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PAGE 20 McHENRY PLAINDEALER FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1974 AroundThe Garden NEWS By Matthew S. Rosen Instructor - Ornamental Horticulture McHenry County College , Indoor landscaping is a fascinating field. The diversity of suitable species, and the multitude of different con­ tainers make design possibilities limitless: tall plants with petite foliage, small specimens with giant leaves, species craving sun, in­ dividuals requiring low light; metal, wood, plastic, glazed or natural pottery, fiberglass, and molded styrafoam planters; hanging baskets, ornamental >r pots, decorative desk inieres, and almost infinite (lumber of combinations exist. Truly one can become easily bfefuddled, or perhaps frustrated is a better word, when selecting materials. After all, how much can you narrow down a list of fifty or sixty without excluding, at least, some old time favorites? The temptation of resisting the addition of just one more new species is, indeed, often extremely difficult to over­ come. While strolling through a greenhouse on a Saturday afternoon, my eyes frequently come to rest upon an unique individual. Immediately im­ pulses are sent straight to my brain; "Oh, what ex­ traordinary flowers! Lode how gaily colored and delicate they appear. The foliage! Why, you have never seen variegated leaves like those. Surely space can be found on the (already crowded) window sill." At moments like this I really believe that I get at least a little insight into how Eve must have felt when confronted by the devilish serpent in the Garden of Eden. Shifting my feet nervously, a sense of reality slowly begins to return. In the final analysis, my decision to buy depends solely on the following criteria: Can I provide a happy home for the plant? Does my small apartment have the correct lighting condition? Am I willing to spend the additional time required to meet specific requirements like watering, misting, fertilizing, and pruning? Remember, how well a plant prospers indoors is determined purely on how successful we are in duplicating the cultural parameters to which the species is accustomed to in Nature. Significant variance on our part guarantees failure. ^Viewing unusual plant hames, I feel many of you are Maying-thinking something like: "Latin names, yuck! I do not know one name on the list. How can I ever purchase plants if I cannot even pronounce, let alone remember, those tongue- twister type names? If I go into my local florist or greenhouse and ask for a Chrysalidocarpus lutescens the man will think I am balmy. Why, just the name sounds positively indecent." Again let me repeat, for many house plants, the use of Latin names is essential due to the multitude of common names that generally exist for any given species or variety. Association of the taxonomic name with the plant will, at first, undoubtedly present somewhat of a problem; however, in a short * time (honestly), you will be able to tie plant and name together. Why, before you know it, you will find yourselves actually forgetting the common names. No longer will you walk up to a particular palm and say: "Ah, that is a butterfly or areca palm," rather, upon spying the specimen, the name Chrysalidocarpus lutescens will flash across your brain. As for confusing florists and greenhouse operators with your newly acquired horticultural vocabulary, do not be too concerned. Almost all plants are distributed commercially solely by their Latin name. The reason: To insure that the retailer and wholesaler are talking about the same species. Nothing is more frustrating than ordering one type of plant and receiving another. The taxonomic system of nomen­ clature allows you to pick up any greenhouse or nursery catalogue written in the English alphabet, and know exactly what genus and species are being described: For example, the name Chrysalidocarpus lutescens may be found in Spanish, French, or German brochures. Horticultural Notes: Due to your response, a second section of Indoor Gardening has been opened. Beginning on Feb. 11, the class will meet at the college Monday evenings from 5-7. This is a "Do" course. We will be making terrariums, corsages, Japanese and American type floral arrangements, as well as looking into the intricacies of house plant culture. Interested persons should either contact the registrar at McHenry County college or register at the first meeting of the class. Should you have a question, or just a horticultural point of information you would like Washington, D.C. Is World's Phone Capital Washington, D.C., the nation's capital is the world's telephone capital. In fact, it has even more telephones than people. And the United States has more telephones than any other country - 131,606,000 of - them. Out of five areas in the world which have more phones than people, four are in this country. One is in Illinois - Champaign-Urbana, site of the . University of Illinois, has 100.5 : phones per 100 people. Washington, D.C. leads the way - with 128.1 phones per 100. At the other extreme, however, there are only 182 telephones in all of Georgetown -- but that is Georgetown on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. Since there are only 400 people on the island, however, that means there are about 45.5 phones for every loo people. A n o t h e r w e l l - k n o w n university town, Cambridge, Mass., home of Harvard, has 103.2 phones per 100 residents. Southfield, Mich., has 124.1 phones for every 100 people. The only other city in the world with more telephones than people is Stockholm, Sweden. Its 703,271 telephones for about 699,000 residents average out to 100.6 phones for every 100 people. Those are just a few of the facts, as of Jan. 1, 1973, in­ cluded in American Telephone and Telegraph company's "The World's Telephones." The booklet is published annually and contains statistics on the number and location of telephones around the world. Figures lag by a year because it takes that long to gather and compile the information from telephone companies around the globe. The world's telephones are increasing every year. The 312,902,000 world telephones listed as of Jan. 1, 1973, represented a 7.4 percent jump from the year before and a growth of 94.2 percent over the last 10 years. Symbolic of the growth of the world telephone network is the Republic of China, which became the world's thirty-ninth country to have more than one-half million telephones. IMMEDIATE AUTO LICENSE SERVICE f\N W74 19 "UNO'S 74^ - The Veterans administration health care program for cer­ tain dependents of veterans will be carried out through private physicians and hospitals for the most part, VA explained today. VA hospitals have been advised to refer applicants to par­ ticipating private physicians and hospitals and to admit eligible dependents to VA hospitals only when they have an uniqUe capability not verified, why not drop me a line: The address: McHenry County College, 6200 Northwest Highway, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014. Suggestions on future topics are always appreciated. Happy Gardening! available in the area and when these facilities are not needed for treating a veteran. The new medical program enacted last August, covers "spouses and children of veterans totally and per­ manently disabled by service connected conditions and widows or widowers and children of veterans who died from service connected con­ ditions. Called CHAMPVA, for "Civilian Health and Medical Program - Veterans ad­ ministration," the VA dependent care system closely parallels the Department of Defense program for depen­ dents of retirees. Benefits are essentially > the same, and claims will be paid through the fiscal system that already existed for CHAMPUS. ' CHAMPVA covers a wide range of outpatient and hospital care, but eligible patients must confirm in advance that the physician or other source of medical care will participate in CHAMPVA, VA officials ex­ plained. Most-medical facilities in the United States have received forms and instructions for making claims for reim­ bursement, and forms are available also from CHAMPUS fiscal aeepts throughout the country. Names of fiscal agents and full information on the CHAMPVA program are available through VA's 170 hospitals. „ ^ As in the military program for retirees, the VA program pays 75 percent of the reasonable charges for out­ patient services and for PENSION CHECKS Increased benefits will be reflected in February VA pension checks for nearly 2.7 million disabled veterans and survivors of deceased veterans. A cost-of-living increase in these benefits is authorized by a law signed by the President Dec. 6, effective Jan. 1. Ad­ ministrator of Veterans Af­ fairs, Donald E. Johnson, said the increase will average 10 per cent for 915,000 wartime veterans and 859,000 widows on VA pension rolls. Increased pension payments will go to 842,000 children of veterans. hospitalization. For outpatient services, the beneficiary must also pay the first $50 each year, or the first $100 when two or more members of one family use the program. Increases are also scheduled for 69,000 parents drawing dependency and indemnity compensation. Pensions are paid on the basis of need to veterans permanently and totally disabled from non- service causes, and to widows and children of veterans who died of non-service-connected disabilities. * • * • The enthusiasm of a sales­ man is what costs you mon­ ey. RENT A WATER SOFTNER from TOM HUEMANN Water Conditioning 2103 W. Church 385-3093 Johns burg, McHenry BEAT THE DEADLINE Before you know it, the deadline for displaying 1974 Illinois Auto plate will be here. Beat the last minute crush. We have 1974 renewal plates ready for im­ mediate pick-up. Just bring the pre-printed application you received from the Secretary of State ... plus your cash or check. We make a one dollar charge. HOURS: MONDAY, TUESDAY, WED^Egg^ & THURSDAY 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. FR'DAY 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 n.m. SATURDAY „ 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon DAILY 9-9 SUNDAYS TIL 6 HORNSBYS family centers Don't Forget Your Valentine On Thur Feb. 14th 'super [Savings Xvl :SKi :•:* , Fashions Latest I Ladies Knit Tops • First quality knit tops from famous maker. Big selection colors, sytlos and doslgns Values to 13.00. Small. Med Large -- while they last. Girl's Rayon Panty Brief Brach's vaenvne Meflow inmnf vrenres 1*9. 44c. On* pound bag of cherry and vanilla flavars. Heart, dart and cupid SPEIDEL 'Twist-On" 'Watch Bank 87 ,.67S Quality plus style by Spaidal. tba number on* nam* in wetch- bandi. Famous Twist- 0-H*» construction. Assorted mens and -- ttyles In >:XvXX-:*i£ r*No«» er stainless steel. Save 18c on each pair. Rayon brief In assorted colors. Sizes (6- 8-10-12). POLAROID ̂ COLORPACK 2 FILM No. 88 Eight 2K"x33/8" Prints. Reg. 3.37 For Daylight or Flash pictures. Micrin Plus Mouth Wash New I 3 ounce site. New formula gargl* and rins*. Add Spring Charm to your home •XyXv Saiel Live Healthy House Plants Healthy and happy house plants to add a touch of natural beauty to home. your 5" Plants in Pot With totem pole 3.87 "iJALGON BOUQUET* Calgon Bouquet Bath Beads 2 for Our Reg. 13c ' NET WT. 16 OZ. Mfgrs. 1.19. IS ot. site. Softens skin. :.v.v.....v...v.......v.v;.:.:.:.:v:.:.:.;. r*'rM'*,nI fragrance. Reg. 3" Plants in Pot Allen's Ideal Potting Soil 8 qt. bag of all purpose potting soil. Our Reg. 56c JIGSAW PUZZLE smUI! 1000 pieces, King- size round 24** diameter. Reg. 1.83, Many Bea­ utiful scences to choose from.. SHAMPOO WITH rtOTf IN Clairol Body Great Shampoo Mfgrs. I.»» site. I0.S ot. shampoo with protein. Regular or oily to suit your type of hair. Swwx'i'&'ji'w:': BOUNTY JUMBO TOWELS Single roll lOOsq. ft. absorbs spills like magic. Reg. 44c. 4400 Market Place Shopping Center McHenry, Illinois Rt. 47 & Country Club Road Woodstock. Ill.i FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF WOODSTOCK 1