June 15th is Nature Photography Day

  In 2006, the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) celebrated the first Nature Photography Day. The day was designated to not only promote the enjoyment of nature photography, but to show how photographs can be used to help advance the cause of conservation and protect plants, wildlife, and landscapes.

Today, on the seventh annual Nature Photography Day, we all have the opportunity to use our cameras to explore and share the beauty of the natural world around us, and perhaps to help influence others to see and appreciate that beauty as we do.

NANPA encourages everyone to get out in nature this weekend and to share your photos on their  Nature Photography Day page. Theirs isn’t a contest, but just a spot to share a favorite photo of nature that was taken on June 15th, 2012.

While you have your camera in hand, I encourage you to take a closer look at your own yard and take your best shot to help further the cause of conservation, by showing the beauty of the plants, wildlife and landscape of your own yard.

Our Green Gardeners Make a Difference event IS a contest, and you have the chance to win great prizes. The contest is free, so you have nothing to lose! Top winners will be chosen by online voting, so even if you don’t think you have the best photo or the best garden to show off, our voters (including your friends and family) might disagree.

Whether you enter or not, I hope you enjoy taking a closer look at the nature that you have all around you, in your own home landscape.

I took the above photo in my front yard this morning. Although I can’t enter the Green Gardener photo contest myself, this photo would be eligible to enter for several reasons: it’s a photo of a gulf fritillary caterpillar (indicating I don’t use pesticides) on a native passion vine (native plants), in one of my butterfly gardens (wildlife habitat). All of those things are great steps for a Green Gardener!

There’s something special about people who garden

I recently saw a short article called Bumper Crops about a Brooklyn, NY man named Ian Cheney who decided to plant tomatoes, peppers and other produce in the back of a 1986 Dodge pickup truck. This wasn’t  a parked pickup truck, mind you. But a truck that he continued to drive around New York.

He took photos of the progress of his Truck Farm and made a time-lapse movie which became a hit documentary, and also inspired a “movement of mobile gardeners” who take their gardens on the road to raise both fresh veggies and eco-awareness. Watching the little trailer of the video online left me with just one thought: I love gardeners.

I know that is a pretty broad statement, but I’ve met a lot of gardeners in my life and I honestly can’t think of many times that I didn’t feel an almost immediate affinity with them. Maybe I’ve just been lucky. But the majority of the gardeners I’ve met in my life are generous, kind, calm and creative. They share, not only what they grow, and what they learn while they are growing, but through their gardens, they also share both beauty and benefits to the environment.

Many of them are sentimental, struggling with the tough decisions of what plants must be sacrificed in order to let others thrive. Some get so attached to particular plants that they almost mourn their passing, staring at the blank spot in their yard that once held fragrance, flowers or special memories.

Two years ago, on June 17, 2010, I wrote my first post for this blog. It was entitled The psychology of "green" gardening – is taking care of the planet good for the soul?

The post is about studies carried out by Richard Ryan, PhD, Professor of Psychology, Psychiatry and Education at the University of Rochester, who determined that: “spending time in nature not only makes people feel more energized but also leads them to be nicer, value their relationships more and to be more generous – definitely evidence that nature is good for the soul.”

With a little prodding, I got professor Ryan to admit that: “Peter Rabbit’s experience aside, gardeners are probably nicer people”. That phrase and that sentiment have certainly rang true over the past two years on this blog. 

Since then, I have read reports about similar studies, some indicating that digging in the dirt helps to raise levels of our bodies natural anti-depressants.

So perhaps there is a scientific reason behind the kindness of gardeners. All I know is that the gardeners I have met, both online and in person, add as much wonder and beauty to my life as my gardens do….probably more.

So thanks to all of you for being my garden friends, sharing your garden stories with me…..and for allowing me to share mine.

• More information about Truck Farms
• D.C. Central Kitchen’s Truck Farm
• The Psychology of Green Gardening
• Green Gardeners Make a Difference Photo Contest

Contest rules clarified – deadline extended until June 17th

We want to thank Jan D. for pointing out that we had a few inconsistencies in our Green Gardeners Make a Difference Photo Contest rules. We have made some modifications so that the contest now lists all of the cities, counties and jurisdictions that are allowed to enter. We have also added a few extra days to the contest deadline, in order to allow a little more time to anyone who was confused by our contradictory contest conditions.

Gardeners and photo-bugs now have until midnight on June 17th to submit their entries for the contest, depicting one or more of the following green gardening practices:

Eco-friendly plant choices (ie: Right plant/right place, waterwise plants, native plant species)

Water conservation techniques – ( Rain gardens, rain barrels, mulch to retain water, drip irrigation, etc.)

Reduction of stormwater runoff – (rain gardens, rain barrels, downspout redirection, permeable surfaces)

Elimination of chemicals – (hand weeding, beneficial insects, compost)

Creation of wildlife habitat – (such as butterfly garden, berry laden plants, etc.)

Reduction or replacement of lawn areas

And don’t forget to include a brief description of WHY the photographed aspect of your yard is eco-friendly.

Since Father’s Day is June 17th, this gives you a great excuse to spend some time with Dad in the garden. Just remember that if you include Dad in the photo, you have to get him to sign a model release!

P.S. I saw some really cute pictures of Bo Obama in the White House garden today, so if Michelle decides to enter one of those photos in the contest, then the competition might be pretty fierce! Otherwise, it’s going to be a close competition when the voting begins on June 25th.

Bo Obama busy supervising the White House garden

Five days to enter. Fantastic odds of winning a prize

There are only 5 days left to enter the Green Gardeners Make a Difference Photo Contest and the odds of winning a prize are fantastic!

Currently, there are only SEVEN entries in the contest!! Which means one of those entries will walk away with the top prize of $700 worth of garden goodies! Second place prizewinner will receive $400 worth of garden goodies. And keep in mind that the winner can choose to receive a garden center gift certificate instead of the great prizes that we have chosen!

The rules are simple. Take a photo of your home landscape depicting any of the following eco-friendly gardening practices. If you aren’t sure whether your yard will qualify, I’ve provided links to some blog posts that better explain some of these principles.

• Eco-friendly plant choices (ie: Right plant/right place, waterwise plants, native plant species)  - choosing suitable plants means that your landscape will require less water and less chemicals to maintain
• Water conservation techniques – ( Rain gardens, rain barrels, mulch to retain water, drip irrigation, etc.)
• Reduction of stormwater runoff – (rain gardens, rain barrels, downspout redirection, permeable surfaces)
• Elimination of chemicals – (hand weeding, beneficial insects, compost)
• Creation of wildlife habitat – (such as butterfly garden, berry laden plants, etc.)
• Reduction or replacement of lawn areas

Write a short description explaining which of the six eco-friendly practices your photo represents.

All photos that meet these rules will be moved into the next round where they can be voted on by friends and family.

For more information, visit the contest website: http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/211893

Good luck!

RainScapes Watershed Friendly Landscapes Tour 2012 – June 16th

I have mentioned the benefits of rain gardens many times, but the The Montgomery County website describes their benefits better than I can:

Environmental Benefits

Most rainfall on urban surfaces such as roofs, driveways, roads, parking lots and patios ends up as stormwater runoff. In contrast rainfall on natural surfaces (e.g., forests and meadows) soaks into the ground where it can replenish groundwater and recharge streams. RainScapes techniques include rainfall capture and holding, rainfall interception, and simulating good, natural drainage which help to:

• Reduce stormwater runoff volumes from individual properties
• Reduce drainage problems on a property
• Prevent stormwater pollution from entering our streams
• Reduce water consumption during dry spells
• Reduced need for mowing, fertilizer and pesticide applications
• Enhance yard aesthetics
• Enhance wildlife habitat
• Reduce energy costs to heat and cool your home
• Increase property values

In order to help illustrate the benefits of Rainscapes, there will be a self-guided tour of Rainscapes in Montgomery County on June 16th from 9am – Noon. This is a great opportunity to see just how beautiful and effective Rainscapes can be.

To download a pdf document with descriptions of the various landscapes on the tour, click here: RainScapes Watershed Friendly Landscapes 2012

Want the secret to happiness? Share the Wonder

Aristotle: “In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.”

My husband and I have a WONDER-full habit that adds a lot of pleasure to our lives. We seek out “wonders of nature” on our property and point them out to each other.

The “wonders”  don’t have to be much: A miniature rose bud covered with dew, a caterpillar getting ready to go to chrysalis, a mother bird feeding its young.

Sometimes we share a smell – something sweet and blooming drifting on the air. Or a sound – northern Parulas high up in the trees are some of our favorites. Depending on the time of day, we share sunrises and sunsets, “first stars”, and full moons.

Sharing the wonders of nature together has become a very special part of our relationship. It has made us more aware of our surroundings...more tuned in to the sights, sounds, smells and tactile sensations of the world around us.

Looking for these wonders has become a playful challenge.  It clears all of the other unnecessary crud from our thoughts and lets us just seek out ways to share joy with each other. No matter what else might have happened during our days, the shared “wonder” always seems to bring us back together.

And whenever one of us is feeling neglected or alone, all we have to do is say those three little magic words:

“Wonder of Nature! Wonder of Nature”

Those words are sure to make us push away from the computers, put down our cell phones, turn off our televisions and look, instead, at the things that matter the most in our lives – the fantastic wonders of nature all around us and the people that love us enough to want to share them with us.

June 9th is National Get Outdoors Day. It was created to “encourage healthy, outdoor fun”. It’s also a really wonderful opportunity to appreciate the Wonders of Nature with those you love. And a good reminder to appreciate the wonders OF those you love.

Whatever you do this weekend, I encourage you to spend some time appreciating the wonders.

Click here to find National Get Outdoors Day Activities in Your Area.

Soaking up more info about rain gardens

I still haven’t started my rain garden yet, even though it is definitely something that I would like to get done before it becomes too hot this year. Rain gardens are such a great way to help prevent stormwater runoff, which is a leading cause of flooding and local waterway pollution.

Since a picture is worth 1000 words, I’m hoping that some of you who do have rain gardens will enter photos in our Green Gardeners Make a Difference Photo contest so I can gain a little inspiration from your success stories. You can help educate and inspire others and you have the chance to win some great prizes (top prize is $700 worth of garden goodies).

In the meantime, I found a great article about a rain garden success story and it also has some links for more information.

The article is in the Severna Park Patch and is entitled Rain Gardens ‘Spring’ Back to Life by John Dawson, who is currently taking training at the Watershed Stewards Academy to become a watershed steward.

I encourage you to check out the article.

And whether you have a rain garden or not, I encourage you to take a walk around your yard, with your camera, and take a photo to share in our Green Gardeners Make a Difference photo contest. A native plant, a rain barrel, a butterfly on a flower – any of these things help to illustrate the eco-friendly aspects of your garden and we would love to share them with our readers.

Urban Wood Utilization Workshop II

What: Urban Wood Utilization Workshop

When: June 29th, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Where: Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments – 3rd Floor Board Room
777 North Capitol St. NE, Washington, DC 20002

The urban forests in the metropolitan region produce a great quantity of wood from tree removals, storms and routine tree maintenance. Previously, this material has been chipped for mulch at best. This forum will focus on the outcomes of the Washington Metropolitan Wood Recovery & Utilization Project and feature others working in the field developing technologies and programs to put urban timber to good use. A final agenda will be posted to COG’s Web Page: http://www.mwcog.org/calendar/default.asp

Register Online at: http://www.mwcog.org/urbantimber/

Doggy Dangers and Kitty Catastrophes – keeping pets safe in the garden

I’ve written a couple of blog posts about pet safety in the garden. I’ve mentioned the dangers that pesticides, fertilizer, compost and other garden items can cause to our pets. And although I mentioned poisonous plants, I hadn’t looked very closely at the list until this weekend.

When I did, I was surprised at how many common plants were on the list. Here are a few plants that are common to the mid-Atlantic region which can cause problems for our pets. You can view the full list on the ASPC website.

If your pet ingests any of these plants, call your local veterinarian or animal emergency center.

American bittersweet, Symptoms: weakness, convulsions, gastroenteritis (vomiting, diarrhea)

Autumn crocus, Symptoms: oral irritation, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage, bone marrow suppression.

Azalea, Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, hyper salivation, weakness, coma, hypotension, CNS depression, cardiovascular collapse and death.

Cardinal flower, Symptoms: Depression, diarrhea, vomiting, excessive salivation, abdominal pain, heart rhythm disturbances.

Daffodils, Symptoms: Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part.

Milkweed (this plant is a favorite in butterfly gardens), Symptoms: Vomiting, profound depression, weakness, anorexia, and diarrhea are common; may be followed by seizures, difficulty breathing, rapid, weak pulse, dilated pupils, kidney or liver failure, coma, respiratory paralysis and death

Periwinkle, symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, depression, tremors, seizures, coma, death.

Toxic and Non-Topic Plants – ASPCA website

Celebrate Maryland Outdoor Days – June 9th - 23rd

The Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature is launching Celebrate Maryland Outdoors Days, June 9-23 to help children, families and others get outdoors, exploring and enjoying nature across the state!

There are hundreds of great ideas and opportunities on their website for you to get outside in nature with your kids and help to grow future green gardeners and environmentalists. Here are a few:

6/9/2012 - Delmarva Dragonflies and Damselflies, Adkins Arboretum
Discover & Connect with your natural world. Join Hal White for a walk to discover dragonflies and damselflies. A professor of biochemistry at University of Delaware, Hal has been fascinated by insects, especially dragonflies, since high school. His hobby has taken him from Canada to Mexico and across the United States. Advance registration is required.

6/9/2012 - The Dangers of Pollution, Eden Mill Nature Center
Discover & connect with your natural world. Eden Mill Nature Center is proud to offer “Saturday Nature Series”. Do you know the effects you are having on the environment? Want to know ways you can help prevent pollution? Through fun activities, come learn about the ways pollution effects everyone and how you can stop it.

6/9/2012 - Wetlands Scavenger Hunt, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
Discover & Connect with your natural world. Join a scavenger hunt along the marsh boardwalk to find plants and animals in the wetlands.

Visit the Celebrate Maryland Outdoors Days web pages for many, many more!