This past weekend, I was in on an ATV ride, raising money for the Holmes Foundation. I got to be outside, do something fun, be with friends and support skilled trades training — some of my favourite things all in one. It was awesome.

It also reminded me of how terrain can maintain and manage the environment. On the ATV ride, we had a trail. The way the rainwater flowed made some parts dry and others a mess.

Depending on how the trees and plant life grew, we got shade in some spots and sunlight in others. This got me thinking about the terrain around our homes.

I’m not a landscaper but I care about landscaping. Why? Because landscaping affects a home.

Most people think landscaping is a way to feature the house — increase its curb appeal.

But more than just eye candy, landscaping around a house serves a purpose. It has a function. And it’s up to you to decide what that function is.

Do you want it to keep the kids safe? Keep them in view? Direct traffic? Protect pets? Protect the exterior of your house from bad weather? Protect your home from sun and heat? Manage the rainwater around your house? Increase privacy? What do you want it to do for you?

Good landscaping works with your home. Not against it. It’s a no-brainer. What you do on the exterior of a house will affect its interior. You have to be smart.

For example, planting a garden against your home’s walls might seem nice. But the soil around foundation walls has been disturbed. It’s not as firmly packed as undisturbed soil. It has more airspace. So when you water the plants, where do you think the water is going? Straight to the foundation. Not good. If you want to avoid a leaky basement, keep gardens and plants away from your home’s walls.

Let’s say you want to build a raised bed for a garden next to a fence. Great. What’s the first thing you need to think about? What type of wood you’ll need to enclose it? Type of soil? Type of plants?

The most important thing you’ll need to address — before anything — is how is this going to affect the grading around your house.

How will this affect your neighbours?

I’ve heard so many stories where one neighbour will be doing some landscaping on their property, and the next thing you know, there’s water pooling next-door. Why? Because landscaping changed the grade. And that affected the drainage.

Knowing exactly how landscaping is going to affect your house can be difficult. That’s why it’s smart to bring in someone who knows. Someone who can tell you what needs to be done to keep your home safe and healthy. And what landscaping options you have that increase your home’s functionality.

A good landscaper will know all the right questions to ask before a shovel even hits the ground. Like locating all the utility lines on your property. The last thing you want is to cut your cable — or worse.

They’ll also tell you the best way to maintain everything. Remember, watering the lawn is one of the biggest water wasters.

The average suburban garden in Canada needs about 100,000 litres of water during the growing season. That’s a lot of water. But when you consider that the water being used for most gardens has been treated for consumption, that’s a huge waste.

The grass is always greener when we’re green. If you’re smart, you’ll collect the rainwater and use it for watering your garden and lawn. A professional landscaper will help you do this. They’ll develop a system and work the landscaping around it.

And notice what kinds of questions they ask you. Do they care more about your budget? Or are they asking if you have kids? If you plan on having kids soon? How long you’re going to be living in the house? Any problems you need the proper landscaping to solve? This will tell you if they’re interested in doing a good job or getting the next job.

I don’t expect homeowners to know everything about homes and landscap-ing. But I do expect pros to know. And if you’re going to spend the time and money, do it right the first time. Spend your money once and you’ll be doing you and your house a huge favour.

Work for us — and we save money in the process. Everyone wins when we care.

Catch Mike in his new series, Best of Holmes on Homes, Tuesdays on HGTV. For more information, visit hgtv.ca. For more information on home renovations, visit makeitright.ca.

PORTLAND — A new public garden, almost a decade in the making, is meant to enhance the cityscape and inform its gardeners.

City and state leaders hosted the formal opening of the Yardscaping Gardens at Back Cove last week.

The gardens, which having been quietly growing since 2006, stretch 2.5 acres between the water and Interstate 295, near the Back Cove soccer fields. They provide a burst of color and dense floral variety along one of the city’s most popular walking paths.

The grounds flash with purple and yellow flowers, leaves that span the spectrum from deep crimson to crisp spring yellow, and green pine branches.  

The gardens contain more than 2,000 types of trees, shrubs, and perennials, most of which rarely need to be watered, city arborist Jeff Tarling said.

Most are native to the area, with a few other hardy species from elsewhere mixed in. They were chosen, in part, for their range of flowering buds and texture, Tarling said.

Some may be easily overlooked elsewhere, a gardener’s sleeper surprise, said Tarling, citing sweetfern as an example. Actually a deciduous shrub which sometimes grows in places like ditches or rock quarries, sweetfern has a crocodile-tail shape that is both pleasing and primordial.

But the gardens are also meant to be educational, and were designed to inspire gardeners and property owners to make their lawns and flower beds less resource-needy, Paul Schlein, the Maine Board of Pesticide Control’s public education specialist, said in an email.

“These gardens are different because they are designed as a sustainable landscape that minimizes the need for fertilizers, weed and insect controls and water,” Schlein said.

Though the city’s donation of land gave the project a home, the driving force behind the project is a state program run by the Board of Pesticide Control called Yardscaping, which began in 1999.

The Yardscaping program, a collaboration of state, municipal and other organizations, is a response to rapid increase in residential pesticide use in Maine, and a general concern for cautious resource use.

Pesticide use by lawn- and tree-care companies at private homes amounted to 800,000 pounds in 1995, according to data provided by Schlein. By 2007, the total was over 6 million pounds spread annually.

Monitoring “has been done in conjunction with the Friends of Casco Bay and by the BPC on its own that shows the presence of several lawn-care pesticides in the waters of Casco Bay and other areas of Maine,” Schlein said. “Some have been found at levels that may be affecting aquatic invertebrates and the food chain in those systems.

“Our partners have also seen effects on our lakes and bays from fertilizer nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus which can cause algae blooms,” he said.

After half a decade of work, almost exclusively by volunteers, the Back Cove garden is close to its permanent state. But there will always be upkeep to do, Tarling said.

The Yardscaping program has already erected informational signs about the garden, its plants and their resource-preserving power, Schlein said. Next, they plan to produce an online tour of the garden to help interested planters identify plants – most of which will be available at local plant nurseries – for their own homes and lawns.

That virtual tour and more information about the project can be found on the Yardscaping website.

Andrew Cullen can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 100 or acullen@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @ACullenFore.

Mulch plays a major role in landscaping. From providing essential moisture and nutrients to fighting off weeds and pests, mulch is an inexpensive yet efficient way to spruce up your flower beds, walkways and gardens.

Angie’s List, the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews, asked highly rated landscaping companies about the benefits of mulch and which types are available.

Mulch is commonly applied to flower beds, around the base of trees and to line walking paths, but it does a lot more than liven up landscaping – it provides added benefits to your plants.

Benefits of Mulch:

• Helps retain moisture around the base of plants.
• Keeps plant roots warm.
• Allows water to seep slowing into the ground.
• Provides additional nutrients for the soil.
• Mulch is a natural weed suppressor. It won’t completely rid your yard of weeds, but it’s a great option if you prefer not to use pesticides.

Which mulch should I buy? There are several options for selecting mulch.

• Types of mulch: You can choose between coarse, shredded and fine consistencies – the consistency will determine how fast the mulch decomposes – generally, the finer the faster.
• Brown is one of the most popular colors of dyed mulch thanks to its natural look and ability to blend in with most landscapes. It’s great for mulching flower beds and around water features and patios. Average price: $33.50 per yard
• Black is another popular choice for dyed mulch, and it’s often used to add contrast to flower beds and to make colorful flowers stand out. Average price: $33.50 per yard
• Red mulch is the color to use if you want your landscaping to really stand out. Average price: $33.50 per yard
• Gold is another popular choice for dyed mulch. Gold-tinted mulch is often referred to as “mock cypress,” due to its similar appearance and consistency. Average price: $33.50 per yard
• Hardwood mulch is screened to create smaller particles called “fines.” It has the consistency of coffee grounds and it composts quickly making it a good soil additive. Average price: $29.50 per yard
• Cypress mulch is shipped from Florida and comes in a blond or gold tint. It’s durable mulch that is known to hold its color longer than other varieties. Average price: $46 per yard
• Rubber tire mulch is great for landscaping and playgrounds. It’s made out of recycled tires that have been stripped of all wires and cut to ¼- or ½-inch pieces. Rubber tire mulch is low maintenance and absorbent to impact. Average price: $8.50 per bag

· Picking out color: Some dyed mulches like red or black can be used to add contrast, or make flowers and plants stand out in a landscape, but there is no real benefit to choosing one color over another.
· Should I buy mulch in bulk or by the bag? Mulch can be purchased bagged or bulk. Customers can save a considerable amount of money by purchasing mulch by the yard, but a delivery fee might apply. One benefit to having it delivered is you can have the mulch dumped in a convenient location to minimize trips with the wheelbarrow. If you own a truck or trailer, you can buy mulch in bulk and pick it up yourself – cutting out the delivery fee.
· How much mulch? Mulch is usually sold by the cubic yard. A quick way to estimate how much mulch you’ll need: take the length times the width to find the area and then divide by 100. One yard will cover 100 square feet at 3 inches deep.
· What is the cost? Prices vary depending on the company and geographic location. Expect to pay anywhere from $20-$50 per yard, depending on the quality of the mulch. Buying mulch in bulk may be cheaper if you need large volumes. Bagged mulch is often easier to handle, especially for smaller projects.
· Avoid the mulch volcano: The biggest mistake you can make when spreading mulch is piling it high around the base of a tree. Even if you think it looks nice, be warned that it can cause serious damage. Excessive mulch can saturate the tree roots with water which can cause rot and fungus problems, and block oxygen from reaching the roots. Keep mulch piles to 3 inches or less.

Consider this when purchasing Mulch:
· Think about how much work you actually want to do. You may only want to hire someone to deliver the mulch, or you may want to hire someone to spread the mulch.
· Does the company offer to help you get the right amount? It’s a good idea to bring in measurements of the areas where you’ll be using the mulch to get an accurate amount.
· Do they deliver the mulch or are you responsible for pick-up? How is the delivery charge calculated? Is it by material, weight, or location distance? Request a delivery quote.
· If you want it delivered, it’s a good idea to be present during delivery of the materials. If you can’t be there, be clear and detailed on the place in your yard where you would like the mulch dumped.
· Is the mulch good quality? Is it free of pests? Good mulch smells like freshly cut wood or has the earthy smell of a good garden soil.
· Compare

Working in the landscape industry is so diverse. One can always find work at greenhouses, tree nurseries, in landscape construction, maintenance or in a landscape design firm as a designer.

There are numerous ways to get your career in landscaping started in Alberta. Before enrolling in a program, work a summer or two with a landscape company or at a garden center. If you have a creative flair and enjoy working with plants and people, this career choice is well suited to you.

To become a trained landscape professional one can complete various programs offered at the University of Alberta, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology or at Olds College. The University of Alberta offers a Master Gardener Program at the Devonian Botanical Gardens. It is a part-time non-credit certificate program. The program consists of classroom lectures one day a week for about eight months. One will learn practical and theoretical information and cover numerous gardening topics.

The Landscape Gardener Apprenticeship program offers hands-on learning in both the hard landscape skills of paver, water gardens, wood construction, irrigation and surveying as well as the soft landscape skills of plant identification, tree planting, soil analysis, plant production and landscape design. Journeyman Landscape Gardeners are in high demand today. If you are currently employed with a landscape company you may want to consider enrolling in the program as a rewarding career choice. Check out the Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association website for more information on this Red Seal program.

Another option is to enroll in the Horticulture Programs at Olds College. A Horticulture Diploma provides technical and business training as well as a credential that is recognized and respected in the horticulture industry. The horticulture diploma program constitutes the first two years of the Bachelor of Applied Science in either Landscape Management or Production Horticulture Majors.

The Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Horticulture is offered through Olds College. In this applied science and business one can choose a major in Golf Course Management, Landscape Management or Production Horticulture. These majors build on diploma training which provide one with knowledge and advanced technical skills in horticultural science and business.

NAIT offers a two year Landscape Architectural Technology diploma program. Graduates from this program find jobs in Landscape Architects offices as well as in tree nurseries, and landscape construction firms. Landscape architecture is a profession that is so diverse when it comes to career choices. This intense program trains students in all aspect of landscape design, plant knowledge and landscape construction.

One can also become a Certified Landscaper. The Landscape Industry Certified program is an accreditation program that sets standards for job skills and best practices for individuals working in the landscape industry. One can choose from Landscape Industry Certified Technician, Landscape Industry Certified Manager, or Landscape Industry Certified Designer. The Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association website provides detailed information about the Landscape Industry Certified Technician program.

Brenda is a Designer at Classic Landscapes in Edmonton. She can be reached at brenda@classiclandscapes.com

Are you looking for a little inspiration or ideas you can implement in your garden? Well, get ready for the 17th annual garden tour hosted by UCCE Master Gardeners of Tuolumne County. On Sunday, June 24th, from 10:30am to 4:00pm, you can tour five very distinct gardens-up to 3,200-foot elevation-in any order you wish.

Last week’s article described two of the gardens on the tour: the Tuolumne Community Garden and the master gardener demonstration garden. This week I would like to introduce you to the lovely garden owned by Steve and Ina Belochi. They were raised in Europe and Africa on a farm where they grew crops. Their garden’s ambiance reflects their roots, their charming friendliness and contagious enthusiasm. The 2 ¾ acre property, located at an elevation of 2,600 feet, has been their home for two years. The beautiful house is nestled under majestic oak trees prevalent throughout the property. The architecture of the house is the perfect background for the fabulous fountain, formal topiaries, terraced landscape and magnificent boulders.

Established nine years ago, the garden has been expanded and enhanced by the Belochis. They have added five 4′ x 12′ raised vegetable beds, 16 fruit trees, multiple shrubs and perennials. Landscaping was added in front of the house along with drip irrigation for trees, shrubs and 57 rose bushes. They are connecting the various gardens with natural mulched pathways. A few small patches of lawn help delineate specific areas, but much of the landscape has been left in its natural state to conserve water.

The elegant patio at the back of the house is a peaceful setting for listening to water flowing into the koi and goldfish pond. The Belochis love growing vegetables and started seedlings of peppers and 28 tomatoes indoors on a sunny windowsill. To discourage weeds, Steve mulches around the vegetable beds with cardboard. A battery-operated drip system now waters the vegetable garden.

The Belochi property abounds with wildlife: hungry deer, wild turkeys, squirrels, gophers and an occasional coyote wander through the gardens. Many interesting birds visit and nest there. Garden defenses include the 5½ foot tall fence that surrounds everything except the front yard, another 4′ fence surrounding the vegetable garden, bird-netting over fruit trees and gopher-screening in newly planted areas.

Steve and Ina have learned quite a bit from various Master Gardeners who explained the principles of water conservation and the organic approach of not using chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The lesson we can all learn is that even with a large property, using water-wise and organic practices can l result in a fabulous, natural environment.

Tickets for the tour are $10 each (ages 12 and under are free). You can purchase tickets from any Tuolumne County Master Gardener or from the following businesses: in Columbia at Columbia Nursery; in Twain Harte at The Nest in Twain Harte; in Standard at Nature’s Whole Food Depot Nursery; in Sonora at Antiques, Etc., J.S. West Hardware and Nursery and the UCCE office at 52 N. Washington St. Tickets can also be purchased on-line at: http://ucanr.org/gardentourtickets and will be available for pick up on Sunday, June 24, at the Master Gardener demonstration garden at 251 S. Barretta Street in Sonora.

Water will be available at all five garden sites and the demonstration garden has available restrooms. Please don’t bring strollers or pets, and don’t forget your camera or a notepad. You may find yourself collecting ideas or wanting to implement something you learned for your own garden. Many of the best gardeners are plagiarists, so this is a perfect opportunity to pick up ideas from our foothill neighbors!

Kathy Nunes is a Master Gardener who enjoys gardening in her foothill home.

Landscaping with cactus has been an acquired taste for many gardeners, but it appears the appetite for the robust plants is growing. Lingering drought, watering bans and low-maintenance requirements are making cacti more popular.

Their striking flowers, unusual shapes and longevity add to the appeal.

“There’s a high reward ratio with cactus,” said Scott Calhoun, author of “The Gardener’s Guide to Cactus” (Timber Press, 2012). “Take the aesthetics alone. They’re extraordinarily beautiful. Even when they’re out of flower, they have graceful patterns on them.”

Calhoun, who lives in Tucson, Ariz., said he has encountered enthusiasm for cacti even in areas where people can’t easily grow them, such as Japan, Thailand and the Czech Republic.

“They simply put them in pots and haul them in and out,” he said.

Cacti can live for decades, a real value, Calhoun said.

“Some of these plants you can pass down to your kids and your kids can pass them down to their kids.”

They also are durable, surviving in temperatures ranging from 100 degrees above zero to 40 below.

“They’re known to grow above the 14,000-foot level on mountains in Colorado and as far north as Canada’s Northwest Territories,” Calhoun said. “There’s a great diversity of cold-hardy cactus to be had.”

Cacti are succulents, native to the New World. Approximately 250 of the recognized 3,000 species are found in North America.

If you’re going to plant cacti, put temperature-tested plants, cuttings or seeds — preferably those native to your area — in places with Southern exposures, if possible. Give them at least six hours of sun per day.

Provide a bed of 8 to 12 inches of sandy soil, supplemented by granite or gravel mulch. Be stingy about watering, particularly in autumn when the plants are evaporating away any surplus moisture.

“Once cacti are established, they don’t need any extra watering and only a little supplemental watering when it’s extremely hot and dry,” said David Salman, founder and chief horticulturist for High Country Gardens, an online and mail-order company in Santa Fe, N.M.

“I do give them some organic fertilizers — particularly if I’m trying to optimize their flowering and accelerate their growth. Cacti don’t react well to chemicals that people commonly use throughout their landscapes.”

Calhoun also recommends integrating cacti with other plants. “That’s the way they grow in nature,” he said.

Cacti may be stuck with a prickly reputation, but there are spineless, scented and edible varieties, he said: “The hardy Beehive has fragrant flowers followed by edible fruit that tastes like strawberries.”

Cactus is the clever gardener’s alternative, said Richard Ward, owner of The Dry Garden Nursery in Oakland, Calif.

“Water loving plants (such as roses) are the dinosaurs of the past,” Ward said. “They’re like gas-guzzlers on the road. People are pretty much going for water-wise gardens they can install and pretty much forget about.”

Is the design for your garden or landscaping stuck in a rut? Garden tours are a great way to spark some fresh ideas – and as KUNC gardener Tom Throgmorton assures us, plant plagiarism is perfectly okay…

It’s the season of the garden tour. Look for a tour in your area over the next few weekends.

Garden tours are a great way to get new ideas for difficult spots in your garden. As you wander through other folk’s yards notice how they’ve figured out difficult spots. Critically look at your garden – then go on the tour with questions in mind.

Watch for color combinations. It’s easy to get into a rut of colors. Garden tours open new color mixtures. Use what you see. Plagiarism is ok in gardening.

Most garden tours are self guided. Be sure to get a good map of the homes on the tour. Serious tour goers take a camera and notepad. After a couple of exciting gardens, it’s hard to remember all of the plants. Be prepared for the weather. Hats, sunscreen, good shoes and water are musts.

Watch where you step — the garden takes a beating with so many visitors. Avoid stepping off the beaten path.

Some regional tours to consider for June 23rd include:

The 30th Annual Terrace and Garden tour is sponsored by the Junior League of Fort Collins. Seven gardens are featured. All of the gardens are around the east side of Warren Lake. The gardens are open for self guided tours from 8 am until 4 pm. The garden tour is a fund raiser for the Junior League’s women and children causes.

The Greeley garden tour is a fund raiser for nursing scholarships. It is a self-guided tour of seven gardens.

The Loveland Youth Garden Tour features gardens in southwest Loveland. There will be a sale of art for the garden by regional artist. The tour and art sales benefits the Loveland youth garden program. Information 970-669-7182.

Later in the season are other tours:

The Xeriscape Demonstration Garden Tour in Ft. Collins is July 26th. The hosted tour is from 5 to 7 pm. The garden features drought tolerant plants and is a Plant Select evaluation site. Check out the Ft. Collins City utilities website for more information.

A favorite is the Kitchen and Garden Tour in Steamboat Springs. The July 21 tour features beautiful mountain gardens and outdoor spaces in the Anglers neighborhood. It is a benefit for Strings in the Mountains.

Summit County also hosts a tour the weekend of July 21st. The gardens are widespread… and of wide interest.

It’s amazing what you can learn in someone else’s garden.

tom@throgmortonplantmanagement.com

Inspired by the romantic English Gardens of Sissinghurts, Kiftsgate and Barnsley, Tracy and Victor Heuermann’s garden is one of five private gardens on display during the Peoria Garden Club’s Garden Glories Garden Walk 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. Luthy Botanical Garden is also on the tour, but only until 4 p.m.

The Heuermann Garden was featured in Midwest Living Magazine in 2009. Built on a bluff overlooking the Illinois River, the garden was designed by Tracy Heuermann, after she returned from a garden trip to England.  She is a University of Illinois Extension Service master gardener, a nationally accredited flower show judge, and a master landscape design consultant.

The garden features a huge variety of plants, shrubs and trees in several different theme gardens wandering over the hillside. A stone pathway leads through the north side garden gate to the view of the Illinois River and valley. At the center of the garden is a tiered stone fountain that splashes into a rectangular English basin.

Clematis, roses and wisteria climb the terrace walls and the tall wrought iron gates. Clipped yews and colorful perennials create lovely vistas that lead to the music garden, terraced areas and two small gardens with ponds.

“I never go into the garden without my pruning shears, and Vic usually follows with his triangular hoe,” Tracy Heuermann said. “We have made our gardens a labor of love, a place where we share joy and beauty with our family and friends.”   

______

Garden Glories Garden Walk

When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 14

Sponsor: Peoria garden Club. Proceeds from the event will go back into the community through various Peoria Garden Club Projects.  

Tickets:  $15 in advance and $20 the day of the tour. Kids under 12 are $10. Purchase tickets at Green View Nursery, Inc., Good Earth Landscaping, Gregg Florist, Harp Thistle, D.A. Hoerr Sons, Inc. Nursery, Kelly Seed Hardware, Luthy Botanical Garden, Michele’s Floral Event, Picket Fence, and Sheridan Nursery Garden Shop on Sheridan Road.

Gardens: Walk includes the Heuermann garden, 148 W. Detweiller Drive; Bantz garden, 1804 Alta Road, Masterson garden, 4105 N. Grandview Drive, Hackett garden, 424 W. Northgate Road and the Stuckey garden, 217 W. Morningside Drive. In addition, a tour of Luthy Botanical Garden, Glen Oak Park. The Luthy Garden closes at 4 p.m.

Information: Contact event chairwoman Susan Davis at 693-3817.

 

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REEDSVILLE — Spring has become a season of growth at Reedsville Elementary School as it means another year of planting the garden behind the school. The school garden, which began in 2010, saw some major changes this year.

First, the size of the garden doubled to 40 by 60 feet, according to a news release from teacher Debbie Nate, one of the staff members involved with the project. Then six Bartlett pear trees were planted, and benches were added to make an outdoor classroom. Next came a birdhouse and bark chips for the sitting area and around the pear trees. Finally, climbing gates were added for climbing plants.

The decorative concrete benches were made by students in the Reedsville FFA and Allen Schuh’s landscaping class at Reedsville High School. They will be used by elementary and middle school students during classroom and laboratory lessons being taught outside.

Superintendent Dennis Raabe learned about a grant for school gardens being offered by the Wisconsin Medical Society. He applied, and the district received $1,900. A portion of the money was used to purchase materials for the benches and five of the six pear trees, with the other one being donated, according to lunch coordinator Diane Geiger, the other staff member working on the garden. They haven’t determined what the rest will be spent on, but Geiger said she’d like more seating and something to attract butterflies.

Thirty-seven fifth-graders from Nate’s science class helped with planting. They grew plants indoors for the garden, and later planted the seedlings as well as seeds. The garden consists of watermelon, peas, cucumbers, cantaloupe, red and white potatoes, onions, tomatoes, various peppers and squash. The last change will be fall-bearing raspberry bushes donated by a parent.

The students will help harvest plants in the fall and will help prepare the garden for winter. Nate and Geiger care for the garden during the summer months.

The fruits and vegetables grown in the garden will be used in the lunch menu at school, and some items also will be used for Reedsville’s senior nutrition site, for which the school district provides meals. When the school has more than it can use, it donates items to the residents of Reedsville Manor.

Nate thinks the experience is great for the students, many of whom didn’t know anything about planting.

“Fun and learning can definitely go hand in hand at the Reedsville Elementary School garden, she said in the news release. “Great nutrition is just the added plus in the lunches that went along with the fun.”