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The Gonzales Cannon

Lawn Survival: simple steps can save your grass

By MARK PETERSON
Special to The Cannon

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Taking Back Texas

Apostle Claver Kamau-Imani, head of RagingElephants.org, was among the featured speakers at the Take Back Texas seminar in Houston Aug. 13 sponsored by the Texas Nationalist Movement. A second Take Back Texas seminar is scheduled Sept. 10 in San Antonio; for details, call (409) 527-4929. (Courtesy Photo)

Many folks are worried sick about their lawns as we continue with this lengthy drought. As a tree professional, I can understand and respect your concern, but I cannot really empathize. Grass just hinders the growth of my beloved trees and shrubs. Regardless, SAWS conservation staff is dedicated to providing the best information available for your landscape. To help your lawn survive the drought, keep these things in mind. * Design Match the species and cultivar of grass to the site. St. Augustine cultivars do best in partial shade and deep soil while Bermuda grass cultivars

require full sun. New construction, both residential and commercial, must use a turf grass from the drought-tolerant species list. * Irrigation New lawns need light, frequent watering; established lawns require deep, thorough soakings (short multiple start times in a single day). Avoid stacking run times on your irrigation system and water according to the weekly SIP Watering Advice. * Maintenance Compost lawns in the spring

and fall, and aerate at least every other year. Mow high and limit fertilizer. Salts found in most fertilizers make it difficult for plants to absorb water. The goal of Lawn Survival 101 is not to create a lush, green lawn, but to maintain the health of your landscape throughout the drought without raising your debt ceiling. Mark Peterson is a conservation project coordinator for San Antonio Water System.

Abbott salutes ObamaCare decision

Cannon News Services
newseditor@gonzalescannon.com

AUSTIN Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott on Friday saluted the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirming a lower courts ruling that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Acts individual mandate is unconstitutional. Obamacare is closer to an end, Abbott said in a news release. Abboott and the attorneys general of 25 other states joined an action originating in Florida. The federal court of appeals agrees that the federal health care laws individual man-

date violates the U.S. Constitution and cannot be enforced against the American people. This is an important ruling for freedom and limited government. As we have maintained since before the law was first enacted, the individual mandate exceeds the constitutional limits on Congress authority. The federal government cannot rely upon Congress power to regulate interstate commerce in a misguided effort to require that every American purchase governmentapproved health insurance whether they want it or not. No public policy goal, no matter how important or well-intentioned, can be allowed to

trample the protections and rights guaranteed by our Constitution. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta struck down Obamacares individual mandate but left the rest of the law intact, according to numerous reports. Two of the three judges agreed with the states, and a lower courts ruling, that Congress had overstepped its constitutional authority in an unprecedented way by requiring citizens to buy from private companies an expensive product from the time they are born until the time they die. The case could go next to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Language of Flowers will enthrall readers

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (Ballantine Books, $25)

Recommended Reading
King Features Syndicate complicated and has trouble connecting with people. Finding solace in the beauty and meaning of flowers, she has long used the Victorian language of flowers to communicate with others and convey the complex emotions deeply rooted inside her. When the small garden she plants in the park is discovered, Victoria is offered a job at a local florist shop. There, she meets a mysterious vendor who seems to understand the messages Victoria communicates through her floral offerings and arrangements. The Language of Flowers cycles

Rose M. Croke

Research recently presented at The Alzheimers Association International Conference indicates that Alzheimers disease could potentially be prevented for millions just by reducing lifestyle risks. The lifestyle risks and the percentage of Alzheimers they are associated with are: smoking (11 percent), obesity in midlife (7 percent), diabetes (3 percent), depression (15 percent), physical inactivity (21 percent), high blood pressure in midlife (8 percent) and low education (7 percent). Thats not to say its absolutely certain that these risk factors can cause Alzheimers, but scientists believe that about half the cases could be prevented. According to a paper by researcher Deborah Barnes, a professor at University of California San Francisco, a reduction of 25 percent across all the risk factors could prevent nearly a half-million occurrences of Alzheimers

Reducing your risk of Alzheimers Disease

Mathilda Charles
King Features Syndicate in the U.S. alone. These are estimates, of course, and further research has to be done. Another paper at the same conference addressed the maintenance of cognition while aging. Cognition is the mental processes, such as problem solving, memory and learning. Seniors over the age of 65 with no impairment were given a battery of tests for cognition, stress, personality traits and depression, as well as physical tests. What scientists concluded was that scoring low on trauma, depression, stress and anxiety was related to keeping good cognitive health.

Vanessa Diffenbaugh delivers a first-class, literary forget-me-not with her debut novel, The Language of Flowers. The story begins on protagonist Victoria Jones 18th birthday as she is emancipated from the fostercare system. Abandoned as an infant and shuffled from foster-care homes to group homes for most of her young life, Victoria is ill-equipped to face the future on her own. With nowhere to go, she spends her first night of independent living in a public park. Mistrust, resentment and anger are her only companions. Victoria views relationships as

between the present and Victorias troubled past. She has spent her whole life running away from love because she knew that at any moment, it could be plucked from her. Diffenbaugh uses her own experience as a foster parent to create heartbreaking situations, palpable emotions and a remarkably multifaceted character, infused with depth, fortitude, flaws and, most importantly, hope. The Language of Flowers is a compelling tale about second chances and the emotional complexity of the foster-care journey. Between Victorias self-discovery and Diffenbaughs glossary of flower definitions at the end of the book, readers will be enthralled by this searingly honest yet hopeful story.

Matamoros Taco Hut Weekly Specials August 22-28

Sausage & Egg Taco
Breakfast

$ 15

Business Delivery Only ends at 11 a.m. 201 St. Joseph Gonzales 672-6615
OPEN SUN.-TUES 6:00 A.M.-2 :00 P.M. WED.-SAT. 6:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M.

Chalupa Plate

Lunch

$ 95

Senior Line

They gave an example of the characteristics of coping: developing a strategy, remaining positive, getting advice and taking action. Researchers hope to make these tests part of a Resilience Index to assess patients for risk right in the doctors office. If more incentives are needed to make changes in lifestyle, this is surely one. Be more active, quit smoking and deal with high blood pressure -- and youll possibly avoid Al-

zheimers at the same time.

Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@ gmail.com. (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Boomers
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Hours: Wed.-Sat. 10-5

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1801 Sarah DeWitt Dr. Gonzales, TX

830-672-6098 2513 Harwood Rd, Gonzales, TX