heritage days

We missed it but it looks like some folks had fun at the Heritage Festival yesterday.

a city that serves

'nough said ...

construction update

Traffic lanes from Village Lakes Drive east to Tylersville Road will be shifted to the north side of the road early next week. East of Mason-Montgomery Road, Mainline will start pouring curbs and gutters and install permanent pavement on the south side of the road.

West of Mason-Montgomery Road, Mainline will start installing permanent pavement on the south side of the road and complete installing driveways. When permanent pavement is complete traffic will be shifted to the south side of the road so that permanent pavement can be installed on the north side of the road.

grass seed

This is Rick blogging for Dr. John (no not the night tripper Dr. John - our green thumb Dr. John) ...
Now is the time to put down any feed if you plan to do that. Why? Because September is over-seed month and you don't want to get your applications too close together.

For grass seed there are tons of options. Just watch the weed seed percentage on the back. You may want to avoid rye and tall fescue too.

I used Scott’s heat tolerant blue the last time I over-seeded. It had a good mix of KBG cultivars and is made for drought conditions. You can get it at Lowes. It is a bit pricey, so make sure to keep it damp. Blue grass can take 20 days to germinate so you may want to wait till mid Sept. before putting any down, the damp nights will help with moisture/watering.

You might consider aeration before the seeding - Rich is looking into renting one.

And consider Scotts Starter Fertilizer with the seed.

mason and more

Here's a link to everything you want to know (and more) about the future planning for Mason. The plan includes:

• Background data and analysis, including area history, a description of existing social, economic and physical (natural and man-made) conditions and trends, and economic and demographic projections.
• Documentation of stakeholders’ interests (e.g., interests of residents, public officials, the business community, developers) and involvement in the process.
• A vision statement or statement of desired goals and objectives. Evaluation of the selected plan and design alternatives.
• A future plan map or maps depicting various components, including land use, transportation, community facilities, and housing areas.
• Sub-area development plans that more closely define the future development vision for several priority areas defined by the City of Mason.
• An implementation framework or schedule that describes specific measures to carry out the plan, their costs (if known), and the time frame for execution.

You might find the roadway classifications and planned improvements at the infrastructure link of particular interest. And of course there is always the Imagine Mason page for all kinds of general information.

More Lawn Care

Don't forget John's lawn care advice for the season...it has helped my lawn recover after last year's drought...John or others - any advice on what type of seed to use for over-seeding?

If anybody is interested in going in together to rent an Aerator in ~mid-Sept, let me know.

Fifth Application

Mid AugustScotts® Turf Builder® Lawn Fertilizer with 2% Iron - Nothing special here, just a feeding. This can be skipped if you want

Sixth Application

Mid September

Over-seed year with a better seed than what the builder used something more heat tolerant. Over seeding is simply seeding over the existing lawn. When over-seeding use: Scotts® Starter® Fertilizer – This has a lower nitrogen content allowing for good seed germination. Keep lawn damp as much as possible. The cool damp nights help this in the fall. Step 1 – Full Yard Aeration – helps loosen compacted clay soil Step 2 – Seed front yard only Step 3 – Apply Scotts® Starter® Fertilizer and keep seed damp

Seventh ApplicationThanksgiving

Scotts® Turf Builder® WinterGuard With PLUS 2® Weed Control – You will not see any immediate results from this. This is a jump start for next spring and it will kill off any cool season broad leaf weeds. This product helps root production and helps store carbohydrates for the winter.

green with coffee

If you want to "go green" with coffee, here's an article with some ideas.

Wake Your Garden Up with a Little Coffee
It's a beautiful morning. You've just brewed a fresh pot of coffee. You're about to take the grounds out and throw them in the -- garden? Why not? Coffee grounds have a lot of good things in them, like nitrogen. If you re-use coffee grounds in your garden, you'll see happier plants, and keep some stuff out of your local landfill.

How to Serve Coffee to Your Garden
You can sprinkle them around your azaleas, which love things on the acidic side. Work your coffee grounds - or tea leaves, for that matter - into your garden soil for slow-release nitrogen. If your plants need a quick pick-me-up, mix your grounds with water (about 5-6 parts water to 1 part grounds) and let it stand for a while. Then just pour it around the base of your plants. They'll perk up fast.

Put Some Zing in Your Compost Pile
Used coffee filters and tea bags are great composting material. They break down fast. The grounds and tea leaves you throw into your compost pile will give you a nitrogen-rich growing material. Worms love coffee almost as much as you do.

Experiment
It's fun to see which parts of your garden enjoy coffee more. Sprinkle some on your houseplants. Work some into the soil in your vegetable garden. Once you see the results, you'll never throw your coffee grounds in the trash again.

butterfly garden

Want a butterfly garden? Here are some tips from the "backyardblogger". And don't forget, the Natorps sale would be a great time to get started.

Creating a butterfly garden is actually pretty easy. Butterflies are attracted to brightly colored flowers, so many of the popular annuals will be appropriate for a butterfly garden. Some other perennials they like are orange or purple coneflower, catmint, coreopsis, black-eyed Susan, butterfly weed, butterfly bush, English lavender, liatris, salvia, roses, yellow daylilies, and bright purple petunias.

A source of moisture is also important, although butterflies only drink from very shallow water sources, such as puddles – so the birdbath we placed in that part of the flowerbed turned out to be just for visual interest. When I water the plants, I try to leave some shallow puddles on the walk next to the flowerbed. You can also put a saucer in the garden and fill it with some water on top of sand or small stones.

Because butterflies can be blown about by gusts of wind, they like sunny locations with protection from the wind. Locating your flowerbed close to a wall, fence, hedge, or other windbreak may help to make your garden a place butterflies will want to hang out.

Recycle Mason

Recently I had the ....experience to tour Rumpke dump a.k.a Mt. Rumpke, in Colerain. Did you know they give tours? Did you know people actually go? What is in the landfills is 60% recyclable, but isn't. Then I picked up "Cincinnati" Magazine for 8/08 and it had a section on recycling and what to do with hazardous materials. I jotted the information down because I thought it'd be good for our blog. IF any of this is not correct, please correct it in the comments section. A special Computer Recycling Day is scheduled:Drop it off at: Mason Municipal Building
6000 Mason Montgomery Road
Saturday, August 30, 2008
9 AM – 12 NoonAll computers will be recycled or refurbished for underprivileged people.
Accepting:
Computer Units Mice
Monitors Printers
Key Boards
Attention Computer Geeks!
Would you like to help out on collection day?
Please call 513-695-1209 and volunteer!
You can pick up free recycling bins at the city building. If you pick up a second bin, just make sure it's 3/4 full when you put it out or they are instructed to pick it up.
Household Waste (Paint Cans,anti-freeze,yard waste etc.) Contact Warren County Solid Waste Management Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM (except holidays)
Telephone: 513-695-1209 www.co.warren.oh.us/solidwaste/sitemap.htm
Computer disposal/recycle: IAP 931-8950 or 985-1300* or Tristate Computer Exchange 870-9475 ext. 3571* (* means service fees may apply)
Appliances - Contact Solid Waste Management *
Tires: Contact Rumpke (They line the landfills and use it as covering) or your local tire dealer......or they make nice rope swings..........
Ammunition:Contact the Warren County Sheriff 695-1280 and contact me so I don't honk you off.
Propane Tanks: Collett's Propane Lebanon 228-1424 or Wilmington (SR 73 by Camp Kirkwood) 937-328-1624
Other "recyclables": Michele Ellis is saving plastic lids from soda's,etc. which get cashed in for chemo treatments for children. The elementary schools save Campbell soup labels and Boxtops for Education. And Christ Church at Mason has a paper recycling bin (green and yellow) at the back of the church on the Western Row Rd. side.
I feel like I should sing a song from the 70's here about loving mother earth, but it's early and my voice isn't warmed up.

Ice Cream Social

The ice cream social is coming Sunday, 8/17 at 7pm. Flyers (kindly printed by Karen) are being graciously handed out by Michelle. It's at the trail (between 6769 and 6751 Summer Field Dr) this year putting it in a better and more central position. Don't eat dessert that day and let's celebrate the end of summer and beginning of school!

Natorp's Fall Sale

For those of you who are into gardening, Natorp's has announced their fall sale! The outlet sale is off of Snyder 9/12,13,14,20 & 21. IF you are a "preferred gardener"(stop by their main store by Bigg's and sign up for free!) you'll get in 9/9 and 9/10 from 11-730, before the general public!!! Amazing selections!

Opportunity Knocks! Let's Play!

(Courtesy of ABC)
* Apply To Be On Opportunity Knocks


Go to WCPO's website to apply! www.wcpo.com
Reported by: Jeff Brogan

First, Extreme Makeover, now ABC is looking for another Tri-State Family for the network's newest game show.

"Opportunity Knocks" debuts on Channel 9 in September.

The show literally comes to a home, turning a neighborhood into a game show set.

ABC says a mobile semi-truck with prizes will be on hand.

A family can win prizes and money based on what they know about each other.