November/December 2006

From the President . . .

Dear Members,

Last year at this time many of us found ourselves returning to our beloved French Quarter and beginning to rebuild our community.  For those of you who made the effort I thank you.  It’s been my choice to walk around with blinders, as many of us do, to avoid seeing what’s not right with our recovery. I am an optimist and seeing the good things in our progress is my choice. 

And speaking of recovery, let me mention that the Pot Luck Supper, which had been off the agenda for two years, made a fabulous splashy return at the hands of Barbara Richmond and Ed Foulks, who co-chaired the event.  It was wonderfully attended by over 100 members and guests.  I hope you had as much fun as I did.  Thanks again to Betty & Don Kern and Drs. Lutz & Combs for the lovely setting.  Without their generosity we would not have had such a fabulous place to gather.  Everyone should look for the photos on the Patio Planters web site.

The Secret Garden Tour held October 7 & 8 was also a successful event. Co-chaired by Carmen Carter and Paula Chavis, this two-day fundraiser was attended by over 590 visitors.  We had great gardens to offer each day, cheerful volunteers to act as docents, flag boys, special assistants to the President (Mary Jo Wright & Leslie Perrin) and wonderful publicity.  Ticket sales were bolstered by New Orleans Gem & Lapidary and Creole Delicacies. What a great combination.  Thank you to all of the homeowners who allowed this to happen, your spirit in sharing these lush garden spaces is delightful.

Our recent meetings at Le Petit were fun. In September, Ed Foulks, our Program Chair and Vice President, spoke on the Resilience of Bromeliads.  He was very informative and generous, as he brought many samples for us to take home.  We also got to take home seed packets with photos of our Past Presidents.  I hope everyone had fun playing “Who Am I”.  I thought it was a good way to get to know our past and present members.  It seems members were on a roll for our programs because Rick Reiners spoke at the October meeting about a letter written detailing his ordeal in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.  Rick’s speech was interesting and humorous and we thoroughly enjoyed his presentation to the group.

Le Petit Theatre’s courtyard has been cleaned, pruned and planted with color for the season, thanks to Patio Planters.  Check it out the next time you are there for a meeting or performance.

Don’t forget that group participation is what we are looking for on November 11.  The White Elephant Sale and Auction will be our next opportunity to raise funds for Caroling by Candlelight in Jackson Square.  I hope all of you who will not be able to work that day will be able to attend and bid on some of the wonderful auction items.  Please tell your friends and neighbors to come to McDonogh 15 school yard at 10 am for the event.

Until we meet again, go gently,

Sam Poché

From the Membership Chair . . .

Please welcome the following 2006 new members:

• Charlotte and Brian Furness
• Arlene Karcher
• Philip & Renee Kurica
• Jack and Bliss McCall
• Joyce "Mimi" Perrin
• Gary Robichaux
• Nan Smith

We still have quite a few members who haven’t renewed yet, so if YOU have a *BRIGHT RED STAR* on your address label, that means it’s time now to take a minute and write that check. 

Any address, phone number or e-mail corrections please e-mail me at patiomembers@aol.com  or call 598-2374. 

Any questions, please give me a call.

Thank you,
Paula Chavis

The Passing of a Friend

Frank Sciacca, neighbor, friend and Patio Planter passed away on Monday, October 9, 2006. I met Frank 17 years ago when I moved to the corner of Dauphine and Ursulines. We mostly chatted about real estate and goings on in the neighborhood. He never talked much about his community involvements, but in reading his obituary I confirmed he was very dedicated to the French Quarter. Frank was the President of Le Petit Theatre and St. Louis Cathedral Parish Council. Anyone ever serving in these positions knows this is a labor of love. He was also a dedicated family man and is survived by his three children, Sandra, Frank & Richard. His late wife is memorialized at Le Petit Theatre in Teddy’s Corner. While browsing through our scrap book I came across a photograph of him dating back to 1957. This memento dates Frank as member of this group no less than 49 years. I hope all of our commitments last as long. Peace.

Sam Poché

About Our Recent Events . . .

Pot Luck Supper

Patio Planters were the stars September 30th of the pot luck supper.  More than one hundred accounted for came with food and more food.  Thanks again to Betty & Don Kern, our hosts.  The home owners do the most work.  Roland and Craig Schexnayder, Sonny Faggart and Bob Richmond arrived early to help set up tables. Nancy Dixon prepared and donated all of the plates, cups and utensils.  Unfortunately, she had a medical problem and couldn’t attend.  Get well soon, Nancy!  There was a breakdown in the bar set-up.  Craig and Roland came to the rescue, ordered and set up and did the bartending.  AND they cleaned up and packed up!  Mary Ellen Wade, Lea Siegel and Frances Salvaggio worked the registration table.  The people who helped clean up, Jeff Collins, Janice & Ed Foulks, Carmen Carter, B.B. St. Roman and others --- Appreciation to all.  Good music, good food, good neighbors.  Cheers!

Barbara Richmond

Secret Garden Tour

Thanks to all the homeowners who generously opened their courtyards up for the Secret Garden Tour.  We had a great turnout considering the Katrina factor.  The courtyards looked great!  Thanks to all those who volunteered their time for the tour, starting with Chick Horton and John Murphy, who put up the flags for the courtyards.  A special thanks to Jan Allen, Dale Rathke, Judith Patout, Robert Patout, Josie Markey, George Markey, Phyllis Bruscato, Norman Many, Lynn Gladney, Martin Sachs and Doris Williams who did double shifts.  A special thanks to Paul Waldman who tried to do a double shift but was side tracked in a car accident after completing his Saturday shift.  Finally, a very special thank you to those of you who volunteered and are not even members! 

As you know, we still have the Holiday Home Tour as our last big fund raiser for Caroling by Candlelight in Jackson Square.  Please show your support by offering your home for the tour or volunteering at a home.  So many of you decorate for the holidays and it would be great for Patio Planters and the French Quarter community if you would open your home and help bring desperately needed tourists to the area. 

Member participation in this event is vital in helping to bring tourist dollars to the Quarter and fund our organization’s activities throughout the year.   Please contact Paula Chavis to volunteer or contact me to place your home on tour. 

Carmen Carter

About our Upcoming Events . . .

Our Next Meeting

At our November 1st meeting, professor emeritus and storyteller extraordinaire Coleen Salley will delight us with a presentation of her latest in a series of children's books about Epossumondas, a lovable little possum. Entitled Epossumondas Saves the Day, this story tracks his adventures  in the swamps of Bayou Lafourche and features illustrations by Janet Stevens.  Miss Salley plans to bring along a few copies of the book in case anyone needs a gift for a child this season. Her Epossumondas books have won several awards around the country.

Note that there will be no meeting in December.

Ed Foulks

White Elephant Sale and Auction

Come one, come all.  Bring your friends and a big basket to take home some treasures.  The White Elephant Sale & Auction are here.  Sale begins on Saturday November 11, 2006 at 10 am, Auction begins at 12 noon. The McDonogh 15 school yard at the corner of Royal and St. Philip has again been offered to us through the generosity of Gary Robichaux, Principal. We are looking forward to selling two years of collections from our generous donors.   If you still have donations or want to buy tickets for the Basket of Cheer raffle, please don’t hesitate to call.  Last minute donations are happily accepted.  Many thanks go out in advance to all the volunteers who will assist in this fabulous fundraiser.  Remember all funds benefit Caroling by Candlelight in Jackson Square, to be held this year on December 17.  This should be special, as we are celebrating our 60th year.  Hope to see you there.

Leslie Perrin and Sam Poché

Holiday Brunch

Come celebrate our 60th year of Patio Planters at the Holiday Brunch on Sunday, December 10th, 12:00 to 3:00, at Muriel’s on the Square. With great music, wonderful food, delightful setting and the best of friends, what more could you ask for? We just need you to be there! So, mark your calendars. Just a week before we have our 60th Caroling in the Square, it’s a nice way to start the celebration. Look for your invitation in the mail at the end of November. This year the charge will be $45.00 for members and guests alike.

We look forward to this great event!

Barbara Richmond and Adrienne Hartsock 

Household Tips

by Guest Contributor Becky Ransey

Uses of Hydrogen Peroxide
(safer and healthier than bleach)

Have you ever smelled bleach in a doctor's office? NO!!! Why?? Because it smells, and it is not healthy! Ask the nurses who work in the doctor's offices if they use bleach at home. They are wiser and know better!

Did you know bleach was invented in the late 40's? It's chlorine and it was used to kill our troops. Hydrogen Peroxide was invented during WWI in the 20's. It was used to save and help cleanse the needs of our troops and hospitals.

1. Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. No more canker sores, and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash.

2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of peroxide to keep them free of germs.

3. Clean your counters and table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.

4. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.

5. Treat fungus on your feet (especially the toes) with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water every night and let dry.

6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day.  A doctor reports that he has seen gangrene healed by soaking in peroxide, where no other medicine worked.

7. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system as bleach or most other disinfectants will.

8. Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, plugged sinus. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes, and then blow your nose into a tissue.

9. If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.

10. And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide-burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages but more natural highlights, especially if your hair is light brown or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually, so it's not a drastic change.

11. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections.

12. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour it directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.

13. Use peroxide to clean your mirrors. There is no smearing.

The list could go on and on. It is a little brown bottle no home should be without! With prices of most necessities rising, this is a way to save lots of money in such a simple, healthy manner!

Gardening Tips

by Leslie Perrin

Gardening Tip with Flavor: Radishes

October is a great time to plant radishes in your garden or pot, and there are no vegetables easier to grow.

The small radishes we enjoy so much are known as Raphanus sativus. They are a joy for gardeners anxious to have fresh vegetables for a fall salad, since they are ready to harvest in only 21 to 30 days from the time seed is sown.

A sunny location and a well-prepared bed with good drainage are the simple but important requirements for growing radishes. To enrich the soil, add well-rotted compost or manure and work a general-purpose fertilizer into the soil before planting the seeds.

Sow seeds at least one-half inch apart at a depth of one-quarter inch. Try not to sow the seeds too thickly. Short-season radishes need to be about 2 inches apart. Cover the seeds lightly with fine soil. Firm the soil in place gently. Then water with a gentle spray.

Radishes sprout in a matter of days, but they need a constant supply of water to do so. Check the soil daily during this period to see if it is adequately moist.  Plump, juicy radishes are those that grow quickly and continuously. A steady supply of water -at least an inch a week - will ensure rapid, steady growth.

For best quality, start harvesting short-season varieties in three or four weeks when they are about an inch in size. Trim the leaves (which can be added to salads) close to the top of the root. Then place them in a plastic bag and store in the coolest part of the refrigerator where they will stay fresh tasting for two to three weeks.

Many hardy perennial herbs can be planted into your garden now. The best herbs for you to plant are those that you like to cook with. Plant them close to your kitchen to make it convenient for harvesting while cooking. Plant from seed at this time: parsley, dill, cilantro, & fennel. Plant from small plants:  thyme, oregano, lavender, sage, chives, mint and catnip.

Garden Tip for Color during the Cool Season

Cooler temperatures and lower humidity make gardening more pleasant. When the plants begin to look tired and past their prime, pull them out and replace them with fresh plants. You can keep your container current with seasonal themes by growing a succession of plants, such as bulbs and primroses in the spring, annuals and vegetables in the summer, and colorful kale and pansies in autumn.

Decide what color and height you would like to plant. Remove old plants, turn the soil, add 2-4" of organic matter and fertilize. Excellent choices for planting at this time are: cornflower, dianthus,kale, larkspur, lobelia, pansy,snapdragon,

Rotate containers on a regular basis to encourage plants on all sides to grow evenly. Plants on the shady side tend to get leggy as they stretch for the sun.

This fall when planting your bulbs, try the layering method. Start with the largest bulb then cover with a little dirt, then put in the next size bulb (like tulips) and cover with more dirt. Then next size (like daffodils), then next size (like Hyacinths) etc. You can even plant pansies on top of them. In the Spring you can enjoy the riot of color.

Patio Patter

• Who is doing what? 
• Who is going where? 
• Who is celebrating?
• Patio Planters wants to keep you informed.
• Information Source is Confidential!
• Email: patiopatter@gmail.com

Paula Chavis and Tom Kahler welcomed a new grandson into their hearts. Guy Alexander Kahler was born Friday, October 13. We saw that new grandmother twinkle in Paula's eye at the last board meeting!

Birthday Wishes go to Board Member Jeff Collins who just celebrated yet another year of happiness in the French Quarter!

Mary Jo Wright just moved back from her year in New York to her New Orleans French Quarter home looking hotter than ever!

Joyce "MiMi" Perrin just joined Patio Planters and is looking for a bridge game to join or substitute. Any takers? Call 525-3216.

Carmen Carter just returned from Arkansas after a 2-week trip to visit with her parents.

The traveling duo Betty and Don Kern just returned from a fun in the sun trip to an island in Honduras visiting Quarter neighbors and friends.