ACTIVITIES A recent study conducted by researchers in Australia has shown that recreational amenities can encourage people to walk more.  “The presence of a variety of interesting places in their  neighborhoods is likely to induce resident’s participation in recreational physical activity” as indicated in the study.” The study “Associations with perceived environmental attributes”, (2009 Elsevier Ltd.) highlights the need to create stimulating outdoor environments if we want to encourage elders to spend more time in the outdoor environment.  Gardens, parks, recreation areas and many other amenities should be incorporated into every neighborhood. SIGNS OF SPRING We have had to endure, what may seem to be, a colder and snowier winter.  This spring may not come soon enough for many of us.  We start to look around for those signals in nature that indicate that the garden is coming back to life.  One of the early signs is to see those little yellow flowers emerging from underneath the mulch in the garden.  Where there was once a large mound of snow, which melted the last week of February, several are crocus beginning to bloom.  Looking around, what signs of spring do you see? “A garden is never so good as it will be next year.” – Thomas Cooper GARDENS FOR ALL As you start to plan your garden for the 2010 season, consider making it an intergenerational activity.  Many people reminisce over the days when they would happily work in the garden with their parents and/or grandparents.  This is  a great way to remember a special time in our lives.  So, plan the garden to include children.  How about starting an alphabet garden or maybe a  pizza garden?  Encouraging gardeners of all ages will create lasing memories for generations to come. SPINACH Popeye was not wrong.  We need our spinach and now is the time to get planting.  Spinach is a cool weather crop and can be planted in the garden in early spring.  You can start the plants in seed trays, usually 2 to 3 weeks before you want to plant them in the garden.  You can also plant the seeds directly in the garden in rows.  You will need to thin the plants as they emerge and keep them about 6” apart. (You can eat the small plants that have been thinned out.) Be sure to plant spinach in a sunny location and keep them watered until they germinate. MAKE FRIENDS Early spring is the time to divide hostas, daylilies, daisies and other perennials.  You may have space in your garden to move them.  However, you can also offer some of the plants to friends.  They may want to trade with you from their garden, too.  This way every one benefits. FEEDER TIPS The best place to locate a bird feeder is to mount it on a 5 foot pole.  A cone shaped baffle mounted just under the feeder will deter squirrels from getting to the seed.  Place the feeder about 10 feet from trees and shrubs to allow birds to sit and wait their turn.  And, remember to locate the feeder where you can see it from inside so you will be able to enjoy the activity. HORTICULTURAL THERAPY The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the American Horticultural Therapy Association entered an exhibit at the 2010 Philadelphia Flower Show.  This is the largest indoor flower show in the world. The exhibit won two awards and even more importantly introduced the benefits of horticultural therapy to over 250,000 people who attended the show.  Pictures of the HT exhibit are on line at the DFG blog site, as well as the web site www.MAHTN.org BLOG You can now follow our posts on the blog site: designforgenerations.wordpress.com In fact, we are transitioning the newsletter over to this format starting in April.  We will continue to email the newsletter to everyone, and it will also be available through the Word Press site.

Read more

SUNLIGHT Recent research helps to explain why some people feel lethargic and ’blue’ during the winter months. It is the lower levels of Serotonin that causes these irregularities. Researchers have shown that during the months when there is less sunshine, there are lower levels of mood elevating serotonin in the synapses between the brain cells. Depression is thought to be associated with reduced serotonin in the synapses (Archives of General Psychiatry 11-08). To help produce more serotonin, we should make every effort to get outside on sunny days and take advantage of the natural ways that help our body produce these feel good chemicals. CROCUS One of the signs of spring are the emergence of the Crocus bulbs. We may start to see the flowers of the bulb emerge from the ground and begin to bloom around Valentines Day. The bulb derives it’s name from the autumn flowering saffron crocus ‘Krokos’. This is the Greek name for the bulb. It is the saffron flowering bulb that traces its roots back to ancient times. ROSES We think of red roses as the flowers to give on Valentines Day. However, other colors may mean more. Yellow roses mean friendship and joy. Purple signifies love at first sight. Pink expresses gratitude and orange signals desire. GROUNDHOG DAY Feb. 2nd is known as the date when a famous groundhog emerges to see his shadow. The days are getting longer and hibernating animals begin to stir in their underground nests. Groundhog day has evolved from the German holiday of Badger Day. When German emigrants came to America, there was a lack of badgers and the groundhog was adopted to continue the tradition. Feb. 2nd marks the mid point between the shortest day of the year and the first day of spring. We start to see other signs of spring, such as crocus, daffodil and other bulbs starting to emerge. These signs bring us hope that spring is close at hand. “With a garden, there is hope” – Grace Firth DIVERSITY When we plant a single species we foster monocultures. A lawn, apple orchard, cornfield or a rose garden are all examples. The problem with monocultures is that they are vulnerable to invasion from pests and disease. Mixed planting or polyculture reduces the risk that organisms can destroy a crop or wipe out a row of trees. Consider planting a variety of any species. Think about trying some of the older, heirloom, varieties of plants in your garden this year. Maybe you can start to remove some of the lawn and replace it with indigenous shrubs and perennials that are attractive to birds and butterflies. SPRING BLOOMS Spring flowering trees bring delight to our garden as we revel in their colors and fragrance. These special ornamental trees can also be used to feed the animals and attract pollinators. The colors of Flowering Dogwood are a welcome sight in spring and the trees make great nesting sites for birds in the fall. Fringe Tree offer feathery flowers and the female produce small fruits which the birds will enjoy. Sassafras produces clusters of tiny yellow flowers in the spring and great fall color. The fruits have a high fat content that is welcome food for birds. FORCING BLOOMS If you cannot wait for the flowering trees to begin to bloom, you can move the color indoors by cutting budding branches and forcing them into bloom. Branches from forsythia, quince, redbud and cherry trees are good examples to use for forcing. Cut branches 12 inches or longer and cut a slit in the end of each stem. Place the stems in a container of warm water. Be sure to add one tablespoon of beach. Keep the branches out of direct sun and in a cooler spot (60 degrees) until they bloom. Their colors will help remind us that spring is right around the corner. BLOG Follow recent posts at www.designforgenerations.wordpress.com

Read more

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!

Read more