The Senior Scene

By Melinda Myers
Contributing writer
Spots on tomatoes, holes in hosta leaves and wilting stems mean insects and diseases have moved into the garden. Don’t let these intruders reduce the beauty and productivity of your landscape. Work in concert with nature to prevent and control these pests, and you will be rewarded with a bountiful harvest and landscape filled with beautiful blooms.
• Monitor. Take regular walks through the landscape. Not only is it good exercise, but it will improve your mood and you’ll discover problems earlier when they are easier to control. Look for discolored leaves, spots, holes and wilting. Inspect the underside of the leaves and along the stems to uncover the cause of the problem.
• Identify. Once you discover a problem, identify the culprit. Your local extension service, garden center or reliable internet resource can help. Once identified, you can plan the best way to manage the culprit.
• Invite the good guys. Toads, lady beetles and birds help control many garden pests. Attract them to the garden by planting herbs and flowers to attract beneficial insects, adding a house for the toads, and birdbath for songbirds. Avoid using pesticides and learn to tolerate a bit of damage. A few aphids or caterpillars will bring in the lady beetles, lacewings, birds and toads that are looking for a meal.
• Clean up. Many insects and diseases can be managed and prevented with a bit of garden cleanup. A strong blast of water from the garden hose will dislodge aphids and mites, reducing their damage to a tolerable level. Or knock leaf-eating beetles and other larger insects off the plants and into a can of soapy water.
Pick off discolored leaves, prune off diseased stems and destroy. Be sure to disinfect tools with 70 percent alcohol or one part bleach to nine parts water solution between cuts. This will reduce the risk of spreading the disease when pruning infected plants.
• Adjust care. Reduce the spread and risk of further problems by adjusting your maintenance strategies. Avoid overhead and nighttime watering that can increase the risk of disease. Use an organic nitrogen fertilizer, which encourages slow steady growth that is less susceptible to insect and disease attacks.
Mulch the soil with shredded leaves, evergreen needles or woodchips. This will keep roots cool and moist during drought, improve the soil as they decompose, and also prevent soil borne diseases from splashing onto and infecting the plants.
• Non-chemical controls. If the problems continue, try some non-chemical options for insects. A yellow bowl filled with soapy water can attract aphids, a shallow can filled with beer and sunk in the ground will manage slugs, and crumpled paper under a flower pot for earwigs are just a few ways to trap and kill these pests.
Or cover the plants with floating row covers. These fabrics allow air, light and water through, but prevent insects like bean beetles and cabbage worms from reaching and damaging the plants.
• Organic products. Insecticidal soap, Neem, horticulture oil and Bacillus thuringiensis can be used to control specific pests. And even though these are organic, they are designed to kill insects or disease organisms, so be sure to read and follow label directions carefully.
• Take note. Make notes on the problems and solutions in this season’s garden. Refer to these next year to help you do a better job of monitoring and managing garden pests. And when shopping for new plants, select the right plant for the location and choose resistant varieties whenever possible.
A little eco-friendly gardening can go a long way in creating a beautiful and productive garden.

Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written 20 gardening book TV and radio segments. She also has been a guest gardening expert on television and radio. She can be reached at www.melindamyers.com.

Live music – free, no less- in a park on a beautiful summer evening starts on a weekly basis in July in cities in Pierce and King counties. Here’s the rundown:
• Puyallup Concerts in the Park: Pioneer Park, downtown Puyallup, 6:30 p.m. July 9, Elevator 253 (rock, country, blues) and The Konzelman Brothers (acoustic rock); July 16, Bubbles and Fog (country), The Coats (a capella); July 23, Wally and the Beavs (‘50s); July 30, The 5 Johnsons (classic rock); Aug. 6, British Export (Beatles tribute); Aug. 13, United Generation (uplifting music) and Cherry Cherry (Neil Diamond tribute); Aug. 20, Spike and the Impalers (classic rock).
• Auburn Summer Sounds and Cinema: July 31, 7 p.m., Lea Hill Park, 12305 SE. 316th St., Po’okela Street Band (reggae, top 40) and “Big Hero 6;” Aug. 7, 7 p.m., Sunset Park, 1306 69th St. SE., Social Network (current dance music) and “Frozen;” Aug. 14, 7 p.m., Les Gove Park, 910 Ninth St. SE., The Fabulous Murphtones (classic and current rocka) and “Planes, Fire and Rescue.”
• Sumner Music Off Main: All concerts at 6:30 p.m. July 3, Puyallup Valley Band (swing, Sousa), Rainier View Park. July 10, Folsom Prism (Johnny Cash tribute), Reuben A. Knoblauch Heritage Park. July 17, Coco Loco (Latin), Reuben A. Knoblauch Heritage Park. July 24, Andy Shofner Band (southern rock), Sunset Chev Stadium. July 31, The Tailboys (country and blues), Reuben A. Knoblauch Heritage Park.
• Kent Summer Concert Series: 7 p.m. Thursday evenings at Lake Meridian Park, 14800 SE. 272nd St. Roberto the Magnificent (juggling and other stunts), July 8. Big Bang Room (hip hop, alternative, pop, country), July 15. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo (family hip hop), July 22. JP Hennessy (Irish recording artist), July 23.

Brighten up your patio, deck or front entrance with containers. They’re an excellent way to add color, fragrance and beauty where plantable space is limited or non- existent.
Set a few containers on the front or back steps, in the corner of your deck or other location where they can be enjoyed. Try stacking and planting several containers to create a display with greater vertical interest. Check the views when looking from inside the house out as well as when enjoying the space outdoors. Strategically place containers for the greatest viewing pleasure.
Save even more space by using railing planters. You can dress up the porch or deck by filling these planters with colorful flowers and edibles. Make sure they are sturdy and easy to install. Reduce time spent installing and maintaining with easy-to-install self-watering rail planters, like Viva balcony rail planters (gardeners.com).
Don’t limit yourself to flowers. Mix in a few edibles and bring some homegrown flavor to your outdoor entertaining. You and your guests will enjoy plucking a few mint leaves to flavor beverages, basil to top a slice of pizza or sprig of dill to top grilled fish.
Herbs not only add flavor to your meals, but texture and fragrance to container gardens. And the many new dwarf vegetable varieties are suited to containers. Their small size makes them easy to include and many have colorful fruit that is not only pretty, but delicious.
Add a few edible flowers like nasturtium and pansies. Dress up a plate of greens with edible flowers for a gourmet touch. Or freeze a few pansy flowers in ice cubes and add them to a glass of lemonade or sparkling water.
Include flowers like globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Lisianthus, and daisies that are great for cutting. You’ll enjoy your garden inside and out throughout the season.
And don’t forget to plant some flowers for the butterflies to enjoy. Zinnias, cosmos, and marigolds are just a few that are sure to brighten any space, while attracting butterflies to your landscape. Salvia, penstemon and flowering tobacco will help bring hummingbirds in close, so you’ll have a better view.
So make this the year you select a container or two that best fits your space and gardening style. Fill it with a well-drained potting mix and combination of beautiful ornamental and edible plants to enjoy all season long. The additions are sure to enhance your landscape and keep your guests coming back for more.

Melinda Myers, who wrote this article, is a gardening expert, TV/radio host, author and columnist. She has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books

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“Playgrounds of the Lakes District,” an exhibit detailing some famous sporting events between 1890 and 1940, will open June 6 at Lakewood History Museum.
6211 Mt Tacoma Drive SW, Lakewood, Washington. Running through spring 2016, the exhibit is FREE and open to the public during regular museum hours: Wed-Sat, noon to 4 p.m. Refreshments will be served at the opening day reception.
Through rare artifacts, photos and narrative displays, museum visitors will learn that Lakewood is home to the oldest golf club west of the Mississippi River (Tacoma Golf and Country Club), that a speedway second only in importance on the auto racing circuit to the Indianapolis 500 once occupied the site of today’s Clover Park Technical College, or that Johnny Weissmuller, who later starred in “Tarzan” movies, qualified for the 1924 Olympics in trials held in Steilacoom Lake.
The museum is at 6211 Mt. Tacoma Dr. SW. in Lakewood. Admission is free noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.