Home & Garden 2015

Azle NewsThe

Springtown Epigraph

A Special SupplementApril 29, 2015

2 Wednesday, April 29, 2015 Home & Garden

BUSH-HOG® ZERO TURN RIDERSHome • Estate • Commercial • Pro Series

“Cut Mowing Time in Half!” SALES • SERVICE • PARTS

817-237-6641See Mark Ellenbarger

“Customer Service & Satisfaction is our #1 Priority”

•20 to 30HP

•Many ModElS of o turn MowErS •dual HydroStatS drivE SyStEM •adjuStablE twin lEvEr StEEring

11601 Jacksboro Hwy

•7-10 ga. StEEl rEinforCEd Hd dECK•6.5-15.5 gal. twin fuEl tanKS•44” - 73” Cut

0%0%Financing Available W.A.C.

Financing Available W.A.C.

www.EE-Equipment.com

Adopt the pace of nature: Her secret is patience.

Ralph Waldo

Emerson

Photo by Paula Campbell

3Wednesday, April 29, 2015Home & Garden

Highland Furniture ............................................................... 10Howell’s Western Cafe ...........................................................11 Huffman Landscape & Irrigation ....................................... 22J&E Air Conditioning and Heating ..................................... 19KJR Landscape & Irrigation ................................................. 9Lady Bug Quilt Fabric ......................................................... 19Larry’s Carpet ...................................................................... 21Longhorn Termite & Pest Control ...................................... 18Marsha Hardin Real Estate ................................................ 26MMI Electric ......................................................................... 17Orand Nursery ........................................................................ 7Pinnacle Bank ........................................................................ 23Silva Masonry Concrete L.L.C. ........................................... 18Star Bank of Texas ................................................................ 28State Farm- Frankie Robbins .............................................. 15State Farm- Haley Carter....................................................... 8Stuart Nursery ....................................................................... 21Tom Samples Pest Control ................................................... 19Tri County Electric Cooperative Inc. .................................. 20Triple M Storm Shelters, LLC ............................................... 6Weichert Realtors .................................................................. 17West Side Storage .................................................................. 25

Outdoor living spaces have become increasingly popular over the last several years. The home improvement boom has shown many homeowners just how easy it can be to transform a home into a private sanctuary that caters to the personalities of the home’s residents.

Outdoor living areas have be-come an extension of the home’s interior, with many homeowners creating outdoor living rooms and dining areas so they can re-lax and eat meals outside just as they do indoors. But homeown-ers thinking of creating outdoor living spaces should consider a few tricks of the trade before be-ginning their projects.

• Strategically place the space. Property often dictates where the outdoor living space will go, but it helps to keep in mind that the outdoor space is more likely to be used if it’s easily accessible from the inside of the home. For instance, if residents need to walk out the front door to access an outdoor living space in the backyard, then residents might find the area is too inconvenient-ly located and they won’t make the most of the space. Whenever

possible, plan the outdoor living space so it’s easily accessible from the home’s interior, prefer-ably from the kitchen so it will be easier to carry meals outdoors when dining outside.

• Emphasize comfort. Many homeowners look at their out-door living areas as places to kick their feet up and relax, so comfort should take precedence when planning the space. Forgo the plastic patio chairs of yes-teryear for furniture that’s more sturdy and roomy so you won’t feel cramped or sweaty on warm summer evenings and after-noons. In addition, don’t forget to shade the area. Some home-owners choose to build pergolas, but oftentimes an umbrella or two can do the trick at a fraction of the cost. If the outdoor liv-ing area is near trees, they might provide sufficient shade from the often blistering summer sun. But keep a few umbrellas in the ga-rage just in case.

• Illuminate the area. Summer nights spent relaxing in the out-door living area make for great memories. But such nights are nearly impossible if the area doesn’t have some lighting. Tiki

torches might do the trick for some, while others who want to avoid giving their outdoor area a luau feel might prefer solar-pow-ered accent lights, which won’t require any wiring. If your backyard attracts its fair share of insects, look for insect-repelling lights or lamps. Whatever your preference, don’t for-get to have some lighting so those summer evenings spent under the sky don’t have to end when the sun goes down.

• Keep the design con-sistent with your home. In addition to providing an outdoor respite from the daily grind, an outdoor liv-ing space can also increase a home’s resale value. However, homeowners who have one eye on R&R and the other on resale value should keep the de-sign of their outdoor living space consistent with their home. One of the goals when designing an outdoor living space should be to create a seamless transition from the home’s interior to its exterior. The best way to do that

is to keep the designs of both liv-ing spaces consistent.

• Don’t forget the fire pit. A fire pit provides a great focal

point for an outdoor living area. Instead of sitting at the dinner table, families and friends can gather around the fire pit and re-lax with some s’mores and share stories. But even when guests aren’t coming over, a fire pit

makes for a great place to relax and let the time go by.

With more and more home-owners transforming their

homes into their own private sanctuaries, outdoor living spac-es continue to grow in popular-ity. By employing a few simple tricks of the trade, homeowners can create the outdoor areas of their dreams.

Tips when creating an outdoor living space

A few tricks of the trade can help homeowners create the out-door living space of their dreams.

404 Main Place ...................................................................... 15A/C & Heat by Russell .......................................................... 24Ace Hardware of Azle .......................................................... 16Advanced Automotive Performance .................................. 26Atex Trash Service ................................................................ 15 At Home Roofing ................................................................... 24 A Tractor Shop..........................................................................5 Azle Appliance Repair .......................................................... 19 Azle Door/ American Home. ................................................ 13Brace Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. .............................. 14Burtnett Insurance Agency- Germania ............................... 25 Chad’s Tree Service .............................................................. 20Chapman Carpentry ............................................................. 24Classic Green Landscaping .................................................. 27Comet Cleaners ..................................................................... 20Diamond B Roofing ............................................................... 17 Dunn Produce............................................... ..........................11E&E Equipment Co. ............................................................... 2Eagle Mountain Veterinary Clinic ......................................... 4Farmers Insurance-Rick Phillips ......................................... 18 Fidelity National Title ........................................................... 10Freeman Roofing & Construction, Inc. ................................. 4

Index of Advertisers


The flowers are blooming, and the grass has begun to grow anew, making spring a great time for homeowners to once again turn their attention to landscap-ing. Those who arenÕt looking forward to dusting off their lawn-mowers and rethreading their string trimmers may want to hire professional landscapers to tend to their lawns and gardens.

A recent joint study by the Na-tional Gardening Association, Residential Lawn and Landscape Services and the Value of Land-scaping found that homeowners spend roughly $45 billion per year on professional lawn and landscape services, as nearly 30 percent of all households across the United States use at least one type of lawn or landscape service. The rising use of lawn care services is indicative of homeowners’ appreciation of the convenience and craftsmanship professional services can pro-vide. While the impact profes-sional landscapers can have on a property’s aesthetic appeal is considerable, homeowners also benefit from working with pro-fessional landscapers in various other ways.

• Time savings: One of the biggest benefits of leaving lawn care to the professionals is the amount of time it will save for the average homeowner. Lawns generally need to be mowed once per week during the spring and summer seasons and, depend-

The benefits of hiring a professional landscaper

Time saved and a professional job are just two of the reasons homeowners hire lawn care companies.

Care for Feline and Canine

Dr. Dustin Fields • 729 Boyd Road • Azle817-444-3289

HOURS: M-F 8:00-5:30, Closed for Lunch 12:00-1:30 • Sat 8:00-12:00FREEMANRoofing & Construction, Inc.State certification #106

Have you had yourroof checked lately?

call 817-237-2852

ing on the size of the property, that can take an hour or more. Add the time it takes to clean up clippings, mulch landscaping beds and edge the property, and homeowners can expect to de-vote a significant chunk of their weekends to caring for their lawns. Lawn services employ a few workers who make fast work of the job, leaving home-owners time to enjoy their week-ends however they see fit.

• Reduced risk for injury: Maintaining a landscape is hard work, and those unaccustomed to this type of activity may find themselves winded or at risk of injury. Improper use of lawn equipment also is a safety haz-ard. Leaving the work to profes-sionals can help homeowners avoid strained backs, lacera-tions, pulled muscles, sunburns, and any other dangers that can result when tackling landscaping

projects.• Financial savings: On the

surface, hiring a landscaping service may seem like a costly venture. However, after crunch-ing some numbers, many home-owners realize that doing the work themselves may cost more in the long run than hiring a pro-fessional landscaping service. Homeowners who decide to go it alone must purchase expen-sive equipment, and those lawn

tools will require routine main-tenance, which costs additional money. Inexperienced home-owners may incur extra fees to “fix” mistakes that occur during the learning process. Each year, new seed, fertilizer, mulch, pes-ticides, and other supplies also must be purchased. But profes-sional lawn care services typi-cally charge a set fee per month, and that fee covers the mainte-nance of both your property and the equipment needed to keep that property looking great.

• Know-how: Many profes-sional landscapers know how to address lawn care issues that may arise throughout the year. They will know how to deal with dry patches of lawn or poorly draining areas, and they also can make recommendations on plants that will thrive under cer-tain conditions.

• One-stop shopping: Certain landscaping services provide many different options for pro-spective customers. Basic lawn cuts may be one package, but there also may be services for seasonal seeding, weeding, leaf clean-up, and winterizing.

• Consistent maintenance: Homeowners who frequently travel or spend much of their summers away from home often find that lawn care companies are a wise investment. Estab-lished weekly schedules ensure the landscape always will look its best whether homeowners are home or out of town.


817-221-3039100 New Highland Rd, Springtown

817-550-66551708 Ft. Worth Hwy. Weatherford

Stately Beauty

Our state flower is majestic and lovely. But not all blue-bonnets are blue. Rarer – but still visible on some spring-time roadsides – are white and pink bluebonnets. You can see a couple on Page 22. Photo by Mark K. Campbell


INSURANCEcan’t replace a family member.

BE PREPAREDfor the next storm!

our above ground shelter features

TRIPlE M SToRM ShElTERS, llC

1/2 OffDelivery & Installation!

with this adoffer expires

August 1, 2015

Member

Tested to withstand f5

Tornado817-475-2286

www.triplemstormshelters.com

1415 CalhOun Bendazle, TX 76020

3/16” - 1/4” steel construction.Quality welding inside and out for superior strength.Interior and exterior latches.Powder coated and painted.Air vents and carpeted seating.Various sizes available:4’x4’, 4’x6’, 4’x8’Can construct custom sizes upon request.Many options available! (Color change, deadbolt, touch lighting and more)Exceeds FEMA 320/361 & ICC500 Standards

BY MISTY SHAWMy mother has a gift – she was

born with two green thumbs. As an avid Master Gardener,

she has an innate need to nurture growing things, and never is she happier than with her hands in dirt.

If it can be planted, she can make it thrive, even in the arid southern Arizona desert where I was born and raised.

She’s got leafy greens growing in old horse troughs that she re-fashioned into planters.

She cultivates the most spec-tacular morning glory vines; on spring morn-ings, everything is covered in their electric blue blossoms (Mom’s signature color).

She collects and stores as much rainwater as possible – a rare and precious resource in the desert – to use on her plants.

Fig trees and other fruit-bear-ers abound, and to this day she grows the sweetest cherry toma-toes you’ll ever taste.

The one-acre backyard of my youth was once an impassable wilderness of overgrown cac-tus and sharp rocks, but over the years and after a lot of hard work, my folks have created a surprisingly lush oasis of care-fully landscaped flora designed to attract the local fauna.

The yard is replete with native plants, flowering trees, numerous edibles, wind chimes and decora-tions of every kind, and even a pet tortoise named Blossom.

Desert creatures flock to the bird baths and find shelter from the heat beneath shady branches; several well-placed tables and benches make the yard a beauti-ful place to sit and enjoy nature.

Working alongside my mother in the garden, I learned not to be

Planting memories with Mom

afraid to get my hands dirty. On Saturday mornings she’d

come wake me up (often much earlier than I liked) so we could get started on her latest project, and even as a cranky teenager, I’d find myself reluctantly smil-ing while we harvested crisp snow peas or dug a fresh hole in which to plant something new.

Mom showed me that delicate yellow squash blossoms are not only edible, but absolutely delicious when lightly pan-fried in oil.

From her I learned to ap-preciate la-dybugs and lizards, and to abhor grubs and other leaf-eating parasites that would destroy

our green space if left unchecked.I learned how important it is to

stop and actually smell the roses from time to time, and to quietly observe and appreciate the sub-tle miracles of nature happening daily all around us. I also learned that you must always put forth your very best effort if you ex-pect your endeavors to bear fruit.

Even though I’m grown now and living two states away from her, Mom’s life lessons from the garden have stayed with me through the years.

I’m certainly no Master Gar-dener, but I take after her enough that I’ve got at least one green thumb of my own.

Thanks to Mom’s encyclope-dic knowledge, I know how to keep most plants alive and grow-ing – and if I can't, I know exact-ly who to turn to for gardening (and life) advice.

It’s only now as I look back on all those early mornings I spent working alongside my mother in the garden that I’m able to har-vest these fond memories from the seeds we’ve sown together.

Mom’s glorious morning glories. Photos by Misty Shaw

The author’s mother always has an empty chair waiting for her in the garden.


Wholesale to the Public

OrandNursery.com817-377-3090 · 817-313-3072

1950 ROBERTS CUT-OFF · FORT WORTH

Orand Nursery

THE LARGEST SELECTION Of Palms, Cacti, Agaves & Yuccas In The Metroplex!

10% Off


With competitive rates and personal service,it’s no wonder more drivers trust State Farm®.Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

CALL FOR A QUOTE 24/7.Haley Carter, Agent408 Boyd Ct

Azle, TX 76020Bus: 817-444-1100

www.haleycarter.com

With competitive rates and personal service, it’s no wonder more drivers trust State Farm®. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

CALL FOR A QUOTE 24/7.

Ride with the #1 car insurer in

1001142.1State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company

State Farm Indemnity Company Bloomington, IL

Haley Carter, Agent408 Boyd Ct

Azle, TX 76020Bus: 817-444-1100www.haleycarter.com

TEXAS.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance CompanyState Farm Indemnity Company

Bloomington, IL1001142.1

Haley Carter and her expert team.

Ravishing Reds

Red flowers pop in Texas landscapes as this California poppy (left) and amaryllis prove. Photos by Paula Campbell and Misty Shaw


K J R

• Custom Rock W ork

• Stone Borders, W alls, Walk ways & Patios

• Landsc ape Design & Installation

• Sprinkler System De sign & Installation

• Service & In stallation of Lake Pump Systems

Landscape & Irrigation

www.kjrlandscapeandirrigation.com

LI-0011957

817-915-4201

Irrigation in Texas is regulated by t he Texas Commission on E nvironmental Qu ality,

P.O. Box 130 87, Au stin , TX 7 8711-30 87

K J R

• Custom Rock W ork

• Stone Borders, W alls, Walk ways & Patios

• Landsc ape Design & Installation

• Sprinkler System De sign & Installation

• Service & In stallation of Lake Pump Systems

Landscape & Irrigation

www.kjrlandscapeandirrigation.com

LI-0011957

817-915-4201

Irrigation in Texas is regulated by t he Texas Commission on E nvironmental Qu ality,

P.O. Box 130 87, Au stin , TX 7 8711-30 87

www.kjrlandscapeandirrigation.com 817-915-4201

° Custom Rock Work

° Stone Borders, Walls, Walkways & Patios

° Landscape Design & Installation

° Sprinkler System Design & Installation

° Service & Installation of Lake Pump Systems

IRRIGATION IN TEXAS IS REGULATED BY THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, P.O. BOX 13087, AUSTIN, TX 78711-3087

BY NATALIE GENTRYLocally owned and steadily

growing, Star Bank of Texas of-fers all the products and services of a modern financial institution while maintaining the feel and focus of a community bank.

The partners believe that en-suring all decisions are made locally translates into prompt attention and experienced guid-ance in meeting the banking needs of their customers.

They take pride in working with the community and no re-quest is too large or too small for their consideration.

Community at heartChartered in February 1998,

Star Bank of Texas now has three branches – in Lake Worth, White Settlement, and Burleson.

But don’t let the age of the or-ganization fool you; Star Bank of Texas boasts more than 150 years of combined banking ex-perience.

Deposits at all branches are FDIC insured, and they are an

Star Bank of Texas Supporting customers, communities, and local markets

Equal Housing Lender.The bank’s mission is to meet

the needs of the community by supplying the products and ser-vices needed efficiently.

Officers and employees are local folks, deeply involved in church activities, school func-tions and civic affairs.

The service they provide is what separates them from the competition, regardless of size, and they are always looking for ways to enhance their custom-ers’ banking experience.

21st Century bankingStar Bank of Texas offers a

host of services essential for banking in the 21st century.

In addition to 24-hour telephone banking, wire transfers, and debit cards, it offers remote deposit which allows customers to make deposits by scanning a digital im-age of a check and transmitting that image to the bank.

Business customers can take advantage of Automated Clear-inghouse (ACH) Network pay-

ments – the fastest-growing service provided by the banking industry today.

Star Bank of Texas also offers the convenience of its new free mobile app.

The app is available for both Apple and Android devices via the App Store and Google Play.

Now busy customers can pay bills and transfer funds while on the go.

For more information about the app or any other services provided by Star Bank of Texas call 817-238-7827 or see their website at www.starbanktexas.com.

The team at Star Bank offers a variety of ways to take care of your financial needs: (front l-r) Natalie Weaver, Cassandra Greenwood, Gary Stone, Cathy Smalley, Megan Baker, Carla Allums, Ann Haley, Mari Alvarado, Dena Hall, Linda Baty, and Casey Jones.


Indoor plants can counter such stale air, in some cases filter-ing out VOCs to make the air inside a home more breathable and healthy. The following are a handful of houseplants that can improve indoor air quality.

• Aloe: Many of us know aloe for its restorative properties with regard to treating burns and cuts, but aloe also improves indoor air quality by helping to clear a home of the byproducts, includ-ing formaldehyde, of chemical-based household cleaners. Aloe loves the sun, so if you hope to keep an aloe plant healthy through the winter, be sure to place the plant in a window that gets lots of sun exposure throughout the day.

• Gerber daisy: Like aloe, a gerber daisy needs ample sun-light, and tends to only withstand winters in warmer climates. But homeowners who live in such climates may still keep their windows closed in winter, and those that do can use these col-orful, low-maintenance flowers to remove trichloroethylene, a chemical that clothes may be ex-posed to during the dry cleaning process.

• Golden pothos: The golden pothos can survive a winter, but homeowners should be care-ful not to let the plant dry out, which can happen if they are directly exposed to sunlight. A golden pothos vine will grow quickly, so a hanging basket is a great way to keep one inside a home, where the plant can help fight formaldehyde.

• Ficus benjamina: Also known as a weeping fig, the fi-cus benjamina can be difficult to overwinter. But that does not mean your ficus benjamina, which can filter pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from a home, won’t make it through the win-ter. You just need to figure out the right watering and light con-ditions for the plant. Such con-ditions can be discussed with a gardening professional.

• Warneck dracaena: The war-neck dracaena, or dracaena dere-mensis, fights pollutants created by varnishes and oils. The war-neck dracaena is a sturdy house-plant that is difficult to kill, but it still thrives in temperatures that are between 70 F and 80 F.

Plants that can improve indoor air quality

224 West Main St.817-270-0948

Fax 817-270-0543

Attorneys: Beckham, Rector and

Eargle, LLP

Rebecca McNuttEscrow Officer

Branch Manager

National TitleAgency, Inc.

Fidelity HIGHLAND FURNITURE

North Side of Square • Springtown

817-220-5570M-F 9-5:30 Sat. 9-2

Celebrating 24 YearsCelebrating 24 Years

We have a FREE Layaway Plan!

$159999

7 PcQueen

Bedroom SetDresser-Mirror-Chest-Queen

Head Board, Foot Board, Rails-Night Stand

Queen Pillow Top Matress and Box Setstarting at $399.99 a Set.$159999

7 PcQueen

Bedroom Set

Biosolids are an organic amendment available to gar-deners. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, biosolids are carefully treated and monitored residu-als formed at sewage treatment facilities. They may be recycled

into fertilizers to stimulate plant growth. Biosolids may help re-duce the need for chemical fer-tilizers. Biosolids can be safe to use, but homeowners should be cautious about heavy metal con-tent, pathogen levels and salts. Rely on only Class A biosolids,

which have been treated to re-duce the bacterial content and are approved for use in produc-tion agriculture. Home gardeners may want to avoid biosolids in vegetable gardens because of the potential for heavy metal content seeping into the produce.

404 Main Place

From birthdays to conferences, 404 Main Place can accommodate up to 350 people. The expansive site is available for banquets, anniversaries, weddings, and graduations. For more information on how owners James Tucker (left) and Gary Trojacek of 404 Main Place can serve you, call 817-448-8459 or visit them on Facebook or at the company's website at www.404MainPlace.com.

DiD you know?


PLANTSTrees, Shrubs, Perennials, Annuals, Vegetable Plants, Hanging Baskets, Pottery, Decorative Wrought Iron,

Mulches and Soils.All available at great prices!

236 W. Hwy 199Springtown, TX(817) 523-4700

406 Hwy 114 W.Aurora, TX

(940) 433-5964

7 days a week Sun-Thur: 6 am - 10 pmFri & Sat: 6 am - Midnight

Daily Lunch specials - 10:30 am to 3:00 pmBreakfast Served All DayTake Out Orders Welcome

401 Hwy. 199 W. • Springtown

817-220-7915

Howell’s Western CafeHomeCookedMeals!

A Tractor Shop

When you visit A Tractor Shop, expect Linda Armstrong, partner, and General Manager Mike Foster to see that your every need is taken care of. Whether you stop by A Tractor Shop at 100 New Highland Road in Springtown or ATS Outdoors at 1708 Ft. Worth High-way in Weatherford, you will find a wide array of products to fit your every need – and you’ll get the best customer service anywhere. To see the latest and greatest outdoor products call A Tractor Shop, in business since 2001, at 817-221-3039 or ATS Outdoors at 817-550-6655. See their vast options online at atsoutdoors.com.

K J R Landscape & Irrigation

You can have a fabulous landscape with just one call – to K J R Landscape & Irrigation at 817-915-4201. The pro-fessionals there can install custom rock work with stone borders, walls, walkways, and patios. They also design landscapes and install them. K J R are irrigation experts who can not only install systems but also serivce and in-stall lake pump systems. To have your home look like no other, call them or visit www.kjrlandscapeandirrigation.


In today’s banking world, some institutions look for what they can gain from the customer and community.

But whether it’s at the Spring-town, Azle, or any other branch, Pinnacle Bank looks at what it can do to help its customer and community.

“We pride ourselves in know-ing our custom-ers, not only on a business basis but also as indi-viduals – regard-less of the size of their bank ac-count. We strive to exceed their expectations ev-ery time,” said Kristie Reger, assistant vice president. “I’m so thankful to be part of a bank whose leadership puts such an emphasis on giving back to the community.”

Pinnacle Bank employees and officers say they try to know what’s going on in their custom-ers’ lives, with their families and jobs, their heartaches and cel-ebrations.

“We want to have a relation-ship with our customers that shows them how much we care and that at Pinnacle Bank, they are not just a number to us,” Assistant Vice President Ran-da Goode said. “They are our

Pinnacle Bank: a ‘true’ community bankfriends, our neighbors, our fel-low church members, our chil-dren’s’ teachers.”

Pinnacle Bank employees take pride in the town they work and live in, which allows them a unique opportunity to truly in-vest in their community.

“We take a type of ownership in our town, doing what we can

to make a dif-ference. We try to have Pin-nacle Bank em-ployees at ev-ery event from Sting Fling to Follow the Flag to the Christ-mas Parade and everything in between, with many employees also on commit-tee boards,” Vice

President Nate Simmons said. “We do this because we want

to be involved. We want to know what’s going on around us and we want to do what we can to be a positive influence in our com-munity. It’s only when we care enough to contribute our time and energy that things begin to actually change.

“The saying goes ‘If they know you, they trust you and if they like you, they’ll do business with you’” Simmons added.

Customers are the main focus when it comes to bank products,

as well. Pinnacle Bank offers the customer service and feel of a small town bank with the prod-ucts and services of nationwide “big bank” competitors.

Janelle Summers, branch man-ager and senior vice president at the Pinnacle Bank branch in Springtown, says that old saying “Life is like a box a chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get,” couldn’t be farther from the truth when it comes to the Springtown branch.

“We pride ourselves in great customer service and great products. Friendly faces greet you every time you walk in the door,” Summers said

On the personal banking side, Pinnacle Bank can provide ev-erything from a checking ac-count with online banking, bill pay, mobile deposit capture and mobile access to car loans, inter-im construction loans, 30-year fixed rate mortgages, and mort-gage refinancing.

For business customers, Pin-nacle Bank offers cash manage-

ment products to fit every need such as ACH direct deposit, re-mote deposit capture, Positive Pay, online wires, and merchant processing options.

Numerous commercial loan options including commercial real estate products and quick, l o c a l l y - m a d e lending deci-sions, are avail-able, as well.

As more things in this world be-come automated, it’s becoming increasingly un-common to find a bank that views you as a valued customer and have them truly understand and meet your financial needs.

But at Pinnacle Bank, you will get just that.

Borrowing a quote from for-mer First Lady Barbara Bush, Lorie Pack, Springtown branch vice president, says “Never lose

sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your suc-cess will be how you treat other people – your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strang-ers you meet along the way. We like our customers to know we value them, we strive to pro-

vide excellent service and that our Community Matters.”

Vice Presi-dent and Branch Manager Regina Stokes summed it all up when she said “I can honestly say that Pinnacle Bank is a true communi-ty bank. We give back in so many

ways through donations, serving on committees to help make our community better and volunteer-ing for numerous organizations’ events. That is what I want to be a part of and that is what makes my heart happy.”

Community really does matter at the Springtown branch of Pinnacle Bank, where: (l-r) Lorie Pack, Paige Pearson, and Janelle Summers provide excellent leadership for the staff.

The Azle branch of Pinnacle Bank is led by the management team of: (standing, l-r) Randa Goode and Regina Stokes; and (seated) Nate Simmons and Kristie Reger.

“We do this because we

want to be in-volved.

Nate SimmonsAzle branch vice-president

“We pride ourselves on

great customer service.

Janelle SummersSpringtown branch manager



Chiropractic Care Can Treat:Headaches • Pediatrics • Personal Injury • Asthma • • Common Cold • Backaches

CHIROPRACTIC& WELLNESS CENTER, L.L.C.

BRACEDr. Jessica

Brace, D.C., CCSP

Accepting All Major Insurance & Medicare

In Network withBlue Cross/Blue Shield

PHCS, Aetna

237 W. Main St. • Azle • 817-444-2170

Hours: Mon. 9am-12pm & 2pm-6pm • Tues. 9am-NoonWed. 9am-12pm & 2pm-7pm • Thurs. 9am-12pm & 2pm-6pm • Fri. 8am-1pm

Gabrielle, Olivia, Jessica, Cole, Dylan and Gage

Walk-ins Welcome!

www.bracechiropractic.com

Did you know?Massage Therapy may be covered by

your Insurance.Call for Details.

NOW “IN NETWORK” WITH AETNA

Attraction

Too hard to resist, spring-time flowers beckon with a bevy of blossoms that in-sects flock to – including moths (below), bees, and a huge array of butterflies. Savvy gardeners can learn what to plant to bring the excitment to their own land-scapes. Especially encour-aged are plants that call to Monarch butterflies; their migration path takes them directly through this part of Texas. Photos by Paula Campbell


ATEX TRASH SERVICE

$24 per month weekly pickup

817-344-8464ATEXTRASh.com

“Service from our family to yours”

If your walls could talk, they’d thank you.

Great home insurance.Protect your home with the best. And do it at a price that will have your wallet saying “thanks” too. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® CALL ME TODAY.

State Farm Lloyds, Dallas, TX0901141TX.1

Frankie Robbins, Agent3980 Boat Club RoadFort Worth, TX 76135Bus: 817-237-8218www.frankierobbins.com

817-721-7185 404 Main Place, Azle

Open Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm; Closed Sun-MonLike us on Facebook or

go to our website Dotslocker.com

Buy • Sell • Trade Resale Store

I won’t be offended if you make me an offer,

if you’re not offended if I don’t take it!

Anniversary • Birthday Parties Weddings • Graduation Parties

Office/Retail Space for LeaseBooking/Leasing: Contact Gary Trojacek 817-448-8459

404 Main Place

404 WestMain St., Azle

www.404MainPlace.com

Banquet Hall Rental(350 max capacity)

Dot’s Locker

Backyard Beauty

The bridal wreath spirea shrub enlivens several area backyards with lovely flowers. Photo Carla Noah Stutsman


Mon-Fri: 8-7 • Sat: 8-7 • Sun: 10-5

505 N. Stewart817-270-5600

ACE OF AZLE


817-523-4137

Commercial & Residential

• Roofing• Windows• Attic Insulation• Painting

712 N. MaiN • SpriNgtowN

817-237-6116Serving the Area 30+ Years

8005 Jacksboro Hwy (1mi. west of Lake Worth bridge)

* Heating & A/C motors* Pump motors* Compressor motors

Sales & Repair

* Irrigation pumps* Jet pumps* Submersible pumps* Pool pumps

Competitive Prices

www.mmielectric.net

MMI Electric Motors & Pumps

Team Realty Springtown

817-220-4663Weatherford

817-598-0988

www.wrteamrealty.com

Serving the Communities of Parker, Tarrant and Wise Counties for 30 years!

Now is The Time for Sellers to Profit!Inventories are low!

BY MISTY SHAWAt American Home and Azle

Door, the business of building custom barns and installing ga-rage doors is all in the family.

The sister companies are co-owned by Rick George and his dad, Joe, and they get by with a little help from their family and friends.

“We started Azle Door Com-pany quite a while back, and it’s built up, but it’s still a small family business,” Rick George said. “It’s a joint effort, and it’s worked out re-ally well for all of us.”

American Home specializes in building everything from decorative windmills and wag-ons to steel barns, carports, RV covers and storage buildings, while Azle Door can design and install just about any kind of door those buildings might need.

George was able to acquire American Home and combine

Barns and doors A small family business with big offerings

its operations with Azle Door.“We always did the doors on

these steel buildings, and when a friend of ours wanted to re-tire, he talked me into buying his business here,” said George. “At first it was really a rough start, but we turned it around to where it’s doing pretty good

– so far, so good.”

“And join-ing the two businesses to-gether, it re-ally does work hand in hand,” he continued.

“It helps out both business-es and it gives us an advan-

tage over the competition.”George says he’s worked hard

to set his business apart from others by offering customers a range of options at prices they won’t find anywhere else.

“There’s a lot of businesses like this around here – it seems like every day we’ve got more and more like this,” he said.

“But we really go out of our way to offer more op-

tions,” such as the inclusion of a weather vane on the Big Tex Barn package, along with other decorative options, state of the art materials, and even custom Dutch doors.

American Home is often able to build and install structures for the cost of materials alone at other places, and in a timely

fashion too.“As far as turn-around times

on people ordering their build-ings and then actually getting them delivered and installed, we’re doing the best in the in-dustry,” George said. “Even after the weather has wreaked havoc on us, we’re still weeks or months better than the com-

petition.”“And we’ve got good cus-

tomer service, which has really helped us – a lot of these com-panies don’t,” he added.

After living in Colorado for a few years, George and his wife Amy, along with their two chil-dren, returned to Texas and set up shop in Azle.

“I really like this area, it’s worked out really well,” he said.

George has diversified his business by selling classic cars, mostly as a hobby, as well as an occasional horse trailer and tak-ing RVs on consignment.

American Home and Azle Door help customers area-wide while remaining a small family business.

“We’ve always been people pleasers, and so we’ve always done well in business,” George said. “We kind of point the fin-ger at who’s owning, and really, what we say is it owns us.”

Visit American Home and Azle Door at 5189 E. Hwy 199 near Springtown, or on the web at americanhome.com.

“We’ve al-ways been peo-

ple pleasers.Rick George

Co-owner

American Home and Azle Door specializes in built-to-or-der steel barns and storage sheds; they also have a few classic cars for sale.


Hwy 199 & Old Springtown Rd. • SpringtownAuto • Life • Home • BusinessPhilliPs

Insurance Agency

Rick Phillips817-220-4363Gets you back where you belong.©

75 YEARS SERVING AMERICA817-270-4300

Insects, Rodents, Arachnids, No Bull

* W.D.I. Inspection Reports* • * free inspections and estimates*Residential & Commercial

LONGHORNTERMITE & PEST CONTROL

All Types Stone & Brick WorkNew Construction • Remodels

Free Estimates

Cell 817-308-6512Home 817-444-3806

email [email protected]

commercial • residential

Azle, TX

Landscape Designs, Patios, Outdoor Kitchens, Retaining Walls, Mailboxes

,L.L.C.concrete

BY NATALIE GENTRYThings are changing at Ace of

Azle.In their third year, the store is

planning additions to their in-ventory.

“We are having a couple of major additions to the store,” said Jayne Rogers, store man-ager.

In addition to the plumbing and electrical supplies, tools, and hardware that are the ex-pected products, the company is continuing to enlarge their paint department.

Ace will also be adding a new LED Lightbulb selection as well as continuing to grow its garden center.

The store will continue to car-ry Valspar, Clark+Kensington as well as the Ace brand paint, Ace Royal – which according to Consumer Reports, was ranked as the number one exterior paint.

“People want options,” Rogers said. “We will carry a couple of Ace specific lines of Valspar in-cluding Aspire paint and primer for interior and exterior use and Optimums for interior use only.”

These paints have been devel-oped with NovoColor Pigment Technology to provide brilliant color and a flawless finish.

Both lines are low odor, zero VOC formulas, and provide the maximum durability to with-stand major wear and washing in high traffic zones.

“Almost everything in aisles four and five will be different,” Rogers said. “We have added a Valspar chip rack, in addition to the updated Clark+Kensington

Ace of Azle continually growing, expanding

rack, which means more colors to choose from and an auto-tint-ing paint system.

“We'll be able to match more colors,” Rogers said.

Customers can bring in colors from anywhere and the team at Ace will be able to reproduce it.

Another area that Ace of Azle is expanding is its garden center.

“We have broadened the se-lection this year,” Rogers said.

“We still have the veggies, large tomatoes, and large peppers, but this year there are tons of bloom-ing plants too.”

Rogers said that the team is honing their skills and selections after listening to customer re-quests and feedback

“People have asked for a spe-cific ground cover or plant and we have tried to respond to all the requests,” Rogers said.

The Plant Center will be open through June.

You can also go to www.ace-hardware.com and order any supplies you may need.

You have the choice of pay-ing for shipping and handling to have items delivered directly to your home or having your order delivered to your Ace Hardware store at no charge.

Ace has also added Online Or-

dering with In-Store Pickup and delivery services.

They’ll let you know when they arrive and you can pick them up at your convenience.

Ace of Azle is independently owned but is affiliated with Ace Hardware.

The store is located at 505 N. Stewart Street in Azle – between Brookshire’s and Bealls.

Call them at 817-270-5600.

Ace of Azle is always ready to serve as a one-stop shop for area consumers. Friendly, welcoming folks from around here who know what works in these parts. They are professionals ready to take care of you.

Paint and garden areas

enlarged


AZLE APPLIANCE REPAIR PARTS & SERVICE

817-298-1699azleappl iancerepa i r.ne t

229 West Main · Azle

Discount for Seniors, Military, City of Azle & ISD Employees

We Do Installs!

30% OFF Ice Maker Repairs

J & E Air Conditioning& Heating Inc.

Licensed & Insured in the State of Texas:TX Lic.# TACLA01475E

For Immediate Service, Call:

817-220-45061825 W Highway 199 • Springtown, TX 76082

Check us out on:

Featuring Long Arm Quilting

& Quilting Treasures

817-455-8983Mon–Fri 10am – 5pm

Sat 10am – 4pm

217 W. Main StreetAzle, Texas

Quilt Fabric

Tom Samples Pest Control

817-915-2470 Thank you to all of our loyal friends and customers for voting us Best Pest Control Company

in Parker County!

Your complete pest control service. Family owned and operated over 60 years of service.

Vegetable gardening tips for beginnersPlanting a vegetable garden

can be a worthwhile endeavor for anyone who has an available patch of land. Gardens need not take up much space, and even apartment dwellers without yards can plant small gardens in containers they place on terraces or window boxes.

Although establishing a gar-den is easy enough, beginners may make a few mistakes along the way.

One of the first decisions novice gardeners must make is which crops to grow. This will help determine how much land you will need and which sup-plies or soil amendments will be necessary.

According to The Old Farm-er’s Almanac, a common error for beginners is planting too much and more than anyone could ever consume, so it’s best to start small and be proud of that small garden.

Plants such as peppers, squash and tomatoes produce through-out the season, so you may not need many plants to provide for your needs.

Less prolific plants may re-quire a greater investment to produce a similar yield.

Locate your garden in an area that gets adequate sun. Many vegetables need between six and eight hours of sunlight per day. Without enough light, they will

not bear as much and could be susceptible to insect infestation. Vegetables and fruit also need plenty of water because they’re not very drought-tolerant, so keep gardens close to a water source.

Another good tip is to locate the garden near the house or bar-becue grill. This way you can easily harvest fresh produce and use it when cooking.

Soil preparation is also key. Till the soil and remove de-

bris like rocks, sticks and hard clumps of dirt. Work with or-ganic material, such as manure or compost. Apply mulch after planting to help maintain mois-ture levels in the soil.

Plant the tallest crops at the rear of your garden bed. Work forward with shorter crops. Try to leave a foot or more between planting rows.

It’s easy to get a garden started and enjoy fresh food for many months to come.

Soil preparation is vital to grow a good crop; that includes using organic materials.


Chad’s TREE SERVICECOMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL

Satisfaction Guaranteed

817-246-5943 Chad Green owner/operator

Home 817-221-2201

• Removals • Stump Grinding• Trimming • Systemic Tree Feeding

Insured for your protection FREE ESTIMATES

CleanersHOURS:

Monday - Friday, 5 am - 7 pmSaturday, 5 am - 5 pm

817-220-2499 489 E. Hwy 199, Springtown

TRI-COUNTYElectric Cooperative Inc.“A Commitment To Service and Savings”

Providing Electric Service to Portions of Sixteen Counties in North Central Texas.

Enjoy the Cooperative Advantage!

An Active Part of Our Communities!Local Offices for Your Convenience!

Owned By Those We Serve!TRI-COUNTY

Electric Cooperative, Inc.600 Northwest Parkway • Azle

817-523-7231 or 817-444-3201

E & E Equipment Co.

E & E Equipment Co. is a one-stop shop for sales, service, and parts provided for a huge variety of premium landscape machines like zero-turn mowers. E & E offers Brush-Hog brand machines that can “cut mowing time in half.” From reinforced decks to twin fuel tanks, easy to operate Brush-Hogs provide cutting ranges from 44 to 73 inches. See a slew of them at E & E’s 11601 Jacksboro Highway building where zero percent financing is available. Call Mark Ellenbarger at 817-237-6641 or surf to www.EE-Equipment.com to see what they offer.

Classic Green

Classic Green offers a wide variety of landscape services, including lawn care, weed control, sprinkler systems, tree service, lighting, and fencing. Located at 1108 North-west Parkway, Classic Green is family owned and operated. Among the options avail-able from the staff are fertilizing, aeration, and worm control as they build the kind of landscape that will be the envy of passersby and neighbors. Call them at 817-479-9503 or visit their website at www.classicgreen.com.


CARPETLarry’s

8305 Jacksboro Hwy. • 817-237-7871

“Since 1979”

Showroom & WarehouseCERAmiC TilE

And Wood FlooRing

CERAmiC TilEAnd

Wood FlooRingwww.Larryscarpet.com

WAREHoUSEFUll oF RollS And

REmnAnTS

for every room in your home!Quality, large selection, and great prices...

are still found at

Perennials and annuals for Spring & Summer Color

“Parker County’s Largest Selection of Native Texas

Plants”

From design to installations. Call

us for All Your Landscaping

Needs.

Landscaping & designNursEryStuart

817-596-0003

Certified Nursery Professional on staff • Serving the Area for over 35 years2317 Ft. Worth Hwy., Weatherford

www.stuartnurseryinc.com

Much More Than a Weed

Pity the poor dandelion, reviled in yards everywhere as a pest and, gasp, a weed. But taraxacum officinale has an extraordinary number of uses medicinally, using the root historically as a diuretic and a liver tonic. Every part of the dandelion is edible. Flowers can be turned into jelly, added to a salad or, as the Hollies sang, “Dandelion Wine.” When harvested from new plants before flowers emerge, leaves are full of antioxidants, potassium, and vitamins A and D. Not bad for a weed. Photo by Paula Campbell


• Sprinkler Installation & Repair• Certified Backflow Testing• Landscaping & Design• Rock & Stonework• Sod & Hydromulching• Drainage• Tractor/Grading Work• Landscape Lighting• Competitive Prices

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIALFamily Owned & Operated Since 1989

EXPERTS IN LAWN SPRINKLERS & LANDSCAPING

Lic. #4346 • #6537

LANDSCAPE & IRRIGATION

www.djhuffmaninc.com

817-270-0544 • 817-379-0545

Spring iS HErE!It’s time for sprinkler system checkup and beautiful landscapes.

SENIOR DISCOUNTS

Master GaRDENER On Staff!

FREE ESTIMATES

Texas: The Wildflower State

While a push years ago to officially declare Texas “The Wildflower State” failed, we still have a remarkable abundance of beauty displayed every spring. Our state flower, the bluebonnet, blankets hillsides and along roadways, including Highway 199. Spying the rare white strain (left) or the ever rarer pink (right) among the seas of blue is a treat for photographers. When interspersed with brilliant, red-orange Indian Paintbrushes, Texas landscapes are like no others – we’re the Wildflower State, indeed. Photos by Paula Campbell


MEMBER FDIC

T H E W A Y B A N K I N G S H O U L D B E

AZLE e BENBROOK e BURLESON e CLEBURNE e FORT WORTH e JOSHUA e KEENE e SPRINGTOWN

pinnbanktx.com e 817.444.2504

PINNACLE BANK is HERE FOR YOU

Whether you’re buying, building or refinancing your home, Pinnacle Bank’s experienced lending team will guide you every step of the way. With low mortgage rates, there’s never been a better time. We can help you with any long-term or fixed-rate mortgage loans.

Stop by Pinnacle Bank and speak with a mortgage lender today or apply online at pinnbanktx.com.

OUR SERVICE TO YOU & THE COMMUNITY IS PRIORITY

AZLE 316 NW Parkway e SPRINGTOWN 726 HWY. 199 E.

15_PTX05_AZLESPRNGTWN_HOME&GARDEN_AD.indd 1 4/23/15 4:32 PM


A/C & HEATby Russell

Authorized Dealer:• Rheem • Comfortmaker

SERVICING ALL BRANDS

Quality at

reasonable rates SaleS • Service • inStallation

Residential & Commercial

817-270-8811 office817-239-8710 cell

Russell Reedowner

TACLBO17933CMajor credit cards

accepted

ROOFING & Metal

BuIldINGsTodd Huse

817-220-1794 • 817-304-4224

Experts in Metal, Composition & Repairs

RESIDENTIAL and COMMERCIAL

• FreeEstimates• InsuranceClaimsAssistance• EmergencyStormRepairs

• 24-HourAssistance• 3-YearLaborGuarantee• LocalReferences

All types of roofing.

We’ll be hereafter the storm.

Chapman CarpentryOff-Duty Firefighter

Professional& Dependable

exterior & interior remodeling, patio

covers, drywall repairs

817-946-6787817-444-4198

BY MISTY SHAWRodney Orand knows plants.He’s in the business of nur-

turing banana trees, flowering bougainvillea vines, and giant potted agaves, and he can tell you everything there is to know about each one.

Orand Nursery, located just east of Lake Worth, is a sprawl-ing jungle of both native and ex-otic plants that spans two street corners and boasts the area’s largest selection of palms and cactus.

It was his inherent love of growing things that Orand says led him to open a nursery instead of pursuing his original career path – dentistry.

“I wanted to be a dentist be-cause of the money, but I didn’t really like it,” Orand said. He graduated pre-med/pre-dental from UT Arlington, “but all my electives were botany. When I graduated, I knew I wasn’t go-ing to be a doctor or a dentist because that really wasn’t what I was interested in.”

Orand always knew his true passion was plants and landscap-ing, which he did in his spare time during his college years, including a design and installa-tion for Moore Funeral Home in Arlington in 1974.

“I was young, but I was very good, and I work hard, Orand said. “I’m very driven and com-petitive.”

He also ran track for UT Ar-lington and was even a top run-ner in the Boston Marathon in 1997.

But after brief stints doing concrete work and even buying and selling real estate, in 2004, Orand was finally able to start doing what he truly loved when he opened a plant nursery on property his parents owned in Fort Worth.

Welcome to the jungle Exotic plants abound at Orand Nursery

“I decided I wanted to open a nursery, so my mother gave me $2,400 – I didn’t have a dime,” said Orand. “My mother was in-strumental in getting the nursery started; I couldn’t have done it without her.”

Orand Nursery is still a fami-ly-owned and operated business – Orand’s mother and brother work alongside him at the shop, which was built where his fa-ther’s TV repair business once

stood.“My parents have owned this

place forever – they had a TV shop here,” he said. “My dad passed away in 1997, but they were in the TV business and they’d made fairly good money – my dad worked hard.”

As times changed, the TV shop eventually closed, but Orand was able to revitalize his parents’ property for a new pur-pose.

“My brother and I came in and did all the repairs and fixed it up, and I opened the nursery here about 11 years ago,” he said.

Barbara “Granny” Orand (even customers call her Gran-ny) says she’s proud of all her son has accomplished.

“We didn’t start out with a lot, but this thing has just evolved – he knows where to get all these plants,” she said. “He’s very in-telligent, and I’m not just saying

that because he’s my son – it’s a fact.”

“This is what he really want-ed to do – he has a passion for this,” she continued. “I’ve never seen anybody love his job like he does. He knows everything about the plants.”

With his mother’s support, Orand says he “went and bought 50 live oaks down south by A&M and came up here and started the nursery with just regular shrubs, like everybody does.”

At first it was difficult to com-pete with the gardening sec-tions at larger, established chain stores, so Orand worked to set his nursery apart by diversifying his offerings.

“Even if people knew me and mine was even the same price, they’d buy at Lowe’s and Home Depot,” he said. “But I’m cheap-er than them, and what I do, they can’t do this – if you go to those places, they’re not going to know anything.”

“I’m a collector,” Orand add-ed. “I’m doing tissue culture, I’m doing genetic engineering – I’m thinking big.”

So, what does the future hold for Orand Nursery, its owner, and all his plants?

“I want to be bigger, and I can do it – I will succeed because I have to,” Orand said. “I think I’m onto something, and I’ll change the landscapes in Fort Worth and Dallas and anywhere around here.”

Orand Nursery is located at 1950 Roberts Cut-Off Rd. in Fort Worth. For more informa-tion, call 817-377-3090 or visit www.orandnursery.com.

Rodney Orand is the owner of Orand Nursery in Fort Worth. He opened the business in 2004, following his true passion – plants. Photo by Misty Shaw


West Side Storage

817-239-1670

Storage UnitsFor Lease!

PROUD MEMBER OF THE

SPRINGTOWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

When it comes to protecting Texas homes, Germania Insurance understands Texans’ needs. We live in the same communities and sharethe same concerns as our neighbors. For their home and their automobile and even their families, Texans look to Germania Insurance to be there when they need us most.

Germania is no ordinary insurance company. We’ve been insuring Texans’ homes for over 110 years. From El Paso to Texarkana andMcAllen to Amarillo, we have agents all across the Lone Star State thatunderstand the needs of our neighbors and the communities in whichwe live. We have competitive rates, discount options and exceptional claims service, 24/7.

Discover for yourself why Germania isThe Insurance Texans Trust®.

Deep in the Heart of Texans.

Burtnett Ins. AgencyKaye Burtnett, agent

817-220-7682

Many homeowners take up gardening to transform their homes with beautiful flowers and foliage, while others do so to yield fresh fruits and vegetables. But gardening can be more than just a weekend hobby. In fact, it may be especially beneficial for homeowners to surround them-selves with more plants and nat-ural decor, whether in the yard or in the home.

Studies have indicated that gardening can be good for the mind and body. In addition to improving mood and reducing stress, plant life and gardening also may help people have a more hopeful outlook on life.

If reaping the benefit of a beautiful landscape is not reason enough to get into gardening, elevating your mood and cop-ing with depression or illness may be even further motivation to start developing your green thumb.

Home-design trends seem to be following suit, offering in-dividuals more opportunities to surround themselves with poten-tially therapeutic plants. Explore these emerging and established garden décor trends to try in and around your home.

• Living wall planters: A liv-ing wall planter can add green-ery to any décor without taking up floor or table space. Ideal for outdoor structures, these plant-ers also can be used indoors if you safeguard against leaks and dripping. A living wall planter

Garden-inspired decor brightens spaces and mood

Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces are increasingly popular in backyards.

is a framed device that houses plants in a manner that enables them to be vertically mounted to a wall surface. While there are commercially available models, you can create your own design and paint or stain it to match the existing décor. Use a soil-free potting substrate to avoid the mess that regular soil may cre-ate.

• Combining fish with garden-ing: Enjoy the best of two relax-

ing worlds by installing a water feature in your yard. Garden retailers offer ready-made kits that can make fast work of es-tablishing a pond or other water feature in the backyard. Other-wise, there are plenty of water garden companies and install-ers who can suggest a design and put in your desired water features. Add fish suitable for outdoor life to your pond. These include koi and certain goldfish

varieties. Game fish are discour-aged because they can destroy pond plants. If an outdoor pond is more maintenance than you desire, consider an indoor aquar-ium with a combination of fish and live aquarium plants.

• Creative furniture designs: Maybe you’re a person who ap-preciates the unique and whimsi-cal? Tables, benches and chairs can be built with planting chan-nels that enable you to have greenery and garden décor in one piece. Envision a picnic table with a cutout down the center for a thin row of plants or decorative grasses. This is a project the entire family can get behind, as the more creative ideas the better.

• Improved outdoor lighting: People who like to spend time in their gardens and yards may not want to be limited by sunrise and sunset. By incorporating differ-ent lighting sources, you can cre-ate a retreat that is welcoming at any hour. Although flood lights and overhead lights can illumi-nate a space, consider ambient and decorative lighting to create the desired ambiance.

• Functional fire pits and plac-es: A blazing fire creates a cozy spot to gather on chilly evenings,

but fire pits and fireplaces also can be used as impromptu cook-ing spots for s’mores or frank-furters on a stick. You can pur-chase a stand-alone fire pit from any number of retailers or build your own with patio pavers and fire bricks to line the interior of the fire pit. Outdoor fireplaces require more work, and you want to hire a mason to ensure proper installation.

• Enjoyable yard additions: While plants and seating may take center stage, some people still want to have fun in their yards. There’s an increased de-mand for yard designs and décor that can put the fun in backyard living. Bocce courts, ring- or horseshoe-toss setups, as well as bean bag-toss boards, can be incorporated into landscape de-signs, giving you yet another reason to spend a few hours in the great outdoors, where you can experience a few healthy laughs in the process.

Gardening and spending time outdoors are great hobbies and may even boost your mood. Homeowners can explore the popular trends in garden décor and natural elements that they can enjoy inside and outside of their homes.


$30 A/C Diagnostic

817-983-4464 • 817-713-8090 • 817-444-4434

1200 NW Parkway (Hwy 199) • Azle

$20 Conventional$40 Semi-Synthetic$60 Full-Synthetic

Oil ChangeL-R: Front Row: Evelyn Faulkner, Jake Crawford, Gena Grauman,

Shane Grauman, Linda Sharp L-R: Back Row: Karen Fuller, Gilda Jackson, Robert Hard, Marsha Hardin, Mark Donahew, Kelly Dildy, Tim Riddle

Real e s tat e www.MarshaHardinRealEstate.com

112-A E. Main St. Azle817-444-5330

* Foreclosures* Property Management

* Farm & Ranch* Waterfronts

* Residential* Commercial

“Selling Azle & Loving It!”Call Us For All Your Real Estate Needs!BEST

Transplanting treesSeveral steps can ensure tree

transplanting goes as smoothly:• Determine why the tree

needs to be moved. Some trees that are not thriving in their ex-isting location may not benefit from a transplant. For example, a tree with a pest infestation might need to be replaced rather than transplanted. If a tree is not getting adequate sunlight in its present location, then transplant-ing it to a different location on your property with more expo-sure to sunlight might reinvigo-rate the tree. If soil is the prob-lem, than transplanting the tree might prove ineffective unless you also test the soil where you plan to move the tree and adjust it so the tree can thrive.

• Prune the tree roots. Tiny roots that extend beyond the tree absorb water and nutrients, and such roots need to be pruned before transplanting a tree. Landscaping professionals note that root pruning stimulates the growth of new small roots near-er to the tree’s trunk, and these newer roots will be dug up when the time comes to transplant the tree. Root pruning must be done well in advance of transplanting the tree.

• Time your transplant cor-rectly. Avoid transplanting trees when temperatures are colder and the ground is frozen. Trans-planting before or after a thaw allows the transplanted roots time to develop. In addition, transplanting the day after you have watered the soil around the tree reduces the stress on the tree’s roots, making it easier to keep the root ball intact.

• Protect the root ball. When transplanting a tree, make sure the root ball does not dry out. If it does, the tree likely wonÕt thrive in its new location and all your hard work will have been for naught. Cover the root ball with damp burlap or canvas so it can retain more of the moisture it will need to adapt to its new location.

• Plant the tree sooner rather than later. While you can store a transplanted tree before you plant it elsewhere on your prop-erty, storing it for a long period of time increases the chances that the transplant will be un-successful. Ideally, you want to plant the tree in its new location as soon as possible. If you must store it, make sure you don’t suf-focate the root ball, as roots must be kept damp or they will die and potentially cost you the tree.

Haley Carter State Farm Insurance

Haley Carter has been affiliated with State Farm Insurance since 1998 then became an agent in 2002. With her fellow professionals – (l-r) Shadi Sutton, Vivian Roblow, Cindy Hicks, Haley Carter, Kim Edwards, Judy Butler, and Kortni Padilla – they offer compre-hensive insurance and financial options. From vehicle to life, Haley Carter Insurance, located at 408 Boyd Court in Azle, offers a wide variety of choices. That includes every-thing from cars, boats, home and property, and even identity protection. The firm also can provide an array of financial options that include banking, loans, retirement and estate planning, and educational savings plans among others. Haley Carter and her team will “help you get where you’re going.” Call today, 817-444-1100 or visit them at www.haleycarter.com.


When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one and a lily with the other.

Chinese proverb

Photo by Paula Campbell


817-238-78273930 Boat Club RoadFort Worth, TX 76135

“Where Everybody is Somebody To Us!”

www.starbanktexas.com

White SettlementEst. 2004

Lake WorthEst. 1998

BurlesonEst. 2012

Home & Garden 2015

Documents