Fall brings with it colder nights, deeper colors and winter preparations for all sorts of plants and animals. In addition to bringing harvest themes and these rich fall colors to your garden, a few preparations can keep greenery growing right up to the edge of winter. Beyond that, underneath the snow and ice, your garden can develop the conditions which will bring a bright blooming spring.Jesse Jacobson, manager at Tonkadale Greenhouse, was happy to show how fall and winter are anything but the end of your garden. With the right steps, the cold season can be a restful break that gives the …

Mozza Mia Executive Chef Heather Swan shows us a few trade secrets of how to make the best flying pizza you can.

"It's easier to get out of the water, but it's a little harder to stay there," Alex Marine says. Marine is the lead wakeboard instructor at Waketonka, a local water sports school. Wakeboarding is a combination of water skiing and snow boarding which is becoming more popular on Minnesota's lakes. Marine offered a few key tips to get body and board out of the water and cris-crossing over the wake. He also demonstrated some tricks, but those are for more advanced students. Waketonka students Andy Longval and Mike Evanson also offered some demonstrations of correct wakeboarding technique.

Grooming is an important part of keeping your dog safe in the heat and keeping the ticks off. Heidi Baroun, owner of Heidi's Elite Pet Grooming, explained that matting of the coat and undercoat can cause many unexpected problems and is easily dealt with by gentle brushing and a good bath. The least-exposed areas of the dog—such as the ears, the arm pits, the tail and the rear end—are the most likely trouble spots for both skin infections and ticks. Careful inspection while gently brushing out the matted fur can help prevent both problems. Baroun was joined by Lana, a 3-year-old Chow/Husky/…

Summer is a great time to have a garage sale. The weather is usually nice, and it's a good excuse to sit outside and chat with friends and neighbors. Unfortunately, it can be stressful and overwhelming if a little bit of planning isn't part of the week before the sale. Megan Adam hosted a garage sale at her parent's home in Minnetonka over the weekend, and she shared some of the lessons she's learned in two years of organizing.

Minnetonka realtor Cheryl  Holds teams up with Patch to answer the all-important question: How do I get my house sold? Top Tips: 1. Make the entrance inviting. 2. Finish any unfinished projects, including painting. 3. Clean, clean, clean—even inside cabinets and closets.  4. Think about Kitty and Fido! 5. Create a warm and inviting atmosphere with soft music and yummy smells.  BONUS TIP FOR BUYERS: Be realistic! In the era of HGTV, sometimes buyers have unrealistic expectations too. 

When you think about golf, images of mature men in funny pants or hats is probably one of the first pictures to appear. Maybe some people think of Tiger Woods, kilts or maybe Cristie Kerr. Pretty much the one thing furthest from your mind is a 6 year old swinging a golf club. But at the Hopkins Pavillion, Skyhawks Sports Camps is running a SNAG camp for very young golfers. SNAG (Starting New at Golf) gaves young kids a chance to get a handle of some of the basic skills of golf using a plastic club, a plastic tee, and a bright tennis ball in lieu of the standard heavy gear. Led by coaches Dan …

The approach of summer is heating up the streets, lakes and trails of the Metro, but in one local gym,  a group of students are getting a head start on a near tropical experience. Led by Katherine McGraw, the students are learning the dance & workout grooves of Zumba.  Zumba combines the dance moves of salsa, tango, cha-cha with a 60-minute workout. Katherine explained that the styles are great exercise because they develop the core muscles. The range of dance moves work against muscle memory, which increases the calorie burn of the workout. Zumba classes are offered at these Minnetonka …

For many people, beer is best served alongside a brat, a burger, a freshly grilled steak or a recently caught fish.  But Bryan Buser, manager of The Four Firkins, a local specialty beer store, says beer offers as many gourmet opportunities as fine wine does.  Buser shares just a few of the options that can enhance both food and drink in this video for Minnetonka Patch.  

"Vinyl records sound better, and it's been scientifically proven," said Adam Welle, manager of Down in the Valley. He has been collecting records for his entire life, amassing a collection of nearly 5,000 records. In addition to a hobby, he's made it his work and is the go-to guy for vinyl records at the local record store. Adam led us through a few key things that anyone needs to start collecting vinyl records. He noted that it was less expensive to purchase vinyl then CDs or other digital media, and you often get a great piece of art at the same time. Current releases can include digital …

For over fifteen years, Rich Sherman, store manager for Epic Grind Bicycle/Coffee Shop has been helping people buy, maintain and fix their bicycles. He took a few minutes to demonstrate some key techniques for changing a bike flat on the road.  In addition to the basics of removing the wheel, tire and tube, Sherman emphasized how important it is to carry a bike repair kit with you while biking, especially a replacement inner tube. During the replacement process it is critical to examine the inside of your tire for objects or damage, as this can cause the replaced tube to flatten immediately. …

Ask Me Anything returns to the National Karate School this week, where we meet southwest metro director William Hill, who heads up the Eden Prairie location.  A former sparring champion, Hill was ranked No. 2 in the country in the light heavyweight division before a self-imposed retirement.  "I became a father," he said, which effectively ended his competitive career.  Now, Hill is a lead instructor for the National Karate School, and walks us through one of his favorites - a palm heel strike.  "It's an effective defense technique," Hill said, with minimal risk of injury to the person who is …

Editor's Note: Ask Me Anything runs every Wednesday.  Know an expert in Minnetonka who's got some secrets of his/her craft to share? Let us know. So, here's your conundrum. Ever since your 3-year-old watched "Finding Nemo" at daycare, he's wanted  an aquarium. Rather than grabbing a goldfish from the local superstore, why not do it up right?  Clint Anderson of Discovery Aquatics walks us through the steps of starting a new, saltwater aquarium.  Part of a small niche of stores that cater to saltwater tank owners' needs, Anderson recognizes the importance of owning a saltwater tank, …

Did you grow up idolizing one of the many versions of The Karate Kid? In this week's Ask Me Anything, Jeff Sidner, senior director of South Minneapolis National Karate school, shows us how to do a spin wheel kick. Sidner got into karate in 1989. Karate boosted his confidence and taught him how to avoid dangerous situations. In 2000, he ranked fifth in the black belt heavyweight division of the North American Sport Karate Association. He's currently the top-ranked regional competitor in fighting and forms in the over-30 division.

Editor's Note: Today, Patch is featuring another of four new video series segments. "Ask Me Anything" introduces us to local experts who share their knowledge with us. New editions of "Ask Me Anything" will appear every Wednesday. At first glance, Tangletown Gardens appears to be a comfortable labyrinth of plants, garden decorations and tools. You don't have to go very far inside to see that this store is offering much more than basic garden retail. Owners Scott Endres and Dean Engelmann offer a variety of food and urban agriculture options to their customers. A family farm, forty minutes …

Editor's Note: Today, Patch is debuting another of four new video series segments. "Ask Me Anything" introduces us to local experts who share their knowledge with us. New editions of Ask Me Anything will appear every Wednesday. The walls in It's About Time Clock Repair are cluttered with clocks of all sizes and shapes. Some swing, some chime and others tick quietly. For the last 38 years,  Tom Trudell has operated his clock repair and sales business from this small storefront on Nicollet Avenue. The clocks he sells can't be found in big box stores. The repairs he provides are less common than…