For anybody who is interested, I found a very reasonable mowing service, the did my lawn the first time today and it looks great. They are flexible so they will let me reduce the number of mowings as the heat of summer hits...paying $35/mow. I decided to be lazy this year since the baby is keeping us pretty busy!!!
Contact is Nick Linberg
513.304.5447
twoteachersandamower@yahoo.com (somewhat slow on returning email, but you will eventually hear back...my email's seem to be going to his spam box even though it is one yahoo acct to another).
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Farmer's Markets
I found a list of local Farmer's Markets in case you want to eat locally,but not pick your own. Of course there is always Findlay Market, downtown Cincinnati! I hope this link works! If you go to Lebanon's look for Dan Berger. He has frozen blue gill and maple syrup from his farm. He is a retired lawyer, he does private catering for P&G and teaches classes at Cookware's. He's a colorful man.
Click here!
Click here!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
more lawn thoughts
Dormant Lawn
Under conditions of stress, like extremely hot and dry weather, grass will turn brown and go dormant as a natural survival mechanism. If your grass is dormant, there is nothing you can do right now. Dormant grass will not respond to fertilizing. Fertilize your lawn when the rain returns and your grass begins to recover. Once green, feeding your lawn will strengthen its root system and give it the nutrients it needs to recover faster.
Recovering Lawn
If your grass is beginning to recover from drought conditions, fertilize it now. Feeding now will help restore your lawn back to health by giving it the nutrients it needs to stay strong and healthy. It will also protect your yard against heat and drought in the future. A well-fed lawn just doesn't get as thirsty.
Healthy Lawn
If your lawn is green and hasn't been affected by heat and drought, continue your normal feeding and watering schedule. A well-fed lawn maintains a stronger, deeper root system that protects against the effects of heat and drought and uses available moisture in the soil more efficiently.
Under conditions of stress, like extremely hot and dry weather, grass will turn brown and go dormant as a natural survival mechanism. If your grass is dormant, there is nothing you can do right now. Dormant grass will not respond to fertilizing. Fertilize your lawn when the rain returns and your grass begins to recover. Once green, feeding your lawn will strengthen its root system and give it the nutrients it needs to recover faster.
Recovering Lawn
If your grass is beginning to recover from drought conditions, fertilize it now. Feeding now will help restore your lawn back to health by giving it the nutrients it needs to stay strong and healthy. It will also protect your yard against heat and drought in the future. A well-fed lawn just doesn't get as thirsty.
Healthy Lawn
If your lawn is green and hasn't been affected by heat and drought, continue your normal feeding and watering schedule. A well-fed lawn maintains a stronger, deeper root system that protects against the effects of heat and drought and uses available moisture in the soil more efficiently.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Beautify Our Neighborhood: Prune Your Trees
TREES IN NEED OF PRUNING
Pruning your trees not only beautifies the neighborhood, it is also healthy for your trees by focusing their growth. Please go out and take a look at your trees (and your neighbors) and prune where needed.
As you can see above, many of the trees along Summer Field and Spring Field Dr are in deperate need or pruning. Lower branchs should be removed to both improve the appearance of the tree and provide clearance on the sidewalks for people. Some of us may have the impression these trees are cared for by the grounds maintenance service, but that is not the case. Rick has posted some great tips on the blog on how to prune your trees.
Many of the homeowners have done a great job maintaining there trees and keeping the sidewalk clear. See below
GREAT EXAMPLES OF PRUNED TREES
Pruning your trees not only beautifies the neighborhood, it is also healthy for your trees by focusing their growth. Please go out and take a look at your trees (and your neighbors) and prune where needed.
THANKS!
Monday, June 9, 2008
amendments
Fellow homeowners, I am pleased to announce that all five of the amendment proposals have passed by the required 39 yes votes. The HOA board will work over the next few weeks to file the results with the city as well as send out some formal communication but I wanted to take this opportunity to thank those of you that voted and to report the results.
As a reminder, here are the top lines of these amendments.
As a reminder, here are the top lines of these amendments.
- Allow for two installments of the HOA annual assessment with a $15 surcharge.
- Require a 55% assenting vote to levy future special assessments for capital expenditures.
- Outline specific landscape and maintenance requirements and provide for enforcement thereof.
- Require majority consent for future amendment proposals.
- Not allow registered sex offenders to take future residence in Mason Fields.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
tree pruning
Producing strong structure should be the emphasis when pruning young trees. As trees mature, the aim of pruning will shift to maintaining tree structure, form, health and appearance. In our neighborhood, we have trees in need of "crown raising". These are the trees between the street and sidewalks. Crown raising should be done for a number of reasons but in this case for safety. We want people to be able to walk on our sidewalks without risking a poke in the eye from a low hanging branch.
1. Crown Thinning - Crown thinning, primarily for hardwoods, is the selective removal of branches to increase light penetration and air movement throughout the crown of a tree. The intent is to maintain or develop a tree's structure and form. To avoid unnecessary stress and prevent excessive production of epicormic sprouts, no more than one-quarter of the living crown should be removed at a time. If it is necessary to remove more, it should be done over successive years.
Crown thinning - branches to be removed are shaded in blue; pruning cuts should be made at the red lines. No more than one-fourth of the living branches should be removed at one time.
2. Crown Raising - Crown raising is the practice of removing branches from the bottom of the crown of a tree to provide clearance for pedestrians, vehicles, buildings, lines of site, or to develop a clear stem for timber production. Also, removing lower branches on white pines can prevent blister rust. For street trees the minimum clearance is often specified by municipal ordinance. After pruning, the ratio of the living crown to total tree height should be at least two-thirds (e.g., a 12 m tree should have living branches on at least the upper 8 m).
On young trees "temporary" branches may be retained along the stem to encourage taper and protect trees from vandalism and sun scald. Less vigorous shoots should be selected as temporary branches and should be about 10 to 15 cm apart along the stem. They should be pruned annually to slow their growth and should be removed eventually.
Crown raising - branches to be removed are shaded in blue; pruning cuts should be made where indicated with red lines. The ratio of live crown to total tree height should be at least two-thirds.
1. Crown Thinning - Crown thinning, primarily for hardwoods, is the selective removal of branches to increase light penetration and air movement throughout the crown of a tree. The intent is to maintain or develop a tree's structure and form. To avoid unnecessary stress and prevent excessive production of epicormic sprouts, no more than one-quarter of the living crown should be removed at a time. If it is necessary to remove more, it should be done over successive years.Crown thinning - branches to be removed are shaded in blue; pruning cuts should be made at the red lines. No more than one-fourth of the living branches should be removed at one time.
2. Crown Raising - Crown raising is the practice of removing branches from the bottom of the crown of a tree to provide clearance for pedestrians, vehicles, buildings, lines of site, or to develop a clear stem for timber production. Also, removing lower branches on white pines can prevent blister rust. For street trees the minimum clearance is often specified by municipal ordinance. After pruning, the ratio of the living crown to total tree height should be at least two-thirds (e.g., a 12 m tree should have living branches on at least the upper 8 m).On young trees "temporary" branches may be retained along the stem to encourage taper and protect trees from vandalism and sun scald. Less vigorous shoots should be selected as temporary branches and should be about 10 to 15 cm apart along the stem. They should be pruned annually to slow their growth and should be removed eventually.
Crown raising - branches to be removed are shaded in blue; pruning cuts should be made where indicated with red lines. The ratio of live crown to total tree height should be at least two-thirds.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
It's Berry Picking Time!
I grew up in this area, and have always berry picked. I thought I'd include some places to pick. Right now strawberries are ready, and after 6/20 Black raspberries will be ripe. Here are some Local U-Pick places:
My Favorite: Dale Stokes Berry Farm, 2822 Center Road, Wilmington. 937-382-4004. 8 a.m.-dark daily. Late May to July: strawberries. Late-June to early July: black red, purple and yellow, August and September: red, purple and yellow raspberries. Containers provided. I-71 to Ohio 73; drive east to Williams Road; turn left, then right on Center Road to farm. Visit stokes berryfarm.com. I think they'll have blackberries,too but will ask when we go up Sunday!
Iron's Fruit Farm is the closest. They also have a fun corn maze in the fall!Irons Fruit Farm, 1640 Stubbs Mill Road, Lebanon. 513-932-2853. Call for picking times and availability. Mid-June: blueberries. Mid-July: Green beans, tomatoes. Mid-August: red raspberries. Mid-September: apples. Late September and October: pumpkins and gourds. Containers provided. I-71 to Ohio 123; go north toward Lebanon; turn left on Stubbs Mill Road and watch for signs about 2 miles on the left. Visit www.ironsfruit farm.com.
My Favorite: Dale Stokes Berry Farm, 2822 Center Road, Wilmington. 937-382-4004. 8 a.m.-dark daily. Late May to July: strawberries. Late-June to early July: black red, purple and yellow, August and September: red, purple and yellow raspberries. Containers provided. I-71 to Ohio 73; drive east to Williams Road; turn left, then right on Center Road to farm. Visit stokes berryfarm.com. I think they'll have blackberries,too but will ask when we go up Sunday!
Iron's Fruit Farm is the closest. They also have a fun corn maze in the fall!Irons Fruit Farm, 1640 Stubbs Mill Road, Lebanon. 513-932-2853. Call for picking times and availability. Mid-June: blueberries. Mid-July: Green beans, tomatoes. Mid-August: red raspberries. Mid-September: apples. Late September and October: pumpkins and gourds. Containers provided. I-71 to Ohio 123; go north toward Lebanon; turn left on Stubbs Mill Road and watch for signs about 2 miles on the left. Visit www.ironsfruit farm.com.
A&M Farm Orchard, 22141 Ohio 251, Midland, 513-875-2500. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 1-8 p.m. Sunday. Call for fall hours. Early June: strawberries. September to October: apples and grapes. Containers provided. I-275 to Ohio 28; through Blanchester to Midland in southeast Clinton County; south on U.S. 68 to Ohio 251. Farm is 1 mile east.
Barn 'n' Bunk Farm Market, Ohio 73 and Wayne Madison Road, Trenton. 513-988-9211. Call for hours and availability. Late May: snow peas. Late June to August: half runner beans, stringless beans, greasy beans and Roma beans. I-75 to Ohio 63; go west on Ohio 63 to Ohio 4; north on Ohio 4 to Ohio 73; west on Ohio 73. Farm is near Ohio 73 and Wayne-Madison Road.
Bergefurd's Farm Market & Greenhouse, 234 Ohio 350 West. Corner of U.S. 68 South and Ohio 350 in Clinton County. 937-383-2133. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: call first, as berries are limited. Late May/early June: strawberries. Late September: pumpkins. Montgomery Road north through Morrow to Ohio 350; turn right. Or, take Ohio 28 through Blanchester to U.S. 68; turn left.
Bet-ter Farms, 1971 Sicily Road, Mount Orab. 937-446-2593. Opens 8 a.m. Monday-Saturday; closed Sunday. Call for closing hours and picking status later in the day. Early June: strawberries. Containers provided. I-275 to Ohio 32; go east to Sicily Road past Mount Orab; turn left. Farm is a little more than 3 miles, in southwest Highland County.
Blooms & Berries, 9669 Ohio 48, Loveland. 513-697-9173. Daily. Call for hours, picking times and availability. Late May: strawberries. October: pumpkins. I-71 to Ohio 48 exit (Lebanon); south on Ohio 48, through Maineville. Farm is on the right, about 2 miles south of Maineville.
Blooms & Berries, 10900 Loveland Madeira Road, Loveland. 513-697-9173. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, July 1-Sept. 1.
Hidden Valley Fruit Farm, 5474 N. Ohio 48, Lebanon. 513-932-1869. Call for availability and picking times. Early to mid-June: strawberries. Mid-late June: blueberries. Early July: early apples. Late June to mid-July: red raspberries. Mid-July: green beans. August: sweet corn and pears. August-September: apples and Concord, Fredonia and Niagara grapes. September-October: apples and pumpkins. I-75 to Ohio 122 exit (Middletown); east 7 miles to Ohio 48; north 2 miles to farm.
Robert Rothschild Farm, 3143 East Ohio 36, Urbana. 800-356-8933. Tours available. Call for hours and availability. Mid-August to mid-September: red raspberries. I-75 to I-675 (near Dayton); east toward Columbus; take Ohio 68 north and follow signs to Urbana, in Champaign County; at the traffic circle in town, turn right on Ohio 36. Farm is on the right, about 3 miles east of Urbana.
Rouster's Apple House, 1986 Ohio 131, Milford. 513-625-5504. Call ahead for picking times and availability. Late June to August: blueberries. Late July: thornless blackberries. Containers provided. I-275 to exit 59-A (Milford Parkway); follow parkway onto Ohio 131. Farm is 6 miles beyond intersection of Ohio 131 and U.S. 50. Blueberry plantation is on the right, 500 yards before the apple house.
Spaeth Farm, 1469 South Ohio 741, Lebanon. 513-932-2151. Call ahead for availability and picking times. Early June: strawberries Mid-July: green beans and sweet corn. I-71 to exit 25 (Kings Island); left on Ohio 741. Farm is on the left, about 5 miles north. From I-75 north, take exit 29 and turn right on Ohio 63; turn right on Ohio 741. Farm is on the right.
Strawberry Patch, 6815 Hamilton-Mason Road, West Chester Township. 513-777-3642. Call for hours and availability. Through June: strawberries. I-75 to Ohio 129; go west to Cincinnati-Dayton Road; turn left and follow to Hamilton-Mason Road; turn right. Farm is less than 1 mile on the left.
Windmill Farm Market, 1454 E. Ohio 73, Springboro. 937-885-3965. Call for availability. October: pumpkins. I-71 to Ohio 73; follow signs. Farm is on the right, 5 miles west of Waynesville and 3 miles east of Springboro.
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