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By Melinda Myers SPECIAL TO HOMES PLUS WAUKESHA — Summer is filled with parties, gatherings, picnics and more. We all want to make these occasions special and memorable for our guests. Many gardeners tend to schedule events around peak bloom or harvest in order to share the beauty and flavor from their gar- den. Unfortunately, nature does not always cooperate. We react by saying, "You should have been here last week" or "come back next week when the flowers will be at their peak." There's no need to worry. It may be con- sidered cheating by the purist, but isn't it all about creating a great space and event for our guests? Consider adding some fun flower accents. Metal flower sculptures like daisy bouquet stakes, hollyhock stem stakes or aluminum fiddleheads insure color throughout the season. You can make it fun with faucet handle flowers (see www.gardeners.com for details), which are sure to spark some con- versation amongst your guests. You can also add some extra color with a bit of floral paint. Use garden colors to paint seedheads of flowers past their prime. Just cover the stem and leaves to insure only the seedheads get painted for a more realistic look. It might fool your guests or give them a good idea for their own garden. Another options is to stop by your local garden center. Many have flowering planters and large size annuals that you can use to fill in voids and add color to the garden. Pot a few of these up and use them as centerpieces on the tables. A search of the garage or visit to a thrift store may find reasonably priced fun items you can con- vert into containers. Keep your guests comfortable and the mosquitoes at bay with the gentle breeze of a fan. Mosquitoes are weak fliers and the gentle breeze of a fan can keep them away. Or step it up with the help of geranium oil. It's natu- ral, fragrant and can help repel mos- quitoes. And be sure to i n c l u d e f r e s h - f r o m - t h e - g a r d e n flavor in your b e v e r a g e s and dishes. A pot of basil or mint near the party means guests can fla- vor their own lemonade tea or mojito. The hollow stem of lovage, cut down to size makes a great straw for your tomato juice or bloody Mary. Your guests won't forget the fun of sipping their drink through this celery-flavored straw. Add some color and a gourmet touch to your salads with a few edible flowers. Nas- turiums, roses and calendulas are just a few to consider. Just be sure they are edible and pesticide-free before serving them to your guests. Use fresh-from-the-garden or container herbs for grilling, salads and your main course. And consider drying a few herbs or starting cuttings from your plants to use as party favors. Don't let the sunset put an end to your celebration. Light up the evening with solar illuminated planters, solar pathway lighting and decorative fiber optic lights. You can go old school and set votive can- dles in a mason jar or tucked safely in the garden. So set aside some time to take a walk through the garden and plan a party or two for you, your family and friends to enjoy its beauty. HOMES PLUS JULY 2014 6 2 3 9 0 1 6 0 0 2 Free estimates • Bonded/Insured • Open Weekends! Foggy windows a problem? No need to replace the entire window, replace only the glass... at a fraction of the cost! Glass Pro Inc. –– the glass replacement professional –– www.GlassProInc.net 262-679-4990 [West] • 414-525-1599 [South] • 414-453-1060 [North] 238310002 Specializing in: Thermo-pane and Plate Glass Replacement, Mirrors and Tabletops, Auto Glass and Windshield Repair, Glass Block, Custom Shower Doors, Vinyl Replacement Windows Keep an eye on your impatiens Impatiens are a popular choice for the shady garden, but there is a disease (Impa- tiens Downy Mildew) that has started to pop up around the Midwest that we need to keep an eye on. This isn't a new disease and has been found sporadically around the U.S. since the 1940s. It has been positively identified in Wisconsin recently, and in past years in Indi- ana, Illinois and Michigan. This shouldn't stop you from planting them, though, because you may not have any problems at all. I just want you to be aware of it. You should also know that it only attacks the regular garden variety impatiens and not other varieties like New Guineas. It also was more prevalent in actual landscape plantings, and less in containerized plants that use sterilized soil mixes. Let's take a look at the symptoms so you know what to look for, and some cultural practices that you can use to help avoid it all together. What are the symptoms? Although the most distinguishing feature is grayish fuzz on the underside of the leaves, most garden- ers won't notice this first. Look first for yel- lowing of the leaves. Leaves could also be curled downward or distorted. Stunted plants or those that drop their flower buds early are also candidates. If you see any of these, check the underside for the fuzz. If it's there, your plants could be infected. Don't jump to conclusions because other factors can cause these symptoms, and if your fuzz is a different color, it could be another disease alto- gether. Bring a sample to your University of Wisconsin-Extension office or local garden center to be positive. What should be done if plants are infected? If it's determined the dis- ease is present, the best thing to do is pull the plants and dispose of them. Don't stop there, though, contact your extension office and let them know. They may even want you to send them the plant. Do not compost the plants. More importantly, what can we do to help? Use proper watering techniques. The dis- ease spreads more rapidly in wet, cool con- ditions. If you need to water, do so in the morning so the excess moisture can evapo- rate. Give your plants a little extra spacing to allow for better air flow, as well. Also, use an all-purpose fungicide as a pre- ventative measure. Most fungicides are designed to work preventively so don't wait until you start seeing symptoms if you want to be on the safe side. As gardeners, we need to be alert at all times for the potential of disease and insects, and every year, there always seems to be something new out there. (Michael Timm is the head horticultur- ist with Ebert's Greenhouse Village in Ix onia. He can be reached at mtimm@ebertsgreenhouse.com.) 'Garden-tainment' creates lasting memories Submitted photo Metal flower sculptures like daisy bouquet stakes can instantly add interest and color to the garden.

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