Monthly Archives: January 2010

23 Jan

HEIRLOOM VEGETABLES

Jack Carman, FASLA Community Gardens 0 0

Even though the temperatures may deter us from venturing outside for any great length of time, there are breaks that give us a short window to escape outside to start to plan and dream of spring. There are chores to do like picking up fallen branches, cutting back the ornamental grasses and pruning the trees and shrubs while they are dormant. It is also a good time to look at your vegetable garden. This is a good time to expand the garden or reorganize what you planted last year. So, on the colder days, we can retreat indoors and forage through the seed catalogs and gardening web sites. This is the time to plan what vegetables you want to plant for the coming year. What has worked well and what new varieties do you want ti try in 2010? Some of the ‘new’ varieties may actually be vegetable plants that have been around for years and just forgotten until recently. They are the ‘Heirloom’ plants that offer more flavor and are interesting to grow because of their unusual colors. There are green tomatoes such as Aunt Ruby’s German Cherry and Emerald Green. The Rattlesnake pole beans are fun to grow because of their green pods with purple streaks. Be adventurous and include these or other heirloom varieties in your garden this year. The results will surely make your garden the talk of the neighborhood. Not only will you have some fum new vegetables to try at dinner, they will make the meal look more interesting.

05 Jan

BENEFITS OF EXERCISE

Jack Carman, FASLA Continue Care Retirement Community Gardens 0 0

An article in the Wall Street Journal (1-5-10-WSJ) focuses on the importance of exercise in our lives everyday. ‘The Hidden Benefits of Exercise‘ by Laura Landro highlights why we need to refocus attention on creating a variety of forms of exercise. ‘Just do it’ takes on special meaning when we realize how spending 30 to 60 minutes a day can protect us against a variety of illnesses, from the common cold to cancer. The federal government issued guidelines in 2008 and is developing a national plan to encourage following the guidelines. Moderate forms of activity include “ballroom and line dancing; biking on level ground or with a few hills; canoeing; gardening (raking, trimming shrubs); tennis (doubles); brisk walking; water aerobics.” More vigorous exercise includes “biking faster than 10 miles an hour; ‘heavy’ gardening (digging and hoeing); tennis (singles); hiking uphill; jogging or running.” Incorporating gardening as part of a regular exercise regime will accomplish our need for exercise in a creative and stress-reducing manner. We might as well have fun while we are exercising. The fruits of our labor might just be some special vegetables for the table. Exercise programs also offer benefits at any age and can be especially important for people over 40. The WSJ article references the publication “Fit to Live” by Pamela Peeke, MD. Dr. Peeke discusses how, as we age, ‘physical strength, endurance, flexibility and balance begin to decline.’ Including regular exercise as a part of our daily routine can help to slow the aging process. The complete WSJ article can be found at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704350304574638331243027174.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read

01 Jan

Therapeutic Gardens Newsletter – JANUARY 2010

Jack Carman, FASLA Newsletters 0 0

RESTORATIVE ELEMENTS “A well-designed and attractive urban environment can have a stress-reducing and mood enhancing power equal to that of a natural environment” according to researchers Karamanov and Hamel at the University of Wageningen, Netherlands (2008). The features identified in the study include visible water, green spaces, intricate spatial layouts and landmarks. Incorporating these elements into urban settings and our own gardens will help to create the restorative settings we expect from nature. Welldesigned gardens offer us the opportunity to address our specific needs, as well as to create tranquil settings we can all enjoy WINTER CARE Many of the plants that we bring indoors for the winter need a little T.L.C. during their indoor stay. Refresh the plants by placing the pot in the shower or tub and run cool water to remove dust and quench the plants thirst. Add some additional soil, if necessary and a little fertilizer. This treatment applies for our regular ‘house plants’, too. OUTDOOR ROOM Winter is a good time of year to take a good look at your garden. Your home can be more inviting when you start to think of your garden as another room of your house. The garden is a room that can be enjoyed whether you are inside or outside the house. PLOUGH MONDAY The first Monday after the Epiphany, January 6th, is called Plough Monday. This is traditionally the day that farmers returned to their ploughs and men in general returned to work after the Christmas Holiday. This January 11th be sure to thank the farmers as you head off to your own work. LENTEN ROSES If you are looking for early color in your garden, consider planting Lenten Rose (Hellebore). They bloom in the winter through early spring. They get their name because they bloom around the season of Lent. These are a shade loving evergreen perennial with a wide range of colors from pink, yellow, red to purple. They are also deer resistant. TREE CARE Winter is a good time to assess the structure of your shade trees. It is best to prune the trees while they are dormant to minimize sap flow from wounds. Prune branches if they have grown up on a structure or interfere with the line of sight of a street or driveway. Never top trees because it can damage the structure and possibly starve the tree to death. It is best to hire a certified tree arborist to help evaluate the condition and care of your trees and to prune trees that are 20 feet high or taller. MORE VARIETIES The Old Farmer’s Almanac indicates that there has been a 20% increase in sales at seed companies. This is another indicator that more people are growing their own vegetables and other plants. This is a good time of year to peruse the catalogues to look for new plants to try in the garden this year. A growing trend is to raise heirloom plants that offer more flavor and variety. Try green tomatoes, such as Aunt Ruby’s German Cherry or Emerald Evergreen. Growing purple tomatoes will definitely create interest. In fact, these heirloom plants should be planted in prime locations because they are decorative as well as tasty. Rattlesnake Pole Beans are decorative green pods with purple streaks. Pandora Striped Rose Eggplants have a lovely rose color, a good yield and are delicious, as well. Explore the catalogues, such as Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. “A garden is a friend you can visit anytime” -Anonymous STORIES Do you have a story to tell about your garden? Please let us know how you or others are enjoying your garden. It is great to share these stories and maybe learn some new ideas from other fans of nature. A Happy New Year!