This fall, give your houseplants extra tender, loving care
Houseplants that have been indoors for many years, or plants that are brought in during the winter, need special attention.
Plants should over-winter in a warm place such as a sunroom. Hibiscus can be brought inside while still in bloom or brought in during the fall before cold weather starts, suggested Mark Viette, a horticulturalist in Augusta County.
Some plants, like angel’s trumpet, will grow larger every year. “After it starts to get too big, it needs to be cut back,” Viette said. “You should cut the plant back in the spring or in the winter. It will keep growing outdoors, and it has beautiful hanging flowers.”
Mandevilla should be brought indoors in the fall and left to dry, Viette said. “Don’t water it. Let it lose its leaves.” It is best to cut the plant back in the spring when nighttime temperatures are near 45 to 50 degrees.
“Cut the plant back to a growing point or bud,” Viette said. “The plant will grow up to 20 feet and can have pink, white or red blooms.”
Viette said the spring also is a good time to divide and prune other houseplants. “Pound the plant to get it out of the pot, or make a cut down the side of the pot,” he said. “Pull the plant out and, using a handsaw, separate or divide the plant and replant into several pots.”
To repot a plant that has become too large, cut one-quarter off the bottom of the plant and add it to your compost pile, Viette said. Repot the plant in a container that is 2-3 inches larger than the previous one.
Use caution as deer activity increases on Virginia roads
It’s that time of year when drivers should prepare for the added dangers of sharing Virginia’s roadways with deer.
Deer migration and mating season occurs from October through December, and the animals’ increased presence near roads often leads to an increase in collisions. The frequency of these collisions usually peaks in November and December.
Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. claims data from 2019 revealed 48% of all deer-related auto insurance claims occurred in the fall, with the highest number of incidents in November.
There were 448 collisions with deer in October, 668 in November and 657 in December, accounting for $4.8 million in losses. In total, VFBMIC received 3,651 deer-related claims in 2019, up nearly 25% from 2,923 in 2018.
To minimize the risk of striking a deer, motorists are encouraged to drive slowly and be aware of their surroundings. Driving slowly can help increase reaction time and can potentially reduce vehicle damage caused by a collision.
Brunswick Stew
While some traditional stew makers take a team approach to cooking, this simplified recipe pairs one cook with one slow cooker.
See Recipe
Southern favorite hails from Virginia
A roadside historical marker on U.S. Route 58 in Brunswick County claims that Virginia locality is “The Original Home of Brunswick Stew.”
The story relayed on the marker is of a local doctor and friends on a hunting trip in 1828, and their camp cook, who made a stew with squirrels, butter, onions, stale bread and seasonings.
More than one marker of the same nature can be found in Brunswick, Ga.
Recipes for Brunswick stew have changed over time as “chicken has replaced squirrel and vegetables have been added, but the stew remains thick and rich,” the Virginia marker notes.
Brunswick stew is a traditional Southern fall stew. It is typically thick and tomato-based and contains potatoes, lima or butter beans, corn and okra. Some stews contain chicken, while others feature traditional game meat. It’s not uncommon to see huge cast-iron pots holding gallons of the stew at family reunions, church suppers and community group fundraisers.