Wet weather brings garden diseases May’s Workout of the Month
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t seems that our weather is seldom ideal for the garden. Sometimes, it is too hot and dry . And other times, like this spring, the weather is too cool and wet. Cool wet weather brings a whole host of issues in the garden. Many people in the ar ea cannot even get into their gar dens because the soil is so wet or even under water! Cool, wet weather is ideal for the spr ead of gar den diseases. Many funguses thrive in weather conditions similar to what we have been experiencing. Unfortunately, once a leaf or part of a plant is infected ther e is no way to cur e the plant. You can only keep the fungal disease fr om spreading. Therefore, prevention is the best step against fungal diseases in the garden. Fungi are reduced by growing plants in sunny locations with good air circ ulation and by reducing water contact on leaf surfaces. Diseases can be pr evented by r emoving and destr oying affected leaves that fall to the gr ound and by watering at the base rather than over head. Pruning the lower leaves, to pr event soil fr om being able to splash onto the leaves, is another way to pr event fungal disease fr om infecting roses, shrubs, and tomato plants. If disease pr essure is sever e, ther e ar e both
conventional (man-made) and organic (naturally derived) fungicide that can be used. It is important to remember that these products only pr event fungal infection and do not cur e them. Most of the organic products have to be purchased, just like the conventional pr oducts, with one exception. A 10 percent milk solution — 10 parts water to one part milk — has been proven to be an eff ective preventative against powdery mildew. Also r emember that no matter what type of fungicide you use, r ead the label car efully and follow its instructions. Always think about your safety first! Finally, the easiest way to prevent fungal disease in the garden is to purchase disease resistant plants. Many plants ar e naturally r esistant to certain diseases and others have been bre d to be resistant. You can find resistant roses, phlox, tomatoes, peppers, and pumpkins for example. Having a plant that is resistant to fungus is the easiest way to prevent garden diseases! Anne Lenox Barlow is a professional horticulturist who enjoys gardening with her family in Plattsburgh. She also chr onicles her gardening experiences at her blog www .northcountrygarden.wordpress.com. She can be r eached at a.lenox.barlow@ gmail.com.
Our Furry Friends Our Furry Friends is a weekly feature brought to you by Denton Publications. For more information about these and other fine pets available for adoption, contact: Adirondack Humane Society 134 Idaho Ave., Plattsburgh, 561-7297
G
ot 10 minutes? Good! Here’s your
workout! Plank - Lie on your stomach with your feet together and forearms placed on the ground. Clench your fists under your shoulders, draw-in your navel and contract your glutes. Lift your body of f of the floor and raise up until your body forms a straight line from head to toe. Beginners hold up to 20 seconds. Intermediate hold for 30-45 seconds. Advanced hold for 60 seconds. Single leg bicep curl to over head press - Stand on your left foot, while holding a dumbbell in your right hand, at your side. Curl the dumbbell to your chest. Next, pr ess the dumbbell over head, fully extending your arm keeping your palm turned away from your body. Return to the starting position and r epeat 12 times on each side. Squat Jump with Stabilization hold (bodyweight squat for beginners) –
Adirondack Humane Society
N
Nermal
Marietta
8 • weekly columns
ermal is a tiger mix that was hit by a car and suffered a fractur ed pelvis. She is healing and gaining strength everyday. Nermal has tested negative for FeLV/FIV. Marietta is an appr oximately 7-month-old boxer brought in as a stray. While she could stand to put on some weight, she is very healthy and looking for someone to love her as much as she could love them. Marietta has been spayed, vaccinated and dewormed.
St. John Feral Cat Fund
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ummer is a domestic short-haired female who was rescued from Plattsburgh this month and is very sweet and af fectionate. She is spayed and has had her first vaccinations. She needs a forever home where she can be the only cat. Romeo is a young male tuxedo kitty who lost his people when they moved and could not take him. He is super loving, neutered, and up-to-date on all of his vaccinations.
Summer
Romeo
Elmore SPCA
St. John Feral Cat Fund (Located in PetSmart Adoption Center) 67 Consumer Square, Plattsburgh 534-0824 Elmore SPCA, 510 Arthur Road, Peru 643-2451
Stand with feet straight and shoulder -width apart. Draw-in belly button and squeeze butt muscles. Jump up, raising arms above head, and land softly; hold two seconds. Perform 10 reps. Beginners perform one set, intermediate perform two to thr ee sets, an advanced perform four to five sets. Choose the appropriate level for your current state of fitness. If you ar e unsur e of how to safely complete the exer cises listed, please consult with a qualified fitness pr ofessional and always get permission from your doctor befor e starting any exercise program. Corinna Maggy is a National Academy of Sports Medicine certified personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist offering private personal training, classes, and weight management pr ograms. She can be reached at 605-3549 or corinnamaggy@yahoo.com.
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Ruficus
Snoopy
May 28 - June 3, 2011
uficus is a lar ge male adult bloodhound mix who came into the shelter as a stray. He’s not well-trained but has a huge capacity to love. Ruficus is neutered and up-to-date on his vaccines. Snoopy is an adult male tri-colore d beagle who dotes on human attention. However, there are times when he can be very skittish. Come in and meet this sweet, shy boy and per haps take him into your home. Snoopy is neutered and up-to-date on his vaccines.
the ‘burgh