Tunnell Vision- February 2020

Boat handling, navigation aids and rules, required safety equipment, trailering, local navigation issues, and other topics important to the recreational boater will be presented and discussed by experienced and knowledgeable instructors. 

This course satisfies all Federal and State training requirements for recreational boaters. Students are awarded a certficate from the USCG Auxiliary, and a Safe Boating ID card from the State of Delaware upon successful completion, 

The cost is $25.00 per student and includes your textbook and all materials. The cost for students that own or can share their textbook is $10. 

To register, contact R.A. (Andy) Smith at (302) 381-3882 or (302) 537-2350. 

Visit the Pot-Nets Main Office today to pick up your 2018 Sandlot Shirt for just $20!

Mondays- Mingo & Burger Night- Feb 3, 10, 17, 24
Tuesdays- Taco Tuesday Specials- Feb 4, 11, 18, 25
Thursdays- Pasta Night- Feb 6, 13, 20, 27
Superbowl Sunday- Game Day Deals- Feb 2

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, February 22- Chili Cook Off
More details coming soon but for now here are the basics:

*No Cover but a $10 donation gets you a wrist band and the chance to try the great chili from the 10 competing restaurants. You will also receive your judges ballot, which you will use to vote for your favorite chili.
*Drink Specials Galore at the bars
*50/50 and giveaways
*21+ as always at the pub

If you would like to enter email [email protected] ASAP. This is strictly first come first serve for the 10 spots, so don't wait, email Johnny now.

Be sure to follow Paradise Pub on Facebook for the most current news on bands, food specials and events.
 

February 1st: Wine Luncheon- 12:30pm

February 7th: Live Music performed by Mike Garvilla- 5pm to 8pm 


February 8th: Italian Wine Dinner- 6pm
Join us at The Clubhouse at Baywood for a night out in Italy! We will be joined by Italian wine expert Keith Murphy who is the portfolio specialist for Leonardo LoCascio Selections and The Winebow Group. He will be speaking about the wonderful world of Italy. Chef Ryan has created a beautiful five course dinner to pair with five amazing wines.

February 14th: Valentines Day at Baywood

February 21: Live Music performed by Stevie D and Sandy- 5pm to 8pm

We ended our last article with a question: 

 
We will discuss some alternative ideas and their benefits.  One obvious alternative is use of a better mulch.  A mulch that breaks down over the growing season, but still provides the same benefits as a hardwood mulch. Consider using leaf mold.  It needs a better name, I know, but this stuff is great.  Leaf mold is simply leaves that have sat and decomposed slightly over time.  It is dark brown to black in color and smells great – no kidding.  You can make your own leaf mold if you have a compost area, or you may be able to purchase from some local retailers.  Leaf mold is similar to compost, but not identical.  Compost is usually finer in texture, and can be a great mulch, but has its drawbacks with appearance.
 
Some other mulches to consider include bark mulch and root mulch.  Both can break down a little quicker than the regular wood mulch.  I love using pine needles as a mulch.  Typically, we try to use pine needles only in areas where we have pine trees growing, because we have a "free" refreshing every year as new needles drop.  However, I have also used pine needles in areas where there aren’t any pine trees growing.  Pine needles do not crust over like a hardwood mulch can. They do break down slowly, but will last a very long time and can acidify the soil. Leaf mold, compost, bark and root mulch, pine needles all need to be reapplied and refreshed periodically.

I tend to stay away from inorganic mulches like stone or decorative gravel, unless there aren’t any plants growing in the area, or there are plants that I know will do well surrounded by stone.   

What can we do to reduce or even eliminate the time it takes to mulch?

We can put more plants in the ground.  We can choose plants that take the place of mulch and still provide an attractive landscape.  If not more plants, then we choose plants that will cover the ground and grow together to form a living mulch.  Planting and designing for “plant communities” is something rather new that I have recently become excited about. 

Speaking with Roy Diblik, author of “Know Maintenance Perennials,” I was struck by his story of realization that in some remnant prairies, you can find 18-24 different species of plants growing together in one square meter.  In contrast, some of our modern landscapes have an equal ratio of plants versus mulch.  I began to wonder how we could plant this way, geared towards perennial plantings, but also at a larger scale including trees and shrubs as well.

We will cover some of the specific plants and techniques for planting this way next month.

Happy Gardening!