite a few are humorous, maybe because my favorite thing to do for all these hard working men, is lighten them up.6. Night of Laughs - Order him a new or used DVD of his favorite comedian doing a stand up routine. Give him tickets to a local comedy club. Download hilarious clips from the internet, creating your own collection. Whatever you do, make him laugh.2. Rare Indoor Plant - Where I see caring for plants as a chore, many guys I know look at it as an art form. My brother-in-law collects bonsai trees, carefully working them into the shape he plans. He shows us pictures of miniature oaks and maples with the button sized leaves turning gold and red in the fall. My husband enjoys miniature cactus and has kept one growing in a tiny cup of sand since we got married almost ten years ago. Read up on plants that would match with your guy's lifestyle, decor or interests. Consider a plant from his favorite country or one mentioned in a book or movie he likes.9. Special Delivery - Find a toy truck he would like - dumptruck, low rider, antique pickup - at a toy store or antique store. Fill the bed of the truck with all his favorite goodies such as candy bars, homemade cookies, caramels, etc. If you really want to surprise him, hide a gift certificate underneath all the treats.

10. One Man's Treasure - What does this guy collect and treasure? Make him a display or collage to put up in his office, garage or room. You may need a shelf to hold things, a board to pin items to, a scrapbook, or a closed cabinet to protect his collection. If you can't think of anything he collects, it may be that he is like my dad, who treasures his friends more than any of his "stuff". He would enjoy a framed collage with photos of his hundreds of friends.

Thanksgiving Gift Ideas

Most people I know don't expect a gift in the fall. That's what makes a Thanksgiving gift idea so much fun. I don't have to get anything expensive. I don't have to search for the "perfect" gift. I simply have fun putting together a hostess gift or fall holiday gift basket. Its a way I like to say thank you to my friends and family and celebrate the coming cold weather - we've got to celebrate it or else we'll mourn it!

Fall Scene Puzzle to Work on After DinnerCouple Dozen Fresh or Mail Ordered Tamales OR Other Prepared Ethnic Food for a Day After Thanksgiving FeastNew Ornament, Lights, or Other Holiday Decoration plus a Commitment that You Will Come Help Decorate for an Hour or TwoCeramic Pumpkin Dish (with lid) OR Fall Themed Tin Filled with Dried CranberriesThanksgiving Cactus (which blooms in November, not to be confused with the Christmas Cactus which blooms in December)With all the other holiday expenses on the way, I don't want to spend more than ten or twenty dollars on a Thanksgiving gift idea. Better yet, I like free gifts I can make or put together myself. These are all my favorites:Have a very happy Thanksgiving!Pumpkin Spice Bread MixSupplies For a Letter Box Hunt Including Stamp, Ink Pad, Notepad and Directions for a Local Hunt (Find out more about letterboxing at www.letterboxing.org . My children love this treasure hunt activity. I love the exercise we get while doing it.)Plan ahead for an activity Thanksgiving gift idea to draw family and friends together and create your own traditions:Party Music - Buy new OR create a custom mixture tape or CD at home.Wreath for Door OR Table Center PieceNutcracker and Bag of NutsSmall Booklet or Scrapbook Titled "Things I Love About My Family" - Pass it around for everyone to write in.Framed Fall Themed Photo of You or Your Family - Years ago, my mom and dad got all seven of my siblings and me to dress in jeans and flannel shirts and took us to the Oklahoma Ouchita mountains for a photo shoot. The photographer? My future husband! And boy, did he take some nice pictures. You might also use a photo from a past Thanksgiving gathering.A Scavenger Hunt List with a prize for the Winning Team or PersonSeasonal CookbookLight Solid Colored Table Cloth and Fabric Markers - Have family and friends write on the tablecloth what they are thankful for, along with a signature and date. Make it a yearly tradition to add thank-you's to the tablecloth.Use these personal Thanksgiving gift ideas for friends and co-workers who need to know that you are thankful to be apart of their lives:Memory Jar - Cut colored paper into small pieces. Using just a few words, write on each one a memory of an experience you had with the recipient that you are thankful for. Keep your memories short so you have time to think of dozens.Jar of Gourmet Cranberry Relish or Apple ButterIf you are invited to dinner, bring a quick and easy gift for the cook or the other guests:An Apron - There are pretty aprons, funny aprons, white chef aprons. Take your pick.Holiday Organizer Notebook - You can buy one or put it together yourself with an ordinary spiral notebook, scrapbook or wrapping paper, stickers and headings like: Winter Calandar, Work/School Gift List, Family Gift List, Friends Gift List, Holiday Meal Planning, Events/PartiesSample of One of Your Favorite Holiday Dishes plus a Hand Written Copy of the Recipe - When I give a recipe as a Gift, I like to include a little story or memory about that recipe.Board Game for Those Uninterested in Sports (like me!)

Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Deserts and limitations: lessons from prehistoric desert dwellers

Living in the desert is challenging. We spent the week after Christmas in Baja, California, camping on the beach. Fortunately, our tents were comfortable and meals were cooked for us. But Pedro, a Baja native, gave us a glimpse into a very different past.

The afternoon was cool with sun shining through broken clouds and a rare rain in the offing. As we climbed up the steep, rock-strewn path we were careful to watch our step. Although vegetation is sparse, most of the plants wear spines or thorns for protection. A little stumble could result in a painful jab. Despite their armor, many desert plants are edible. Pedro assured us that the common prickly-pear cactus fruit tastes good, and even the pads are edible--after removing the spines.European missionaries recorded that the indigenous peoples were hungry except during the brief pitahaya season--perhaps wishful thinking on the Europeans' part. Lacking any means of preserving fruit, how could people prolong this short season of plenty? Baja natives came up with an unlikely solution.Every living system has limits to the number of plants or animals it can sustain. Biologists call it "carrying capacity"--the number of plants, animals or people that an area can support given the quality of the natural environment. Ingenuity can extend the environment's ability to support people, but not forever. We are subject to biological and other limits.When a habitat's carrying capacity is exceeded, it becomes degraded and the population will be forced to decrease. Carrying capacity in the desert is dictated by the supply of water. Many people think that the ultimate limitation here in the arid Southwest will be water, just as it was for the Pericu.On top of the mesa we found their summer home. There was little to mark it except for another heap of shells and four round depressions in the rock. Grinding holes, Pedro commented. He then explained that there is a type of manna--the pitahaya fruit--that ripens in late summer. It grows on the organ pipe cactus (pitahaya dulce) that resembles a clump of spiny fingers pointing skyward. The size of a tennis ball, pitahaya fruit has the color and a bit of the flavor of watermelon. Although rich in energy, the tiny seeds pass through without being digested.We reached a cave that had been the winter home for a band of Pericu people, the extinct indigenous tribe of southern Baja. A small red ochre pictograph decorated the cave. We imagined a dozen people huddled in the chill admonishing their toddlers to stay away from the edge. A pile of shells lay below, showing that the Pericu enjoyed the ocean's bounty.Baja, California is a desert peninsula: the sun is brilliant, the growing season long and vacant land plentiful. What is lacking is enough fresh water. Not much grows with only five inches of rain a year. Without plentiful seafood this place could not support humans.We have exploited the resources of our planet for so long, and found so many ingenious ways to increase its productivity, that we often forget about limits. The desert reminds us of the finiteness of biological systems.Planting seeds and controlling water are two of the first steps to growing crops. Agriculture freed people from spending so much time producing food, and eventually led to our abundant lives. We must not lose track of our dependence on water, however, nor forget that the earth can support only a finite number of people.The indigenous people developed a system to harvest the nutrition in pitahaya seeds that disgusted missionaries. While enjoying the abundance of the harvest, people collected their poop in special places. When it had dried, the seeds were separated, washed, and then pulverized in those circular rock depressions. After grinding they make an edible paste high in fat. Their "recycling" of calorie-rich pitahaya seeds illustrates how desperate they must have been to get enough nutrition.Humans are cleverer than most animals in cultivating nature. There is no evidence that the Pericu had formal agriculture. Nevertheless, some seeds must have escaped from the pitahaya gatherers and landed near their habitations, thus increasing future harvests. Accidental seeding may have been one of the ways that agriculture got started in other parts of the world.

RICHARD GROSSMAN is an obstetrician-gynecologist who has been helping women plan their families for over 30 years. He chose this medical specialty because of concern about human population growth, and can be reached at richard@population-matters.org.

Best Of The Bunch

Christmas cactus They provide a burst of vivid colour and a touch of the tropics to windowsills during the worst of the winter weather, with flowers emerging from their branching and a rc h i n g stems. Leave them alone, watering occasionally, don''t turn the plants on your windowsill or the buds may drop. Also, avoid putting them in draughts or cold temperatures - keeping hybrids above 15C (59F) to hold their colour.

The Schlumbergera truncata, its technical name, comes in shades of white, pink, red and purple and is generally bought from garden centres in bud and blooms between mid November and late January - depending on the variety. For good flowering provide long nights of uninterrupted darkness - which means no artificial light - in autumn. Just before flowering, the plants should be kept cool and dryish until the flower buds form.

Out of it

It must be hard work looking after a minimalist home - never forgetting to hide away the paperback you've just put down, keeping every surface spotless. But they come into their own this week. While most rural families face spending hours, if not days, packing away cribs and ancient pieces of tinsel, the minimalist home-owner just has to take down the one or two baubles he has hanging from his cactus and deposit them in the bin.

Indoor cyclamen can survive from year to year if you remember to water at the base. Otherwise a pool of water gathers in the concave top of the corms and causes them to rot. You should also keep removing dead flowers and mouldering stems. Stop watering around April, store the pots upright or on their sides, anywhere convenient - under a greenhouse bench is a good place - and leave them to dry out. Bring them in again in the autumn, re-pot if you like, start watering and give them the occasional light feed.The flowers are in fact quite insignificant and it is the bracts or, roughly speaking, top leaves that give the bright red, pink or cream colour. This has been fostered by imitating a Mexican mountain and keeping the plant in the dark for eight weeks for 14 hours a day and in bright sunlight for the other ten, all at a temperature of exactly 68F. On top of that, poinsettias are deciduous so, love them as you will, once the bracts get brassed off, all that's left is a stalky mess. Try the light and dark regime next autumn if you must but it's probably cheaper to bung the poinsettias in the bucket and buy another next Christmas. Cheaper still: buy an artificial one. It will last forever and no one will ever know the differenceShe asks: My Easter flowering cactus looks fabulous at the moment and all my friends have asked if they can have a cutting. How do I go about it?Besides, doesn't ganja make people paranoid? I wouldn't want to find Peter shivering in a corner, gibbering that Ken Livingstone had come to get him. He's almost at that stage without the benefit of drugs, and I'm hoping our holiday in Barbados will distract him from thoughts of what the rest of the year may hold.For while the festive season may be over when we return to country life, the open season on those who enjoy it will have begun anew, We are just clutter in New Labour's fashion-conscious, urban home.

For while the festive season may be over when we return to country life, the open season on those who enjoy it will have begun anew, We are just clutter in New Labour's fashion-conscious, urban home.

Author: de Lisle, Leanda

Blooming gifts

With a little love, affection and prudent watering, your Christmas plants can last throughout the year, says Sean Hignett Christmas pot- plants are not really intended to outlast the festive season, otherwise nurserymen would be out of business. But with a little care you can take those green gifts and make them last throughout the year.

Azaleas, like cyclamen, should already be in a cool but frost- free place where they should be well watered without drowning until flowering is over. They should then be re-potted - remember that azaleas are acid lovers so the compost must be lime-free - and pruned if they are looking straggly. Thereafter give them a weekly feed and when the chance of frost is past, stand the pots outside in a semi- shaded place. I find it less trouble to plant them directly in the ground, either still in their pots or out, then you needn't worry about watering. Don't expect them to bloom again for Christmas though. By then they'll be following nature's calendar and may not bloom until the following spring.A plant whose natural calendar has been distorted in spades is the poinsettia (euphorbia pulcherrima) or Christmas Flame Flower. In their natural state, in the mountains of Mexico, poinsettias are trees rather than pot plants and so far as keeping them going until next Christmas is concerned, the answer is simple: forget about it.Drugging the children would deprive them of the memories that are the entire point of this holiday. But drugging the adults could be an idea. A little ganja for my husband might help us both relax. I hear other Masters of Foxhounds are very taken with the weed. A friend who went to dinner at the house of one MFH told me that great fat joints were passed round with the port. I wonder what after dinner games they played? 'Run the pink elephant to ground', 'Hunt the savouries' and 'Sleep under the furniture'? Thinking about it, a ganja-smoking father wouldn't be a pretty sight.You'll probably find kalanchoe blossfeldiana bearing a recently invented 'popular' name on its label, but if you've been given a thing with glossy leaves and lots of tiny red or pink flowers, that's it. Despite the fact that its home territory is Madagascar, kalanchoe is even easier to care for. Simply re-pot in the spring, keep adequately watered and it should also flower again next Christmas.I can't imagine many things nicer than disappearing from England for a week and then returning to find that all the festive fun is over. But perhaps disappearing without six children would be one of them. It's not that I don't enjoy being with my children, or that my nephews and niece aren't perfectly charming, it's just that large family occasions are exhausting enough when they are only a few hours long. I need hardly spell out the kind of stress we may have to endure over the course of the next few days. How will we keep on an even keel? I'm going to spend a lot of time being massaged by beach boys, whatever anyone else plans to do.

The flowers are in fact quite insignificant and it is the bracts or, roughly speaking, top leaves that give the bright red, pink or cream colour. This has been fostered by imitating a Mexican mountain and keeping the plant in the dark for eight weeks for 14 hours a day and in bright sunlight for the other ten, all at a temperature of exactly 68F. On top of that, poinsettias are deciduous so, love them as you will, once the bracts get brassed off, all that's left is a stalky mess. Try the light and dark regime next autumn if you must but it's probably cheaper to bung the poinsettias in the bucket and buy another next Christmas. Cheaper still: buy an artificial one. It will last forever and no one will ever know the difference

Author: Sean Hignett

GARDENING : Q & A

THIS week's star letter is from Denise Howard of Leeds, who wins pounds 20 worth of National Garden Gift Tokens.

ADRIENNE SAYS: Chrysanthemums need to be kept in a cool, frost- free place so that the plants harden off ready for planting out in late May. Keep the plants watered and watch out for greenfly. To make it bushier with plenty of flowers, pinch out the growing tip to stimulate dormant side-shoots into action. Before planting outside, prepare the soil by digging in plenty of well-rotted manure or garden compost, and rake in a handful of Growmore fertiliser per sq m.I don't suppose, however, I'll be able to evade this week's responsibilities altogether. Among them will be trying to prevent the children from making too much noise around the resort's pool. Loud games amidst slumbering strangers make my husband very anxious, so I have to look as if I'm trying to do something about it. The occasional feeble cry of 'keep it down' should achieve that, but won't quieten our young tribe - nothing short of strong drugs would, and they are not an option.

ADRIENNE SAYS: Chrysanthemums need to be kept in a cool, frost- free place so that the plants harden off ready for planting out in late May. Keep the plants watered and watch out for greenfly. To make it bushier with plenty of flowers, pinch out the growing tip to stimulate dormant side-shoots into action. Before planting outside, prepare the soil by digging in plenty of well-rotted manure or garden compost, and rake in a handful of Growmore fertiliser per sq m.

Author: Adrienne Wild

Christmas cactus naturally flowers this time of year

By LYNN WEAVER

There are over 1,000 varieties of lilac with single and double petals. They are commonly used in perfumes and soaps. The white and pink are popular besides the lavender, blue and purple.Solidago has over 100 varieties, for example Crown Of Rays, Golden Wings and Straight Plants. These varieties come from Solidago Altissima, Solidago Canadensis, Solidago Nemoralis and Solidago Simplex, among others.When repotting does seem necessary, use a well draining potting soil which includes some organic matter.When you are making larger potted flower arrangements, an aesthetically pleasing plant is a great base for your design. However, you might not want to combine a spiky cactus with soft blooming roses. If you are using only flowers, you will need a piece of arranging foam to provide a structure for the piece. Green foam can be purchased at most craft stores, and it can be cut to fit any shape you need. Before you start sticking in your stems, you might sketch out an idea of the final product. If the arrangement is to be large, pick a few large flowers to act as focal points rather than picking a multitude of tiny blooms. Too many small flowers distract the eye and make the arrangement seem busy rather than soothing.Statice is often used as fillers in flower arrangements. They are multi-branched of tiny flowers. The flower texture is paper-like.One of the popular spring flowers is sweet peas. Sweet Peas consist of 3 to 4 flowers on a stem. Their varieties are like Restormel, Lizbeth and Limelight.A daffodil consists of two parts. The petals and the cup. They come in green, red, yellow, white, pink, orange and others. There are 13 varieties known and examples are like Trumpet, Tazetta, Poeticus and Split-Cupped.Florists provide customers with a variety of arrangements made specifically for certain occasions and events. However, if you are on a budget, flower arrangements can be fairly pricey. Professional florists charge exorbitant amounts for their expertise, and the flowers themselves can be extremely expensive. Making your own arrangements can be a fun and creative alternative to ordering pieces from a florist. By purchasing flowers individually, you can choose the exact colors and scents you need to say exactly what you want to communicate.Let's start with spring flowers...

Lynn Weaver is a Master Gardener volunteer with K-State Research and Extension in Shawnee County. For information about the Extension Master Gardener program, call 232-0062, ext. 28.

Author: LYNN WEAVER Capital-Journal

Getting To Know What Flowers Are Seasonal And What Are Not

Flowers are available to us throughout the year. But some flowers are seasonal.

A sunflower consists of two parts, the ray florets which is yellow in colour and the disk florets which is normally purplish brown in colour. Varieties are like the Russian Giant, Music Box, Teddy Bear and Autumn Beauty.Tuberose is very popular among Hawaiians. They make leis (garlands) out of them. Tuberose are very fragrant and white in colour.Amaryllis are available in many types, like the large flowering, double, dwarf, rare, african and potted amaryllis. And within these types there are many varieties too. Examples are like Snow White, Solomon and Ragtime.The colour of violets can range from dark blue to purple and from orange to white. Those that bloom in spring have 5 petals and those in the summer have no petals. Varieties are like Dog Violet, Great Basin an Stream Violets.Gladiolus is also known as Sword Lily. They come in white, pink, oranges, red and purple.Freesias come in red, pink, white and yellow. They are scented flowers, especially the white ones.There are 13 types of groups of dahlias, namely single-flowered, anemone-flowered, collerette, decorative, ball, waterlily, cactus, pompon, semi cactus, miscellanous, fimbriated, single orchid and double orchid. They come in colours like orange, purple, yellow, white, cream, etc.Sunflowers, gladiolus, dahlias, solidago, celosia and statice are autumn flowers.SpringAutumnWhen making your own flower arrangement, you should first consider its purpose. If you are making arrangements for a wedding, white is typically the presiding color. You should start with basic white flowers and add a few accents that match the bridesmaids� dresses. Large leafy green pieces add a nice contrast to delicate buds for table centerpieces, and sometimes simplicity is the best aesthetic tactic. If you are making centerpieces for several tables, you can purchase your flowers in bulk and use one design over and over again, or you can make each piece an individual work of art.These are some of the flowers that are considered seasonal. When you order flowers for any occassion, bare in mind that some flowers are seasonal and that's why they are more expensive.Lynn Weaver is a Master Gardener volunteer with K-State Research and Extension in Shawnee County. For information about the Extension Master Gardener program, call 232-0062, ext. 28.The Christmas cactus is a tropical plant which naturally flowers during the holiday season. Once you purchase or are given one of these striking plants in bloom, you will want to know how to care for it and get it to bloom when the next holiday season rolls around.You can get a cheaper price if that flower is in season.SummerFor vase arrangements, choose your container first, and pick flowers that are the correct height for the vase. When you cut your flowers, be sure to cut the stems at an angle so they can absorb water correctly and stay fresh for a long time. Vase arrangements require a focal point, and this can be one large flower or a grouping of several. It is important to choose a color scheme and to stick with it. For instance, you would not want to mix red and pink roses, or to combine yellow daisies with died green carnations. Make sure you choose flowers that look and smell good in combination with each other, and fill in the gaps with baby�s breath and leafy greenery.The Christmas cactus prefers cool nighttime temperatures of around 60 degrees. Your regular household temperature will be fine for daytime. During winter, spring and fall, this plant likes bright light and some direct sun. My Christmas cacti thrive on a screened porch during our Kansas summers.Once you have chosen all of your flowers and greenery, begin arranging them in the container. It will take several tries and lot of adjusting before your create a finished product, but be confident and do what looks best. Arranging flowers is an intuitive art, and if you have chosen a good color scheme and a variety of shapes and sizes, the correct eye-pleasing concoction will often fall into place with little effort. When you are finished, you will have a beautiful, natural decoration to perk up even the gloomiest of environments, and you will have the satisfaction of having created a wonderful work of art.Well, if you are planning a wedding on a particular season, it is good to know what type of flowers are readily available.Our cool September nights have always triggered bud development on my Christmas cacti. The buds begin to show up in October to set the stage for Christmastime bloom. Reduce watering as the buds begin to appear and during the four to six week blooming period. You may want to move your cactus to a location where its lovely blooms can be frequently admired.Wax flower is also known as Geraldton Wax. They are clusters of small flowers with 5 petals on each flower. Available in white, pink and purple and the leaves are needle-like.Another spring flower is the Narcissi. Narcissi comes in many colours such as yellow, white, orange and pink. They also have many varieties like the large trumpet, large cup and the small cup.Celosia is a very unusual flower. There are 2 types of celosia. One is the crinkled type, also called Celosia Cristata that looks like a human brain. The other is Celosia Plumeria which looks like a rooster's comb. That's why celosia is also known as cockscomb. Available in bright colours such as red, yellow, orange and purple.Lily of the Valley is a fragrant flower and often used in beauty products. They look like small white bells and will develop into red berries by summer.Hyacinths are lovely flowers, too. They are actually clusters of small flowers. They come in orange, yellow, pink and even blue. They also have many varieties like gypsy queen, amethyst, jan bos and others.The cool nighttime temperatures of early fall should trigger the development of flower buds. If you are not able to give your cactus these cool conditions, you can induce bud development by shortening the amount of light your plant receives to nine hours per day. This can be done by placing a light proof box over your plant for fifteen hours per day or by putting your plant in a dark closet for that length of time.Special to The Capital-JournalEach season offers its own flowers. But why do you need to know this information?Summer flowers are like agapanthus, hydrangea, tuberose, sunflowers, peony, solidago, chrysanthemum, calla lily, stephanotis and daisies.Another name for lisianthus is eustoma. They are lovely winter flowers. But they have very delicate stems. They look like poppies when in full bloom and come in white, pink, purple and lavender.Another summer flower that you might be interested in is the hydrangea. It is a cluster of small and sweet flowers. There are many types available, like the mopheads, lacecaps, vines, oakleaf and peegees.These plants like to be a little potbound, so they may not need to be repotted very often.Examples of winter flowers are like freesias, ranunculus, lisianthus, leucadendrons and amaryllis.Stephanotis is a vine that grows well on trellis. It is white in colour and sweetly scented. Often used as a wedding flower. Stephanotis is also known as the Madagascar Jasmine.Once the cactus has finished blooming, resume its previous growing conditions. It will not need fertilizer until our days get longer around the middle of March.

These are some of the flowers that are considered seasonal. When you order flowers for any occassion, bare in mind that some flowers are seasonal and that's why they are more expensive.

Author: Liztiany Zakaria

Making Your Own Flower Arrangements

Flowers have long been used to symbolize life�s important events and emotions. Roses are symbols of love, lilies, the flowers of death and renewal, and carnations a sign of appreciation. We use flowers as wedding decorations, Valentine�s Day presents and Christmas ornaments. No matter what the occasion is, a beautiful flower arrangement is a wonderful way to celebrate life through vibrant colors and rich floral scents.

Keep the soil of your Christmas cactus evenly moist, but never soggy. Water regularly and allow the soil to dry out a little between waterings. Remember this is a plant native to the tropics even though its name says "cactus." You will want to feed your Christmas cactus regularly during the fast growth months of March through September with a houseplant fertilizer.The ranunculus is a unique flower. The center of the flower always have a different colour. This winter flower comes in yellow, white, red, pink and orange.Peonies have many varieties such as Claudia, Early Windflower, Cytherea and Sea Shell. There are many more. They are very showy flowers and have different blooming patterns which we call single, Japanese, Anemone, Semi double, Crown, Semi Rose, Rose and Bomb.Leucadendrons come in multi colours. Examples of varieties are the Safari Sunset, Perfection, Julie, Dragon Eyes and others.

Once you have chosen all of your flowers and greenery, begin arranging them in the container. It will take several tries and lot of adjusting before your create a finished product, but be confident and do what looks best. Arranging flowers is an intuitive art, and if you have chosen a good color scheme and a variety of shapes and sizes, the correct eye-pleasing concoction will often fall into place with little effort. When you are finished, you will have a beautiful, natural decoration to perk up even the gloomiest of environments, and you will have the satisfaction of having created a wonderful work of art.

Author: Sintilia Miecevole

Frugal repast will aid plants

The saying that you can kill with kindness is never so true as with certain houseplants, which you insist on cosseting, watering too often and feeding regularly when they'd really rather be left alone.

I remember having a Christmas cactus which flowered its head off on my kitchen windowsill during the festive season year after year, when I showed it little affection, often leaving it dry as a bone and seemingly pot-bound.An ideal position is on an east or west-facing windowsill, porch or conservatory, as they need reasonable light.Oct. 8: Harvest green tomatoes when frost threatens, wrap individually in newspaper, and store in a dark location at 55 to 60 degrees. (Ripen as needed at 70 degrees.)So why do I have this extra boost of confidence? Well I received an weight loss e-mail offer that I just couldn�t refuse! A friend of mine Peter (you may have read some of the advice articles that I have published on my site from him) tried a new weight loss supplement and he lost over 100 pounds!Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) should be protected from cold and draughts and need a light position and a temperature of 55-60AF (16-18AC) but not above a radiator.Oct. 28: Remove asparagus ferns after they have been killed by a hard freeze.Oct. 3: You may notice the inner needles on your pine tree simultaneously turning clear yellow and dropping off; this is most likely a normal shedding."They don't want fussing. They can be left without water for a week then submerse the pot in a bowl of tepid water until moist."Oct. 23: Wash windows to improve light conditions for indoor plants. It also helps to remove screens during the winter to let in more light.Oct. 22: Clean up fallen fruit from beneath fruit trees to reduce disease potential - also remove shriveled "mummies" that are hanging in the trees.

"They don't want fussing. They can be left without water for a week then submerse the pot in a bowl of tepid water until moist."

Did You Overeat On Turkey Day??

Lose weight before Christmas!

With Thanksgiving over I know I regret just a little all of the food that I ate! Just like many of you I was thinking oh well, I will just start getting back into shape with the turn of the new year, but something came over me. When shaving the other day I noticed that I have a small double chin starting to form. I didn�t like that. That day when I went to work I say that on December 22nd the annual work Christmas party was scheduled and then there was going to be a New Years Party at the local bar, then the dreaded family get together scheduled for the 25th. I started to think I want to look good at the X-mas party and New Years Eve party. Shoot, I even want to look good at the family dinner. I am tired of being the butt of the joke when my family gets together. You all know what I�m talking about boy, it looks like someone hasn�t missed any meals lately. Family doesn�t let off either, they just keep going and going. They stick the knife in you and start twisting it deeper and deeper. I care about what they think but I really want the attention of the opposite sex. I am not embarrassed to say it but I want some of the ladies to be looking at me at my work parties before I have the chance to look at them! It would be great if I asked them to dance (especially a slow dance) and they said yes instead of I�m a little full or I don�t like this song. Hey women aren�t the only ones that want some attention! So instead of buying a new outfit to cover up my fat abs I am making a commitment to lose weight and get in shape during the next few weeks. When I walk into my office party I WILL be turning some heads! I�m not vain just confident that I will be able to get this extra weight off.A little about Peter he also works in the computer field working long hours and sitting all day snacking on whatever was put in front of him. The turning point for Peter was when we attended a mutual friend�s wedding (of course we went together and sat and drank alone) and many people that we grew up with him hardly recognized him. Just then and there he asked me if he really looked that different and when I didn�t respond fast enough he knew that he had to do something. He went home that night and starting making changes in his life. He did some research on weight loss products and decided to give Proactol� a try in addition to changing his diet and incorporating some exercise. You can see from the pictures on my site, that he looks like a completely different person and he says he has more energy then he ever had. (If you want to read more about his success, you can visit my site by clicking the link at the end of this weight loss article.) He was so happy with his results that he has submitted his photos and testimonials online at the manufactures website!!But actually, Christmas cacti (Schlumbergera truncata) can flower from November to March, as long as they have been given a cool, dry resting period in February and March. Don't move them when their buds have formed as they don't take kindly to a change in atmosphere.Oct. 25: Add fallen leaves to your compost pile. Note: A light layer of fallen leaves can be chopped up with a mulching mower and allowed to fall back onto established lawns, but keep fallen leaves off of new grass).Oct. 9: Let popcorn mature on the stalk, then remove the husk and cure for 2 to 3 weeks in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area. Store shelled kernels in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator.I am not going to spend much time explaining what it is made of, so if you want more information on Proactol� and its ingredients you can find the link on my site. I will tell you that all you need to do is take the weight loss supplement after each meal, which doesn�t seem that hard to do or remember. I like this because with other supplements I know you take them before you eat and have to wait at least an hour before your meal. I always hated that because with my schedule I never know the exact time I�ll eat and you can believe that if I take the supplemment at 12 and hope to eat by 12:30, something will happen and I won�t go to lunch until 3!Click here now: http://www.erectionbooster.com/2007/11/30/did-you-overeat-on-turkey-day/ to learn more about Proactol� and my buddy Peter, and don�t forgot to submit your comments/testimonals at my website about how Proactol� has been helpful to you! Good luck in your weight loss journey!Oct. 4: Plant garlic cloves (pointed end up) at a spacing of 3 inches apart and 1 to 2 inches deep. Harvest next summer when most of the foliage has browned.

Click here now: http://www.erectionbooster.com/2007/11/30/did-you-overeat-on-turkey-day/ to learn more about Proactol� and my buddy Peter, and don�t forgot to submit your comments/testimonals at my website about how Proactol� has been helpful to you! Good luck in your weight loss journey!

Author: Simon Jones

Fall is no time for a break from working in the yard

The fall housekeeping in the garden continues in October, and cooler temperatures should make chores more pleasant.

Many plants you buy at Christmas for taking indoors need to be kept cool in the house and away from radiators, draughts which create temperature fluctuations and shouldn't be overwatered.Oct. 2: If houseplants out-grew their containers during the summer, repot into the next larger size at this time.Allow compost to dry out between watering, as over-watering will lead to loss of colour and possible leaf drop. If the leaves look limp because the plant is too dry, it can be revived by watering from beneath.He says it's a myth that they must be shaded. They will do well on a windowsill and flower more freely if you give them some sun. And they don't need misting.Oct. 13: Today is the average date of our first 32-degree freeze in the fall (based on data from 1948 to 2004). Be prepared with tarpaulins/blankets/row covers to protect tender crops when frost threatens (or accept the end of the growing season and let nature run its course.)Oct. 12: Use a cold frame to overwinter pansies and small perennial plants.Oct. 15: Mid-October is generally considered the cutoff for reliable seeding of cool season lawn grasses (bluegrass/fescue/ ryegrass) - but bluegrass or tall fescue sod can be reliably planted later (perhaps into early or mid-November).Oct. 5: Gradually remove shading compound from greenhouse covering. Disinfect benches, flats, pots and tools with a 10 percent chlorine bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts of water).Oct. 30: Apply a light colored wrap around the trunk of young trees to reduce "sunscald" (white spiral perforated plastic works well) - remove after the danger of freezing temperature is past in the spring.Oct. 27: Plant seed of trees you wish to propagate in a nursery row in the garden. Cover with wire mesh to discourage pilfering by squirrels.Oct. 6: Harvest persimmons when they lose their "pucker power." Frost is not required for persimmon ripening. Use for pudding, cookies, cakes and custard.Oct. 19: Spade or plow garden areas as crops are removed. Mix in lime or phosphate fertilizer if need is indicated by a soil test. Also turn under organic matter, such as compost.Oct. 31: Show off your creative talent with a custom carved, painted, or etched pumpkin. Roast pumpkin seeds for a tasty, nutritious snack (call the extension office for a recipe).in Shawnee County.Oct. 16: Dig cannas, dahlias, tuberose, calla lilies and gladioli for winter storage after they are nipped by frost - pack in dry sphagnum peat moss and store in a cool basement.The calendar for October reflects timely gardening and landscape maintenance activities. The specific date selected for each activity should fall within the optimum time frame for performing the suggested task. Because many procedures can be accomplished during a wide "window" and, because weather affects certain operations, these dates aren't absolute and are flexible enough to accommodate adjustments.Oct. 29: Pull mulch away from the base of tree trunks to discourage basal decay. Also eliminate tufts of weeds and grass at the base of trees to discourage rodent feeding on the lower bark.with K-State Research and ExtensionOct. 7: Bring your amaryllis plant inside before frost threatens - then withhold water to allow the bulb to enter dormancy; pot up and revive about two months later.Oct. 1: To "re-bloom" your poinsettia or Christmas cactus, put the plant in complete darkness (a closet or a box) from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. each night. Provide good light conditions the rest of the day.Since Peter is my friend he has also arranged for my readers to get a FREE toning belt (worth $80.00) if they order Proactol� through my special link on my website. Also if you order today through my links, you�ll be able to get a discount on some great exercise videos, and get some free weight loss books!Oct. 21: Mark and label your perennial flowers so you will know what is coming up where next spring.Orchids, the must-have indoor plant of recent years, were once thought of as fragile and difficult, but in fact they don't like too much TLC, but most hybrids need to be kept in an atmosphere of a minimum of 16C (61F).Oct. 26: Spray winter annual weeds like chickweed and henbit in established lawns.Oct. 10: If fall foliage coloration is an important criteria for selecting trees and shrubs, select plants as they display their colors in the nursery.Oct. 17: Fertilize new lawns at one-half rate about a month after the grass comes up.Oct. 18: Continue to plant spring flowering bulbs; start to plant tulips. Try a less common type like flowering onion (Allium) or Fritillaria.Oct. 24: If you don't have a good place for houseplants near a window, rig up artificial light fixtures for this purpose. Cool white fluorescent tubes are adequate for most plants.Oct. 14: Harvest peanuts after a heavy frost completely destroys the tops.It�s that time of year again when most of us (myself included) forget about the gym, our diets, and fitness routines and start to let ourselves go. Yes, us men even though many won�t admit it publicly care about what we look like and yes even a few of us go on fad diets. The number of men who are getting plastic surgery is at an all time high. Forget about hair transplants men are going under the knife for a little lipo just as fast as women.Phil Griffiths, conservatories co-ordinator at Kew, says: "Most of them are pretty tough and they are getting easier to grow as nurseries bring out new varieties. Orchids don't like to be pampered and it is generally overwatering which kills them."Oct. 11: Clean out your martin house and prepare bird feeders for the winter season.Now back to me, I am going to give Proactol� a try and thanks to Peter I hope I am on a road to a better body. If it wasn�t for him and his success I would have been a little skeptical about this product and would not have even considered taking a weight loss supplement. I would have waited until New Years and bought another gym membership or something. In his e-mail he told me of his success and sent me some pictures. He also told me that I needed to get off my butt and get in shape and that now was the best time to do it because the makers of Proactol� are offering a 180 day money back guarantee if I don�t lose weight! Plus they are having a 50 natural and 100 natural, 100% organic fat binder made from the nutritious cactus �Opuntia ficus-indica�. Proactols� natural fiber, complex consists of two fibers a non-soluble fiber and a soluble fiber that both work in different ways to help you manage you weight and improve your overall health.Cyclamen, for example, can be left to virtually dry out before watering and you should water from below, pouring the water into the saucer or bowl in which they stand. Also, once the soil is fairly moist, empty the excess water from the container.

in Shawnee County.

10 Man Christmas Gift Ideas

Finding the right gift for my dad, fathers-in-law, brothers and brothers-in-law is always a little challenging for me. These guys don't ask for much. As a group, they are pretty content. They work hard and if they get an idea for something they want, they figure out a way to get it. When I finally think I've got their styles down, they change their whole look. I'm serious! And if I even dared to venture into the world of gadgets, I am sure to pick out the ones they'll never use.

Wreath for Door OR Table Center PieceSample of One of Your Favorite Holiday Dishes plus a Hand Written Copy of the Recipe - When I give a recipe as a Gift, I like to include a little story or memory about that recipe.Jar of Gourmet Cranberry Relish or Apple Butter9. Special Delivery - Find a toy truck he would like - dumptruck, low rider, antique pickup - at a toy store or antique store. Fill the bed of the truck with all his favorite goodies such as candy bars, homemade cookies, caramels, etc. If you really want to surprise him, hide a gift certificate underneath all the treats.An Apron - There are pretty aprons, funny aprons, white chef aprons. Take your pick.Party Music - Buy new OR create a custom mixture tape or CD at home.7. Survival Bag - Put together a kit for whatever hobby or activity he likes best. One lady I heard of did this very creatively for all the hunters in her family. She took cotton camouflage fabric and sewed very simple small bags, using jute twine to make a drawstring. At a discount store she found items to fill the bags with such as: utensils, matches, canned meat or jerky, snacks, tooth brush, comb, soap, washcloth, tissues, first aid supplies. Since she bought these items in bulk, the cost was very reasonable per bag. I would add a different sheet of jokes for every guy, printed off the internet, to give them entertainment for the long hours of sitting. She painted each hunter's name on his bag so they could tell them apart. The guys loved them!Book That Tells the Story of the Pilgrims such as "Of Plymouth Plantation" by William Bradford or "Pilgrim Voices: Our First Year in the New World" Edited by Connie and Peter Roop3. Memory Film - Collect slides, photos or video footage of him as a child on one video or DVD. Put it together yourself using a home editing program, order a package deal from a reputable editing company or hire someone you know to do it for you. Add his favorite music as the background sound.

10. One Man's Treasure - What does this guy collect and treasure? Make him a display or collage to put up in his office, garage or room. You may need a shelf to hold things, a board to pin items to, a scrapbook, or a closed cabinet to protect his collection. If you can't think of anything he collects, it may be that he is like my dad, who treasures his friends more than any of his "stuff". He would enjoy a framed collage with photos of his hundreds of friends.

Author: Melanie Farkas

Best Of The Bunch

Christmas cactus They provide a burst of vivid colour and a touch of the tropics to windowsills during the worst of the winter weather, with flowers emerging from their branching and a rc h i n g stems. Leave them alone, watering occasionally, don''t turn the plants on your windowsill or the buds may drop. Also, avoid putting them in draughts or cold temperatures - keeping hybrids above 15C (59F) to hold their colour.

The Schlumbergera truncata, its technical name, comes in shades of white, pink, red and purple and is generally bought from garden centres in bud and blooms between mid November and late January - depending on the variety. For good flowering provide long nights of uninterrupted darkness - which means no artificial light - in autumn. Just before flowering, the plants should be kept cool and dryish until the flower buds form.

Thanksgiving Gift Ideas

Most people I know don't expect a gift in the fall. That's what makes a Thanksgiving gift idea so much fun. I don't have to get anything expensive. I don't have to search for the "perfect" gift. I simply have fun putting together a hostess gift or fall holiday gift basket. Its a way I like to say thank you to my friends and family and celebrate the coming cold weather - we've got to celebrate it or else we'll mourn it!

If you are invited to dinner, bring a quick and easy gift for the cook or the other guests:Pumpkin Spice Bread MixThanksgiving Cactus (which blooms in November, not to be confused with the Christmas Cactus which blooms in December)Well here are ten man holiday gift ideas I have found that almost any guy would like. Quite a few are humorous, maybe because my favorite thing to do for all these hard working men, is lighten them up.Light Solid Colored Table Cloth and Fabric Markers - Have family and friends write on the tablecloth what they are thankful for, along with a signature and date. Make it a yearly tradition to add thank-you's to the tablecloth.Framed Fall Themed Photo of You or Your Family - Years ago, my mom and dad got all seven of my siblings and me to dress in jeans and flannel shirts and took us to the Oklahoma Ouchita mountains for a photo shoot. The photographer? My future husband! And boy, did he take some nice pictures. You might also use a photo from a past Thanksgiving gathering.Memory Jar - Cut colored paper into small pieces. Using just a few words, write on each one a memory of an experience you had with the recipient that you are thankful for. Keep your memories short so you have time to think of dozens.Plan ahead for an activity Thanksgiving gift idea to draw family and friends together and create your own traditions:Board Game for Those Uninterested in Sports (like me!)With all the other holiday expenses on the way, I don't want to spend more than ten or twenty dollars on a Thanksgiving gift idea. Better yet, I like free gifts I can make or put together myself. These are all my favorites:Have a very happy Thanksgiving!Nutcracker and Bag of Nuts2. Rare Indoor Plant - Where I see caring for plants as a chore, many guys I know look at it as an art form. My brother-in-law collects bonsai trees, carefully working them into the shape he plans. He shows us pictures of miniature oaks and maples with the button sized leaves turning gold and red in the fall. My husband enjoys miniature cactus and has kept one growing in a tiny cup of sand since we got married almost ten years ago. Read up on plants that would match with your guy's lifestyle, decor or interests. Consider a plant from his favorite country or one mentioned in a book or movie he likes.Couple Dozen Fresh or Mail Ordered Tamales OR Other Prepared Ethnic Food for a Day After Thanksgiving FeastA Scavenger Hunt List with a prize for the Winning Team or Person10. One Man's Treasure - What does this guy collect and treasure? Make him a display or collage to put up in his office, garage or room. You may need a shelf to hold things, a board to pin items to, a scrapbook, or a closed cabinet to protect his collection. If you can't think of anything he collects, it may be that he is like my dad, who treasures his friends more than any of his "stuff". He would enjoy a framed collage with photos of his hundreds of friends.Seasonal Cookbook1. T-shirt With a Funny Saying - Look online for a company that specializes in unique shirts or create your own with fabric paints or markers. You can put a joke with the first line on the front of the t-shirt and the punch line on the back OR you can find humorous quotes from one of this man's favorite authors, politicians or celebrities. One idea is to take a solid colored t-shirt and put a big gold star on it that says, "TV Sheriff" with the words "REMOTE CONTROL" on the pocket. Whatever saying you choose, make him extra happy by getting the right size t-shirt. My husband is a smaller guy who really appreciates a shirt that fits him properly, after receiving many that could fit two of him! Don't forget that 100% cotton will shrink some the first time it is washed.Holiday Organizer Notebook - You can buy one or put it together yourself with an ordinary spiral notebook, scrapbook or wrapping paper, stickers and headings like: Winter Calandar, Work/School Gift List, Family Gift List, Friends Gift List, Holiday Meal Planning, Events/Parties6. Night of Laughs - Order him a new or used DVD of his favorite comedian doing a stand up routine. Give him tickets to a local comedy club. Download hilarious clips from the internet, creating your own collection. Whatever you do, make him laugh.Small Booklet or Scrapbook Titled "Things I Love About My Family" - Pass it around for everyone to write in.8. Relaxation at Its Best - There isn't a guy I know who wouldn't want a really comfortable recliner. You can find sales on new ones all the time or if you really need to save, check out the classified ads in your newspaper or some good local used furniture stores. The ones I like to visit regularly have nice recliners at very discounted prices. Whatever you do, sit in the chair before you buy it. Some are more comfortable than others.Ceramic Pumpkin Dish (with lid) OR Fall Themed Tin Filled with Dried CranberriesUse these personal Thanksgiving gift ideas for friends and co-workers who need to know that you are thankful to be apart of their lives:4. Cure for Memory Loss - If there is an item he is always losing, get him one for every room of the house...and the car, if need be! For instance, guitar picks (that would be for my husband), pairs of scissors, nail clippers, slippers, tools, vitamins, ...you get the idea.Supplies For a Letter Box Hunt Including Stamp, Ink Pad, Notepad and Directions for a Local Hunt (Find out more about letterboxing at www.letterboxing.org . My children love this treasure hunt activity. I love the exercise we get while doing it.)

Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Author: Melanie Farkas

Frugal repast will aid plants

The saying that you can kill with kindness is never so true as with certain houseplants, which you insist on cosseting, watering too often and feeding regularly when they'd really rather be left alone.

I remember having a Christmas cactus which flowered its head off on my kitchen windowsill during the festive season year after year, when I showed it little affection, often leaving it dry as a bone and seemingly pot-bound.

But actually, Christmas cacti (Schlumbergera truncata) can flower from November to March, as long as they have been given a cool, dry resting period in February and March. Don't move them when their buds have formed as they don't take kindly to a change in atmosphere.

Many plants you buy at Christmas for taking indoors need to be kept cool in the house and away from radiators, draughts which create temperature fluctuations and shouldn't be overwatered.

Cyclamen, for example, can be left to virtually dry out before watering and you should water from below, pouring the water into the saucer or bowl in which they stand. Also, once the soil is fairly moist, empty the excess water from the container.

An ideal position is on an east or west-facing windowsill, porch or conservatory, as they need reasonable light.

Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) should be protected from cold and draughts and need a light position and a temperature of 55-60AF (16-18AC) but not above a radiator.

Allow compost to dry out between watering, as over-watering will lead to loss of colour and possible leaf drop. If the leaves look limp because the plant is too dry, it can be revived by watering from beneath.

Orchids, the must-have indoor plant of recent years, were once thought of as fragile and difficult, but in fact they don't like too much TLC, but most hybrids need to be kept in an atmosphere of a minimum of 16C (61F).

Phil Griffiths, conservatories co-ordinator at Kew, says: "Most of them are pretty tough and they are getting easier to grow as nurseries bring out new varieties. Orchids don't like to be pampered and it is generally overwatering which kills them."

He says it's a myth that they must be shaded. They will do well on a windowsill and flower more freely if you give them some sun. And they don't need misting.

"They don't want fussing. They can be left without water for a week then submerse the pot in a bowl of tepid water until moist."

Fall is no time for a break from working in the yard

The fall housekeeping in the garden continues in October, and cooler temperatures should make chores more pleasant.

The calendar for October reflects timely gardening and landscape maintenance activities. The specific date selected for each activity should fall within the optimum time frame for performing the suggested task. Because many procedures can be accomplished during a wide "window" and, because weather affects certain operations, these dates aren't absolute and are flexible enough to accommodate adjustments.

Oct. 1: To "re-bloom" your poinsettia or Christmas cactus, put the plant in complete darkness (a closet or a box) from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. each night. Provide good light conditions the rest of the day.

Oct. 2: If houseplants out-grew their containers during the summer, repot into the next larger size at this time.

Oct. 3: You may notice the inner needles on your pine tree simultaneously turning clear yellow and dropping off; this is most likely a normal shedding.

Oct. 4: Plant garlic cloves (pointed end up) at a spacing of 3 inches apart and 1 to 2 inches deep. Harvest next summer when most of the foliage has browned.

Oct. 5: Gradually remove shading compound from greenhouse covering. Disinfect benches, flats, pots and tools with a 10 percent chlorine bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts of water).

Oct. 6: Harvest persimmons when they lose their "pucker power." Frost is not required for persimmon ripening. Use for pudding, cookies, cakes and custard.

Oct. 7: Bring your amaryllis plant inside before frost threatens - then withhold water to allow the bulb to enter dormancy; pot up and revive about two months later.

Oct. 8: Harvest green tomatoes when frost threatens, wrap individually in newspaper, and store in a dark location at 55 to 60 degrees. (Ripen as needed at 70 degrees.)

Oct. 9: Let popcorn mature on the stalk, then remove the husk and cure for 2 to 3 weeks in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area. Store shelled kernels in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator.

Oct. 10: If fall foliage coloration is an important criteria for selecting trees and shrubs, select plants as they display their colors in the nursery.

Oct. 11: Clean out your martin house and prepare bird feeders for the winter season.

Oct. 12: Use a cold frame to overwinter pansies and small perennial plants.

Oct. 13: Today is the average date of our first 32-degree freeze in the fall (based on data from 1948 to 2004). Be prepared with tarpaulins/blankets/row covers to protect tender crops when frost threatens (or accept the end of the growing season and let nature run its course.)

Oct. 14: Harvest peanuts after a heavy frost completely destroys the tops.

Oct. 15: Mid-October is generally considered the cutoff for reliable seeding of cool season lawn grasses (bluegrass/fescue/ ryegrass) - but bluegrass or tall fescue sod can be reliably planted later (perhaps into early or mid-November).

Oct. 16: Dig cannas, dahlias, tuberose, calla lilies and gladioli for winter storage after they are nipped by frost - pack in dry sphagnum peat moss and store in a cool basement.

Oct. 17: Fertilize new lawns at one-half rate about a month after the grass comes up.

Oct. 18: Continue to plant spring flowering bulbs; start to plant tulips. Try a less common type like flowering onion (Allium) or Fritillaria.

Oct. 19: Spade or plow garden areas as crops are removed. Mix in lime or phosphate fertilizer if need is indicated by a soil test. Also turn under organic matter, such as compost.

Oct. 20: Pot up bulbs for "forcing" into bloom indoors (call the Shawnee County Extension Office at 232-0062 for more details).

Oct. 21: Mark and label your perennial flowers so you will know what is coming up where next spring.

Oct. 22: Clean up fallen fruit from beneath fruit trees to reduce disease potential - also remove shriveled "mummies" that are hanging in the trees.

Oct. 23: Wash windows to improve light conditions for indoor plants. It also helps to remove screens during the winter to let in more light.

Oct. 24: If you don't have a good place for houseplants near a window, rig up artificial light fixtures for this purpose. Cool white fluorescent tubes are adequate for most plants.

Oct. 25: Add fallen leaves to your compost pile. Note: A light layer of fallen leaves can be chopped up with a mulching mower and allowed to fall back onto established lawns, but keep fallen leaves off of new grass).

Oct. 26: Spray winter annual weeds like chickweed and henbit in established lawns.

Oct. 27: Plant seed of trees you wish to propagate in a nursery row in the garden. Cover with wire mesh to discourage pilfering by squirrels.

Oct. 28: Remove asparagus ferns after they have been killed by a hard freeze.

Oct. 29: Pull mulch away from the base of tree trunks to discourage basal decay. Also eliminate tufts of weeds and grass at the base of trees to discourage rodent feeding on the lower bark.

Oct. 30: Apply a light colored wrap around the trunk of young trees to reduce "sunscald" (white spiral perforated plastic works well) - remove after the danger of freezing temperature is past in the spring.

Oct. 31: Show off your creative talent with a custom carved, painted, or etched pumpkin. Roast pumpkin seeds for a tasty, nutritious snack (call the extension office for a recipe).

Phil Sell is a horticulturist

with K-State Research and Extension

in Shawnee County.

Top 10 Most Popular Theme Party Ideas For Adults

Who mentioned concept functions are just for young children?

I've picked out the most favored celebration themes for adults, guaranteed to bring out the "child" in you.

If you are hunting to host a bash that is sure to go over effectively, check out out the experimented with-and-correct celebration strategies under.

Hawaiian Luau Get together

Welcome each and every guest with an "aloha" and a kiss on the cheek. Hand a lei to all visitors, and a silk flower for the girls to put in their hair.

Believe balmy and exotic! Vibrant and colorful is certain to set a tropical ambiance.

The recommended drinks involve Margaritas, Mai Tais, Pina Coladas, Bahama Mamas, and Frozen Daiquiris. Be sure to have Hawaiian punch on hand for the non-alcoholic set as effectively as h2o for all.

Be convinced to have a limbo contest to see "how low can you go" and a hula contest for ideal enjoyable.

Wine Tasting Get together

A wine tasting get together does not have to be reserved for the clearly-versed wine connoisseur. Get your friends jointly for an informal potluck party, with each guest bringing his/her preferred wine. Food should preferably be common appetizers as effectively as cheese and bread. Furnish index cards for friends to price their favorites.

Bunco Bash Concept

Bunco is a great sport is quickly taking in excess of in our living rooms. It is really not your grandmother's canasta video game! Bunco allows for typical get-togethers with spouse and children, acquaintances, and neighbors as you can meet on a regular foundation, whereas rotating hosts. It is quick paced and gets you mixing with all players (ordinarily twelve) as you rotate from table to table.

Fortune Telling Theme

I see a exciting theme social gathering in your foreseeable future...

A gypsy choice garb is suitable for a fortune telling get together. Full your outfit with scarves, lots of bangle kind bracelets, and hoop earrings.

Have a least an individual table with a crystal ball. If you can't unearth just one, you can commonly use a vast snow world of some variety.

Other remarkable video games comprise of a Ouija board and Magic 8 ball.

Mexican Fiesta

Go "South of the border" for a festive concept celebration. Quality decorations comprise inflatable cactus, chili peppers, boots, and sombreros.

The signature drinks for a fiesta get together are margaritas and Corona beer.

Be sure to play lots of fiesta music as you shake your maracas!

Casino/Las Vegas Night time

The central theme is friendly gambling- either for prizes or just for exciting.

The most well-known games tend to be blackjack and poker. For the non-gambling variety, can include relatively easy games like bingo and other widespread card video games.

Give each and every visitor poker chips, play cash flow, and dice when they arrive. Excellent decorations encompass hanging fuzzy dice and lots of black and red balloons. For a Las Vegas type nightlife impact, create loads of glow merchandise.

Decade Social gathering (50�s, 60�s, 70�s, 80�s)

Decade concept parties are extraordinarily well-liked and can be also be applied for themed birthday parties as effectively. Visitors have lots of pleasurable dressing in outfits from their substantial school and college days.

Flowered pants, peace signs, and John Lennon glasses are first class for a 60's theme.

Bell-bottom Levi's or Wranglers are ideal for that 70's celebration- or go all out with your leisure match.

Punk wigs, mezpahs, and jelly bracelets are super for a retro 80's appearance.

Dinner Get together

There are most alternatives for placing together a fine dinner bash. Depending on your individual design, the dinner celebration can vary from casual and entertaining, to gourmet and polished.

The a few most trendy styles of dinner events have a tendency to be dessert, cocktail, or international food themed.

For a greater informal social gathering, use a potluck design. Guest can provide along a dish of their alternative. This can be a complete program American meal or worldwide cuisine. You can opt for to be dessert or cocktail celebration targeted.

Magic Theme Bash

Organizing a magic get together isn't going to have to be "difficult" right after all. Go all out with your black leading hat and magic wand as you get your friends to study straight forward card methods. Methods can range from trouble-free to extra unique effects.

Incredible decorations comprise hanging black major hats and loads of black and red balloons. For a magical influence, create a good deal of glow merchandise.

Western Theme Party

Suppose rustic and hearty!

Old lanterns, jugs, and bales of hay make impressive decorations. You can also use kerosene lamps and washtubs as accents.

A video game of horseshoes following to a roaring bonfire is a good exercise for socializing. Sing-along western songs can liven up the bunch, and karaoke usually requires cowboy tunes to a new dimension.

Game titles to play can can include competitions in roping, or utilizing a lasso to catch an object.

I hope these options helped spark some thoughts for your approaching concept bash. Have a sensational celebration!

Writer: Dee Schrock