GARDEN FANATIC:Make your vote -- and your garden -- count

“Voters don’t decide issues, they decide who will decide issues.” – George F. Will

“The fact that a man is to vote forces him to think.” – John Jay Chapman

When you cast your vote Nov. 7 in the general election, will you be a voter or just a partial voter? All too often, many of us, it seems, enter the voting booth with knowledge of only half the candidates and issues — or less. No matter who or what you vote for, you ought to vote with the whole of yourself. After all, you are deciding who will decide the important issues for Laguna Beach and beyond.

Everyone’s favorite election prognosticator, the Plant Man, believes that all of the races in Laguna will be close ones. Best of luck to all of the candidates this coming Tuesday.

November is the month for both cleanup and planting in preparation for the holidays. Let’s get back to the garden with the Plant Man …

Q. What should I be doing in my garden this month?

A. We are in the midst of the season that is considered the best for planting. It is also cleanup month, the time to fasten trees and tall shrubs, prune the old tops of perennials and freshen flowerbeds. It’s not too late for bulbs; remember to refrigerate the tulips and hyacinths for later planting. Finally, I would suggest mulching perennials and keeping an eye out for fall weeds.

Q. What can I do in my garden to minimize the danger of fire?

A. I would recommend that trees adjacent to your home be pruned away from the roof and eaves. Thin all plantings within 100 feet of your house and clear away dead vegetation. Finally, clean up dead leaves and litter that accumulated during the summer. When in doubt, contact the Laguna Beach Fire Department.

Q. Who do you like in the City Council campaign?

A. I personally like all of the candidates: Kelly Boyd, Toni Iseman, Elizabeth Pearson- Schneider and Verna Rollinger.

Q. Can I grow catnip outside in the winter?

A. Catnip is a perennial that can be grown throughout Laguna; however, it will die back at the first sign of frost in the canyon. It will be among the first plants to return in the spring. Catharine likes to have a constant, fresh supply for our cats. During the winter, she grows it indoors near a sunny window.

Q. As a result of watering on my neighbor’s side of the wall, my planter is always very wet. I battle against moss and mushrooms there all the time. I was wondering if there was anything I could do?

A. Water may be seeping into your planter from your neighbor’s garden. I suggest that you and your neighbor verify that the soil on his side is graded away from your property and that his garden is not being over watered. A water cutoff system might be in order for both properties, with an underground-perforated pipe (French drain) surrounded by gravel to “cut off” the water before it reaches your side. You should contact a soils engineer for more information.

Q. When do you think you and Catharine may have spent too much time in Baja?

A Never.

Q. What kind of plants will give me berries for the holidays?

A. Holly, especially the Chinese and English kinds, can be used as decorations as small plants and then planted in the garden. In succeeding years, they may be carefully pruned to provide branches covered with berries. Firethorn (Pyracantha spp.) and Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) are also useful as plants with berried branches.

Voting is serious stuff — as important as protecting village character and property rights or selecting one’s mate. You need to vote not only with your head but also with your gut: How does your stomach feel about a particular candidate or issue? The question then, in Election 2006, is not what percentage of the electorate votes but how much of the voter votes. See you next time.