Kaine Agary
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Everyone these days wants to be socially responsible towards our environment and do their part to avoid the day when a big hole in the ozone layer will open up and suck us all out of the Earth, or El Nino will cause a flood akin to Biblical times. We recycle, consume less energy, buy environmentally friendly cars, etc.

Just before the last Presidential Elections in the United States of America, the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, endorsed candidate Barack Obama. Bloomberg, who had reserved his endorsement of either candidate, finally gave his nod of approval to Obama, just days before the elections, as New York City sat beaten and bruised in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

With gas flaring alone, Nigeria’s carbon footprint is quite large. But an urban centre like Lagos also contributes its fair share, and it seems that the state is aware of this and in its small way has jumped on the Green wagon.

One of the ways that the state is “going Green” is by The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency Law. The law, which came into effect on August 24, 2011, is a law to “Establish the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency and for Connected Purposes.”

The functions of the Parks and Gardens Agency are as follows: “Administer, maintain and manage all designated parks and gardens in the state; charge appropriate fees for the use of facilities provided where necessary in the state parks and gardens; carry out the general directives and policies of the government in respect of the development, maintenance and management of parks, recreation centres, gardens, playing grounds and open spaces in the state; grant permits on the payment of the prescribed fees to any club, association or similar body or to any person, for the purpose of holding galas, competitions, tournaments and similar events exclusively in any of the open spaces in the parks or gardens managed by the agency; regulate the hours of use of the open spaces in the state parks or gardens by members of the public; provide and maintain adequate security and environmental sanitation facilities for the state parks, gardens, open spaces and recreation centres; promote afforestation in all ramifications in the state; enumerate and tag all trees within the state inclusive of those in private tenements; monitor and supervise trimmings and felling of trees within the state; advise on all matters relating to the greening programme of the state; cause funds for the maintenance of parks and gardens; and carry out such other assignment as may from time to time be directed by the governor.”

These are very ambitious functions, particularly the function to enumerate and tag all trees within the state, inclusive of those in private tenements. The agency has many powers, including the power to solicit for and accept donations in cash or kind towards the realisation of its objectives. They will need this power because the agency has been burdened with many resource-intensive functions that will probably not be top of the state budgeting priority list.

The agency also has the power (with the approval of the State Executive Council) to borrow money, as necessary, to perform its functions.

The law provides for the designation of state parks and gardens in Section 18, which states: “(1) Any area of outstanding natural beauty, long distance route, open air recreational facility within the state may be designated as a community park/garden, district park/garden, regional park/garden or conservation area by the governor from time to time, subject to a resolution of the House of Assembly.

“(2) Without prejudice to the provision of subsection (1) above, a Local Government or Local Council Development Area may, subject to the approval of the governor, designate an area within its control as community parks/garden.

“(3) This Law shall apply to any area designated in accordance with subsection (1) above and the Agency shall have the power to administer such area as a State Park or State Garden.

Section 19 covers the landscaping of tenements: “As from the commencement of this Law, all tenement owners and occupiers shall landscape and beautify the perimeter areas of their properties, the neglect, failure and refusal of which shall warrant the penalty of N250,000 or such sums as the state shall incur in doing same on behalf of the tenement, or six (6) months imprisonment or other non-custodial sentence.”  The law says landscaping “means but not restricted to beautify (land, property, etc.) by modifying or enhancing the natural scenery, which include planning and planting of gardens and grounds, especially so as to produce picturesque and harmonious effect.”

From the commencement of the Law, July 14 of every year is the state’s Tree Planting Day.  The agency will mark the day with a programme and give out plants (including medicinal plants, orchids and ferns) to every participant of the programme to plant and nurture at home.

The offences under the law include the expected littering; unhygienic use of fountains, pools or water in the parks, gardens and open spaces; walking on lawns instead of designated walkways; and spitting, urinating or defecating in any area of the parks, gardens or open spaces.

Also included in the list of offences is the “felling or trimming trees in the state without obtaining the required permit from the Agency.” The offences carry a penalty on conviction of “N50,000 or one year imprisonment or other custodial sentence or to such fine and imprisonment or other non-custodial sentence.”

Really, Lagos State? Must everything be legislated to this extent?

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By Alex Branch

abranch@star-telegram.com

EDGECLIFF VILLAGE — Mary Matl was hesitant to approach fellow members of the Edgecliff Village Garden Club with her idea during a budget planning meeting.

After all, a $1,400 project is a big deal to a group of 28 gardeners.

But the plan to buy and dedicate a Blue Star Memorial Marker to honor U.S. servicemen and women seemed worthy.

“I didn’t know if anyone would think it was just too much money for our little group,” Matl said. “It turned out they were all thrilled.”

So began an effort that culminated last month with a stirring dedication in a neatly landscaped garden. The project not only honored veterans, but also continued a long but somewhat unknown tradition started almost 70 years ago by a national coalition of garden clubs.

In fact, the Blue Star Memorial Program was fading in the 1970s until Mary Louise Michie of Fort Worth reinvigorated the effort. Michie, a longtime garden club member whose father served in the military, found that few people knew the story behind the markers, which were designed right after World War II.

“We had this magnificent program and no one seemed to know about it anymore,” said Michie, 99. “It was too important to just let it die.”

Garden club members launched a campaign and new markers began appearing again along highways and in parks and gardens. Today, there are more than 2,400 markers, garden club officials say. Texas cities including Edgecliff Village, Beaumont, Giddings, Monahans and Golden have them.

The dedication in Edgecliff Village drew about 200 people. In the crowd were some military veterans, including a few who were unfamiliar to residents in the small town in south Fort Worth.

But they seemed moved by the memorial, Matl said.

“A few of them had come alone and asked us to take their pictures next to it,” Matl said. “It was really nice.”

Big and beautiful

Matl was unfamiliar with the memorial markers until she was traveling through Virginia with relatives and noticed one. So she looked into the history.

As the end of World War II approached, the National Council of Garden Clubs (now called the National Garden Clubs) was looking for a way to honor military personnel, according to the organization. A New Jersey club created a “living memorial” by planting several thousand flowering dogwood trees along several miles of highway. The blue star refers to the stars on flags that hung in windows of families of service members during the war.

In 1946, the club adopted the Blue Star Memorial Highway Program, which it imagined as “a ribbon of living memorial plantings traversing every state,” according to the National Garden Clubs. The memorial marker was designed the next year.

“It’s a big, beautiful marker,” said Gail Wilson, chairwoman of the Blue Star Memorial Project in Texas. “With the planting and landscaping around it, it really becomes a wonderful tribute to our veterans.”

A few years later, the organization expanded the meaning of the marker from those who served in World War II to all “men and women, who had served, were serving or would serve” in the military.

But over time, the rate of new markers slowed, said Jimmie Meinhardt, the national club’s Blue Star Memorial adviser for years. Michie, who became the national club president in 1979, asked her to serve as the adviser.

“I just remember it was this lady from Texas who said ‘No way, we can’t let this program go,'” said Meinhardt, 84, of St. Louis. “I started setting up exhibit tables and explaining to anyone who would listen what the Blue Star program meant.”

Stirring dedication

A trip to the National World War II museum in New Orleans prompted Matl to take the idea for the marker to the garden club.

Through the next year, members held spaghetti dinners, cakewalks and garage sales to raise money. They also planted a garden for the memorial.

Garden clubs raise money for the markers in different ways, said Kathi Sivess, office manager for the Texas Garden Club in Fort Worth. Some seek fundraising help from Veterans of Foreign War posts and other veteran organizations.

The markers are about 5 feet by 4 feet, Wilson said.

The dedication was Nov. 12 at the Edgecliff Village Bird Sanctuary Park.

Club President Sheri Joblin’s family does civil war re-enactments and lent cannons that were fired during the ceremony. The City Council adjusted an ordinance to allow for it.

Councilman Cy Conley, a Vietnam Navy veteran, said he appreciated the club’s gesture. Other than one trip a few years ago to see the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, he had not participated in any sort of memorial ceremony since the war, he said.

Several other Vietnam veterans also attended.

“For this really nice thing to be done in a little town like Edgecliff Village was special for us,” Conley said. “We enjoyed it.'”

Wilson, the Blue Star project chairwoman in Texas, said she hopes more garden clubs will dedicate a marker.

“Some people still don’t know about it, even garden clubs,” Wilson said.

“It’s a wonderful legacy.”

Alex Branch, 817-390-7689

Twitter: @albranch1

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With the end of the year approaching, many of us won’t be doing much in the way of active gardening. The cooler weather makes winter a great time to do big jobs in the yard. Repair or install drip systems, replace old mulch with fresh (this helps eliminate over-wintering insect pests), and build raised beds for your veggies or rock gardens for your ornamental and landscaping vegetation. Replace your water hungry lawn with something that requires little or no water and no mowing! In general, do that those tasks that aren’t so much fun when the temperatures are in the 100°F range. And don’t forget to water your trees and shrubs if we go for several weeks without adequate rain.

We’ll very likely be getting frosts and freezes from now through as late as April or May, so be ready to protect cold sensitive plants, not to mention exposed water pipes, on those nights when the temperatures are forecast to be near or below freezing. There’s a good publication on our web site that explains just how to protect tender plants. It’s entitled Frost Protection and you can find it here: http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1002.pdf.

Toward the end of this month and into the first months of the new year, bare-root roses and bare-root fruit trees will be widely available in nurseries, so if roses or fruit trees are something you’ve got a hankering for, keep your eyes open and your shovel handy. When planting bare-root plants, soak the roots of the plant in water for a few hours (no longer than a day or two) prior to planting. Dig a hole two or three times larger than the root ball, but no deeper. Cut off damaged roots and gingerly untangle and spread out the remaining roots. Place the plant in the hole and refill with the native soil you just removed. Water well to eliminate air pockets and do not compact the soil by tamping with your feet. Don’t amend the soil or add fertilizer for the first year, although it is a good idea to remove stones and rocks. Do not plant a tree or shrub deeper than its roots require. Planting too deeply exposes the bark of the trunk to rot. If the plant is grafted, as most roses and fruit trees are, plant so that the bud graft union is two or three inches above the soil line. Keep the soil moist but don’t over water as water needs are slight while the plant is dormant. 

As the Holiday season nears, living Christmas trees will be for sale in nurseries. If you buy one and want to plant it, look for a tree that is adapted to our climate. Pine trees that will do well here include the Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis), the Afghan Pine (Pinus elderica), and the Italian Stone Pine (Pinus pinea). Both the Aleppo and Afghan pine are fast growing. The slower growing Italian Stone Pine is the variety from which pine nuts (seeds, really), popular in Italian cooking, are obtained, so this tree does double duty. Be patient, though, it can take ten or more years to yield the pine cones from which the tasty nuts are obtained. When planting a living Christmas tree, just remove the tree from its pot and place it in a hole that is two or three times the diameter of the pot, then refill the hole with unimproved native soil as above for bare root trees. Again, don’t plant too deeply. Maintain the same soil level that the tree had in its pot. 

Remember that the 20th annual High Desert Gardening and Landscaping Conference will be held on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 14 and 15, 2013, at the Windemere Hotel and Conference Center here in Sierra Vista. The registration form, scholarship form, Conference program, and other details are now available on our website at: http://ag.arizona.edu/cochise/mg/HighDesertConf/ConfHomePage.html. There will be a wide range of speakers and topics including hydroponics, food preservation (home canning), an in-depth look at conventional, organic, and GM (Genetically Modified) agriculture, useful garden remedies, a three part beginning vegetable gardening series, tree selection and care and garden photography. 

Among the Conference speakers are some local “celebrities”, including Vincent Pinto of Ravens-Way in Patagonia. Vincent will talk about ethnobotany and sustainable landscaping for wildlife. Kief Joshua Manning of Kief-Joshua Vineyards near Elgin will address grape growing and wine making. Attendance at the Conference would make a nice Christmas gift or Valentine’s Day surprise (after all, it is on February 14th) for the special gardener(s) in your life. Register soon as seating is limited.

The Cochise County Master Gardener website (http://ag.arizona.edu/cochise/mg/) is a good gardening resource. You can also read our monthly newsletter there or ask a Master Gardener a question via the online link (if you aren’t a fan of the Internet, call 520 458-8278, X 2176). We’re also at the Sierra Vista Farmers Market the first Saturday of each month.

Happy Holidays and happy gardening!

BILL SCHULZ is a Cochise County Master Gardener who can be reached at billwithccmga@gmail.com.

If you find a correction for this story, please contact our editorial department

SUBMITTED
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Let your young Wheat King fan spend the winter building this spiffy model.

The use of cacti and succulents in our outdoor gardens has become a common practice; more and more gardeners have fallen in love with these unique plants, which can add so much interest to the landscape.

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This cactus produced exotic white blooms off and on again all summer. (ALBERT PARSONS/BRANDON SUN)

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Many succulents, such as this echeveria, can be overwintered indoors, (ALBERT PARSONS/BRANDON SUN)

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Planting several cacti and succulents into a dish garden saves windowsill space. (ALBERT PARSONS/BRANDON SUN)

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Although most cacti do not bloom this time of year, many do retain their attractive, colourful fruits well into the winter. (ALBERT PARSONS/BRANDON SUN)

Many people also grow cacti and succulents in their indoor gardens with the plants we move from the outdoors inside for the winter.

Over the years I have collected quite a few cacti and although I do not often put them outdoors for the summer, I do enjoy their unique beauty in the sunroom during the summer when they are virtually the only plants located in that space.

During the late spring and summer, many of my cacti will put forth bloom, and although the blooms are fleeting, they are exquisite.

This July, I was indeed lucky that one of my cacti produced a wonderful pink blossom — which lasted only two days — the very day of our local fair. Without any trouble it won a prize — although I am sure many visitors to the fair the second day, when the bloom had collapsed, wondered why the plant received a prize! (Luckily, the judging is done at the beginning of the fair, not on the second day.)

Cacti begin to bloom as the day length increases and the temperatures warm up in the spring. During the winter, however, the only cactus that I expect to bloom will be my Christmas cactus, which sets bud in response to a shortening of day length and cooler temperatures.

Most cacti go into a semi-dormant state during the winter, particularly if they are kept in a cool environment similar to my sunroom. Care of cacti during this time requires some special attention.

Firstly, it is important to realize that most of the plants will not be in active growth mode during this time so they require few nutrients or water. Never fertilize cacti during the winter.

Reduce the amount of water that the plants receive, just giving them enough so that they do not become desiccated. Of course, cacti have the ability to store water in their fleshy tissues, so they can endure prolonged periods without water at the best of times.

Not being watered for long periods of time during the winter will be no hardship as the plants will be using very little water in their semi-dormant state. I generally only water my cacti every month or so during the wintertime.

I also keep them quite cool by positioning them on windowsills in the sunroom where temperatures, while always above the freezing mark, are quite cool, especially on cold winter nights. Most of the cacti that we grow indoors will not survive sub-zero temperatures.

Any cacti that have been brought indoors after having been used in the outdoor garden are best potted into pots that are not overly large, since cacti do not perform well when they are over-potted.

If window space is at a premium, several smaller specimens can be combined and planted into a dish garden, which will take up less space than if all the plants were individually potted.

Cacti always should be planted in a very porous soil mix that contains course sand or fine gravel, with little peat in the mix. If cacti are potted in heavy clay soil that holds too much water and does not drain properly, the plants might very well rot during the winter when exposed to cool temperatures, particularly if they are given too much water.

Cacti are generally not subject to pest problems, so you do not have to be on guard for insect infestations. The plants may become dusty over time and it is a good idea to remove any accumulated dust, not only to keep the plants healthy, but also to keep them looking their best.

I simply bring a potted cactus close to my face and blow as mightily as I can on the top of the plant. A more dignified method might be to put your vacuum on the “blow” mode and use it instead of your lungs!

Caring for your cacti collection will give you some gardening pleasure during the winter months and will ensure that your cacti come through the winter in fine shape.

They will then be in good condition to provide enjoyment next summer, whether indoors on a windowill or in your outdoor garden.

Albert Parsons is a consultant for garden design and landscaping who lives in Minnedosa.

» communitynews@brandonsun.com

Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition November 29, 2012

The big red firetruck usually captures all the attention at Fire Station 16, but lately residents in this Central Austin neighborhood have noticed the firehouse’s lovely gardens, bursting with robust flowers and greenery.

Spiky rosemary stands waist high, and zealous passionflower vines encircle the stop sign. Colorful retro lawn chairs look inviting under a shade tree, and dotted along the sidewalk are vibrant sage, little yellow daisies and yaupon holly with red berries, among others.

“It’s a little oasis in the neighborhood,” says Elaine Dill, who along with other volunteers and firefighters helped to revitalize the triangular patch of land in the Crestview neighborhood. “It’s beautiful out here, isn’t it?”

The fire station has been located at this odd-shaped piece of land, bordered by Grover Avenue, Reese Lane and Cullen Avenue, since 1957, according to the Austin Fire Museum. Some firefighters refer to it as “the fishbowl,” because they can be seen from all sides.

“This was just a blank slate,” says Emily Wilson, who lives nearby and spearheaded the effort. Although the lawn was kept mowed, the landscaping was uninspired, and Bermuda grass had infiltrated, she says. “I realized that this place could use some TLC.”

She turned for help to neighborhood gardeners, such as Dill and Cheryl Goveia, who along with Wilson, are also an active force in sprucing up nearby Brentwood Park.

Goveia, a landscape design consultant, drew up a plan that called for themed areas using native and adapted plants. An area near the flagpole is planted with patriotic colors: red roses, white lantana, blue plumbago.

With input from firefighters, Goveia had multiple goals for the gardens, such as growing food, attracting pollinators, serving as a demonstration garden and spiffing up the place.

“I wanted it to be so outrageously quaint,” she says, “and fit the neighborhood.”

Starting in 2010, during a series of garden workdays that drew a variety of helpers, volunteers pulled weeds, trimmed, planted and mulched – all with the aid of some firefighters, says Wilson.

“We’re gardeners, and we appreciate good physical work,” says Wilson, 45, “but there’s nothing like having three firefighters show up.”

Fire specialist/driver Scott Van Horn, who has worked at the station for 21 years, collaborated on the project early on, taking part in workdays, helping with maintenance and doing other jobs when needed.

“I would go get dirt somewhere. Stuff like that,” he says.

In an area called the Firehouse Farm, they have grown okra and tomatoes, among other edibles. Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi and strawberry plants have recently been put into the raised beds. An herb garden has provided an abundance of basil, which some of the gardeners have used to make batches of pesto.

Getting rid of the Bermuda grass proved to be a huge job, requiring much patience as the ground was covered with plastic to kill it off – although some of the persistent grass has grown back.

The project gained help from many sources – with donations of money, time and materials. The gardeners made numerous trips to a cemetery to get free rocks to line the area between the sidewalk and the curbs. They raised about $100 for plants by setting up a table at the neighborhood grocery store and asking shoppers to donate their change, Wilson says.

A nearby arborist trimmed trees, and the nonprofit organization TreeFolks contributed nine trees, Wilson says.

“The firemen kept them alive and watered them, which was critical because we went through that drought,” Wilson says.

Firefighter Kacy Mustain, says colleagues at other stations have made favorable remarks that Fire Station 16 isn’t “a concrete jungle.”

“It’s nice driving up and seeing that,” says Lt. Bryan Kohler. “You don’t want to stand out for the wrong reasons.”

The fire station grounds also have become a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat, which requires the provision of water, food, cover and a place to raise wildlife young. To provide water, they created a birdbath from an old wok placed in a gnarled log on the ground.

“It’s like an art form,” Wilson says. “I think it looks dang attractive.”

Wilson also helped to acquire a grant from the City of Austin’s Neighborhood Partnering Program, which bought a composter as well as the fire-engine red and yellow chairs out front. Those replaced some rusted lawn furniture that “just needed to be put out at large trash day,” Wilson says.

Such community support is welcome, says Michelle DeCrane, spokeswoman for the Austin Fire Department. “The fire station is part of the neighborhood and part of the community, so we really encourage involvement,” she says.

Tweaking the plan as needed, the gardeners have put the last of the project in place, with firefighters watering and maintaining the gardens.

One side of the lot, facing Grover Avenue, with parking spaces, a ramp and a row of garbage cans, did not lend itself to much landscaping. Still, Wilson sees the chance for a possible new endeavor, such as a mural.

“It’s an opportunity for a project,” she says.

The worksheet is two full pages of questions – about likes and dislikes, pets, dining habits and entertaining style, favorite seasons and vacation spots. There’s even this one: “Do you have any personality quirks we should know about?”

Sounds like an online dating service laying the groundwork for a possible relationship. And, in a very real sense, that’s true. This is about ground work – the making, and long-term maintenance, of a garden, something many of us spend less time thinking about than what to serve at a holiday dinner.

Craig Rybinski, owner of Creative Garden Solutions in Avondale, Chester County, uses the worksheet to learn about prospective clients so he can design a garden tailored to their tastes, habits, and lifestyle. He also uses it to let them know that hiring a professional gardener needs to be a thoughtful decision, not the horticultural equivalent of a one-night stand.

“It’s not about we show up on Tuesday, we’re done on Thursday, and have a nice life,” says Rybinski, a master gardener with a landscape architecture degree from Pennsylvania State University and a landscape design/horticulture degree from Temple University Ambler, who still has clients he started with in 1982.

“A good garden requires maintenance over time . . . and it’s really important that you have a relationship with your gardener. It makes all the difference in the world,” he says.

Important as it is, hiring a garden professional can be bewildering.

There are the “mow, blow, and go” guys. Also known as “lawn jockeys” and “grasshoppers,” they’re the least specialized and, because of the economy, more numerous and visible than ever. Armed with truck, lawn mower, and tools, they handle the basics.

Then there are people who have studied horticulture or ornamental design, maybe had some experience at a plant nursery, working in the field as landscapers, garden designers, and landscape designers. (Landscape architects, on the other hand, are registered and state-regulated, but a home garden rarely requires their expertise.)

To add to the confusion, there are folks out there with little training or education who also call themselves designers and landscapers.

What’s a homeowner to do?

In a word: homework.

Horticultural educator Rick Ray believes we need to take responsibility and educate ourselves so we can make intelligent choices about whom to hire and what to plant.

“If the homeowner doesn’t know his ash from his elbow, he’s lost. It’s like telling someone who knows nothing about brain surgery, ‘Sure, go ahead and do my craniotomy,’ ” says Ray, who taught at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown and Temple Ambler for many years and has been doing the same at the Barnes Foundation Arboretum School in Merion since 1986.

He suggests “getting at least a basic foundation” by studying up on plants, taking classes or workshops at the region’s many arboretums and public gardens, and thinking about what we want our garden to be.

“There are so many factors to consider,” Ray says, not just what plants we like, but whether they’re suited to our property and region, what their mature size will be, what their soil, light, and drainage requirements are, and many other issues.

“Most people have no concept of these things . . . they don’t know which side of the sod to put up or down,” Ray says. “That’s why they hire someone.”

Linda Hosier definitely knows how to lay sod. She and her husband, John, put down a full acre of it after buying a three-story Victorian on two acres in Middletown Township in 1992. The original part of the house dates to 1747, and both house and grounds had long been neglected.

Hosier, a biology major in college and a longtime gardener, was faced with a “garden” of poison ivy, weeds, junk trees, brambles, and wisteria. “It was backbreaking,” she recalls.

So Hosier hired Bill Kirkpatrick of Kirkpatrick Nurseries in Glen Mills, whose work – and wife – she knew. “Bill was a known commodity,” she says.

In stages over the years, Hosier and Kirkpatrick, a graduate of Penn State’s ornamental horticulture program, have collaborated to redo the front, sides, and back of the property. They’ve installed native swamp maples along the 150-foot driveway, built and landscaped three berms out front to block the view of traffic, and added roses, viburnums, hollies, and other plantings.

The communication between the two has been frequent and productive. “Bill’s good at listening. We’ve stayed with him. It’s an ongoing relationship. Why mess with success?” Hosier says.

She likes how Kirkpatrick is often on site to supervise, and how he drops in to check on how things are growing. “The trees in front are prone to bagworms, and Bill actually stops by and pulls them off,” says Hosier, who couldn’t be happier with her garden professional.

As for that worksheet with the question about personality “quirks,” Rybinski reports that most prospective clients leave it blank. Some offer up things like “If I call you at 8 a.m., I want a response by 9.” Others insist, “I don’t have any quirks, but my spouse has plenty.”

And once in a while, pay dirt.

“I want privacy at the pool,” one client wrote. “I like to swim in the nude.”

“OK,” Rybinski says, “we need to know that.”

 

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Thinking About Your Garden

Elizabeth Alakszay, coordinator of the Chester County master gardeners, looks at planting or redoing a garden this way: “It’s no different than when you redo the kitchen or living room. Think of the thought you put into that.”

What better time to think about next year’s garden than over the fall and winter?

Here are some thoughts from the experts:

Stop and ask. If you see a landscape in the neighborhood you like, find out who did it. Ask friends who are good gardeners. Do not just pick someone from the phone book or online.

Think big picture and long-term. If you can afford it, look for someone to draw up a master plan that can be implemented in stages.

Check education, experience, credentials. Academic degrees aren’t the be-all and end-all, but they can make a big difference in outcome. “Cutting the grass is not ‘designing a garden,’ ” says Peter Landrum, who earned a degree in ornamental horticulture and environmental design at Delaware Valley College and owns Landrum Landscaping in Havertown.

Ask for references, then go see the landscapes. Nobody’s going to refer you to unhappy clients.

Ask for a written contract and a one-year guarantee on plants. Fortunately, this is pretty standard now. But how many contracts guarantee start and finish dates? “A lot of contractors won’t agree to a final date because they’re doing two to three jobs in addition to yours,” Alakszay says. “I’d weed them out.”

Also, include in the contract that you must approve changes in design, plant material, or cost.

Ask about insurance. Not just whether a contractor has a policy, but what it does and doesn’t cover – light tree work, for example, or fertilizer and pesticide applications. It’s a bit indelicate, but ask about criminal background checks on workers, too.

Insist on an itemized list of tasks and plants, rather than one big bottom line.

Make sure there’s an actual business address. Says Bill Kirkpatrick of Kirkpatrick Nurseries in Glen Mills: “Some of these guys don’t have one. Should you be suspicious? I would be.”

Once a plant list is drawn up, check them out on science-based academic websites such as Rutgers and Penn State Cooperative Extensions.

Be realistic about cost. “Gardening is not inexpensive – $40, $50, $60 is not unreasonable for a decent-size shrub, given what went into growing it,” Alakszay says. (And cheap job bids often result in cheap work.) Labor costs can run around $30 an hour or more.

Decide what level of maintenance you’re willing to assume and, if you can afford it, what you’ll want someone else to do. Understand that, as Landrum says, “there’s really no such thing as a low-maintenance landscape unless it’s all rocks.”

Heed these words from Craig Rybinski, the Chester County master gardener and garden designer: “The fact is, no matter how good I am, no matter how good the crew is, when we leave if there’s no plan for maintenance to some degree, everybody wasted their time.”

And factor into your maintenance budget the idea that not every professional does it all. You may need an arborist for tree care, for example.

If all this sounds like a lot of work, it is. And even if you do it, there’s no guarantee of absolute success.

But if you’re smart about planning and hiring for your garden, you should be well-rewarded – at least for a few years.

Because once you’ve got things just the way you want them, the garden will change. And you’ll have to deal with it.

But this time around, if you’ve paid attention, you’ll at least know what you’re doing.

– Virginia A. Smith

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Contact Virginia A. Smith at 215-854-5720 or vsmith@phillynews.com.

Posted: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 12:00 pm

Niles wins award from EPA

By Alex V. Hernandez
Staff Reporter

Voyager Interactive, Inc.

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The Village of Niles was recognized by both the U.S. EPA and Chicago Wilderness with their 2012 Conservation and Native Landscaping Awards for the community’s efforts to create the Niles Community Rain Garden.

“Recognition such as this means two important things for this sustainable project,” said Assistant Village Manager Steven Vinezeano. “First and foremost, it is a big pat-on-the back for all those community volunteers and sponsors who believed in the project and its message. Second, it establishes the Niles Community Rain Garden as a legitimate and sound environmental/stormwater case study for all of us to learn from and enjoy.”

The Niles Community Rain Garden can trace its roots back to June of 2008 when the village, which has a history of flooding, partnered with Coca-Cola Bottling Company to work on the project.

Chicago Wilderness officials said the Conservation and Native Landscaping Awards recognize sites that are exemplary in the use of native landscaping, ecosystem restoration and protection, and/or conservation design. These practices create and protect habitat for a variety of native plant and animal species, and result in important environmental benefits for both people and nature.

Chicago Wilderness said the award was granted to Niles because the community’s “commitment to your site…[is] to be commended. Through this restoration project, you have enhanced and protected biodiverSity through native vegetation that provides important habitat for birds and butterflies. Your rain garden contributes to sustainable storm water management and is a valuable educational resource for the community.”

In May Coca-Cola, hosted an event at Culver School to show Niles residents how rain barrels can help save money and protect homes from flood damage. Additionally, experts at the event educated attendees on how to create a rain gardens in their yard. These rain gardens can reduce flooding in homes.

Vinezeano has helped lead efforts to create and develop the Niles Community Rain Garden on Touhy and a second rain garden is being planned on Culver School grounds.

“A rain barrel can reduce your water bill, let you water your garden and wash your car,” said Katie Busch, a Coca Cola spokesperson.

To learn more, visit www.vniles.com and a community open house Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the Niles Library District to review the Village of Niles “draft” Environmental Action Plan being developed in cooperation with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

ahernandez@buglenewspapers.com

© 2012 Voyager Interactive, Inc.. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012 12:00 pm.

green Uzbekistan

By
Agha Iqrar Haroon, eTN US Correspondent in Pakistan |
Nov 28, 2012

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (eTN) – Circumstances for my recent travel to Uzbekistan were not appropriate for me, because my doctors have advise me to keep away from any food that has animal fat and fried items for the next six months. This medical advisory, of course, stops me from taking pleasure in eating many of the exotic foods of Uzbekistan including Somsa (samosa we call it in Pakistan and India), Shish Kebab (Seekh Kabab of Indian and Pakistan), Uzbek plov cooked in animal fat, and Uzbek Non (bread) that has animal fat and milk as its basic ingredients.

My doctors have also stopped me from eating mutton and beef, and it is almost impossible for anyone to resist the exotic smells of Uzbek Plov and Shish Kebab of mutton and beef. I had no option but to just smell and not to eat. It was like a “Paradise of Addicts” where you can have hashish and heroin all around you, but you do not have a matchbox to light a cigarette to smoke.

Therefore, it was better to keep myself away from Bazaars (markets) where the exotic aroma of Uzbek food could make me crazy, and I decided to explore parks and gardens to smell flowers instead of food.

I have been traveling to Uzbekistan since 1997 when I was a consultant to the Ministry of Tourism in the government of Pakistan. I have seen all types of weather and all the colors of Uzbekistan. It is different and more beautiful in the autumn. This time my visit was to attend the Tashkent Tourism Festival that was scheduled on October 31, and I was booked for October 30 flights from Lahore to Tashkent. However, this flight was canceled, and I had two options – to take an October 27 flight to reach Tashkent or to take a November 2 flight that was, of course, useless for me, because the festival was ending on November 2, 2012.
Of course, I opted for the first option and reached Tashkent on October 27. Now I had 3 days to spend in Tashkent before Festival day. Consequently, I decided to explore some new dimensions of Tashkent as travel writer. I saw a lot of new private cars plying on the road, indicating a healthy economy.

I saw new buildings appearing in the central city, and I thought such social and financial expansion could harm the beautiful environments of this city if these changes are not supported by ecological balancing factors. I had enough time to walk in the streets and roads of Tashkent and decided to review the ecological changes of this city. I planned to visit parks again where I had been in the past to see how these beautiful parks are maintained and if they are still as beautiful as they were before or if pollution had started eating them out. There are many parks and open spaces in Tashkent, and parks in Tashkent are ideal places for relaxing in the autumn and summer.

Historically, Tashkent has been well-known for its gardens and green areas.
Russian ambassadors in Turkestan, Pospelov, and Burnashev reported in their diplomatic reports in the year 1800 as, “Looking at Tashkent, you will see a large garden, which is covering somewhere low buildings beside the city walls. The city is immersed in a sea of green thicket.”

All of these are overflowing with trees, shrubs, flowers, and a wide variety of wildlife. Green space in central Tashkent consists of eighteen large-scale parks, supplemented by a number of small garden squares scattered throughout the city center. It is estimated that every citizen has 68.4 square meters of green area.

In different times and epochs, travelers and poets from far wrote about the amazing beauty of the cities of Uzbekistan, the splendor of the gardens, and the wise residents caring for the surrounding environment. Historians rightly say that the people of Uzbekistan love greenery and trees, although the land and environments were not friendly to those working on plantations.

Uzbekistan falls in the category of extreme continental climate, with special care needed since ancient times to treat every green shoot, from generation to generation, making a good tradition to plant trees, gardens, shady avenues, and develop parks, creating a favorable environment.

I decided to meet someone who could give me an idea as to how the government is looking after the expansion of the city and balancing this expansion by protecting its environments. I found an old lady who was retired from a lead department responsible for the beautification and horticulture of Tashkent. My long discussions with her satisfied me that Tashkent will remain green and beautiful, because its authorities have environmental balance as their top priority. Her knowledge was very useful for me to writing such a piece of my travelogue targeting the ecological aspect of expanding Tashkent.

She told that since independence, the tradition was not only development, but balancing development with the development of more green areas. The era of the President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, can be considered an Era of Green Revolution in Uzbekistan. She was of the view that special instructions were released by President Karimov to expand green areas and improve the ecological situation in the country, especially in Tashkent. Along with the construction of large-scale buildings, special focus has been paid to landscaping, expansion of parks and gardens, and bringing the landscape in line with modern requirements is a wonderful attempt to make this city more beautiful.

In the year 1997, the gardens, parks, and green spaces were nine percent of the total area of Tashkent, and today this figure has risen more than two-and-a-half times, exceeding 23%. A few decades ago, such intensive gardening was impossible to imagine. Green spaces are now key elements of urban development, a factor of great importance showing respect for nature. Indeed, where there is greenery around you during hot summer days, you can always take refuge from the sun under the broad canopy of trees. Only in the last ten years in Tashkent, around 3,027 hectares of land were used to develop several new gardens, and green areas on 1,223 acres of asphalt were turned into flower beds and lawns for the townspeople. Each year around the streets and squares, 400-500 thousand new tree seedlings appear, along with 100-150 thousand shrubs, and up to 20 million colors. For landings, plant varieties are selected for their different flowering periods, so that nearly all year, Tashkent is surrounded by greenery and flowers.

Currently, in the green areas of the city, there are more than 220 species of trees and shrubs. In the parks and squares of the capital, exotic flora – oak, chestnut, linden, birch, tulip, cotton tree, Japanese safora, magnolia, pine, fir, juniper, felt linden platanoides maple, grandiflora, American ash, paper tree, ginkgo, boxwood, cypress and others – are widely represented. The state protects 28 of the most valuable and rarest plant species. I must say that many of them are well settled down in the city and have found the optimal conditions here for their development.

A botanical garden is spread over 66 acres, and 18 parks and gardens occupy 158.4 hectares. It is very popular among the citizens to enjoy the national park named after Alisher Navoi, Amir Temur Gafur Gulam, Ulugbek Abdullah Kadiri, Babur. I’d love to go back one day and visit the water park, “Tashkentlend,” and a Japanese garden – a park area around the complex “Marifat Markazi.” Only twenty years ago, for every person Tashkent, there were 21 square meters of green space, and that amount is now almost 69 square meters.

Another good sign in Tashkent was the many original flower beds along the streets and avenues with many colors that not only pleases the eye and enhances the mood, but also demonstrates the effectiveness of the maintenance in normal environmental conditions. Despite the fact that for 20 years the capital expansion has almost doubled, thanks to the introduction of environmental measures, polluting emissions on average per vehicle has decreased by 2.5 times, and emissions enterprises have declined over the past period by three times.

Uzbekistan has ratified the major UN conventions in the field of environmental protection and has fulfilled all its obligations. This work is an integral part of the complex socio-economic policies of the President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, conducted in the name of the rights and interests of the people, including the right to a decent life in a supportive environment. Successful implementation of policy reforms based on its own model of modernization, has created a solid foundation for the further development of social capital, including the active work on the beautification and landscaping of residential areas, squares, and parks.

It should be said that green spaces are not only creating an enabling environment for citizens, but are also having a positive effect on their health. For example, in Tashkent in recent years, the planting of trees, such as oak, chestnut, pine, spruce, birch, linden, Japanese safora, and cotton tree have been saturating the air with more oxygen. One hectare of greenery absorbs an average of eight liters per hour of carbon dioxide. Gas resistance species of trees – oak, elm, pine, spruce, willow, maple yasenelisty, aspen, chestnut, acacia, lilac, and birch – are now found in the landscape of Tashkent. In addition, trees are a filter for catching dust. One hectare of tree plantation reduces the concentration of harmful microorganisms in the air by 40-45 percent.

With its unique style, and combination of tradition and modernity, Tashkent is the largest economic hub in Central Asia, and according to the ranking compiled by research firm “Economist Intelligence Unit,” Tashkent has become one of the most comfortable cities in the world. It is noteworthy that Tashkent is the only city in Central Asia included on this list.

I left Tashkent for my travel to Samarkand with a hope that this beautiful city will remain green, and I will see it again next autumn just as beautiful as it was this year.

• 

Color – Houseplants add color and life to any room

“Herbs are the gateway to gardening,” says Eric Liskey. “They’re easy to grow in containers, gardens or even on a windowsill.”

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) November 14, 2012

Garden Media Group, the leading public relations agency for the lawn and garden and green industry, is digging deeper into four of our twelve trends for 2013: Lifestyle, Wellness, eCono and Color. These trends are influencing choices people are making in homes, gardens and landscapes.

“We’ve identified twelve forces of nature in emerging garden and green living trends that help you find bliss in the garden through the benefits of plants,” says Susan McCoy, president of Garden Media.”

Here is a sampling of what Susan McCoy and her team of trend spotters forecast for 2013-14:

1. Lifestyle Forces. New “home pioneers” are changing the face of suburbia with easier access to services, community events and connectivity. The trend is moving towards an increase in the overall sustainable lifestyle.

Foraging is becoming a lifestyle choice and a restaurant movement driven by the desire to know where our food comes from. Foodies will find low-maintenance, small fruit shrubs and herbs offer easy pickins’ and a foraging experience right in the backyard or from a patio container.

Eric Liskey, Deputy Garden Editor of Better Homes and Gardens adds, “New plants give gardeners options to grow a picnic in a pot.”

BrazelBerries™ Collection of new edible ornamental berry shrubs is breaking new ground for growing beautiful shrubs that produce delicious berries. Two blueberries and the first-ever thornless, dwarf raspberry shrub are all new for 2013 from Fall Creek® Farm Nursery.

“Our new BrazelBerries™ Collection is changing the way people think about berry bushes. These new varieties are first and foremost beautiful landscape shrubs. They are simple to grow and produce an abundance of delicious berries for home landscapes or containers,” explains Amelie Brazelton Aust, new products manager for Fall Creek® Farm Nursery.

2. Wellness. According to the international research group TrendWatching, health and wellness are the #1 reasons people select the products they buy, and herbs are topping the list in the edibles category.

According to the 2012 GWA Summer Garden Trends Survey, backyard vegetable gardening has dropped from 43% to 38% since last year, but people are continuing to grow herbs. The popular blog Garden Rant predicts herbs will be “the next hot edibles”.

“Herbs are the gateway to gardening,” says Liskey. “They’re easy to grow in containers, gardens or even on a windowsill.”

An uptick in demand for medicinal herbs supports this wellness trend, according to herb expert and farmer Briscoe White of The Growers Exchange. “We’ve seen an increase in the usage of bergamot, chamomile and comfrey as well as other more unusual culinary herbs.”

3. eCono Forces. According to Dr. Charlie Hall, economist and professor of horticulture at Texas AM, plants have a positive economic impact on increasing tourism, retail spending, and hotel occupancy rates. “In the next year, home improvement sales are projected to rise 4% which has a positive effect on landscaping.”

McCoy says that people who are either first-time buyers or want to sell their homes understand that beautiful landscapes increase property values and home sales. “Curb appeal is your home’s calling card. Experts from the Association of Professional Landscape Designers APLD create memorable gardens and landscapes for positive lasting impressions.”

4. Color Forces. From bright metallic, energizing blues and shades of green, colors mimic nature and evoke positive emotions. Pantone’s palette for 2013 forecasts a wide range of bright cheerful colors with ‘greens’ acting as a neutral color in everything from fashion to home décor.

Costa Farms offers indoor houseplants like orchids, ferns and peace lilies that come container ready in trendy runway colors that accentuate any home décor. “Containers and accessories in fashionable colors, coupled with neutral browns and grays, lend an upbeat, hip look indoors and out,” says McCoy.

Stay tuned for the next four trends to watch in our Garden Trends Report Part 2, and visit http://www.gardenmediagroup.com to download the free 2013-14 Trends Report.

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Hetrick Gardens is now on Lower Pottsgrove’s list of companies that dispose of yard waste

POTTSTOWN PA – Add Hetrick Gardens, the landscaping and garden supply company at 2620 Swamp Pike, to the short list of places that will accept leaf and yard waste from residents of Lower Pottsgrove Township. Also on the list: Arborganic Acres in Pottstown and, to a limited extent, the township’s municipal trash hauler, J.P. Mascaro and Sons of Audubon.

The township website reported Monday (Nov. 26, 2012) that principal Matt Hetrick has agreed to offer his firm’s services to help township property owners dispose of leaves, branches and other yard waste items. Drop-off-only services are provided. Hetrick will charge, per car load, $10 for leaf waste and $20 for yard waste; per pick-up truck load, $20 and $40, respectively; and per dump truck load, $40 and $60.

Hetrick Gardens will be open Saturdays during December (2012) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to accept drop-offs. Following months will be by appointment only. Call 484-686-6293 for more information.

Also at Arborganic Acres

The township also has a residential yard waste disposal arrangement with Arborganic Acres, 901 Cherry Hill Ln. It is accepting wood chips, brush, leaves and clean fill or topsoil of up to 10 cubic yards (roughly the contents of a medium-sized truck) for free, according to its website. However, materials must be separated; those bringing mixed loads will be charged a sorting fee.

Arborganic’s fees for accepting loads of logs varies from $35 to $70, and for tree stumps from $30 to $80, both depending on the cubic footage of the load. Commercial yard waste also will be accepted, but in those instances only wood chips and clean fill are free; all other commercial tipping is at a cost.

Arborganic is open year-round, Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment. For more information, call 484-524-8850.

And, in certain months, by J.P. Mascaro

Hauler J.P. Mascaro, as part of its trash contract with Lower Pottsgrove, collects yard waste from township properties six times a year, only on the first Mondays of April, May, June, October, November and December. The last opportunity for pick-up during 2012 is Monday (Dec. 3). The service is paid for under twice yearly garbage fees collected by the township.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

Leaf and yard waste to be picked up by Mascaro must be placed in brown kraft paper bags purchased at the township municipal or from other local retailers, and placed at curbside on collection day but separated from other trash. Property owners with 10 or more bags for pick up are asked to give Lower Pottsgrove advance notice by calling 610-323-0436 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Grass clippings are not accepted as disposable yard waste, and should be composted, according to the township.

Photo from Google Images