Honolulu Star-Bulletin from Honolulu, Hawaii • 13

EVER GREEN Lots Taytor TODAY Monday, December 26, 1994 Star-BuHctin Ex TV: Kellers dramas buoy CBS 0-2 Abby: Wedding, marriage disastrous 1 B-2 Radio: What's on the airwaves D-3 Section' Resolve to keep your gardens green ITH the after-Christmas sales in full Wi swing and the stores more crowded than they were a week ago, it is time to recall that the new year is only six days away. So this is about New Year's resolutions 0 0 0 i 1T 1 Metvtn Franklin, second from left, joined Otis Wilson, middle. In the Temptations when he was 1 5 years old. The rest has been history. I I I not the heavy stuff like quitting smoking or losing 20 pounds, but the easier things like being kinder to your plants.

No, you don't have to sing to them recently botanists have discovered that it does no good at all, except maybe to the singer to whom nobody else will listen. The first resolution is to choose the right plant for the right place. No matter how much loving care you give them, you aren't going to grow tulips in Kaimuki or apples in Ewa, any more than hibiscus can grow year-round in a Wyoming back yard. These are obvious cases, but you can also waste a lot of energy trying to cultivate mango trees on wet hillsides or plumeria in heavy shade. The element of most gardens that takes the most space, the most water and the most care is the lawn.

A grass lawn is the most useful, all-purpose ground cover available, simply because you can walk and play on it Unless you are building a new house, the choice of your lawn has already been made and the best you can do is to provide it with proper maintenance. Mowing the lawn once a week whether it needs it or not is the most common practice among most gardeners because weekends are the only time available for the job. But your lawn would be better off with more frequent mowings after a rainy spell and less often in dry periods when it grows slowly. Turf experts recommend cutting only the top one-third of the blade. Don't mow when the grass is wet or you'll do a ragged job.

Thorough and less frequent waterings are much better than frequent sprinklings. Water deeply to send the roots down into the soil. Let the soil dry out between waterings so you don't deprive the roots of oxygen. Compost It's politically correct, it saves money and, in time, it becomes addictive. Save your garden waste and coffee grounds, eggshells and vegetarian kitchen scraps, heap them all in a compost bin or an out-of-the-way pile and let them age.

More complete instructions are in any gardening manual. It makes a wonderful mulch for flower beds and around trees. Grow organically. Avoid toxic chemical insecticides wherever possible. Plant xeriscape material, plants that thrive on little water, when you have a choice.

Don't overwater and use a broom rather than a hose to clean paths and driveways. Use sprays only as a desperate measure. Instead, avoid high-risk plants plants that attract pests in your garden. Pull them out and replace them with something that you know thrives there. Use natural organic poisons like pyrethrum made of ground-up flowers or malathion, an organic phosphate of low toxicity.

Read the labels, keep all poisons in their original containers and keep them away from children and pets. Be a joiner. If your interest is orchids or African violets, bonsai or bromeliads find out about the regional groups devoted to your favorite plant The cost is either nothing or almost nothing and the benefits are legion. Watch for the next community plant sale, because there are almost always representatives from all of these groups present, and they love to recruit If you have no space for a garden, consider joining the Honolulu Community Gardens, a city program involving nearly 3,000 Oahuans at 11 sites from Hawaii Kai to Wahiawa. It's a way to meet people of similar interests, to cut your grocery bill and to get exercise and fresh air.

It's like joining a health club with free sweet potatoes. The Community Gardens offer Oahu residents small plots of land and free water. You provide the planting and the maintenance. You keep what you grow. For more information, call 522-7063.

As with any resolutionsdon't try to accomplish all of them. Take it easy, but act And have a green and healthy new year. Lots Taylor's gardening column is a Monday feature of the Today section. Write her at the Star-Bulletin, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, HI 96802.

TEMPTATIONS And there's a modesty there despite the fact that the Temptations still rank as one of the Top 25 Pop Artists of all time, and that he personally has been a celebrity since he was 15. "I've been very fortunate, for the holidays just to say 'I love you, Smokey for what he did for my life." Congratulate him on his overall contribution to contemporary music the Tempta-tions were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and he turns me conversation toward the other members of me group. and very very blessed. A very lucky man. I can't explain it People pick and Give a What: The temptations con- iB When: New Vears Eve.

Doors open at 8.30 p.m. Entertainment begins at 9:30 p.m. Where: Hawatt I Battroom, Sheraton WaiWW 4 Art Melvin Franklin lives in California now, but for 35 years that distinct bass voice has epitomized Motown BYjOHNBERGER Special to the Sur-BuUetin THE year was 1960. Otis wanted Melvin to join his vocal group so he did the right thing he asked Melvin's mother. "She liked his character, his personality end his substance, and she said she wouldn't rmnd at all so long as he made sure I stayed on the straight and narrow," Melvin Franklin recalls.

Thirty-five years later he's still singin; with Otis Williams. They're Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin of the Temptations. "We're on the road about 42 weeks (a year), was talking with someone day before yesterday; and they said 'Are you guys still I laughed. We've never stopped working. We work our asses off.

On every continent of this planet people love the Temptations' songs and we're doing them as much as ever. We'll talk about cutting down to 32 weeks and we just can't" The Temptations have Christmas off this year. They'll be at the Sheraton Waikiki for New Year's Eve. On the rthnne from his Southern California choose who they love and I'm one of the people that's been chosen, and I thank God forthat" Ask about his personal pop-' I ularity the group's early "Temptations Live!" album captures the crowd loudly, cheering his every solo and. scripted comment and he modestly suggests he had an -hometown advantage during the performance.

"petroit's my hometown. I have a big family (and) I was All-City on the basketball team, on the honor roll and very popular, so when they'd see me on stage with the Temptations, it just turned everybody on Compliment him on the impact 'The first day mat I met Paul (Williams) and Eddie (Kendricks) we stayed together singing until four in the morning. It was the greatest expe-. rience in my life other man my wife. I was in high school when we started me Temptations and they were all grown men.

They could have gotten a grown man, someone much i more talented man but they wanted me. I had a very mature sound in my 1 voice but I was 15 years old, so once 1 Otis promised my mother, I was like their little brother Paul and Ed-t die, Otis and David (Ruffin) I couldn't do nothing. I met no girls, no drugs, no liquor, not even a beer. None of mem had graduated from high school but they insisted that I did, and I'm glad they did." Franklin went on to attend bottle i includes one of champagne per couple and pany favors; $8. includes two drinks and party favors: favors.

of his bass solo on a song luce home. Franklin is. well, evervthinir vmi'd pimort Lose A PreciOUS Love Wayne State University, but eventually me Temptations had to come first Ruflin left the group for a solo career in 1968. Kendricks and from the man who's epitomized the ultimate and he acknowledges the compos-cool of bass vocalists ever since "The Way Smokey Robinsoa You Do The Things You Do" hit the pop charts "We had great writers. Norman early in 1964 Franklin didn't invent the bass vo- Whitfield, Berry Gordy and all the cai soio in dui ne i ne Man tor ine oaDy writers at woiown, dui our oesi best best songs were written by Smokey.

Songs FYI boomers who were just discovering "soul music" when the Temptations and their Motown, stable-mates hit the pop charts (The Tempts recorded on Gordy, one of several Motown affiliates). Paul Williams resigned in 1971 Kendricks also pursued a solo career (Ruffin and Kendricks later did much to help Hall Oates reach No. 20 on me pop charts with a 1985 cover of two early Temptations hits). Franklin says that he was never, er, tempted to go solo. SEE FRANKLIN, PACE B-2 with beautiful melodies, uur biggest records were written by Norman Whitfield 'Papa Was A Rolling Stone' and those kind of songs, hard and strong but the songs mat touched my it me soj Franklin's deep, melodious voice is as warm heart were Smokey's.

I went by his house today key's Jh and rich on the phone as on all those old hits. 1 i NEW YEAR'S IN PARADISE it Open house at Summer Palace To commemorate the 159th birthday of Queen Emma, the Daughters of Hawaii will hold open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jaa 2 at Queen Emma Summer Palace, 2913 Pali Highway. The palace, originally known as Hanaiakamala-ma, was used by the royal family as a cool retreat from the rigors of court life in an often hot and dusty Honolulu of that time.

Today it is operated as a museum by the Daughters of Hawaii. Information: 595-3167 Reported by Star-Bulletin staff Danny Kalelklnl When: From 7 p.m, Where: Polynesian Palace, 227 Lfiwflrs i When: From 8:30 p.m. Show time is Tickets: $75 includes Gamer ff Medeiros at 7 p.m: followed by DeUma at 10:45 p.m., spW of champaign, dancing; a $95 buffet dinner package is also available; tax and tip not included. Call: 923-7469. Gussie L'Amours Where: Monarch Room, Royal Hawaiian Hotel Tickets: $100 Includes dinner, split of champagne, party favors, dancing 'til 1 a.m; $22.50 includes split of champagne, dancing.

Call: 931-7194 Rock Cellar When: 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Where: 205 Lowers Admission: $10, 21 and over; $15 16-20 ($5 VIP card) Call: 923-9952 Scruples When: 8 p.m. See NEW YEAR'S, PAGE B-2 THE FAR SIDE By Gary Larson When: 8 p.m. Where: Fisherman's Wharf, 1009 Ala Moana I Admission; Free; two-drink minimum.

Under 21 welcome with responsible adutt.r Call: 947-5736 Jr Ray Charles When: Doors open at 8:30 p.m., concert at 11 p.m. Where; Coral Ballroom, Hiltorv Hawaiian Village' Tickets: $1 20, $1 00 and $90, includes two "standard" drinks, half-bottle of champagne. JCall: 947-7B77 fWhent11p.m. Where: Honolulu Hard flock Cafe, 1837Kaplolanl Theme: "New Year's Eve With Perfect Tommy" When: 4 p.m. till 4 a.m.

Where: 3251 N. Nimitz. Admission: $5 Call: 836-7883 Don Ho When: 10 p.m. 10:45 p.m. Where: Kahala Hilton Tickets: $150, Includes dinner and show.

Call: 734-2211 Ka'au Crater Boys When: 9:30 p.m. Where: Moose McGillycudds, 1035 University Ave Tickets: $6 at the door Call: 944-5525 Malia's Xtension Theme: "Happy New YearT When: 11 p.m. Where: 311 Lowers Tickets: $5 Call: 922-7808. Nashville Walklkl "Country Hoe-Down" When: 8:30 p.m. Where: Outngger West Hotel Tickets: $15 includes two drinks, snacks Call: 926-7911 Partners In Pan Where: waikiia ueacncomDer Hotel Tickets: $100 includes dinner, one cocktail, champagne and favors (seat- ing at 8 p.m.); cocktail package is $75 Admission: tree; no reservations seating irom 9 p.m.).

Call: tan: Kevin Hughes When; 1 1 p.m. (earty shows at 7 When: 8:30 p.m. Whero: Sunset Restaurant Lounge, 2877 N. NimiU" Tickets: Free Call; 839-3456 and 9 p.fti.W Where; HorioKilu Comedy Club." Fast Eddie's Theme: "Ftoarlng 20's" When: 9 p.m. Where: 52 Oneawa Kaltua and the Star Sisters When: 7 p.m.

Where: Banyan Court, Sheraton Moana-Surfrider Hotel Tickets: $30 ($15 forage 13-20), includes champagne at midnight for those 21 and older, nonalcoholic beverage for age 20 and younger. Call: 922-3111 Clyde Pound Orchestra When: 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. JJikai Hotel 1 $15 Call: Hula's Bar ft Lei Stand Theme: "Blow Into the New Year." When: From 8 p.m. Where: 2103 Kuhio Tickets: $12 at the door, includes one standard drink, Hula's souvenir.

Call: 923-0069 Tickets: $5 inciudes buffet, champagne at midnight Call: 261-8561 Frank DeUma Na Kolohe and Loyal Gamer ft Glenn Medelros v. I "The first thing I'm gonna do Is wipe that smile off your faceP.