2011 Home & Garden

HOME & GARDEN THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 201120 THE DAILY IBERIAN

HOMEGARDEN

&2011

A product of

Down & DirtyLocal soils can be problem for gardeners

...Pg 2

Going SolarCan still save you $$ in long run

...Pg 10

Lots more ideas inside

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How to be more efficient at home in your kitchenBY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Whether you’re making big meals for entertainingor simple family dinners, how well your kitchenis set up can mean the difference between extra

hours slaving away or time enjoying the fruits of yourlabor. A few simple tips can transform a cluttered kitcheninto an efficient space for cooking and entertaining. Plus,you can save money, time, energy and water in the process.

• Simple Changes: Small additions can make your culi-nary life easier. Consider painting a strip of chalkboardpaint on your kitchen wall so family members can main-tain to-do lists, share notes and recipes. This helps youstay organized while adding an interactive element toyour décor. Also consider adding roll-out cabinetshelves to make storing and finding pots and pans easier.

It is no surprise that the kitchen faucet can be turnedon and off anywhere from 30 to 50 times a day by a fami-ly of four. Install a touch faucet, such as one of DeltaFaucet’s kitchen faucets with Touch2O Technology,which provides the option to start and stop the flow ofwater with a tap anywhere on the spout or handle. Whenhands get messy, water flow can be started with the wristor forearm, keeping the process more efficient whilereducing the potential for cross-contamination.

• Energy Savers: Being efficient is about more thanjust saving time. It’s important to conserve energy andwater too. Save energy by cooking large batches of foodand freezing half for later. It takes less energy to turn onthe range once to cook a big pot, than multiple times tocook smaller portions.

Make sure your kitchen faucet is also eco-friendly andcan help you conserve water. Look for one with a Multi-Flow wand that can toggle between spray and streamfunctionality. The function adds convenience because asimple push can increase the flow from 1.5 gallons perminute for tasks like hand washing, to 2.2 gallons perminute when more water is needed to fill pots and vases.

“Homeowners are concerned about saving water, espe-cially in areas where water is scarce,” says KurtBacklund, Delta brand senior product manager. “Yet sometasks require a higher flow for speed and convenience.Choose a faucet that offers the option to increase flowwhen needed while saving water the rest of the time.”

• Street Smarts: Think like a short-order cook to runyour kitchen when things become hectic. Keep a magnet-ic pad on the fridge and tell family members to jot downitems that run out. This way, your grocery list is alwaysup-to-date and you save money and time at the super-market by avoiding buying items you don’t need.

Another trick is to clean as you go. While piling dishesin the sink is convenient in the short term, washingthem as you go and cleaning countertops as food cooksmakes after-dinner cleaning easier.

Remember: An efficient kitchen can not only save youtime, but also helps save money, energy and water.

WWW.STATEPOINTMEDIA.COM

Efficiency will save you water, energy and money.

HOME & GARDEN THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 20112 THE DAILY IBERIAN HOME & GARDEN THE DAILY IBERIAN 19THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2011

714 W. Admiral Doyle Dr., New Iberia

(337) 367-8236 • M-F 7-4

www.teche-electric.comHwy. 182 West By Spanish Lake • Hours: Mon.-Sat. 8:30-5:30 • Sun. 10:00-4:00 364-4879

IBERIA GARDENS & NURSERY• Landscape Edging• Garden Supplies• Bulk Soil & Mulch

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I ND EX■

Is your dinner safe?

Try a food safety inspection .................... PAGE 4

Make yard work easier

Timely shortcuts to getting it done ........ PAGE 6

Some spots to clean

Spring cleaning route made simple ........ PAGE 9

Going ‘green’

Concept has waned but still saves ....... PAGE 10

Protection for the home

Storm guards for budget conscious ...... PAGE 12

Honey of a new book

LSU AgCenter details ‘Honey Plants’ ....... PAGE 14

Garden to be proud of

Make yours the envy of the ’hood ....... PAGE 16

Kitchen transformation

Get comfortable in efficient room ........ PAGE 20

Home & Garden is a supplemental publicationof The Daily Iberian, P.O. Box 9290,New Iberia, LA 70562.

Publisher..........................................................Will ChapmanManaging Editor................................................Jeff ZeringueAdvertising Manager................................................Alan RiniProduction Manager..........................................Jerry SextonBusiness Manager.........................................Amanda SenecaCirculation Manager....................................John “JP” Poirier

Get the rightdirt for your

garden plantsBY JESSICA GOFF

THE DAILY IBERIAN

March 20 marked the official first day of spring, away for Mother Nature to tell people it’s time toget back out in the garden or till up a new one.

The Teche Area offers several types of soil variationsthat have their own pros and cons, when it comes to gar-dening, soil specialist and Louisiana State UniversityAssociate Professor of Soil Fertility Management J.Cheston Stevens Jr. said.

The three most common soil types in the area are mix-tures of sandy loam, silt loam and clay, he said, or combi-nations of each.

Clay soil tends to be the toughest challenge for gardenersand growers to deal with because the soil holds water forlonger periods than other soil types, he said.

“When it rains the clay soil will hold the moisture in fora pretty good while,” he said. “With water logged soils likeclay, plants just kind of sit there for a while until more oxy-gen gets into that soil. So the plants are just kind of, for alack of a better word, stagnated.”

If left in moisture for too long, plants’ root systems canbecome damaged or diseased, Stevens added.

“You could have root problems if you have extended peri-ods of rainfall that keep the soil waterlogged. That mightprecipitate some plant disease problems,” he said.

SEE DDIIRRTT,, PAGE 3

JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIAN

Gus Catsulis, who owns Iberia Gardens and Nursery, says using gypsumis one way to soften clay soil that can cause gardeners problems.

Great recycling tips for the family for Earth DayBY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Whether you’re making plans for Earth Day orsimply looking for ways to do more for theplanet, now is the perfect time to revitalize

your recycling efforts.Something as simple as recycling more of the plastic

bottles, bags and wraps you use every day can make abig difference. But recycling doesn’t stop with throwingthese items in the bin; purchasing products made withrecycled materials is another great way to go green!

In fact, nearly 83 percent of Americans say they feel more“green” when buying products made with recycled plasticsor other recycled materials, according to a recent survey byPlastics Make It Possible, an initiative sponsored by theplastics industries of the American Chemistry Council.

“Earth Day is the perfect time to close the ‘recycling loop’by purchasing products made from recycled materials,”said Steve Russell, vice president of the plastics division ofthe American Chemistry Council. “Many plastics can berecycled and given a second life as clothing, carpeting, fur-niture, gardening equipment, backyard decks, new bottlesand bags and other products we use every day.”

Here are some tips to get you back to recycling basics:• Understand your local recycling program. Recycling pro-

grams vary across the country, but most community curb-side programs collect plastic bottles, and many major gro-cery and retail chains now offer bins to collect plastic bagsand wraps for recycling. An increasing number of commu-nities also collect other containers such as yogurt and but-ter tubs -- check to see if yours is one of them.

• Check the neck. For recycling purposes, a bottle isany container with a neck smaller than its base. Thisincludes beverage containers, food jars for products such

as mayonnaise and dressings, and bottles for shampoo,laundry detergent and household cleaners. And remem-ber, recyclers want the caps, too!

• Bag it. Collect plastic bags from grocery, retail anddry cleaning stores, and plastic product wraps fromitems such as newspapers, bread, paper towels, napkins,bathroom tissue and diapers. Simply store the clean bagsand wraps inside another bag and then drop them off ata participating grocery or retail store to be recycled.

• Hold on to your recyclables. When away from home,recap and store empty bottles in a backpack, briefcase oryour car until you arrive home and can toss them in therecycling bin.

• When in doubt, leave it out. Be careful not to contam-inate your recyclables with items that aren’t recycled inyour community.

• Support the second generation. Recycled materials oftengo on to become second generation products such as car-peting, fleece jackets and new bottles and bags. For exam-ple, eight recycled plastic bottles can create a soft, new t-shirt. Look for innovative products made with recycledmaterials at your favorite retailer so you can close the recy-cling loop and reap the rewards of your recycling efforts.

For more recycling tips, visit www.plasticsmakeitpos-sible.com.


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DIRT: Use gypsum to offset clay problems

Options are limited on how one cantreat soil with a clay mixture, Stevenssaid, therefore creating a raised bed ismost likely a best bet for gardens.

Raised beds allow the opportunity tocreate just the right soil combination forsuccessful growing, he said.

“You may want to incorporate a littlebit of sand in it and some organic matterin there to kind of loosen it up a littlebit,” he suggested.

“Raised beds are always a goodoption.”

Gus Catsulis, owner of Iberia Gardensand Nursery, recommends gardeners deal-ing with clay difficulties in their yards touse gypsum, a sulfate mineral that chemi-cally breakdowns clay deposits.

Catsulis said gypsum not a well-known remedy to soften soil but “doesthe trick.”

“That’s the main thing that works,” hesaid. “It’s a good product and it goes along way.”

The chemical is marketed as nontoxicand is quick acting, he said.

Gardeners he has spoken to, Catsulissaid, tell him the chemical, which is simi-lar to lime, is easy to disperse on to soiland can be applied topically without theneed for tilling or mixing.

FROM PAGE 2

‘You may want to incorporatea little bit of sand in it and

some organic matter in there to kind of loosen it up

a little bit.’

J. Cheston Stevens

Louisiana State University Associate Professor

of Soil Fertility Management

■

BLUE: Top color for cars was red

of Pantone Color Institute.• What color schemes are most popu-

lar? When shown four popular combina-tions featured in House & Garden,almost half the people surveyed favoredyellow and royal blue. That was the topchoice for both men and women, butwomen picked red and purple as theirsecond favorite, while men went forbrown and blue. The least popular: pinkand chartreuse.

• About a fifth of the respondents saidthey’ve bought black sheets for the bed-room. For some reason, Democrats weretwice as likely as Republicans to havedone so.

• Forget about roses. According to thesurvey, red is the color least desired inthe garden, followed by orange and pur-ple.

• Most people (79 percent) said that colorwas important in picking furniture, butnot for picking computers or cell phones.

About half said color didn’t matter onsmall appliances, but two-thirds said itdid for large appliances.

Outside of the home, the favorite colorfor cars was hot-blooded red.

FROM PAGE 17

When shown four popularcombinations featured in

House & Garden, almost halfthe people surveyed favoredyellow and royal blue. Thatwas the top choice for bothmen and women, but women

picked red and purple astheir second favorite, while

men went for brown and blue.■

Nature-inspired colorsare the newest trend

FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Purple is passe. Colors inspired bynature are the new trend, accord-ing to Debbie Zimmer, color and

decorating expert for The Rohm and HaasPaint Quality Institute.

‘‘Colors will be fresh and clean, andreflect elements of stone, water andplants,’’ Zimmer says. Examples includesoft beiges and clear blue-based greensthat bring to mind sand and forests.

Adding a sparkling accent to these soft-er shades are metallic paints such as sil-ver and steel-gray. Used in decorativepainting, they can add a weathered,antique feel.

Other trends noted by Zimmer:• Blue remains popular, in all hues, part-

ly because it’s considered a relaxing color,and partly because its wide-rangingpalette offers tremendous flexibility.

‘‘Blue’s popularity began a few yearsago when it was used to evoke a spatheme in bathrooms,’’ Zimmer said. ‘‘Butnow we are seeing it migrate into otherrooms of the house.’’

• Children may still be drawn to purple,but among adults, its popularity haspassed.

• Not everyone is enamored by nature.Hot pink is a hot designer choice, particu-larly as an accent for other bright colors,such as red, yellow and orange. Blue-based reds go best with pink, as well aswith teal and green. And because redstimulates appetite, it’s a popular choice

for dining rooms.• Orange helps make a home feel invit-

ing because it is warm and welcoming.Richer shades are the trend this year, andwork well with reds and coppers.

• Don’t ignore brown. It’s neutralenough to accompany furniture, carpet-ing and draperies of all color, but punchi-er than white. You can add to its depth byusing a small bit of metallic paint or ashade of green.

• For a starker, more daring look, black-and-white combinations are growing inpopularity. They can turn any room into amod-inspired creation.

• Paint isn’t just for painting. More peo-ple are using a little bit of paint and somestencils to write on their walls -- words,phrases, quotes.

‘‘The nice thing about this trend is thatit can be adapted in many ways,’’ Zimmersays. ‘

‘Someone who wants to start small maychoose to write just a few words as a bor-der or smaller decorative accent, whilesomeone who is a bit more bold maycover an entire wall with words. There issomething here that works for everyone.’’

Children may still be drawn topurple, but among adults, its

popularity has passed.■


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Food safety tipsfor your kitchen

BY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Is your dinner safe? A new survey has found that more

Americans are worried about becomingsick of an annoying dinner guest thanthey are of getting sick from the food onthe table. But their relatives should bethe least of their concerns, as more thanone in five Americans (22 percent) admittheir kitchen would fail a food safetyinspection.

The new survey, sponsored by the WaterQuality and Health Council, also foundthat less than half of Americans (47 per-cent) typically use a disinfectant or disin-fecting wipes after using the kitchencounter, despite knowing that chlorinebleach kills germs that cause foodborneillnesses.

The Centers for Disease Control andPrevention estimates that 76 millionAmericans get sick from foodborne ill-nesses every year and more than 300,000of them are hospitalized. The CDC alsowarns that raw foods of animal origin arethe most likely to be contaminated.

“Home cooking introduces increasedrisks of foodborne illness as raw meats

and vegetables are processed on kitchensurfaces that are not properly disinfected,”says Linda Golodner, president emeritus ofthe National Consumers League.

“Practicing good kitchen hygiene is notvery complicated,” says Golodner.“Thoroughly wash surfaces with hot,soapy water and rinse. Then apply a sim-ple chlorine bleach solution and let airdry to properly disinfect the area. Followthese steps before and after handling rawfoods on kitchen surfaces.”

Just one-half tablespoon of bleach inone half-gallon of water effectively kills

SEE FFOOOODD,, PAGE 5


National Consumers League president emeritus Linda Golodner says good kitchen hygien-ce, as shown above, is not very complicated.

Good kitchen hygiene is very easy

The Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention

estimates that 76 millionAmericans get sick

from foodborne illnesses everyyear and more than 300,000

of them are hospitalized.■

GARDEN: Choose pleasing colors

honey bees. If you find an old nest, it isbest to leave it. Many bird species willreuse it.

• Whenever possible, plant native green-ery which is safer for wildlife than exoticimports and helps slow the spread ofinvasive plant species. Native choices canbe vibrant choices. Choose colors thatcomplement your home and are pleasingto the eye.

• Windows represent a significant colli-sion hazard for birds in flight. You canprotect visiting songbirds with advancedwindow decals such as those made byWindowAlert. These decals have the deli-cate appearance of frosted glass, but glowlike a stoplight for birds with theirunique ability to see ultraviolet light. Youcan order them online at www.win-dowalert.com.

• Remember to periodically clean feed-ers, birdbaths, and nesting boxes withorganic soap and distilled water to pre-

vent the spread of disease. Hummingbirdfeeders should be cleaned weekly andkept in the shade so the nectar does notferment.

• If you want to attract butterflies andbees, install some special nectar feedersand butterfly homes, which will bringtheir acrobatic dance to your backyard.Mason bees, which are easily attractedwith ready-made hive kits, are a gentleand docile addition as well.

“Wildlife can beautify your garden”says Spencer Schock, founder ofWindowAlert. “But birds and otherwildlife don’t appear by chance. Theyseek habitats that provide them with food,shelter, and safety.”

• Don’t be afraid to add a personaltouch. A gentle wind chime or brilliantsun catcher can add a special dimensionto any garden without frighteningwildlife.

By following these tips, your garden islikely to be envied by neighbors -- andloved by wildlife.

FROM PAGE 16


Blue is and always has beenAmerica’s favorite color when itcomes to home decoration.

That’s according to a color study spon-sored by House & Garden magazine andPantone Inc.

According to the study, 32 percent saidthey will decorate more with blue thanany other color. The second-most popularcolor was green.

Here are some other results from thesurvey:

• An overwhelming 73 percent said theywould repaint in a month or less if theywere unhappy with a fresh paint job.Immediate repainting was more popularwith women (45 percent) than men (37percent).

• Bold colors are becoming more popu-lar, with fiery red, orange, and bright yel-

low the top three gutsy picks. ‘‘Bold colorstarted in fashion, and now it’s becomingmainstream,’’ explains Lisa Herbert,Pantone executive vice president.

• Interestingly, orange also was one ofthe most disliked colors, along with char-treuse, yellow and indigo. Pale apricot,soft yellow and royal blue were colors thatno one said they hated.

• Pale apricot was also one of the topchoices for the bathroom, along with skyblue and royal blue. (Blue was also thepreferred shade for the toothbrush.) Thetop choice for the kitchen was white, fol-lowed by yellow.

• The living room was chosen by 44 per-cent as the place where color is mostimportant. ‘‘The living room is where wepresent ourselves to friends and family,’’said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director

The power of color:America’s favorite is blue

SEE BBLLUUEE,, PAGE 18


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FOOD: Trust chlorine-based disinfectants

common foodborne germs on kitchen sur-faces. Golodner says that most people maynot realize this, however. Many peopleoverestimate the amount of bleach pergallon of water needed to effectively killcommon foodborne germs.

“Chlorine-based disinfectants are regis-tered as safe to use by the EnvironmentalProtection Agency and proven to destroythe germs that spread foodborne illness,”notes Golodner. The survey also found thatby more than a seven to one margin,Americans trust chlorine-based disinfec-tants over green cleaners to kill germs. TheWater Quality & Health Council lists thefollowing guidelines for safe food handling:

• Clean: Wash all food contact surfaceswith hot, soapy water followed by disin-fecting with 1/2 tablespoon chlorinebleach in 1/2 gallon of water.

• Separate: Keep fresh fruits and vegeta-bles separate from raw meat, poultry andseafood.

• Cook: To kill any bacteria that mightbe present, thoroughly cook meat, poultryand eggs to the appropriate temperature.

• Chill: Refrigerate leftover perishablesat 40 degrees within two hours of cookingor serving.

For more tips on surface disinfection,visit www.disinfect-for-health.org.

FROM PAGE 4

‘Chlorine-based disinfectantsare registered as safe to use

by the EnvironmentalProtection Agency and proven

to destroy the germs thatspread foodborne illness.’

Linda Golodner

National Consumer League president emeritus

■

Keep childrensafe from commonhousehold poisons

Each year, approximately 2.4million people — more thanhalf under age 6 — swallow or

have contact with a poisonous sub-stance, according to the AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics.

The most dangerous potential poi-sons are medicines, cleaning products,antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid,pesticides, furniture polish, gasoline,kerosene and lamp oil. Most child poi-sonings occur when parents or care-givers are home but not paying atten-tion, so it's important never to leave

poisonous substances within reach ofchildren, even for a minute.

If your child comes in contact with apoisonous substance, and is uncon-scious, not breathing, or having con-vulsions or seizures due to poison con-tact, call 911 immediately.

For mild or no symptoms, callyour poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

For mild or no symp-toms, call your poison

control center at 1-800-222-1222.

■

The most dangerous potentialpoisons are medicines, cleaningproducts, including medicines,cleaning products and oil.


Wildlife like birds and butterflies add natural beauty to any garden.

Your garden can be the envy of the neighborhoodBY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Gardens are a source of beauty.They are also a sanctuary fromthe hustle and bustle of daily life.

Something as simple as hearing song-birds in the morning can help you startyour day on the right note.

While your neighbors spend the seasontrying to grow a uniform lawn, why notelicit their envy by creating your veryown Garden of Eden? A little pruning andsome wildlife-friendly additions willmake your garden stand out for neighborsas well as native birds and here’s how youcan get started:

• First, tidy up the yard. This mayrequire re-seeding parts of your lawn thatare known problem spots. If you plan toaerate your grass, don’t forget to aeratethe soil around your flowers and shrub-bery as well. Water and air circulation

helps prevent the spread of fungus whilepromoting healthy microorganisms thatkeep plant life vibrant.

• Prune dead branches and cut backperennials. Fruit trees, in particular,thrive with pruning and often producemore blossoms as a result. Blossomsattract hummingbirds, butterflies, and

A little pruning and somewildlife-friendly additions willmake your garden stand out

for neighbors as well as native birds.

■

SEE GGAARRDDEENN,, PAGE A17


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Time-tested shortcuts to make yard work easier BY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Spring is in the air — a time for rejuvenation andrenewal ... and for getting your yard back in shape.

If you're like most Americans, you love your garden andthe budding trees of the new season, but don't want tospend all your precious weekends toiling away at yard workand lawn care. Here are some easy shortcuts for gettingyard work done in less time and with less effort this season:

The easy way out When doing yard work, it's easiest to stand -- constant

kneeling and crouching will tire you out sooner and makeyou more likely to experience back and knee pain later on. Ifyou need to get low to the ground, bring a low stool with youto sit on. And give your body a break by transporting allyour tools in a kiddie wagon. Or you can use a collapsiblewheelbarrow with a wire frame and nylon bag. Choose alightweight one that also stores easily and compactly in agarage or tool shed. They are available at home improve-ment stores and online at sites like bedbathandbeyond.com.

Get the right tools Choosing garden tools with longer handles will also

reduce your bending and kneeling. You may want to useones with padded grips, although gardening gloves arealways advisable since insects and spiders can lay dor-mant in dead foliage and debris.

Consider using add-ons to your current tools to increaseyour efficiency. For example, PowerSharp, a chainsawsharpening system from Oregon-brand outdoor products,lets chainsaw users sharpen chain on the saw, on the job,in seconds. This helps get yard work done faster and withrelative ease, especially when faced with tough choresrequiring sharp chains, such as pruning and trimming. Tolearn more, visit www.powersharp.com.

Hone your focus “Most people immediately think of their lawns when

they think of seasonal yard work,” says Chris Seigneur,Senior Product Development Engineer for Blount, themakers of PowerSharp. “But trimming dead branchesfrom your trees and shrubs will ensure their health andadd to the beauty of your home.”

You should also clear plant beds of dead foliage, whichcan smother budding greenery and foster disease. Andwhen reseeding your lawn, it's best to stay off it for atleast two weeks to allow the grass to grow. Lastly, somemore permanent fixtures can save you time and effort inthe long run. Native plants and flowers will grow moreeasily since they do not need the care and attention ofexotic transplants. And an automatic sprinkler systemwill keep your yard lush and green with little thought.

STATEPOINT MEDIA.COM

The right techniques will help you get more done in less time.

honey — the top source for the majorityof Louisiana’s honey — is usable as atable honey, he said.

“It’s something to do about soil con-ditions,” he said in an interviewTuesday.

“A lot of the different honeys dependon minerals in the soil, how hot or dryit is,” he said. “We’ve had some plantsthat, under the right conditions, insteadof it being a light to medium amber itmight even be purple because of theminerals in the soil it’s picked up.”

Honey from the buckwheat tree“varies in color from reddish-amber topurple, strong and variable quality,”according to the book.

Chinese tallow-tree honey has a slight“twang” that one producer uses for whathe calls a Cajun taste, according to anAgCenter publication about the trees.That publication also says that althoughChinese tallow trees are highly invasive,

they are so widespread in parts ofLouisiana that commercial productionposes little environmental threat.

His 6-by-9-inch book lists nectar-pro-ducing plants in order of blooming sea-son, starting with hairy vetch — a smallrelative of the pea that blooms fromJanuary into April — and ending withgoldenrod, which blooms from Augustinto November.

“Most of the plants are not abundantenough in any one location to be goodsources for any volume of nectar butcan help colonies make it through timesof need,” Pollet wrote.

He said American buckwheat vine,also called redvine or ladies’ eardrops,was identified only in the last couple ofyears as a good plant for Louisiana’sbees.

“We didn’t know where the honey wascoming from. Then one of the beekeep-ers found some of the plants growingtogether and bees were working themvery heavily,” he said.

HONEYBEES: Book lists nectar-producing plants in the order of blooming seasonFROM PAGE 14

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo provided by the Louisiana State University AgCenter shows bees on a maypop, alsoknown as purple passionflower. It’s among photos illustrating 53 nectar-producing plantsfound around the state in the AgCenter’s new 32-page book.


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Home improvementprojects for the springBY STATEPOINT MEDIA

For many Americans the warmerweather of spring means it’s timeto focus on all those home improve-

ment projects that would be inconvenientduring winter.

Adding an extension, sanding woodenfloors or replacing a roof are a lot easierwhen you’re not worried about the weath-er and diminished day light. Also, contrac-tors are less likely to have weather-relateddelays that blow timelines, making springrenovations run more smoothly.

Here are some home improvement proj-ects you may want to start this season:

• Replace the Roof: If your roof is startingto leak or you notice dramatic increases inheating or cooling bills, it may be time toreplace it. The best time to do so is whenthe weather is warm and dry. Keep in mind

the U.S. Department of Energy recom-mends light roofing colors, which will keepdown cooling costs and help reduce globalwarming. For more energy-saving homeimprovement tips, visit www.energy.gov.

• Check the Perimeter: Inspect yourhome’s exterior, making sure to check yoursiding. Mold and cracks can be a sign youneed to re-paint or replace boards. Also,now may be a good time to repave yourdriveway. Asphalt needs the right factors oftemperature and moisture to set properly.Better weather leads to better driveways.

• Add a Fireplace: Fireplaces are greatfocal points to any home, and now home-owners can double their impact by addingsee-through fireplaces that can beinstalled between rooms or even to warma patio. Versatile fireplaces, like the


Some improvements can enhance both indoor and outdoor spaces.SEE PPRROOJJEECCTTSS,, PAGE 8

GARDEN: Watch the seedlings bloom

to test the pH level of your soil, as well asthe level of nutrients like phosphorus,nitrogen, calcium, potassium and magne-sium. You can start digging if the soilcrumbles easily in your palm. Removeany weeds, branches or stones up to 8inches deep.

Suddenly transplanting your seedlings

outdoors can shock them, so begin by let-ting your seedlings live outdoors for a fewhours each day. Gradually increase thetime until any danger of cool eveningshas passed.

Then transplant your seedlings to yourgarden bed and watch them bloom! In afew weeks you should have beautiful flow-ers or the beginnings of a bountiful veg-etable harvest.

FROM PAGE 13

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Poison ivy honey has agood flavor, while honey from nectar of thedevil’s walking stick is sometimes bitter, accord-

ing to the LSU AgCenter’s new guidebook, “LouisianaHoney Plants.”

The 32-page book by recently retired professor andentomologist Dale Pollet has color photos of each plant,descriptions of plants and their honey, notes aboutwhere the plants are common, and a blooming seasonchart.

Poison ivy isn’t the only plant that makes good honeyeven though it can be toxic to people. Bees that get nec-tar from Yaupon — a plant with the unpleasant scientificname of Ilex vomitoria — make honey with “a richamber color with a pleasant flavor,” according to thehandbook.

The devil’s walking stick isn’t poisonous, just armedwith lots of thorns on a thick, straight stem.

Louisiana’s major nectar plants are Chinese tallowtrees, willow, clover, American buckwheat vine, asterand goldenrod, said Pollet.

Louisiana is the only state where Chinese tallow tree

Want honeybees? AgCenter has guide


LSU AgCenter photo shows the cover of its new book ‘Louisiana Honey Plants.’ The 32-page book features 53 plants.SEE HHOONNEEYYBBEEEESS,, PAGE A10


Recycling bins belong to the City of New Iberia. If you move, please leave them behind. Residents can pick up a bin from your neighborhood Fire Station or the City Barn at 1303 J. AllenDaigre Dr. (369-2391). Excess recyclables should be placed in a clear plastic bag and placed next to the bin.

ALUMINUM, TIN

& STEEL CANS

CARDBOARDCorrugated boxes and brown paperbags. Cardboard must be flattened.Remove all packaging materialsinside of boxes. Light-weight card-board, such as cake or tissue boxes areacceptable.

PLASTICAny plastic container with recycling symbol 1 or 2 stamped on bottom of container.

NEWSPAPER

GLASSClear, brown, green, and blue coloredglass bottles and jars only.

ASSORTED PAPERSComputer paper, office/school paper, junk mail,

magazines, catalogs, and telephone books.

TIRES, APPLIANCES, YARD WASTE

& LIGHT CONSTRUCTION DEBRISThese items will be picked up the day after your garbage iscollected. If Friday is your garbage day, yard waste and con-struction debris will be picked up on Monday. Please callGordon’s at 365-9034 with questions.

Materials should be placed parallel to the street, at curbside.Do not place debris on a concrete surfaceor within 5 feet of telephone poles ortrees. Do not put items on empty lots.Do not mix yard waste or constructiondebris with garbage. Householdappliances and regular size cartires will be collected.

Any work you contract for construction, remodeling, treeremoval, lot clearing, etc., is not covered under city contracts.Your contractor must provide proper disposal of all materials.The debris from the demolition of a home will not be collected.

YARD WASTE GUIDELINESBranches, tree limbs, trunks, shrubs, etc. will be collected. donot bundle. Leaves and grass clippings must be contained inplastic bags or garbage cans weighing less than 35 pounds.Mulch is available to the citizens of NewIberia Monday-Thursday 7am-5pm andFriday 7am-4pm at 614 Coteau Road(Hwy. 88 - Gordon’s Constructionand Landfill).

LIGHT CONSTRUCTION

DEBRIS GUIDELINESSheet rock, shingles, 2x4s, concrete, brick, vinyl siding,flooring, carpeting, celetex, plywood and windows areexamples of the materials which will be collected. Theseitems may be piled at the curb. Do not mix with yard wasteor garbage. Containerize anything less than 2 feet long.Creosote, asbestos and batteries will not be collected.

GARBAGE & FURNITURE

INFORMATIONPut your garbage can out the night beforeyour collection day (collection starts at5:00 am). Containers should be placedas close to the roadway as possible,without interfering with the movementof vehicles or pedestrians. Container information: NOT larger that 35 gallons, (NO 55gallon drums) and NOT to weigh more than 35 lbs.

Household furniture will be collected. Do not place garbage,yard waste or other debris on furniture.

We are NOT able to collect the following items: Hazardousmaterials, car batteries, liquids or paint cans (unless lids areremoved and all paint is dried).

Your garbage, furniture and recycling will all be picked up onyour regular collection day.

If you have any questions, Allied Waste can help. Please call 232-5730.

Recycle and Re-New Iberia!

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PROJECTS: Tinker with the plumbing

Montebello See-Through by LennoxHearth Products, can be installed betweena kitchen and dining room or between aliving room and patio, creating a dramat-ic effect. You can learn more atwww.lennox.com.

• An indoor/outdoor installment is agreat way to enjoy your fireplace year-round,” says Bill Wetzel, product manag-er of Fireplace Systems for Lennox.“After all, who wants to spend money onhome improvements you can only usehalf the year?”

• Tinker with Plumbing: Because bath-room and kitchen renovations oftenrequire plumbing changes, the warmermonths are the best for these projects.Now’s the ideal time to expand that half-bathroom with a shower stall, or toupgrade your master bathroom with awhirlpool tub. And there are many choic-es of eco-friendly fixtures from suchbrands as Delta, Kohler, AmericanStandard and others.

• Install Skylights: With longer days andclear, starry nights, it’s the season for gazingat the sky. But allergens can make sky gaz-ing difficult for some. Consider installingskylights in your home this season.

• Sand the Floor: Most people think offloor maintenance as a cool weather activ-ity, but floor sanding kicks up incredibleamounts of dust. In warmer weather, youcan throw open doors and windows andset up fans to suck the dust outward.

The better weather makes almost allhome improvement projects more enjoy-able. So take advantage of the season toupgrade your home!

FROM PAGE 7

The better weather makesalmost all home improvementprojects more enjoyable. So

take advantage of the seasonto upgrade your home.

■

Both men, women both say:‘I do most of the chores ... ’

BY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Who does most of the choresaround the house? A recentsurvey by Cozi.com, an

online calendar for busy families,found that both men and womenclaim to do most of the work!

• Women say they do 73 percent ofthe cooking, while men claim they do48 percent. There must be lots of left-

overs! • Apparently the laundry is getting

done twice, since mom does 76 percentof it and Dad does 47 percent.

• Mom says she does 77 percent ofthe grocery shopping while Dadclaims 52 percent. Clearly those cup-boards aren't bare.

• To keep your family from over-stocking and over-washing, be sure toschedule chores on a family calendar.

How to pack for any tripBY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Do you hate opening your suitcaseand seeing your carefully launderedclothes creased and wrinkled?

If so, try rolling your clothes to keepthem from getting crumpled. If you're usinga garment bag, place plastic dry cleaningbags over each hung item to reduce friction,

which usually causes creases. Make sure yourtoiletries are at the bottom of any upright suit-case as the weight of these items often causeswrinkles. You can also roll any ties, belts orscarves in a spiral and tuck them into shoesfor protection and to save space. And savesome weight by unpacking your hairdry-er and iron — these items are almostalways available in any home or hotel.

Tips for you to get a head start on gardenBY STATEPOINT MEDIA

What can keep you fit, give you peace of mind,save you money on groceries and add flavor toyour dinner plate? Gardening!

And whether you have a green thumb or just a sprout-ing interest in gardening, starting your seedlings earlyis a great way to get a head start on your spring andsummer blossoms.

Here’s what you need to know to get a jump on yourfavorite gardening activities:

Plan your garden When deciding what seedlings to grow for your gar-

den, consider how the sunlight falls in your yard. Someflowers and vegetables need constant sunshine, whileothers need a shady nook. Consult a gardening book or alocal gardening expert for guidance.

Also, make sure to select plants that can successfullygrow in the climate. Just because seeds for almost everyvariety of plant are now available online or at the localnursery, it doesn’t mean you can grow it in your back-yard. Some of the easiest vegetables to grow in almostall North American climates are salad greens, cucum-bers, tomatoes, and herbs like basil and cilantro.

More information on the healthful benefits of home-grown vegetables is available by visiting www.cdc.govand searching for “gardening.”

Start indoors Seedlings can be started indoors and then moved to

your garden as the weather warms. They can be startedin almost anything, from cardboard egg cartons towashed yogurt containers. Just make sure to use sterileseed starting mix and poke enough holes in the bottomof each container for drainage.

Or you can grow a variety of seedlings in a properseedling tray. For example, AeroGarden, an indoorgrowing system, has a seedling tray that can grow upto 66 seedlings in ready-to-transplant growingsponges. The lack of soil keeps your home neater,while the system’s grow lights and automated deliv-ery of water and liquid nutrients help make seedlingsperfect for re-planting in your garden when theweather is right.

Just make sure you time your seedlings so you can re-plant them at the optimum time. For more tips on grow-ing seedlings indoors, visit www.aerogarden.com.

Prep for transplant Once the danger of cold nights has passed, you can

prepare your outdoor garden for planting. You may want


Seedlings can be started indoors and then moved to your garden.

SEE GGAARRDDEENN,, PAGE 14


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Four overlooked spots to spring clean in the houseBY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Is your spring cleaning routine suffi-cient? Or do you suspect dirt may belurking in places you’ve never even put

on your to-do list? If you’re like most Amer-icans, chances are you forgot some of theseoverlooked spots while spring cleaning:

In the kitchen Most people hit the stove, fridge and the

microwave. But there are more places inthe kitchen needing your attention. Allcupboards and pantries should becleared and re-stocked at least once year-ly to dispose of expired food and guardagainst insects and rodents. Also makesure you clean your can opener! Thisoften used, rarely cleaned tool can be atrap for bacteria and spores. Use Q-Tipsand soapy water to wipe down every nookand cranny, including the gears.

In the laundry room Have you noticed an unusual funk com-

ing from your washing machine? This maybe because the new, high-efficiency wash-ers use less water than traditional ones,causing residue buildup from dirty clothes,detergent and hard water minerals. If so,it’s time to clean your machine. Somethingas simple as Tide’s Washing MachineCleaner, which comes in a small packet youdrop into a normal cycle without clothes,can keep your machine smelling fresh.

Once you’ve got your washing machineclean, next focus on what you put in it.With spring and summer whites sure to bewashed this time of year, consider switch-ing to a detergent with both stain fightingand whitening power, such as Tide plusBleach Powder. And look for a new con-centrated version, which not only givesyou the same cleaning with 1/3 less deter-gent, but helps save you space and helpssave the planet by reducing packaging.

In the bedroom Spring cleaning usually involves a

change of bedding, but how about those

decorative pillows or stuffed animals in chil-dren’s rooms? Because of their soft, unevensurfaces, they’re prime locations for dustand allergens. Sticking them in plastic bagsand then in the freezer for four hours willkill dust mites. Then use a vacuum to suckup dead carcasses. You should also payattention to ceiling fans, crown moldingsand even the walls. It’s best to use a dampcloth to wipe down all surfaces. Dry featherdusters tend to kick up dust and allergens,which settle back down in the same place.

In the living room Window treatments and lampshades

attract dust and germs as much as any otherhome surface, but are easily cleaned usingremovable vacuum attachments, such as acombo brush or crevice tool extension. Anddon’t skip floor vents, door jams, and windowsills. These areas are often overlooked andcan collect years of grime. Of course, regu-lar cleaning is the best way to minimizeyour spring cleaning. To find products thatcan help make cleaning less of a chore.


Dirt and odors can lurk in your washingmachine.

Protect your homefrom severe weather

BY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Storms and natural disasters are aninevitable part of life, but homeown-ers can take steps to minimize impact

and damage to their homes. The warmerweather offers a perfect opportunity tomake some small but meaningful changes.

“With recent tornados in New York andsnow in Texas, every part of the countryshould prepare for storms and naturaldisasters,” says Christopher Rose, presi-dent of Christopher Rose Architects and amember of The American Institute ofArchitects’ Custom Residential ArchitectNetwork.

“Fortunately, there are a number ofbudget-friendly upgrades homeownerscan make to protect their homes withoutripping down walls.”

Here are some manageable ways to pro-tect your home from storms:

Retroactive improvements Homeowners can install galvanized

metal clips in their attics to provide struc-tural support from the roof of a house toits foundation. These clips, which willalso help minimize damage from highwinds, can be purchased in most hard-ware stores.

Homeowners may also consider strap-ping, which are boards that are nailed asa large “X” to the ceiling joists tostrengthen walls. Similar to metal clips,strapping is readily available in mosthardware stores.

Don’t fear the basement Many basements are prone to flooding,

even in simple rainstorms. Luckily, thereare two easy ways to minimize damage,says Rose.Homeowners can brush a liquidwaterproofing product onto the surface ofthe concrete block walls in a typical base-ment to inhibit moisture penetration. Also,installing a sump pump can help removewater that has already seeped into the base-ment. Sump pumps are a good idea for mosthomes, especially those in heavy rain areas.

Treat Your windows Windows bear the brunt of powerful

winds and flying debris during storms, sohomeowners may consider covering themwith a special film, much like the filmsused to tint car windows, to help protectagainst heavy winds.

Or they can install ballistic nylon toprotect glass, reduce wind pressure andhelp protect against wind-driven debris.Ahead of storms, homeowners can securenylon sheets with a series of hooks infront of glass or on a porch, softeningwinds from a dangerous 110 mph to amore manageable 5-10 mph. During moreextensive renovation, consider replacingthe windows with ones that are designedand tested to withstand severe storms.

“No matter where you live, readyingyour home for a storm or natural disasteris a worthwhile investment,” says Rose.“Taking the time now to lessen the dam-age Mother Nature unexpectedly throwsour way is always a sound practice.”


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40 YearsOf Service

Decision to gosolar has its benefits,

consumer says

BY PATRICK FLANAGAN

THE DAILY IBERIAN

The popularity of “green” energyhas diminished recently amongconsumers, but the potential for

saving on energy bills has not, accordingto one local expert.

Dana Dugas, who owns a New Iberiaconstruction company and also special-izes in solar panel and solar heater salesand installation, said when he firstbegan offering the products severalyears ago, they were popular.

Yet, as the economic downturn hitLouisiana in 2010, a reality made moreprescient with the catastrophic BP oilspill in the Gulf of Mexico below Venicaand the de facto federal drilling morato-rium, Dugas said his sales dropped notonly in solar-related equipment, but alsofor his overall construction business.

“When solar first came out, everybodywas hot and heavy on it. We sold a halfdozen or so hot water heaters realquick,” Dugas said.

“We’re still showing ’em, but the popu-larity has fizzled out.”

Likewise, Dugas said business is downindustrywide. He cited a halt in work forhis construction business during the last

six months of 2010.“Last year was the worst year

I’ve had,” Dugas said. “In the lastsix months last year, the onlyhouse I built was for myself.

“But the economy is definitelypicking up now. Hopefully it’llkeep picking up.”

Although consumers have tight-ened their purchasing, the deci-sion to go solar has its benefits,said Ryan Duhon of Sunset. With46 solar panels powering hishome, Duhon said within a 12-month period, he is able to break-even on his energy bill.

Before going solar, Duhon saidhe averaged about $100 per monthin electric bills during the sum-mer months. Afterward, however,he said his bills have dropped toabout $50 per month.

During the nonpeak usage

months of the year, Duhon said heaccumulates credits on his energybills since he is able to go withoutusing electricity from his electricutility throughout the day and useenergy being provided by the sun.

“The solar panels actually turnmy meters backwards,” Duhonsaid.

“When I get home and turn onthe electricity, the meter thenstarts moving forward again.”

Although his solar system costmore than $25,000, Duhon said heactually spent only $5,000 afterreceiving a tax credit refund fromthe federal government, whichcovered 80 percent of the unit’scost.

“With that, you’re basically justpaying for your electric bills in thefuture,” he said.

“It takes about seven to 10 yearsto fully recoup your money.”

‘Green’ energy’s popularity has waned since red-hot start ... but it still saves

SUBMITTED

For architects, builders and homeowners alike, solar energy concepts can be integrated inthe design of a home seamlessly and efficiently to best serve the building. With advanceplanning, the system can be created in the bidding and construction process, accordingto experts in the industry.

‘When solar first came out,everybody was hot and heavyon it. We sold a half dozen or

so hot water heaters realquick. We’re still showing

’em, but the popularity hasfizzled out.’

Dana Dugas

Construction company owner

■

SEE SSOOLLAARR,, PAGE 11

SOLAR: Electric bills in the summer dropped to $50FROM PAGE 10

PATRICK FLANAGAN / THE DAILY IBERIAN

Tammy Broussard at Dana Dugas’ construction company looks ata list of some solar energy products available on the market.

‘With that, you’re basically just paying for your electric bills in the future. It takes about seven to 10

years to fully recoup your money.’

Ryan Duhon

Sunset resident who powers home with 46 solar panels

■


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Decision to gosolar has its benefits,

consumer says

BY PATRICK FLANAGAN

THE DAILY IBERIAN

The popularity of “green” energyhas diminished recently amongconsumers, but the potential for

saving on energy bills has not, accordingto one local expert.

Dana Dugas, who owns a New Iberiaconstruction company and also special-izes in solar panel and solar heater salesand installation, said when he firstbegan offering the products severalyears ago, they were popular.

Yet, as the economic downturn hitLouisiana in 2010, a reality made moreprescient with the catastrophic BP oilspill in the Gulf of Mexico below Venicaand the de facto federal drilling morato-rium, Dugas said his sales dropped notonly in solar-related equipment, but alsofor his overall construction business.

“When solar first came out, everybodywas hot and heavy on it. We sold a halfdozen or so hot water heaters realquick,” Dugas said.

“We’re still showing ’em, but the popu-larity has fizzled out.”

Likewise, Dugas said business is downindustrywide. He cited a halt in work forhis construction business during the last

six months of 2010.“Last year was the worst year

I’ve had,” Dugas said. “In the lastsix months last year, the onlyhouse I built was for myself.

“But the economy is definitelypicking up now. Hopefully it’llkeep picking up.”

Although consumers have tight-ened their purchasing, the deci-sion to go solar has its benefits,said Ryan Duhon of Sunset. With46 solar panels powering hishome, Duhon said within a 12-month period, he is able to break-even on his energy bill.

Before going solar, Duhon saidhe averaged about $100 per monthin electric bills during the sum-mer months. Afterward, however,he said his bills have dropped toabout $50 per month.

During the nonpeak usage

months of the year, Duhon said heaccumulates credits on his energybills since he is able to go withoutusing electricity from his electricutility throughout the day and useenergy being provided by the sun.

“The solar panels actually turnmy meters backwards,” Duhonsaid.

“When I get home and turn onthe electricity, the meter thenstarts moving forward again.”

Although his solar system costmore than $25,000, Duhon said heactually spent only $5,000 afterreceiving a tax credit refund fromthe federal government, whichcovered 80 percent of the unit’scost.

“With that, you’re basically justpaying for your electric bills in thefuture,” he said.

“It takes about seven to 10 yearsto fully recoup your money.”

‘Green’ energy’s popularity has waned since red-hot start ... but it still saves

SUBMITTED

For architects, builders and homeowners alike, solar energy concepts can be integrated inthe design of a home seamlessly and efficiently to best serve the building. With advanceplanning, the system can be created in the bidding and construction process, accordingto experts in the industry.

‘When solar first came out,everybody was hot and heavyon it. We sold a half dozen or

so hot water heaters realquick. We’re still showing

’em, but the popularity hasfizzled out.’

Dana Dugas

Construction company owner

■

SEE SSOOLLAARR,, PAGE 11

SOLAR: Electric bills in the summer dropped to $50FROM PAGE 10

PATRICK FLANAGAN / THE DAILY IBERIAN

Tammy Broussard at Dana Dugas’ construction company looks ata list of some solar energy products available on the market.

‘With that, you’re basically just paying for your electric bills in the future. It takes about seven to 10

years to fully recoup your money.’

Ryan Duhon

Sunset resident who powers home with 46 solar panels

■


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Four overlooked spots to spring clean in the houseBY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Is your spring cleaning routine suffi-cient? Or do you suspect dirt may belurking in places you’ve never even put

on your to-do list? If you’re like most Amer-icans, chances are you forgot some of theseoverlooked spots while spring cleaning:

In the kitchen Most people hit the stove, fridge and the

microwave. But there are more places inthe kitchen needing your attention. Allcupboards and pantries should becleared and re-stocked at least once year-ly to dispose of expired food and guardagainst insects and rodents. Also makesure you clean your can opener! Thisoften used, rarely cleaned tool can be atrap for bacteria and spores. Use Q-Tipsand soapy water to wipe down every nookand cranny, including the gears.

In the laundry room Have you noticed an unusual funk com-

ing from your washing machine? This maybe because the new, high-efficiency wash-ers use less water than traditional ones,causing residue buildup from dirty clothes,detergent and hard water minerals. If so,it’s time to clean your machine. Somethingas simple as Tide’s Washing MachineCleaner, which comes in a small packet youdrop into a normal cycle without clothes,can keep your machine smelling fresh.

Once you’ve got your washing machineclean, next focus on what you put in it.With spring and summer whites sure to bewashed this time of year, consider switch-ing to a detergent with both stain fightingand whitening power, such as Tide plusBleach Powder. And look for a new con-centrated version, which not only givesyou the same cleaning with 1/3 less deter-gent, but helps save you space and helpssave the planet by reducing packaging.

In the bedroom Spring cleaning usually involves a

change of bedding, but how about those

decorative pillows or stuffed animals in chil-dren’s rooms? Because of their soft, unevensurfaces, they’re prime locations for dustand allergens. Sticking them in plastic bagsand then in the freezer for four hours willkill dust mites. Then use a vacuum to suckup dead carcasses. You should also payattention to ceiling fans, crown moldingsand even the walls. It’s best to use a dampcloth to wipe down all surfaces. Dry featherdusters tend to kick up dust and allergens,which settle back down in the same place.

In the living room Window treatments and lampshades

attract dust and germs as much as any otherhome surface, but are easily cleaned usingremovable vacuum attachments, such as acombo brush or crevice tool extension. Anddon’t skip floor vents, door jams, and windowsills. These areas are often overlooked andcan collect years of grime. Of course, regu-lar cleaning is the best way to minimizeyour spring cleaning. To find products thatcan help make cleaning less of a chore.


Dirt and odors can lurk in your washingmachine.

Protect your homefrom severe weather

BY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Storms and natural disasters are aninevitable part of life, but homeown-ers can take steps to minimize impact

and damage to their homes. The warmerweather offers a perfect opportunity tomake some small but meaningful changes.

“With recent tornados in New York andsnow in Texas, every part of the countryshould prepare for storms and naturaldisasters,” says Christopher Rose, presi-dent of Christopher Rose Architects and amember of The American Institute ofArchitects’ Custom Residential ArchitectNetwork.

“Fortunately, there are a number ofbudget-friendly upgrades homeownerscan make to protect their homes withoutripping down walls.”

Here are some manageable ways to pro-tect your home from storms:

Retroactive improvements Homeowners can install galvanized

metal clips in their attics to provide struc-tural support from the roof of a house toits foundation. These clips, which willalso help minimize damage from highwinds, can be purchased in most hard-ware stores.

Homeowners may also consider strap-ping, which are boards that are nailed asa large “X” to the ceiling joists tostrengthen walls. Similar to metal clips,strapping is readily available in mosthardware stores.

Don’t fear the basement Many basements are prone to flooding,

even in simple rainstorms. Luckily, thereare two easy ways to minimize damage,says Rose.Homeowners can brush a liquidwaterproofing product onto the surface ofthe concrete block walls in a typical base-ment to inhibit moisture penetration. Also,installing a sump pump can help removewater that has already seeped into the base-ment. Sump pumps are a good idea for mosthomes, especially those in heavy rain areas.

Treat Your windows Windows bear the brunt of powerful

winds and flying debris during storms, sohomeowners may consider covering themwith a special film, much like the filmsused to tint car windows, to help protectagainst heavy winds.

Or they can install ballistic nylon toprotect glass, reduce wind pressure andhelp protect against wind-driven debris.Ahead of storms, homeowners can securenylon sheets with a series of hooks infront of glass or on a porch, softeningwinds from a dangerous 110 mph to amore manageable 5-10 mph. During moreextensive renovation, consider replacingthe windows with ones that are designedand tested to withstand severe storms.

“No matter where you live, readyingyour home for a storm or natural disasteris a worthwhile investment,” says Rose.“Taking the time now to lessen the dam-age Mother Nature unexpectedly throwsour way is always a sound practice.”


Recycling bins belong to the City of New Iberia. If you move, please leave them behind. Residents can pick up a bin from your neighborhood Fire Station or the City Barn at 1303 J. AllenDaigre Dr. (369-2391). Excess recyclables should be placed in a clear plastic bag and placed next to the bin.

ALUMINUM, TIN

& STEEL CANS

CARDBOARDCorrugated boxes and brown paperbags. Cardboard must be flattened.Remove all packaging materialsinside of boxes. Light-weight card-board, such as cake or tissue boxes areacceptable.

PLASTICAny plastic container with recycling symbol 1 or 2 stamped on bottom of container.

NEWSPAPER

GLASSClear, brown, green, and blue coloredglass bottles and jars only.

ASSORTED PAPERSComputer paper, office/school paper, junk mail,

magazines, catalogs, and telephone books.

TIRES, APPLIANCES, YARD WASTE

& LIGHT CONSTRUCTION DEBRISThese items will be picked up the day after your garbage iscollected. If Friday is your garbage day, yard waste and con-struction debris will be picked up on Monday. Please callGordon’s at 365-9034 with questions.

Materials should be placed parallel to the street, at curbside.Do not place debris on a concrete surfaceor within 5 feet of telephone poles ortrees. Do not put items on empty lots.Do not mix yard waste or constructiondebris with garbage. Householdappliances and regular size cartires will be collected.

Any work you contract for construction, remodeling, treeremoval, lot clearing, etc., is not covered under city contracts.Your contractor must provide proper disposal of all materials.The debris from the demolition of a home will not be collected.

YARD WASTE GUIDELINESBranches, tree limbs, trunks, shrubs, etc. will be collected. donot bundle. Leaves and grass clippings must be contained inplastic bags or garbage cans weighing less than 35 pounds.Mulch is available to the citizens of NewIberia Monday-Thursday 7am-5pm andFriday 7am-4pm at 614 Coteau Road(Hwy. 88 - Gordon’s Constructionand Landfill).

LIGHT CONSTRUCTION

DEBRIS GUIDELINESSheet rock, shingles, 2x4s, concrete, brick, vinyl siding,flooring, carpeting, celetex, plywood and windows areexamples of the materials which will be collected. Theseitems may be piled at the curb. Do not mix with yard wasteor garbage. Containerize anything less than 2 feet long.Creosote, asbestos and batteries will not be collected.

GARBAGE & FURNITURE

INFORMATIONPut your garbage can out the night beforeyour collection day (collection starts at5:00 am). Containers should be placedas close to the roadway as possible,without interfering with the movementof vehicles or pedestrians. Container information: NOT larger that 35 gallons, (NO 55gallon drums) and NOT to weigh more than 35 lbs.

Household furniture will be collected. Do not place garbage,yard waste or other debris on furniture.

We are NOT able to collect the following items: Hazardousmaterials, car batteries, liquids or paint cans (unless lids areremoved and all paint is dried).

Your garbage, furniture and recycling will all be picked up onyour regular collection day.

If you have any questions, Allied Waste can help. Please call 232-5730.

Recycle and Re-New Iberia!

✄CLIP THIS FOR

FUTURE REFERENCE

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Metal Roofs • CanopiesDoors • Metal Building Components

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PROJECTS: Tinker with the plumbing

Montebello See-Through by LennoxHearth Products, can be installed betweena kitchen and dining room or between aliving room and patio, creating a dramat-ic effect. You can learn more atwww.lennox.com.

• An indoor/outdoor installment is agreat way to enjoy your fireplace year-round,” says Bill Wetzel, product manag-er of Fireplace Systems for Lennox.“After all, who wants to spend money onhome improvements you can only usehalf the year?”

• Tinker with Plumbing: Because bath-room and kitchen renovations oftenrequire plumbing changes, the warmermonths are the best for these projects.Now’s the ideal time to expand that half-bathroom with a shower stall, or toupgrade your master bathroom with awhirlpool tub. And there are many choic-es of eco-friendly fixtures from suchbrands as Delta, Kohler, AmericanStandard and others.

• Install Skylights: With longer days andclear, starry nights, it’s the season for gazingat the sky. But allergens can make sky gaz-ing difficult for some. Consider installingskylights in your home this season.

• Sand the Floor: Most people think offloor maintenance as a cool weather activ-ity, but floor sanding kicks up incredibleamounts of dust. In warmer weather, youcan throw open doors and windows andset up fans to suck the dust outward.

The better weather makes almost allhome improvement projects more enjoy-able. So take advantage of the season toupgrade your home!

FROM PAGE 7

The better weather makesalmost all home improvementprojects more enjoyable. So

take advantage of the seasonto upgrade your home.

■

Both men, women both say:‘I do most of the chores ... ’

BY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Who does most of the choresaround the house? A recentsurvey by Cozi.com, an

online calendar for busy families,found that both men and womenclaim to do most of the work!

• Women say they do 73 percent ofthe cooking, while men claim they do48 percent. There must be lots of left-

overs! • Apparently the laundry is getting

done twice, since mom does 76 percentof it and Dad does 47 percent.

• Mom says she does 77 percent ofthe grocery shopping while Dadclaims 52 percent. Clearly those cup-boards aren't bare.

• To keep your family from over-stocking and over-washing, be sure toschedule chores on a family calendar.

How to pack for any tripBY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Do you hate opening your suitcaseand seeing your carefully launderedclothes creased and wrinkled?

If so, try rolling your clothes to keepthem from getting crumpled. If you're usinga garment bag, place plastic dry cleaningbags over each hung item to reduce friction,

which usually causes creases. Make sure yourtoiletries are at the bottom of any upright suit-case as the weight of these items often causeswrinkles. You can also roll any ties, belts orscarves in a spiral and tuck them into shoesfor protection and to save space. And savesome weight by unpacking your hairdry-er and iron — these items are almostalways available in any home or hotel.

Tips for you to get a head start on gardenBY STATEPOINT MEDIA

What can keep you fit, give you peace of mind,save you money on groceries and add flavor toyour dinner plate? Gardening!

And whether you have a green thumb or just a sprout-ing interest in gardening, starting your seedlings earlyis a great way to get a head start on your spring andsummer blossoms.

Here’s what you need to know to get a jump on yourfavorite gardening activities:

Plan your garden When deciding what seedlings to grow for your gar-

den, consider how the sunlight falls in your yard. Someflowers and vegetables need constant sunshine, whileothers need a shady nook. Consult a gardening book or alocal gardening expert for guidance.

Also, make sure to select plants that can successfullygrow in the climate. Just because seeds for almost everyvariety of plant are now available online or at the localnursery, it doesn’t mean you can grow it in your back-yard. Some of the easiest vegetables to grow in almostall North American climates are salad greens, cucum-bers, tomatoes, and herbs like basil and cilantro.

More information on the healthful benefits of home-grown vegetables is available by visiting www.cdc.govand searching for “gardening.”

Start indoors Seedlings can be started indoors and then moved to

your garden as the weather warms. They can be startedin almost anything, from cardboard egg cartons towashed yogurt containers. Just make sure to use sterileseed starting mix and poke enough holes in the bottomof each container for drainage.

Or you can grow a variety of seedlings in a properseedling tray. For example, AeroGarden, an indoorgrowing system, has a seedling tray that can grow upto 66 seedlings in ready-to-transplant growingsponges. The lack of soil keeps your home neater,while the system’s grow lights and automated deliv-ery of water and liquid nutrients help make seedlingsperfect for re-planting in your garden when theweather is right.

Just make sure you time your seedlings so you can re-plant them at the optimum time. For more tips on grow-ing seedlings indoors, visit www.aerogarden.com.

Prep for transplant Once the danger of cold nights has passed, you can

prepare your outdoor garden for planting. You may want


Seedlings can be started indoors and then moved to your garden.

SEE GGAARRDDEENN,, PAGE 14


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FURNITURE OPEN:9AM-6PM Mon.-Fri.; Sat. 9AM-4PM

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GROCERY OPEN:7AM-8PM 7 Days A Week • 365-6657

We Accept Food Stamps • WIC VouchersRed Cross Volunteers

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Give us a call at (337) 364-6756 or (337) 255-3027 to receive your detailed estimatetoday! We will be glad to assist you in meeting all your renovation needs.

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“Service Is Our Business”2318 E. Main • New Iberia, La. • 365-8853

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By Kerry Jackson

Home improvementprojects for the springBY STATEPOINT MEDIA

For many Americans the warmerweather of spring means it’s timeto focus on all those home improve-

ment projects that would be inconvenientduring winter.

Adding an extension, sanding woodenfloors or replacing a roof are a lot easierwhen you’re not worried about the weath-er and diminished day light. Also, contrac-tors are less likely to have weather-relateddelays that blow timelines, making springrenovations run more smoothly.

Here are some home improvement proj-ects you may want to start this season:

• Replace the Roof: If your roof is startingto leak or you notice dramatic increases inheating or cooling bills, it may be time toreplace it. The best time to do so is whenthe weather is warm and dry. Keep in mind

the U.S. Department of Energy recom-mends light roofing colors, which will keepdown cooling costs and help reduce globalwarming. For more energy-saving homeimprovement tips, visit www.energy.gov.

• Check the Perimeter: Inspect yourhome’s exterior, making sure to check yoursiding. Mold and cracks can be a sign youneed to re-paint or replace boards. Also,now may be a good time to repave yourdriveway. Asphalt needs the right factors oftemperature and moisture to set properly.Better weather leads to better driveways.

• Add a Fireplace: Fireplaces are greatfocal points to any home, and now home-owners can double their impact by addingsee-through fireplaces that can beinstalled between rooms or even to warma patio. Versatile fireplaces, like the


Some improvements can enhance both indoor and outdoor spaces.SEE PPRROOJJEECCTTSS,, PAGE 8

GARDEN: Watch the seedlings bloom

to test the pH level of your soil, as well asthe level of nutrients like phosphorus,nitrogen, calcium, potassium and magne-sium. You can start digging if the soilcrumbles easily in your palm. Removeany weeds, branches or stones up to 8inches deep.

Suddenly transplanting your seedlings

outdoors can shock them, so begin by let-ting your seedlings live outdoors for a fewhours each day. Gradually increase thetime until any danger of cool eveningshas passed.

Then transplant your seedlings to yourgarden bed and watch them bloom! In afew weeks you should have beautiful flow-ers or the beginnings of a bountiful veg-etable harvest.

FROM PAGE 13

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Poison ivy honey has agood flavor, while honey from nectar of thedevil’s walking stick is sometimes bitter, accord-

ing to the LSU AgCenter’s new guidebook, “LouisianaHoney Plants.”

The 32-page book by recently retired professor andentomologist Dale Pollet has color photos of each plant,descriptions of plants and their honey, notes aboutwhere the plants are common, and a blooming seasonchart.

Poison ivy isn’t the only plant that makes good honeyeven though it can be toxic to people. Bees that get nec-tar from Yaupon — a plant with the unpleasant scientificname of Ilex vomitoria — make honey with “a richamber color with a pleasant flavor,” according to thehandbook.

The devil’s walking stick isn’t poisonous, just armedwith lots of thorns on a thick, straight stem.

Louisiana’s major nectar plants are Chinese tallowtrees, willow, clover, American buckwheat vine, asterand goldenrod, said Pollet.

Louisiana is the only state where Chinese tallow tree

Want honeybees? AgCenter has guide


LSU AgCenter photo shows the cover of its new book ‘Louisiana Honey Plants.’ The 32-page book features 53 plants.SEE HHOONNEEYYBBEEEESS,, PAGE A10


3314 W. Admiral Doyle (Near Acadiana Regional Airport) New Iberia • 364-4663

Supplies &Hardware

“Service Is Our #1 Product”

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Time-tested shortcuts to make yard work easier BY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Spring is in the air — a time for rejuvenation andrenewal ... and for getting your yard back in shape.

If you're like most Americans, you love your garden andthe budding trees of the new season, but don't want tospend all your precious weekends toiling away at yard workand lawn care. Here are some easy shortcuts for gettingyard work done in less time and with less effort this season:

The easy way out When doing yard work, it's easiest to stand -- constant

kneeling and crouching will tire you out sooner and makeyou more likely to experience back and knee pain later on. Ifyou need to get low to the ground, bring a low stool with youto sit on. And give your body a break by transporting allyour tools in a kiddie wagon. Or you can use a collapsiblewheelbarrow with a wire frame and nylon bag. Choose alightweight one that also stores easily and compactly in agarage or tool shed. They are available at home improve-ment stores and online at sites like bedbathandbeyond.com.

Get the right tools Choosing garden tools with longer handles will also

reduce your bending and kneeling. You may want to useones with padded grips, although gardening gloves arealways advisable since insects and spiders can lay dor-mant in dead foliage and debris.

Consider using add-ons to your current tools to increaseyour efficiency. For example, PowerSharp, a chainsawsharpening system from Oregon-brand outdoor products,lets chainsaw users sharpen chain on the saw, on the job,in seconds. This helps get yard work done faster and withrelative ease, especially when faced with tough choresrequiring sharp chains, such as pruning and trimming. Tolearn more, visit www.powersharp.com.

Hone your focus “Most people immediately think of their lawns when

they think of seasonal yard work,” says Chris Seigneur,Senior Product Development Engineer for Blount, themakers of PowerSharp. “But trimming dead branchesfrom your trees and shrubs will ensure their health andadd to the beauty of your home.”

You should also clear plant beds of dead foliage, whichcan smother budding greenery and foster disease. Andwhen reseeding your lawn, it's best to stay off it for atleast two weeks to allow the grass to grow. Lastly, somemore permanent fixtures can save you time and effort inthe long run. Native plants and flowers will grow moreeasily since they do not need the care and attention ofexotic transplants. And an automatic sprinkler systemwill keep your yard lush and green with little thought.


The right techniques will help you get more done in less time.

honey — the top source for the majorityof Louisiana’s honey — is usable as atable honey, he said.

“It’s something to do about soil con-ditions,” he said in an interviewTuesday.

“A lot of the different honeys dependon minerals in the soil, how hot or dryit is,” he said. “We’ve had some plantsthat, under the right conditions, insteadof it being a light to medium amber itmight even be purple because of theminerals in the soil it’s picked up.”

Honey from the buckwheat tree“varies in color from reddish-amber topurple, strong and variable quality,”according to the book.

Chinese tallow-tree honey has a slight“twang” that one producer uses for whathe calls a Cajun taste, according to anAgCenter publication about the trees.That publication also says that althoughChinese tallow trees are highly invasive,

they are so widespread in parts ofLouisiana that commercial productionposes little environmental threat.

His 6-by-9-inch book lists nectar-pro-ducing plants in order of blooming sea-son, starting with hairy vetch — a smallrelative of the pea that blooms fromJanuary into April — and ending withgoldenrod, which blooms from Augustinto November.

“Most of the plants are not abundantenough in any one location to be goodsources for any volume of nectar butcan help colonies make it through timesof need,” Pollet wrote.

He said American buckwheat vine,also called redvine or ladies’ eardrops,was identified only in the last couple ofyears as a good plant for Louisiana’sbees.

“We didn’t know where the honey wascoming from. Then one of the beekeep-ers found some of the plants growingtogether and bees were working themvery heavily,” he said.

HONEYBEES: Book lists nectar-producing plants in the order of blooming seasonFROM PAGE 14

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo provided by the Louisiana State University AgCenter shows bees on a maypop, alsoknown as purple passionflower. It’s among photos illustrating 53 nectar-producing plantsfound around the state in the AgCenter’s new 32-page book.


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FOOD: Trust chlorine-based disinfectants

common foodborne germs on kitchen sur-faces. Golodner says that most people maynot realize this, however. Many peopleoverestimate the amount of bleach pergallon of water needed to effectively killcommon foodborne germs.

“Chlorine-based disinfectants are regis-tered as safe to use by the EnvironmentalProtection Agency and proven to destroythe germs that spread foodborne illness,”notes Golodner. The survey also found thatby more than a seven to one margin,Americans trust chlorine-based disinfec-tants over green cleaners to kill germs. TheWater Quality & Health Council lists thefollowing guidelines for safe food handling:

• Clean: Wash all food contact surfaceswith hot, soapy water followed by disin-fecting with 1/2 tablespoon chlorinebleach in 1/2 gallon of water.

• Separate: Keep fresh fruits and vegeta-bles separate from raw meat, poultry andseafood.

• Cook: To kill any bacteria that mightbe present, thoroughly cook meat, poultryand eggs to the appropriate temperature.

• Chill: Refrigerate leftover perishablesat 40 degrees within two hours of cookingor serving.

For more tips on surface disinfection,visit www.disinfect-for-health.org.

FROM PAGE 4

‘Chlorine-based disinfectantsare registered as safe to use

by the EnvironmentalProtection Agency and proven

to destroy the germs thatspread foodborne illness.’

Linda Golodner

National Consumer League president emeritus

■

Keep childrensafe from commonhousehold poisons

Each year, approximately 2.4million people — more thanhalf under age 6 — swallow or

have contact with a poisonous sub-stance, according to the AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics.

The most dangerous potential poi-sons are medicines, cleaning products,antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid,pesticides, furniture polish, gasoline,kerosene and lamp oil. Most child poi-sonings occur when parents or care-givers are home but not paying atten-tion, so it's important never to leave

poisonous substances within reach ofchildren, even for a minute.

If your child comes in contact with apoisonous substance, and is uncon-scious, not breathing, or having con-vulsions or seizures due to poison con-tact, call 911 immediately.

For mild or no symptoms, callyour poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

For mild or no symp-toms, call your poison

control center at 1-800-222-1222.

■

The most dangerous potentialpoisons are medicines, cleaningproducts, including medicines,cleaning products and oil.


Wildlife like birds and butterflies add natural beauty to any garden.

Your garden can be the envy of the neighborhoodBY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Gardens are a source of beauty.They are also a sanctuary fromthe hustle and bustle of daily life.

Something as simple as hearing song-birds in the morning can help you startyour day on the right note.

While your neighbors spend the seasontrying to grow a uniform lawn, why notelicit their envy by creating your veryown Garden of Eden? A little pruning andsome wildlife-friendly additions willmake your garden stand out for neighborsas well as native birds and here’s how youcan get started:

• First, tidy up the yard. This mayrequire re-seeding parts of your lawn thatare known problem spots. If you plan toaerate your grass, don’t forget to aeratethe soil around your flowers and shrub-bery as well. Water and air circulation

helps prevent the spread of fungus whilepromoting healthy microorganisms thatkeep plant life vibrant.

• Prune dead branches and cut backperennials. Fruit trees, in particular,thrive with pruning and often producemore blossoms as a result. Blossomsattract hummingbirds, butterflies, and

A little pruning and somewildlife-friendly additions willmake your garden stand out

for neighbors as well as native birds.

■

SEE GGAARRDDEENN,, PAGE A17


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Food safety tipsfor your kitchen

BY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Is your dinner safe? A new survey has found that more

Americans are worried about becomingsick of an annoying dinner guest thanthey are of getting sick from the food onthe table. But their relatives should bethe least of their concerns, as more thanone in five Americans (22 percent) admittheir kitchen would fail a food safetyinspection.

The new survey, sponsored by the WaterQuality and Health Council, also foundthat less than half of Americans (47 per-cent) typically use a disinfectant or disin-fecting wipes after using the kitchencounter, despite knowing that chlorinebleach kills germs that cause foodborneillnesses.

The Centers for Disease Control andPrevention estimates that 76 millionAmericans get sick from foodborne ill-nesses every year and more than 300,000of them are hospitalized. The CDC alsowarns that raw foods of animal origin arethe most likely to be contaminated.

“Home cooking introduces increasedrisks of foodborne illness as raw meats

and vegetables are processed on kitchensurfaces that are not properly disinfected,”says Linda Golodner, president emeritus ofthe National Consumers League.

“Practicing good kitchen hygiene is notvery complicated,” says Golodner.“Thoroughly wash surfaces with hot,soapy water and rinse. Then apply a sim-ple chlorine bleach solution and let airdry to properly disinfect the area. Followthese steps before and after handling rawfoods on kitchen surfaces.”

Just one-half tablespoon of bleach inone half-gallon of water effectively kills

SEE FFOOOODD,, PAGE 5


National Consumers League president emeritus Linda Golodner says good kitchen hygien-ce, as shown above, is not very complicated.

Good kitchen hygiene is very easy

The Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention

estimates that 76 millionAmericans get sick

from foodborne illnesses everyyear and more than 300,000

of them are hospitalized.■

GARDEN: Choose pleasing colors

honey bees. If you find an old nest, it isbest to leave it. Many bird species willreuse it.

• Whenever possible, plant native green-ery which is safer for wildlife than exoticimports and helps slow the spread ofinvasive plant species. Native choices canbe vibrant choices. Choose colors thatcomplement your home and are pleasingto the eye.

• Windows represent a significant colli-sion hazard for birds in flight. You canprotect visiting songbirds with advancedwindow decals such as those made byWindowAlert. These decals have the deli-cate appearance of frosted glass, but glowlike a stoplight for birds with theirunique ability to see ultraviolet light. Youcan order them online at www.win-dowalert.com.

• Remember to periodically clean feed-ers, birdbaths, and nesting boxes withorganic soap and distilled water to pre-

vent the spread of disease. Hummingbirdfeeders should be cleaned weekly andkept in the shade so the nectar does notferment.

• If you want to attract butterflies andbees, install some special nectar feedersand butterfly homes, which will bringtheir acrobatic dance to your backyard.Mason bees, which are easily attractedwith ready-made hive kits, are a gentleand docile addition as well.

“Wildlife can beautify your garden”says Spencer Schock, founder ofWindowAlert. “But birds and otherwildlife don’t appear by chance. Theyseek habitats that provide them with food,shelter, and safety.”

• Don’t be afraid to add a personaltouch. A gentle wind chime or brilliantsun catcher can add a special dimensionto any garden without frighteningwildlife.

By following these tips, your garden islikely to be envied by neighbors -- andloved by wildlife.

FROM PAGE 16


Blue is and always has beenAmerica’s favorite color when itcomes to home decoration.

That’s according to a color study spon-sored by House & Garden magazine andPantone Inc.

According to the study, 32 percent saidthey will decorate more with blue thanany other color. The second-most popularcolor was green.

Here are some other results from thesurvey:

• An overwhelming 73 percent said theywould repaint in a month or less if theywere unhappy with a fresh paint job.Immediate repainting was more popularwith women (45 percent) than men (37percent).

• Bold colors are becoming more popu-lar, with fiery red, orange, and bright yel-

low the top three gutsy picks. ‘‘Bold colorstarted in fashion, and now it’s becomingmainstream,’’ explains Lisa Herbert,Pantone executive vice president.

• Interestingly, orange also was one ofthe most disliked colors, along with char-treuse, yellow and indigo. Pale apricot,soft yellow and royal blue were colors thatno one said they hated.

• Pale apricot was also one of the topchoices for the bathroom, along with skyblue and royal blue. (Blue was also thepreferred shade for the toothbrush.) Thetop choice for the kitchen was white, fol-lowed by yellow.

• The living room was chosen by 44 per-cent as the place where color is mostimportant. ‘‘The living room is where wepresent ourselves to friends and family,’’said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director

The power of color:America’s favorite is blue

SEE BBLLUUEE,, PAGE 18


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DIRT: Use gypsum to offset clay problems

Options are limited on how one cantreat soil with a clay mixture, Stevenssaid, therefore creating a raised bed ismost likely a best bet for gardens.

Raised beds allow the opportunity tocreate just the right soil combination forsuccessful growing, he said.

“You may want to incorporate a littlebit of sand in it and some organic matterin there to kind of loosen it up a littlebit,” he suggested.

“Raised beds are always a goodoption.”

Gus Catsulis, owner of Iberia Gardensand Nursery, recommends gardeners deal-ing with clay difficulties in their yards touse gypsum, a sulfate mineral that chemi-cally breakdowns clay deposits.

Catsulis said gypsum not a well-known remedy to soften soil but “doesthe trick.”

“That’s the main thing that works,” hesaid. “It’s a good product and it goes along way.”

The chemical is marketed as nontoxicand is quick acting, he said.

Gardeners he has spoken to, Catsulissaid, tell him the chemical, which is simi-lar to lime, is easy to disperse on to soiland can be applied topically without theneed for tilling or mixing.

FROM PAGE 2

‘You may want to incorporatea little bit of sand in it and

some organic matter in there to kind of loosen it up

a little bit.’

J. Cheston Stevens

Louisiana State University Associate Professor

of Soil Fertility Management

■

BLUE: Top color for cars was red

of Pantone Color Institute.• What color schemes are most popu-

lar? When shown four popular combina-tions featured in House & Garden,almost half the people surveyed favoredyellow and royal blue. That was the topchoice for both men and women, butwomen picked red and purple as theirsecond favorite, while men went forbrown and blue. The least popular: pinkand chartreuse.

• About a fifth of the respondents saidthey’ve bought black sheets for the bed-room. For some reason, Democrats weretwice as likely as Republicans to havedone so.

• Forget about roses. According to thesurvey, red is the color least desired inthe garden, followed by orange and pur-ple.

• Most people (79 percent) said that colorwas important in picking furniture, butnot for picking computers or cell phones.

About half said color didn’t matter onsmall appliances, but two-thirds said itdid for large appliances.

Outside of the home, the favorite colorfor cars was hot-blooded red.

FROM PAGE 17

When shown four popularcombinations featured in

House & Garden, almost halfthe people surveyed favoredyellow and royal blue. Thatwas the top choice for bothmen and women, but women

picked red and purple astheir second favorite, while

men went for brown and blue.■

Nature-inspired colorsare the newest trend


Purple is passe. Colors inspired bynature are the new trend, accord-ing to Debbie Zimmer, color and

decorating expert for The Rohm and HaasPaint Quality Institute.

‘‘Colors will be fresh and clean, andreflect elements of stone, water andplants,’’ Zimmer says. Examples includesoft beiges and clear blue-based greensthat bring to mind sand and forests.

Adding a sparkling accent to these soft-er shades are metallic paints such as sil-ver and steel-gray. Used in decorativepainting, they can add a weathered,antique feel.

Other trends noted by Zimmer:• Blue remains popular, in all hues, part-

ly because it’s considered a relaxing color,and partly because its wide-rangingpalette offers tremendous flexibility.

‘‘Blue’s popularity began a few yearsago when it was used to evoke a spatheme in bathrooms,’’ Zimmer said. ‘‘Butnow we are seeing it migrate into otherrooms of the house.’’

• Children may still be drawn to purple,but among adults, its popularity haspassed.

• Not everyone is enamored by nature.Hot pink is a hot designer choice, particu-larly as an accent for other bright colors,such as red, yellow and orange. Blue-based reds go best with pink, as well aswith teal and green. And because redstimulates appetite, it’s a popular choice

for dining rooms.• Orange helps make a home feel invit-

ing because it is warm and welcoming.Richer shades are the trend this year, andwork well with reds and coppers.

• Don’t ignore brown. It’s neutralenough to accompany furniture, carpet-ing and draperies of all color, but punchi-er than white. You can add to its depth byusing a small bit of metallic paint or ashade of green.

• For a starker, more daring look, black-and-white combinations are growing inpopularity. They can turn any room into amod-inspired creation.

• Paint isn’t just for painting. More peo-ple are using a little bit of paint and somestencils to write on their walls -- words,phrases, quotes.

‘‘The nice thing about this trend is thatit can be adapted in many ways,’’ Zimmersays. ‘

‘Someone who wants to start small maychoose to write just a few words as a bor-der or smaller decorative accent, whilesomeone who is a bit more bold maycover an entire wall with words. There issomething here that works for everyone.’’

Children may still be drawn topurple, but among adults, its

popularity has passed.■


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I ND EX■

Is your dinner safe?

Try a food safety inspection .................... PAGE 4

Make yard work easier

Timely shortcuts to getting it done ........ PAGE 6

Some spots to clean

Spring cleaning route made simple ........ PAGE 9

Going ‘green’

Concept has waned but still saves ....... PAGE 10

Protection for the home

Storm guards for budget conscious ...... PAGE 12

Honey of a new book

LSU AgCenter details ‘Honey Plants’ ....... PAGE 14

Garden to be proud of

Make yours the envy of the ’hood ....... PAGE 16

Kitchen transformation

Get comfortable in efficient room ........ PAGE 20

Home & Garden is a supplemental publicationof The Daily Iberian, P.O. Box 9290,New Iberia, LA 70562.

Publisher..........................................................Will ChapmanManaging Editor................................................Jeff ZeringueAdvertising Manager................................................Alan RiniProduction Manager..........................................Jerry SextonBusiness Manager.........................................Amanda SenecaCirculation Manager....................................John “JP” Poirier

Get the rightdirt for your

garden plantsBY JESSICA GOFF

THE DAILY IBERIAN

March 20 marked the official first day of spring, away for Mother Nature to tell people it’s time toget back out in the garden or till up a new one.

The Teche Area offers several types of soil variationsthat have their own pros and cons, when it comes to gar-dening, soil specialist and Louisiana State UniversityAssociate Professor of Soil Fertility Management J.Cheston Stevens Jr. said.

The three most common soil types in the area are mix-tures of sandy loam, silt loam and clay, he said, or combi-nations of each.

Clay soil tends to be the toughest challenge for gardenersand growers to deal with because the soil holds water forlonger periods than other soil types, he said.

“When it rains the clay soil will hold the moisture in fora pretty good while,” he said. “With water logged soils likeclay, plants just kind of sit there for a while until more oxy-gen gets into that soil. So the plants are just kind of, for alack of a better word, stagnated.”

If left in moisture for too long, plants’ root systems canbecome damaged or diseased, Stevens added.

“You could have root problems if you have extended peri-ods of rainfall that keep the soil waterlogged. That mightprecipitate some plant disease problems,” he said.

SEE DDIIRRTT,, PAGE 3

JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIAN

Gus Catsulis, who owns Iberia Gardens and Nursery, says using gypsumis one way to soften clay soil that can cause gardeners problems.

Great recycling tips for the family for Earth DayBY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Whether you’re making plans for Earth Day orsimply looking for ways to do more for theplanet, now is the perfect time to revitalize

your recycling efforts.Something as simple as recycling more of the plastic

bottles, bags and wraps you use every day can make abig difference. But recycling doesn’t stop with throwingthese items in the bin; purchasing products made withrecycled materials is another great way to go green!

In fact, nearly 83 percent of Americans say they feel more“green” when buying products made with recycled plasticsor other recycled materials, according to a recent survey byPlastics Make It Possible, an initiative sponsored by theplastics industries of the American Chemistry Council.

“Earth Day is the perfect time to close the ‘recycling loop’by purchasing products made from recycled materials,”said Steve Russell, vice president of the plastics division ofthe American Chemistry Council. “Many plastics can berecycled and given a second life as clothing, carpeting, fur-niture, gardening equipment, backyard decks, new bottlesand bags and other products we use every day.”

Here are some tips to get you back to recycling basics:• Understand your local recycling program. Recycling pro-

grams vary across the country, but most community curb-side programs collect plastic bottles, and many major gro-cery and retail chains now offer bins to collect plastic bagsand wraps for recycling. An increasing number of commu-nities also collect other containers such as yogurt and but-ter tubs -- check to see if yours is one of them.

• Check the neck. For recycling purposes, a bottle isany container with a neck smaller than its base. Thisincludes beverage containers, food jars for products such

as mayonnaise and dressings, and bottles for shampoo,laundry detergent and household cleaners. And remem-ber, recyclers want the caps, too!

• Bag it. Collect plastic bags from grocery, retail anddry cleaning stores, and plastic product wraps fromitems such as newspapers, bread, paper towels, napkins,bathroom tissue and diapers. Simply store the clean bagsand wraps inside another bag and then drop them off ata participating grocery or retail store to be recycled.

• Hold on to your recyclables. When away from home,recap and store empty bottles in a backpack, briefcase oryour car until you arrive home and can toss them in therecycling bin.

• When in doubt, leave it out. Be careful not to contam-inate your recyclables with items that aren’t recycled inyour community.

• Support the second generation. Recycled materials oftengo on to become second generation products such as car-peting, fleece jackets and new bottles and bags. For exam-ple, eight recycled plastic bottles can create a soft, new t-shirt. Look for innovative products made with recycledmaterials at your favorite retailer so you can close the recy-cling loop and reap the rewards of your recycling efforts.

For more recycling tips, visit www.plasticsmakeitpos-sible.com.


For recycling tips, visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com.

HOME & GARDEN THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 201120 THE DAILY IBERIAN

HOMEGARDEN

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How to be more efficient at home in your kitchenBY STATEPOINT MEDIA

Whether you’re making big meals for entertainingor simple family dinners, how well your kitchenis set up can mean the difference between extra

hours slaving away or time enjoying the fruits of yourlabor. A few simple tips can transform a cluttered kitcheninto an efficient space for cooking and entertaining. Plus,you can save money, time, energy and water in the process.

• Simple Changes: Small additions can make your culi-nary life easier. Consider painting a strip of chalkboardpaint on your kitchen wall so family members can main-tain to-do lists, share notes and recipes. This helps youstay organized while adding an interactive element toyour décor. Also consider adding roll-out cabinetshelves to make storing and finding pots and pans easier.

It is no surprise that the kitchen faucet can be turnedon and off anywhere from 30 to 50 times a day by a fami-ly of four. Install a touch faucet, such as one of DeltaFaucet’s kitchen faucets with Touch2O Technology,which provides the option to start and stop the flow ofwater with a tap anywhere on the spout or handle. Whenhands get messy, water flow can be started with the wristor forearm, keeping the process more efficient whilereducing the potential for cross-contamination.

• Energy Savers: Being efficient is about more thanjust saving time. It’s important to conserve energy andwater too. Save energy by cooking large batches of foodand freezing half for later. It takes less energy to turn onthe range once to cook a big pot, than multiple times tocook smaller portions.

Make sure your kitchen faucet is also eco-friendly andcan help you conserve water. Look for one with a Multi-Flow wand that can toggle between spray and streamfunctionality. The function adds convenience because asimple push can increase the flow from 1.5 gallons perminute for tasks like hand washing, to 2.2 gallons perminute when more water is needed to fill pots and vases.

“Homeowners are concerned about saving water, espe-cially in areas where water is scarce,” says KurtBacklund, Delta brand senior product manager. “Yet sometasks require a higher flow for speed and convenience.Choose a faucet that offers the option to increase flowwhen needed while saving water the rest of the time.”

• Street Smarts: Think like a short-order cook to runyour kitchen when things become hectic. Keep a magnet-ic pad on the fridge and tell family members to jot downitems that run out. This way, your grocery list is alwaysup-to-date and you save money and time at the super-market by avoiding buying items you don’t need.

Another trick is to clean as you go. While piling dishesin the sink is convenient in the short term, washingthem as you go and cleaning countertops as food cooksmakes after-dinner cleaning easier.

Remember: An efficient kitchen can not only save youtime, but also helps save money, energy and water.


Efficiency will save you water, energy and money.

Date post:	22-Mar-2016
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