Home

&
A Special Section brought to you by
The Courier Press, Clayton County Register
and North Iowa Times
Magic
mini-makeover
refreshes
room
Tackle
spring
cleaning
with the
environment
in mind
Small home
offers an
expansive
world of
stories
inside
Renewable
energy
systems
should be
considered
Page 2 Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Spring Home & Garden
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By Correne Martin
Rich Bannen, of the Steuben/East-
man area, has been teaching people about
the alternative methods of powering
homes and properties since he started
Prairie Solar Power and Light in 2006
(after many years in the welding and con-
struction industry).
Bannen is a certied, full-service Fo-
cus on Energy site assessor who can in-
stall or work with subcontractors to in-
stall solar electricity PV (photovoltaic),
solar hot water and small wind turbine
systems. Bannen specializes in o-grid
solar battery systems. And these systems
have solar electric, wind and gas/propane
generators to charge the batteries. He
services PV, SDHW and wind systems
within 150 miles of the Prairie du Chien
area, including Iowa, Minnesota and
northern Illinois.
There are parts of the state where
solar is more common. Its really big in
Viroqua, the Sun Prairie/Madison area
and Milwaukee, Bannen said. Its not
for everybody. First, you have to be able
to live in a location where solar energy is
possible and, second, you have to be in
Rich Bannen, of the Steuben/Eastman area, has been the owner of Prairie Solar Power and Light since
2006. He installs solar electricity, solar hot water and small wind turbine systems within 150 miles of
the Prairie du Chien area, in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and northern Illinois.
Renewable energy systems should be considered
the right mind-set.
A property owner must strongly be-
lieve that carbon emissions from power
stations are a signicant cause of climate
change and, therefore, renewable energy
systems are a erce argument for doing
something about that. This way of think-
ing is largely accepted by not just home-
owners anymore, but governments too.
According to the Economist.com,
many governments are pumping money
into renewable sources of electricity, such
as wind turbines, solar farms, hydroelec-
tric and geothermal plants.
Not only are these systems cleaner
for the environment, but they are also be-
coming more and more aordable. A solar
system can reduce or even eliminate elec-
tric bills and increase a homes value in
some cases. According to Bannen, a typi-
cal solar battery system, which sells for
around $27,000 right now, has a return
on investment (ROI) of 4 to 5 percent in
Wisconsinwhich means it would take
about 25 years to recoup the cost of in-
vesting.
ENERGY: Continued on page 4
Tuesday, April 22, 2014 Page 3
Spring Home & Garden
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By Audrey Posten
Trees are a big part of a homeowners
property. If they are well cared for, trees
can add beauty throughout the year, as
well as value to property. In the course of
tree maintenance, some dead, dying and
decaying trees have to be taken down and
hazardous trees trimmed. However, ac-
cording to Dan Keyes, owner of Keyes
Tree Service in McGregor, that mainte-
nance doesnt have to compromise the
health and future of the tree.
I can save a lot of trees that people
dont realize, said Keyes, who has been
in the tree service business for nearly 40
years. As a certied arborist and certi-
ed utility arborist, hes taken classes and
tests through the International Society of
Arboriculture, a worldwide organization
that instructs people on the safety and
health of trees.
After working mostly in northern Il-
linois, Keyes said he would like to show
northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin
customers that there are ways to reduce
the height of trees without chopping the
top o. The method is called drop crotch
pruning.
Keyes Tree Service works
to protect health, future
of trees
You reduce the crown of the tree and
take it down to lateral growth. Theres no
stub sticking up, said Keyes, explaining
that other methods leave a weak place
for growth, which will eventually lead
the tree to fail. This helps the physiol-
ogy of the tree. Its better for the health
and future, so that the tree can continue
to grow.
When property owners try to choose
trees to plant, Keyes said its important to
consider whether the tree will stand alone
or be planted in a busy area. According to
Keyes, 75 percent of tree issues are not
because of bugs or animals, but because
of drainage problems, compacted soil,
disruption of roots or getting run into,
among other things.
Trees are tough, but they do get
hurt, he said. They dont heal. They
grow past the injury.
While Keyes continually takes class-
es to stay certied, he said his experience
can be reassuring for property owners.
This isnt my rst rodeo, he said.
Im not going to tell you to do some-
thing you dont need. I can oer a per-
spective thats benecial.
Page 4 Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Spring Home & Garden
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Thats not too bad, Bannen stated.
But in Illinois, there ROI is about 8 per-
cent. At 8 percent, a person could get
back their investment and start really sav-
ing after just 12 and a half years.
Of course, there are also tax cred-
its, government and local utility nancial
incentives and depreciation cost savings
realized by investing in renewable energy
systems, Bannen said, noting that such
incentives could cut thousands of dollars
of the price of a renewable energy system.
For more information about Ban-
nen local business or other green energy
systems, call (608) 412-0132 or visit www.
kickapoogreen.org/RichB.html. At this
website, interested consumers may also
use a solar and wind estimator to calcu-
late the size and cost to install an energy
system for your home or building, based
upon input from current energy bills and
the net system cost, after tax credits and
other incentives are applied.
Solar electric
Solar energy technologies produce
energy by capturing solar radiation emit-
ted by the sun. Solar electric systems are
the fastest-growing energy technology in
the United States, according to the So-
lar Energy Industry Association (SEIA).
SEIA reports that solar electric installa-
tions in 2011 grew 109 percent to reach
1,855 MW.
PV cells can be used to power ev-
erything from calculators to homes and
businesses. Most PV cells are made from
crystalline silicon or thin-lm semicon-
ductor material. Although silicon cells
are more e cient at converting sunlight
to electricity, they tend to have higher
manufacturing costs, while thin-lm ma-
terials are less e cient, but cost less to
manufacture.
Solar electric systems work any time
the sun is shining, though electricity pro-
duction increases in relation to sunlight
intensity. Additionally, solar energy pro-
duction is dependent on the time of day,
time of year, local topography, weather
conditions and geospatial location. In
Wisconsin, the average solar energy po-
tential for basic (at plate) PV panels tilt-
ed at 40 to 50 degrees is approximately
1,000 kilowatt-hours per year per kilo-
watt of system capacity installed.
Solar hot water
Solar thermal systems, also called so-
lar heating and cooling systems, collect
thermal energy from the sun to provide
hot water, space heating, cooling, and
pool heating for homes and businesses. In
Wisconsin, these systems have tradition-
ally been used for the production of hot
water. They are also often used in combi-
nation with in-oor heating.
Solar thermal technology concen-
trates the suns rays using reective de-
vices that heat a liquid stored in a tank
until needed. Active solar hot water sys-
tems use circulating pumps and controls,
which are more e cient but more expen-
sive than the passive systems that do not
require additional equipment. Passive
systems rely on the natural tendency for
hot uids to rise to deliver heated water.
The pipes in the system typically contain
antifreeze, so they can withstand cold
weather.
According to the U.S. Department
of Energy, solar hot water systems gener-
ally cost more than conventional water
heating systems. However, solar hot wa-
ter heaters can usually save money in the
long run. According to the Solar Energy
Industries Association (SEIA), the return
on investment for solar water heating can
be as low as 3-6 years for a well-designed
system, the lowest of any solar technol-
ogy. How much money you save depends
on how much hot water is used, the per-
formance of the system, the geographic
location, and the cost of conventional
fuels.
On average, customers save 50-80
percent on water heating bills through so-
lar thermal systems. According to the So-
lar Rating and Certication Corporation
(SRCC), a typical residential solar water
heating system delivers 4 kilowatts when
under full sun and when the temperature
of the water is the same temperature as
the air. This system has about 64 square
feet of solar collector surface area, the
equivalent peak power of 400 square feet
of photovoltaic panels.
The benets of solar electricity
Cut your electricity bills: sunlight
is free, so once youve paid for the initial
installation your electricity costs will be
reduced.
Sell electricity back to the grid: If
your system is producing more electricity
than you need, or when you cant use it,
you can sell the surplus back to the grid.
Cut your carbon footprint: solar
electricity is green, renewables energy
and doesnt release any harmful carbon
dioxide] or other pollutants. A typical
home solar PV system could save over
a ton of carbon dioxide per yearthats
more than 30 tons over its lifetime.
Ins and outs of wind energy
According to Focus on Energy, wind
energy is harnessed through a wind tur-
bine that utilizes blades to generate me-
chanical energy. The blades are attached
to a main shaft within the turbine that
spins a series of gears linked to a genera-
tor that convert the mechanical energy
into electrical energy, which can then be
used at the source of generation, or added
to the gridded power supply.
The productivity of a wind turbine is
referred to as the capacity factor, which is
the amount of power produced in a given
time compared to what the generator
could produce if it ran at full capacity for
that time. Typical capacity factors are 20
to 25 percent, and wind turbines are avail-
able in a wide range of sizes.
Wind turbines can power everything
from lighting and air conditioning to an
entire home, small farm, or business.
Grid-connected systems are the most
common form of wind turbines today.
When more energy is produced than is
consumed, net metering allows the elec-
tric meter to run backward, crediting the
customer for the excess electricity. (This
applies to the solar alternatives as well.)
ENERGY continued from page 2
Tuesday, April 22, 2014 Page 5
Spring Home & Garden
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RESIDENTIAL
AGRICULTURAL
COMMERCIAL
By Ted Pennekamp
The good folks at the Nelson True
Value Home and Garden Center in Prai-
rie du Chien have been very busy, espe-
cially since the arrival of spring. Along
with numerous other items, Home and
Garden personnel said that a wide array
of ornamental shrubs and trees have ar-
rived in recent shipments.
Just some of the many types of
shrubs and trees ready for spring planting
include Wilton Blue Rug Juniper, Mugo
Pine, Russian Cypress, Nest Spruce, Py-
ramidal Arborvitae, Dark Green Spread-
ing Yew, Golden Cutleaf Sumac, Crimson
Cloud Hawthorne, Tulip Tree, and Min-
nesota Strain Redbud to name a few.
Here is a brief description of each of
those listed:
The Blue Rug Juniper, (Juniperus
horizontalis Wiltonii), is an excellent
ground cover or bank planting with it low
growing thick foliage. The Blue Rug is so
named because of its silver-blue color and
low growing habit. Blue Rug will do well
in almost any well drained soil and needs
moderate moisture. This is the lowest
growing of all Juniper plants and they will
even cascade over walls. It has a mature
height of 6 with a spread of 6-8. Prune
young shoots to encourage branching,
but older branches may not produce new
growth. This plant prefers an acidic soil
for best results. In the fall this plant will
produce small, round, dark berries. The
berries add to the landscape eect. It is
pH adaptable and salt tolerant. Use this
plant for mass planting, on banks, in rock
gardens, planter boxes, and around tall
shrubs or trees.
Mugo Pine - A small to large sized
shrubby evergreen which varies in form
and size. Introduced from Europe in 1779.
Needles persist for more than ve years.
Dark green color year-round and resists
winterburn. Pinus mugo is widely culti-
vated as an ornamental plant, for use as
a small tree or shrub, planted in gardens
and in larger pots and planters. It is also
used in Japanese garden style landscapes,
and for larger bonsai specimens.
Nelson True Value Home and Garden Center
oers a wide variety of shrubs and trees
Russian Cypress - Virtues: A rugged,
dense evergreen shrub that makes a nice
evergreen mat. Foliage turns bronze or
purplish bronze in winter, for something
dierent. A good alternative to mat-
forming junipers.
Nest Spruce - Versatile, dwarf form
is an excellent evergreen for border, ac-
cent or container. Tight, compact shape
requires little maintenance. Very hardy
and wind resistant.
Pyramidal Arborvitae - Fast grow-
ing, narrow pyramidal evergreen with
bright green, soft-textured foliage. An
ideal choice for a hedge or screen. Mini-
mal shearing required to maintain its neat
shape.
Dark Green Spreading Yew - Dense,
low, spreading shrub is an excellent basic
foundation planting for hedge, screen or
border. Dark green foliage backs scarlet
berries. Versatile and durable, it is high-
ly resistant to needle burn and tolerates
shearing well.
Cutleaf Sumac - Cutleaf sumac plants
are easy to grow and adaptable to any
type of soil. They do well in either full sun
or partial shade, need an average amount
of moisture and are tolerant of drought.
A newly planted sumac will benet from
weekly watering during its rst year, with
extra water also helpful during dry spells
or in periods of extreme heat. Feeding
cutleaf sumac with a general-purpose, bal-
anced fertilizer such as a 10-10-10 formu-
la, early in spring can also help promote
new growth and good foliage cover during
the growing season.
Crimson Cloud Hawthorn - The
Crimson Cloud Hawthorn is another
great tree to put in your arsenal of small
tough colorful landscape varieties. Of
greatest signicance is the fact that it is
the perfect substitute for the very prob-
lematic Pauls Scarlet Hawthorn. The
Crimson Cloud Hawthorn is resistant to
the leaf blight that a icts the Pauls Scar-
let Hawthorn. The Crimson Cloud is sim-
ilar in size and form, and the owers are
equal, if not superior, to the Pauls Scar-
let. Although the owers might be small,
they are plentiful and spectacular in color,
detail, and fragrance. Oh, the fragrance!
This tree is perfect for a small up-close
garden specimen, or tough enough to be
a long-lived street tree. Beware, however,
that plentiful owers attract plentiful
bees for a short period of time. The tem-
porary inconvenience (if you believe bees
are an inconvenience) is well worth it.
Tulip Tree - Liriodendron trees are
easily recognized by their leaves, which
are distinctive, having four lobes in most
cases and a cross-cut notched or straight
apex. Leaf size varies from 822 cm long
and 625 cm wide. The tulip tree is often
a large tree, 1832 m high and 60120 cm
in diameter. Its trunk is usually colum-
nar, with a long, branch-free bole form-
ing a compact, rather than open, conical
crown of slender branches. It has deep
roots that spread widely.
Minnesota Strain Redbud - A spec-
tacular and hardy spring bloomer, with
very showy pink to purple owers held
tightly on bare branches in early spring;
somewhat coarse heart-shaped leaves;
a top choice small ornamental tree for
specimen use in the northern landscape.
Northern Strain Redbud has rose pea-like
owers along the branches from early to
mid spring, which emerge from distinc-
tive fuchsia ower buds before the leaves.
It has forest green foliage which emerges
burgundy in spring. The heart-shaped
leaves turn buttery yellow in fall. The
fruit is not ornamentally signicant. The
rough dark brown bark is not particularly
outstanding.
For more information about these
and many other shrubs and trees, talk to
the friendly people at the Nelson True
Value Home and Garden Center, which is
located at 700 E. Blackhawk Ave., Prai-
rie du Chien. The phone number is (608)
326-2491.
These are just some of the numerous shrubs
offered at the Nelson True Value Home and
Garden Center.
Page 6 Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Spring Home & Garden
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By Correne Martin
You only go around once in life. Get
the twirly skirt.
Julie Antonsen lives her life by that
obeat motto, which is painted on a
sign hanging in a prominent place in her
kitchen. She bought her charming two-
story home at 148 North Wacouta Av-
enue in Prairie du Chien in December of
2012. Though it may appear tiny from the
outside, the inside is quite the contrary.
It happens to be a wonderful example of
how a downsized space doesnt always
have to feel like a small one or be on an
expensive budget.
When you walk inside the front
doors of her house, you enter an expan-
sive world of colorful rooms eclectically
decorated with pieces that tell stories
about Julies friends and family, including
her Norwegian ancestors.
I cant throw a Kleenex in this house
without it falling on something someone
made or that has been repurposed, Julie
said.
The furnishings are sentimental, and
the historical and artistic adornments are
the centerpieces of the cozy yet cheery-
Small home oers an expansive world
of stories inside
schemed rooms that Julie calls home. The
high ceilings painted the same color as
the walls and the many windows and mir-
rors allow an abundance of natural light
to reect in and around the home.
As a child growing up in Dodgeville,
Julie always relished in rearranging. She
admits shes never been one to throw
away items that have repurposing pos-
sibilities. In fact, the Little Miss Jaymar
toy china tea set she played with as a little
girl is nicely displayed in her living room.
Its even complete with the original box,
set up adjacent to the large collection of
books of various genres shes accumulated
throughout her lifetime.
I love to decorate but Ive never re-
modeled a house before, she said.
Julie came upon this house and the
remodeling of it on a whim actually. She
was looking to buy a dierent place in
Prairie du Chien, but as soon as she de-
cided to call to the real estate company,
she learned it had been sold. Disappoint-
ed, Julie and her friend Suzy Tegge were
driving around the community looking
at places, when they saw a for-sale sign in
the front yard at 148 North Wacouta. She
called the realtor right away for the ask-
ing price: $39,000.
It had a bid on it already but the
owner was still considering it, she re-
membered. So the realtor said I had to
put a bid on it that day if I wanted it. I bid
$40,000 to show that I really wanted it.
I wrote up an oer to purchase and, two
days later, I had a house. It was meant to
be.
At the time, the house had simple
white walls and basic dcor inside, just
one bedroom and only one bathroom on
the second oor. (Shes added a second
bathroom on the main oor since.) But
the walls and windows were in very good
shape and it had a new roof and a furnace.
To buy those things would have been
very prohibitive for me, Julie stated.
In total, Julie said shes spent about
$12,000 on modernizing the interior of
her humble abode. That brings her to
right around $50,000, which the house
was appraised for when she purchased it.
Shes more than pleased and very proud
of what shes accomplished in utilizing a
small house and making it into a comfort-
ably distinctive home in the heart of Prai-
rie du Chiena community shes lived in
since 1990. (Julie worked for Crawford
County Human Services for over 20 years
and started teaching human services at
Southwest Tech in Fennimore in 2012.)
Julie is certain her warm new home
wouldnt have been possible without
the eager generosity and patience of her
friends and family. They are the ones
who created the contemporary, factory-
like furniture with their very own hands.
Even the house numbers are uniquely displayed
on the front porch of Julies quaint, remodeled
home on North Wacouta Avenue in Prairie du
Chien.
Julie Antonsen is pictured with her 3-year-old
adopted cat Addaliese.
HOME: Continued on page 10
Tuesday, April 22, 2014 Page 7
Spring Home & Garden
Residential Repairs Barn Repairs Leaky Sinks Leaky Roofs Yard Work Fence Work
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By Ted Pennekamp
Windows have gotten much more
energy e cient over the years and Spahn
& Rose Lumber Company of Prairie du
Chien has an array of popular windows to
choose from for new construction or re-
modeling projects for the home.
Double hung windows are still the
most common in this area, said Spahn &
Rose Manager Brent Posten, who noted
that casement windows, slider windows,
and awning windows are also among the
common types.
Posten said that double hung win-
dows are those which are pushed up when
one wants a breeze through the house.
Casement windows are hand-cranked
out. Slider windows slide to one side, and
awning windows are hand-cranked up.
Windows are also made of several
types of materials. Posten said that wood-
clad windows remain popular. There is
also a material made by Anderson Win-
dows called Fibrex, which is a composite
that is heavier duty than vinyl.
Wood clad, vinyl and Fibrex windows
can be made for size. Vinyl windows are
the most common for replacement win-
Spahn and Rose oers many types
of energy e cient windows
On the left is an example of a casement window. On the right is
a double hung window.
dows. Vinyl windows are maintenance
free. There is no wood that requires stain-
ing.
Posten said that people should get
windows that are Energy Star rated,
which is a government standard for heat-
ing and cooling e ciency. He said that
many windows today use insulated glass.
Double paned windows are nothing new,
but Posten said that they are now made
with a Low E coating on the outside
for better energy e ciency. Also, there is
argon gas between the panes to help in-
crease the R-value or U factor. Posten said
that windows should have a U factor less
than .3. The most popular double paned
or triple paned windows have Low E coat-
ing.
Because of more energy e cient win-
dows, Posten said that there is less of a
need for storm windows. Storm windows
do have a use, however. If a homeowner
has old, unique styled windows that they
do not want to part with, but they also
want to make those stylish windows
more e cient, they can add storm win-
dows to the outside without ruining the
look. Other homeowners may want to
add storm windows because they are less
expensive than replacing
their current windows.
Posten said that Spahn
& Rose also oers many
options for decorative ef-
fects of windows.
Most windows are
made in the Upper Mid-
west, said Posten, who
noted that Anderson and
Weather Shield windows
are made in Wisconsin,
while Pella windows are
made in Pella, Iowa.
Spahn & Rose is lo-
cated at 1155 E. LaPointe
St., Prairie du Chien. The
phone number is (608) 326-
8497.
Page 8 Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Spring Home & Garden
1
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Phone is equivalent to landline phone service. 911 calls made using the U.S. Cellular Home Phone Service are routed using U.S. Cellular s automatic location technology and users should
be prepared to provide their physical address to emergency responders. While the Device does contain a GPS chip, its connection may be limited due to the Devices location within the
home. The GPS chip will work best if the Device is located near a window or other opening. A corded or cordless landline phone must be connected to the Device in order to use the
U.S. Cellular Home Phone to operate. A corded or Cordless landline phone is not included. While the Device does have a backup battery, if the landline phone to which the Device is
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Rhubarb, classed as a vegetable, is
used as a fruit because its high acidity
gives it a tart avor. Iowa State Univer-
sity horticulturists make rhubarb planting
recommendations for gardeners planting
their rst rhubarb patch and those main-
taining an established planting. Garden-
ers with additional questions should con-
tact Hortline at 515-294-3108 or hortline@
iastate.edu.
What would be a good planting
site for rhubarb?
Rhubarb performs best in well-
drained, fertile soils that are high in or-
ganic matter. Work the soil deeply (12
to 15 inches) and add liberal amounts of
organic matter, such as compost or barn-
yard manure, before planting.
Rhubarb also requires full sun. The
planting site should receive at least six
hours of direct sun each day. Avoid shady
sites near trees and shrubs.
When is the best time to plant
rhubarb?
Spring is the best time to plant rhu-
barb in Iowa. Plants can be purchased at
garden centers or from mail-order cata-
logs. Digging and dividing large existing
plants is another source of plants.
Plants growing in pots should be
planted at the same depth as they are cur-
rently growing in their pots. Bare-root
plants should be planted with the buds 1
to 2 inches below the soil surface.
Dig and divide large plants in early
spring before growth starts and as soon as
the soil can be worked easily. Dig deeply
around the rhubarb clump and lift the
Rhubarb-planting recommendations
entire plant out of the ground. Divide
the clump into sections by cutting down
through the crown between the buds.
Each division should contain at least two
or three buds and a large portion of the
root system. Replant the divisions as soon
as possible.
Rhubarb plants should be spaced 3
feet apart.
What are the best rhubarb vari-
eties for home gardens?
The cultivars Canada Red, Crimson
Red, MacDonald, and Valentine have
attractive red stalks and are good choices
for Iowa gardens. Victoria is a reliable,
green-stalked cultivar.
When can I start harvesting
newly planted rhubarb?
After planting rhubarb, its best to
wait two years (growing seasons) before
harvesting any stalks. The two year es-
tablishment period allows the plants to
become strong and productive.
Rhubarb can be harvested over a
four-week period in the third year. In the
fourth and succeeding years, stalks can be
harvested for 8 to 10 weeks.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014 Page 9
Spring Home & Garden
24411 Hwy 13 N Elkader
563-245-2515
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By Pam Reinig
If you want to know whats hot in
home furnishings, take a look at current
fashions. According to Beth Rentschler,
owner of Elkader Carpet and Design
Center, fashion will always be rst with
new colors and designs, and home fur-
nishings will follow.
Bright yellow, orange and purple have
been hot runway colors for the last couple
of seasons and now Rentschler is seeing
them in interior design. Pops of color are
turning up everywhere, transforming or-
dinary rooms into extraordinary spaces.
This is a good time of year to think
about color, too, Rentschler added. Its
been a long winter and now that spring
is nally here, people want to bring that
feeling indoors.
Refreshing a room doesnt have to
break the bank. If you have a neutral in-
vestment piece like a sofa in beige or gray,
for example, you can add touches of color
with pillows, lamps and accessories rang-
ing from vases to bowls to books.
To demonstrate the strategy, Rent-
schler did a magic mini-makeover in her
store using a gray sofa and ottoman. She
added pillows with a geometric pattern in
purple to the sofa. She transformed the
ottoman into a statement piece, rst top-
ping it with a wire tray and ceramic pot.
The tray adds the bling, the shine
thats also really big right now, Rent-
schler said.Metal is hot and it works well
with some many colors.
Next, Rentschler placed a green glass
bowl, old books and some candles in
shades of purple on the ottoman, using
a second silver tray to balance the items.
Her nal touches were a yellow picture
frame on the ottoman, a shiny vase with
Magic mini-makeover refreshes room
spring owers, a cobalt blue vase and a
lamp with curvy lines.
Elkader Carpet provides free interior
design advice. Rentschler urges custom-
ers to develop mixed palettes by taking
their cues from nature.
Look at the green grass, the brown
trees, the blue skieswhat doesnt go
with that? she asked.
Refreshing a room any time of the
year calls for thinking outside of the box,
a little.
Nothing dramatic, Rentschler said,
reassuringly. You have to get the room
to talk to you, to look at fresh ways to
use your space. If you really like a color,
theres always a way to use itfrom paint
to furnishings. Its all about what suits
you.
Beth Rentschler, lower right, shows how to do a mini-makeover. Start with a basic investment piece like this gray sofa and matching
ottoman. Add the rst pop of color with pillows.
Next, add a green glass bowl and purple candles. Finish with touches of yellow (picture frame), cobalt blue (vase) and something shiny like
another vase or lamp.
Page 10 Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Spring Home & Garden
1 FAMILY
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Some came with pictures, cheese
boxes, antique wall hangings and chairs
they felt would t perfectly into her ec-
centric little dwelling. Her niece and
nephew painted every room of the house.
Friends helped her move in furniture such
as a freestanding bathtub and a bedroom
couch and chair up a steep staircase to the
second oor.
It was just a wonderful project, and
so humbling, to bring friends and family
together to make this place a home. Its
also a real reminder of the loved ones I
have in my life, she said.
The main portion of Julies home was
built over 100 years ago. On the front
doorstep, visitors see a wooden stool be-
neath a tiny pair of ruby slippers lled
with owers. They might hear the sooth-
ing sound of Corinthian bells blowing in
the wind on the porch.
Upon entering house in the liv-
ing room, which measures 12 feet by 18
feet, visitors are greeted by Julies ad-
opted 3-year-old calico cat, Addaliese. In
one corner of the room, a 16-cube white
bookcase features the blue china tea set
from her childhood, her book collection,
a hand-carved wooden Jesus ornament,
family pictures, trophies, baskets, glass-
ware and much more. In every cube, the
eye catches something unique.
The living room walls are a light egg-
shell blue. The oors are wooden, but
painted a beige color. The rug is bright
red with a oral print. An assortment of
HOME continued from page 6
Julies bedroom is a cozy place for both slumber and relaxation with a good book. Everything from
the quilt to the furniture in the room are handmade, painted or obtained free from a friend or family
member.
Julies kitchen is one of the cheeriest places in her home. It is lled with color and her eclectic style,
complete with a red-painted sign that displays her lifes motto: You only go around once in life. Get
the twirly skirt.
One of the most outstanding pieces in the living room is the 16-cube bookcase in which the story
of Julies life can be told through the books, picture frames, artwork and other keepsakes shes ac-
cumulated over the years.
HOME: Continued on page 16
Tuesday, April 22, 2014 Page 11
Spring Home & Garden
NOTICE
City of Prairie du Chien
BRUSH/COMPOST SITE
2014 Hours of Operation
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 8 am - 2 pm
Tuesdays & Thursdays 12 pm - 6 pm; Saturdays 8 am - 2 pm
(Site is closed Sundays & Holidays)
The brush/compost site is for the residents of the City of Prairie du Chien only. Please
Note that access to the archery range will be on Wilderness Road, east of the brush site entrance.
Please call 326-8534 for information.
Hours will be in effect at least through NOVEMBER 22, 2014.
Please be at the site at least 15 minutes prior to close for disposing of materials.
NO plastic bags, only paper lawn bags allowed
NO other refuse to be disposed of at the site
NO construction waste or lumber, brush must be dirt free
Stump disposal is by appointment only; please call 326-2718 at least 2 days in advance.

1155 E. La Pointe St, Prairie du Chien, WI
608-326-8497 Mon. - Fri. 7:30 - 5:00, Sat. 8:00 - Noon
Save An Additional
$
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on All Larson Doors w/Mail-In Rebate
114.99
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1 reversible door with solid wood core. Self-
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button handleset with interior security lock.
White. 298

36 Lifestyle ScreenAway
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Solid wood core. Magnetic weatherstrip.
Retractable screen and lift system. Brass
handle with built-in lock. White. 32: wide
830-80

All prices refect 36 white unless otherwise noted. Additional colors & sizes available.
Prices may vary. Limit two per customer or family. Not valid with any other offer.
199.99
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SALE
Rebate
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Rainwater collection is a way to con-
serve water that can be adopted by both
private homeowners and businesses. Har-
vesting water during peak times of pre-
cipitation ensures water will be on hand
during drought or when water restrictions
are implemented. Making use of rainwa-
ter reduces reliance on underground wells
or municipal water systems. Harvesting
rainwater also can help prevent ooding
and soil erosion.
The average homeowner can collect
thousands of gallons of rainwater each
year. To learn just how much water can
be harvested, as well as how many natural
resources can be produced from that rain,
visit www.save-the-rain.com, where men
and women can calculate their rain col-
lection potential by geographic location
and average rainfall. Afterward, home-
owners may be inclined to establish their
own rainwater harvesting systems. Here
is how to get started.
* Determine your roong material.
Potable water can be harvested from
homes with sheet metal or slate roof-
ing. Clay or adobe tiles also may be ac-
ceptable. Asphalt, wood shingles and tar
roofs may leach toxic chemicals into the
How to create a rainwater harvesting system
water, making it unsafe for drinking. This
rainwater may only be collected to use for
irrigation methods or washing cars and
outdoor items.
* Check gutter materials. Some gut-
ters are made with lead soldering compo-
nents. A commercial lead swab test can
help you determine if there is lead pres-
ent in your gutters. At a later time you can
choose to replace the gutters if you desire
a potable supply of water.
* Invest in a collection tank or barrel.
A number of manufacturers oer prefab-
ricated rain collection systems complete
with collection barrels. Otherwise, you
can use your own barrel or tank to house
the collected water. Ensure it is large
enough to handle the volume of water
collected.
* Purchase and install leaf guards. If
your home is surrounded by many trees,
you probably accumulate leaf and tree
debris in your home gutters and down-
spouts. Leaf guards will help keep the gut-
ters clear and increase water ow through
the water collection system.
* Create a water collection area. A
portion of the gutter system should be
removed so that it connects to the collec-
tion barrel or tank. As the rain falls, it will
run down the roof and into the gutters
before it streams into the downspouts.
The downspout connected to the tank
will deposit the water directly inside.
Filters can be installed to help block the
ow of debris.
* Outt the tank for overow and
water usage. A spigot and hose connec-
tion makes it easy to use the collected wa-
ter for outdoor purposes. Many rainwater
collection systems are designed with an
overow safeguard that will prevent the
water from backing up through the sys-
tem. It will divert the rainwater back out
of the downspout when the barrel or tank
is full.
A rainwater collection system har-
nesses a natural source of water to be
used for gardens and other outdoor pur-
poses. This water doesnt contain chlo-
rine or other additives, making it rela-
tively clean and safe to use. Homeowners
should check to see if a permit is neces-
sary to install a rainwater collection sys-
tem and then begin gathering water for
various uses.
Page 12 Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Spring Home & Garden
Youll Like What You See!
Only 17 miles from Prairie du Chien!
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Monday thru Friday: 4 - 7 pm; Saturday: 8 am - 2 pm
Cell: 608-412-4316 Home: 608-326-0516
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With a little planning, homeowners
who enjoy picking ripe, juicy fruit from
their own trees can successfully grow
fruit trees, such as apples, pears, plums
and cherries even homeowners with
only small yard space. Iowa State Univer-
sity Extension and Outreach horticulture
specialists share information about se-
lecting pear, plum and apricot varieties.
Selecting the proper planting site is
critical when planting fruit trees in the
home landscape. While fruit trees can be
grown on a wide variety of soils, good soil
drainage is imperative. Apples and other
fruit trees do not tolerate wet soils. Fruit
trees planted in poorly drained soils often
die within a few years of planting. Most
fruit trees grow well in fertile soils with a
pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Because of space restric-
tions, planting sites are often limited in
the home landscape. Fruit trees require
full sun. Select a site that receives at least
six hours of direct sun each day. Avoid
shady sites near large trees.
Tree Types
Dwarf and semi-dwarf fruit trees
are produced by grafting or budding the
desired variety (cultivar) onto a dwarng
rootstock. Most standard-size fruit trees
eventually get 25 to 30 feet tall. Dwarf and
semi-dwarf fruit trees are much smaller.
Fruit trees grown on dwarng rootstocks
typically grow 10 to 15 feet tall.
Dwarf and semi-dwarf fruit trees are
easier to maintain (prune, spray, harvest,
etc.), t better into small home land-
scapes and produce fruit sooner after
planting than standard-size trees. How-
ever, some dwarf and semi-dwarf fruit
trees have poor root anchorage, so they
may need to be supported with a stake or
trellis.
Fruit trees purchased from nurseries
and garden centers are usually 1- to 2-year-
old plants. The length of time from plant-
ing to fruit bearing varies with the species
of fruit, the cultivar and whether the tree
is dwarf or standard.
Apple and pear trees grown on dwarf
or semi-dwarf rootstocks will come into
bearing at a much earlier age than trees
grown on standard-size rootstocks. Root-
stocks have little eect on the bearing
age of other fruit trees.
Apples and pears possess excellent
winter hardiness and can be successfully
grown throughout Iowa. Hardy sour (tart)
cherry, plum and apricot cultivars can be
grown throughout the state. Sweet cher-
ries and peaches perform best in south-
ern Iowa as they are not reliably hardy
in northern and central portions of the
state. A publication listing recommended
fruit cultivars for Iowa is available from
the Extension Online Store, Fruit Culti-
vars for Iowa.
In regards to fruit trees, there are
two types of pollination. Self-pollination
occurs when the pollen is transferred
from the anther to the stigma on the same
ower, from another ower on the same
tree or from a ower on another tree of
the same cultivar. Self-pollinated trees are
said to be self-fruitful. Many trees can-
not produce fruit from their own pollen
and are considered self-unfruitful. These
trees require cross-pollination for fruit
set. Cross-pollination is the transfer of
pollen from one tree to the ower of a
genetically dierent tree or cultivar.
To ensure a good crop, two or more
cultivars (of the same type of tree) must
be planted when planting self-unfruitful
trees. Only a single tree needs to be plant-
ed when planting self-fruitful fruit trees.
Apples and pears are self-unfruitful.
Most European plums are self-fruitful.
However, hybrid plums are self-unfruitful
and require another hybrid cultivar for
cross-pollination. Sour (tart) cherries are
self-fruitful. Most sweet cherries are self-
unfruitful. Peaches are self-fruitful. The
apricot cultivars Moongold and Sun-
gold are self-unfruitful. Plant at least one
of each to ensure a good crop.
For more information about growing
fruit trees, visit your county ISU Exten-
sion o ce or www.extension.iastate.edu.
Tips for growing fruit trees
ThinkGreen!
SaveGreen!
Visit the newspaper nearest you..
pdccourier.com
claytoncountyregister.com
guttenbergpress.com
northiowatimes.com
Save money and
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Tuesday, April 22, 2014 Page 13
Spring Home & Garden
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As the ground starts to thaw and
homeowners and contractors start long-
awaited outside projects, Alliant Energy
is reminding customers to call 811 before
digging.
Each year, Alliant Energy responds to
hundreds of accidents where either a con-
tractor or a homeowner dug into a buried
natural gas or electric line. Often these
hits happen when installing fence posts,
planting trees, working on sidewalks or
driveways, and other landscaping work.
These accidents are dangerous and
costly. People who hit lines can put them-
selves and entire neighborhoods in dan-
ger, and face criminal nes.
Alliant Energy oers a free service to
avoid these accidents. Anyone who plans
on digging or landscaping must call 811
at least two days before they dig. When
you call 811, contractors will locate bur-
ied lines and mark them above ground so
someone can safely dig around them.
Safety for both our customers and
employees is a top priority at Alliant En-
ergy, said Richard Sublett, senior man-
ager of compliance and operational per-
formance. We hope customers see this
message and remember the importance
of calling 811. Making the call is more
than a smart idea, its the law.
By calling 811 your local One Call
Call 811 before you dig
Center will contact all utilities with assets
near you, including gas, electric, cable, in-
ternet, water, and others. If you live near
the state-border, call the direct line to
avoid confusion.
In Iowa: Iowa One-Call, 1-800-292-
8989
When digging, stay at least 18 inches
away from the marks. If you make con-
tact with a buried line, call 811 to report
the damage. Dont cover up the damage,
because it could eventually become a haz-
ard. Reported damage is repaired by Alli-
ant Energy so buried lines stay safe.
For more information about 811, visit
alliantenergy.com/call811. To learn more
about Alliant Energys work to protect its
pipelines, call 1-800-257-3645, or visit al-
liantenergy.com/pipelinesafety.
Page 14 Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Spring Home & Garden
Residential CommeRCial
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10738 Falcon Ave., Monona, IA 52159 563-539-2084 One mile north of Monona on County X26 (Falcon Ave.)
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(Cell) 815.222.2249
Box 307 124 Main,
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Serving since 1975 in Northern Illinois
Now Serving Northeast Iowa &
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Dan Keyes, Owner
Certifed Arborist
Certifed Utility Arborist
KEYES TREE
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Jason Noel (608) 734-3525
Professional Tile Installation
Residential and Commercial projects, with over 15 years of experience.
Specializing in ceramic, porcelain, glass and natural stone tile.
Fully Insured. Registered Building Contractor and a member of the Building Trades Association.
Home gardeners who like a tart tast-
ing berry or just want to grow a not-so-
ordinary berry might consider planting
cornelian cherries, jostaberries, honey-
berries or serviceberries. Horticulturists
with Iowa State University Extension
and Outreach answer questions about
growing these lesser known fruit in Iowa
home gardens. To have other questions
answered, contact Hortline at hortline@
iastate.edu or call 515-294-3108.
What are serviceberries?
Serviceberries are members of the ge-
nus Amelanchier. Other common names
for plants in the genus Amelanchier in-
clude juneberry, saskatoon, shadbush,
sarvisberry and sugar plum. Service-
berries are dual-purpose plants. They are
planted as ornamentals for their masses
of showy, white owers in early spring and
colorful fall foliage. They are also grown
for their edible fruit. The blueberry-like
fruit may be eaten fresh, baked in pies or
other desserts, canned or made into wine,
jams or preserves. While the fruit on
all Amelanchier species are edible, culti-
vars of Amelanchier alnifolia are the most
productive and produce the best quality
fruit. Available cultivars include Smokey,
Northline, Thiessen, Regent and Pem-
bina. Serviceberries can be successfully
grown in partial shade to full sun. How-
ever, plant in full sun for maximum fruit
production.
What are cornelian cherries?
The cornelian cherry (Cornus mas)
is actually a species of dogwood. It is
also referred to as cornelian cherry dog-
wood. The cornelian cherry dogwood is
an adaptable, durable and relatively pest-
free small tree. Plants commonly grow
20 to 25 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide.
The cornelian cherry dogwood produces
small, yellow owers in round, .75 inch-
wide clusters in early spring. After ow-
ering, oblong one-half to one inch-long
berry-like fruit develop. The fruit turn
cherry red in late summer and are edible.
The fruit are similar in taste to tart cher-
ries and can be used for jams, jellies, pies,
syrups and wine. The fruit are high in vi-
tamin C.
Cornelian cherry dogwoods are most
commonly planted as ornamentals in
home landscapes. However, several cul-
tivars (Elegant, Red Star, Pioneer and
others) are grown for their fruit. The cor-
nelian cherry dogwood is hardy in USDA
Hardiness Zones 4 to 8.
What are jostaberries?
Jostaberries are a cross between
black currants and gooseberries. Plants
are thornless, vigorous and may grow to a
height of 6 to 8 feet. Jostaberry fruit are
similar in size to gooseberries and black
in color. Fruit can be used in jams, jellies
and pies. Plants possess excellent cold
hardiness and can be successfully grown
in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 8.
What are honeyberries?
Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea) is a
species of honeysuckle native to cold re-
gions of Europe, Asia and North America.
Other common names include blue hon-
eysuckle or haskap. Honeyberries grow 4
to 6 feet tall. Plants produce small, yel-
lowish white, funnel-shaped owers in
early spring. After owering, elongated
fruit develop that ripen and turn dark
blue in late spring. The favor of the fruit
is similar to a blueberry with black cur-
rant or raspberry overtones. Honeyber-
ries can be used for jams, juice, syrups and
wine. They also make great ice cream and
smoothies. Fruit are high in antioxidants
(as high or higher than blueberries).
Looking for a dierent sort of berry?
Tuesday, April 22, 2014 Page 15
Spring Home & Garden

Buy What You Want, Rent What You Need

Visit our RentalDepartment for all the tools you need to get the job done right!
Lawn Work?
We can help!
Seeders
Dethatchers
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Concrete Projects?
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Cement Saws
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Prairie du Chien, WI
(608) 326-2491
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Remodeling or New Construction
Spring is a time of year when many
people resolve to give their homes or
apartments a thorough cleaning. Spring
cleaning projects help people revitalize
their homes for the warm months ahead,
when windows are once again opened,
fresh air pervades homes and items that
might have accumulated over a dark and
dreary winter have become a distant
memory.
Many families have spring cleaning
rituals that allow them to e ciently clean
their homes in a single weekend. But its
just as important for spring cleaners to
place as great an emphasis on the envi-
ronment as they do on e ciency when
cleaning a home. Eco-friendly spring
cleaning practices produce less waste
and rely on less chemicals to rejuvenate
a home and get it ready for those seasons
when huddling inside under the covers
takes a backseat to lounging around the
house as fresh air washes into the home.
The following are a handful of ways to ef-
ciently clean a home while also protect-
ing the environment.
* Clear out the clutter. Clutter is an
enemy to homeowners and the environ-
ment alike. Thats because addressing
clutter is often an ine cient process
in which homeowners methodically go
through items that have accumulated
over the years, individually choosing
which items to keep and which items to
discard. Clutter can also prove harmful
to the environment because rooms lled
with clutter tend to collect dust, reducing
air quality and leading to more indoor air
pollution that can prove harmful to hu-
man health.
When sifting through clutter in a
home, discard those items that have gone
ignored for years, as they likely have little
or no nancial value and its safe to as-
sume they serve no practical purpose as
well. Once clutter has been cleared out,
prevent more of it from accumulating
by making a conscious eort to discard
items once they no longer serve any prac-
tical purpose. This includes old newspa-
pers and magazines, as well as any other
items that are likely to sit in a pile or on
a shelf for months on end. Preventing the
buildup of clutter reduces the amount of
time you need to spend spring cleaning
next year while also improving indoor air
quality.
* Use cleaners only when windows
are open. Many people get a head start
on spring cleaning in late winter, when
the weather might have started to warm
up but has not yet warmed to the point
when windows throughout the home can
be opened. Though theres nothing wrong
with starting early, avoid using cleaning
products on days when you cant open the
windows. Many cleaning products con-
tain ample or even just trace amounts of
chemicals that can compromise indoor
air quality and may exacerbate existing
medical conditions like respiratory ail-
ments. When using cleaning products, try
to do so only when the windows are open
and fresh air can enter the home.
* Ensure appliances are working at
peak e ciency. Spring cleaning is a great
time to inspect appliances to make sure
they are operating e ciently. Clean or re-
place lters on window air conditioning
units. Dusty or dirty lters will force the
air conditioner to work harder and use
more energy to cool a room. In addition,
dirty or dusty lters make units less e -
cient, which means rooms wont cool as
quickly on those scorching summer after-
noons. Appliances forced to work harder
also cost more money, and those costs can
be considerable.
When checking appliances, be sure
to check the refrigerator as well. Refrig-
erators are plugged in all day long, and
those that are not operating at peak ef-
ciency can cost you a lot of money in the
long run. Periodically clean the coils on
the back of your refrigerator so it can op-
erate more e ciently, saving energy and
money.
Vacuum cleaners should also be in-
spected before each use to make sure
reels are not covered in hair, which can
make it nearly impossible for the ma-
chine to collect dirt and dust from the
oors.
* Use reusable cloths. Another way
to turn spring cleaning into a more eco-
friendly aair is to forgo using paper tow-
els in favor of reusable cloths. Reusable
wash cloths can be just as eective at wip-
ing down counters as paper towels, which
require more and more trees to be cut
down and eventually end up in landlls.
Tackle spring cleaning with the
environment in mind
If you are feeling especially eco-friendly,
you can go the extra mile and create your
own reusable cleaning cloths out of old
clothes or linens, saving you money and
making use of items that might otherwise
have been headed straight for a landll.
Spring cleaning can rejuvenate a
home after a long winter. Emphasizing
eco-friendly techniques when cleaning
can ensure your homes revival is as ben-
ecial to the environment as it is to the
homes inhabitants.
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Page 16 Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Spring Home & Garden
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HOME continued from page 10
The dining room is Julies favorite room in her house, a place where she can share coffee or tea with
friends, play her ute in the music corner, or reect on old family photographs as well as heirlooms.
dazzling artwork and framed local history
lls the room, highlighted by an Anne Te-
deschi portrait painting that hangs above
a curly willow-lled blue vase, in another
corner. On a dierent wall, a quilt hang-
ing handmade by her mother and sister
showcases six pastel dresses that she and
her sister wore as babies.
My grandmother made all of the
dresses. Three of them were made of cot-
ton feed sacks, Julie explained.
Also in the living room, a variegated
wooden lamp, made by her dad, adds light.
An oversized pair of Norwegian clogs sits
on the oor by the brown couch, adding
character, next to a small box of multi-
colored marbles.
In the adjoining 10x18 dining room,
a brighter blue is painted on the upper
half of the walls and white wainscoting
covers the bottom half. The dining room
table is adorned with a swirly-patterned
turquoise quilt made by her sister and a
vase with pink tulips inside. A gorgeous
BLOOMINGTON, WI
Call for more information about our spring lawn care special.
Ben Price 608.778.7597 Nate Copsey 608.732.4342
Lawn Care Spraying Fertilizing
And all your other landscaping ideas
Retaining Walls Patios General Landscaping
New Image Landscaping
& Outdoor Services LLC
Call us now for Spring Clean Up...
ResideNtial
aNd CommeRCial
china cabinet and a glass and brass chan-
delier are surely the statement pieces of
the room. The Bettina chandelier came
from a resale shop in Boscobel. But Julies
music corner is certainly a conversation
piece too. It includes a few record al-
bums, a music-themed quilted wall hang-
ing, a bronze music stand and of course
her ute. Julie plays the instrument in the
local band, Windspiration.
Im also one of two Norwegians in
the Guttenberg German Band, she said,
with a laugh.
A bookcase crafted by her dad has
cookbooks and picture albums on its
shelves, and old family photos on top. A
brass watering canteen, coee pot and
other pots and pans sit atop the china
cabinet and hang on the wall, providing a
colorful contrast to the blue paint in the
room.
My favorite room in the house is the
dining room, Julie said. Even if the oth-
er rooms get kind of cluttered, I always
try to keep that room straightened.
After a long season of use, replaces need to
be cleaned. Many homeowners think this is a job
that can be put o until the fall, but spring is an
ideal season to have the chimney and ue cleaned
and inspected. One reason to include scrubbing
the chimney as part of spring cleaning is to cut
down on odor. After using a replace, a buildup
of creosote forms in the chimney. As the weather
gets warmer, creosote deposits can start to smell
sour and that odor will seep into the home. In
addition, moisture can mix with the creosote
and start to degrade the ue liner, necessitating
costly repairs. The sooner a chimney and ue are
cleaned the better. A chimney sweep can do a thorough job of scrubbing down the
chimney and replace and ensuring that everything will be in working order come
next season.
Smelly replace?