Nothing is as soothing as the fragrance of lavender drifting upward in a quiet breeze. It makes me feel exhilarated, yet peaceful. Lavender is more than just a plant; it is an experience. With its soft purple hues stretching across the garden, lavender has long held a place in human culture ...
Growing your vegetable garden doesn’t always require having acreage to plow. Creating a planter from a 5-gallon bucket is an excellent alternative. Container options are endless. Many vegetables will thrive in containers if you follow a few steps to ensure success. Growing in buckets allows for easy control of water, nutrients and harvest. You can also move them around to maximize sunlight exposure. Extending the season is as easy as tossing a bed sheet over them. Choose your container, making sure it doesn't contain any toxic material and giving it a good washing. Drill holes ...
Here are upcoming gardening events through the Ohio State University Extension Office. For more information and a complete list, contact: • OSU Mahoning County Extension Office, 490 S. Broad St., Canfield. 330-533-5538. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. • OSU Trumbull County Extension Office, 520 W. Main St. Suite 1, Cortland. 330-638-6783. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Mahoning Plant and Pest Clinic You can submit your questions by calling the office at 330-533-5538 or emailing us at mahoningclinic@osu.edu. ...
DEAR ANNIE: My husband retired eight months ago, and ever since then, our home has felt less like a place to relax and more like a company he has decided to manage. After years of leaving early, coming home late and barely noticing whether the bath towels matched, he is suddenly very interested in how everything is done and has strong opinions about all of it. He has started announcing new “house rules” as though he is issuing office memos. Shoes may no longer be left by the door. The dishwasher must be run only at night. Lunch should not be eaten in the den. Even the dog seems ...
DEAR HELOISE: I read your column in the Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Jim R., in Houston, wrote about people who are eating produce that they haven’t purchased. But there is another view on this issue. Purchasing grapes, for example, without tasting them, often leads to sour grapes — literally. It is a conundrum: If I test a grape, I am eating pesticides; if I don’t test a grape, then I am likely buying bad grapes, which will go to waste. Often, when I purchase grapes or cherries without tasting them, I end up with bad fruit! — Bruce J.P., in Fort Wayne, ...
DEAR DR. ROACH: I have bad knee arthritis. My doctor is suggesting a genicular nerve block. Is this a good idea? Will it fix the problem? — P.O.V. ANSWER: Chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis is a common problem in middle-aged and older adults. Before a person receives treatment, the diagnosis should be confirmed by an X-ray. First-line treatments are exercise and anti-inflammatory drugs, like naproxen (orally) or diclofenac (topically). When first-line treatments are ineffective, there are other options. Knee injections with steroids have long been used, but recent studies ...
