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Inland Water Agencies Team Up to Teach Conservation, Efficiency at Free Festival

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The following was submitted for publication by the Eastern Municipal Water District:

Water
Districts throughout Western Riverside County will play host to the 12th
annual Community Water Conservation Festival on Saturday, April 12, 2014.

The
free event will be held at the Big League Dreams Sports Park, located at 2155
Trumble Road, Perris. The festival will run from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

During the event, residents can learn about a
variety of topics, including retrofitting outdoor irrigation equipment to
become more water efficient, Inland Empire Garden Friendly plants and water-wise
landscaping ideas. A number of master gardeners will be on hand to answer questions.

Vendors
will be available to give information about weather-based irrigation controllers,
moisture sensors, rain barrels and high-efficiency toilets and drip irrigation
systems.

Each
participating District will have information about rebate programs available to
customers and raffles will be held throughout the event. The first 100 people
in attendance will receive free water-saving items.

There
will also be many activities for children throughout the event, including an
appearance by Curious George. A children’s show will be presented at 11 a.m.,
and there will be face-painting, removable tattoos and popcorn. Dewie the
Dragon, Zoie and Admiral Splash also will be in attendance to help entertain
and educate children.

“With
our state in the middle of a record drought, it is important that our agencies
work together to ensure our customers have every opportunity to learn to be
efficient with their water usage,” said
Stacy Rodriguez, EMWD’s Conservation Program Supervisor and Committee Co-Chair
for the event. “This fun, interactive event will provide entertainment for
children and will provide families the opportunity to learn how to conserve
water in their daily lives.”

The
festival is presented by: Eastern Municipal Water District, Elsinore Valley
Municipal Water District, Rancho California Water District, Western Municipal
Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Bureau of
Reclamation, the State of California Department of Water Resources, Southern
California Edison, Southern California Gas Company and the County of Riverside’s
“Only Rain Down the Drain” pollution prevention program.

The
event will include raffles throughout the day, during which a water-efficient
toilet, rain barrels, drip kits and smart irrigation controllers will be
presented as prizes.

 

For
more information on the program, visit www.iewaterfestival.com.

Endangered Camp Algonquin a long way from being saved

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By Mike Danahey
mdanahey@stmedianetwork.com
@DanaheyECN

April 7, 2014 5:50PM





Article Extras





Updated: April 7, 2014 7:57PM

McHENRY CO. — While old campgrounds are the stuff of ghost stories and horror movies, Camp Algonquin recently found itself recognized as being endangered and having historical, architectural significance.

That’s to say the site along the Fox River between Cary and Algonquin off Cary-Algonquin Road recently was named to Landmark Illinois’ 19th annual list of the 10 most endangered places in the state.

The nonprofit has been working to protect historical places throughout Illinois for more than 40 years. According to a press release for the organization since the list’s inception in 1995, a third of the properties mentioned have been saved, less than a quarter have been demolished, and the rest are in various stages “between being continually threatened and rehabilitation.”

On past lists, the group has included Elgin spaces such as the two vacant buildings at the Elgin Mental Health Center designed by noted modernist architect Bertrand Goldberg (of Marina Towers fame) and completed between 1966 and 1967; the classical revivalist-style David C. Cook Publishing Co. Building that went up in 1901; and the Prairie School-styled Fox River Country Day School, which has been the subject of controversy recently as a group has been working to rent some of the now-Elgin owned buildings on the campus to start a charter school.

As for Camp Algonquin, the 116-acre site closed in 2011 and is overseen by the McHenry County Conservation District.

According to information provided by the district, the grounds are only one of four camps built in the United States during the “Fresh Air in the Country” movement during the late-1800s, a movement fueled by the belief that spending some time in a rural environment would alleviate problems caused by inner-city poverty.

“In 1907, a fresh air camp was established on 20 acres along the Fox River. The camp was supported by the Chicago Bureau of Charities, Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Tribune, Oak Park churches and numerous private donors,” the material states. The district’s communications manager, Wendy Kummerer, noted that buildings at Camp Algonquin wound up sporting the names of such sponsors.

The camp stands within a wooded, hilly landscape that once belonged to the Gillian family, the first white settlers of McHenry County, the material states.

“In 1910, the noted landscape architect Jens Jensen — whose work includes parts of Lincoln Park in Chicago — was hired to produce a plan for the original 20 acres of the camp. A detailed site plan from February 1911 depicts 16 buildings … as well as a swimming pool, council ring and extensive native landscaping, vegetable gardens and trails,” the material states.

It adds, “During the Chicago Relief and Aid Society’s years of operation, ill and underprivileged Chicago mothers and their children were brought to the camp and educated on proper nutrition and physical health.”

Chicago-based Metropolitan Family Services at one time ran the facility, but by 2004 sold it to the McHenry County Conservation District. The YMCA of McHenry County operated the facility on behalf of the district until it filed for bankruptcy in 2011 and the camp closed.

Kummerer noted that the district has performed maintenance on the site’s 47 buildings but that quite a few are in disrepair. Last year, the district decided to sell furniture and other items and that most of the structures would be torn down.

Kummerer said the district is working on a master plan that includes reviewing the camp and surrounding land, with the hopes of saving some of the structures. However, it has been estimated it would take millions of dollars to do so, Kummerer said, and currently there are no identified funding sources for this work.

While the buildings would be an added plus, Kummerer noted that the local flora and fauna make the land along the river invaluable for the region, with the district committed to keeping it as natural open space.

Carpinteria Beautiful’s 17th Annual Home & Garden Tour Saturday, April 26 …

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The excitement is building, as the days get longer and everywhere around you spring is in full bloom. In Carpinteria, that means one thing: Carpinteria Beautiful’s 2014 Annual Home and Garden Tour. Always the last Saturday in April, this year’s home and garden tour is all about inspiration, creativity and celebrating the small community with a big heart. For 17 years this self-guided tour through some of Carpinteria’s best homes and gardens has been a wonderful venue for those who love amazing architecture, décor and landscaping.

Each year the Home and Garden Tour focuses on bringing you a variety of homes and landscapes to enjoy and stimulate the imagination. This year we are welcoming guests into five very unique homes and one expansive seven-acre landscaped oasis. We can’t give all of our secrets away, but we can give you a small glimpse of the diverse lineup of homes and gardens that will make up this splendid day. Three of the homes are located within the downtown area of Carpinteria. Each home uniquely showcasing the diverse lifestyles and exceptional character that makes up our small town. A Nantucket style beach vacation retreat, a Spanish Mediterranean home with a one of kind mural done by local artist John Wullbrandt and a new construction home that is an open-concept family home with lots of whimsical charm and an exquisite use of modern materials. Our other three properties are all located in the foothills of Carpinteria and offer some of the most

stunning views of the Rincon surf point, the mountain ranges and valleys. You will be treated to a tour of a historic 1928 ranch house and a Post-Modern home that houses a wonderful collection of paintings, sculptures and photography. You will want to have your notebook in hand and your most comfortable shoes while exploring our featured landscape property. Strolling this property you will be enchanted by the array of tropical plantings, and authentic poolside Tiki Hut and even a formal rose garden and expansive views of mountains and ocean.

According the Donnie Nair, Chairperson for the Home and Garden Tour, “Everyone has their own unique method for exploring the homes, and we certainly do not put any restrictions on the time you spend at each location or the order in which you want to explore the properties. We hope people will plan to spend the whole day exploring the town of Carpinteria having lunch, shopping and touring this year’s extraordinary homes and gardens.”

The event is $30.00 per person and the ticket includes a detailed map and brief description of each home and garden. You will also be treated to homemade cookies and our secret recipe lemonade during the tour. Tickets go on sale April 1 at the following locations throughout Carpinteria: Sandcastle Time, The Cotton Company, Porch, Curious Cup Bookshop, Susan Willis, Carpinteria Lumber, and Roxanne’s A Wish and a Dream. You can also purchase tickets at the Carpinteria Farmer’s Market every Thursday throughout April. You may also purchase your tickets by mail, send check and a return postage envelope to PO Box 1294, Carpinteria, CA 93014.

Get your tickets early as this event does sell out!

Carpinteria Beautiful is a non-profit organization and donations are tax-deductible. All proceeds benefit Carpinteria Beautiful’s many community projects throughout the year. To learn more about this event or see what Carpinteria Beautiful is doing to keep Carpinteria clean, green and beautiful, please visit the Carpinteria Beautiful website: www.carpinteriabeautiful.org. Follow us on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/carpinteriabeautiful for the latest updates on the Home and Garden Tour, including features and photos for this year’s tour. Contact Committee Chair, Donnie Nair by calling 684-9328 for more information.

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Colin Parbery from charity The Share Community

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Gardening expert Colin Parbery from charity The Share Community shares top tips for April.

5:00am Saturday 5th April 2014 in Wimbledon

Colin Parbery from charity The Share Community

Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party”… Well, I think that is what Robin Williams is quoted as saying.

Like any good party, your garden will benefit from a little planning but ultimately it’s your guests that make it a success.

Taking a look at the use of colour can modify the overall style of your garden as well as reflecting your personal taste.

The use of a colour wheel can help in forming effective colour combinations.

Opposite colours on the wheel, such as blue and yellow mix well together. We often find these combinations in nature and are gentle on the eyes.

Adjacent colours are strongly contrasting. For example, yellow, orange and red. These are more difficult to mix but can be used to dramatic effect.

In the vegetable garden, we can now start to sow beetroot, carrots, and lettuce. At this time of year, there is a significant difference between night and day temperatures, so it is ideal for sowing parsley but far too early for basil.

House plants, citrus and any patio plants that you have kept in overwinter can be put outside, taking care to place them in the shade to they don’t get sunburnt.

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Gardener: Do this, plant that: Productivity tips in the garden

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Every day that I’m not on the road, I look out my office window toward the garden, and walk the property at least once or twice. My mind never stops turning with all the projects and to-dos I see for my landscape. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

My dream is to someday experience the term coined a few years back – “staycation.” The concept applies to the notion of staying home in an environment that is so pleasant, you feel like you’re on vacation. In theory, I love the idea. But in reality, it’s another story. Fortunately, for the lawn and garden, there are some pretty helpful ideas along with a number of undemanding plants that can get us a few steps closer to a truly relaxing staycation in our own little corner of the world.

TIPS AND TRICKS

These are a few of my favorite tricks for getting a little bit closer to nirvana.

– Soaker hoses: Keeping up with watering can rob many hours of precious free time. An easy way to cut down on this time consuming event is to make sure your plants are getting water right where they need it by using soaker hoses. These porous hoses allow water to seep out slowly and deeply. Roots have time to absorb the moisture and there is less risk of over-watering.

– Automatic timers: Simplify watering duties even more by using automatic timers. Use these in conjunction with soaker hoses and drip irrigation systems and put your watering woes on autopilot. The timers can be set to come on automatically from several times a day to once a week. Then, whether you leave home for weeks or want more carefree time in the hammock, you won’t have to worry about your plants or lawn not getting watered.

– Mulch: Usually the most dreaded task in any garden is the weeding. One simple solution to cutting down on the amount of weeds your garden will have is to use mulch. A three-inch layer will block the sunlight most weed seeds need to germinate. The added benefit of mulch is that it keeps your soil cooler, cuts down on moisture loss and helps suppress disease. It even looks great and really shows off the plants.

– A garden mailbox: Even the most organized gardeners find themselves running back to the shed or garage for that must-have tool for the job at hand. Placing a mailbox or similar storage box in the garden can eliminate those unnecessary trips back to the tool shed. Fill the mailbox with your most important small tools and you’ll always have them close at hand. Consider adding a trowel, plant labels, waterproof pen, twine, scissors, pruners, insect spray and bottled water. Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference.

PLANTS TO PLANT

When it comes to high-impact, low-maintenance plants, here are three of my favorites. Just keep in mind, even the least demanding plants deserve our attention every now and then.

– Knock Out roses: This is the un-fussy rose. If you’ve been intimidated by growing roses in the past or are tired of the work necessary to keep them disease and pest-free, this is the rose for you. Knockout roses are prolific bloomers and are very resistant to black spot and mildew problems typical of so many other roses. Provide full sun and well-drained soil and this rose will reward you with months of carefree beauty.

– Daylilies: They’re so easy, you can practically lay a daylily on the ground and watch it grow. Daylilies are beautiful and deer resistant with thousands of varieties in a rainbow of colors. They bloom all summer and return the next year thicker and fuller than before. The only work you’ll have to do is to divide them every 3 to 5 years.

– Hostas: If you’re looking for a showstopper for the shade garden, hostas are it. From miniature to massive, these plants known for their bold foliage are available in thousands of varieties. Hostas offer many shades of green, from lemon-lime to blue-green and every shade in between. The bonus with this easy care plant is that some are highly fragrant and all do well in containers. Unfortunately deer resistance is not one of its strengths.

Joe Lamp’l is the host and executive producer of Growing a Greener World on national public television, and the founder of The joe gardener� Company, devoted to environmentally responsible gardening and sustainable outdoor living.

A lot to grow on: Community gardens offer plenty of variety

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MUSCATINE, Iowa — Saturday was a good day to get rooted in community gardens during the community garden open house at the Riverview Center.

Though the turnout wasn’t as big as she would have liked, Annette Shipley, the Muscatine County Coordinator of the ISU Extension office and the Master Gardener Coordinator, said she’s still excited about getting community members involved in one of the six community gardens throughout Muscatine.

If anyone is interested in being a part of the community garden, she says she’d be happy to help get them connected. All they have to do is give her or Master Gardener Kay Walter a call at the ISU Extension office at 563-263-5701.

In glancing around at the different garden stations at the open house, where the coordinators of each garden were manning their displays, Shipley noted the variety of the gardens. One garden is on private property (Solomon Gardens), another is on public (Taylor Park). Mulford and Wesley-MCSA are both church gardens and East Campus is a school garden.

“We can offer everyone a different experience,” Shipley said proudly.

Lee Falkena, a science teacher at East Campus who is coordinating the East Campus garden, was the only coordinator to have a partner Saturday. Sophomore Brandon Moore was on-hand to talk about his part as “overseer” of the gardens, a self-awarded title which Falkena amended to “leader” with a good-natured chuckle. Moore’s helping with the garden’s design — determining how to use space efficiently — and helping oversee the garden’s plants.

The garden at East Campus was started last year and lessons from it are integrated into the science curriculum. Falkena’s goals are to involve more community members, particularly students’ parents, and have the students teach them about gardening as they go.

Across the room, J.R. Hendricks was standing in for coordinator Adam Thompson at the Taylor Park table. Hendricks was part of the Leadership-Muscatine group that got the garden at Taylor Park going.

“I had no idea what a community garden was,” Hendricks admitted, but now he and the rest of the group say they’re excited to get the garden going. They planned on having the plots in their garden — a combination of normal plots, enabled plots and youth beds — set up and ready to go by now, but the weather hasn’t been cooperating. Saturday, though, brought some hope to Hendricks with its sunshine and warmer temperature.

Hope also came in the form of helping hands.

A group of about 15 AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) members lead by fellow member Justin Jenkins stopped by to see if they could volunteer at the gardens, an offer met with enthusiasm from all parties.

The NCCC team has been in the area working with Louisa County Conversation in environmental stewardship. Jenkins said he was inspired by the community garden effort, citing its similarity to urban gardening in his hometown, New York City. The group plans to help get the gardens ready to go for the people who plan to plant in them.

Team leader Elizabeth Siliato, who is following Jenkins’ lead for this project, said, “It seems like it’s gonna be really great.”

Crystal Palace garden designer Georgia Lindsay reaches Grand Designs final

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Crystal Palace garden designer Georgia Lindsay reaches Grand Designs final

5:30am Friday 4th April 2014 in Outdoors


By Robert Fisk, Chief Reporter

Garden designer Georgia Lindsay is in the final of a Grand Designs competition

Shakespeare said all the world’s a stage but for Georgia Lindsay it is more of a garden.

The 44-year-old, from Crystal Palace, originally trained in theatre design and is a mural artist and interior decorator.

But since 2010 she developed a passion for garden design and is now down to the final four in this year’s Grand Designs competition for her small city garden design.

She said: “Maximising a small space to create an interesting enjoyable place to relax is my forte.

“It is a family garden, where relaxation and play co-exist harmoniously.

“The garden has many sustainable, green features which is a strong ethos behind the Grand Designs image.

“I’m thrilled to be a finalist in this year’s competition.”

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Gardening with George

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A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds.

  • Heliconia Rostrata in all its blooming glory

A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds.

HELLO garden Lovers! I love this time of year – the sting has gone out of the summer heat, the awful humidity has subsided and it is once more a pleasure to spend hours toiling in the garden. It also helps when you have what is termed ‘an autumn garden’, with annuals and perennials such as salvias, marigolds and dahlias at their peak.

The much-welcomed rain of late has freshened up the flowers, lawns, trees, and shrubs – everything that relies on this precious drop! But …it has also germinated the archenemy of the gardener – weeds!

I can’t recall a season in living memory when I have had to deal with so many weeds, and so many types of weeds. One weed that has taken hold in my garden and I doubt will ever be eradicated is something commonly called ‘hundreds and thousands’. Tiny seeds hang in rows on the underside of the small branches and in their removal, drop off in their hundreds and thousands to start the cycle all over again. I’m sure it arrived in a potted plant from ‘who knows where’, and in only a few years is rampant in freshly tilled soil. Mulching helps reduce the problem, but as with all weeds, they continually crop up in unlikely places.

What is a weed? Most gardeners refer to a weed as ‘any plant growing where it is not wanted’. A plant that becomes invasive, out competes your garden plants, takes valuable nutrients and moisture from the soil and due to its vigorous nature, destroys the ‘look’ and if left unchecked, the very garden itself. A darn nuisance!

On the other hand, many of us gardeners’ welcome some so called weeds into our gardens – agapanthus, arum lilies, busy lizzies, seaside daisy. These are regarded more as environmental weeds and have become thus through the thoughtless disposal of garden waste into our native bush. Where they in turn are out competing and taking valuable nutrients, space, etc., from our beloved native plants. If managed in the garden, they can happily reside along side your more treasured plants.

Currently I have many unwanted guests in my garden, but experience has taught me that with a lot of perseverance, some aching bones and a little bad language – a modicum of control can be achieved over time.

On a brighter note, autumn also offers some wonderful Open Gardens across the region to visit. I recently explored the delights of some gardens from Kendall to Laurieton, where I discovered a little tropical oasis tended by a (not young) lady. The jewel for me was a magnificent Heliconia rostrata in all its blooming glory, with flower lobster claws. One of the joys of these open days is meeting up with ‘garden friends’, swapping ideas and cuttings and generally enjoying ‘friendship through gardens’.

Happy Gardening, enjoy the rain and weed, weed, weed!!!

George Hoad

PS If anyone has any unwanted ‘weeds’ such as agapanthus, I am landscaping around my dam, Lake St George, in preparation for my charity Open Garden Day on June 29. I will happily dig and remove! Phone  6550 5890