Take the time today to pause for a few minutes to acknowledge June 21st as the longest day of the year. This is also the official start of the summer season. So, take a moment to celebrate nature. I encourage you to have lunch outside or walk in the park. Maybe go for a bike ride this evening. Open yourself to the benefits of nature, today, and every day this summer!
Spring is here! It is great to see things blooming and all of the vivid colors. Perennials, flowering trees and shrubs make for a magnificent display. If space for planting is a concern, think about making gardening easier by installing raised planters and vertical planters. Enjoy!
SPRING HEALING Ecological restorationists are professionals that work to get the natural plant systems working again. They do this by resupplying drained wetlands with water, planting native plants and seeds and by removing invasive species. We can do similar work when we improve our own gardens and create new gardens by doing the following: Removing invasive plants is one way that we can help the natural ecosystems. Adding rain gardens to capture the rain water and help it to infiltrate on-site instead of running off our property. Using rain barrels to capture storm water and use it to water our garden. Mulching the beds to reduce erosion and help retain moisture benefits the plants. Including native plantings to attract pollinators and other beneficial insects. These actions help heal the land and this heals us. We all benefit from nature in many positive ways. BLUEBERRIES One plant that should be considered for most gardens are blueberries. There are several varieties today that offer possibilities. Polaris will grow in Zones 3 to 8 and is about 3 foot tall. Top Hat is a smaller plant reaching 18 inches and is an excellent choice for planting in containers to use on patios and balconies. Northsky is another compact blueberry and the fruit ripens in mid July. It is good to try different varieties to insure good pollination. For more information on pruning, over-wintering, water requirements and other growing blueberry conditions, check out the web site: http://howtogardenguide.com/2008/02/26/blueberry-care/ ATTRACTING POLLINATORS We need to encourage pollinators into our gardens by planting the things that will cause them to visit. Some of the annuals to consider planting to attract these beneficial insects and animals include Russian Sage, Bee Balm, Sunflowers, and Bachelor Buttons. Perennials are good to use, not only because they are attractive to pollinators and they will come back every year. These plants include Poppies, Sage, Basil, Lambs Ear, and Oregano. These plants are honey bee as well as human favorites. NATURAL WEED CONTROL One of the ways to help reduce the weeds in our garden, walkways and other areas is to use vinegar. To kill grass on sidewalks and driveways, pour full strength white distilled vinegar on it. Spray white distilled vinegar full strength on tops of weeds and reapply on any new growth until plants have starved. Normal vinegar has a 5% acetic acid concentration. This is not enough to kill the mature weeds; however, it will kill the young growth. You may need to apply vinegar twice to kill all the new growth. The conditions should be rain free for a few days for the vinegar to be most effective. NEW PLANTS It seems like we have fast forwarded into spring and everything is starting to bloom. This is a good time to take stock of what is doing well in the garden and what may need to be replaced. Get out a note pad to jot down ideas of what we may want to add to our garden. And keep those notes with you when you visit garden centers. Keep an eye out, first of all, for the plants that are indigenous to the region. These plants will perform better because they are native and require less water. The plants will also attract butterflies, hummingbirds and other friendly visitors into your garden. DEER AWAY The deer have already been or will be returning to sample the newly planted vegetables in your garden. One of the ways I have found that is effective in chasing away the deer is the motion activated water spray called “The ScarecCrow”. One of the companies that sell it is Deer Busters. It is attached to your hose and will repel unwanted intruders for up to 30 feet. (Remember to turn it off during the day – otherwise you may chase friendly visitors – like the postal worker). A link to their site is at: http://www.deerbusters.com/dee-4015.html “You are as welcome as the flowers in May” – Charles Macklin
Spring is here and it is so good to be able to spend time outside, especially wandering around the garden to look at all of the plants emerging after those cold winter months. I had the opportunity to visit an Alzheimer’s garden, last week, which was just completed. It was great to be able to sit in the garden and see the Redbud tree and the shrubs and perennials blooming. What was extra special was watching the residents interact with the garden. One gentleman walked around the perimeter of the garden and identified all of the plants. He thought all of the flowering shrubs were hydrangeas. While, in reality, they were Fragrant Spice Viburnum shrubs – it really did not matter. He was pleased to tell the aide walking with him that he had personally planted all of the plants in “his” garden. This and so many other stories validate why the garden is vitally important for elders. The garden is an essential way for people to maintain a connection with the world around them – especially those with memory impairments. The plants are a tool for eliciting conversations and retrieving memories of what a person did in their own garden. The garden is a place where elders can smell the flowers; watch the birds, and all of those everyday things that we all too often take for granted. I would like to hear other stories about how elders with Dementia are enjoying the garden. Please tell me what is happening during spring in your Alzheimer’s garden at jack@designforgenerations.com
The April GreenLetter is all about getting started again for spring. Checking soils, determining the best ways to plant healthy gardens and assessing our plants after a long cold snowy winter are a few of the things to consider. We should also be considering our own health and well-being, for example, looking at our circadian rhythms and how they are in balance. Enjoy the garden and enjoy all that spring has to offer. Happy gardening!
On the first day of spring, our thoughts turn to the garden and what we will be growing this year. Researchers at Texas A&M University suggest growing more fruit and vegetables. Over half of the older adults in the U.S. do not consume the recommended five daily servings of fruit and vegetables. The research study, “Growing Minds: Evaluating the Relationship between Gardening and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Older Adults”, shows that gardening can encourage elders to eat more of the good foods. The study has shown that gardeners are more likely to eat more fruit and vegetables as compared to non-gardeners. In addition to improved eating habits, 80 percent of the older adults participating in the research study indicated that they feel better because of their gardening activities. Gardening programs have a positive effect for the health and quality of life for older adults. To view an abstract of the research study, visit: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/20/4/711
According to the Audubon Society, there are approximately 48 million people who identify themselves as ‘birders’. There is even an App that is available for i-phones that can help you identify birds. This is all proof that we love nature and want to stay connected in many different ways. The Audubon Society has been promoting a program to help people connect with nature. The Great Outdoors Initiative celebrates our nation’s spectacular landscapes and natural abundance. “It’s not fattening. It can change your mood in a heartbeat. And it’s romantic. Taking nature personally is as American as freedom — and nature doesn’t belong to a party,” said David Yarnold, President & CEO of Audubon. Visit the Audubon Society’s web site to learn more about the Great Outdoors Initiative and other bird related programs: http://birds.audubon.org/
WALKING AND MEMORY Research indicates that walking changes the hippocampus volume in the brain resulting in improved memory performance. As we age, the hippocampus loses one to two percent of volume each year, which affects our memory and could possibly increase the risk of dementia. The study, published in the Proceedings of the Natural Academy of Sciences, followed older adults aged 50 to 80 years of age over the course of a year. Modest aerobic exercise reversed brain shrinkage by one to two years. So, getting outside and walking on a regular basis will not only help us maintain good health, it will also reverse loss of memory! The article in the Wall Street Journal is at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704476604576158453716983010.html?KEYWORDS=Exercise+Boosts+Brain+Power SPRING Daylight saving time occurs March 13th and spring is a week later starting on April 20th. Maybe you are like many people and cannot wait to experience the colors and sights the garden will bring. So, cutting a few branches and ‘forcing’ the plants to bloom is a way to get an early taste of what the season has in store. You can cut the branches of forsythia, quince, cherry and magnolia and bring them indoors. Bring the branches inside and re-cut the branches at a 45 degree angle and place them in a vase of water. When the blossoms appear, keep them out of direct sunlight. Be sure to change the water every two or three days, and enjoy spring a few weeks early! COST SAVINGS Studies conducted by the U.S. Forestry Service have conducted studies that show that a shade tree planted on the west side of a building or home saved about $120 in energy costs. Shade trees planted on the south side of the building save only $39 in energy costs. “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time is today”, indicates Rowan Rowntree, the lead scientist and visionary with the Forestry Service conducting research on the value of planting trees in urban areas. PRIMROSE The primrose (primula) is one of the first flowers of the spring season and the first rose of the season. The wild European primrose, Primula vulgaris, was an indicator of spring as well as first love. The current primrose found in our gardens today is hybridized versions of the wild forms. They are a perennial that likes partially shaded conditions and will typically thrive in zones 3 – 9. Their colors are purple, yellow, pink, red and white. They are best located on the north side of a home or building and are good when massed under taller shrubs or in a rock garden. Their use is important, not just as a sign of spring because they are used as a source of food by butterflies. BASIL We are all familiar with the uses of basil in cooking and the fragrance of this herb is well known to many. However, we may not be as aware that basil (Ocimum basilicum) helps to keep unwanted insects away fro other plants in our garden. Growing basil with tomatoes will help ward off insects as well as disease. It is best to plant a row of basil parallel to tomatoes, as opposed to in between the plants. Also, placing basil on top of tomatoes in a serving bowl on the dinner table will help to deter fruit flies. GEN X & Y GARDENERS A recent survey of ‘younger’ gardeners by the Garden Writers Association indicates that they are just as interested in gardening as their older counterparts. Those aged 25 – 40 years old are very interested in growing vegetables, flowers and herbs. Up to 66% of the under 40 are interested in taking care of plants. What may come as a surprise, these younger gardeners (87%) get advice from friends, neighbors, books and garden centers. A smaller percent (47%) look to the internet or television for help. We should think more about trying to create intergenerational gardens. TOPOPHILIA It is becoming more widely recognized that reducing stress can lead to faster recovery from illness. One of the ways that we can reduce stress is through access to the natural environment. Topophilia, a term coined by geographer Yi-Fu Tuan of the University of Wisconsin, is the study of the restorative effects of one’s environment. It is looking at the affective bond between a person’s mental, emotional and cognitive ties to a particular place. The possibility exits that people may prefer the natural environments to those that are complex designs or provide artificial sensory stimulation. If we can learn more about what are the elements in nature that help reduce stress, we may be able to create environments that help improve quality of life. “It is apparent that no lifetime is long enough, in which to explore the resources of a few square yards of ground.” – Alice M. Coats
Reports indicate that Vitamin D deficiency is under-recognized and under treated for elders. This partly due to the fact that older adults spend more time indoors and have inadequate intake of Vitamin D. Vitamin D supplements are one part of the solution; however, most people meet at least some of their vitamin D needs through exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D is produced when ultra violet rays from sunshine meet the skin and trigger Vitamin D synthesis. Studies suggest that Vitamin D deficiency is the cause of the ‘bone-wasting’ disease Osteoporosis. Elders complaining of unexplained pain, injuries from falls, gait disorders may all be a result of a lack of Vitamin D. Vitamin D is easily remedied if we simply create more opportunities for elders to spend time outdoors. This applies to elders living in all communities, including senior communities, assisted living facilities and Alzheimer’s residences. Creating Therapeutic Gardens, walking paths, community vegetable gardens and other outdoor garden areas will encourage elders to venture outdoors. Spending time in sunlight is vital to their health and well-being. By providing benches, people spend more time outside and socialize. It also helps to include activities that people would find in their neighborhoods such as putting greens, bocce and croquet courts. It is important to remember that the season of the year, the time of day, smog, and skin melatonin are among the factors that affect Vitamin D synthesis. Cloud cover can reduce the suns potential energy by 50%. Shade reduces Vitamin D intake by 60%. Even though we may enjoy sitting next to a sunny window, the sun’s radiation does not penetrate glass. It is estimated that between 5 to 30 minutes of sun exposure between 10 AM and 3 PM at least twice a week is helpful for Vitamin D production. And the sunlight is absorbed best when the face, arms and legs are exposed without sunscreen. We need to create stimulating outdoor gardens and outdoor environments that encourage elders to spend more time outdoors in the sunshine – starting this spring!
Spring is, hopefully, right around the corner. With that is mind, we are starting to plan ahead for what we might like to plant in this years garden. We have listed various seed catalog companies for you to consider. There are specific times to consider when planting seeds in the garden. And, if you are a fan of Smith and Hawkin – good news. Enjoy these and other topics in our newsletter. Please let us know when you see one of the first signs of spring. We are interested in hearing what you may find to tell us that spring is here.
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Design For Generations, LLC
Jack Carman F.A.S.L.A.
92 Tallowood Drive
Medford NJ 08055
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jack@designforgenerations.com
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