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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1970-05-07, Page 9lintoiv News-Re:ear Home and Garden 10.5tt) 'YFAR. NO, 19 -cLINTON ONTA-MQ — THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1970 SECOND SECTION' 1040.001000111111ifilmIll110111IIIIIIIHIIIMIWIIIHIIIIIIIHIIIIIIMMOmwomisimpoomponmirnoompuffiliffinffitumplowninowfillioymopoimpinimmominguillunOintimopiwimmiiimmiiiininipmmiloopplunilfolimiimmioolionnion The trend in family gardens today is to keep the flowers close to the house where they may be enjoyed from the patio. Renovating the older garden Amendent to i mimprove calculating property tax NEW HOUSE DESIGN — This 1 1/2-storey house, by Architects WILSON & NEWTON of Toronto, is designed to meet the needs of a family requiring..,a downstairs bed- room and bathroom. The rectangular shaped combi- nation living-dining room has a fireplace, and windows at either end. A door leads into the back garden from the dining area. The kitchen has room for a dining table. Upstairs there are two good sized bedrooms and an additional bathroom. The basement provides space for normal utilities. Con- struction is of brick veneer. The floor area is 1,196 square feet; the exterior dimensions are 33 feet eight inches by 33 feet ten inches, Working drawings of this house, known as Design 301; are available from Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation at mini- mum cost. Spring is the big news this week With ternperatureS searing to the high 70's. All over the country the daffodils have jumped into Moons. --staff photo. Fragrances, for example, are especially persistent in the memory, Long hardy favorites of an old home garden, such as lilacs, shrubby roses, herbs, peonies, clematis and spireas are still good plants to select. At the other extreme is the inspiring assortment of plant types or new cultivars that have become popular in home gardening because of their suitability to contemporary garden design. Such plants are usually selected for container planting. These include such succulents as cacti, aloes, crassulas and other sun-loving types, geraniums and sun-tolerant house plants. All will offer a great variety of forms, color and textures, that harmonize with structural and paving materials. An overgrown garden may be brought back to an orderly state by heavy pruning in the early spring before growth begins. This applies particularly to deciduous materials. Most hedges may be cut to within a foot of the ground. Shrubs or small trees may be topped back and the lateral branches shortened or thinned. Shrubs that develop in a clump formation may be cut to the ground if the canes are weak and leggy. Sometimes a better plan is to cut out some of the older or heaviest canes, giving the young vigorous ones more light and space In which to develop, Evergreens that have become shapeless and straggly, with lower branches weak and thin, might just as well be removed as there is small chance of their recovery, This is expecially true of cedars and junipers. An exception is the yew (Taxus) that will put out new growth from mature wood, if pruned back. This should be done in early spring. Shrubs that have been drastically pruned or cut back will require a two to four year period to grow back into shape, but often a showy vigorous Shrub is created because of the well established root systems. Recovery can be hastened by 'applying a complete commercial fertilizer at the time of the , initial cutting back and in the spring of the following year. The same general plan may be used for renewing shrub roses as for shrubs. For these and climbers, cut out old heavy canes, letting vigorous ones develop. This may be done immediately after blooming or in early spring. —Mott perennials can be improved by being lifted and divided, Those that bloom in spring or early summer usually establish readily if divided in the fail, while those that bloom in fall may be divided in tpring. If areas that are planted to ground covers are te5 be- revised, the may be lifted, divided and react in spring. Dig the soil well, add Wrong' and a complete fertilizer before replanting. An amendment to improve the method of calculating this year's residential property tax xeductiens for home-owners and tenants was given first reading in the Ontario Legislature April 17. The amendment to the Residential Property Tax Reduction Act will "ensure more equitable assistance to all eligible home-owners and tenants, particularly to residents of municipalities where the average tax burden is highest," said Municipal Affairs Minister Darcy McKeough. Mr. McKeough said that guidelines will be mailed to all municipalities as soon as possible so that they can make their tax reduction calculations. The property tax rebates must be passed on to eligible home-owners and tenants by December 31st, 1970. The amendment provides a tax reduction consisting of a standard sum of $30 plus 10 percent of the average residential tax paid by householders in- that municipality during 1969. "The basic sum of $30 represents a standard contribution by the Ontario Government toward the cost of ail municipal services," Mr. McKeough said. "The payment of 10 percent of the average residential taxes gives greater relief to the Give an old chest of drawers new life for the sunny days ahead with a simple prescription: paint and fabric. You can give the chest more storage possibilities at the same time, the Canadian Cotatir Council, reports. First, spray paint the chest a bright colour, or white (a neutral which slims down a bulky piece of furniture). Take out one of the drawers — a long middle one if possible — and turn the empty space into a shelf. A piece of plywood can be nailed in the bottom to serve as the bottom of the shelf, if there is no wooden partition between drawers. Line the top, sides and bottom of this drawer compartment with a sturdy cotton print, tacking or gluing it in place. Now you have a decorative shelf in the chest to use for displaying handbags, costume jewellery, or knick-knacks. To complete rejuvenation of the chest, decorate the other drawers with cutout motifs from the same cotton fabric. Curtains made of airy, fresh-looking cotton leno or cotton organdy give your windows springtime appeal all year 'round. To keep curtains looking their best, the Canadian Cotton Council recommends that you keep them clean and lightly starched. Besides adding' to the eye appeal, a little light starch helps to prevent dust particles from grinding into curtain fibres. Bedrooms are bursting with colour as never before. The reason — a revolution in styling Of Cotton percale sheets and pillowcases. Plain white and delicate pastels are taking a back seat to strong, vivid colours and bold patterns. New shades include fern green, raspberry ice, bronze, fire red, and even black. Printed sheets come in splashy florals, crisp stripes, dramatic houndsteoth cheeks polka dots, and plaids. In addition, sheets and pilloWcaset are often co-ordinated in design and colour With towels, bedspreads, blankets, and scatter rugs. These new sets offer iota of decorating tricks for little money. They make it easy for the homemaker to change her decor quickly and inexpensively. Moreover % new cotton Sheets are so decorative that homemakers use them to make dust ruffles; canopies, and curtains to co-Ordinate with bedding, This new kind of "instant decoration" it based on the imaginative use ottolotM Here are some tips: tplashes of colotir are most effective in a small Modern bedroom Witn residents of municipalities with relatively high tax rates. "This means that the majority of taxpayers will receive a greater benefit in 197Q than they did in 1969, However, there will be some taxpayers who received a greater degree of assistance than others in 1969 and whose tax reduction will consequently be less in 1970." In order to avoid undue reduction in the amount of the payment, the amendment ensures that no taxpayer will lose more than $5 in the rebate as compared with 1969. Similarly, there is a $15 ceiling on the amount of the increase in tax reduction payable to any taxpayer. Proportionate adjustments will be made for householders and tenants who do not occupy their premises for all 12 months of 1970. • Existing provisions in the Residential Property Act state that no taxpayer will receive a tax reduction exceeding 50 percent of his taxes on any property. To be eligible for a tax reduction', a tenant or home-owner must occupy a separately assessed dwelling. Under the amended Act, total payments will increase by 9 percent over 1969 to an estimated $136 million in 1970. light-coloured walls. Accents of orange red, bright blue, or yellow will also brighten a dark room or make a large one appear more cozy. In home decorating as in the world of fashion, what is in style today may be woefully out of date tomorrow. But there is one thing you can count on: good design never goes out of style. And the best way to make sure this summer's outdoor decorating scheme does not look passe next year is to put your designs in canvas. Good design and canvas were made for each other. Use canvas for a giant, red circle of shade where guests can gather for a poolside party. Let it swoop in parabolic shapes over an oriental-style pavilion in the garden to create a secluded spot for al fresco dinners. Or have it transformed into a bright Arabian cabana to provide privacy for quick swimsuit changes. A stretch of canvas overhead gives an inviting welcome to door ways and walkways. Entrances acquire a dramatic toilet.. Porches gain shade and privacy; and walkways are protected against the elements to become cozy settings for outdoor entertaining. Over the patio or by the pool, canvas provides protection without confinement. Windbreaks, privacy panels, and cabz.nas can be permanent or portable, Wide glass areas can be shaded by canvas to shield interior furnishings from harsh sunlight, reduce heat and glare, and cut down on air-conditioning costs. For more than 20 centuries, canvas has served Pharoahs and peasants, prophets and pioneers, servicemen, campers, and homemakers. But never before has this durable, sunfast, water-repellent and mildew-resistant cotton fabric created such a stir in the decorating world. Gone is the day when canvas Was coloured only dark green or drab khaki. Today it runs the entire colour spectrum. There are cool colours like misty blue, aqua, and Bine—and bolder shades like royal blue and peacock green, Warm colours sizzle from firecracker red or hot orange to lemon yellow and salmon pink. Even stark white and rich black offer dramatic There are truly many Wonderful ways you can use remarkable canvas. Try it in fun-loving stripes to add a festive flair or in subdued, citified tones to lend a note- of sophistication. Whatever is needed to reflect your own personality and special requirements, elegant canvas Provides the Ultimate in design L When is a basement not a basement? When it's an extra bedroom, playroom, den or office. With the new, easy-to-use, inexpensive products now offered by the paint industry, you can quickly make it an essential part of your home. To keep work and investment to a minimum, follow these suggestions from the Canadian Paint Manufacturers Association. Begin with the ceiling. You'll find all those hot and cold water pipes will blend in with the ceiling once they've been painted the same colour. The best time for painting is when the heating system is still on and the pipes are dry. Paint the pipes first, and then finish the rest of the ceiling. Copper pipes should be wiped clean and roughened lightly with sandpaper. They do not require a primer. Iron or steel pipes should be cleaned with steel wool to remove all rust, and then covered with a first quality metal primer. Either a semi-gloss enamel or textured paint are suitable for top-coating. The alkyd-type texture paint is probably a little easier to apply. Spray application is best for pipes, with a roller as second choice, and two coats of paint will help avoid future moisture problems. With one of the specialized paints now on the market, you can decorate instead of just paint. Textured paints give a rough plaster look to the surface and cover Metal defects, weld marks and nail holes. Set the atmosphere with your choice of colors—a black ceiling will almost completely hide pipes and give a warm, intimate feeling. White will liven up the area, Now begin on the walls. The more ambitious do-it,yourselfers may want to try one of the new tile-like finishes for cinder block or masonry walls. This is a two-component product, and application requires a little more work than the average paint since the wall must be filled, primed and then top-coated. Follow label directions carefully and work in a Well ventilated, area. The results are worth the effort—it smoo th, hard, high-gloss finish resembling ceramic tile. Because of its high durability, it is ideal fox laundry rooms, work rooms and much used utility rooms. However, if. this type of finish does not fit in with your plans, you can paint the walls with the same warm textured coating as the ceiling. To finish the basement, cover the floor with a good quality paint designed for the surface. There are many types available, but the easiest to use is a latex-base paint with water clean-up and reduced odor. You can demonstrate your artistic talent by painting a border in a contrasting colour. All you have to do is coat the main area (you don't have to go all the way to the walls), measure carefully and Now is the time to prepare the soil in which annuals are to be planted. The soil once dug, should have organic matter added in the form of barnyard manure or compost at the rate of 50 to 75 pounds per 100 square feet. Dr. P. M. Harney, Department of Horticultural Science, University of Guelph, says that peat moss is easy to obtain arid may often be Used instead of manure or compost, Peat should be spread in a layer 1 to 2 inches thick, and worked into the soil. On fine-textured clay soils a 50-20-10 analysis fertilizer may be applied at the rate Of 21/2 pounds per square feet. For coarse-textured sandy soils, a 50-20.20 analysis fertilizer applied at the same rate is recommended. Although some enthusiasts grow their own annuals from seeds, says Dr. Harney, many people buy them as seedlings from the local florist or nursetynian. These seedlings will be a couple of Months old with well-developed root SysterriS and will often be in bloom Or aimed ready to bloom. Annuals are very often used-as fillers ifi a flower garden because they bloom hi midsummer when the mark-off a border with masking tape—then paint it in a contrasting colour. When the paint is tack dry, lift off the tape. To relieve aches of painting a floor, attach a broom handle to the roller and do the whole job standing up. Break up one large area into several different service areas by strategically placing screens as room dividers. Unfinished ones are inexpensive and can be painted in contrasting or co-ordinating colours to add to your decor. See how easy it is to turn an attractive dark storage area into part of your home without buying one nail or piece of lumber. All you have to use is your imagination and paint! perennials are not flowering. Once bought, the seedlings should be planted immediately or watered and stored in a cool shady place until planted, Plant carefully, says Dr. Harney, keeping the ball of earth around the roots intact if possible. Water after planting, and shade if the plants show signs of wilting. If the flowers are picked and the plants are not allowed to go to seed they will continue flowering until frost. To maintain the annual garden in a vigorous condition, apply a 5.10-15 fertilizer at the of July. 2 1/2 poundt per 100 square feet during the latter part july. Latex paints - the time savers tto you have lots of painting jobs? Why hot speed things up by using latex paints, suggests the Canadian Paini Manufacturers Association. Water-thinned paints roll On readily, dry quickly, and wash off equipment in a flash! In addition, they adhere Well to slightly Moist Surfaces an extra plus in wet or humid Weather! BY A. R. Buckley Landscaping the grounds may seem very difficult to a novice gardener, but it is merely child's play when compared to re-landscaping a newly acquired established property which already has an old over-grown garden. Yet this problem has to be faced by,rnany inexperienced gardeners every year. - Stich a -garden has most likely' been planned around the facilities and living habits of another era and most new owners are at a loss to know how to revise and recondition it for present day use and enjoyment. The best and most practical plan is to leave the garden as it is and try to adjust plantings here and there as a compromise. In doing this, make a rough chart every two weeks of the plants in bloom and decide which ones you want to keep. Wait until mid-September and then take everything out that is movable. Set aside the plants you want and throw out those you don't need to fit in with your plans. In the meantime order some plants you would like to include. This plan of action for renewing the older garden gives an immediate sense of 'clearing'. Then follows the creative planning that is one of the many thrills of gardening. When you are making general observations on the performance of individual plants during the summer, also note the way in which the old garden fails to meet the living needs of your family. This information may then be used as a basis for the In general, the trend in family gardens today is to keep the flowers in close to the house where they may be enjoyed from the patio. A distinctive planting may be made to emphasize or disguise a particular feature of the garden landscape, either to enhance it's appearance or to screen it from view. An airy, spacious effect is often achieved by uprooting a tired, worn-out hedge and opening up an overgrown nondescript border. The new plantings should relate to the house, providing perspective, scale, form and a succession of seasonal interests. Tradition and association play an important part in planning a garden for family living, New life for old furniture simple prescription: paint and fabric, Add extra room to your home Prepare beds for annuals