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The Rural Voice, 1999-06, Page 42TE -EM FARM Perennial display garden a must to see. Visit our greenhouses with a large selection of flowers, perennials and nursery stock to beautify your surroundings. We have all the new varieties everyone is talking about. Ted's Tasty Tomatoes \A„). Strawberries Soon! Mon. - Fri. - 8-8 -. Rd Sat. - Sun. - 9-6 R.R. 1, Bayfield, Ont. County „M- 519-482-3020 • TE.EMI ARM 70, Huron Cla Bev held Wood's Energy Savers 5 to 25 cubic feet CHEST FREEZERS from $298 4.7 to 20 cubic feet UPRIGHT FREEZERS from $348 17.4 cubic feet ALL -FRIDGE from $648 Super Storage capacity Z7©/D)JJJ APPLIANCES & ELECTRONICS 871 • 10th St. E. (across from Zellers) HANOVER 364-1011 102 Main St. E. LISTOWEL 291-4670 The RURAL VOICE THE MAGAZINE OF THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY The Rural Voice will be featuring the International Plowing Match in the September issue. Deadline for the September issue is August 18 38 THE RURAL VOICE Gardening Taking care of your garden statuary By Rhea Hamilton -Seeger Garden statuary has become a burgeoning business as gardeners become more experienced and look to elements that further define their garden space as their own. A couple of months ago we looked at what and where to put garden ornaments. If you left the article lying around you may have left enough of a hint for loved ones to pick out a statue or ornament for Mother's or Father's Day. Once placed the next step is how to care for it. I must confess that if it is made of cement/concrete then I think it must be able to last forever outside. But is that really the case? , For starters, all ornaments should be raised off the ground to prevent moisture damage. You can use cement, stone, brick or ceramic footing. To create an impact consider a pedestal or plinth. You can make it quite simply from 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch plywood. Make an open-ended box with lengths of 2x4 reinforcing the corners inside. Dress it up with a bit of molding and paint and, voila, an inexpensive pedestal. You can add more shape to your pedestal by stacking it with pavers, bricks, or concrete blocks. If your ornament is very heavy make sure the support is secure and will carry the weight. Ornaments need good air circulation and you can provide this by trimming back the surrounding plants and keeping sprinklers from forever watering where water is not necessary on your ornament. If you have selected one of those magnificent urns or vases for the corner of your formal patio consider inserting a plastic pot and saucer to hold your plantings. You will apprec- iate this tip come fall when you have to empty it for winter. If it is an orn- amental urn that will remain empty then be sure to check for standing water during the season and empty it. If your pots are terra-cotta save yourself some money and store them out of the winter weather. Terra-cotta absorbs the moisture which swells when frozen and causes the pot to flake off large portions. I know, I learned the hard way. I picked up a Targe clay flue tile and had filled it with a summer ivy. Looked great even in the dead of winter but come spring time large pieces flaked off without even a nudge from me. If your planter is too big or too heavy to move, try insulating it with straw held in place with burlap or boards. Any stone or marble pieces, and this includes cement, are prone to damage from freezing, so you will want to protect them from water as much as possible but avoid applying a waterproof coating. Each fall, clean off the dirt which attracts moisture and cover with a waterproof tarp. You will also want to shield them from airborne particles of road salt. Stone ornaments which develop mildew or mold on the side turned away from the sun indicates high. humidity or that they are in a damp, shady place. Over a long period of time (years) this can damage the stone and stain the surface. The high quality cast stone ornaments have a better sealed surface and are better able to withstand the winter and therefore need little if any winter protection. If you are fortunate enough to have a cast iron ornament use an alkyd enamel paint with appropriate primer to protect the surface. You can also use cast iron paint used in car restoration or a hard paste wax. Your main intent is to protect the surface from rust -causing moisture. Spring cleaning extends into the garden. Bronze ornaments should be washed once a year with a mild detergent and stiff bristled brush and thoroughly dried before waxing with a hard paste wax high in carnauba content. Polish with a soft cloth. Natural patina or green colour comes with age and you can help this process by leaving the wax off the ornament. The softest material for garden ornaments is wood and there are any number of wood preservatives that will help extend the life of your ornament. Wooden planters be can lined with any number of products