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| CONTACT THE HERALD |
Melanie Munk, Features Editor
munk@heraldnet.com |
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Published: Thursday, May 15, 2008
Home and Garden briefs
Save the cats: Purrfect Pals, a Smokey Point-based cat-adoption organization, will present its first Cats 'n Garden Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 8.
Five gardens in the Marysville area and two in the Stanwood area will include a cutting garden in the Warm Beach area, examples of stylish gardening on city-sized lots, a garden with 1,300 varieties of rhododendrons and a garden with 400 feet of miniature railroad, previously featured in Better Homes & Gardens.
Cats will be available for adoption at each garden and proceeds will benefit the Purrfect Pals Cat Shelter, 230 McRae Road NE, Arlington.
Tickets are $10 for ages 12 and older and will be available at the shelter, the Plant Farm at Smokey Point, Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville, Emery's Garden in Lynnwood, Gargoyles Statuary in Seattle and Woods Creek Wholesale Nursery in Monroe. Contact Kathy at reception@purrfectpals.org or call 360-618-0417 with questions or see www.purrfectpals.org.
Dang deer: Check out these tips to eliminate garden conflicts with deer, courtesy of the Humane Society at www.humanesociety.org.
Add fencing: There is nothing more effective for keeping deer away from your plants than deer-proof fencing, such as plastic mesh, electrified polytape, woven wire and electric-fence kits that come equipped with a scented lure.
Plant wisely: There is no such thing as a completely deer-resistant plant because deer palates vary seasonally and regionally. However, some plants that deer tend to avoid, including strong-smelling plants in the mint, geranium and marigold families; any plant in the daffodil family; toxic plants such as many in the foxglove and nightshade families; plants with fuzzy, prickly or sharp leaves; and most ornamental grasses and ferns.
Harassment: Some devices, including motion-activated scarecrow sprinklers and battery-operated "electronic" stakes that feature scent lures that deliver a mild electric shock and teach deer to avoid certain areas of the garden, can be effective.
Homemade and commercial repellents work by making plants taste unpleasant to deer, or by repelling deer with sulfurous odors such as rotten eggs. It is important to apply the repellents before, or as soon as, you notice damage. Homeowners must be diligent about reapplying regularly, often every two weeks or after heavy rains.
Learn more about controlling deer in the Northwest at wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/deer.htm.
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