Chris Prescott - Minnesota

If you have delayed planting your spring bulbs, delay no more. The University of Minnesota Extension Service recommends planting of most spring bulbs in Minnesota by the end of October. Early November may not be too late though, especially for tulips which can be planted as long as the ground isn’t frozen too hard.

Here are some tips to remember:

• Bulbs should be firm with a papery skin. If soft or moldy, throw them away.

• Bulbs need to be able to grow roots once planted in the fall, and they need the cold winter to break their dormancy cycle in order to bloom in spring.

• Bulbs will need warmth and light in the spring to trigger their growth. Choose a site that will not be shaded in early spring.

• Bulbs can be planted under trees as long as they will receive enough light before and just after their blooming season. Full shade in summer is acceptable.

• Soil near southern and western exposure foundations could start to grow too soon, risking cold damage. It’s better to plant in an area that is sheltered from damaging winds but that will not warm up before other areas.

• Bulbs need rich, well-drained soil. Avoid areas that tend to fill with water during rain storms.

• New bulb beds should be cleared of rocks and matted roots, and some organic matter should be tilled in to a depth of 10-12 inches. Add some fertilizer in when tilling, but do not add it directly to the bulb holes.

• Plan to plant the bulbs in odd numbers or mass plantings. Put the bed where it will be enjoyed from a window or the road.

• The basic rule for planting depth is 2 ½ times deeper than the diameter of the bulb. Sandy soils should be a bit deeper, and heavy clay soil should be a bit shallower.

• Always plant the bulb with the pointed end facing up, cover with a portion of the soil and water well. Add the rest of the soil, smoothing the surface, water again and add 3-5 inches of mulch. Leaf material, grass clippings and straw work well. (You will remove much of this mulch in the spring.)

Then sit back and wait for spring!

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Looking for a home in the Edina area? Visit my website. When you are ready to visit any of these homes, or if you would like to list your home, contact me, Chris Prescott, at (952) 944-1728 or via email.

Creek Valley Elementary is one of 6 elementary schools in Edina Public School District. The school’s mission is to “educate the mind and heart of each student in a safe and positive environment with shared, active, and meaningful learning through careful planning and an emphasis on community partnership and the practice and application of ethical values.”

Creek Valley Elementary has an active PTA and Site Council, holds regular events for students, and strives to create a fun and educational environment for students while maintaining communication with and participation of parents.

Edina Public Schools have been recognized by publications around the nation as outstanding. One of the most recent was Family Circle magazine, which ranked Edina as one of its top 10 towns, due in large part to the quality of Edina Public Schools.

Creek Valley Elementary is located at 6401 Gleason Road in Edina. For more information on other Edina public schools, visit the Edina Public School District’s website. http://www.edina.k12.mn.us

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Looking for a home in the Edina area? Visit my website. When you are ready to visit any of these homes, or if you would like to list your home, contact me, Chris Prescott, at (952) 944-1728 or via email.

Looking for a unique activity this weekend? Head over to the Mall of America in Bloomington. There is a unique competition going on.

Called “Canstruction”, architect students are competing to see who can build the best structure. But these aren’t just any structures. They are made out of cans. Regular cans of corn, fruit cocktail, SpaghettiO’s, and everything else you can think of!

Beginning today, the competitors have 12 hours to create the most creative and intricate designs they can. Judging of the competition will be Sunday afternoon.

Here is a quick video I found on YouTube showing an entry in a similar Canstruction competition in Canada. Enjoy!

The designs will be deconstructed on Monday and the food donated to the Second Harvest Heartland food bank in St. Paul. Last year the competition raised nearly 20,000 pounds of food!

Want to contribute to the competition and the food drive? Be sure to bring along some canned goods with you when come. These can be delivered to the Sears Court stage throughout the event.

For more information on this competition, visit the Canstruction website.

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Looking for a home in the Edina area? Visit my website. When you are ready to visit any of these homes, or if you would like to list your home, contact me, Chris Prescott, at (952) 944-1728 or via email.

When purchasing a house, having a sizable down-payment has always been good advice, and with today’s tighter credit guidelines it is essential. However you need to keep in mind that you will need savings beyond the down payment of your home. Here is a list of the things that usually come up during a home purchase and subsequent move that will require some cash.

• Appraisal fee
• Professional home inspection
• Extra closing costs
• Homeowner’s association fees
• Repairs, upgrades, renovations. There are the obvious and the not-so-obvious. Your inspection may have suggested upgrading some of the electrical outlets, and you may already know you don’t like the paint color, but after you move in there are little things you will probably notice that will you’ll need some cash to rectify immediately.
• Moving van rental fees, boxes, bubble wrap, and mover’s fees. Even if you enlist the help of friends or family, you will need to feed them or at least provide them with refreshments. And don’t forget the gas for the moving vehicle!
• Termination fees for current services, deposits and connection fees for new services.
• Appliances. If your new home already has a full set of appliances, then you can scratch this off your list! If not, be sure to remember the extra costs involved with warranties, installation, etc.
• Household items. Invariably you will find that the stuff you filled your last home with are not quite right for the new one. This can turn into hundreds or thousands of dollars from runs to the home furnishings store and home-improvement store.
• Lawn-care equipment. If this is your first home with a yard you will be surprised at how much equipment you will decide you need. An alternative is to hire someone to do your lawn care for you, which will still incur a cost, although it will be spread out over the coming months.
• If you are relocating a great distance you might have air fare or other transportation costs for your entire family (pets included), a night or two in a hotel, and all the other expenses that can creep up.
• And don’t forget that for at least a few days you might be eating out while you search for that box of dishes!

Once you have that downpayment and the extra savings accumulated, be sure to give me a call so we can find the perfect Edina home for you!

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Looking for a home in the Edina area? Visit my website. When you are ready to visit any of these homes, or if you would like to list your home, contact me, Chris Prescott, at (952) 944-1728 or via email.

There is some spook-tacular fun to be had around Minneapolis and St. Paul this Halloween season. Get your little goblins and head out to some of these fun activities over the next few weeks.

ZooBoo at Como Park Zoo. Oct. 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 4:30-7:30 pm. $7 at the gate.

Apple Jack Orchard Corn Maze. Saturdays & Sundays through Halloween. Saturday nights are flashlight night until 10 pm. $6 adults, $5 ages 6-11, free ages 0-5.

Minnetonka Orchards. Lots to do! Open daily 9 am-7 pm. October theme days:

• CiderFest, Oct 17 & 18
• Bonfires and Hayrides, Oct. 24 & 25
• Dog Days of Fall, Oct. 31-Nov. 1

Autumn Unplugged at the Arboretum. All month! 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska. Admission is $9 for adults, free for members and children 15 and under. Activities include:

• Weekend Family Fun every Saturday and Sunday, noon-4 pm.
• Pumpkin Palooza, ongoing through Nov. 1.
• Pumpkin Palooza Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24 & 25, noon-4 pm.
• Ar-Boo-return Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31.

Halloween Happenings. Three Rivers Park District Halloween events. Find one near you!

Special events at the Minnesota Children’s Museum. 10 West Seventh Street, St. Paul.

• Spooky Woods, Oct. 20-Nov. 1
• Halloween Spooktacular Parties, Saturday, Oct. 24, Sunday, Oct. 25, 6-8:30 pm; Monday, Oct. 26, 10 am-12:30 pm; Saturday, Oct. 31, 6-8:30 pm.

Pumpkin Patches and More. A comprehensive list of pumpkin patches, corn mazes, safe trick-or-treating, hayrides, etc throughout the state of Minnesota.

That’s a lot to do! But I’m sure there is more. Have you seen anything fun to do out there is goblin land?

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Looking for a home in the Edina area? Visit my website. When you are ready to visit any of these homes, or if you would like to list your home, contact me, Chris Prescott, at (952) 944-1728 or via email.