IT TAKES TWO

Remember - It Takes Two

It has been estimated that 50% or more of the water used goes on lawns and landscaping. On March 1, 2006, the St. Johns River Water Management District initiated the Water Conservation Rule that states irrigation can occur only up to two days per week. If your property has an even-numbered address or is a common area, you may irrigate on Thursday and Sunday. If your property has an odd-numbered address, you may irrigate on Wednesday and Saturday.

You should never water your lawn or landscaping between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. This is the hottest part of the day, and the majority of the water will evaporate. Remember to check your irrigation system regularly to ensure it is working efficiently and that water is not being distributed on paved surfaces. You should check that your rain sensor is also functioning appropriately, and be sure to insert a fresh battery in your irrigation timer when necessary. During the rainy season, turn off your sprinkler system; your lawn will continue to look lush and green.

Here is a good web site to look at concerning our water... http://www.sjrwmd.com/

Is it Crabgrass?

If you walk out on your lawn and see some ugly grass you don't want, don't think "ah, that must be crabgrass."

Chances are, at this time of year, it isn't. Crabgrass dies every fall, and at that time it drops seeds in the soil that germinate the next year. Those seeds won't germinate until the soil reaches a certain temperature...much like your "good" grass coming out of dormancy, or spring bulbs like dafodils blooming when the temp is right.

You may have heard, as a rule of thumb crabgrass starts germinating when the forsythia blooms. Well, that just started last week in my area. My neighbors have a forsythia shrub in their front yard so I see it right out the window.

I just now applied Turf Builder with Halts, so don't think you don't have time to do it this spring. In fact, it is probably more important than a weed n feed, such as Turf Builder with Plus 2. You can always apply that one 6 weeks after you apply Turf Builder with Halts. Or, if you have the dandelions now, just spot treat them with Ortho Weed B Gon MAX.

For the area above the transition zone, crabgrass usually will germinate up through the end of May. So, you have definitely have time to put down that important first application of Turf Builder with Halts.

As for that ugly grass you see now, it's probably just tall fescue.

eeeegads a bug!!!!!

Here is some information on just a few good bugs that can be found in the yard and gardens.....

Solution
Don't let all bugs bug you. Find out which ones are good for your garden.
If you're like many gardeners, the first thing you say when you see a bug is, "Where's the bug spray?" While some bugs cause damage to your garden, Mother Nature has a way of taking care of them. She sends in other bugs. Lady Bugs, Ground Beetles, and Praying Mantises are just a few of the many insects that can help you control real pests in your garden. Make them feel at home by planting nectar-producing flowers, spreading some mulch, and putting out some water for your little helpers.

Prevention and Maintenance
Beneficial bugs that hunt
Hunting bugs are the ones that stalk, kill, and gobble up the pests that attack your plants. Some specialize: Lady Bugs love aphids and scaly bugs. Other hunters aren't very picky: Praying Mantises will eat anything. Still others attack the gooey, slimy, slithery pests in your garden. For instance, Ground Beetles attack slugs, caterpillars, and maggots.
Beneficial parasitic bugs
These beneficial bugs don't kill as quickly as the hunter types do, but they're very effective. They plant their eggs in pests that act as hosts. When the eggs hatch, they eat the innards of their hosts. It's gross, but it works. Tachinid flies are a good example of a parasitic bug, and they make great use of caterpillars. Braconid wasps use caterpillars, aphids, flies, and other pests.
Beneficial pollinating bugs
If you didn't have pollinating bugs in your garden, you wouldn't have a garden. Bumble Bees and Honey Bees bounce from one flower to the next, seeking nectar. While they do it, they pollinate the plants they visit. In fact, Honey Bees are so good at this job that farmers and orchard-keepers pay lots of money for their services.

Received from OCSO on CPR

Thought you might be interested in this.... Dave

Participants
WANTED
60 people Needed to train FREE in advanced first aid/CPR/Emergency Response to respond in the event of a large disaster.
I just wanted to send you information that you could share with your contacts regarding a grant that we’ve received at Red Cross to train 60 people in advanced first aid/CPR/Emergency Response to respond in the event of a large disaster. This grant will allow us to offer our normally $300 emergency responder course for free to people who are willing to become Red Cross volunteers and make a commitment to respond to work in one of our shelters or other places as required should we have a major disaster. Please call me or email with any questions you might have. I’ve attached the schedule for training. Our March class has already started but there is still a class in April and another one in May. I look forward to hearing from you.
Mary Ann Russell
Volunteer Manager
American Red Cross of Central Florida
407-894-4141, ext. 5639
maryannr@centralfl-redcross.org

Emergency Responder and Professional Rescuer CPR Class

BOHA MEETING

March 10th. is the annual meeting at Clay Springs, please plan on attending.

A FUN DAY AT THE PARK

Have you ever wondered what to do on a pretty day? Here is something that the whole family can go to, and it is very close, with the gas prices the way they are, every little bit helps. Wekiwa Springs State Park.



RiverFest 2008: You're Invited!

WHAT? 3rd Annual RiverFest: Music, wildlife displays, children’s nature crafts, book signings, pontoon boat rides, wildlife artists from the 2nd annual Wekiva Plein Air Paint-Out.

Food available.

Canoe/Kayak races the next day.

WHO? Public invited. Sponsors: Friends of the Wekiva River, Inc., along with other area environmental organizations

WHEN? March 8: 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m. Canoe Races: Wekiva Marina March 9, 8:30a.m. registration.

WHERE? Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka, off Wekiva Springs Road . Free parking and shuttles available at First Baptist Church of Sweetwater,
3800 Wekiva Springs Road , Longwood. Park admission free on the day of RiverFest.

Canoe/Kayak Races launch at Wekiva Marina in Longwood.

WHY? For residents and visitors to see, enjoy and learn more about Central Florida ’s unique water resources and wildlife, and the urgent need for protection.

QUESTIONS? Call Deede Sharpe, FOWR Publicity, at 407-647-7487

BOHA Meeting

Next month we will be having our annual Bent Oak Homeowners meeting at Clay Springs. It is very important that we have a good turn out for this meeting because if we do not have a quorum we will have to reschedule the meeting again, and it is not cheap. If you are not able to attend please use your proxy, they do count toward the quorum. So mark it on your calendar MARCH 10TH, see you there..... Dave S.