Kentucky Living March 2017

CELEBRATING THE ENERGY OF YOUR COMMUNITY

LAYER YOUR LANDSCAPES Natural designs, native plants ENTER TODAY! Photo Contest & Family Recipes

M A R C H 201 7 • K E N T U C KY L IV I NG.CO M

THE TRACTOR THAT STARTED IT ALL. IS CHANGING IT ALL.

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New Deluxe Seat** & Tilt Steering Wheel

New Swift-Tach Loader** & Swift-Connect Backhoe

New Grille Guard & Front Hitch

New Dash Panel & Display

ALL-NEW KUBOTA BX80 SERIES Low-Rate, Long-Term Financing Going On Now!

6 Year

Limited Powertrain Warranty*

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*Only terms and conditions of Kubota’s standard Limited Warranty apply. For warranty terms, see Kubota’s Limited Warranty at www.kubota.com or authorized Kubota Dealers. **Only available on certain models. Optional equipment may be shown.

© Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2017

MARCH 2017 VOL 71 • NO 3

2017 LAWN & GARDEN ISSUE

18

30 18

Living, Layered Landscapes

Return to nature with a more relaxed landscape. Use flowers, shrubs, and trees to create layers you love.

30Kentucky Rocks

Kentucky’s Stonehenge in Munfordville is a sight to behold. Go tour this replica, along with other gardens, for free year-round.

32

10 Vegetables with the Biggest Payback

COVER STORY Investing

in a garden this year? Learn what veggies to plant to get the most bang for your buck.

DEPARTMENTS

KENTUCKY CULTURE

4 KL ON THE WEB

2 WORTH THE TRIP 4 A taste of trekking

5 YOUR COOPERATIVE

COMMUNITY Why is my bill so high?

6 COMMONWEALTHS College scholarships, make a mark for history, and enter a family recipe for a chance to win

8 LETTERS ON THE GRID

1 0 FUTURE OF

ELECTRICITY Nuclear option 12 CUTTING COSTS Choosing trees for energy efficiency

14 GADGETS & GIZMOS

ON THE COVER Peppers,

potatoes, and peas all offer good return on your investment. These beauties come from Coulter’s Good Earth Farm in Bloomfield. Turn to page 32 to start planning for a bounty from your vegetable garden.

Photo: Jolea Brown. Illustration: Penny Kephart.

47 CHEF’S CHOICE Volunteer veggies

48 EVENTS

Seahorses at the Newport Aquarium, Quilters Day Out in Rowan County, Bowling Green’s Home Expo, digging Elizabethtown’s gardening event, and much more

51 GREAT OUTDOORS Great fishing ahead

52 GARDEN GURU Signs of spring 53 SMART HEALTH Hearing difficulty after stroke 4 KENTUCKY 5 MARKETPLACE

Yard of the month

56 SNAP SHOT

15 ENERGY 101

Scenic sunsets

Heads up for farm safety

57 KENTUCKY KIDS

16 CO-OPERATIONS

8 BYRON CRAWFORD’S 5 KENTUCKY

Giving service, funding

30A LOCAL ELECTRIC

COOPERATIVE NEWS

Long live old wood

W W W. K E N T U C K Y L I V I N G . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 7

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How does your garden grow?

Even though March is a little early to plant flowers and a vegetable garden, you can plant trees, order seeds, and start dreaming about warmer days ahead.

The trend in lawns is low-maintenance and back to nature with Layered Landscapes (page 18). What a relief!

Everyone wants the fruits of their labor to pay off (page 32), so my vegetable of choice is tomatoes. In fact, I’m still using Kentucky Living’s long-time garden columnist Fred Wiche’s suggested method for the best yield.

You can read Fred’s May 1997 column called “Japanese Tomato Rings” with the launch of our new KentuckyLiving.com website. You’ll also find over 1,000 recipes in our database (submit your own recipe!) and more of everything. We’ll gradually be adding recipes and stories dating back to our 1948 archives.

Be sure to enter our 2017 Photo Contest (page 9) and submit your family recipe and story (page 7). Happy spring!

Check out our mobile-friendly website ROCKIN’ ATTRACTION

SEARCH

Kentucky’s Stonehenge When Munfordville’s Chester Fryer built a replica of Stonehenge, he decided to share it with the world—and he didn’t stop there.

Fryer built five other gardens on his property drawing inspiration from nature and folklore. See more Kentucky’s Stonehenge photos on our website, and read about this attraction on page 30.

Photo: Linda Watts

SHADY SUMMERS

SEARCH

Energy Efficiency We’ve combined our Lawn & Garden Issue with our knowledge of energy savings, creating great tips to use landscaping to your advantage. Get started by reading our Cutting Costs column on page 12, then visit our website for even more details about using the greenery outside your house to save some green on your utility bills.

CALLING ALL COOKS

ENTER TO WIN

Kentucky Family Recipes

ANITA TRAVIS RICHTER, EDITOR

We are looking for down-home Kentucky recipes—the kind that come with a napkin and a story. Submit your original recipe and behind-the-dish tale at KentuckyLiving.com for a chance to be featured in our new Food Issue this June and earn $50 in the process.

Find out more on page 7. Photo: John Rott

Contact Us

• Questions, comments, letter to the editor

• Subscription • Advertising and editorial calendar • Submit story ideas • Freelancer inquiries

Submit & Share

www. KentuckyLiving.com Kentucky Living, P.O. Box 32170, Louisville, KY 40232. Submission should include your name, address, phone numbers, e-mail address, and name of electric co-op.

Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest

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KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

WEEKEND ADVENTURE

ENTER TO WIN

Hart County Getaway You’ve still got time to enter to win a trip for four to Hart County. Visit our website and enter by March 15, 2017, for a chance to win. The trip includes a hotel stay, meals, and adventures for the whole family.

YOUR COOPERATIVE COMMUNITY EDITORIAL EDITOR Anita Travis Richter MANAGING EDITOR Shannon Brock ASSOCIATE EDITOR Paula C. Sparrow ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Ellie Hobgood COPYEDITOR Madelynn Coldiron FACT CHECKER Lori Brown Patrick CONTRIBUTORS Dave Baker • Byron Crawford

Sarah Fritschner • Patrick Keegan Shelly Nold • Angie Oakley • Brian Orms Marc Rapport • Amy Wheeless • Penny Woods

ADVERTISING ADVERTISING MANAGER Renee Williams ADVERTISING SALES REP. Cynthia Whelan ADVERTISING SALES REP. Monica Pickerill ADVERTISING SALES REP. Stephanie Dumeyer SALES COORDINATOR Arlene Toon

PRODUCTION SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Penny Kephart GRAPHIC DESIGNER Katy Hurt LOCAL CO-OP NEWS COORDINATOR Tammy Simmons COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Thom Whittinghill

KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES PRESIDENT Chris Perry VICE-PRESIDENT STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS Joe Arnold CHAIRMAN David Kimbell VICE CHAIRMAN Mark Stallons SECRETARY/TREASURER Bob Berry

OUR MISSION STATEMENT Kentucky Living is published to create a community of people who take pride in thinking of themselves as Kentuckians and as knowledgeable electric co-op members, in order to improve their quality of life.

TO CONTACT US WWW.KENTUCKYLIVING.COM E-MAIL: e-mail@kentuckyliving.com PHONE: (502) 451-2430 FAX: (502) 459-1611 U.S. POSTAL SERVICE: P. O. Box 32170,

Louisville, KY 40232 SHIPPING: 4515 Bishop Lane, Louisville, KY 40218

SUBSCRIPTIONS (502) 451-2430 CO-OP MEMBERS: To report address changes, please call your local co-op office.

ADVERTISING OFFICES P. O. Box 32170 (40232) 4515 Bishop Lane (40218) Louisville, KY (502) 451-2430 FAX: (502) 459-1611 E-MAIL: advertising@KentuckyLiving.com

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AND NOW FOR THE LEGAL STUFF Kentucky Living, Vol. 71, No. 3, (ISSN 1043-853X) is published monthly by the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives Inc., 4515 Bishop Lane, Louisville, KY 40218. Periodicals Postage Paid at Louisville, Kentucky, and at additional mailing offices.

COPYRIGHT, 2017, by Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives Inc. All rights reserved. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $2.87 per year for members of co-ops that subscribe on a monthly basis; all others, $15 for one year, $25 for three years. NEWSSTAND COST: $2.95.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kentucky Living, P. O. Box 32170, Louisville, KY 40232.

Why is my bill so high?

Fluctuations in weather, days of use, and household habits affect energy use

T

hat’s a question I ask even after two decades of experience in the energy industry. There are only a couple of times in the spring and fall of every year when I feel my electric bill matches up with my energy use: April and May, and October and November. At other times, I know it can be difficult to pinpoint why your electric bill may be higher than expected.

When reviewing my own January bill, I was amazed to find I was using a lot more energy per day than during the same billing period one year ago, about an extra dollar per day. How could this be? One of my daughters has completely moved out of the house, and the other just drops in from college once in a while when she needs money or her clothes washed. It was impossible for me to believe that my wife and two dogs were using more electricity.

I started looking at our usage patterns and related it back to the weather.

I found that during those billing days in December, the weather was slightly colder than one year ago. On top of that, we hosted my wife’s family at the house for a week. We cooked more, there were more showers, and the baby needed the thermostat turned up to make it more comfortable. When I started adding it up, it equated to a higher bill.

Your electric cooperative works hard to make your bill easy to understand and provide you with ways to keep your bill in check. Co-op staff are available to help you better understand how you are using your energy and what may cause an increase in your bill. Many co-ops offer energy audits to help you identify ways to make your home more energy efficient, as well as rebates on electric appliances and weatherizing your home.

Several co-ops offer prepay programs to help even out your monthly payments.

We understand that energy is an important part of your budget. We know when weather extremes happen both on hot summer days and frigid winter nights, your bills will increase.

As we enter another beautiful Kentucky spring, when a light breeze comes through open windows, remember there is relatively no energy being used by your home. These spring days are simply a deposit in the bank for those days that are more uncomfortable at other times throughout the year.

CHRIS PERRY President/CEO

W W W. K E N T U C K Y L I V I N G . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 7

5

COMMONWEALTHS Fact or fiction? feels a strong pull to search for them, to know if they survived the disaster or died long ago. The arrival of an outsider to her safely removed community provides the perfect opportunity to do so, but Carrie must choose between the life she knows, or the life that may be waiting for her.

Originally from Ohio and currently living in Lexington, Welch says Kentucky’s craggy rocks of ravines and mystery of rock shelters held her until she took root. She attended Sue Bennett College in London, then earned both her undergraduate and Master of Arts degree from Eastern Kentucky University.

WILL ANGLIN

the bridge to a less impacted area with no knowledge of how those left behind fared. Such is the case with 5-year-old Carrie and her grandparents, who packed up emergency supplies and fled while Carrie’s parents stayed behind to save other family members.

Now 16, Carrie, secluded along with her grandparents and a small group of neighbors, has been living without electricity or modern conveniences such as running water, grocery stores, or healthcare. She is hardly the wiser, though, as childhood memories of these things have faded. As the recollection of her parents also begins to fade, Carrie

Welch believes her love for folklore, the old ways of mountain medicine, and the stories of outrageous heroes have molded her way of understanding and telling a story. Stay informed of her upcoming projects by visiting her on Facebook.

—Penny Woods

PHILS PHOTOGRAPHY

In 1990, the prediction of a massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault line had the South in an uproar. Schools closed, workAUTHOR ers were given the day off, and news crews gathered, but nothing happened.

New author Joy Chrisman Welch imagines what the Bluegrass would look like should that earthquake ever happen in her novel The Road Builders (Bellamy-Fleming Publishing, $17.95, available from your local bookseller).

Her story is set in 2028, eleven years after a great earthquake hits Kentucky, essentially dividing the Lexington area in two due to the collapse of the Clays Ferry bridge. Those who evacuated in time made it across

energy efficıency Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25 percent of the energy a typical household uses. See page 12 for more information on landscaping ideas to save energy.

Dude, you’ve got to sign up for Instagrowl.

6

KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

Kentucky college students have the opportunity to apply for three $1,000 scholarships being EDUCATION offered by the Kentucky Chapter of Women in Rural Electrification (WIRE).

One of the 2016 recipients, Spencer Bolton, says his WIRE scholarship was especially appreciated since this schol-

TAMMY SIMMONS

$1,000 scholarships for college students arship benefits rural people. “I’m from London, Kentucky,” says Bolton, “and it’s great this scholarship is directed toward rural communities to help those pursue an education.”

Spencer heard about the WIRE scholarships at Sullivan University

where he is pursuing a dual degree by completing an MBA program as well as a graduate/doctorate program in the College of Pharmacy. His family is a member of Jackson Energy Cooperative.

For eligibility and more information, download an application at www. kaec.org when you search “2017 WIRE.” Deadline to apply: June 9, 2017.

—Tammy Simmons

ROJO IMAGES

Make Your Mark for History When you prepare your state tax return, don’t forget to check the box on Line 33 to donate to Kentucky’s Local History Trust Fund.

Last year the program, overseen by the Kentucky Historical Society, raised $10,000 and funded 17 grants in 16 HISTORY Kentucky counties.

Kentucky museums, local history organizations, libraries, educational institutions, and applicable governmental agencies are eligible to apply for a Local History Trust Fund grant, which assists museums and history-related organizations with their long-term growth, development, and sustainability.

“The Local History Trust Fund is an invaluable resource for the commonwealth’s local history and museum community. The Kentucky Derby Museum received state funds in 2015 to make its oral history collections more accessible to the public. Additional grant funds for collections care, as well as other crucial projects, are essential in helping all organizations preserve and promote Kentucky’s heritage,” says Chris Goodlett, curator for the Kentucky Derby Museum.

To learn more go to www.history.ky.gov/local-history-fund.

CALLING ALL COOKS! Submit your Best Kentucky Family Recipe and the story behind it. Current or historical photos welcome!

Win $50 if your recipe and story are printed in Kentucky Living’s June Food Issue, or $25 if featured on KentuckyLiving.com.

Deadline to enter March 31, 2017.

KENTUCKY DERBY MUSEUM

Submit original recipes and your 250word or less story at KentuckyLiving. com, or mail to Kentucky Living, Family Recipes, P.O. Box 32170, Louisville, KY 40232; include your name, address, phone number, and name of electric co-op, if applicable. Full contest details at KentuckyLiving.com.

W W W. K E N T U C K Y L I V I N G . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 7

7

COMMONWEALTHS

LETTERS Robby Henson’s first drama

Set in Appalachia

I look forward to getting Kentucky Living each month. I really enjoyed (“Now Showing,” January 2017) about movie making in Kentucky. You may wish to also explore Mid America Studios of Louisville; they made several movies in the 1960s. I am not sure but I think Pharaoh’s Army was also made in eastern Kentucky by the son of the owner of the Pioneer Playhouse in Danville.

You forgot one of the best movies ever filmed in Kentucky, Next of Kin, starring Patrick Swayze. (Scenes from this 1989 action-thriller film were filmed in Perry County, Letcher County, and Hazard.)

Charles Long Mt. Washington, Salt River Electric member

The 1955 movie The Kentuckian was noted in the 11 made-in-Kentucky movies (January 2017). At 11 years old I was an extra in the movie for two weeks depicted as a schoolboy when it was filmed in Rockport, Indiana, Spottsville, Kentucky, nearby Owensboro, and other places. It was a real experience for me and my family. I was paid $75 per day.

My cute little sister, too young for the movie, was singled out occasionally for piggyback rides by Walter Matthau.

My only regret was not obtaining an autograph from the director and star of the movie, Burt Lancaster. He was just too absorbed in the production of the movie to take time out. When filming, he rented a home two blocks from where my family lived in Owensboro.

Editor’s Note: You are correct. Robby Henson’s first dramatic feature that he wrote, directed, and produced was Pharaoh’s Army, a 1995 film based on a true story set in 1862 during the Civil War, starring Chris Cooper, Patricia Clarkson, and Kris Kristofferson.

Fourth most popular 1957 movie Did you know there was a movie called April Love starring Pat Boone and Shirley Jones in 1957? I saw the movie in downtown Lexington. Scenes from (this musical) were filmed at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville and the Red Mile racetrack in Lexington. That was long before the Red Mile Road, which today goes from South Broadway to Versailles Road. Back then there was a farm there and we kids from the neighborhood used to walk down to Pyke Road and cross over the field to the fairgrounds at the Red Mile. We went to the Blue Grass Fair and circuses by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Those were simpler times. I’m 73 years old and was born and raised on the south end of Lexington.

Dorothea G. Vest West Liberty, a member of Licking Valley RECC

Editor’s Note: The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is set to close May 2017 after 146 years.

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KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

Dwaine Shults Owingsville, Clark Energy Cooperative member

$75 a day as boy extra

J.D. Mayfield, DMD Paris, Kentucky

Editor’s Note: We could not cover all the Kentucky movies in our feature, but thanks to everyone who wrote or called to remind us of their favorites. Nel Williams says “Bluegrass (a 1988 TV movie), starred Cheryl Ladd and William Shatner. It was about the horse racing industry. It was filmed mostly in Lexington and they used a Spanish house on Winchester Road.”

Scenes were also filmed at Turfway Park in Florence and at Louisville’s Churchill Downs. Judy Perkins called to say “the 1995 TV movie A Horse for Danny, which stars Robert Urich, was partly filmed at The Parkette Drive-In restaurant, Lexington.”

Scenes were also filmed in Henderson.

MUDDLING IN MUCK At one time or another, most every one of us has said aloud that we’re going to write down all the hilarious and absurd stories about our life and publish a book. Very few of us follow through on that promise.

Meet Dr. Chuck Keiser, an InterCounty Energy Cooperative member and veterinarian from Danville. His book Muddling in Muck: Reflections on 31 Years in Veterinary Practice is a delightful read. It is illustrated by close friend Dr. Colin Raitiere, director of Palliative Care at Heritage Hospice, Danville.

The book was written as a fundraiser with all proceeds going to the Boyle County Humane Society. Pick up a copy for $10 at the group’s location at 778 North Danville Bypass or purchase a copy from Amazon.com, $10.95 paperback.

You do not need to be interested in the veterinary field to enjoy this book. Dr. Keiser delivers 27 humorous human interest and animal-lover stories of his life’s work in this small but powerful 64-page book.

“The stories are all true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent and the guilty.

The wonderful part of these stories is that any one of them could have been told by virtually any veterinarian who practiced in the last 50 years,” says Dr. Keiser.

—Anita Travis Richter

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KENTUCKY LIVING 2017 PHOTO CONTEST Enter your best photos by March 31 for a chance to win!

WINN ERS

THIS YEAR’S CATEGORIES ARE:

This is Kentucky • Fun & Laughter • Cute Critters Capture the Seasons • Art at Heart • My Hero BEST IN SHOW WINS $250 + A Taste of Kentucky gift basket CATEGORY WINNERS: 1st place $50 + A Taste of Kentucky gift basket, 2nd place $25, and 3rd place $10 SIX PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNERS: A Taste of Kentucky gift basket

Enter at KentuckyLiving.com!

Photos will be judged for visual appeal, human interest, and artistic merit. Winning photos will be published in the July issue of Kentucky Living. Photos may appear in the 2018 Kentucky Living calendar. Live People’s Choice voting starts in May. RULES FOR ENTRY: Read and follow all rules carefully or your photo may be disqualified. Entries must be the original work of the photographer making the submission—only amateur photographers may enter. ONE ENTRY PER CATEGORY PER PERSON, age 18 or over, USA. Submit Online: Use entry form and read official rules at www.KentuckyLiving.com. Complete a separate form for each photo submitted. Photos must be in .JPG format. SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MARCH 31.

By submitting to us your photographs and other material, you represent to us that you are the sole creator and owner of your work and that it is original, does not infringe the rights of any other person or entity, does not defame or invade the privacy of any person, and that you have the right and authority to grant to us the following right of use. You agree that the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives (KAEC) and Kentucky Living magazine may publish, post online, edit, revise, and otherwise make unrestricted use of part or all of your work for commercial or non-commercial

purposes, including, without limitation, publishing all or part of your work in Kentucky Living magazine, in print or online, shared on social media, in a calendar or other works, or in advertising for the same or for Kentucky Living publications. You agree that this grant of use is royalty-free and perpetual.

By submitting to KAEC your work, you agree we may use your name, image, city, state of residence, and other biographical information that you provide if we use your work, however, KAEC cannot guarantee that it will be able to provide acknowledgement in connection with all uses. In a case where KAEC cannot or does not provide such acknowledgement, you agree to waive any right to the same. Rights to use of the photos become the property of Kentucky Living. Kentucky Living cannot be responsible for lost or misdirected photos. Contest is open to persons age 18 or over, in the United States, except for employees or immediate family members of Kentucky Living, Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, Kentucky’s electric co-ops and their respective divisions, subsidiaries, advertising, and promotion agencies.

W W W. K E N T U C K Y L I V I N G . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 7

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ON THE GRID Nuclear option What’s the future of this controversial source of electricity?

PAUL WESSLUND

W

ith coal and natural gas fueling most electricity in Kentucky, and renewable energy proponents pushing wind and solar power, yet another form of electric generation quietly continues to keep the lights on.

THE FUTURE OF ELECTRICITY About one in every five electrons running through the wires in American homes comes from a nuclear power plant.

Regulation of nuclear power Highly advanced physics and engineering were needed to build the first nuclear plants in the 1950s. And the dangers of radioactivity called for extreme safety measures. Regulating the technically complex industry falls to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), an independent

agency of the federal government, and its nearly 4,000 employees and $1 billion budget.

In the U.S., 60 nuclear power plants operate 100 nuclear reactors (some plant sites have more than one reactor) in 30 states. Though Kentucky has had a ban on nuclear power plants since 1984, just to our south, the Tennessee Valley Authority operates three nuclear plants, generating enough energy to power about a third of its customers, more than 4.5 million homes and businesses.

In addition to regulation by the NRC, those plants operate under a variety of agreements with groups as varied as the Department of Homeland Security, state and local governments, emergency responders, and academic researchers.

The regulation and cooperative agreements are called for because of the high-stakes concerns with nuclear power. In addition to the health and safety concerns, cybersecurity and

How nuclear power is made Similar to the way a coal-burning power plant works, a nuclear plant heats water into steam that turns a turbine that generates electricity. The difference is that in a nuclear power plant, the fuel is uranium, and it doesn’t burn. Instead, the heat is generated by splitting the uranium atoms through a process called fission, releasing large amounts of energy from very small amounts of fuel. Nuclear power is sustainable and emits no carbon dioxide or controlled pollutants.

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KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

safeguards against possible terrorism are regularly reviewed.

Electric co-ops support nuclear power As a national group, electric co-ops see nuclear power as a valuable part of the mix of fuels that make our electricity. An official membership resolution of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) calls for “legislative and regulatory initiatives to support the continuation and expansion of nuclear power.”

Dale Bradshaw describes why electric co-ops see nuclear power as a good way to generate electricity.

Bradshaw is the CEO of Electrivation LLC, a firm that consults on power generation and delivery with groups that include NRECA.

n Steam billows from a nuclear power plant that was connected to the power grid in June 2016. The Tennessee Valley Authority’s Watts Bar Unit 2 is located near Spring City in eastern Tennessee. TVA provides power to five of Kentucky’s 24 electric cooperatives that distribute power to members. Photo: TVA

“Nuclear power is safe and emits no carbon dioxide,” he says, noting the industry’s safety and security systems and the lack of greenhouse gas.

Bradshaw also sees advantages of nuclear power over the increasingly popular renewable energies of wind and solar, since solar doesn’t produce energy at night and wind doesn’t work in calm weather.

“We need nuclear for reliability; it runs around the clock,” he says, adding, “Existing nuclear reactors are basically cost-competitive—it’s a low-cost resource.”

Electricity market forces So if nuclear power is so great, why isn’t it used for more than 20 percent of our electricity?

The need for fuel diversity is one reason, but Bradshaw says growth in

nuclear power use is being restricted by a unique combination of forces.

The drilling boom of the past several years has dramatically lowered natural gas prices, and various government subsidies have reduced the costs of wind and solar. Electricity markets base energy prices on the lowest cost producers, and because of the recent low cost of natural gas and continued subsidies for renewables, prices are too low to support the building of new nuclear units. When utilities make their buying decisions, nuclear power is often not the preferred choice these days.

But Bradshaw sees a potentially bright future for nuclear power, referring to today’s market forces as “a short-term problem.” He notes that natural gas prices have started rising, and that the tax breaks keeping wind

and solar costs low will expire in a few years. He adds that researchers are developing nuclear plant designs that will be even safer, lower in cost, and will extend the life of existing nuclear fuel.

“There are advanced reactor technologies in the early stages of development that might allow us in the next 20 years to build these technologies for 25 percent of the cost of existing nuclear plants,” says Bradshaw. “Advanced nuclear will more efficiently use the fuel and become essentially sustainable with thousands of years of fuel supply, and be more price-competitive in the market.” KL PAUL WESSLUND writes on coopera-

tive issues for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

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CUTTING COSTS

Choosing trees for energy efficiency This year, I am planning to redesign my yard. Are there landscaping features I can incorporate that will help my home be more comfortable indoors?—Nancy

E

arly spring is a great time to think about changes to your home’s landscape. The two best strategies for improving the energy efficiency of your home with landscaping are to incorporate shading in the summer and wind blocking in the winter.

Summer shading According to the U.S. Department of Energy, shading your home is the most cost-effective way to reduce air-conditioning costs in the summer. Planting deciduous trees on the south, southwest, and west sides of your home can cut the heat during

PAVING SAVING Sidewalks, driveways need shade, too Don’t forget the paved areas around your home when you’re figuring out how to increase shade during the summer. Think about how it feels to walk barefoot across your paved driveway or patio on a hot July afternoon.

That absorbed heat also reflects onto your home, causing the air conditioner to work even harder.

You can use trees, hedges, and landscaping structures such as arbors to shade these paved areas.

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KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

summer months, while allowing sunlight through during the fall and winter.

Before planting, consider the mature shape and height of trees and where they will shade your home.

A tall tree on the south side of a home, for example, will provide all-day roof shading in the summer, while a smaller tree on the west side can protect your home from the lower afternoon sun.

Plant trees an appropriate distance from the house so they do not disrupt the foundation or the roof as they grow. Incorporate shrubs and vines until newly planted trees begin offering shade, in five to 10 years.

Wind-blocking techniques A windbreak on your property can help deflect cold winter winds that may be increasing your heating bills.

Windbreaks commonly use a combination of evergreen trees and shrubs to block wind from the ground to the top of the home. For maximum effect, plant them on the north and northwest sides at a distance from your house of between two and five times the height of the mature trees.

Incorporating a wall or fence can further assist with the wind-

ALAN DD DAVEY

PATRI CK KEEGAN and AMY WHEELESS

break. You can also plant shrubs and bushes closer to your home—but at least 1 foot away—to help insulate it in winter and summer.

Important safety reminders Dial 811 a few days before you plan to dig (not counting weekends and holidays); for more info go online to Call811.com. Contact your local electric co-op to discuss how far away newly planted trees should be from overhead electric lines before making changes to your yard. KL Find Landscaping Tips for Energy Savings & Water Conservation

PATRICK KEEGAN and AMY WHEELESS

write on energy efficiency for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

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W W W. K E N T U C K Y L I V I N G . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 7

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GLOWING LIGHTS Make a splash with your garden pond’s fountain or just create a colorful glow with 25-watt underwater lights from IMAGE. The swivel lights angle where you choose and alternate colors—red, green, blue, yellow, and white.

They’re submersible, but the low-voltage transformer means they can be used on dry land, too. $15, (888) 280-4331, amazon.com.

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KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

OUTDOOR BUDDY For maximum curb appeal, scrub sidewalks and patios clean with the help of a Blue Clean AR383 electric power washer. At 1,900 PSI, it pumps out power at 30 times the force of a typical garden hose.

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WHAT’S BUGGING YOU? Want to be more active with your pest control?

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LAWN PATROL The Landroid M Cordless Robotic Lawn Mower has a battery and a brain. Artificialintelligence technology allows it to be programmed for intricate mowing patterns, return on its own to its charging station if the energy runs low, and even stop mowing when it senses rain. $1,000, (855) 279-0505, worx.com.

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CO-OPERATIONS

Giving service and giving funding

SOMERSET GRAY

DEBRA GIBSON ISAACS

Honoring an institution GRAY

Cumberland Valley Electric CEO Ted Hampton has been honored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Hampton received the group’s Regional Service Award last October during the Region III meeting.

Hampton is one of the longestserving electric co-op leaders in the United States and holds the record as the longest-serving distribution system manager in Kentucky’s electric cooperative history.

“My career has afforded me the opportunity to meet many electric cooperative leaders, and I would put Mr. Hampton in the elite class of these cooperative leaders,” says East Kentucky Power Cooperative CEO Tony Campbell, who nominated Hampton and attended the award ceremony. “Over the past eight years, Mr. Hampton has been gracious enough to spend a significant amount of his time mentoring me, and I believe his coaching has made me a much more effective leader.”

See the video and read “Cumberland Valley’s Ted Hampton.”

Rounding up help SOMERSET

Cumberland Valley Electric CEO Ted Hampton, left, receives the Regional Service Award from National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson. Photo: NRECA

16

KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

South Kentucky RECC recently awarded The People Fund grants to six worthy community organizations. The People Fund was started in 2004 at the request of members who wanted to financially help meet community needs not met by other agencies or resources.

To date, approximately 2,800 members participate in The People Fund, which allows the co-op’s members to round up their electric bills to the nearest dollar. South Kentucky RECC then contributes an average of 50 cents per participating member each month to the program.

The most that it could cost a member is $11.88 annually.

Pulaski County Alzheimer’s Respite Center Assistant Director Karen Page, left, and Executive Director Pat Brinson, right, accept a People Fund check from South Kentucky RECC’s CEO Allen Anderson.

Photo: Joy Bullock

Members interested in participating in The People Fund and rounding up their bill can sign up through the South Kentucky RECC member portal online at www. skrecc.com or get an application by contacting their local SKRECC office.

Organizations that want to apply for a grant can get an application and deadline information on the SKRECC website at www. skrecc.com, under the Programs and Services pull-down menu. KL

Kentucky Wildcats Cuckoo Clock ®

Hand-crafted clock is hand-painted with blue and white accents Proudly displays a full-color image of the packed arena on game day, and more Features an accurate batteryoperated quartz movement which powers the swinging pendulum bearing the official University of Kentucky® logo Each edition is hand-numbered and arrives with a Certificate of Authenticity

Earliest orders receive the coveted low edition numbers!

Over 1½ Feet High!

On the hour, the doors swing open and the sound of chirping accompanies a classic cuckoo bird wearing Wildcats colors

Shown much smaller than actual size of 21” high x 4” deep including swinging pendulum and weights.

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Requires two C batteries and one AA battery, not included.

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2017 LAWN & GARDEN ISSUE

Lands “BACK TO NATURE” TAKES ON NEW MEANING FOR HOME GARDENS

scapes B Y KATHY WITT

W W W. K E N T U C K Y L I V I N G . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 7

19

n Previous page: Landscape designer Connie May says the softness and naturalness of native plants appeal to people, and pollinators prefer native plants to complete their life cycle. Photo: Betty Hall

n Opposite, Cherokee Sunset dogwood in full bloom near the Big Prairie Outlook. Photo: Ralph Bergmann/Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest

nA tiger swallowtail butterfly and bee meet on a buttonbush flower. Photo: Karen Hlavacek of Hebron, from the 2016 Kentucky Living Photo Contest

H

ow does your garden grow?

Probably not with “silver bells and cockleshells and pretty maids all in a row.”

Although it may seem contrary to the overly fussy design scheme that has taken root over the years in contemporary suburban landscapes, borrowing from Mother Nature’s playbook is a growing trend. A living, layered landscape presents a more relaxed planting style that favors densely planted and low-care native trees, shrubs, grasses, perennials, and ground covers over the traditional mulched, mowed, and manicured lawn.

Need inspiration? Just walk into the nearest forest.

“I take nature in a forest as my model and bring that into people’s yards,” says Connie May, owner of Chrysalis Natural

Landscapes in Frankfort. Her early interest in native plants has morphed into a passion for planting microforests, a word she coined to describe a densely planted landscape with stratification or layering, and lots of diversity. “Consider the hundreds of plants and animals living in the yard before that house was built,” she says. “It was nature.”

Casey Hammett, horticulturist at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont, served by Salt River Electric cooperative, says, “Wildlife continues to lose natural habitat, thanks largely to human development. Instead of being discouraged by this trend, though, many people are inspired to curb it by establishing naturalistic landscapes in their yards. These dynamic spaces are meant to be enjoyed by people while providing habitat for native plants, pollinators, birds, and other animals.”

n Leslie Sheehan layers her Louisville garden with native plants and flowers that ensure constantly changing color. Photo: John Nation

n Butterflies are drawn to lilacs.

Photo: Brenda Smith of West Liberty, from the 2016 Kentucky Living Photo Contest

“People fall in love

with native plants in a way that they don’t with, say, Knock Out roses,” says Connie May of Frankfort’s Chrysalis Natural Landscapes.

The Knock Out rose is a landscape favorite that was introduced in 2000. “Put in a native rose and you’ll see it bloom and see all the different kinds of beneficial insects and birds that use it,” she says. The multiflora rose, however, is not native to Kentucky and is considered an invasive species.

May suggests buying native roses from a native plant nursery—there are several in Kentucky—and reputable online sources.

W W W. K E N T U C K Y L I V I N G . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 7

21

Do-it-yourselfers can create this environment right in their own backyard.

“Not only will you accomplish a minirestoration project, but wildlife depends on native species and will flock to your yard for seeds, nuts, fruit, and nectar,” Hammett

ONLINE

Create your own natural landscape Eco-entrepreneur and TED Fellow Shubhendu Sharma explains how to create a 100-year-old forest in 10 years in his Ted Talk, How to Grow a Forest in Your Backyard. Find the video at KentuckyLiving.com.

Closer to home, watch a video about the innovative approach Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest takes to ecological stewardship in a largescale layered landscape.

says. “Water sources, feeders, and nesting boxes further increase habitat value.”

Tavia Cathcart Brown, executive director of the Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve in Goshen, has created numerous layered landscapes.

These woodland gardens—including the 2-acre native wildflower and fern garden she established at the nature preserve—are planted in layers of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants.

Brown notes the benefits to homeowners in planting such a naturalistic scheme: • Backyard woodland gardens create an inviting getaway.

• There is added year-round interest through planting layers of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants.

• These gardens convey a sense of carefree wonder with the changing patterns of light and shadow, color, and texture of plants.

n Left, Silky Aster, Symphyotrichum sericeum, with sweat bee in Pine Creek Barrens Preserve, Bullitt County. Below, a buckeye butterfly feasts on Solidago canadensis goldenrod in Bernheim’s Big Prairie Outlook. Photos: Kelly Vowels

22

KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

Homeowners around the world have switched from propane to a WaterFurnace geothermal comfort system.

That’s because WaterFurnace units tap into the clean, renewable energy found in your own backyard to provide savings of up to 70% on heating, cooling and hot water. A WaterFurnace system provides complete heating and cooling comfort for your home with a single unit. And because the system doesn’t burn fossil fuels, there are no carbon monoxide safety concerns. Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today and make the switch from propane to geothermal.

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n First Lady dogwood, Cornus florida, blooms in mid-April near Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest’s Big Prairie Outlook. Photo: Ralph Bergmann/Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest

• Many native woodland garden plants require much less maintenance than growing grass/turf.

• These naturalistic gardens invite birds and butterflies and create a happy habitat.

“What resonates with humans is nature; it’s why so many of us drive miles to a state park to hike,” says May. “You can’t do any better than what nature’s already done.”

Sources for information BERNHEIM ARBORETUM AND

CREASEY MAHAN NATURE

RESEARCH FOREST, Kentucky Route

PRESERVE, 12501 Harmony Landing

245, Clermont Road, Clermont, (502) 955-8512, www.Bernheim.org

Road, Goshen, (502) 228-4362, www.

KYNaturePreserve.org

CHRYSALIS NATURAL LANDSCAPES,

WESTERN KENTUCKY BOTANICAL

Frankfort; (502) 682-8279, www.ChrysalisNaturalLandscapes.com

GARDEN, 25 Carter Road, Owensboro,

24

KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

(270) 852-8925, www.wkbg.org

Step-by-step guide to creating a pollinator garden Diversity and densely planted are the watchwords for attracting pollinators to the garden. A diversity of plant species in the garden can provide nesting sites, food, and shelter year-round for birds, butterflies, and other insects.

Do-it-yourselfers interested in planting a pollinator garden can do so in just a few easy steps.

Set aside a garden space of 7 feet by 7 feet. Divide it into four squares. Add a thick layer of mulch or some old 2-by-4s between the squares to walk on. (This will give you four 3-by-3 spaces.) For the four squares, choose among these pollinatorloving plants: butterfly weed, bee balm, purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, Shasta daisy, gray-headed coneflower, little bluestem, cardinal flower, lance-leaved coreopsis, and Joe-Pye weed.

“Pollinator gardens need at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun each day,” notes

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Homeowners will get immediate results from layered landscape planting,

but the plants themselves won’t look their best for a few years.

Tavia Cathcart Brown of the Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve in Goshen cautions green thumbs to keep this gardening adage in mind: “The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap.”

n Bees feed on purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, near the entrance of Bernheim’s Arboretum.

Photo: Ralph Bergmann, Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest

Hammett. “Flowers can be planted in pots or in the ground. They can be started as seed or purchased as plugs. Plant during spring, water and weed as needed, then expect flowers in summer and fall.”

Planting an herb garden for yard-to-table flavor

EIM NH BER

Like fresh herbs added to your recipes? Bill Tyler, a retired physician who has volunteered for 20 years or so at Western Kentucky Botanical Garden, calls herb gardens the “total experience.”

“Herb gardens are a great example of a layered look. The plants involved bring birds, butterflies, and all types of insects, but the main thing about herb gardens—the total sense you get—is the fragrances of the different plants in bloom, the feel and touch of the plants,” Tyler says.

Herbs require little maintenance, yet can produce a bountiful harvest in very little space— think kitchen windowsills and patio and porch gardens. Easy growers include basil, cilantro, chives, mint, oregano, parsley, sage, tarragon, Roundstone Native Seed.pdf 1 1/20/2017 9:00:27 AM

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Upton, Kentucky (270)-531-3034 sales@roundstoneseed.com www.roundstoneseed.com Maximizing Pollinator Habitat • Custom Seed Mixing • No Additional Cost Call or Email Today W W W. K E N T U C K Y L I V I N G . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 7

27

and thyme. Tyler recommends planting what you like to cook with and herbs that have different sizes, shapes, and colors.

“With any garden, I want to be able to look out and enjoy the beauty of it,” he says.

The first step in designing an herb garden is amending the soil.

“Most herbs like sandy soil,” he says. “They like to keep their feet dry and not be wet.”

Tyler notes there is some work involved in getting an herb garden started, but as long as the area is kept free of pesticides or herbicides, you can snip some herbs, wash, and then cook with them.

n Blue salvia, blue phlox, sweet pea, and peonies in The Herb Garden at the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden in Owensboro. Photo: William Tyler

ONLINE

Naturalistic landscape experts tell all If you’ve been inspired to convert some lawn space to a naturalistic landscape or microforest, the pros have some tips on getting started, including what to plant and when. Hint: be a “nature nut.”

His best tip: “To enjoy your herb garden, get the soil right. It’s also really nice to use elevated gardens. Start out that way and you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble over the years.” KL

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Uniquely

KENTUCKY

Kentucky rocks Kentucky’s Stonehenge is one of six rock displays on the Munfordville property of Chester Fryer located in Hart County.

“I was on the computer and saw Stonehenge in England and thought, ‘Hey, I can build that,’” Fryer says.

The design doesn’t follow the layout exactly, but reflects the points on a compass rose with other rocks to mark the cardinal directions.

Fryer searched more than 1,000 acres in Hatcher Valley to find the giant rocks.

30

“Every big rock—you can’t find them anywhere,” he says. “I’ve got them all.”

He created several gardens and displays, which are open to the public year-round for viewing.

Summer is the peak visiting time, when Fryer says 10-15 spectators per day come by.

Churches have used the altars for sunrise services, there have been weddings on the property, and even music videos filmed there, says Patti England of the

Munfordville Tourism Commission.

“You can get out and walk around or drive through,” England says, adding that there are parking places available.

If you’re lucky, Fryer may even be home and come out for a chat.

For more information, contact the Munfordville Tourism Commission at (270) 524-4752 or go to www.visitmunfordville.com.

—Shannon Brock Photo: Linda Watts

Take Pride in Your Winning Wildcats ÂŽ

For the Love of the Game

Be a Wildcats Fan Forever ÂŽ

Kentucky Wildcats Pendant ÂŽ

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The winning ways of the Kentucky Wildcats have given their fans plenty to cheer for this year and in years past. Now you can add some Ž spirited Wildcats fashion to your wardrobe with our all new “For the Love of the Game� Ž Kentucky Wildcats Pendant, officially licensed and available only from The Bradford Exchange.

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This stylish pendant pays stunning tribute to your ÂŽ Kentucky Wildcats , shimmering with genuine Swarovski crystals and 18K gold-plated accents.

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Within the oval is the official logo of the WildcatsŽ in team-color enameling and two hearts, each sparkling with 3 team-color Swarovski crystals. The inside of the oval, the hearts, and the team logo are all richly accented with 18K gold plating. Adding to the team spirit, the pendant is engraved on the Ž reverse side with “Wildcats Pride,� and the finishing touch is a matching 18� chain.

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JOLEA BROWN

VEGET WITH PAYBA

ETABLES H THE BEST ACK

2017 LAWN & GARDEN ISSUE

EASY-TO-GROW VEGGIES FOR KENTUCKY'S HOT, HUMID SUMMERS

BY GEORGE W IEGEL AND CHRIS COULTER

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IF YOU’RE GOING TO TAKE A SHOT AT GROWING YOUR OWN dinner this year, a good place to start is by picking the crops that offer the best return on your investment.

Experienced gardeners quickly learn that some types of homegrown vegetables work out better than others. Onions and peppers, for example, perform reliably well with few setbacks throughout most of the country, while crops such as broccoli and spinach often run into bug threats and have fairly narrow planting-time windows.

The best bets are crops that are both easy to grow and produce high yields in limited space.

What are those? Try these 10 vegetables that offer some of the best bang for the buck:

n Given the retail

cost and high yield, tomatoes are gardening’s No. 1 high-payoff crop. Photo: George Weigel

12 TOMATOES

Tomatoes are not the easiest crop to grow during wet summers when blight and other fungal diseases take their toll, but in a good year the payoff is huge. The taste and nutritional value of a homegrown tomato picked at peak ripeness is lightyears ahead of supermarket fare.

The cost of store-bought tomatoes, coupled with the likely yield—even when disease short-circuits production—makes tomatoes gardening’s best investment.

Tomato plants are easy to start from seed, and the fruits are versatile for canning and freezing, as well as fresh eating. Choose varieties well-adapted to Kentucky’s hot, humid summers and you’ll be rewarded all season long.

reaching their peak in July and August when other crops are succumbing to the heat.

Yields are good, store prices make the effort worth it, and peppers are nearly as versatile as tomatoes in the kitchen.

The biggest drawback: it takes weeks longer with more risk of loss if you’re shooting for maximum nutrition, fully ripe, red/orange/yellow fruits. To get the highest yields from pepper plants, you can start harvesting green peppers at any size, which stimulates the plant to produce more fruit. You can always leave a few fruits on the plant to fully ripen into those colorful, supersweet bell peppers we all love.

Both hot and sweet bell peppers are easy to grow and have few problems in the garden. They thrive in warm weather,

JOLEA BROWN

PEPPERS

JOLEA BROWN

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Produced by the Kentucky Arts Council

CUCUMBERS

Overcome the main problem of disease-spreading cucumber beetles, and you’ll swim in fresh cucumbers for months. Turn cukes into pickles or relish and the value goes even higher.

Cucumber seed is cheap and can be planted directly in the garden.

Avoid pesticides, and spread out the harvest by planting new seeds every few weeks throughout summer.

If wilt kills the older plants, young ones will then take over production.

A LE JO

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Lexington Convention Center

POTATOES

Nothing produces more calories per square foot than the humble potato. Potatoes are planted in the early spring from seed pieces that are readily available at local garden centers or from online sources. The main pest of potatoes is the Colorado potato beetle, but home gardeners can easily deal with them by hand-picking the adult beetles and drowning them in a bucket of soapy water.

Harvest potatoes when the vines die back. Store them in a cool, dark place, and you’ll enjoy your harvest for months.

www.artscouncil.ky.gov

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6

LETTUCE

Leaf types are easiest to grow and keep churning out fresh spring salads until heat turns them bitter. A late-summer planting of lettuce allows for a fall harvest, when lettuce is at its best. Plant frost-tolerant varieties and provide some protection from the elements, and you can harvest lettuce far into late fall/early winter. Not having to buy your Thanksgiving salad is a real money-saver.

All lettuce is cheap to grow from direct-planted seed. The main adventure is keeping the bunnies from beating you to the harvest.

JOLEA BROWN

Members of the onion family are bothered by few pests. In Kentucky, garlic is planted in October, overwinters, and produces a bulb the following June.

Onions are planted in the spring from seeds, sets, or plants. Onions aren’t that expensive in stores, but are good keepers and versatile in the kitchen.

Garlic is expensive at the store, so growing it cheaply at home makes it a hands-down winner in any cost/ benefit analysis.

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5 ONIONS AND GARLIC

MAGDAL3NA - FOTOLIA

JOLEA BROWN

THE EGGPLANT OPTION Eggplant is another vegetable that gives a lot of return on investment, says Chris Coulter, owner and manager of Coulter’s Good Earth Farm in Bloomfield.

“Eggplant is actually a perennial in tropical climates, and does well in Kentucky’s hot summers,” he says. “Once the plant is established, you can continually harvest until the first frost in the fall.

It is a staple in our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares throughout the summer.”

Coulter also suggests trying something different with eggplant. “There are many different varieties of eggplant besides the standard purple type. Our customers actually prefer the skinny, elongated Japanese eggplant, which is always tender and doesn’t have the bitterness that some large Italian types can have.”

SQUASH

Excess-harvest jokes about zucchini are legendary, but almost all summer squashes are tireless producers—that is, until either mildew or squash vine borers take them down.

But by then, even a short-circuited production will have paid you back royally for the minor cost of seed.

Both squash problems are stoppable, or use the same trick as with cucumbers—seed several times so you’ll have a backup supply in the wings.

LEFT PHOTO: SEVICHE | RIGHT PHOTO: DAN DRY

COOKING INSPIRATION FROM CHEF ANTHONY LAMAS

SOME LAMAS LOVE FOR VEGGIES Chef Anthony knows a thing or two about cooking with vegetables, so when asked to share a recipe featuring some of the veggies from this list, it was an easy task for him.

“I find that homegrown vegetables have a magic to them,” says Lamas, whose Louisville restaurant, Seviche, is a dining hotspot. “There is something to be said about produce you grew yourself on your own land.”

Lamas has heaps of praise for our No. 1 vegetable on the list—tomatoes.

“I’m sure there are some people across the river that may get upset at me for saying this, but Kentucky grows the best tomatoes in the world!”

But Lamas also likes to add a little spice to his recipes.

“I love to grow different peppers and chilies,” he says. “Most Latin cuisines feature chilies in some form because they

are so versatile and can add zip and freshness to most everything.”

Lamas combines several of the vegetables on our Top 10 list for this tasty recipe:

grated cheese and vegetables to each tortilla. Fold ends and roll into the chimichanga. Use toothpicks to hold together and bake or deep-fry until crispy. Serve with butternut squash sauce. Serves 4-6.

Butternut Squash Sauce Roasted Vegetable Chimichanga 1 zucchini, julienned 1 yellow squash, julienned 1 red pepper, julienned 1 green bell pepper, julienned 1 red onion, julienned 1 lb Gouda cheese 1 Tbsp garlic Salt Pepper 2 Tbsp olive oil 6 (12-inch) flour tortillas In a sauté pan, heat oil and garlic for 30 seconds. Add all vegetables, salt, and pepper and cook for 3–5 minutes. Strain the vegetables and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Warm tortillas on a stovetop to soften them enough to roll. Add slices or

1 large butternut squash 1 ⁄2 onion 1 tsp garlic 1 ⁄2 tsp nutmeg 1 tsp cinnamon 1 pint heavy cream 1 tsp salt 1 tsp sugar 1 serrano chili pepper 3 ⁄4 C chicken stock Bay leaf Peel, seed, and cut the butternut squash into 1-inch cubes. Combine all ingredients in a stockpot and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cook for about 20 minutes until the squash is tender. Remove the bay leaf and blend everything to a smooth consistency. ¡Buen Provecho!

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RHUBARB

Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable started easily from dormant root crowns. The roots produce edible stalks that die back in the winter, but will regrow every spring. You’ll get years of strawberry/rhubarb pies and jelly from the stalks your expanding plants will put out each season.

ONLINE

How Ali will be remembered In a 1972 interview with TV personality David Frost, Ali answers in his own unique and powerful style the question, “How would you like to be remembered?” Read the poem and watch the interview, and also read what other Kentuckians are saying about Ali’s lasting impact on them.

Other than the danger of rotting in wet clay (a no-no for any vegetable garden), rhubarb is low-care and longlasting. Even if you don’t eat it, it’s a bold, tropical-looking plant with its large leaves and reddish stalks.

Note that only the stalks are edible.

The leaves are high in oxalic acid and should be cut off when harvesting.

Irrigate plants in the summer to keep them cool. However, during spring harvest, irrigation isn’t usually a necessity.

n Rhubarb is a perennial edible with striking, big leaves and red stems. The stalks, not the leaves or flowers, are the edible parts best used in pies and jelly.

Photo: George Weigel SEA

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Bush beans are another inexpensive, seed-grown crop that usually yields several pickings before the pods peter out. Because they’re among the quickest from seed to harvest, beans can go in several times from spring through summer.

Bush beans need no support, while pole beans need a trellis to climb on. While it’s initially more work to provide a structure for them to climb, pole beans will yield more per square foot over the season. Their space efficiency, and the fact that many of the best-tasting bean varieties are pole types, make them a good choice for the Kentucky gardener.

LAVORARE NELL’ORTO/ TECNOFOTOCR

BEANS

CELERY RELATIVE MAY BE GOOD CHOICE FOR KENTUCKY GARDENS WHILE IT’S DEFINITELY NOT THE PRETTIEST VEGETABLE at harvest time, celeriac has many potential uses and may be a natural fit for Kentucky gardeners.

“This is a vegetable that dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe,” says John Strang, horticulture specialist for the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “It’s

also known as turnip-rooted celery, knob celery, and what many people may be more familiar with, celery root. Celery is typically difficult to grow in Kentucky, but celeriac thrives and has nearly zero pest or disease problems.”

Celeriac is related to celery. The entire plant looks like and even smells like celery; however, it’s the root that stands out. Cooks use it much like a potato—they peel it, then roast it, steam it, mash it, blanch it, or use chunks or slices in stews and soups.

Strang says it is a long-season crop, taking more than 110 days to mature, but gardeners

n Though not the prettiest to look at, celeriac is a good fit for Kentucky gardens. A relative of celery, the celeriac root is used much like a potato in cooking.

Photo: Steve Patton, UK College of Agriculture

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KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

BY AIMEE NIELSON

can harvest the root at all different sizes.

Most gardeners harvest celeriac in the fall.

“A great thing about celeriac is that you can store it for six to eight months,” Strang says. “Storing it longer is possible, but you may lose flavor and the texture could change. It is a good source of fiber, and it only has about 30 calories per cup.”

Strang said gardeners should grow celeriac in full sun to partial shade and that it needs a moist environment with good drainage.

Last year, Jesse Dahl, horticulturist at The Arboretum on UK’s campus in Lexington, grew a small crop of celeriac with the help of volunteers who worked in the garden and learned about different crops and garden techniques. The produce raised was then donated to local organizations that feed the hungry.

AIMEE NIELSON is with the University of

Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

1

Explore Kentucky recipes, events & much more.

Your daily dose of Kentucky.

JO LE AB RO WN

10 PEAS

Green shell peas, sugar snap peas, and snow peas all grow well in our area provided they are planted early in the spring before the weather gets too hot. Green peas are removed from their pods, while sugar snaps and snow peas have edible pods that are tasty eaten raw or in stir-fry.

Like beans, peas can be grown with or without support, and can produce abundant yields in a limited space. If kept picked, trellised varieties of snow peas will keep producing far into the summer months. Bush peas tend to produce all of their pods at once, but since peas freeze well, the abundant harvest can be enjoyed all year long.

Explore Kentucky recipes, events & much more.

GEORGE WEIGEL is a Pennsylvania-

based horticulturist, garden consultant, author, and newspaper garden columnist. His website is www.georgeweigel. net. CHRIS COULTER is owner and manager of Coulter’s Good Earth Farm in Bloomfield, www.coulterfarm.com.

$

By up to AV P $ E Meurch 100 TH ta as 0 IS l R ing MO oo A NT f H! W W W. K E N T U C K Y L I V I N G . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 7

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KENTUCKY CULTURE A taste of trekking Day hikes in Kentucky will ease spring fever

COLUMBUS

ROBIN ROENKER

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ake it a priority this spring to set out on a day hike on one of Kentucky’s beautiful trails near you. Whether you’re looking for scenic overlooks, a brush with history, or simply a chance to get lost in nature, it’s easy to find awe-inspiring trails throughout the state.

n Four trails lead to the underside and best close-up view of Natural Bridge in Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Photo: Kentucky Department of Parks

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KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

CLERMONT

WORTH THE TRIP Natural Bridge State Resort Park Folks have been hiking the short, .75-mile Original Trail up to Natural Bridge since the 1890s, and it’s no wonder why. Natural Bridge is one of the most unique—and instantly recognizable—spots in the commonwealth.

SLADE

WALLINS CREEK

“It’s a very beautiful place, and definitely one of the most iconic landforms in Kentucky,” says Drew Stevens, a naturalist at the park. The Original Trail is the quickest route to Natural Bridge, but it’s not the only way there. Stevens recommends Rock Garden Trail, a 1.75-mile path, as a slightly longer, less-crowded option. “It goes through a nice boulder field and you follow a beautiful cliff line,” Stevens says.

Once you’ve made it to Natural Bridge, take some time to enjoy the view. Follow the .75-mile length of nearby Laurel Ridge Trail to Lover’s Leap. Along the way, you’ll find Lookout Point, which offers postcardworthy views of Natural Bridge.

Natural Bridge State Resort Park, which is served by Clark Energy Cooperative, offers 20 miles of hiking trails. The nearby Red River Gorge Geological Area has 67 additional miles of trails, making the region one of the most popular spots in the state for hikers. “The Natural Bridge/Red River Gorge area has the highest concentration of natural arches east of Arches National Park in Utah,” Stevens says.

“Within a 10-mile radius of Natural Bridge, there are over 200 natural arches to see and enjoy.”

Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve Encompassing more than 2,300 acres that have never been logged, Blanton Forest is the largest oldgrowth forest in Kentucky. The preserve itself, on the south face of Pine Mountain in Harlan County, includes more than 3,500 acres full of Eastern hemlock trees, tulip poplars, beech, sugar maples, oaks, and more— some towering as much as 100 feet, with trunks that are 3 to 4 feet in diameter. It’s believed that some of the forest’s trees may be up to 400 years old.

Blanton Forest includes roughly 4.5 miles of hiking trails, including the popular but moderately strenuous 1.8-mile Knobby Rock Loop,

n The trails at Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve run through much hemlock and mixed old-growth forest. Photo: Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission

which offers a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding forest as a reward for its uphill climb. From the trail, “you can see Little Black Mountain, Cumberland Mountain, and Big Black Mountain,” says Kyle Napier, southeast regional nature preserve manager for the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission. “It also gives you a good view of Pine Mountain itself, since you’re at mid-elevation.”

The preserve is home to many species of wildflowers, and its Watts Creek hosts a population of

HIT THE TRAILS! Did you know that Kentucky is home to 63 dedicated state nature preserves and natural areas? Find out more about state nature preserves and their trails—including maps and brochures—online at www.naturepreserves.ky.gov. For information on hiking in the Kentucky state parks, go to www.parks.ky.gov, click on Things to Do.

the threatened blackside dace fish.

Blanton Forest is open year-round only to day hikers; camping, fishing, and hunting are not allowed.

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest Bernheim Forest has more than 35 miles of hiking trails, perfect for beginners and experienced hikers alike, from several .5-mile loops to a 13.75-mile,

ONLINE

Sneak preview Visit our website to watch a Kentucky State Parks video and get a sneak preview of what you’ll see before visiting Natural Bridge State Resort Park.

Naturalist Drew Stevens offers an overview of park features, including views of some of its trails.

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all-day hike. Families especially enjoy the half-mile Rock Run Loop. “It’s easy and fun, and the fact that there are some ups and downs and rocks and water to cross makes it fun for kids,” says Salt River Electric co-op member Wren Smith, Bernheim’s Interpretive Programs manager. “It really puts you in the heart of a nice Eastern forest, with a creek, limestone outcroppings, and mossy boulders.”

With nearly 15,000 acres, Bernheim Forest, south of Louisville in Clermont, offers a great place for bird-watching, especially in the early spring months when Kentucky warblers, ovenbirds, summer tanagers, woodcocks, and more can often be seen along the half-mile Bent Twig Loop and near Bernheim’s Education Center, Smith says.

For families with young kids, Bernheim Forest offers ECO Kids Discovery Days, designed to encour-

GET A GUIDE For information on more great hiking opportunities across the state, pick up a field guide, such as Falcon Guides’ Hiking Kentucky, Third Edition, by Carrie Stambaugh.

n Paths leading around Bernheim’s Garden Pavilion are mostly handicap-accessible with brick walkways that connect to Lake Nevin Loop trail. Photo: Bernheim Forest

age children to get outside and explore nature, on the first and third Saturday of each month from 1–4 p.m. If all the hiking makes you hungry, Bernheim’s restaurant, Isaac’s Café, offers fresh meals made from the on-site edible garden.

Columbus-Belmont State Park At Kentucky’s Columbus-Belmont State Park, you can literally walk in the path of Civil War history.

Portions of the park’s 2.5-mile Civil War hiking trail flow within remnants of trenches dug by Confederate soldiers in the fall of 1861. “When you come off the paved portion of the trail, you’re actually in the earthworks that the soldiers dug by

®

n Nature trails wind through Confederate trenches and past interpretive signs at ColumbusBelmont State Park overlooking the Mississippi River. Photo: Kentucky Department of Parks

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KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

hand,” says Lee Jackson, the park’s maintenance supervisor. “It’s fascinating to think that 23,000 men with shovels, mules, and horses dug this. In some places, it’s 16–18 feet deep, and 18–20 feet wide.”

When they were dug, the trenches served as protection for Confederate troops stationed at Columbus under the command of General Leonidas Polk. In November 1861, General Ulysses S. Grant knew he would be unable to overpower the heavily fortified Columbus, so his troops attacked the smaller Confederate outpost across the river at Belmont, Missouri. The Union forces took the camp, but the cannons started firing from Columbus, and Confederate soldiers from Fort DeRussey came across the river to aid the camp at Belmont. They were able to regain power at Belmont, and

BERNHEIM ARBORETUM AND RESEARCH FOREST, BULLITT COUNTY

www.bernheim.org/general-info/trails Bernheim Forest has more than 35 miles of trails for both beginners and experienced hikers.

Address: 2075 Clermont Rd., Clermont Phone: (502) 955-8512 Admission: Free Monday–Friday; weekends: $5 per passenger car, minivan, or motorcycle; $10 passenger van or RV

Barbecue, Bourbon Bluegrass

&

BLANTON FOREST STATE NATURE PRESERVE, HARLAN COUNTY

www.naturepreserves.ky.gov, click on Nature Preserves Explore Kentucky’s largest old-growth forest; it includes roughly 4.5 miles of trails on the south face of Pine Mountain.

Address: 4294 State Hwy. 840, Wallins Creek For more information: Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, (502) 5732886 or email naturepreserves@ky.gov Admission: Free

COLUMBUS-BELMONT STATE PARK, HICKMAN COUNTY www.parks.ky.gov, click on Parks Experience Civil War history firsthand, as you hike in trenches dug by Confederate soldiers.

Address: 350 Park Road, Columbus Phone: (270) 677-2327 Admission: Free

Owensboro, Kentucky www.VisitOwensboro.com

NATURAL BRIDGE STATE RESORT PARK

www.parks.ky.gov, click on Parks The iconic view atop Natural Bridge is a must-see for young and old alike. For those who can’t make the uphill climb, a sky lift is available.

Address: 2135 Natural Bridge Road, Slade Phone: (606) 663-2214 Admission: Free for trails; fee for sky lift

Grant and the Union soldiers were forced to retreat. Both sides claimed the victory. The Battle of Belmont is re-enacted at the park every year, on the second weekend of October.

In addition to its rich Civil War history, the paved portion of the Columbus-Belmont trail follows along the bluff edges of the Mississippi River, allowing stunning views of the river 160 feet below, especially at sunset.

When you’re there, make sure to keep a watch overhead. Guests hiking on the trail often see bald eagles soaring above. KL ROBIN ROENKER , a Lexington-based freelance

writer, grew up in Elizabethtown. She enjoys camping and hiking with her family.

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Eye Doctor Helps Tennessee Legally Blind To See High Technology For Low Vision Patients Allows Many To Drive Again

F

or many patients with macular degeneration and other visionrelated conditions, the loss of central visual detail also signals the end to one of the last bastion of independence: driving.

A Lebanon optometrist, Dr. John Pino, is using miniaturized telescopes that are mounted in glasses to help people who have lost vision from macular degeneration and other eye conditions.

“Some of my patients consider me the last stop for people who have vision loss,” said Dr. Pino, one of only a few doctors in the world who specialize in fitting bioptic telescopes to help those who have lost vision due to macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other debilitating eye diseases.

Imagine a pair of glasses that can improve your vision enough to change your life. If you’re a low vision patient, you’ve probably not only imagined them, but have been searching for them. Bioptic telescopes may be the breakthrough in optical technology that will give you the independence you’ve been looking for.

Patients with vision in the 20/200 range can many times be improved to 20/50 or better.

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are not familiar with the condition. As many as 25% of those over the age of 50 have some degree of macular degeneration. The macula is only one small part of the retina; however, it is the most sensitive and gives us sharp central vision. When it degenerates, macular degeneration leaves a blind spot right in the center of vision, making it difficult or impossible to recognize faces, read a book, or pass the driver’s vision test.

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“My job is to figure out everything and anything possible to keep a person

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When Elaine, 57, of Kingsport, TN, came to see Dr. Pino she wanted to keep her Tennessee driver’s license and was prescribed bioptic telescopic glasses to read signs and see traffic lights farther away. Dr. Pino also prescribed microsope glasses for reading newspapers and menus in restaurants.

As Elaine puts it, “My regular glasses didn’t help too much – it was like looking through a fog. These new telescopic glasses not only allow me to read signs from a farther distance, but make driving much easier. I’ve also used them to watch television so I don’t have to sit so close. I don’t know why I waited to do this; I should have come sooner.”

“Bioptic telescopes can cost over $2,000,” said Dr. Pino, “especially if we build them with an automatic sunglass.”

“The major benefit of the bioptic telescope is that the lens automatically focuses on whatever you’re looking at,” said Dr. Pino. “It’s like a self-focusing camera, but much more precise.”

To learn more about bioptic telescopes or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Pino, give us a call at 1-855-4058800. You can also visit our website at: www.lowvisiontn.com For more information and a FREE telephone consultation, call us today: 1-855-405-8800 Offices located in Lebanon, Knoxville and Columbia.

John M. Pino, O.D., Ph.D.

CHEF’S CHOICE Volunteer veggies Tiny garden grows abundance of greens SA R A H F R IT S C H N E R

CATHY REHMEYER

still cooks from her seasonal production. “We eat a lot of salad year-round,” she says.

“We eat a lot of curry; we eat a lot of stir-fry,” all dishes that require a basic technique and whose ingredients can change with the season.

“Whatever we’ve got out there, we’re going to toss it in and it’s going to be awesome,” says Cathy.

TT RO HN JO

first winter garden was by accident: leafy greens and root vegetables kept growing. In February, “things we hadn’t yanked were coming back,” says Cathy, pictured below, and the carrots tasted sweeter than anything she could recall.

After that, the tiny 10th-of-an-acre Pikeville garden would yield nearly a ton of greens and roots annually through four winters, snug under low tunnel coverings, through at least two polar vortices. Now the Rehmeyers have moved to Banner in Floyd County, to more acreage for more vegetables.

But Cathy, who released her online book Growing Under Cover in early 2017, started as a family gardener, and CATHY REHMEYER’S

Seasonal Stir-Fry 2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil 1 lb beef or venison round, sliced very thin in 3-inch lengths, seasoned with salt and pepper 1 Tbsp fresh grated or chopped ginger 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 carrots, julienned (skinny strips 3 inches long) 1 daikon radish, julienned 1 C chopped greens, any kind 1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar 3 Tbsp soy sauce Heat a large, heavy pot like cast-iron Dutch oven over highest heat. Add sesame oil. Add meat and stir 1 minute.

Add ginger and garlic and stir another minute. Add carrots and daikon and cook, stirring about 3 minutes. Add greens and cook 1 minute. Season with vinegar and soy sauce and remove from heat. Serve with rice. Serves 4–6.

SARAH FRITSCHNER coordinates Louisville

MA TES - FO TOL IA

Farm to Table, a program bringing more Kentucky-grown food into local homes, restaurants, and institutions.

SPRING DINNER Frittata with Spring Greens Recipe by Sarah Fritschner 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 medium onion, diced 3 ⁄4 lb mustard, kale, spinach, or other greens, stems discarded and leaves coarsely chopped 8 large eggs, beaten 1 ⁄2 tsp each salt and pepper 1 ⁄3 C grated Parmesan or cheddar cheese Preheat the oven to 350°. Heat a tablespoon of oil in an 8-inch castiron skillet (or similar). Add onion and cook over moderately high heat until golden, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Add greens and cook until tender.

Season eggs with salt and pepper and beat with remaining oil. Pour into the skillet and cook over moderate heat until the bottom and sides begin to set. Lift the sides of the frittata to allow the uncooked eggs to seep under. Cook until bottom is set and top is still runny, 3 minutes.

Sprinkle with cheese and bake about 5 minutes, until the center of the frittata is set. Serves 4.

Go to KentuckyLiving.com and click on Cook for more recipes and cooking tips.

W W W. K E N T U C K Y L I V I N G . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 7

47

EVENT CALENDAR

Water horses It’s not quite Derby time, but you can take in Seahorses: Unbridled Fun at the Newport Aquarium, open 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daily, yearround. The permanent interactive exhibit boasts 10 species of the fascinating tiny creatures. Kids can create a digital seahorse, use their smartphone to play seek-andfind seahorses in the coral reef, and investigate the big seahorse sculptures. Aquarium admission: 13 and up, $24.99; 2–12, $16.99. For info, call (859) 261-7444 or go online to www.newportaquarium.com.

Celebrate Quilters Day Out on March 18 by viewing dozens of artistic quilts at the Rowan County Regional Quilt Show, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. at the Morehead Conference Center. Free admission.

Demonstrations, show-and-tell time, displays, door prizes, quilt raffle, and more.

Show includes Viewer’s Choice Awards in eight categories. Fee charged for classes; preregistration required. For details, call (606) 356-0477 or find Rowan County Regional Quilt Show on Facebook.

Spring renewal See the latest in home remodeling and sprucing up, from kitchen products to cabinets to lawn mowers, at Home Expo 2017, at the Sloan Convention Center in Bowling Green, March 3–5. Hours: 5–8 p.m.

Friday; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday; and 1–5 p.m. Sunday. Cost: $10 per person or $15 for two; kids free. For more info, (270) 781-3375 or go online to www.bascky.com.

48

KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

SINGKHAM - FOTOLIA

Sew good quilters

Dig it?

Spend a fun day learning more about gardening at the inaugural CanUDigIt? at the Pritchard Community Center in Elizabethtown, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

March 11. Speakers include Troy B. Marden, host of Nashville Public Television’s Volunteer Gardener; and Marshall Dirks from Proven Winners, who’ll preview new plants for 2017 and beyond. Workshop topics range from invasive plants to exploring plant choices; plus 20 vendors and a make-and-take.

Cost: $15 in advance, $25 at door; additional $10 for make-and-take, which requires preregistration. For details, call (270) 765-4121 or go online to www.mastergardeners.us.

Check out our new 3D designer on our website!

EVENT CALENDAR FRI MAR 3

THU MAR 9

WED MAR 15

Blue Grass Trust Antiques & Garden Show

Scrapbooking Weekend

Boys Sweet Sixteen Tournament

(859) 253-0362 Through the 5th.

Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington.

SAT MAR 4

Contra Dance

(859) 552-5433 Also the 10th, 17th.

ArtsPlace, Lexington.

Winter Sunrise Elk Watch

(606) 398-7510 Also the 11th, 18th, 25th.

Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park, Buckhorn.

Elk Viewing Tour

(606) 889-1790 Also the 11th. Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, Prestonsburg.

First Day Monthly Hike

(270) 797-3421 Through the 12th.

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, Dawson Springs.

The Ginger Bread Lady

(859) 257-4929 Through the 12th.

The Carriage House, Lexington.

2nd Friday Bluegrass Jam

(270) 257-2311 Rough River Dam State Resort Park, Falls of Rough.

SAT MAR 11

Irish Classic 10K

(270) 257-2311 Rough River Dam State Resort Park, Falls of Rough.

Buffalo & Wild Game Night

Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park (606) 677-6000 The Center for Rural Development, Somerset.

Storytelling Weekend

Campout at the Fire Tower

Bridal & Prom Show

THU MAR 16

The Other Mozart

CanUDigIt?

SUN MAR 5

(606) 679-9453 The Center for Rural Development, Somerset.

FRI MAR 17

(270) 797-3421 Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, Dawson Springs.

(606) 528-4121 Through the 5th.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Corbin.

(859) 299-5472 Through the 19th. Rupp Arena, Lexington.

FRI MAR 10 (859) 236-4692 Norton Center, Danville.

(270) 765-4121 Pritchard Community Center, Elizabethtown.

(502) 429-7270 Tom Sawyer State Park, Louisville.

SUN MAR 12

Odd Squad Live

(859) 236-4692 Norton Center, Danville.

TUE MAR 14

Second Tuesday Tea

Liberty Nature Center Auction & Banquet

(606) 528-4121 Through the 18th.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Corbin.

International Festival (270) 887-4000 Through the 18th.

James E. Bruce Convention Center, Hopkinsville.

St. Patrick’s Weekend (859) 527-3454 Through the 19th. Fort Boonesborough State Park, Richmond.

Urban Dancers

(859) 425-2550 Through the 19th.

Downtown Arts Center, Lexington.

SAT MAR 18

Rowan Co. Regional Quilt Show (606) 356-0477 Conference Center, Morehead.

(859) 623-9178 White Hall, Richmond.

How to submit your event Submit an event any time at KentuckyLiving.com. You can also send info to Kentucky Living, Events Editor, P.O. Box 32170, Louisville, KY 40232.

For print, events must be submitted at least 90 days in advance, are published as space allows, and must include a telephone number for publication. Give your event a featured online boost for $50.

To view a comprehensive listing of events, go to www.Kentucky Living.com and select Events. You can search by month, category, or region. Published events are subject to change. Please call ahead to confirm dates and times.

(270) 257-2311 Rough River Dam State Resort Park, Falls of Rough.

Celtic Voices

(502) 968-6300 Beargrass ChristianChurch, Louisville.

Trail Trek Series

(606) 663-2214 Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Slade.

SUN MAR 19

Luck of the Draw Poker Trail Ride (270) 618-7500 Long C Trails, Scottsville.

TUE MAR 21

Kentucky Gathers Dulcimer Group

(502) 732-4384 General Butler State Resort Park, Carrollton.

Riverdance—The 20th Anniversary World Tour (859) 622-7469 Through the 22nd. EKU Center for the Arts, Richmond.

WED MAR 22

An Evening with Southern Soul Assembly (502) 566-5111 Brown Theatre, Louisville.

FRI MAR 24

Casting Crowns Concert

(606) 444-5500 East KY Expo Center, Pikeville.

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49

www.visitlebanonky.com

270.692.0021 An Outdoor Lover’s Paradise

NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship

(859) 233-3535 Through the 27th. Rupp Arena, Lexington.

SAT MAR 25

James and the Giant Peach (502) 498-2436 Kentucky Center, Louisville.

Red Barn Farm Museum

Hike.

Bike.

Run. Fish.

Camp.

(859) 472-6761 Butler.

Rock, Gem, & Jewelry Show

(859) 277-2469 Through the 26th. Clarion Hotel, Lexington.

Contra Dance

(859) 985-5501 Russel Acton Folk Center, Berea.

Appalachian Heritage Wild Game Feast (606) 663-2214 Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Slade.

Backpacking Workshop & Overnight Trip

(606) 286-4411 Through the 26th. Carter Caves State Resort Park, Olive Hill.

THU MAR 30

An Evening with the Stories & Tales of Irvin S. Cobb (270) 442-2510 McCracken Co. Public Library, Paducah.

Shrek the Musical

(606) 754-4228 Through April 9. Elkhorn City.

EKU Symphonic Wind Ensemble

(859) 622-3266 Brock Auditorium, Richmond.

FRI MAR 31

Bluegrass Festival

(270) 257-2311 Through April 1. Rough River Dam State Resort Park, Falls of Rough.

Rock, Gem, & Jewelry Show We’re not just any small town. We’re Bardstown, KY – the most beautiful small town in America, according to Rand McNally and USA Today. In Kentucky’s second-oldest city, you can relive history, tour bourbon distilleries, indulge in fine Southern cuisine, and embark on an afternoon of endless shopping.

50

K E N T U C K Y L I V I N G 1• M A R C H 2 0 1 7 17bart7993v2_KYLiving.indd

(859) 277-2469 Clarion Hotel, Lexington.

Central Kentucky Home & Garden Show

www.visitbardstown.com 800.638.4877 1/26/17 3:55 PM

(859) 233-4567 Through Apr. 2. Rupp Arena, Lexington. KL

GREAT OUTDOORS

Great fishing ahead Fish recovery good news for anglers DAVE BAKER

G

reat fishing awaits you in 2017.

On many lakes across the state, conditions have been ripening for the past few years to produce a bumper crop of fish ready for anglers to catch.

Anglers can now go online to www.fw.ky.gov and search under the keywords “fishing forecast” to read evaluations of fish and fishing conditions for most lakes around the state.

For those wishing to experience a taste of saltwater-like fishing far from the coast, head to Lake Cumberland in the southern end of the state.

“Four or five years ago, if you caught a striped bass over 10 pounds, then you were really doing something,” says John Williams. “This year, we’re already hearing of some 20-pound fish being caught. Growth rates for stripers are rebounding.

They’re healthier and have better body condition than in the past few years.”

Williams should know. He’s the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ head fisheries biologist for the Lake Cumberland

INSIDER TIPS Find the hotspots at many lakes by going online to www.fw.ky. gov and searching under the keywords “fish attractors.” Maps include GPS locations.

region. “I think the fishing for striped bass will be good this year—it’s probably going to be the best year that it’s been for a lot of years.”

Striper fishing suffered when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dropped the lake 43 feet to repair Wolf Creek Dam from 2007-2013. The return to normal levels restored water conditions favorable for striped bass, resulting in their resurgence.

In March, Lake Cumberland guide Rick Holt suggests casting large bucktail jigs to shoreline brush in the lake’s major creek tributaries. Using live bait on planer boards along the shoreline is another good technique.

While many people prefer to use guides for striper fishing because it requires such specialized equipment, most anglers have the light equipment needed for crappie. It’s as easy as threading a minnow on a hook and dropping it into submerged brush.

Anglers are discovering Cave Run Lake near Morehead offers a hotspot.

“Cave Run Lake has had some awesome year classes for crappie,” says district fisheries biologist Tom Timmermann. “The crappie have had some of the best growth rates we’ve seen.”

A major effort to add more fish habitat to the lake—in the form of submerged trees, brush, pallets, stumps, and more—helped beef up the lake’s crappie population. It also made fish easier to find.

Lee McClellan with evidence that striper fishing is on the upswing in Lake Cumberland, as the lake recovers from years of low water. Photo: Joe McWilliams

“There’s no secret to it,” says Timmermann. “Last spring, the fish were spawning on top of the habitat structure. If you’re not catching fish in one location, just move on to the next spot.”

Download your own copy of Kentucky’s 2017 Fishing Forecast today—and enjoy good fishing the rest of the year. KL DAVE BAKER is editor of Kentucky Afield maga-

zine, with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Visit www.kyafield.com or call (800) 858-1549 for more information.

W W W. K E N T U C K Y L I V I N G . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 7

51

GARDEN GURU SHELLY NOLD

ASK THE GARDENER

Signs of spring

Q When and how do you trim a Drift rose and a Knock Out rose?—Debbie Hensel, Leitchfield

Hearts of Gold is not your typical redbud

A Both Knock Out and Drift roses are some of the easiest roses to grow, and although they have different growth habits, the maintenance is the same in terms of pruning.

The best time to prune your roses is late winter to early spring before new growth begins. Pruning too late in the fall may encourage tender new growth.

Pruning while the roses are dormant will make them less susceptible to winter injury and other potential problems. You can remove spent blooms and any dead or diseased canes any time.

It is always a good idea to clean up fallen plant debris. If you have not mulched, this is helpful in retaining moisture and insulating the roots. As a general rule, it is best to only prune one-third of the size of your roses each year.

SHELLY NOLD

Keeping your landscape diverse and exciting is getting easier. Lots of new plants are being discovered or hybridized each year. One beautiful Eastern redbud, ‘Hearts of Gold,’ shown below, was discovered in 2002 in North Carolina and specimens are already in garden centers.

THE REDDISH-PURPLE FLOWERS of Eastern redbud emerge in March or early April and are a sure sign that it’s spring. Hearts of Gold has the usual flowers and heart-shaped leaves, but is unusual because its leaves are golden-yellow in the spring and change only slightly to yellow-green in the summer. Typically, golden or yellow leaves would burn if located in full sun, but the foliage of Hearts of Gold is known to be burn-resistant. You can feel confident planting it in full sun to part shade.

ANGIE OAKLEY

IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING PLANTING a flowering tree this year and want something just a little bit different, try Hearts of Gold. It can be found with a single trunk or multitrunked, and can even be trained into a tall hedge. You can plant one beautiful specimen or a whole grouping if you have the room.

CHARLES WERMERS - FOTOLIA

REDBUDS ARE CONSIDERED SMALL TREES, with most growing only 20 to 25 feet tall, and they tend to grow as wide as tall. Hearts of Gold is known to be vigorous in youth, reaching 12 to 15 feet in just five years, which helped it get on the market so quickly, but it matures to average height. Plant in moist but well-drained soil. Redbuds are considered drought-resistant once established.

SHELLY NOLD is a horticulturist and owner of The Plant Kingdom. Send stories and ideas to

HAVE A GARDENING QUESTION?

her at The Plant Kingdom, 4101 Westport Road, Louisville, KY 40207.

Go to KentuckyLiving.com and click on Home & Garden.

52

KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

SMART MOVES

Hearing difficulty after stroke Hearing problems a surprising result of stroke JENNIFER B. SHINN

A

stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients. While there are preventive measures and treatment for stroke, and the likelihood of death from a stroke is much lower than it was

in the past, the effects can cause lasting problems with mobility, speech, memory, and behavior.

Many people aren’t aware, however, that stroke can damage hearing if the auditory center of the brain is affected. Hearing problems after stroke are likely under-recognized, diagnosed, and treated, despite the fact that one study found that 78 percent of stroke survivors complained of auditory symptoms. Many patients prioritize treatment of other symptoms before even noticing they are having difficulty hearing.

RISK FACTORS The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 795,000 Americans experience a stroke each year, and Kentucky has the 8th highest rate of stroke in the country. Risk factors include high blood pressure or cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, heart disease, poor diet, physical inactivity, and obesity.

WAVEBREAKMEDIAMICRO - FOTOLIA

SMART HEALTH

Recognize hearing problems After a stroke, an MRI can often determine if the auditory center of the brain was affected. Stroke can affect the brain’s capacity for auditory processing. This means hearing symptoms will not be related to loudness, but the ability to process and interpret sound. For patients whose hearing has been impacted by stroke, increasing the volume of sound may not make it easier for them to hear.

The symptoms of hearing difficulty after stroke may include: • Difficulty hearing clearly with background noise, such as in a restaurant or crowd.

• A noticeable difference between ears (i.e., feeling that one ear is “worse” than the other).

• Difficulty discriminating between sounds or where sounds are coming from.

• The sense that sound is distorted, like a radio out of tune, regardless of volume.

• The sense that music sounds different.

If you’ve had a stroke and are experiencing any changes or symptoms in your hearing, contact your neurologist or primary provider to be referred for an audiological evaluation.

Specialists at the University of Kentucky are currently investigating a noninvasive treatment option for stroke survivors who experience hearing difficulty. To learn more about the study and how to participate, call (859) 218-2177 or visit www.ukclinicalresearch.com. KL JENNIFER B. SHINN, Ph.D., CCC-A/F-AAA, is

chief of Audiology and associate professor in the UK College of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology.

W W W. K E N T U C K Y L I V I N G . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 7

53

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55

SNAP SHOT

p ON THE RANGE Edan Slider brings his horse Hurricane in for the night.

Photo by Lynn Slider, Clarkson, member of Warren RECC. u SHED SOME LIGHT Sunset as seen through an old tobacco barn.

Photo by Angela Sheffler of Campbellsburg, member of Shelby Energy Cooperative. u FOGGY SUNRISE Al Cox captured this lovely sunrise in the fog; Stanford, member of Inter-County Energy Cooperative.

SEND US YOUR SNAP SHOTS! Send us your photos now to publish in print or online!

GO TO WWW.KENTUCKYLIVING.COM to submit photos. TO SEND BY MAIL Include your name, address, phone

number, name of your electric co-op, photographer’s name, and any details. Identify people left to right and their relation to you. Mail to Kentucky Living Snap Shot, P.O. Box 32170, Louisville, KY 40232. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope to return photos. Photos with people work best. No color laser prints.

MORE SNAP SHOTS! See if your photo was chosen to be posted on our website at WWW.KENTUCKYLIVING.COM

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KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

KENTUCKY

KIDS At the library

The library has sections with books selected for kids your age. On your next visit, ask the librarian and see what books they have that match your interests.

MATCHING

VERBS Match the verb in the list with the picture illustrating the action below.

1 BIKE 2 SKATE

3 RUN 4 KICK

A

C

B 3

Green Team Tip Avoid using the washing machine for just one item.

Wash large loads to save water and electricity.

Tip submitted by Isaiah Ferguson

Send us your Green Team Tip, and if it gets printed, we’ll send you a surprise gift! Submit your best tip for conserving energy, in 50 words or less, online at www.kentuckyliving.com.

“V” is for “vegetables!”

You’ll be enjoying veggies at their peak when you try very green options like lettuce, spinach, and peas during the spring.

Quiet time If you know you’re going to have some free time during the day, bring a book with you! A long trip on a bus or in a car will go by faster with your favorite story to read.

D

Answers: 1) B 2) D 3) C 4) A

Did You

Know?

Aye-ayes are found in Madagascar forests.

They spend most of their time in the trees, sleeping during the day and looking for food at night.

JOKE!

It’s a

Submit your favorite joke to www.kentuckyliving.com.

If it gets printed, we will send you a free gift!

Where do pencils go on vacation?

Pennsylvania!

Submitted by Zaylee Guy, age 9

W W W. K E N T U C K Y L I V I N G . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 7

57

BYRON CRAWFORD’S KENTUCKY

Long live old wood Repurposed barn wood brings history into your home BYRON CRAWFORD

P

icture a wall in your home or business framed with a rustic stall door from one of the broodmare barns at Lexington’s storied Faraway Farm—the one-time home of Man O’War and War Admiral.

Longwood Antique Woods of Lexington is reclaiming history most elegantly.

Old timber frame barns that have outlived their usefulness on the farm, long-abandoned tobacco warehouses, tumbled down log buildings, and other structures that might otherwise face destruction are instead finding new life in today’s finest interiors through the woodshop at Longwood.

George Gatewood, Longwood’s 46-year-old president, is a lifelong friend of old barn wood.

As a boy of 8 on his family’s Montgomery County estate—also named Longwood—he used boards from an old barn on the place to build a tree house connecting two of the large trees whose foliage formed a canopy above the long avenue leading to the antebellum residence.

George would later study graphic arts, and even work for a few years reclaiming strip-mine sites in eastern Kentucky, before coming back to old barn wood.

After a tornado destroyed several barns in Montgomery County, George and his father, David, salvaged some of the barn wood and sold it to a company in Boston that was milling the lumber for use in New England’s upscale interiors.

Soon, the Gatewoods began milling old lumber themselves, reclaiming timbers of Kentucky’s vanishing landscape for eventual re-use in more exclusive settings.

Although their projects have taken them from West Palm Beach to Laguna Beach to Long Island, the majority of their clients are in central Kentucky, where the history of their woods is most appreciated.

Many of Kentucky’s major bourbon distillers have found Longwood’s reclaimed woods lend the perfect blend of

58

KENTUCKY LIVING • MARCH 2017

warmth and nostalgia to their visitor centers. And Garden & Gun magazine used wood from a barn that was removed from Churchill Downs a few years ago for its office interiors in Charleston, South Carolina.

Reclaimed oak boards from the many miles of plank fence that crisscross legendary Bluegrass horse farms are being milled for Longwood’s Thoroughbred flooring collection.

Longwood purchases some of the old buildings and fences for recycling, but owners of many doomed structures often just want them to be removed and saved.

The wood reclaimed from horse barns sometimes has uneven edges from having been nibbled on (or “cribbed”) by unknown Thoroughbreds with a habit for chewing on wood.

In 2004, Longwood began dismantling 13 barns at Hamburg Place on the outskirts of Lexington, which in the early 20th century produced five Kentucky Derby winners, including 1919 Triple Crown winner Sir Barton.

Alysheba, the 1987 Derby and Preakness winner, was also bred at Hamburg.

In one of the Hamburg barns, history had hidden a surprise for Gatewood. He discovered, in an old trunk, a letter to Hamburg’s colorful founder, John E. Madden, from legendary wild west lawman William B. “Bat” Masterson.

Read more about Longwood at www.longwood antiquewoods.com or reach them at (859) 233-2268. KL

BYRON CRAWFORD is Kentucky’s storyteller—­a

veteran television and newspaper journalist known for his colorful essays about life in Kentucky. E-mail him at bcrawford@KentuckyLiving.com.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT CHAMPION COMFORT 365 WINDOWS® DURING YOUR

FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION AVAILABLE MORNINGS, AFTERNOONS, EVENINGS, AND WEEKENDS.

HURRY! OFFER ENDS 3/31 WINDOWS • SUNROOMS • HOME EXTERIORS • LEXINGTON • LONDON • LOUISVILLE • EVANSVILLE • NASHVILLE **Subject to credit approval. Fixed APR of 6.99% for 60 months. Based on each $1,000 financed, 5 payments of $5.83 followed by 55 amortized payments of $21.30. Financing for GreenSky® consumer credit programs is provided by

federally insured, federal and state chartered financial institutions without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex or familial status. † The Champion limited lifetime warranty applies to Comfort 365 Windows® as long as the original purchaser owns the home.

See store for details. *Discount applies to Comfort 365 Windows®. Buy 2 Comfort 365 Windows® at regular price and get 1 additional window free. Free window must be of equal or lesser value. Minimum purchase of 1200 sq. ft. of siding required. See store or website for details. All discounts apply to our regular prices.

All prices include expert installation. Sorry, no adjustments can be made on prior sales. Cannot be combined with other advertised offers. See store for warranty. Offer expires 3-31-17 ©Champion®, 2017 OFFER CODE: 36906