The last time terrariums were trendy was in the 1970s, when fishbowls, lamps and even tables designed to contain plants found their way into homes.

Will Kalif remembers it well.

“I had terrariums as a teen in the ’70s,” he says, having learned how to make them in Boy Scouts.

He has created scores of them in the past several years, too, mostly as gifts.

“I’ve made one as small as inside a Tabasco bottle and a large one in a 20-gallon fish tank,” he says.

Kalif, who lives in the Boston area, is known as “Terrarium Man” on his website, which is leading the charge to help bring terrariums back into style by offering tips and sources for terrarium gardening.

According to Kalif, terrariums are beautiful, easy to care for and can last for years or decades.

“A terrarium is a mini-ecosystem, which is appealing,” he says.

Deb Karpfinger, owner of The Flower Lady florist in Wauwatosa, says she has observed the renewed interest in terrariums and dish gardens.

“They actually have been around since Victorian days, and then interest piqued again in the ’70s,” she says. “But they have been regaining popularity on the coasts and working their way to the Midwest.”

Dish gardens, which are open, and terrariums, which are covered, offer some of the same rewards as outdoor gardening and landscaping, she says, but on a much smaller scale.

“They provide a small environment to become involved in and a perfect way to garden no matter what your limitations or situation,” she says.

Make them personal

The time around, terrariums and dish gardens are being personalized in all sorts of ways.

“A seamstress could add colorful spools of thread to her indoor landscape, an artist could add small tubes of paint,” Karpfinger says. “And coral, shells or stones from a vacation are easy to include, too.”

The Flower Lady sells pre-made terrariums and dish gardens in a wide array of containers. Customers also can bring in their own container and personal tchotchkes so Karpfinger can create a personalized garden for them.

Shelly Loke, a master gardener who is plant manager at Stein Garden Gifts in Mequon, says terrariums and dish gardens are a way of bringing organic things into people’s lives.

“It’s nice to have plants close to us and to be able to interact with something that’s alive,” she says. “Not everyone can go out and garden, but anyone can have a dish garden.”

That’s true even if you live in an apartment or condo without much natural light.

“There are artificial light sources that are as simple as a full-spectrum light bulb that fits into any light fixtures,” she says. “Leave the light on for about 12 hours a day and that’s all the light the indoor garden needs.”

Such light bulbs are available at Stein’s, as are a variety of plants suitable for terrariums and dish gar dens.

“Plants that are combined should have the same water and light needs so that they can do well in the same environment,” she says.

Succulents work well in an open dish garden, whereas tropical plants that thrive in a humid environment do well in a sealed terrarium. Some people choose to create dish gardens with herbs, Loke says, some of which can be used in cooking.

She’s also a big fan of mosses.

“They’re almost like little carpets,” she says. Irish or Scotch mosses work best in an indoor environment and can be combined with other plants.

The experts suggest choosing plants that are predisposed to growing slowly and staying small. Pruning is possible as well.

Visually appealing

These indoor gardens are most visually appealing when there’s a variation in levels, from low to tall. This can be achieved both with the plants selected and the terrain of the garden.

Low plants include mosses, herb thyme and baby’s tears.

Medium plants include nerve plant and varieties of peperomia.

Taller plants include tiny bell palms, goldfish plant and some small ferns, which can resemble miniature trees.

Drainage is important, Karpfinger says, and so is watering – or overwatering, which is the bigger problem.

“If you see moisture on the glass, let it dry out and don’t water as often,” she says.

Moderate light is best, she says, because putting plants in direct sunlight in front of a window can “fry” them, unless you have succulents. Don’t fertilize the plants or they’ll grow too rapidly.

Karpfinger says this time around there are probably more choices for plants and containers, but the appeal of terrariums remains the same as in the ’70s.

“It may have been more ‘mod’ back then and now it’s more personal, but the joy of living with something natural is the same,” she says.

“So put on your elephant-leg pants, plan a fondue party and tend your terrarium!”

Will Kalif’s website is www.stormthecastle.com/terrarium/index.htm.

The new “urban farming community” as envisioned here gets people out of their cars, encourages social interaction, the consumption of better quality (and less processed) food, boosts local employment and provides, according to Ladner, “a feast of spinoff health, community-building, exercise, green space, community safety, recreational and educational benefits.” I will add this important point: real estate values are enhanced when they are within proximity of urban farming establishments (as long as odour issues associated with livestock are addressed. No one likes living next to a pig or chicken farm.)

Every year like clockwork, winter comes to a close and the cold and dreary climate gives way to the burgeoning spring season and the promise of new growth. Of course, this also signals the perfect time for a thorough spring cleaning. But this goes beyond clearing out the attic or getting rid of last season’s old clothes. The outside of the home is just as in need of some annual TLC as is the inside; no area more so than the yard or garden.

There’s no better time than Spring to work on your garden. (Image © Rafael Ben-Ari – Fotolia.com)

Yes, the winter months can wreak havoc on a yard or garden and all but ruin the beautiful landscaping that defined it before the chilly weather set in. These areas can look the worse for wear after a long winter and may even appear beyond saving. But rolling up the shirtsleeves and getting to work on yard beautification is the best way for anyone – man or woman – to start anew and get into the spring spirit.

Here are some basic tips for turning a yard in recovery into a spring sensation.

Clear the debris

Winter storms can wreak havoc on a yard in the form of fallen branches and piles of leaves. The best remedy is to set aside a good chunk of time in which to clear all tree debris from the yard. Once that is taken care of, then it’s time to get down to the business of pulling the weeds that have likely cropped up during the winter months. Once this is complete, homeowners should then plan on spending 10-15 minutes one time per week maintaining a weed-free yard.

Fertilize, fertilize, fertilize

There’s no way around it, those who want to ensure a thriving lawn or garden are going to need to fertilize. That means everything: grass, flowers, shrubs – the works. The good news is that there is nothing about this process that needs to be complicated. In fact, there are a number of different fertilizers available from home-supply stores geared for a number of different purposes and a number of lawn and garden types. Terf builder is one popular option for those who want to give their lawns a fighting chance to thrive. Plus, there are organic weed killers on the market that can make the aforementioned weed hunting a breeze.

Tip: those growing food — such as herbs, fruits and vegetables — should use only organic fertilizers containing no pesticides.

Don’t shy away from mulch

It can be depressing to gaze upon a limp garden ravaged by the effects of a cold winter. But there’s no reason to lose hope because mulch can save the day. Just one layer of this stuff on a flower bed can bring the plants roaring back to life. Professional landscapers suggest applying four inches of mulch over the top soil, which will help retain moisture and prevent growth of those pesky weeds.

Tip: pull mulch away from the base of the plant, as this will help protect the bulb.

Maintain a functional irrigation system

Whether working with a complex in-ground sprinkler system or a simple garden hose, it’s best to test the equipment at the dawn of the spring season. Those with sprinklers will want to ensure the unit’s pump and tank are in good working order, as a couple winter months without use may compromise their functionality.

By following these simple guidelines, even the least green-thumbed of homeowners should be able to bring their yards and gardens back from the brink of winter extinction.

Our guest author, Jason Smith, writes for Australian Outdoor Living (AOL), a home improvement business based in Adelaide. AOL specialises in cafe blinds, roller shutters, pergolas and artificial lawn.

Charlie Hall thinks it’s not good enough to simply tell people that gardening is a good thing to do because flowers are pretty and planting trees and shrubs makes the world more beautiful and ultimately more livable.

All of which is true. But Hall wants to prove the benefits of gardening by producing unequivocal evidence, supported by convincing research data and verifiable scientific proof.

WHO IS CHARLIE HALL?

He’s one of the most influential leaders in horticulture in North America today, famous for giving passionate, informed lectures.

An economist by training, he is a professor in the department of horticultural sciences at Texas AM University.

He has all sorts of other titles, but all you really need to know is that he is the expert everyone in the gardening industry listens to very carefully because of the detailed work he has done to nail down precise data about the benefits of gardening.

His research has unearthed compelling facts and statistics that prove being around plants makes everything better, including helping children to learn faster, improving health, reducing crime, enhancing the natural environment and greatly reducing the stress of everyday life.

I doubt you have heard of his name before today, but it is well known to all the movers and shakers in what is now known as the “green industry” – covering everything from garden centres to landscaping to the basic nitty-gritty of upkeep of parks and other community green spaces.

“You may have heard the term ‘greenwashing,’ ” he told me in a phone interview recently. “This is when a company makes a claim that it is doing something that is environmentally friendly without backing up the statement with evidence.

“The consumer is left asking, ‘What is the basis for them saying that? Where did they come up with that information?’ “

Hall says it was his desire to have facts at his fingertips rather than anecdotal experiences to back up assertions that got him to start compiling research data from a wide variety of respected sources, including many not directly connected to the horticultural industry, such as Harvard Medical School.

Over two years, he gathered more than 400 research documents showing the benefits of gardening and other aspects of the horticultural industry.

Here are just a few of his key findings:

. People are able to concentrate better in the workplace or in the home and have better memory retention when they are around plants. “Tasks performed while under the calming influence of nature are performed better with greater accuracy.”

Spending time in nature gives people an increased feeling of vitality, better energy levels and makes them feel more animated, he says.

. Children learn better when they are around plants. “Research shows that kids learn faster when they are in a green environment. Those with attention deficit disorders have longer attention spans when they are in a natural gardenlike environment as opposed to a sterile, concrete classroom,” Hall says. “You’d think it would be counter-intuitive; if you take kids to an outdoor classroom where there are all sorts of distractions, dogs barking and so on. But the opposite is true.”

. Gardening can act as therapy for people who have undergone trauma. “The act of nurturing something is a way for people to work through the issues surrounding traumatic events and improve their mental health.”

. Residents are more likely to exercise if there is a community park or landscaped area nearby. Exercise improves their health through physical fitness which can cut health care costs.

. Landscaping is one of the most cost-effective methods for changing a community. “It is a fact that neighbourhoods with beautiful parks tend to have less crime. Simply by landscaping a formerly crime-ridden park, a community can be transformed into a safe and friendly neighbourhood environment.” Hall says parks also give people a reason to come together and become a tight-knit community.

. Quality landscaping improves property values. “You get a $1.09 return on every dollar invested. It is the only home improvement that generates a greater than one dollar return for every dollar spent,” says Hall.

“Put the same dollar into a bathroom or kitchen and, according to the Home Remodelling Institute, you get 73 cents return for that dollar, but our own research shows that with every dollar put into landscaping you get $1.09 in return.”

. Businesses do better when even a little strip of landscaping is added outside their premises. “Research shows businesses sell more stuff when they have an esthetically-pleasing landscape outside. People shop longer, feel more at ease, will come long distances to shop, and are often willing to pay higher prices.”

. Beautiful parks and landscapes enable communities to reap benefits from ecotourism. “In this new green environmentally-conscious era people are becoming more interested in exploring the beauty of nature while maintaining its integrity.”

This is one reason Hall believes botanical gardens and other public gardens and green spaces should be supported without hesitation by local government. “Ecotourism is a smart way for communities to bring in revenue with relatively little cost to themselves. Walt Disney proved this to us years ago – that people will come to the swamps of Florida in the middle of summer to be in a beautiful, engaging environment.”

. Studies show that people who spend time cultivating plants have less stress. “Plants sooth human beings and provide a positive way for people to channel their stress into nurturing.”

Hall’s core message boils down to this: the green industry – gardening, landscaping, the growing and selling of flowers and plants and all the rest of it – is about much more than creating “pretty environments.” It is also about other positive factors from health to air quality to job creation to community relations, spinoffs that most people never think about.

“The message that plants are more than just pretty needs to be incorporated into the marketing message of every single business in the green industry,” Hall says.

“We need to give people the facts that prove plants are not merely an indulgence, but an essential necessity if we want to live positive, productive, healthy lives.”

CALLING ALL GARDEN CLUBS

Gardening columnist Steve Whysall is compiling a list of Lower Mainland spring garden club plant sales for a special plant sales calendar to appear in early March. Please sent him the details of your sale, including date, location, start and finish time, and a contact name and number for people looking for more information. Submissions should be sent to swhysall@ vancouversun.com

swhysall@vancouversun.com

• 

Jacobson and Gervais bask in the beauty of the “urban Eden” of SOMA to celebrate their hidden garden treasure

A garden is always a work in progress. It is always in flux, and is never finished

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) January 31, 2013

On the street outside a larger-than-life ceramic Buddha welcomes visitors to the lush tropical space that waits inside; creating a welcoming entry to the Eden-like world where Richard Gervais and Bay Area landscape architect Chris Jacobson both live and work. The urban oasis was recently featured in the San Francisco Chronicle’s Home Garden section, noted for its remarkable ability to remain massively luxuriant in the heart of one of the city’s busiest neighborhoods.

The garden is a work in progress originally created by Richard Gervais and his friend John Pierce years ago situated in the bustling south of Market street (SOMA) neighborhood. Chris says that since he moved to the property five years ago, his presence has simply added another layer to the life of this exotic locale.

“A garden is always a work in progress. It is always in flux, and is never finished,” says Jacobson.

Bay Area landscaping management specialist Chris Jacobson of GardenArt Group went on to comment that the combination of exotic art and hidden gardens have all the ingredients of a classic film noir movie. Next to his compact, colorful studio, filled with relics from his world travels, is the gallery of art collector Richard Gervais, the creator of The Richard Gervais Collection, a wholesale collection of all things exotic and beautiful which have been collected over many years.

Although Chris Jacobson says that the SOMA garden where he lives is appropriate for a small city space in a mild climate like San Francisco’s, he provides both Bay Area landscape design and landscape management services to many gardens in the south peninsula, where hot summers and colder winters create more demanding gardening conditions. There are environmental considerations that need to be taken into account when dealing with larger gardens in harsher climates.

Paramount among those considerations is water: its use and misuse. Jacobson has specialized for the last 30 years in the creation of unusual, environmentally friendly gardens, and is on the advisory board of the northern California branch of the International Mediterranean Garden Society. He has been counted among the top tier of Bay Area landscape designers for years, and has done a wide range of notable projects, including the Sunset Publication Headquarters 50 year Anniversary design remodel, the San Francisco Decorator Showcase, and a memorable Palo Alto “Idea House”, also for Sunset.

Chris Jacobson has had his work featured in the San Francisco Decorator Showcase because the owner of the house consulted a Feng Shui specialist, and Chris’ proposal was the most in line with the principles of the Chinese art of placement.

He believes the point of creating a sacred space is to bring the viewer to a moment of calm reflection, a quiet opportunity to leave the worldly rush and noise and go within. His gardens have been featured in many local and national publications over the years, including Peg Streeps’ book “Spiritual Gardening”.

Jacobson’s work reflects a knowledge of gardening in California, which includes a concern for water. Chris says that people forget that western summers are usually bone dry, and the water used for California gardens has to be piped, pumped, saved, measured, and appreciated.

“The highest expression of the art of garden-making in the arid west is the creation of water saving gardens that retain the basic components of a sanctuary space: gardens that encourage peaceful contemplative thoughts.” says Jacobson “The historic gardens of Moorish Spain, such as the Alhambra and the Alcazar, are models that can be followed here in California.”

His philosophy of landscape design and management is found in his residential garden guide “A Different Shade of Green: A Manual for the New California Garden”, which he says will soon be back in print.

For more information about Chris Jacobson’s popular Bay Area landscape planning, and Bay Area landscaping installation visit http://www.gardenartgroup.com or call (415)-722-0615

About Chris Jacobson and the GardenArt Group

Chris Jacobson began creating landscape designs in the 1970s while pursuing a career in the fine arts. He eventually fused the two pursuits into one concept; GardenArt. A fourth-generation California horticulturist, Chris has been one of the proponents of the New California Garden, an emerging movement that combines environmentalism, multi-culturalism and art.

Jacobson is a member of the northern California chapter of the International Mediterranean Garden Society advisory board. The Society provides a means for gardeners of these unique climates to exchange information concerning their specific gardening needs, the most pressing being water conservation.

Jacobson’s work has been featured in Sunset, Country Homes and Gardens, Architectural Digest, Northern California Home and Garden and Peg Streep’s gardener’s guidebook “Spiritual Gardening”. He has also penned his own horticulture care and design handbook, A Different Shade of Green: Manual for The New California Garden.

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Robb Rosser is a WSU-certified master gardener. Reach him at Write2Robb@aol.com.

The 2013 Oregon Association of Nurseries’ Yard, Garden Patio Show is the first outdoor show of the season and it’s just a little more than a week away. Presented by Dennis’ 7 Dees, the event runs Friday, Feb. 8, thru Sunday, Feb. 10, at the Portland Convention Center. This is the largest consumer gardening event of its kind.

The theme of this year’s YGP Show is “Gardens Through the Ages” and will feature seven walk-through garden designs from numerous historic and modern eras. Travel through time and dimension as the unique showcase gardens provide inspiration to create the outdoor living spaces of your dreams. The garden creators will be on hand to answer your questions and provide resource information for your future landscaping plans.

Enjoy a full docket of free seminars and demonstrations, as well as countless plant-buying opportunities. Tantalize your senses with an assortment of specialty programs offering outdoor cooking classes, a contemporary Urban Edible Garden and the Remarkable Green Market. Don’t miss the Cracked Pots Art Sale featuring garden sculpture, ornament, art, decorative plant supports and much more.

The highlight of my visit to the YGP Show will be the seminars and demonstrations. There is something here for every level of gardener, from novice to professional. The garden world’s best speakers present topics as diverse as garden design, vegetable gardening, floral arranging,

sustainable practices and plant selection. Celebrity landscape designer and star of DIY’s “Extra Yardage” Billy Derian will be a featured presenter.

This is always one of my favorite garden shows and I encourage you to make the trip with your favorite garden friends for a full weekend of garden overload. I will be there Saturday and Sunday and plan to man the occasional shift at the popular Hardy Plant Society of Oregon Winter-in-Bloom display. Portland and Clark County HPSO members bring in samples of plants in full bloom or with seasonal interest from their own winter gardens. For more information, check out the YGP Show website.

Annual deadheading is normally the only pruning you need to do on heaths, heathers and lavenders. This will keep the plants compact, vigorous and flowering heavily. Without pruning, these plants have a tendency to spread open and go bare in the center of the plant. Use garden shears to cut away the spent flower heads. Cut about 3/4 to 11/4 inch of the previous season’s growth. This will also stimulate dense new spring growth.

Lilacs, hydrangeas and other tall, multi-stemmed shrubs that have grown too dense will benefit by cutting back one third of the shoots for two or three years in succession. I personally recommend a yearly habit of pruning out one third of the oldest shoots. This allows you to keep the shrub to a manageable size from year to year. There will always be some older, flowering stems, as well as new growth for plant vigor.

If you decided to take a chance and leave tender bulbs such as dahlias and gladiolas in the ground this winter, make sure that the stocks are cut off at ground level and that they are cut at an angle so that water will not collect in the stalk and rot the tubers below. Ensure that the plants are covered with a thick layer of mulch or compost to help protect them through the cold months.

In some winters, a few shrubs and trees in the garden all but refuse to drop their leaves. Others, such as the weeping Japanese maple, Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’) and the dwarf weeping willow (Salix caprea ‘Kilmarnock’), have such a tangle of intricate branching that fallen leaves catch in all the different angles, collecting in matted pockets through the branches. This is when you need to take matters into your own hands.

Remove any clusters of leaves stuck in the crotch of twigs and branches. A flexible, steel, hand-held rake is perfect for this job. Available in the garden tool section of most stores, this rake has foot-long, flexible tines that can reach in between tight branches and pull out fallen leaves and other debris caught in the nooks and crannies. This is the classic “right tool for the job”.

Any leaves that cannot be removed with this tool may need to be picked out or plucked off the stems. Since I often advocate buying certain plants for their winter silhouette, it makes sense to remove any debris that detracts from the architecture of the plant.

Robb Rosser is a WSU-certified master gardener. Reach him at Write2Robb@aol.com.

One of my fondest memories of my now-grown son’s childhood involves his preschool fixation with the David the Gnome cartoon show. He never missed it. One day, on a whim, I fashioned tiny furniture from twigs and hid the pieces under some backyard bushes. At an opportune time, my husband “accidentally” tossed a baseball to just the right spot under the shrubs and sent the 4-year-old to retrieve it.

“We have gnomes! We have gnomes! I found their house!” our little boy came running, yelling excitedly. I was rocked with joy.

Gnomes, elves and fairies are the stuff of entertainment going back centuries, the inspiration for folk tales, poetry, Shakespearean plays, cartoons and, now, one of the hottest garden trends going. Miniature gardens, often called fairy gardens, are in vogue, with an abundance of tiny statuary, furnishings and supplies popping up at garden shops and online sources, and a growing fan base of all ages.

The concept: pint-size plants incorporated in a themed vignette of miniature landscaping elements (such as tiny pebbles, moss and twigs), whimsical dollhouse-size furniture, decorative accessories and tiny figurines. Fairy gardening is suitable for either open-dish gardens in shallow vessels or lidded transparent containers, usually glass, called terrariums. The small scale makes it easy to manage and is key to the charm.

“It’s a resurgence of a trend from years ago,” says Josh Addison, manager of Redenta’s Garden in Dallas. “It gives people a way to bring their garden indoors when the weather is cooler. We do a lot of custom miniature gardens for gifts. It’s especially good for people who can’t get out,” he says.

Mary Wilhite, co-owner of Blue Moon Gardens near Edom in East Texas, is one of the first area retailers to carry fairy garden merchandise. “As you get older, gardening becomes more difficult. This is a way to downsize, and it is easy to maintain,” she says. “It’s a great thing to do with kids and grandkids. Children love them. It’s just their size.”

“Everyone likes cute, tiny things” says Nikki Rosen, marketing manager of North Haven Gardens. “And customers bring in girls and boys. It’s not necessarily fairy- or gnome-themed. People incorporate their interests. Kids might put in dinosaurs, action figures, Hot Wheels cars, tiny animals.”

The longtime North Dallas garden store sponsored a contest in October, inviting customers to bring their home-crafted fairy-themed gardens to the store.

“We had an amazing turnout,” Rosen says. “Both found and store-bought objects were used, and lots of different containers, including a pumpkin and a wood wine box that housed a tiny vineyard. We will definitely have a contest again next year.”

“Even if you don’t have a child to share it with, it’s a way to go back to your childhood,” says Vickie Gumz, greenhouse manager of Jackson’s Home Garden. “It’s fun to play with little things.”

She’s right. Gnome hunts kept my little boy occupied for a long time after that special day many years ago. If I had the selection of darling tiny garden decor then that is available now, I would have outfitted a whole gnome village. I look forward to round two of miniature gardening with grandchildren someday.

Valerie Jarvie is a Dallas freelance writer.

 

Where to buy fairy garden elements

Archie’s Gardenland, Fort Worth

Blue Moon Gardens, Chandler

Brumley Gardens, both Dallas locations

Covington’s Nursery, Rowlett

House Nursery Outlet, Kaufman

Jackson’s Home Garden, Dallas

Merry Gardens, Athens

Nicholson-Hardie Garden Center, Dallas

North Haven Gardens, Dallas

Plants Planters, Richardson (March)

Redenta’s Garden, Dallas and Arlington

Ruibal’s, Dallas Farmers Market

 

On the Internet

efairies.com

fairyhomesandgardens.com

fairywoodland.com

miniature-gardens.com

thefairysgarden.com

twogreenthumbs.com

 

Make your own

Look for plants in the terrarium, houseplant or tropical foliage section of garden stores. Suitable varieties grow slowly to only a few inches tall or can be pruned to stay small, such as bonsai trees. Make sure to choose plants that all have the same light and water requirements and know before you purchase plants what kind of light your designated spot can provide. Succulent plants such as cacti and aloe vera need very little water. Tillandsias, or air plants, need only occasional misting (and, in fact, need no soil). Preserved moss is a dried natural product that needs no care.

For a dish garden, a flat, shallow, waterproof ceramic dish or a wood box 3 to 4 inches tall works well. Drainage holes are necessary if the dish garden will be outdoors most of the year. Indoors, with careful watering, you can get by with a container without drainage holes if moisture seepage underneath is a concern, utilizing activated charcoal to deter mold.

You also can create your garden in an enclosed glass container with a lid, a terrarium, which can be opened to vent moisture.

Select accessorizing furnishings and figurines made from waterproof materials, especially for outdoor gardens.

To assemble, start with a 1/2-inch layer of small gravel, tiny colored stones or decorative crushed glass. Place landscaping cloth or a coffee filter cut

to fit over the rock layer to prevent soil from sifting into the rocks, tucking the edges under so it does not show. Include more layers of rock in different colors and texture, if you wish, using the cloth or filter between each layer. Next, spread a fine layer of activated charcoal to absorb moisture and prevent fungus or mold growth. Last, add 2 inches or more of potting soil before planting and arranging furnishings and landscaping features.

Water and fertilize the plants only as needed. With care, miniature gardens can be maintained for many years.

Published in 2012, Fairy Gardens: A Guide to Growing an Enchanted Miniature World by Betty Earl (B.B. Mackey Books) contains 103 colorful photographs along with information on building or buying accessories for these trendy fantasy gardens.

Press release issued 30 January 2013

Volunteers are being sought to help restore the garden of one of Clifton’s most distinguished mansions back to its former glory.

Clifton Hill House, steeped in history since it was completed in 1750, has been owned by the University of Bristol for more than 100 years.

Its restoration won a national award in 2004 and the University now wants the garden of the Palladian-style mansion to reflect its heritage and important place in the history of Clifton.

The resplendent house is one of the most important surviving examples of work by the architect Isaac Ware who designed it for Paul Fisher, a highly successful linen draper, merchant, and ship-owner in Bristol.

For the next century and a half, the gardens were enjoyed and altered by a series of eminent owners, until the property was donated to the University of Bristol in 1909 and Clifton Hill House opened as the first hall of residence for women in the South West.

Over 200 students now reside within the main house and in the more recent extensions, but the University wants to open up the gardens for all to see with guided tours taking place throughout the restoration project. It also hopes to unearth some interesting artefacts relating to the building’s history.

Plans for the garden’s design have been based on the 1746 ‘Survey of the Manor of Clifton’ – the first pictorial representation of Clifton drawn up by Jacob de Wilstar for the Society of Merchant Venturers. Building of Clifton Hill House began at this time.

At this point in history, Clifton was essentially a farming community but three wealthy merchant families – the Goldneys, Champions and Farrs – had moved to the cleaner air of Clifton-on-the-Hill following the growing idea of the time that the suburbs were preferable to, and more salubrious than, the bustling city.

The garden currently incorporates a number of the original trees, including tulip tress (Liriodendron tulipifera) and copper beeches (Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’) along with beds of beautiful heritage roses, a large collection of magnolias and interesting herbaceous plantings.

Also present are two old stone banqueting houses, one of which stands as a ruin. These predate the house itself. Serving as a reminder of the estate’s more recent history, there remains a WWII air-raid bunker, built into a sloping bank near the house.

Alan Stealey, External Estates Manager at the University of Bristol, said: “Clifton Hill House is a wonderful building, rich with character and heritage, so we aim to create a garden to compliment this and reflect its fascinating history. We hope to attract plenty of volunteers over the winter, ready to start work on this exciting project in March. There will be a variety of opportunities, ranging from horticulture and landscaping, to administration and working to promote our project to the local community.

“The project will initially focus on the horticultural aspects of the garden design, but there may be opportunities to work with stonemasons and restoration experts as we renovate the historic outbuildings. We’re intrigued to see what artefacts are uncovered when we begin to dig, so would welcome help from those interested in archaeology or local history.”

The University is looking for volunteers with different levels of experience, who will be guided by an experienced team to work on a wide variety of tasks.

Further information is available from www.universityheritagevolunteering.org.uk. If you are interested in volunteering or finding out more, please contact Louise.Hopkins@bristol.ac.uk.

The University Heritage Volunteering project has been part-funded from various sources, including the hall, but on-going fundraising activities will need to be investigated and, if successful, there are plans to roll the project out to include other historic gardens owned by the University.

The Fort Lauderdale Garden Club Inc. (FLGC) will present its annual “Secret Garden Tour of Fort Lauderdale” on Feb. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Guests are invited to tour themed gardens and peek into homes in exclusive Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods. Gardens include lovely entryways, rare citrus, vegetables, roses and vistas. One stop on the tour includes the largest waterfront property in Broward County and other homes with inspiring fountains and sculptures. The flower garden at one of the properties will feature the FLGC’s “Garden Shoppe” with a variety of vendors displaying plants and gifts.

FLGC was founded in 1927 shortly after the 1926 Miami hurricane that plowed through South Florida, including the Fort Lauderdale area. Since then, the club has participated in projects to benefit the city, such as planting the Royal Palms along Las Olas Boulevard, which they began in the early years after the club was formed. Another project includes the club’s Youth Gardening Program, one of their most successful programs, which will feature a youth flower show, “Incredible Edibles” on March 12 and 13. Through these events students are awarded camperships, which provides an opportunity to attend Camp Wekiva, a week-long ecological/nature-based camp near Orlando. FLGC also provides scholarships for students to attend SEEK (Save the Earth’s Environment through Knowledge), a conference for students entering high school grades. The 2013 Youth Gardening Program is ongoing in 11 public and private Broward County schools, from pre-school to high school.

The club will also present their annual free and public Standard Flower Show, “Dancing in the Garden,” on April 5 and 6 at the garden center. Also, in time for Valentine’s Day the club will host “Fun with Flowers” on Feb. 9. Monthly meetings take place at the Glenn F. Bates Garden Center of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park at 10 a.m. on the second Friday of every month.

Members of the club maintain the rose garden at the Stranahan House, the sensory garden at the Lighthouse for the Blind and a blue star memorial marker on seventeenth street honoring veterans; they also participate in Habitat for Humanity landscaping, prison therapy and World Gardening.

Sponsors of this year’s “Secret Garden Tour” include: UBS, Meiners Foss Catania Group; Sentry Industries; and State Farm, Ted Hess Agency.

Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of the tour, if available, and can be purchased online or by sending a check to FLGC, PO Box, 4114, Fort Lauderdale, 33338. Tour entry packets can be picked up the day of the event by bringing a receipt or ticket to the reception area in the parking lot of Church by the Sea at 2700 Mayan Drive. The last entry to the garden is 2:30 p.m. and packets need to be picked up before 12:30 p.m.

Guests are responsible for their own transportation, and carpooling is encouraged. There will be trolley access to one of the gardens and because it is a walking tour, comfortable clothes and shoes are recommended and not all areas will be accessible to wheelchairs. Club members will greet guests at the entries, serving cookies and lemonade, ready to discuss plants and garden design.

Funds raised from ticket sales support the programs for children and adults, in an effort to inspire participation in nature.

For more information about the club and their events, visit http://www.flgc.org. •

Realtors know that a great first impression can mean the difference between a quick sale and a house languishing on the market for months. That’s why improving curb appeal — that all-important first glance at a home — is crucial in a competitive housing market.

Most homeowners will take care of the basics, like mowing the lawn, weeding the garden and clearing junk from the yard. But if you really want to wow potential buyers, here are some often-overlooked aspects of curb appeal that can make or break a sale.

A New Front Door

For potential buyers, the first stop on the tour of your home is waiting to be let in at the front door. In order to make a great first impression, replace an aging door with an affordable new steel door. A recent study found that you can recoup up to 102 percent of the cost of a new steel door, which means that this home improvement will likely pay for itself. In addition to looking better, a new, solid door conveys a sense of security, a huge selling point for most buyers.

A Fresh Coat of Paint

Replacing chipped and faded exterior paint with a fresh coat is pretty standard for sellers looking to move their homes in a competitive market. However, the mistake many make is choosing the wrong colors. Those bright, playful hues that catch your eye might turn off some buyers. This isn’t the time to showcase your personality. Selling a home should be all about the buyer. By choosing more muted tones, potential buyers can better imagine themselves settling in and making it their own.

This isn’t the time to showcase your personality. Selling a home should be all about the buyer.

– Adam Verwymeren

If you’ve got siding rather than paint, you can still beautify your home with a good scrubbing. Rent a power washer to strip off years of grime, which can send a signal of neglect to potential buyers.  

Low-Maintenance Landscaping  

Weeding and replacing dead plants in the garden should be one of your first steps to improve curb appeal. However, while dressing up a garden can make it look good, you can also go too far. Ornate, high-maintenance gardens can frighten away those looking for low-key landscaping. A yard crowded with flowers can also turn off homeowners who would rather use the space for entertaining friends or playing with their kids. So keep the flower beds contained, trim back the rose bushes, and make the yard look spacious.  

Your Messy Neighbors

It’s an unfortunate truth, but messy neighbors could be scaring away potential purchasers. No one wants to live next to slobs, so if the houses around you look pretty rough, it can cause buyers to steer clear of your place. While it can be a little tricky to get your neighbors to clean up their acts, a little diplomacy, and perhaps a modest bribe of freshly baked cookies, could get them to help you out. Explain your situation and offer to lend a hand. An afternoon helping your neighbor pick up trash and mow the lawn could make all the difference for you.

Brighten Things Up

Many potential buyers might come by in the evening hours, and a home with poor exterior lighting can really turn people off. To start, make sure you’ve replaced any burnt-out bulbs. To take things a step further, add new fixtures along walkways and by the front door to make the walk up seem more inviting. Finally, replace harsh flood lights with softer lighting options. While you want to give people a good look at your home, you don’t want your yard to feel like a prison yard.