Metro DC Lawn and Garden Blog

Nibbles from an Article on Feeding the Soil

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:07:00 +0000

I found a great article online recently that I would like to share. It is called Feeding the Soil Builds Sustainable Lawns and it was written by Karen Fitzgerald.
The article is chock full of great “green” gardening information, from start to finish, so I encourage you to devour the whole thing. Here are a few nibbles from the article to whet your appetite for more:

“Spraying chemical fertilizers and pesticides on lawns is like giving kids junk food, says landscape designer Cathy Bilow. They’ll be invigorated for a while, but eventually they’ll crash and burn….

A sustainable lawn is one that thrives with as little inputs and labor as possible. It is better for the environment, not only because it lessens chemicals going in the ground, but it also reduces carbon emissions from mowing and supports bees, butterflies and other wildlife….

… the key to a sustainable lawn is cultivating healthy soil. “When soil is healthy, plants will thrive, and thriving plants are more tolerant of disease and drought,” she said. Instead of killing soil bacteria, insects and earthworms, we should be nourishing them with compost….

One cup of soil contains as many bacteria as people on the planet, she said….

One of the easiest ways to feed microbes is to leave mowed grass on the lawn, preferably mulched by your lawnmower to decompose faster….
A cubic yard of compost applied annually is all that is needed to fertilize a thousand square feet of soil….

Weeds will begin to move out on their own once the soil is vibrant enough to support lush growth…
Grass should be mowed at the highest setting to discourage weeds, and there should be enough room in the soil to permit the flow of air and water.

In designing a sustainable landscape, the goal is to replace as much lawn as possible with native plantings…
Bilow suggests adding a rain garden to the landscape to manage water flow and prevent soil erosion…”

As I said, those are little nibbles from a great, worthwhile article. I encourage you to read the whole thing.
And visit our new Topic Index page to find more posts about these topics on this blog.

Eco-Friendly Benefits of Veggie Gardening

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:29:00 +0000

We all know the obvious environmentally friendly benefits of “green” gardening. Green gardeners often work to eliminate all harmful herbicides and pesticides from their yards, incorporate more native plants, and conserve water by choosing plants that are drought tolerant.

But a recent article on the National Geographic website lists several benefits of veggie gardening that go beyond these obvious ones.

Here are a few excerpts from the article, entitled How is Growing a Veggie Garden Eco-Friendly, by Fred Decker:

“Infiltration: Rooftops, driveways, patios and lawns don't allow much water to infiltrate. However, the loose, crumbly soil of a well-worked garden absorbs water like a sponge, especially if it's well composted. This limits runoff, and maintains water quality.

Emissions - Depending on the time of year and where you live, much of the produce you eat might have traveled thousands of miles to get to your local grocer. Every vegetable garden, and every homeowner growing vegetables instead of buying them, helps reduce [carbon emissions].

Urban Cooling - The high density of pavement and rooftops in urban areas can create "heat islands," places where the sun's energy becomes concentrated. This creates an increased demand for cooling and air conditioning, which is a drain on energy and the environment. …gardens can help provide cooling by reducing the number of unshaded heat-reflecting areas exposed to the sun.”

You can read the full text of the article by visiting the National Geographic Green Living website.

Environmental Concerns Native Plant Sale – May 18th & 19th

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:46:00 +0000

What: Environmental Concern’s Spring Native Plant Sale!

When: Friday May 18th from 9am-4pm & Saturday May 19 from 9am -2pm

Where: 201 Boundary Lane, St. Michaels, MD

Native plants ideal for Rain Gardens, Butterfly Gardens, Shade Gardens, Wetlands, Salt Tolerant Plantings and Songbird Hedgerows will be available. Plants are grown from seed (local and regional ecotypes) right here at the nation’s first wetland plant nursery!

Pre-orders will be accepted any time up to Wednesday, May 16^th.

Environmental Concern is located at 201 Boundary Lane in St. Michaels, MD.

For more information, call EC at 410-745-9620 or visit www.wetland.org.

Gardening and your Mother

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:10:00 +0000

This weekend is, of course, Mother’s Day, and I hope that everyone will spend some time in a garden with their mother.

Garden with your mother: If your mother lives close enough, plan on spending some time working in a garden with her. I’ve often mentioned what a therapeutic place a garden can be. Working side by side in a garden with your mother gives you some nice, quiet time together to dig deep into personal, bonding conversations and help your relationship grow.

Teach your mother about green gardening: Like many people of their generation, my parent’s idea of gardening was all about creating colorful, flower-filled beds, neatly trimmed shrubs and lush green lawns, using whatever chemicals and techniques were necessary to produce the best and quickest results. Take the time to teach your mother some of the things you have learned about being a little gentler to the earth, such as using native plants, beneficial insects and creating compost.

Visit a garden with your mother: There are plenty of great public gardens in the area. If neither you nor your mother have a garden of your own to work in, take your mother to a public garden or park where you can enjoy the same quiet benefits of being together in nature.

Be a gardening mother: If your favorite part of Mother’s Day is spending time with your kids instead of your mother, gardening provides the same opportunities to bond with your kids as it does with your mother.

Take care of your other Mother: If you don’t live close enough to your mom, or if she is no longer in your life, spend some time in Mother Nature, anyway. Taking care of a piece of the planet gives you a great opportunity to do some mothering of your own. You have the perfect opportunity to nurture and grow something that will add beauty to the world for generations to come.

Take photos of your garden experience: No matter how you spend time with your Mother this weekend, I encourage you to take photos. When I was getting ready to write this post, I really wished I had some photos of my mom in her gardens. She always loved to garden and she was still outside putzing around with her plants well into her late ‘70’s.

So if she doesn’t live close by, take some garden photos and send them to mom. If you do get to spend time with her, capture the experience with a few photos.

And if she laughs, hit the record button and record that beautiful sound. For no matter how much beauty you may be able to create in a garden or experience in nature, none of it can really compare to the laughter of your Mother.

"Earth laughs in flowers." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Wild” Garden Tour this weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:09:00 +0000

In celebration of May as Wildlife Gardening Month, the National Wildlife Federation, in partnership with Landscape Designer John Magee, is sponsoring a 15 location Wildlife Garden Tour in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties on Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

The tour will feature 14 wildlife-friendly and native inspired gardens, at sites including 10 individual homes, a church, a school and a nature center. You can also visit NWF’s own wildlife habitat and landscape. Each of these sites provides you with an opportunity to view the garden, see some unique landscape design ideas that you can use in your own garden and learn more about some of the plants and wildlife that call these locations home. NWF will have volunteers at each location to answer your questions as you view the gardens.

Newton-Lee Elementary School (Ashburn, VA) will also have activities for families, so feel free to bring your whole family to the event. Activities include: Exploring the two gardens at the school - courtyard and outside wildlife habitat; and examples of how to use gardens to teach – science, math, English and much more. Hands-on activities for planting, learning about birds and making a solar art print with items found in nature. Meet Ranger Rick and have your picture taken with the Best Raccoon around.

National Wildlife Federation Headquarters (Reston, VA) will serve as the starting point for the tour, where you can pick up your tour book before heading out to view the gardens in any order that you select. NWF will also offer tours of its habitat and a native plant sale. Get a great native plant to add to your garden that can help a few wildlife friends have a great summer. (Special Pre-sale day - Thursday, May 10th from 4:00 - 7:30 pm – see list of plants here.)

Activities at NWF HQ: 19 varieties of Native Plants from American Beauties available for purchase including blueberry, coneflower, sea oats and more. Invasive species walking tour and discussion on how to best manage your habitat for invasives; Tours of NWF property in Reston and the sustainable features and wildlife garden. Tours available on the hour and ½ hour during the day starting at 10:30 am.

Reserve your tickets now! www.nwf.org/VAgardentour
Cost: $15 per person or $30 for a family (until May 11th)
Day of Event Cost: $20 per person or $40 for a family
Limited to 500 participants

All proceeds from the tour will support the National Wildlife Federation's Wildlife Habitat programs and its mission to protect wildlife for our children's future.

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Address: 11100 Wildlife Center Drive
Reston, VA 20190

Information provided by Eliza Russell, Director of Education Programs, NWF

Information about Soils & Landscapes from Green Builder Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:38:00 +0000

The March 2012 issue of Green Builder Magazine is dedicated to Soils & Landscaping and it has all sorts of interesting information in it that pertains to everyone who likes to garden and play in the dirt, not just those who build homes on it. The whole magazine is available online (see link below), but here are some of the highlights.

The first article of interest is called “The Secrets of Soil”, by Matthew Power. The teaser paragraph says “Abused, misunderstood, poisoned and taken for granted, soils deserve better. They’re essential to life, more complex than you can imagine, and in serious need of stewardship.”

Here are some excerpts from that article: “$820 million has been spent trying to probe the surface of Mars with the last two rovers, ‘vastly exceeding what has been spent exploring the soil beneath our feet.’”

“A single spade of healthy garden soil …may harbor more species than the entire Amazon nurtures above ground. Two thirds of the Earth’s biological diversity lives in its terrestrial soils and underwater sediments.”

Several places in the magazine, I saw it mentioned that “observing which weeds grow is a highly efficient way of identifying what soils are lacking.” They refer to a book entitled “Weeds and Why they Grow”, by Jay McCaman

Here’s another quote from the issue, in an article called “The Edible Landscape” by Teresa Watkins. “…the time is right to include edible landscaping in every new home master plan or landscape makeover.”

The issue also includes information about rainwater harvesting and smart irrigation.

Ron Jones, the President of Green Builder Media, shares these grim statistics in his “From the Tailgate” column:

American lawns cover more than 40,000 square miles
As a nation, we spend $28.9 billion yearly on lawns
We use 3 times as much synthetic pesticide on our lawns as we do per acre of agricultural crops – about 67 million pounds annually
54 million Americans mow their lawns each weekend, using 800 million gallons of gas per year and producing tons of air pollutants
17 million gallons of fuel, mostly gasoline, are spilled each year while refueling lawn equipment
roughly 10,000 gallons of water is used each summer for each 1,000 square feet of lawn

The issue also has a lot of great graphics and charts and is definitely worth reading. Here is the link to read the full issue: Green Builder Magazine March 2012

Tips for lawn mowing

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:58:00 +0000

Here’s another great EPA video I found that goes along great with our new page, Tips for “Green” Eco-Friendly lawn care.

May is American Wetlands Month - How to help Protect these Vital Eco-systems

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:21:00 +0000

In addition to being Garden for Wildlife Month, May is also American Wetlands Month, a time “to celebrate the vital importance of wetlands to the Nation's ecological, economic, and social health”.
As gardeners, we play an important role in helping to protect local wetlands.

What are wetlands? As defined on the EPA website: “Wetlands are the link between the land and the water. They are transition zones where the flow of water, the cycling of nutrients, and the energy of the sun meet to produce a unique ecosystem characterized by hydrology, soils, and vegetation—making these areas very important features of a watershed.” Benefits of wetlands:

Animal habitat – Wetlands provide habitat for plants and animals in the watershed.
Water storage - When rivers overflow, wetlands help to absorb and slow floodwaters helping to prevent damage from floods.
Water filtration - Wetlands also absorb excess nutrients, sediment, and other pollutants before they reach rivers, lakes, and other water bodies.
Recreation - They are great spots for fishing, canoeing, hiking, and bird-watching, and they make wonderful outdoor classrooms for people of all ages.

But the bad news is, despite all the benefits provided by wetlands, the United States loses about 60,000 acres of wetlands each year. The very runoff that wetlands help to clean can overload and contaminate these fragile ecosystems. As a homeowner, you can help protect wetlands by following other steps that help to prevent polluted stormwater runoff.

Plant native vegetation in your yard
Eliminate or limit your use of harmful fertilizers and pesticides which can pollute nearby waterways
Plant native grasses or forested buffer strips along wetlands on your property to protect water quality
Direct all downspouts to porous surfaces rather than solid surfaces such as driveways
Create swales (small dips in the ground) and berms (raised earthen areas) to help divert runoff to porous surfaces.
Install rain barrels
Incorporate porous surfaces Whenever possible, use bricks, gravel, turf block, mulch, pervious concrete or other porous materials for walkways, driveways or patios.

For more information: Build a wetland in your backyard. Learn how by visiting the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s web site page: Backyard Wetland Wetlands Walk: A Guide to Wetlands and Wildlife Sanctuaries in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area EPA Wetlands Page

Annual Bird and Tree Tour Saturday at Pig Tail and Greenbridge Recreation Areas

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:57:00 +0000

The songbirds are arriving from the south and mountain laurel is blooming to signal that spring is here. To celebrate, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) is offering free bird and tree tours on Saturday, May 5.

Bird lovers are in for a rare treat when WSSC hosts its third annual Warbler tour at Pig Tail Recreation Area. Visitors will have a chance to see Black-Throated Green Warblers, Palm Warblers and Yellow Warblers showing off their bright colors while trying to attract a mate.

Warblers are attracted to open water, making Pig Tail a favorite. When returning in the fall, warblers are less likely to be seen since their winter plumage is more subdued.

WSSC also will host its third annual Native Tree tour on Saturday. This year, the tour will highlight the blooming mountain laurel tree and other native plants of the low pH soils of the Greenbridge Recreation Area. The tour will be led by WSSC’s certified arborist, Doug Sievers.

What: Warbler Bird Tour

Where: Pig Tail Recreation Area, 5550 Green Bridge Road, Dayton.

When: 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 5

What: Tree Tour

Where: Greenbridge Recreation Area, 2800 Greenbridge Road, Brookeville.

When: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, May 5.

For more information, contact Kimberley Knox, WSSC Community Outreach Manager, at 301-206-8233.

Feathers, fur and flights of fancy – May is Garden for Wildlife Month

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:25:00 +0000

“Green” gardening and wildlife habitats go hand in hand. Some people learn the pleasures of sharing their gardens with wildlife after they have begun to create a more eco-friendly landscape and the birds, butterflies and other critters just start showing up in the native plants and chemical free, critter safe zone.
Other gardeners make a concerted effort to create habitat for wildlife, which by its nature and definition, results in a more environmentally friendly landscape.
Since May has been designated as Garden for Wildlife Month, now is the perfect time to learn how to make your own landscape more wildlife friendly.
To create a wildlife friendly landscape, a property should provide wildlife with food, water, shelter and places to raise their young. Other sustainable gardening practices which help to create a more environmentally friendly habitat are:

You can learn more about creating wildlife friendly landscapes by visiting some of the links at the bottom of this post.
I would also like to thank Donna Williamson, a fellow wildlife lover who contacted me about the photo I used of hornworms in a bowl of soapy water as a form of eco-friendly pest control. Donna, author of the book The Virginia Gardener’s Companion, pointed out that hornworms are the caterpillars of the sphinx moth, and instead of disposing of them, another option is just to grow enough plants to share with them! Donna said:

“I wanted to share some info about the sphinx moths/tobacco hornworms - it was disconcerting to see them drowning in a bowl on your blog which I usually enjoy so much and I applaud your effort to get folks to realize the danger of homemade pesticides! I grow lots of tomatoes so the hornworms and I can share, and I also support the wasp predators that lay their eggs in some of the caterpillars.”

Thanks Donna. I really appreciate it when our readers share what they have learned to do around their own eco-friendly gardens.
Now, for more information about creating eco friendly landscapes:
May is Garden for Wildlife Month (NWF website)
10 Tips for Creating a Wildlife Friendly Garden
The Proof is in the Planting

Butterflies help remind us to be good environmental stewards

Eco-friendly gardeners say "Let me tell you about my garden critters"
Gardening for Hummingbirds

Brookside Gardens Native & Edible Plant Sale – May 5th

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:59:00 +0000

What: Native and Edible Plant Sale

When: Saturday, May 5, from 9:00am-3:00pm

Where: Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902

Native plant lovers, do you want to get your paws on some Paw Paws; are you wild about Wild Ginger or a sucker for native Honey Suckle? We can service your berry. Visit the Brookside Gardens´ inaugural Native & Edible Plant Sale. Brookside Gardens and the Montgomery Parks Community Gardens will offer a tantalizing selection of native and edible plants for sale, including unusual and hard-to-find vegetables and herbs; native perennials, shrubs, trees, vines, pollinator host plants; and, plants that provide wildlife habitat.

For more information, including a list of plants that will be offered for sale, visit them online at www.brooksidegardens.org or call 301-962-1400.

Hidden dangers of homemade pesticides

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:33:00 +0000

In an effort to eliminate chemicals around our yard, my husband and I have often made home-made products to control pests and weeds. We know that harsh, unnecessary chemicals can harm organisms on our own property, but can also get washed into local waterways where they can cause fish kills and other water pollution dangers.

I have to admit that the primary reason we have done this is for convenience and to save money. When we see some unwanted pests around the yard, it certainly seems easier to just run inside and mix up a concoction of our own to try to tackle the problem.

But when I recently wrote a post about ways to keep wandering cats from digging in gardens, long time reader Alison Gillespie (author of the great blog Where you are Planted ) pointed out the danger of using mothballs to repel animals. This, in turn, made me think about the potential dangers of all homemade landscape products.

So before mixing up any do-it-yourself pesticide or weed killing products, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. ANYTHING you add to the ground has the potential of upsetting the natural eco-system and possibly killing good organisms along with the pests.
2. Homemade pesticides do not have the benefit of scientific evaluation and do not have label directions that the user can follow to ensure safe use or the desired pest control result.
3. Homemade pesticides may burn or damage plants.
4. While some homemade pesticides (such as soap and water) pose little risk, combining them with other ingredients may be harmful.
5. Often, home garden remedies are mixed in bottles and cans used for food. This is a very dangerous practice, especially with the presence of small children.
6. Other possible risks associated with the preparation and use of homemade pesticides include: inhaling harmful fumes, irritating eyes and skin, and contaminating clothing.
7. Homemade pesticides should be used immediately. Do not store.
8. Do not leave homemade pesticides unattended or spray them near children, pets, and other family members.
9. Purchasing organic pesticides from reputable companies rather than making your own helps to support businesses working towards a green future.
10. Just because something comes from a plant doesn’t mean it is safe.
     a. Nicotine – Nicotine is a potent pesticide that acts on the insect nervous system. Nicotine is also highly toxic to humans, dogs, cats and other mammals. According to oral toxicity trials, nicotine is more toxic to mammals than some commonly used synthetic pesticides such as malathion (Source)
     b. Rhubarb – Oxalic acid may be extracted from rhubarb leaves and is often recommended for aphid control. However, oxalic acid has been associated with deaths of goats, swine and humans through ingestion of high quantities of rhubarb leaves (source)
    c. Chrysanthemums – Pyrethrum can be extracted from chrysanthemum flowers and is one of the most commonly used insecticides in the United States. Although Pyrethrums have low toxicity towards humans and other mammals , thousands of reports of mild symptoms of pyrethrum poisoning are reported annually across the United States.

For more information:
Organic Pest Control : What Works, What Doesn’t
Organic Pest Control Methods Explained
http://www.pesticides.montana.edu/News/Bulletins/MT%20Pest%20Bulletin-May.pdf

Homemade pesticides are dangerous

Keeping Champion Trees Strong

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:27:00 +0000

Volunteer Opportunity with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

Sunday, May 6 from 9 a.m. to Noon-“Keeping Champion Trees Strong”

A grove of very rare trees, Franklinias were found at Triadelphia Recreation Area. But invasive weeds have also found them-and we need to get rid of the invasive weeds from these groves. Triadelphia Recreation Area, 2600 Triadelphia Lake Road, Brookeville

For more information, visit the WSSC website.

Composting Workshop – May 9th

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:24:00 +0000

What: GREEN LIVING SERIES WORKSHOP: Composting Fundamentals
When: Wednesday, May 9th, 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Where: Discovery Communications, One Discovery Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Would you like to understand the science behind composting and how it relates to what you do in your backyard?

Would you like to learn the “Seven Compost Lessons” that are essential to making "Black Gold?"

Then plan on attending this workshop to hear Master Composter Sam Patsy outline the fundamentals of composting so that you can improve your garden soil.

Mr. Patsy was raised on a small farm and has been composting all his life. From 2003 to 2010 he was head of the composting group for the Maryland Master Gardeners.

Register here for this workshop: Backyard Composting

The event is free, although donations will be accepted.

The event is being organized by Silver Spring Green (SSG), a local grassroots organization that brings together individuals, organizations, businesses, and government working together to improve our environment, economy and shared sense of community.

Information for this post provided by Kathy Jentz, editor/publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine

It’s Arbor Day – What is Your Favorite Tree Memory

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:39:00 +0000

In honor of Arbor Day, I decided to write a post about my favorite memory of trees. I soon realized that it was a difficult task, because instead of one distinct memory, there is a whole crowded forest of tree memories in my life.

But before I invite you to wander down that wooded path with me, I wanted to share just a brief history of Arbor Day, which I found on the Arborday.org website. I love the history of this event because, like many important environmental actions in this country, it was planted by an enthusiastic environmental writer.

“Among pioneers moving into the Nebraska Territory in 1854 was J. Sterling Morton from Detroit. He and his wife were nature lovers, and the home they established in Nebraska was quickly planted with trees, shrubs and flowers.

Morton was a journalist and soon became editor of Nebraska's first newspaper. Given that forum, he spread agricultural information and his enthusiasm for trees to an equally enthusiastic audience. All of the pioneers missed the trees of their homelands. But more importantly, trees were needed as windbreaks to keep soil from blowing and for fuel and building materials, as well as shade from the hot sun.

Morton not only advocated tree planting by individuals in his articles and editorials, but he also encouraged civic organizations and groups of every kind to join in. His prominence in the area increased, and he became secretary of the Nebraska Territory, which provided another opportunity to stress the value of trees.” (You can continue reading about the history of Arbor Day here)

And now, here are some of my favorite tree memories:

My sisters and I planting a peach pit in our backyard in Mt. Holly, NJ and seeing it grow into a beautiful tree. I think we were all surprised when that wrinkly old pit actually became a tree.
Long walks through the woods with my sisters and mother growing up in NJ, where I feel my love of nature really took root and grew.
Long walks through the woods with my sisters, friends and others throughout my life. Walks in the woods are such a great place for nurturing relationships and helping them to grow.
The walks I used to take through a wooded park with my mother as she eased into her senior years.
The beautiful oak tree that my brother in law donated and planted in that same park in memory of my mother when she passed away.
Every single day on the beautiful piece of wooded property that my husband and I now own.
The GORGEOUS wooden bench that my husband built me out of a huge fallen oak from our property, and the sadness as we watched it slowly get eaten up by boring beetles.
The countless wonders I have seen by looking up at trees; the peaceful murmurs I have heard as wind rustles their leaves; the sensory pleasures of bark and fragrance and falling leaves
The time that my husband gave an oak sapling as a baby gift, with a handwritten note that said “For his first tree house”.

But my favorite tree memory that I often share is this one, about when I first met my husband, Tom. Reprinted here from a previous article I wrote:

Last year I met a man named Tom. He had curly black hair and a joyful smile, and I warmed to his pleasant, natural personality almost immediately. But it wasn't until he came to my house and brought me a gift that my heart opened it's doors to him and welcomed him inside.
"It's an oak tree," he said, handing me a slightly rusting tin can with a 9" plant sprouting healthily out of the strong, black soil. "I grew it from an acorn and I want you to have it."
I don't know how he knew about my love of plants or that I would like that more than the roses that most first dates would bring. But somehow he knew. And somehow, seeing that nurturing side of him on our first date made all the difference in the world.

So today, on Arbor Day, I hope that you will take some time to think about trees and some of the important memories that they have helped to create in your life. And whether you decide to go out and hug one, plant one or write about one, I hope that, in your own way, you will celebrate them.

Build Your Own Rain Barrel Workshops

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:45:00 +0000

What: Build Your Own Rain Barrel Workshop
When: Saturday May 12, 2012 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Where: Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St. (Map This)

AND

Saturday, May 19, 2012 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston, VA 20191

Event Details:

As part of their Eco-City Alexandria initiative, and in coordination with the Northern Virginia Rain Barrel Program Partners, participants will discuss water quality issues and how they can be part of the solution by learning to build a rain barrel, building a rain barrel, and taking it home at the end of the workshop. The rain barrels are made from sturdy, repurposed barrels and are very affordable. Please visit the provided link to pre-register. You must pre-register to attend.

Link: http://www.arlingtonenvironment.org/barrel.php

Contact Person: Jesse Maines

Contact Phone No.: 703.746.4071

Contact Email: Jesse.Maines@alexandria.va

Fees: $55 (please visit registration link)

Garden therapy is my favorite prescription

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, April 28th

I treat my body the same way that I treat my gardens. When it comes to health, my first line of defense is always a natural one, and I only turn to chemical solutions as a last resort.

But every now and then, I’ve accepted a prescription medicine for something because it just seemed so easy at the time. I have filled prescriptions for pain killers when I’ve had minor medical procedures. And more than once, I’ve accepted something from a doctor who thought some symptom I had was related to stress.

And then I realized that I didn’t need the drugs after all. The anticipated pain never came or A day in my garden took away all of my stress.

Accepting unnecessary prescriptions may seem like an easy thing to do if you have health insurance that covers the cost for you, but it causes a major problem: how to dispose of those medicines safely.

Some people decide to keep the medication just in case they may need it sometime in the future. Who knows when some mysterious, unbearable pain may occur, right? Unfortunately, this attitude can prove disastrous or even fatal.

Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.
The number of young children being poisoned after inadvertently ingesting over-the-counter or prescription medications has risen dramatically in recent years. A study by the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center found that visits to U.S. emergency departments due to medication poisonings of children five and under rose 28 per cent between 2001 and 2008 — and 95 per cent were due to kids getting into the drugs on their own.
Pets, too, are in danger of being poisoned by human medications. In 2007, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center received 89,000 calls related to pets ingesting over-the-counter and prescription medications.

Flushing medications down the toilet or disposing of them improperly can cause the same kinds of environmental problems as disposing of unwanted lawn chemicals inappropriately.

If you have any surplus medication laying around your house, I urge you to take advantage of the DEA's Take-Back Initiative.

This Saturday, April 28th, 2012, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to provide a venue for persons who want to dispose of expired, unwanted and unused over the counter or prescription drugs.

Americans that participated in the DEA’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 29, 2011, turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal (helping to keep those drugs out of the hands of our children and out of our waterways)

To find a location to turn in your unwanted medication, visit the DEA website and input your zip code.

And next time you feel a little stress starting to run you ragged, why not try a little Zen Gardening. It always works wonders for me!

Rain barrels help you work WITH Mother Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:18:00 +0000

One of the first suggestions that I make to people who want to start practicing “green”, eco-friendly gardening, is to learn to Work WITH Mother Nature, Not Against Her. What I generally mean when I say that is that one of the best ways to NOT harm the environment in and from your own landscape, is to get to know the piece of property you are working with, including such things as plant hardiness zone, areas of sun and shade, pH levels of the soil, and plants which are native or invasive. Here is a post that explains those ideas in more detail: Working With Mother Nature

But another way to Work With Mother Nature is to adapt our gardens and our gardening practices to work with Acts of Nature, which include times of drought, rain, wind and freezes.

The recent near-drought-to-heavy-rain which many of us experienced was a perfect example of how rain barrels are a great way to work with Mother Nature. Those who already have rain barrels installed at their homes now have a good supply of water saved up (depending on the number and size of barrels that they have) to help deal with the next drought.

My husband LOVES his rain barrels. During our recent rains, he was outside in a raincoat checking on his rain barrels, making sure they were all working correctly, and filling up our very large assortment of watering cans to capture as much of that free water source as he could.

But hubby also knows that rain barrels play another important role in protecting the environment. By collecting runoff from rooftops, rain barrels can also prevent stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff is caused when heavy rains run directly into streets and storm sewers, carrying it (and the pollutants it collects) directly to the local waterways.

Rain barrels require little maintenance and are a great way to save money and conserve water as a natural resource.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to get a rebate to help cover the purchase price of your rain barrel. In DC, see the RiverSmart Homes site; In Montgomery County, see Rainscapes Rewards; in Gaithersburg, Rainscapes Rewards; Rockville – Rainscapes Rewards.

Rain barrels are fun and easy to build and there are lots of rain barrel workshops in the area: Northern Virginia Rain Barrel Registration

You can build your own, without a workshop: Rain Barrel Assembly (pdf)

Or you can buy one, readymade: Local Rain Barrel Sources

Some of Mother Nature’s other Acts are a lot harder to deal with. Rain barrels help to make rain and drought some of the easier ones.

Helping Out the Dragonflies

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:22:00 +0000

Volunteer Opportunity with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to Noon-“Helping Out the Dragonflies”

The best spot to see dragonflies and damselflies in central Maryland is Brown’s Bridge Recreation Area in the summer. But they don’t need trash and invasive weed covering up their food sources. So we need your help to tidy up their favorite spot. Brown’s Bridge Recreation Area, 2220 Ednor Road, Silver Spring, MD

For more information, visit the WSSC website.

Fantastic Friday – Great Earth Day video to share

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:42:00 +0000

If a picture is worth a thousand words, than some of the great eco-friendly videos that are out there online are worth millions.
Here is a great one I found today from EPAGOV

Now is a good time to start your fertilizer diet

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:16:00 +0000

My poll question on the blog and our Facebook page this month is about fertilizer, specifically: What time of the year do you apply fertilizer to your lawn? After you take a few moment to add your answer to the poll, you can see what horticulture experts recommend by visiting our page, “10 Tips for a “Green”, Eco-Friendly Lawn”

Fertilizer is “in the news” in the area recently because of the Fertilizer Use Act of 2011 for Maryland, which limits the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus that may be contained in lawn fertilizer products and also puts restrictions on how and when homeowners and lawn care professionals can apply these products.

Although the Maryland law will not officially go into effect until October 1, 2013, Maryland State Agriculture Secretary Buddy Vance is encouraging homeowners to start implementing these changes now.

"According to our state chemist here at the Maryland Department of Agriculture, about 44 percent of the fertilizer sold in the state of Maryland is applied to lawns - that's a pretty amazing factoid," Maryland Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance said during a press conference Monday. "Everybody assumes that agriculture is the biggest user, but lawns use almost as much fertilizer."

One of the main changes from the Fertilizer Use Act will be the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous that is contained in fertilizer.

Nitrogen and phosphorus are key ingredients in lawn fertilizer, but can be harmful if used in excess. When it rains, these nutrients can wash into local waterways and eventually into the Chesapeake Bay where they can fuel the growth of algae blooms and threaten underwater life.

Jon Traunfeld, director of the University of Maryland Extension Home and Garden Information Center, suggests that homeowners get their soil tested to determine the exact fertilizer needs of their lawn and also suggested that homeowners use compost to supply these needs.

For More Information: Maryland’s Lawn Fertilizer Law
And here is a link to a similar fertilizer law for Virginia : Virginia’s Fertilizer Law
And here’s the link again to our post: 10 Tips for a “Green”, eco-friendly Lawn

Share the Wonder

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:04:00 +0000

I saw a short article on the Huffington Post the other day asking readers to share their photos of something that they consider a Natural Wonder.

As a wildlife lover, I consider all creatures Natural Wonders, so I decided to share this photo of sandhill crane babies that were born on Earth Day, 2008.

I encourage you to get outside and take a look around your home and garden, or go through some of your online photos and share one with the Huffington Post Readers! I’d ask you to vote for my photo, just for fun, but I can’t seem to get the voting mechanism to work!

Here is the link to the page on Huffington Post with my photo.

The Original Earth Day – an idea Planted for the Planet

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:51:00 +0000

It’s inspiring to me to read about the history of Earth Day, primarily because the seed for Earth Day was planted by one man.

Back in 1970, this one man, Gaylord Nelson, who was a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, was so concerned about the environmental problems of the times, that he announced the idea of a “national teach-in on the planet” to educate the masses about many of the environmental problems the world was facing. Nelson gathered a small group to help get his idea started: Congressman Pete McCloskey as his co-chair; Denis Hayes as his national coordinator and a national staff of 85 to promote events across the land.

Keep in mind, this was before email and cell phones, Facebook and twitter. But the actions of this small team of 88 people opened the eyes of the entire world.

As a result, on the 22nd of April (1970), 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies.
The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. "It was a gamble," Gaylord recalled, "but it worked." (Earthday.org website)

It is hard to pick up a newspaper or get on the internet without seeing evidence of how this man’s “gamble” has paid off. Businesses and corporations, big and small, are pledging money to environmental groups. Celebrities are putting their names behind their favorite causes. Rallies and events are already being held throughout the country and the world.

According to Wikipedia, Earth Day is now observed on April 22 each year by more than 500 million people and several national governments in 175 countries, but if you visit the EarthDay.org website, you’ll see that the numbers are probably much higher than that.

The point that I hope you will take away from all of this is the power that YOU have, as an individual, to make a difference. Gaylord Nelson took a gamble back in 1970 by planting the seed for Earth Day. Now, we all have the opportunity to help keep this idea growing.

As a Green Gardener, here are some suggestions for how to influence others on Earth Day.

Or you can visit the EarthDay.org website for other ideas about what you can do.

Whatever you decide to do, I encourage you to use the power of social media to let others know about it. Facebook, twitter and other forms of social media are the perfect fertilizers to help keep your positive ideas growing.

Celebrate Earth Day – Get some cool garden goodies

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:29:00 +0000

What: Celebrate Earth Day, Plant a tree, Learn about wildlife gardening

When: April 21st, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Where: Chevy Chase Community Center

In partnership with the DC Dept. of the Environment, the Chevy Chase Citizens Association is celebrating Earth Day with a free educational, hands-on workshop to help people create backyard habitats for wildlife. The date is Saturday, April 21 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the Chevy Chase Community Center, 5600 Connecticut Avenue, NW.

Topics covered by the Audubon Society and other environmental groups include conservation landscaping, gardening for wildlife, plant selection, and general landscaping design principles. Participants will help plant a tree and a demonstration garden and receive a habitat kit containing a native plant guide, an invasive plant booklet, a book on wildlife gardening, a birdhouse kit and a live plant! If you need more info, email bbaldwing@yahoo.com

Painting the Town Green – How to Influence Others on Earth Day and Everyday

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy S. Franz) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 16:58:00 +0000

“People don't resist change, they resist being changed.” - Peter M. Senge

I saw a Facebook discussion this weekend in which a gardener was concerned about a neighbor who was spraying chemicals in an adjacent yard on a windy day. The discussion soon led to the inevitable question “How do we influence others?”

As eco-friendly gardeners, or as any environmentally concerned citizen, how do we educate, encourage, motivate and influence others, without offending, angering or annoying them? This, of course, is the answer we all want and need, and it is probably the obvious one: The best way to influence others is to think of what it takes for something to influence us.

What would it take to get you to change YOUR mind about something? Certainly not criticism or condemnation. What, then? What would encourage you to learn? To change? To begin acting differently?

I put some thought into what tactics might influence me, and here are the tips I came up with:

16 tips to help encourage more “green” gardeners

1) Get rid of the attitude "It's My Way or the Highway" - Extreme environmental opinions are a sure way to turn many people off.

2) Do it for them, not for you – It’s easy to look at someone else’s actions and see how they may be negatively affecting you. But that’s probably not the best attitude to take when trying to influence others. Adopt the attitude that you want to help them learn, NOT that you just want them to stop what they are doing.

3) Make friends with them – Most of us are more readily influenced by friends than by strangers. If you want to influence your neighbors, take the time to get to know them. Knock on their door. Smile. Introduce yourself. Take them some flowers or produce from your garden or some homemade cookies.

4) Find out what motivates them - By getting to know someone, you can determine what it will take to influence them. Talk about nature. Talk about money, family, health or yard work. See which topics spark their interest. Knowing how they feel about these topics will let you know what tack to take in educating them.

5) Adopt the “We’re in this together” attitude – Don’t assume the role of educator . No matter how much you think you know about eco-friendly gardening, you probably don’t know everything. Take the approach of learning with them, not teaching them.

6) Ask for advice, don’t give it –Instead of saying “Why are you spraying those awful poisons all over your yard” try asking their advice instead. Say “Do you know anything about eco-friendly pest control? I’m trying to cut down on the chemicals in my yard.”

7) Compliment them – Take a look around their yard and pick out some of the best features. Compliment them on the aspects you see that are eco-friendly. Do you see butterflies? Is there mulch in the garden? Are there permeable paths? They may be helping the environment and not even be aware of it. Teach them by complimenting the benefits of what they are already doing.

8) Keep your own yard looking nice – One of the best ways to influence others is by example. And as green gardeners, one of the best examples we can set is to keep our own yards tidy. In an article, Why Visual Appeal Matters , which I found on a Sierra Club website, writer Arvind Kumar says this: “your garden influences people every time someone walks by or drives by. People form impressions and opinions based on what they see; they are much more likely to emulate you if their impression is favorable”.

9) Show and tell – Invite them to your yard. Show them the things that you have already learned about eco-friendly gardening. Show them how beautiful native plants can be. Explain how your rain barrel works. Show them the caterpillars munching away in your garden and explain to them that they will soon be beautiful butterflies which help pollinate the flowers.

10) Make it about people , not about the planet - Studies show that people are more willing to make the right environmental choices if they understand the benefits to people, instead of the planet. Share what you have learned about the personal, physical dangers of pesticides or herbicides rather than more abstract ideas such as global warming.

11) Share the green goods– Nothing tastes better than fresh, home grown food. If you grow your own fruits, vegetables or herbs, share them with your neighbors or bake them into scrumptious snacks to share. If you have some extra insecticidal soap or other eco-friendly products, offer to share them. Or share your recipes for home-made products. If you have a rooted cutting or seedlings of a native plant, share it with them. Explain the benefits. If you are going to pick up a load of free compost, offer to share it with them, too.

12) Get their kids involved – Your neighbors may not be excited by your earthworms , hummingbirds and butterflies, but their kids probably will be. Converting the kids is often the best way to convert the parents.

13) Challenge them – Friendly competition is a great motivator. Once they start their “green” gardening, make it a competition. Take our Eco-Friendly Landscape Quiz together and compare scores. Participate in critter counts or other Citizen Science programs together. See who can attract the most birds and butterflies or who can achieve all of the steps necessary to get their yard recognized in a certification program such as the NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat Program.

14) Offer to lend a hand – You may have already learned the steps to install a rain barrel or start a compost pile. Offer to help your neighbor with theirs.

15) Show them the money (savings) –Explain how rain barrels can save money. Tell them about some of the local rebate programs or where they can get free mulch in the area.

16) Share The Metro DC Lawn and Garden blog and other websites - There is a lot of great information available online. Sharing some of your favorite blogs and websites with them is a great way to help them learn more on their own. Maybe they’ll even learn something that they can teach YOU!