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Gardening Tips: Miner bees not aggressive, help pollination

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Posted: Friday, April 26, 2013 11:15 am
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Updated: 11:17 am, Fri Apr 26, 2013.


Gardening Tips: Miner bees not aggressive, help pollination

By Matthew Stevens

RR Daily Herald

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Over the past 10 days, I’ve had more phone calls than I can ever recall about ground bees.

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Friday, April 26, 2013 11:15 am.

Updated: 11:17 am.

Six Gardening Tips That Won’t Hurt Mother Nature

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Spring is finally here and many people are heading outside to tend to their neglected gardens and yards.

Using pesticides and conventional fertilizers may make your backyard look like an oasis on the surface, but they’re the real pests: using these chemicals could be affecting the health of your family and the greater environment without you noticing it.

You don’t need to use a cocktail of toxic chemicals to keep weeds and bugs out of your garden. There are many ways that you can have a pristine backyard, while protecting the environment and your health at the same time.

Here are a few tips to help you green your green thumb this year:

1. Keep it natural – You know the saying “Mama knows best?” Well, in this case Mother Nature knows best. Use all-natural compost and keep pests at bay by using essential oils (lemongrass, cedar and eucalyptus can provide protection from an array of insects including mosquitoes, ants and fleas) and finding ways to invite beneficial insects (they help ward off the bad bugs) to your garden.

2. Choose native plants – consider adding plants which are indigenous to the area to your garden. They are already adapted to the local environment, are easy to grow and maintain, and require less fertilizer and water.

3. Vinegar, the natural weed killer – nothing can drive a perfectionist green thumber crazier than a weed in their garden. Instead of pulling out the toxic weed killer, take out a bottle of white vinegar from your cupboard. It can repel any plant (especially if it’s in a sunny spot) and is non-toxic and cheaper than conventional weed products. Note: be careful which plants you spray with it, because it doesn’t discriminate.
4. Or just give weeds a yank – if you catch weeds early enough, you can simply pull them out of the ground. It’s best to do it early in the morning. Morning dew makes the ground moist, which in turn, makes it easier for the weeds to be pulled out.

5. Compost your kitchen scraps – why buy compost for your garden when you can just make your own from scraps from your kitchen? You can help speed the process up with the help of earthworms.

6. Help out the bees – in case you haven’t heard, bee populations around the world have been diminishing in recent years. There’s no time like the present to “bee” nice to these bugs, even in your own backyard, by providing a pesticide-free spot.

Want more tips to help keep your garden and home toxic free? Sign up for our toxic nation newsletter to receive tips and information all year long.

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  • Morning Glory Gloves

    Help your favorite gardener get down and dirty in style with this sunny floral print. At a href=”http://www.nybgshop.org/product.php?productid=21943cat=106page=-1″nybgshop.org/a, $28.

  • Orange Coin Carving Garden Stool

    Give them a pretty perch so they can sit back and admire the fruits of their labor. At a href=”http://www.belleandjune.com/Browse/Product/121/8/Orange-Coin-Carving-Garden-Stool-“belleandjune.com/a, $296.67.

  • Bike Planter

    With these tiny vessels, green-thumbed cyclists never have to leave their plants behind. At a href=”http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/bike-planter”uncommongoods.com/a, $45.

  • Edible Garden Kit

    The most peaceful bombs you’ll ever find, and the fallout will spread edible greens throughout their garden. At a href=”http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod2320316cm_ps=modal_add_to_cart-_-none-_-other_items_you_may_likecategoryId=cat1630018″restorationhardware.com/a, $22.

  • Petal Solar Light

    An energy-efficient lighting system for their gardens. Not only do they look like plants, but they also need the sun to stay alive. a href=”http://www.mohzy.com/world/en/products/12-petal-solar-light.html”At mohzy.com/a, from $35.

  • Wellies

    A little mud doesn’t have to hold them back. These will keep feet happy and dry. At a href=”http://usa.hunter-boot.com/product/original-short-gloss”hunter-boot.com/a, $125.

  • Desktop Plant Light

    Just because it’s cold and cloudy outside doesn’t mean their plants should have to die.
    At a href=”http://www.qcidirect.com/desktop-plant-light.html”qcidirect.com/a, $69.99.

  • Desktop Terrarium

    For the true gardeners, they can display their green friends at all times on their desk. At a href=”http://www.shopterrain.com/product/hobnail-urchin-terrarium?upsell=1″shopterrain.com/a, from $28.


Dig out Your Best Tips for Virginia Hayward’s Gardening Advice Competition

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(PRWEB UK) 26 April 2013

The competition, focused around sharing top growing tips with Virginia Hayward, invites customers and Facebook fans to share their top vegetable growing tip. The competition will be independently judged and the lucky winner will receive a ‘Treats from the Garden’ Gift which is a collection of delicious garden-themed treats beautifully presented in a Gooseberry-coloured garden trug.

As Virginia Hayward works to source its quality products which include jams, sauces, biscuits and juices from local suppliers, it was a simple decision to create a competition based on growing beautiful and fresh foods whilst giving something back to gardening enthusiasts across the UK. Justin Walmsley discusses the competition: “We’re passionate about sourcing the best quality products for our customers. It made sense to us to combine our love of the best products with our desire to encourage our customers to share their unique hints, tips and advice with us and fellow spring-inspired gardeners.”

Justin continued, “As a company, we’re focussed on giving our customers the best service we can. However, it’s also very important for us to create a channel in which garden lovers can connect, engage and share passions and information alike. The entries so far provide a hot-bed of gardening and growing tips – some of which we have never heard of or seen before. The competition is also inspiring our Virginia Hayward customer community to turn their attention to their own gardens and encouraged them to try new vegetable growing techniques.”

Please visit https://www.facebook.com/virginiahaywardhampers for more information on the competition which is open until midnight on 28th April, 2013.

Delicious Prize

The prize for the competition is a ‘Treats from the Garden’ Gift, which includes Claire’s Piccalilli and Raspberry Jam, Frank’s Shortbread, Owlet Apple Elderflower Juice, and James’ Chocolate Frogs. The products are presented in an oval garden trug to reflect the garden theme of the competition. The winner will be chosen by an independent judge based on the most unusual and innovative vegetable growing tip.

Justin said: “We’re excited to have launched this competition during National Gardening Week. As we are nestled in the heart of the beautiful Dorset countryside we are naturally passionate about the environment and keen to encourage and inspire people to care for their own garden.”

Taking Inspiration from National Gardening Week

National Gardening Week occurs annually, and this year ran from the 15th to the 21st of April. The event was established by the Royal Horticultural Society to promote gardening to a wide audience, including young people and those who are not familiar with the skills involved in cultivating a healthy, varied garden.

As a luxury business in a niche industry, Virginia Hayward is demonstrating that by connecting with customers and fans on a more personal level, the reach they have can be broadened. Furthermore, asking people to participate and share knowledge is an effective way of creating a dialogue with customers.

Company Information

Virginia Hayward Ltd. was established by the Hayward family in 1984 and is still a family-run business today. Based in the beautiful Dorset countryside, the company creates hampers for gift-givers looking for pre-packed occasion-themed hampers, as well as bespoke and personalised hampers and gifts for corporate clients. They also provide speciality diet hampers for diabetics, vegans and coeliacs.

For more information visit Virginia Hayward online at http://www.virginiahayward.com. The competition is currently running on the official Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/virginiahaywardhampers.

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Dog-Friendly Garden Tips: How To Safely Coexist With Your Canine Pals

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From Mother Nature Network’s Ramon Gonzalez:

So you want to have a garden and a dog, but think both of your passions can’t coexist within the confines of your backyard? With a bit of planning and dog whispering, you can grow a dog-friendly garden — and a garden-friendly dog.

Get on all fours in the yard you want to convert into a garden and ask yourself, “What do I, as a dog, want from this space?” The breed, personality and age of your dog may dictate just how much you can convert to garden, and what kind of garden you can grow.

“Yes, breed can matter. Sighthounds, as long as they are given space to run, are really couch potatoes in between their spurts of activity. They generally love to sun bathe,” says Cheryl S. Smith, dog behavior expert and author of “Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs“. “Some of the small breeds specifically meant to be companions, such as Tibetan spaniels or Maltese, can have low or no impact on the gardens. On the other hand, terriers are quite literally ‘earth dogs,’ and inclined to dig and chase vermin. Dachshunds go right along with them.”

In 15 handy online tools for gardeners, I recommended a couple of DIY garden design tools you can use to layout a garden. Look at your property and make note of the paths the dog has already created to survey its domain. Plan your garden around these well-worn paths and convert them into garden paths by laying stepping stones or mulch.

If a dog run happens to cut through the ideal location for your new vegetable garden, you’ll have to protect it. The American Kennel Club recommends creating boundaries for Fido out of a low picket fence and using vocal commands and treats to teach your pooch where it can and cannot go.

Similarly, densely planted areas, raised beds and mounds can reroute a dog through a space. If you’ve ever planted a new bed with seedlings and small starts, you know that people will try to gingerly step between the plants and cut through the bed, rather than moving two feet and walking around it. Don’t expect your dog to do much better. Protect newly planted areas with fencing until plants are established, or start with larger plants in three-gallon containers or larger that can bounce back from some abuse.

Smith advises dog owners to build a raised bed filled with sand in which the dog can be trained to dig and play by using verbal commands and praise. “Bury a toy or some treats, run to the pit with your dog, dig something up and play with the dog with it,” she says. “Any time you see the dog dig anywhere else, encourage the dog to accompany you to the digging pit, and praise. It’s all good.”

Leave a sunny patch of the yard undisturbed so your pooch has somewhere to bask in the sun. Designate an area away from the garden where your dog can play, dig, eat and drink. A tree stump, large piece of driftwood, or large boulder can serve as a lookout perch and marking area.

Dog-friendly garden tips from the Oregon Garden

The Oregon Garden maintains a beautiful demonstration garden that teaches visitors about how a garden can co-exist with dogs. Among some of their helpful advice is a suggestion to plant edibles like apples that you and your dog can enjoy together.

When we garden for wildlife, we create areas where fauna can hide and seek shelter. Think about a protected area, like a doghouse, where your dog can escape the scary sounds of your battery-powered trimmer, the rotating blades of your push mower, and just generally feel safe.

As a responsible dog owner, you want to ensure that your garden is safe for your four-legged friends.

The ASPCA maintains a list and photo gallery of plants that may be poisonous to pets. The group includes common garden plants like azaleas, lily of the valley, oleander, and foxglove among others. Over the years I’ve gardened with dogs and cats without a problem, but it would be prudent to garden on the side of caution.

Fertilize and compost responsibly. Avoid using insecticides at all, but if you have to use them, make sure you follow the directions on the packaging. Build a storage shed for anything you need to apply in your garden, and keep tools like rakes, tillers, and hoes that could cause trauma and pose a tetanus risk away from your dogs.

No matter how well you plan and train your dog to stay out of the garden, remember to keep things in perspective.

“Training can also keep the dog from interfering with the garden, but training takes time and patience, and sometimes both of these are in short supply,” says the author. “Understanding that the dog is just doing what dogs do — not a demon out to destroy your beautification efforts — helps.”

Related on HuffPost:

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  • 1. Energy Savings For Your Home

    The average home spends almost 20 percent of its utility bill on cooling. These cooling bills can be lowered by simply changing out incandescent light bulbs with EPA’s Energy Star qualified lighting, which use less energy and produce approximately 75 percent less heat. Raising your thermostat by only two degrees and using your ceiling fan can lower cooling costs by up to 14 percent too.

  • 2. Increase Your Gas Mileage

    Obey the speed limit; go easy on the brakes and avoid hard accelerations; reduce your time idling; and unload unnecessary items in your trunk to reduce weight. If you’re not using your removable roof rack take it off to improve your fuel economy.

  • 3. Prevent Skin Cancer And Be SunWise

    Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. and is the most common cancer among 20 to 30-year-olds. Remember to practice safe sun habits.

  • 4. Heading To The Beach? Check The Water.

    Americans take almost two billion trips to the beach every year. Beaches are a place to play, watch wildlife, fish, and swim. Learn more on how to plan a safe trip to the beach and check out state specific beach advisory and closing notifications.

  • 5. Take EPA’s Apps With You On Your Smartphone

    The AirNow app gives location-specific current air quality information to use to protect your health when planning daily activities and the Ultraviolet (UV) Index app provides daily and hourly forecast of the UV radiation levels from the sun so you can better prevent overexposure to the sun.

  • 6. Enjoy The Outdoors And Capture The State Of The Environment

    Almost 40 years ago, EPA’s Documerica project captured thousands of images across the nation as EPA’s work was just beginning. Now it’s your chance to mark the progress and submit environmental photos to EPA’s State of the Environment photo project.

  • 7. Protect Yourself With Insect Repellents

    Mosquitoes and ticks can carry diseases but you can protect yourself by choosing the right repellent and using it correctly. Read the product label before using; apply just enough to cover exposed skin and clothing; and look for the protection time that meets your needs. Children can use the same repellents as adults unless there is a restriction on the label.

  • 8. Water Wisely

    A large percentage of water we use at home is used outdoors. As much as 30 percent of that outdoor water use can be wasted due to evaporation by watering in the middle of the day. Water in the morning when winds are calm and temperatures are cool. Look for the new WaterSense labeled weather-based irrigation controller that uses local weather data to determine whether your sprinkler system should turn on.

  • 9. Clean Greener

    If you’re going to wash the car, deck, boat, or RV- be sure to look for the Design for the Environment (DfE) label to quickly identify and choose cleaning products that are safer for families and also help protect the environment. Look for the DfE label on grill cleaners as well.

  • 10. Improve Your Indoor Air

    About 90 percent of people’s time is spent indoors. While inside this summer, make sure to free your house of mold, test your home for radon, check your carbon monoxide detector and ask those who smoke to go outdoors.

  • 11. Check Into An Energy Star Hotel

    On average, America’s 47,000 hotels spend more than $2,000 per available room each year on energy. Look for an Energy Star certified hotel–they perform in the top 25 percent of hotels nationwide, use an average of 35 percent less energy and emit an average of 35 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than peers.

  • 12. Waste Less And Remember To Recycle

    Each year, Americans generate millions of tons of waste in homes and communities but it’s easy to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Recycled items such as glass can be used in roadway asphalt (glassphalt) and recovered plastic can be used in carpeting and park benches. Learn what you can do to waste less.

  • 13. Season Firewood

    Summer is a great time to season firewood in preparation for fall and winter. Remember to split firewood to the proper size for your wood stove or fireplace, but no larger than 6 inches in diameter; stack firewood to allow air to circulate around it; cover the top of the stack to protect it from the rain; and store your firewood for at least 6 months before using it.

  • 14. Looking For A Summer Project And Tired Of The Heat? Try Composting

    Composting can be a fun and educational summer project that saves landfill space, helps feed the soil and prevents methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

  • 15. Let Summer Inspire You And Submit Six Words For The Planet

    Keep the creativity flowing beyond the school year and into the summer by submitting a meaningful story or idea in just six words.

  • Also On Huffington Post…

    In this episode we teach you how to make your own high spf, water proof sunblock from organic and natural ingredients for pennies on the dollar compared to buying it off the shelf. Ingredients include- zinc oxide (sunblocking agent), coconut oil (soothes and conditions skin), bee’s wax (waterproofing agent), and tea tree oil (soothes and repairs skin and smells good too). Rub on and paddle out.

Permaculture Design Class to be held at Community Garden Saturday

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This Saturday, April 27, at 11:00 a.m., the Community Garden class series continues with an Introduction to Permaculture Design.

Many feel overwhelmed with seemingly self-destructive trends in human culture, including natural resource depletion, climate change, and economic instability.

Could a combination of ethics and ecology offer a creative solution?  According to Bill Mollison, “without permanent agriculture (permaculture) there is no possibility of a stable social order.”

Permaculture design aims to create an efficient, low-maintenance, productive integration of plants, structures, and people to achieve on-site stability and food self-reliance, in the smallest practical area.  The public is invited to join the Brownwood Community Garden for a lively discussion about the future!

The class will be led by Daniel Graham.  A fee of $10 will be charged to attend the class.

The public is invited to visit the community garden or to volunteer.  For garden tours, or volunteer assignments, please arrive before 11:00 a.m. or after 12 noon, as garden coordinator Daniel Graham will be leading the Permaculture from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

For more information, please call 641-9029.

Gs Gardens Announce Fresh Approach To Garden Design

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Most home-owners want a beautifully landscaped garden but have no idea how much it will cost. GS gardens announce new fixed price design packages to provide more accurate costing and improved site efficiency.

Landscape Garden Cheltenham

[Press Release Distribution]

Most homeowners want a beautifully landscaped garden. A place to relax and entertain but many are surprised at the cost of landscaping their garden, often because they fail to understand what is really involved.

Landscaping is divided into two categories hard scaping and soft scaping. Hard landscaping is used to describe the construction materials such as stone, brick, metal or timber etc. Soft landscaping refers to grasses, plants, trees, shrubs and herbs used to compliment the hardscape elements of the design.

For the majority of projects there is a combination of both. It can be difficult to say what the average cost of a project is as there are so many variables. But with some common sense and thought budgets can be worked out.

The average landscaper is paid between £15 – £25 per hour and landscaping costs are between £40 – £100 m2. Most projects take a few weeks to complete, this is dependent on the level of works involved, large projects can last months. Serious construction works such as ponds and retaining walls will increase cost and project length.

The starting point for any new project is to find a landscaping contractor who can produce a design and a set of working drawings. To be able to price a project accurately any contractor has to know what to include in their quote. A good survey and design enables one’s chosen contractor to work out all the materials required and the labour time involved to produce an accurate quotation.

A great design gives the opportunity to reflect and decide whether any changes need to be made prior to the works starting. Remember changes cost money, and any variation from the original quote will be chargeable so ensure amendments are made on paper and not when work has started.

GS Gardens a UK Cheltenham Landscaping contractor understand the importance planning and have taken a fresh approach to garden design. Kirsty, owner of GS Gardens talks about how their Cheltenham garden design packages have made a real impact on their efficiency and client satisfaction.

“Without design it is difficult know what clients want and it makes it incredibly hard to price for projects. A team on site with no drawings lack direction and efficient working becomes challenging.

To ensure projects run smoothly and clients receive accurate quotes a fixed price garden design service was the obvious solution. By offering an initial free consultation and structured packages with a number of variables all clients can benefit from well thought out design at a comfortable price point.”

It’s important to ensure a designer makes the most of the available space whilst satisfying practical and budgetary requirements. Experienced landscaping contractors will have a project manager to ensure efficient construction and site management co-ordinating material delivery, specialist trades and the landscaping team.

For more information about us, please visit http://www.gsgardens.co.uk/

Contact Info:
Name: Kirsty McGeorge
Email: enquiries@gsgardens.co.uk
Address: 31 Cambray Place, Cheltenham, GL50 1JP
Phone: 01242 234929
Organization: GS Gardens

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/gs-gardens-announce-fresh-approach-to-garden-design/10615

Via: MarketersMedia PR Distribution

Announcing Winning Design of Ragdale Ring garden theater

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RAGDALE SELECTS WINNER FOR OUTDOOR ‘RING’ INSTALLATION
Artist Residency Program Brings Back Historic Performance Space with Design Competition

LAKE FOREST, IL –April 25, 2013 – Ragdale, one of the country’s largest, nonprofit,artist residency programs, has selected a proposal by Stephen Dietrich Lee of New York and his associates as the winning design for its outdoor installation and performance space.

In January 2013, Ragdale launched its first-ever international, design competition to invite architects and designers to submit full-scale projects and installations to explore contemporary interpretations of the original Ragdale Ring, an outdoor performance space designed by architect Howard Van Doren Shaw
in 1912.

“A hundred years later, we want to highlight contemporary leaders in architecture and design by giving them a distinctive platform to showcase their work—a historic artists’ community on 50 acres of native prairie,” said Jeffrey Meeuwsen, Executive Director of Ragdale. “At Ragdale, we encourage and support artists as they take creative leaps. This competition is a natural extension of our mission. It also establishes a unique venue in which hundreds of artists and audience members can engage all summer long.”

The Winning Design
A jury of architects and artists evaluated the submissions from around the country and selected Lee’s proposal for its visionary and functional design. The structure is based on a repetitive pattern of wooden elements that creates a dynamic, sculptural, lacework installation to define an outdoor performance area behind the historic Ragdale House.

“Stephen Lee’s winning design blurs the distinction between art and architecture, creating a dialogue between the two disciplines,” says Zurich Esposito, executive vice president of the Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), juror, and a member of Ragdale’s board of directors. “The structure will serve as a gathering place, reinvigorating the historic campus of Ragdale as a place of dynamic artistic and architectural experimentation.”

The design team was awarded a $10,000 production grant to fund the project and a design/build residency of up to six weeks. Construction on the temporary structure will begin in May, with the public unveiling scheduled for a June 15 benefit at Ragdale. The unveiling will include open-air performances by nationally recognized musicians, dancers, actors, and poets.

The Design Team
Lead designer Stephen Dietrich Lee is currently project manager at Sweeney Conroy, Inc. in New York City. His design credits include private residences, educational buildings at Columbia University, and museums such as the Automobile Museum in Saratoga Springs, NY, and the Alice T. Miner Museum in Chazy, NY. He received his master’s degree in architecture from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design in 2005.

“I was intrigued by the simplicity of manipulating a single, repetitive module to create a temporary Ragdale Ring that is both dramatic and functional,” said Lee. “The organic, geometric structure is composed of stitched wood pallets of the same shape, height, and weight that are then daisy-chained to one another, creating a zigzag pattern. Developing a repeatable pallet was economical and provided valuable volume with very little material. The pallet jointing permits a great deal of flexibility, creating a curved, porous structure that marks the performance space.”

Other members of the design team include:
Ciro Cuono of Cuono Engineering PLLC, Port Chester, NY, an engineer who brings more than 13 years of experience in structural design. He has designed with reinforced concrete, steel, wood, masonry, and aluminum for residential and commercial buildings.
Michael Douglas McAtee is a licensed architect with a diverse range of project experience ranging from campus master planning to site furniture design, who has several previous successful collaborations with Mr. Lee. He is currently a project manager with Mode Architects in Chicago.
Nat Oppenheimer, PE, LEED AP, executive vice president at Robert Silman Associates in New York. He has extensive experience in areas of new construction, renovation, sustainable engineering, and historic preservation. He serves as principal-in-charge of much of the firm’s institutional work.
Russell Davies, PE, who is assisting in the structural analysis.

A Legacy Dating Back a Century
The competition marks the 101st anniversary of the first Ragdale Ring designed by Arts and Crafts architect Howard Van Doren Shaw in 1912. The Shaw family used the space as an outdoor garden theatre to stage plays written by Howard’s wife, Frances Shaw.

“The Ragdale Ring Project is such an exciting initiative because it both re-affirms our mission to support innovative work from contemporary artists and designers, and re-envisions the Shaw family’s persistent commitment to creativity,” says Ann Merritt, a member of Ragdale’s board of directors and a juror for the competition. “We hope this nod to Ragdale’s past will be an opportunity to support innovative new work that will, in turn, transform our landscape, and continue the Shaw family tradition of providing both a vibrant and nurturing atmosphere for artistic inspiration.”

The Ragdale Foundation
The Ragdale Foundation is an internationally recognized, nonprofit, artist residency program that provides time and space for creativity to more than 150 artists, writers, and composers each year. Built in 1897, Ragdale is located on the grounds of Arts and Crafts architect Howard Van Doren Shaw’s summer home in Lake Forest, IL, 30 miles north of Chicago. For more information about Ragdale, please contact (847) 234-1063. Or visit www.ragdale.org. Ragdale is located at 1230 N. Green Bay Road, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045.

FREMONT CALENDAR for the week of April 26, 2013

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Cartooning program for tweens today

Illustrator Brian Kolm will offer a cartooning program for tweens, ages 10-14, at 4-5:30 p.m. today (April 26) at Fremont Main Library, 2400 Stevenson Blvd. He will teach attendees to draw fun and interesting characters such as magical mythological warriors. This class is limited to 20 tweens. To reserve a spot and for more information, call 745-1421.

“Southern Comfort”

Dancers will journey through memories of visiting Alabama, Georgia, Texas and Louisiana through an array of dance styles including jazz, tap, contemporary, hip-hop and ballet during Ohlone College Dance Department Production’s “Southern Comfort: A Sentimental Journey” at 8 p.m. April 27 at the Smith Center at Ohlone College, located at 43600 Mission Blvd. in Fremont. Tickets are $12-$15 each. Parking is $2 per vehicle. For more information or to buy tickets, call the box office at 659-6031 or visitÊsmithcenter.com.

“Street Eats”

Fremont Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Food Truck Mafia, will be hosting the first “Fremont Street Eats” of the season 4:30-9 p.m. today (April 26) in the parking lot of Mission Valley ROP, 5019 Stevenson Blvd. Fremont Street Eats will be repeated every Friday night through Oct. 25.ÊEvery Friday night at Fremont Street Eats, the event will feature two chamber members who want to wow the crowds with their products and services.Ê

Participating members will be allowed a 10-foot by 10-foot

exhibit space where they can sell, demonstrate, educate and entertain Fremont Street Eats guests, for free. For more information, contact KK Kaneshiro at 795-2244 or e-mail kkaneshiro@fremontbusiness.com to book your space now. Members will be booked on a first come, first served basis.Ê

“Five Palettes”

“Five Palettes,” an exhibit featuring the watercolors of five Bay Area artists, runs through April 27 at the Olive Hyde Art Gallery, 123 Washington Blvd. The artists are all members of the California Watercolor Association and have been accepted into numerous CWA member art shows, gathering weekly for six years to paint, critique, share techniques and experience the joy of working together.

Summer enrichment

Every year Ohlone for Kids offers a blend of academic and special interest classes to enrich children’s summer, keeping them active, learning and enjoying their experience. The courses, designed for students entering fourth through 11th grades, will include four sessions of classes June 24-Aug. 8. Classes will include LEGO robotics, video game design, PSAT and SAT prep, cooking, computer programming, movie making and more. Classes will be held at the Ohlone College Fremont and Newark campuses and at Newark Memorial High School. For more information, call 742-2304 or visit ohloneforkids.com.

Discover New Zealand

Experience the land of the hobbits at a New Zealand Culture Event 1:30-4:30 p.m. April 27 in Cole Hall at the First United Methodist Church, 2950 Washington Blvd. in Fremont. The Maori Mo Ake Tonu group will sing and dance and their leader will describe and explain the still thriving and colorful Maori traditions. This will include the fiercely compelling haka performed before every rugby match. The public is invited to share this experience with members of the Friendship Force of the San Francisco Bay Area and even join in the dancing. Members are preparing their homes for the visit of club members from Horowhenua, New Zealand in May and want to learn more about their culture in advance. Find out about the Bay Area club’s history of hosting members from more than 60 countries and also traveling as a group to develop lasting friendships around the world. For more information, call 793-0857.

World Tai Chi Day

Join world class Martial Arts Champion Sifu Yan Fei,Ê35th generation Shaolin Warrior Monk Sifu Yuan LongÊalong with more than 40 of his studentsÊandÊ2010 Tai Chi Master of the Year Sifu May ChenÊfor World Tai Chi and Qigong Day 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 27 at the Ohlone College Newark Center, 39399 Cherry St. in Newark. During that time, attendees will be able to enjoy demonstrations along with a variety of 30-minute sessions in celebration of this global event. It is free and open to the public, but parking is $2 per vehicle, which will be enforced after 11 a.m. For a schedule of performances and sessions, visit ohlone.edu/go/globalwellness.

“Depression The Musical”

Brian Wetzel, an award-winning professional speaker and comedian, will perform his musical comedy “Depression The Musical” 7:30 p.m. April 27 at Fremont Congregational Church, located at 38255 Blacow Road in Fremont. Following Wetzel’s light-hearted but poignant and deeply personal look at a very important issue, the Rev. Barbara Meyer (community minister of Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist Church whose ministry focuses on issues of mental health) will respond. Light refreshments afterwards will provide an opportunity to continue the conversation and talk with either Wetzel or Meyer. There is a suggested donation of $10-$15 each, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. For more information, call 793-3970 or visit fremontucc.net/depression_musical.pdf or wetzelproductions.com.

Estate planning

Amir Atashi Rang of Atashi Rang Law Firm will present a series of free, estate planning seminars in the Fukaya Room of Fremont Main Library, 2400 Stevenson Blvd. Topics include:

-“Estate Planning Mistakes”: 2-4 p.m. April 27. Learn about the seven biggest mistakes in estate planning and how to successfully detect and avoid them. This will be a discussion of basic estate planning principles, including probate and common estate planning pitfalls most often encountered and how to maneuver around them. Atashi Rang Law Firm is a Bay Area estate and tax planning law firm.

The firm’s objective is comprehensive planning and specialized legal services in estate planning tax planning, probate and trust administration. This program is free and sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, The American Library Association, the Fremont Chamber of Commerce and the Alameda County Library System. No reservations are required. For more information, call 745-1421.

Garden tours

The Alameda County Water District is partnering with the Bay-Friendly Landscaping and Gardening Coalition as well as Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour to promote their garden tours this spring in Alameda County. Gardens featured during the tours contain California native plants that require less water, reduce the need for pesticides and attract a variety of wildlife.

Events coming up include:

-10th Annual Bay-Friendly Garden Tour, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, April 28: This self-guided tour of residential properties features a variety of gardens, created using similar gardening techniques. Registration is required as well as the purchase of a guidebook ($10) with garden descriptions and directions. Entrance tickets can be shared. Electronic guidebooks are available for $5.

For more information, visit bayfriendlycoalition.org or call 859-8026, extension 2.

-Ninth Annual Bringing Back the Natives Tour, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, May 5: An award-winning self-guided tour, Bringing Back the Natives will provide plenty of inspiration whether you are planning a garden or looking for new ideas to incorporate into your outdoor space. This tour features 40 Alameda and Contra Costa county gardens. Native plant sales and talks are offered at select gardens. There is no fee for the tour but space is limited and registration is required. Register early to ensure your space. For more information, visit bringingbackthenatives.net or call 236-9558 (between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.).

For those customers ready to make a change, the district has a Water Efficient Landscape Program that offers a rebate for the removal of water-thirsty lawns.

For more information about the programs or to learn about rebates and incentives, visit acwd.org or call 668.6534.

Plant sale

Fremont Senior Center’s Garden Club will hold a plant sale 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, May 3 on site at 40086 Paseo Padre Parkway. For more information, contact Fran Masuda at 656-7417 or e-mail pama1938@att.net.

Water-efficient landscaping

The Alameda County Water District is partnering with the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency to host its final free one-day class in May that will outline the basics of creating low-water use landscapes.

-“Water-Efficient Landscape Irrigation” 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 4 at LEAF Center Garden, 36501 Niles Blvd. Prepare your garden and irrigation system for the summer months by learning about water-conserving irrigation strategies. The class includes basic drip irrigation design and installation, how to choose the right irrigation components, watering techniques, and proper system maintenance for your landscaping.

Bilingual magician

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with bilingual magician Chiquy Boom 4 p.m. Friday, May 3 at Fremont Main Library, 2400 Stevenson Blvd. Attendees to the free program will learn a little Spanish and have a lot of fun. The event is sponsored by the Fremont Friends of the Library. For more information, call 745-1421.

Silent comedy

The Smith Center will present “College” the 1927 classic silent comedy starring Buster Keaton, famous for his deadpan expression as well as his amazing stunts and pratfalls 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 3 at the Smith Center at Ohlone College, located at 43600 Mission Blvd. in Fremont. It will be made all the more hilarious with live accompaniment by Jerry Nagano, house organist at the Stanford Theater in Palo Alto, playing the center’s own theater organ with all the bells and whistles (literally). Tickets are $15-$20 each. Parking is $2 per vehicle. For more information or to buy tickets, call 659-6031 or visitÊsmithcenter.com

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Wind orchestra

The Ohlone Wind Orchestra, directed by Tony Clements, will feature renowned French horn soloist Lydia Busler-Blais performing “Rhapsody for Horn, Winds and Percussion” by Jan Van der Roost 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5 at the Smith Center at Ohlone College, located at 43600 Mission Blvd. in Fremont. Other works will include Grainger’s “Lincolnshire Posy,” Roumanis’ “Super Big-Band Blues for Trombone and Fluegelhorm,” Schuman’s band classic “George Washington Bridge” and more.

Tickets are $10 each for seniors, students and youth (under 12) and $12 general admission before the performance. Tickets at the door will be $15, and parking is $2 per vehicle. For more information or to buy tickets, call 659-6031 or visitÊsmithcenter.com

Links to jobs

Link up with the Fremont Main Library, 2400 Stevenson Blvd., for free job help and training in the Fukaya Room 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, May 6. This class will teach attendees library and online resources you can use to effectively target your job search.ÊYou can attend individual classes or all of the sessions. Knowledge of the Internet will be helpful. Topics include:

-May 6: Salary search/support groups.

For more information, call 745-1440 or e-mailÊgrooshan@aclibrary.org.Ê

Job search workshops

The Tri-Cities One-Stop Career Center in Newark will present job search workshops with different focuses at three libraries, including Fremont Main Library, 2400 Stevenson Blvd., on the following days and times:

-“Successful Interviews Learn and practice interview skills” 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, May 8

-“Job search strategies Learn about the hidden job market and job search techniques” 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, June 12. For more information, call 745-1440.

Healthy kids

Get up, get active and get healthy. The Newark Joint Task Force on Youth Issues invites the community at large to attend the Healthy Kids Fitness Expo 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 11 at Silliman Sportsfield Park, 6800 Mowry Ave. in Newark. Attendees will be able to enjoy free interactive games, activities, demonstrations, a rock climbing wall, slack lines and inflatables. Booths by local organizations will be offering activities and products that promote active, healthy lifestyles for kids.

Meet the lenders

An interactive business seminar and resource fair is being held 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 15 in the Fukaya Meeting Room at Fremont Main Library, located at 2400 Stevenson Blvd. This event is a must for any business owner interested in securing debt or equity financing.ÊÊBe ready to participate in a panel discussion with lenders offering advice in today’s tough lending environment.ÊAttendees will learn how a wide range of banks and other lending organizations evaluate your loan application and the types of funding they can provide. They will also be given an overview of how to get “capital-ready” before you approach a lender to ensure a greater chance of success.Ê

Participants will learn:

-What the five Cs of credit are and how they apply to the participant

-How a wide range of lending organizations evaluate your loan application

-The types of funding different lending organizations can provide

-What types of information the lenders are looking for and why.

This seminar is free to all attendees, but advance reservations are required. Register online at acsbdc.org/ node/13414. Refreshments will be served at the event.

Opera San Jose

Spend an afternoon with Opera San Jose at the Fremont Main Library, 2400 Stevenson Blvd., from 2-3 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Attendees will join the resident artists from Opera San Jose as they perform arias and duets from the 2012-13 season, including Verdi’s powerful drama, Il Trovatore and Puccini’s two contrasting pieces, Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi. Tickets will be handed out in Fukaya A Room starting at 1:30 p.m.

“School-Age Storytime”

The Kiwanis Club of Fremont will present “School-Age Storytime” 11-11:30 a.m. May 18, June 15 and July 20 at Fremont Main Library, 2400 Stevenson Blvd. At this time volunteer story readers from the local Kiwanis Club will read to kindergarten through fourth grade children. This is a free program and no registration is necessary. For more information, call 745-1421.

“Fibers and Flowers”

Fremont Art Association will present the art show “Fibers and Flowers” in conjunction with the Niles Wildflowers Exhibit May 18-26 at the gallery, 37697 Niles Blvd. All association members are welcome to exhibit following the theme of fiber arts and flowers. Those who work with yarn, fabric, paint, paper and ceramics are welcome to bring their work to the art gallery in Niles on May 16. The charge for entry to the show is a contribution to the cookies and punch reception which will kick off the exhibit 1:30-4 p.m. Sunday, May 19 on site. Gallery hours will be 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Admission is free, but a contribution is suggested. For more information, call the gallery at 792-0905 or visit fremontartassociation.org.

Dancing Earth, moon

Join Dr. Joyce Blueford and learn how the moon revolves around the Earth as the Math Science Nucleus will present “The Dancing Earth and Moon” 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 21 at Fremont Main Library, 2400 Stevenson Blvd. The program will include the story “Mugambi’s Moving Moon,” a short talk and participation in several hand-on activities. This free, one-hour program is intended for school age children and their families. For more information, call 745-1421.

Read-to-a-Dog

Volunteers from the Ohlone Humane Society will bring trained assisted therapy dogs to Fremont Main Library for children to read to the fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Dates are May 28, June 25, July 23, Aug. 27, Sept. 24 and Oct. 22. Children may get a free ticket for the sessions at 6:30 p.m. They can bring their own books or use one from the library. The library is at 2400 Stevenson Blvd. For more information, call 745-1401.

“Denim and Diamonds”

Get out your boots and put on the bling. Alameda County Blue Star Moms will dance up a storm and show support for our troops during “Denim and Diamonds” 1-7 p.m. June 22 at Swiss Park, 5911 Mowry Ave. in Newark. This patriotic event will feature live music, line dancing lessons, an ice cream and candy bar, barbecue dinner, refreshments, swag bag and photo booth. The event is free to all military and veterans and one guest, but they must register in advance. Other tickets are $40 each for those 12 and older or $5 for those ages 2-11. No ticket purchases can be made at the door. You must be on the list to enter. Proceeds from the event will bring awareness to our community and assist to further the organization’s “liberty canteen” program that assists local veterans who are low and fixed income or homeless with food, personal care items, clothing and more, and will also assist in other essential programs. Corporate sponsorships for the event are available, which will allow companies to not only give of themselves but also allow employees the opportunity to enjoy an evening out. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for this event. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 938-5695, e-mail fremontbsm@yahoo.com or visit facebook.com/AlamedaCountyBlueStarMoms.

Juneteenth

Palma Ceia Baptist Church will present a Juneteenth festival 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 15 on site at 28605 Ruus Road in Hayward. There will be food, children’s activities and local vendor booths to display and sell products. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, according to juneteenth.com. From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19 as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. Today it commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement.

“Artists in the Garden”

The highly anticipated “Artists in the Garden” will return for another year 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30 at Regan Nursery, 4268 Decoto Road. This event, presented by the Fremont Art Association, is the perfect venue to showcase and sell your art. Artists must supply the tent if they are interested in the standard booth. Booth fees are $45 for association members and $60 for non-members. In addition, a 10 percent commission will apply to all sales. This fee is paid to the Fremont Art Association to support their “Art in the Community” efforts. This event is a juried show of fine art and crafts. Once the available space has been assigned, on a first-come, first-served basis, a wait list will be generated for requests above the spare limit. Art not accepted will be returned after the jury date. Send the following information as soon as possible, as space has sold out every year:

-Check for booth space, made payable to the Fremont Art Association

-Two legal size envelopes, with postage and your address written or stamped on them

-Three photos of your artwork (if you did not exhibit at Regan’s last year) or e-mail jpgs, at 300dpi, with your name and art medium to sarcher239@aol.com

-Include all of the following information within the envelope or e-mail: artist name, e-mail, phone number, medium for sale, price range and tent selection, and send to Simone Archer at sarcher239@aol.com or 36541 Cherry St., Newark, Calif. 94560. The Fremont Art Association was established in 1959 to foster, promote and encourage the production, cultivation and appreciation of art in the community.Ê Meetings are held at the gallery, 37697 Niles Blvd., which is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, visitÊFremontArtAssociation.org.

For more breaking news and up-to-date information, follow us on our social media sites at facebook.com/FremontBulletin and twitter.com/FremontBulletin.

Friends help create ‘garden of love’ at West Virginia home – Philly.com

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The idea struck Sallye Clark when dropped her dear friend Kathy King off at her house and King lamented the landscaping chores she’d neglected during a serious, enervating illness.


Although she enjoyed working in the yard, King didn’t have the stamina to landscape the house she and her husband, Jim, had purchased the previous year on a quiet South Hills street.

“I suggested we get a team together. It’ll be like back in the day when we’re all young and poor and got together and worked on a project. Kathy didn’t want to put people out,” said Clark, who first met Kathy at church about 25 years ago.

An upcoming vacation for the Kings provided the tenacious Clark with a narrow window of opportunity. She called friends, who called friends, including landscape architect Beth Loflin, and developed an ambitious action plan within a week.

When the Kings left the following week, the heavy equipment arrived along with crews of volunteers wielding shovels and rakes. As preparation for the garden installation, they jackhammered and removed a sidewalk, dug out a water well and excavated a courtyard area in preparation for a flagstone patio. Trucks arrived with loads of trees, shrubs, plants and mulch — lots of mulch.

Clark had consulted Jim King and the Kings’ daughter, Jane, about the project before they left for their trip, but Kathy had no idea about the transformation that was happening in her absence.

“Once Sallye gets an idea, you better just get out of the way. I was just taking orders at this point,” said Jim, who made whatever surreptitious preparations he could before they left.

The Kings had consulted with Loflin about a landscape plan in the past. She’d sketched some ideas, so she already had a good idea of what landscape concepts they liked. “We were going to go forward with the plan at some point, but it probably wouldn’t have done it all ourselves for three or four years. This came together in a couple of weeks,” said Jim King.

When the Kings returned home April 8, the extent of grounds’ metamorphosis surprised Jim — but it stunned Kathy, who was initially speechless, then tearful as she walked the property and took in the makeover.





“I was so totally overwhelmed as we drove up. It’s not so much the look, which was wonderful, but the idea that so many people came together and did this,” Kathy said.

Martha Hannah, another longtime friend who helped Clark marshal volunteers, said many more people wanted to help but were out of town for spring break. She thought they might have made financial contributions.

Kathy confirmed that people had contributed, but they don’t know who made donations. All they know is that when Jim went to Green’s Feed Seed to settle the bill for materials, he was told that the account had a balance of zero.

At first, the unassuming Kathy felt uncomfortable that so many people, some of whom she didn’t even know, had given so much for the impressive project. Hannah helped her gain perspective.

“I have a hard time accepting help. Then Martha told me that they had so much fun doing this. She told me that it was as much a blessing to them as it was to me,” Kathy said. “I learned that if I don’t accept help from others, it’s an ego issue.”

Volunteers poured in from the ranks of people who knew the Kings through Christ Church United Methodist, tennis and WVU tailgating parties. Colleagues joined in. She is a nurse anesthetist at Cabell Huntington Hospital, and he is an architect with the Higher Education Policy Commission.

Neither Hannah nor Clark was surprised at the enthusiastic response.

“To me, it’s a testament to the type of people Jim and Kathy are,” Hannah said.

In addition to friends who provided labor, George Washington High School instructor Col. Monty Warner brought several JROTC students to lend a hand. The students toiled in cold, rainy weather to break up the sidewalk and cut down existing trees and undergrowth. Clark, who previously taught English at GW, recruited Warner’s assistance for the project.

The students and volunteers tossed discarded materials into a bin loaned to the site by a friend who owns a waste management company.

In all, about 40 people worked on the project. Hannah, Loflin and Clark said they enjoyed the project so much, many people told them they didn’t want it to end.

“Everyone was smiling and laughing. It brought people together who had no other common thread,” said Loflin. Hannah added that she had the chance to meet Kathy’s friends she’d never met, but often heard her friend speak about.

Freely given labor and donated materials, equipment and services brought the cost of the renovation to about a fifth of its actual value, Loflin said.

Hannah offered some bricks leftover from an addition to her home for the project, and Loflin worked them into seating areas along the circular courtyard. Gardening friends added another personal touch.

“Some people divided plants from their own yards. This is really a garden of love,” Hannah said.

Star magnolia, dwarf nectarine and espaliered crabapple trees join low-care perennials and planters of brightly colored annuals to rim the patio’s peaceful seating area. Potted herbs are within easy reach to clip for culinary use. The area is softly lighted for evening relaxation.

“The patio is my favorite part of the project,” Kathy said. The Kings also enjoy sitting on their front porch. Their former neighbor Jane Hammett sorted through her extensive collection of fabrics and picked colorful fabrics she used to re-cover the cushions.

Newly planted and mulched beds hug the house’s foundation, while a stand-alone vegetable and fruit garden stands in the backyard, already planted with blueberry bushes and a peach tree. This garden will provide physical sustenance to bolster the sensory pleasure offered in the front yard.

“I think all of us hope that Kathy finds comfort, joy and relaxation as she undergoes further treatment,” Clark said. “Kathy is so giving and kind. I think this says that there are many more good people than bad in the world when they come together for something like this.”