Features

It’s been a tad hot around Central Texas these past few days. Cows were giving evaporated milk. Birds were using potholders to pull worms from the ground.

For the past couple of weeks, we addressed how the recycling programs were being affected by the virus in three different sized cities: New York, our Austin, and Fort Collins, Co. The information was gathered from an article in the Resource Recycling newsletter.

I often hear in business circles the somewhat overused modern sayings: “hope is not a plan” and “hope is not a strategy.” Utterance of the word “hope” in a planning discussion or a report to investors or employees will at best result in an unenthusiastic response from the audience, and at worst an admonishment that the speaker does not have a proper operational plan. It makes sense. None of the stakeholders in a business – neither investors nor employees – want to hear from the CEO that the plan for dealing with a set back in business is hope. Everyone wants a well thought out operational plan.

Q.How can writers of poetry and short stories get their work published? Do I need to copyright my work before I try to publish it?

September is still summertime in Central Texas, with yards stressed by severe heat and spare moisture, including Stage 1 Drought Restrictions limiting lawn watering to one day each week, whether by hose and sprinkler or automatic irrigation system. Fortunately, hand watering and soaker hoses or drip irrigation is not restricted, and homeowners who want to maximize water use (and minimize cost) know that providing water early in the morning is the most efficient way to keep plants healthy until cooler weather arrives. September’s Yard of the Month, chosen by Spring Lake Garden Club, shows the wisdom of adding one more item to summertime plant care: plenty of mulch. In fact, the original mulch coverage has already been replenished with a new supply.

The Azalea Bowl at Callaway Gardens is one of The Garden Guy’s favorite places, even when the 3,000-plus azaleas aren’t blooming. The seasonal color and serenity will have you energized in short order. Such was the case recently, when my wife Jan and I became mesmerized with their plantings of flowers and foliage, in combination with the graceful King Tut papyrus.