Heard over the back fence: Gardening advice for June

GARDEN HINTS FOR JUNE: The Front Yard Nursery Newsletter offers the following garden advice for June:
“• Rebuild watering basins around trees and shrubs for deep watering.
• Protect ripening fruit with bird netting or scare tactics such as reflective tape, plastic owls, old CDs, plastic snakes, old neckties or wind chimes. Put up just as fruit ripens so birds don’t become too familiar with the devices.
• Remove spent flowers on annuals for re-bloom.
• Feed azaleas, camellias, gardenias and rhododendrons with azalea food.
• Feed perennials and shrubs that have extensive bloom times with 16-16-16 or rose and flower food.
• Plant a batch of herbs near the kitchen door for easy access to instant flavor.
• Prune spring blooming shrubs after flowering, like lilacs.
• Annual checkup on mowers and trimmers. Dull or dirty blades spread disease and cause stress.
• Trim hedges so that the base is wider than the top by pruning down the sides.
• Use Tangle Foot or Terro Ant Traps on fruit trees to prevent crawling insects from damaging fruit.
• Plant summer vegetable seeds or starts.
• Whitewash fruit tree trunks to prevent sunburn. Use a light colored interior latex paint mixed with 50 percent water or Tree Trunk Paint to reflect sunlight off the tree. Paint up to 40 inches or to the first set of branches.
• Mulch around shrubs to reduce evaporation. (Try SBC).
• Cut back berry vines after fruiting to make room for vigorous young growth.
• Watch for earwigs and snails. Set out bait, traps, diatomaceous earth labeled for gardens.”

VOLUNTEER NURSE NEEDED: Are you a retired RN or LVN who would like to stay connected with our community? A volunteer nurse is needed to perform blood pressure checks at the Placerville Senior Center and at the Diamond Springs Lions Hall. Blood pressure checks are scheduled once a month from 10:30 a.m. until noon at senior nutrition sites. If you would like to volunteer call 530-621-6160.

GENEROUS SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED: The Northern California Scholarship Foundation is proud to announce that Sequoia Williams from Union Mine High School has been selected for a scholarship. Sequoia will receive $8,000 a year for four years. Congratulations, Sequoia! We wish you great success in college!

NEW LOCATION INFORMATION: Marshall Sierra Primary Medicine Office has moved to 4341 Golden Center Drive, Building B (just off Missouri Flat Road and across from Wal-Mart), Placerville. The new building is connected to Marshall Pediatrics and they share a driveway entrance. For more information call 530-626-2816.

A CLAM CHOWDER CHOICE: The food for today at the senior nutrition sites is as follows: clam chowder, spinach salad, half orange and wheat roll and milk. The suggested donation is $3 for adults 60 years old or older.

6-YEAR-OLD BIRTHDAY PARTY: The El Dorado Hills “Moni Gilmore” Senior Center will celebrate its sixth birthday on Friday, June 22. The party begins at 11 a.m. and continues during the senior nutrition lunch. There will be treats, games and special live music. The Senior Center is located at 990 Lassen Lane, El Dorado Hills.

FUN FOR THE LITTLE ONES: The El Dorado County Main Library and Placerville Children’s Museum is hosting “A Day to Discover” on Saturday, June 23, from 10 a.m. to noon, and on Tuesday, July 24, from noon to 2 p.m. These fun days include the following activities: Make and take a piece of your very own art, Shop at a Farmers Market, Be an animal doctor, Create stories at the interactive flannel board, Giant Baby Play Area, Outdoor Beach Ball Attack, and A Few Surprises, too. This fun event takes place at the main library, 345 Fair Lane, Placerville. This event is designed for children ages 1 to 12 years old and their parents. For more information call 530-621-5547.

BREWFEST ON MAIN STREET: Main Street, Placerville, will be closed to accommodate the Belltower Brewfest on Sunday, June 30, 6 to 9 p.m. Thirty-five different craft brews will be available for sampling. Entertainment will feature three live bands. Tickets are limited. If you are 21 years old or older, you can purchase the $30 tickets in Placerville at: River City Bank, Tony Matthews, Placerville Brewing Co. or online at placervilledowntown.com.

FIREWORKS AND MUCH MORE: The “Summer Spectacular” will take place at Cameron Park Lake, 2989 Cambridge Road. This family-fun event includes a huge fireworks show, music, food, drinks, vendors, children and adult activities and crafts. Wristbands are available for purchase at the Cameron Park Community Center, the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce, Fire Station 89, Walgreens of Cameron Park and Caffé Santoro. Wristbands cost $3 in advance or $5 at the door on the day of this event. For more information call 530-677-2231.

CHECK OUT YOUR COUSINS: On Tuesday, July 3, the El Dorado Hills Genealogical Society will meet at the El Dorado Hills Library, 7455 Silva Valley Parkway, from 5 to 7 p.m. Visitors are always welcome. Members will share genealogy ideas and assist each other with genealogical quests. For more information e-mail EDHGS@yahoo.com.

FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY: The third annual Fireworks and Jubilee will be held at the El Dorado Hills Town Center on Tuesday, July 3, from 6 to 11:30 p.m. Activities for the evening include: Kids’ Activities and Family Fun; live music on three stages; badge-to-badge chili cook-off; parking at Blue Shield — shuttles available; and performance by The Spazmatics.

IMAGINATION THEATER FUNDRAISER: Would you like to donate gifts for the Imagination Theater’s fifth annual fundraiser scheduled for Friday, Aug. 17? All donations must be turned in by July 2. They are seeking donations of all kinds, including gift cards for items of all kinds and services. They also are requesting gifts for the live auction, such as a couple of nights in a cabin or nearby resort or a hotel in San Francisco. If you would like to donate anything call 530-903-6361. After June 20, you can drop off donations at the Imagination Theater, 100 Placerville Drive in Placerville, located on the El Dorado County Fairground, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

FREE LIBRARY MOVIES: You can enjoy free popcorn and sodas while you enjoy free movies on the first Saturday of each month at 2 p.m. at the El Dorado County Library, 345 Fair Lane, Placerville. Due to restrictions from the library’s licensing agreement, the names of the films being shown cannot be released. All films are rated G, PG, or PG-13. To obtain names of films, visit eldoradolibrary.org and click onto library programs and events.

A DALAI DILLY: Unfolding the “Insight from the Dalai Lama” calendar, I found the following observation: “Most of our good qualities are produced in conjunction with other people.”

A GRAMMATICAL ERROR: Review Richard Lederer’s “Anguished English” calendar and you will discover the following “wrong word:” “She slipped into a comma on Thursday.”

BATHROOM SINK SUGGESTION: The “Who Knew?” calendar contains the following cleaning hint: “Here’s a quick and easy way to clean your bathroom sink: Just dampen a cotton rag or a bit of toilet paper with hydrogen peroxide and give it a few swipes! It’s even great for sink stains, too.”

BE MORE CREATIVE: The “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” calendar reflects on the following reflection: “Success is often a function of doing something exceptionally well or more creatively than it has been done before. Reflection is a powerful vehicle to bring this about.”

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE: I will be teaching a new class titled “Take Charge of Your Life,” on Tuesday, June 26, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at the El Dorado Hills Senior Center, 990 Lassen Lane. I offer the following description of the class: “You, and you alone, are in charge of your happiness. It’s never too late to change your life. Forget old mistakes and move forward. Don’t wait for a miracle, create one! Yes, you are worthy and you deserve love and respect.” Refreshments will be served and the class is free. Seating is limited. Call 916-358-3575 to reserve your spot.

Bob Billingsley

Bob Billingsley writes Heard Over the Back Fence three times a week, keeping his pen on the pulse of the community. He also writes a biweekly column called Billingsley's Bullets, in which he uses “sideways” thinking to make your day a little easier to handle.

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