Hobbies
Go Native this Spring! (Part II)
In February, I introduced readers to native eastern Iowa forbs (wildflowers/perennials) and grasses that have been part of our landscape for more than a century of cultivation. In fact, these plants, and the shrubs and trees I’ll discuss this month, were here before Julian Dubuque settled the area.
Gray Dogwood
(Cornus racemosa) and Redosier Dogwood, (Cornus stolonifera) are two of our standard bearers for mass plantings. Redosier is beautiful with its red stems against winter snow, and both provide habitat and food for wildlife. Common Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) Though I’ve grown a dwarf, hybridized form of Ninebark, my hunch is the common variety is similar. I like the peeling bark of this 6-8 foot shrub as well the dainty lobed leaves and white flowers. Nice winter contrast. American Black Currant (Ribes americanum) A definite hit with the native wildlife as well as any of you who make jelly from the very edible berries of this plant. Common Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) A medium sized plant that is also great for habitat coverage and food for wildlife. Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) Highbush Cranberry is a variety that has been in propagation for more than a century and pioneers were known to make jelly from the berries. Birds love the fruit of these three season plants with flowers in the spring, deeply colored clusters of berries in summer and rich foliage colors through late fall. Rafinesque Viburnum (Viburnum rafinesquianum) Rafinesque Viburnum is actually an Arrowwood viburnum variety and it, along with a host of other related cultivars, was used by Native Americans to make arrow shafts (hence the name) because of their straight and sturdy stems. This is a very hardy viburnum that will offer all the delights of any of our hybridized viburnums. I’ve mentioned several times in various columns that we must be wise consumers of plant goods. Just because a nursery carries a given tree or shrub, does not automatically make it worth growing. A simple case in point might be Silver Maples, Lombardy Poplars and the once common Green Ash. I would not recommend any of these three simply because they are weak, not long-lived, not particularly becoming and all have been overplanted. This became clear when the Green Ash trees were decimated by the Ash Borer. Following are many readily available trees that are not appreciably more expensive. For those in the know, I’ve left some native trees off including all those in the Prunusspecies as well as the white birch because it lacks hardiness. The remaining list is still quite ample for anyone.
Common Hackberry
(Celtis occidentalis) Tough, sturdy tree. Eastern Wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus) Interesting bark and texture; more of a shrubby tree and related to the Dwarf Burning Bush commonly seen in its bright red color in the fall. Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) A great leaf color of orange-red in the fall. Shadblow Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) A shrubby tree is the preferred wildlife form and it’s readily available that way. Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) Not often seen; deeply furrowed bark. Common Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Adds great color to the winter landscape as a shrubby tree with yellow petals and red cups to the flowers held on bare branches. Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) A standard conifer for the Midwest; a great windbreak for large open areas. Plant in groups as opposed to rows. Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) One of the hardiest trees for urban areas. White Oak (Quercus alba), Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) and Northern Red Oak (Quercus borealis) All these Oaks are worthy giants of the landscape. They may grow more slowly than others, but their majesty is unsurpassed. American Linden (Tilia americana) A densely branched tree of uniform pyramidal shape. Yes, there are dozens if not hundreds of other native plants not mentioned. My intentions are to introduce readers to an array of often overlooked plants. Do a little reading or internet searching about some of these wonderful plants of Iowa. April is closing in and it won’t be long before that fresh smell of newly turned soil will reach our noses with its fragrant bouquet. My grandfather’s words “Come next spring” were always words of hope and renewal and they’ve never failed to encourage me to plant and be at one with Nature.
Owner wants dog in the bedroom at all times, even on Valentine’s
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My fiance insists on keeping the bedroom door closed, and my dog “Charlie,” on the opposite side of it, when we’re having sex. But Charlie whines, yelps and scratches the door the entire time we’re at it. I think that letting him in won’t be an issue, and he’ll just curl up at the foot of the bed, but my fiance says it’s creepy for the dog to be in the room at the same time. How can I get him to come around? Valentine’s Day is almost here, and I don’t want our romantic day to be spoiled by a whining dog outside the door. — D.R. in Fort Myers, Florida
DEAR D.R.: So, I’m a pet care columnist, not a relationship expert, but I’ll do my best here. Pets are a part of our family, and love being the center of attention, but they do not need to be present at every moment of your life. Furthermore, you’re in a relationship with another person, and a healthy relationship includes negotiation and compromise. I think you can agree that the whining and scratching outside the door annoys both of you. Instead of arguing about whether he’s in or out, place Charlie in another section of your home where he can’t hear your, um, Olympian efforts in the bedroom. The living room, the kitchen or a screened-in porch — wherever. If he uses a kennel cage, place him in there with a treat and his favorite toys and his binky, and then enjoy your evening. Wherever you place Charlie, make sure there are no Valentine’s chocolates or other goodies from your dinner in the same room. Chocolate, as you know, is poisonous to dogs (and cats). |
Tea Trolleys
Kovels.com
Teatime comes to modern time. Scandinavian modern design gives an Artek tea trolley a sleek, stylish look.
It’s probably no surprise that the tea trolley emerged in Victorian England. Just the words “tea trolley” can conjure up an image of a delicate cart laden with floral china and shining silver plate, pushed by a primly uniformed servant into an ornately furnished room where aristocratic women perch on uncomfortably carved mahogany chairs.
Like many upper-class English fashions, the tea trolley spread to the United States, where it received a new spin in the 20th century: With Prohibition ending in the 1930s, the tea trolley was repurposed as the bar cart or cocktail cart. This was also when the style we now call mid-century modern emerged. Scandinavian design was particularly popular, with clean lines, simple shapes and light woods. This cart, made of birch with white enameled wheels, was designed in 1948 by Alvar and Aino Aalto, the Finnish husband-and-wife team that co-founded the furniture company Artek. An Eldred’s auction described it as a “tea trolley” rather than a cart. The old-fashioned name didn’t decrease its appeal, as it sold at the auction for $2,650. • • • Q: I have a lot of first-edition Beanie Babies and Bears. I’m wondering if I can get in contact with someone to help me price and sell them. A: The Beanie Babies fad exploded in the 1990s, and a resale market appeared almost immediately. While it hasn’t reached the heights of the original craze, the resale market is still active. There are several online resources for Beanie Baby collectors to research and evaluate their toys. Try tycollector.com, beaniebabiespriceguide.com or beaniepedia.com. Check the tags on each toy; both the cloth tag sewn to the toy (collectors call it the “tush tag”) and the heart-shaped paper swing tag. They will tell you the edition, material, location made, and other information that can affect the price. If a Beanie Baby is an early or limited edition, stuffed with PVC pellets, or made in Indonesia instead of China, it is usually worth more. Spelling errors, misprints and other variations on the tag can also increase the value. For more accurate values on eBay, look up Sold listings under Advanced Search. You can also search websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for Beanie Babies collector clubs. If you want to sell your collection at an auction, look for auction houses that specialize in toys, collectibles, estate sales and pop culture. • • • TIP: Dust leather furniture with a dry cloth and vacuum in crevices and edges. Use a leather conditioner about once a year. If there is spill, wipe up the liquid with a cloth or sponge, wipe with lukewarm water and let it air dry. Do not use soap or soak the stain. • • • CURRENT PRICES Toy, horse, rocking, wood, painted, white, black base, leather saddle, Victorian, 31 x 55 1/2 x 12 inches, $320. Lamp, hurricane, baluster shape shade, tole base, figural, leafy vines, grass, scalloped foot, felt base, 14 1/2 inches, pair, $770. Textile, Navajo, trading post, gray ground, cream and black motifs, serrated diamonds, checkerboards, red border, corner tassels, early 1900s, 74 1/2 x 55 inches, $800. For more collecting news, tips and resources, visit
www.Kovels.com © 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
Corned Beef and Cabbage4 medium potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 pound carrots, cut into large chunks 1 onion, cut into wedges 3 cups water 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons cider vinegar 3 cloves garlic, minced ½ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 (3 pound) corned beef brisket with spice packet, cut in half 1 small head cabbage, cut into wedges Gather all ingredients. Place potatoes, carrots, and onion into a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker. Combine water, sugar, vinegar, garlic, black pepper, bay leaf, and contents of spice packet in a small bowl; pour over vegetables. Top with beef brisket and cabbage. Cover and cook on Low until beef and vegetables are tender, 8 to 9 hours. Serves 6. 
|
