Author: staff

Lifestyle

During extreme heat, these tips help your garden, trees survive

Heat waves have already hit this summer, with more surely to come. “We’re getting more severe heat more often,” said Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge specialist in the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. “It’s one of the ways our climate is changing.”There are ways you can help your garden plants survive waves of heat in the 90s and above. Here are some tips from the Plant Clinic.AdvertisementWater. Plants can only cool themselves by allowing water to evaporate from tiny holes in their leaves, but they need water in their leaves to do that. “Most of our plants are 80% to 90% water,” Yiesla said. “All their life processes depend on it.”Rainfall can supply some water, but don’t count on it. “Check that there is actually moisture a couple of inches deep in the soil,” she said. “Sometimes rain just wets the surface but doesn’t penetrate down to where the roots can absorb it.”AdvertisementTo reduce damage to plants, such as this hosta, from severe heat waves, watch the weather forecast and water deeply before the heat hits. (Beth Botts/Morton Arboretum)Think ahead. Pay attention to the weather forecast, and if temperatures in the 90s are predicted, water thoroughly the day before. “Your plants will be much more resilient if they are already fully hydrated when the heat hits,” Yiesla said. There will also be a reservoir of moisture in the soil for the plants’ roots to draw on.Don’t wait for plants to wilt as a signal to water. “Wilting means they’re already stressed,” she said. “You want to keep them from getting stressed in the first place.” If you do spot plants drooping or wilting, water them right away.Mulch. A layer of mulch over the roots of your plants helps in two ways: It insulates the soil against extremes of temperature, and it prevents moisture from evaporating. You can apply mulch any time, so go ahead and spread it if you haven’t already.Make a layer 1 to 2 inches deep on perennial beds and 3 to 4 inches around trees and shrubs. Spread the mulch out evenly, rather than piling it up against the trunk or stems. Try to keep mulch clear of the bark of a tree or shrub.Water deeply. Rather than lightly sprinkling the soil surface, water long enough so the moisture sinks several inches down. “In normal weather, wait several days before watering again,” Yiesla said. “If you find you have to water in-ground plants every day or two, you’re not watering deeply enough.” In very hot weather, the plants may quickly use up the water in soil, she said, “so check to see if it’s dry and you should water more often.”Expect some effects. When it’s intensely hot, “plants are focused on surviving, not blooming or fruiting,” Yiesla said. Tomatoes, for example, won’t be pollinated or set fruit in temperatures over 90 degrees, and temperatures consistently in the 90s can prevent them from ripening. “Just keep watering to help them hang in there until days get a little cooler,” she said.Water containers often. Soil is a plant’s moisture reservoir, and since pots don’t hold much soil, they dry out quickly. “In really hot weather, you may need to water containers more than once a day,” Yiesla said.New plants need extra help. Any trees, shrubs or perennials you installed this year will need even more watering. “New plants don’t have much of a root system, so they can’t absorb water as readily as established plants,” she said. Provide extra water for any trees or shrubs that you have planted in the last three years.AdvertisementHelp mature trees too. A day or two of temperatures in the 90s won’t faze a grand old shade tree. But in long periods of hot, dry weather, water your mature trees as well as your young ones. “A big tree has tens of thousands of leaves, and they all need to be full of water to keep the tree cool and healthy,” Yiesla said. Apply water to as much of the root zone as you can — at least as far as the tree’s branches extend.“You’ll be helping yourself too,” she said. “As water evaporates from tree leaves, it cools the air. And of course, there’s no better place on a hot day than the shade of a big tree.”For tree and plant advice, contact the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum (630-719-2424, mortonarb.org/plant-clinic, or plantclinic@mortonarb.org). Beth Botts is a staff writer at the Arboretum.

Sports

Seminoles hire away Link Jarrett after Notre Dame’s CWS run

TALLAHASSEE — Link Jarrett, who led Notre Dame to the College World Series for the first time in 20 years, is Florida State’s new coach.Florida State announced the hiring Friday, three days after the Irish’s season ended in the CWS. Jarrett, voted national coach of the year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, will be introduced at a news conference Monday.AdvertisementThe move was anticipated. Jarrett is a Tallahassee native, FSU graduate and two-time All-America shortstop for the Seminoles (1993-94), and a former assistant (2003).“He’s a Seminole through and through and there is no question that he will dedicate himself to the success of our student-athletes and his team,” athletic director Mike Alford said. “I know he is excited to be returning home and we are just as excited to welcome him and his family.”AdvertisementFlorida State fired Mike Martin Jr. on June 10 after the Seminoles failed to advance out of the NCAA regionals for a second straight year. Martin went 77-54 overall in three seasons, and Alford said the program had underachieved.Jarrett went 86-32 in three seasons at Notre Dame, a .729 winning percentage that was second-best in the country.The Irish were a No. 2 regional seed this year and had to travel to Statesboro, Georgia, for regionals, where they swept three games before going to Knoxville and winning a three-game Super Regional against No. 1 national seed Tennessee.Notre Dame beat Texas in its CWS opener before losses to Oklahoma and Texas A&M ended its season at 41-17.“I’m humbled to become the next head coach at Florida State,” Jarrett said. “Having the opportunity to come home and lead this storied program is something I take great pride in.”

Lifestyle

Ask Amy: Young dater worries about ‘love bombs’

Dear Amy: I am 21 and just getting into the dating game.My father is a narcissist and used love-bombing to get my mom.AdvertisementI’ve watched her go through multiple men who used the same tactic. I understand how abusive these men turned out to be.I’m also a psychology student, so I tend to read a lot into things.AdvertisementMy question is: How do I take a compliment without my brain throwing up red flags?I’m having the hardest time still talking to people if they call me beautiful, or if they give me any other compliment.– Confused DaterDear Dater: “Love bombing” is a term describing a specific kind of attention which is lavished on a potential partner in order to essentially ensnare the person in a relationship. This refers to showering (“bombing”) the person with affection, attention, gifts, compliments, and premature declarations of friendship or love.This technique is often used by potential abusers to destabilize and control their partners.Knowing about “love bombing” can help to protect you in future relationships.It is important that you always remain true to your most authentic self – but it can be hard to locate that anchor when you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure of an attraction.I’m happy to report that a compliment is not necessarily the first grenade in a love-bombing campaign.AdvertisementWhen I was your age, I countered every compliment with a self-deprecating denial, until a friend responded: “Amy. Just say ‘Thank you.’”“Thank you” is the only response required. After that, you should remain in the space with an open attitude to see what happens next.Because you are entering this phase of life as a skeptic, a “love bomb” will feel completely fake, inauthentic, premature and manipulative.You will know it when it is lobbed in your direction.Dear Amy: I used to be on Facebook. I never posted much. I’m a private person and always felt anxious if I did post anything.But my husband loves it and I swear he lives for it.AdvertisementA little over a year ago, we lost our son.I wrote a poem about this and texted it to my husband so he could see it.My sister-in-law told me, “That was a beautiful poem you wrote about your son.”She had seen it on FB.I was livid. My husband did not even ask me. He just took it upon himself and posted it on Facebook. That was my poem! I shared it with him and he shared it with the world. He deleted it.My husband’s cousin also tragically lost her son a couple of years ago and my sister-in-law took it upon herself to post this on Facebook to let the family know before her cousin even had a chance to call them herself.AdvertisementMy husband and I walk a lot. My husband’s sister recently contacted me about a post my husband put on Facebook.She said, “I see you and my brother went for a walk today.”I asked her how she knew about that. “He posted it on Facebook,” she said.I understand that Facebook is a good way to stay connected to family and friends and (in my husband’s case) total strangers.I now hate Facebook. It has become so annoying and not private.Am I wrong for feeling angry about these violations of my privacy?AdvertisementIt’s like it’s taken over the world.– Private WifeDear Private: No, you are not wrong. Your husband either doesn’t understand, or doesn’t care to understand, what it feels like to you when he violates your privacy.I am so sorry he has made these choices, which range from annoying you to wounding you deeply. Call him on it every single time until he gets the message. Furthermore, you seem to have a sister-in-law who enjoys leaping over boundaries. Be extremely judicious about anything you choose to share with her.I agree that Facebook is annoying, intrusive, and often destructive to relationships.Ask AmyDailyNo-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning. For a limited time, sign up for the Ask Amy newsletter and get the book “Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from America’s Favorite Advice Columnist” for $5.I’ve said before – I’ll say it again – that jumping off of that particular platform was one of the smartest things I’ve done in recent years. (Although I do genuinely miss learning about various milestone moments in people’s lives.)AdvertisementDear Amy: Regarding the question you received about what to do with blank notecards and occasion cards received from charities – my local Meals on Wheels likes to give their recipients cards for special occasions. They will happily accept nice cards for those purposes.– LHDear LH: This is a great idea.Got a question for Amy? Enter it here and we’ll send it to her.Sign up here to receive the Ask Amy newsletter to get advice e-mailed to your inbox every morning, and for a limited time — get the book “Ask Amy: Essential Wisdom from America’s Favorite Advice Columnist” for $5.©2021 Amy Dickinson.

Sports

Chicago White Sox manage only 1 hit in a heated 4-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles — their 3rd straight defeat

Austin Voth and four relievers combined on a one-hitter, Jorge Mateo had a heated exchange with Chicago White Sox starter Michael Kopech after getting nailed by a pitch and the Baltimore Orioles won 4-1 on Friday night at Guaranteed Rate Field. Voth, normally a reliever, went three innings in his second start. He gave up an RBI double to Jake Burger in the second for the White Sox’s only hit.AdvertisementJoey Krehbiel (3-3) worked 2 ⅓ perfect innings before Bryan Baker and Cionel Pérez each got four outs. Jorge López pitched the ninth for his 13th save in 15 chances, helping the Orioles win their third straight and fourth in five games.After outscoring the Washington Nationals and the White Sox by a combined 11-0 over the previous two games, the Orioles cruised in this one too.AdvertisementThe only real drama occurred in the second inning after Kopech (2-4) retired the first two batters. He nailed Mateo near the left shoulder and upper back with a similar pitch to the one that hit Sox second baseman Josh Harrison on Thursday.White Sox and Orioles players exchange words after the Orioles’ Jorge Mateo was hit by pitch from White Sox starter Michael Kopech during the second inning Friday at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)Mateo had some words for Kopech. The benches and bullpens emptied, but no punches were thrown. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde argued with crew chief Marvin Hudson, and both teams were issued warnings.Mateo stole second and came around on a single by Richie Martin to make it 2-0.Cedric Mullins led off the game with a bunt single and scored on a wild pitch.Rookie Adley Rutschman doubled in the fourth and scored on a balk. Austin Hays added an RBI double in the eighth to extend the lead to 4-1.The White Sox dropped their third in a row, and Kopech lost his second straight start. The right-hander went six-plus innings, allowing three runs and three hits.White Sox third baseman Yoán Moncada (right hamstring strain) might be ready to return from the 10-day injured list when he is eligible Tuesday, manager Tony La Russa said. … Center fielder Luis Robert was back in the lineup after being held out Thursday because of an unspecified injury.

Sports

Vintage Kyle Hendricks shows up to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 3-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals

ST. LOUIS — There’s no question Kyle Hendricks has suffered through some difficult starts in 2022, his second straight subpar season with the Chicago Cubs.Hendricks came into Friday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals having allowed six runs or more in four of his 13 starts, leading to a bloated earned-run average of 5.43. It’s not the Hendricks the Cubs have come to expect, though it’s also not the same kind of contending team he has enjoyed playing for during the bulk of his career.AdvertisementBut Cubs fans got a glimpse of vintage Hendricks on Friday night at Busch Stadium, and it was every bit as good as they remembered.Hendricks tossed 7 ⅓ shutout innings in a 3-0 victory before 46,524, the largest crowd of the season at Busch.AdvertisementCubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks delivers during the first inning against the Cardinals on Friday in St. Louis. Hendricks gave up five hits in 7 1/3 shutout innings of a 3-0 Cubs victory. (Jeff Roberson / AP)The Cubs won for only the fifth time in 19 games, silencing the first-place Cardinals in the opener of their first series of the season in St. Louis.Hendricks allowed five hits while striking out six and walking one in a 91-pitch outing, improving to 3-6. Chris Martin and David Robertson finished if off, with Robertson collecting his ninth save in 12 opportunities.Hendricks allowed only two base runners in the first five innings. Juan Yepez singled with two outs in the second but was thrown out at second to end the inning. Paul Goldschmidt walked with two outs in the fifth before Hendricks retired Brendan Donovan on a fly to center.After Dylan Carlson singled to open the eighth and Harrison Bader doubled, Hendricks struck out pinch hitter Lars Nootbar before being replaced by Martin. The Cubs reliever induced a comebacker to the mound and a soft liner to short to strand the runners.The Cubs scored their runs on Nico Hoerner’s two-run homer in the second off rookie Andre Pallante and Ian Happ’s RBI double in the fifth. Happ came into the night with a .367 average in his previous 22 games, quietly emerging as the co-leader of the offense along with Willson Contreras.Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning against the Cardinals on Friday in St. Louis. (Jeff Roberson / AP)Manager David Ross before the game said Happ has proved he’s an “All-Star caliber” player.“Ian has been our All-Star, he and Willson,” Ross said. “Those guys have really stood out above the rest for us. It’s nice to see the veteran guys play that consistently.”

Sports

Chicago Cubs DFA Jonathan Villar to make room for David Bote’s return from offseason shoulder surgery

ST. LOUIS — When the lockout ended and Chicago Cubs President Jed Hoyer began filling out the roster with veterans on one-year deals, the working theory was he would try to flip most of them for a prospect or two at the trade deadline.That sign-and-flip strategy worked well for Theo Epstein during the original rebuild with players such as Paul Maholm, Scott Feldman, Jason Hammel and others bringing back younger talent in trades including Jake Arrieta, Pedro Strop and Addison Russell.AdvertisementHoyer signed Andrelton Simmons, Mychal Givens, Daniel Norris, David Robertson, Robert Gsellman, Jonathan Villar, Clint Frazier, Drew Smyly and others in the spring, keeping the payroll low and hoping for the best.But in the rebuild that’s not a rebuild, the sign-and-flip has so far become the sign-and-flop.AdvertisementOnly Robertson has put up good enough numbers to bring back some quality in return, and three of the veterans already have been designated for assignment.Gsellman and Frazier were DFA’d earlier this month, eventually cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A Iowa. On Friday it was Villar who was DFA’d shortly after seeing his name in the Cubs starting lineup for the opener of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.Villar, 31, signed a one-year, $6 million deal with a mutual option for $4.5 million for 2023. He’ll be paid an estimated $3.4 million of his remaining ‘22 salary if the Cubs don’t find a taker. Villar hit .222 in 46 games with two home runs and 15 RBIs and only .175 in June after being on the injured list with a mouth injury from a freak training accident.Villar’s roster spot was made vulnerable because of the return of infielder David Bote, who had left shoulder surgery after the 2021 season and recently was sidelined during a rehab stint at Iowa with what was described a dizziness.Cubs infielder David Bote rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Rockies on Aug. 25, 2021, at Wrigley Field. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)Manager David Ross said Bote would get a chance to play regularly — he started at second base Friday, batting seventh. Second baseman Nick Madrigal is on the IL with a groin injury.“He’ll play second base a lot, and I think he’ll give Patrick (Wisdom) a breather at third every once in a while,” Ross said of Bote. “We haven’t really had a lot of bodies to fill that role, and ‘Wis’ has been dealing with … well, everybody is dealing with a little stuff when you play every day.”Christopher Morel appears to be solidifying a spot in center field after being moved around when he came up from Double-A Tennessee, though Ross said the rookie is still an option at third. Morel recently said he feels most comfortable at third base but is willing to play anywhere.Bote declined to elaborate on his dizzy spells at Iowa but said he lost 20 pounds or so from last season and couldn’t keep his weight up.Advertisement“We’re still trying to figure out what the exact cause of the thing is,” he said. “It was just one of those things where I was losing a bunch of weight fast. I couldn’t keep any weight on. I was nauseous and dizzy and just wanted to make sure nothing was seriously going wrong, especially for as long as it had been going on. … There was like 48 hours straight where I just laid in bed. I couldn’t do anything.”Bote, 29, who signed a five-year, $15 million extension in 2019 with two team-option years, said he felt “goose bumps” returning to the field Friday after so much time away. He hit .200 in 2020 and .199 last season but said he made some tweaks to his approach and feels more comfortable at the plate.What kind of tweaks?“It’s all baseball,” Bote said, declining to offer specifics.While Bote was searching for answers to the cause of his dizzy spells, so too was Cubs bullpen coach Chris Young, who was hospitalized Thursday in Pittsburgh after feeling lightheaded in the pen. Young said Friday that he was fine until the moment of his health issue early in the game.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.“I was dapping up all the relievers and felt great and sat down and (said) ‘I don’t feel great,’ ” he said. “Then 60 seconds later, (I knew) I needed a little bit of help.”AdvertisementYoung said he was well-hydrated and wasn’t suffering from heat exhaustion. On Friday he still had no idea what had happened.“I just got really hot and had some hives and some things that were tough,” he said. “I’ve talked to our doctor and he’s incredible. We don’t really have a working theory. … Thank goodness it happened (at the park) and (trainers PJ Mainville and Nick Frangella) were there to take care of it.”Ross said Young came up to him in the dugout late in Thursday’s game after returning from the hospital.“You can’t get rid of me that easily,” Young told Ross.But Ross added it was a “scary feeling” Thursday not knowing “what’s going on in that moment.”Fortunately Young was OK and back dapping again Friday in the Cubs bullpen.