Freeze your bra, and other tips for beating the heat in the garden

When I was growing up, it was a common practice at slumber parties to take the bra of one of the girls who fell asleep, dampen it, and put it in the freezer. The gag was that in the morning, she presumably had to either wear the frozen bra home or go without. For some reason, this memory always comes back to me when I am outside, sweltering in the garden in 95+ degree heat. Ahhhhhh. A frozen bra sounds like the answer to everything.

Regardless of how hot it is outside, most gardeners are going to want to go out there and mess around in their gardens anyway. But heat stress is a serious issue that shouldn’t be taken lightly so it’s a good time for some:

Hints and Tips for keeping Cool while Working in the Garden

Heat stress occurs when your body can’t get rid of excess body heat quickly enough. According to a document on the Virginia Cooperative Extension website “The majority of heat-related illnesses - early heat illness or fainting, heat cramps, heat rash, and heat exhaustion - are considered minor.” (Although, personally, I wouldn’t consider fainting outside in my yard a minor problem.) But in extreme cases, high temperatures can cause heat stroke, which can lead to death.

The symptoms for heat illness are pretty vague and include dizziness, fatigue and difficulty making decisions. Since these symptoms describe my natural state most of the time, I figure it might be pretty difficult to know whether the heat is really getting to me or not, so I always follow these steps for staying cool in extreme heat.

1) Plan garden activities for the cooler times of the day. Early morning and late evening are best or even during the rain if there isn’t any lightning. Some garden activities, such as watering, pruning and dead heading, etc., are better for the plants when done in early morning. And applying garden chemicals (organic, of course) is more effective if done in the late afternoon when the wind is down and beneficial insects are not present.

2) Wear proper clothing. Loose fitting, light colored, lightweight, breathable fabrics, such as cotton, are best. Avoid non-breathable synthetics. Breathable fabrics help aid sweat evaporation. If you are around your own home, wear as little clothing as possible WITHOUT exposing too much skin to harmful UV rays. I have to admit that I have never tried freezing my bra, but the women in my family have been gardening braless for generations, and I hate to break tradition.

3) Protect your skin and eyes. Wear a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses and use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels). Sunburn affects your body's ability to cool itself and causes loss of body fluids. It also causes pain and damages the skin. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to going out and continue to reapply it according to the package directions.

4) Cool your pulse points. Applying cold water to your pulse points is much better than wearing a frozen bra. Your pulse points - areas where you can feel your pulse because your blood vessels are close to the surface of your skin- are the direct super highway to cooling off your blood and body temperature. I usually take a couple of bandanas and keep them soaking in cool water while I work outside. I wring one out, fold it down and tie it around either my neck, wrists or inner elbows. Believe me, this trick works. Splashing water on your temples or face can produce a similar effect. Another way to cool your pulse points is to stick your feet in cool water. Keep a plastic kiddy pool or large tub filled with water in your yard and walk through it from time to time. You can also use the water to give your plants a drink when you are done with it.

5) Skip the strenuous chores – 100 degree weather is no time to be digging ditches or lugging bags of compost. Work on the easy chores like watering and weeding and save more extensive chores for another day.

6) Drink plenty of fluids. Don't wait until you are thirsty to have a drink. Keep a bottle nearby and visit it often. No, sorry, beer and wine don’t count and neither does iced coffee. These products actually cause your body to lose body fluids. Plain water is preferred, except when heat cramps occur (then drink a lightly salted beverage like a sports drink). Several sights I checked said you should drink 2-4 glasses of water an hour (16 – 32 oz). The water's temperature should be cool, not cold. Very cold drinks can cause stomach cramps.

7) Replace lost salt and minerals . Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body. These are necessary for your body and must be replaced. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat.

8 ) Avoid hot foods, and keep meals light. Foods (like proteins) that increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss (the body has to work harder - and use more blood - to digest heavy foods).

9) Take lots of breaks. Personally, drinking 2 – 4 glasses of water every hour is going to force me to take breaks. But even if your bladder isn’t calling for a pit stop, don’t wait until your heart starts pounding and you feel light headed to take a break. Set the timer on your watch or cellphone and go inside or rest in the shade for a few minutes every hour. Check your email. Or call another friend who you know is out gardening to force them to take a little break, too.

10) Don’t garden alone. Even if you are following all of the other rules, and you are healthy as a horse, why risk fainting …or worse, while working in your yard alone. Gardening with friends is always much more fun anyway.

The following are just some of the signs, symptoms, causes and treatments of heat related illnesses from Gardening and Your Health, a document on the Virginia Cooperative Extension website- consult medical references for additional information:

Early heat illness or fainting - 

Signs and symptoms - dizziness, fatigue and irritability; difficulty concentrating or making decisions 

Cause - reduced blood flow to brain 

Treatments - drink water; loosen clothes; rest in shade 

Heat cramps - 

Signs and symptoms - painful arm, leg or stomach muscle spasms; thirst and heavy sweating; (may not occur until after gardening activities) 

Cause - body salt loss due to sweating 

Treatments - drink water, and avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine; remove hat and loosen clothes; rest; lightly stretch muscles in a cool location 

Heat rash ("prickly heat") - 

Signs and symptoms - pricking sensation and tiny, blister-like red skin spots usually on body areas covered by clothes

Cause - plugged and inflamed sweat glands 

Treatments - wear loose clothes; wash skin; apply talcum powder 

Heat exhaustion - 

Signs and symptoms - early heat illness signs, plus: loss of coordination; collapse; heavy sweating; cool, moist, pale skin; dry mouth with excessive thirst; fast pulse; low to normal temperature

Causes - reduced blood circulation and flow to brain; dehydration 

Treatments - if conscious, give cool water to drink (do NOT give beverages containing caffeine or alcohol)-- make sure they drink slowly by giving a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes; rest lying down in a cooler, shaded area; loosen or remove clothing and hat; splash cold water on body and massage arms and legs 

Heat stroke - 

(May occur suddenly and is life-threatening. According to the American Red Cross. Follow the following recommendation.) 

Signs and symptoms - dizziness, confusion, headaches, irrational behavior, coma; reduced or no sweating; fast pulse; rapid breathing; convulsions, nausea, vomiting

Causes - dehydration; sustained exertion; reduced blood flow to brain, heart, etc.; body unable to cool itself; overexposure to high temperatures even without exertion

Treatments - call 911; move to shaded area; remove shoes and outer clothing, wrap in wet cloth/pour water on/fan rapidly; elevate legs; clear vomit to prevent choking; if victim refuses water, is vomiting, or there are changes in level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.

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

While some people our age are walking around saying "Let me tell you about my grandchildren", my hubby and I are just as proud to brag about our cute "grand critters".

Since we began creating our eco-friendly landscape ten years ago, the critters are just as anxious to visit us as kids are to visit their super generous, gift-giving grandparents.

But rather than spoiling "the kids" with cell phones, new clothes and multi-media devices, our "babies" are content with a little food and a roof over their heads.

We built and hung this new nest box when we saw a screech owl hanging out in a larger nestbox we have on our property.

It only took THREE days before the little screecher found the box and moved right in.

We saw him (or her) hanging out at the box on and off for a few days and then didn't see him (or her) again for awhile.

So we were really surprised when, exactly two months after hanging the box, we saw two screech owl babies.

"The grand kids" only hung around a few days, and then they were gone, but it is SO much fun to hear them out there at night, calling to each other, and know that we played a part in helping to "raise them".

You don't really have to work that hard to attract wildlife to your eco-friendly landscape. Once you begin adding native plants and eliminating chemicals, the wildlife will find you. But below are ten tips to keep in mind if you want to share your landscape with the local wildlife. You can read the full post about creating wildlife friendly landscapes by following this link.

1) Choose plants that provide food for birds and wildlife.

2) Choose native plants.

3) Provide supplemental feeders.

4) Provide a water supply.

5) Provide shelter for wildlife.

6) Avoid chemicals in your landscape! Chemicals can harm wildlife as well as the insects that they eat.

7) Garden with care. Many birds and other creatures raise their young in low bushes and shrubs. Butterflies raise their young (caterpillars) on some of our favorite garden plants. Mow, prune and trim with caution to avoid critter catastrophes.

8 ) Keep wandering pets out of wildlife areas.

9) Provide Places to Raise Young.

10) Practice eco-friendly gardening. Everything you do in your landscape can have an effect on the overall health of the soil, air, water and habitat for native wildlife. Visit the Metro DC Lawn and Garden blog often to learn how to create a landscape that is healthy for you and for local wildlife.

Learn Butterfly Gardening - June 12th

Some of you may know that I think  butterflies can help save the planet. They are such beautiful, magical little creatures, that I think they can encourage more people to quit using chemicals, plant native plants and take other steps to create  eco friendly landscapes.

I would even love to see Michelle Obama start a butterfly garden on the White House grounds.

If you would like to learn more about local butterflies, plan on attending the lecture by Dr. Dexter Hinckley, on 15 species of butterflies at Hidden Oaks Nature Center from 2 to 3:15 p.m. on Sunday, June 12th.

Learn techniques for attracting these garden jewels, host plants for their caterpillars, and nectar plant suggestions for adults. Learn techniques for attracting these garden jewels and area butterfly gardens you can visit.and area butterfly gardens you can visit. The cost is $5 per person. Register online or call 703-324-4662. For information, call 703-941-1065.

Dr. Hinckley holds a PhD in entomology from the University of Hawaii. He is retired from the EPA, has substaintial volunteer experience with the Smithsonian and the National Zoo, and now does freelance work as an "independent environmental Services professional".

Set within 52 acre Annandale Community Park, Hidden Oaks Nature Center is located in the heart of Fairfax County, a few minutes inside the Capital Beltway. The woods surrounding the center feature an easy loop trail 1/3 mile long. Seasonal brochures enable visitors to discover the changing nature of the woodland at points along the trail. For further exploration, additional trails lead through the woods to two streams. Bird watching and photography are special pleasures in these quiet surroundings.

Butterflies of DC

Butterflies of Maryland

Butterflies of Virginia

Watershed Friendly Home, Garden and Horse Farm Tour - June 19th

One of the best ways to get inspired about creating eco-friendly landscapes is to visit some of the other "green" gardens in the area to see just how beautiful and fun they can be!

On Sunday, June 19th, you will have that opportunity during the Watershed Friendly Home, Garden and Horse Farm Tour being held from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Visit gardens throughout Fairfax County featuring vegetated roofs, rain barrels, backyard wildlife habitat, composting, native plant species and more.

You can enjoy each garden at your own pace and visit as many or as few as you like. Gardens are grouped for ease of viewing.

This event is co-sponsored by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District and the Fairfax Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists.

Highlights of the tour:

• Native plant landscapes
• Wildlife habitats (including NWF Certified habitats)
• Monarch Waystation Habitat
• Rain barrels and other rain collection systems
• Rain gardens
• Turf-free landscapes
• Chemical free landscapes
• Green roofs

For descriptions of the gardens on the tour, visit the Watershed Friendly Home, Garden and Horse Farm Tour page on the Fairfax County website.

Out of the mouths - and minds - of babes

My friend, Doug, and his grandson Jaden were out following a turtle around their yard this weekend.

"You know, grandpa, I'm not just an ordinary boy," Jaden said.

"You're not?" Doug, answered, as they knelt down to peer inside the shell of the hiding turtle.

"No, grandpa, I'm a nature boy."

It made my heart skip a little beat when I heard that story. Doug and Jaden are always out wandering around the yard or building bird houses or exploring the crawling critters in their gardens and it's interactions like that which give me hope for a future generation that cares about the planet.

Then, today, I read this article about 9-year old Mason Perez in Reno, Nevada who came up with an idea to help home owners and businesses save money and water. The idea?: turning down the pressure on the water intake valve on kitchen and bathroom sinks, especially in public bathrooms. I mean, how many times have you been in a public bathroom and tried to wash your hands and been just flooded with water? Makes as little sense as the motion sensor faucets that keep running long after you've finished washing your hands.

Yeah, the kids are all right. And if we keep encouraging them, I think the planet might just be all right, too.

Artistic Rain Barrels up for Auction

During our recent Rain Barrel survey, several people said that they think rain barrels are ugly. But Fairfax County, Virginia is hoping to change that opinion with their Artistic Rain Barrel Program.

Throughout April and May, 25 rain barrels decorated by local artists have been on display throughout Northern Virginia at local libraries, schools, community centers and businesses.

These one-of-a-kind works of art were created as a fun way to educate the community on the benefits of using rain barrels to improve water quality.

On Saturday, June 11, 5 - 7 p.m., these works of art will be auctioned at Green Spring Gardens with proceeds going to support the regional rain barrel program.

You can see photos of all of the decorated rain barrels here, as well as read artist biographies. Pick your favorite and then place a bid at the Rain Barrel Auction

Please RSVP for the silent auction event to Taylor Beach. Please include the number of people who will attend.

Directions to Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22312.

Passalong your Passion for the Planet - World Environment Day is June 5th

June 5th is World Environment Day (WED), a program established by the United Nations in 1972 to stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment and encourage political attention and action.

In honor of World Environment Day, I'd like to share this post which I wrote in 2010 that was recently published on Jeff Corwin's Citizen blog entitled Passalong Your Passion for the Planet.

If you are from the south, or if you know someone who is a dedicated gardener, you have probably heard the phrase “passalong plants”.

This phrase describes the point in most gardeners’ lives when their hobby quietly changes from a pastime to a passion. When that happens, they want to share their joy. 

They give flowers to friends. They share homegrown produce and herbs with neighbors. They even begin collecting seeds and rooting their cuttings so they can encourage new gardeners. They’ve discovered the deep wonder of working the earth and they want to share it. And from the process, multitudes of new gardeners have been encouraged to get outside and to enjoy the pleasures of the earth.

Steve Bender and Felder Rushing explain this gardening custom is their book, Passalong Plants (© 2002, University of North Carolina Press). “The experience of husbanding a flower through sowing, germination, growth, and blossoming is so spiritually rewarding that it engenders a sort of botanical evangelism in its participants,” Bender and Rushing explain. “It simply reflects the belief that people don’t own the wonders of nature, they just take care of them for awhile. What brings joy to one should bring joy to all.” 

These words seem to exemplify the fact that gardeners don’t just passalong their plants. They passalong their passion. And as nature lovers, we should all take heed of those words. What brings joy to us can bring joy to others. We just need to quit being shy about passing along our passion. 

As naturalists, scientists, nature writers and photographers, we already understand the wonders of wildlife and the excitement of the environment, but there are many people out there who do not. And although we may be tempted to try to persuade them with lectures about environmental responsibility and the extinction of species, we will probably make a much bigger impact if we share our passion. 

We need to become PR people for the planet and evangelists for the earth. We need to get others to feel what we feel and to see what we see. We don’t need to explain the details of the whys and the hows of the natural world as much as we need to share the wonders. 

Amateur nature photographers capture incredible images of miraculous events that are occurring all around them but their photos sit unshared on their computers. Writers pen inspirational thoughts about the joys and miracles of their experiences in nature and then hide their journals away in desk drawers. Scientists and naturalists make new discoveries every day that they share with their colleagues but keep quiet about when in the company of family and friends. 

But now is not the time to be shy. The environment is suffering and we hold the key to its survival. The key is our passion. 

Pope Benedict XVI’s Message for World Peace Day encouraged humankind to “renew and strengthen their covenant between human beings and the environment.” The United Nations declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity. But environmental advocates such as Ahmed Djoghlaf, executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), feel that we will make little progress unless we can get people outside to experience nature. 

“Human beings are becoming increasingly cut off from nature,” Djorghlaf said. “Without contact [with nature], people are not aware that their patterns of consumption lead to habitat loss, pollution and other drivers of biodiversity loss.”

And that’s where we come in. All of us feel a spark of excitement when we make a new discovery in nature. And we need to share that spark….share that joy….share that discovery. 

Whether you share your enthusiasm for nature quietly with your closest friends and family, on-line with blogs and wildlife forums or at weekly meetings of your favorite social get-togethers, don’t be reluctant to share. Teaching others about your passion for the planet can be a valuable gift for both them and the environment. 

Don’t ever feel like your photos are not good enough or your blog posts aren’t important. If you were excited by something in nature, than share that excitement. Passalong your passion for the planet so that we can all make sure we have a healthy planet to continue to passalong. 

“In the end, we conserve only what we love. We love only what we understand. We understand only what we are taught.” - Baba Dioum, Senegalese Poet

It's your planet. Don't blow it.

Ahhh. Springtime. You wake up with the light streaming through the window and the birds tweeting and twittering in the trees, thinking of all of the great things ahead of you for the weekend. And suddenly, your reverie is broken by the sound of a roaring leaf blower.

I'll never quite understand the appeal of these loud, debris-stirring devices. Gardening, to me, is a peaceful experience. My garden is where I do a lot of thinking and connecting with nature. And I can't hear nature talk to me if the growl of a leaf blower is roaring in the neighborhood. Plus, using a good old fashioned broom is a good way to burn some calories.

And leaf blowers can also be bad for the environment. A post on The Daily Green lists these 4 Reasons Not to Use a Leaf Blower:

 Why are gas leaf blowers so offensive? 

1. They pollute the air. 

A single gas-powered leaf blower can emit as much pollution in a year as 80 cars. 

2. They're noisy.  

A normal decibel level, considered acceptable in residential areas, is about 60 decibels (60dB). Every increase in decibels means noise that is 10 times louder. Leaf-blowers usually generate about 70-75 dB. According to the U.S. EPA this level of noise actually degrades quality of life by interfering with communication and sleep, leads to reduced accuracy of work and increased levels of aggravation, which can linger hours after exposure. 

3. They worsen allergies and asthma and irritate the lungs.

Because they operate at such high velocities, leaf blowers stir up the mold, allergens, and dust particles that otherwise have been tamped down with rain and decomposition. 

4. They waste gas. 

Rakes and even electric-lawn blowers offer a petroleum-free alternative.

But there is a fifth very big way that leaf blowers can be bad for the planet.

When used incorrectly, leaf blowers can help to cause polluted waterways. Why? Because if you blow your grass clippings and leaves into the street, rather than back into your yard, the next rain is going to wash them into the stormdrains whihc lead to our waterways. Once there, the nutrients in the grass, even if you don't use chemical fertilizers, can cause algae blooms which can kill plants and desirable animal life.

This document, entitled "Improper Mowing of Lawns Can Impact Water Quality" on the Virginia Cooperative Extension website describes this process:

Cutting turf and impacting water quality sound like completely unrelated topics. However, the improper handling of clippings is a very important way in which nutrients are inadvertently introduced into our water sources. What is the form of the nutrient? Well, it is not a standard chemical fertilizer, but for all intents and purposes it is ‘slow release fertilizer’: it’s your clippings. The leaf blades and stems that are discharged by your mower are comprised of all the nutrients required for plant growth and development. In general, your lawn clippings contain around 4% nitrogen, 0.5 to 1% phosphorus, and 1 to 2 % potassium by weight. And it is the nitrogen and phosphorus that are major concerns for water quality as they both can incite eutrophication of water sources. Eutrophication occurs when nutrient levels in the water become so large that prolific algal blooms occur; these algal blooms consume most of the oxygen in the water and other desirable plant and animal life dies. So, you now see the link between lawn clippings and eutrophication. But let me defend my turf… pun intended! The reason clippings can contribute to eutrophication is us, not the turfgrass. When you make those first few passes with the mower along the street, do you think to throw the clippings back into the lawn, or, as many seem to do, into the street? Or worse still, have you ever seen folks take their leaf blowers and blow piles of clippings into the street in order to clear their sidewalks, driveways, or lawns? The next time it rains, where is all this slow-release fertilizer headed? Straight to the nearest storm drain and eventually to a local water source. Lawn clippings on hardscapes ultimately end up in our water sources. Protect water quality by ensuring that clippings remain in your turf. Fortunately, the solution to this problem is pretty simple. Put the clippings to work for you by returning them to the lawn.               Read full document here.

So pick up a broom and sweep your clippings back into your lawn or add them to your compost. Remember, It's Your Planet. Don't Blow It!

Arlington Green Home and Garden Tour - June 5th

Sunday, June 5, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Featuring a variety of the best green homes and environmentally-friendly gardens in Arlington! The tour will include Arlington homes with green renovations, green roofs, solar panels, rain barrels, wildlife habitats, rain gardnes and more. A $5 per person donation is suggested to support ACE's conservation programs, payable online or at the first place you visit. The self-guided tour booklet is available at www.arlingtonenvironment.org/gardentour.htm

This year there is a new spin on the tour with a guided cycling option coordinated by several other local green organizations! The cycle tour costs a minimum $25 donation per rider with all proceeds benefiting Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia. Riders will meet at the Arlington Oaks Condominium, one of the stops on the tour itself, for registration, check-in, and viewing of the first green garden stops. There will be two comprehensive routes to choose from – each include green homes, green gardens, and homes for sale that are conducive to commuting to work by bike. Riders can register in advance online.
For more information, to view the tour guide and maps, to make your advanced donation or to register for the guided cycling option, visit www.arlingtonenvironment.org/gardentour.htm.

Experience Great Outdoors Month in one of U.S.'s Fittest Cities

Two stories in the news this week, which seem to go hand in hand:

First, DC again received one of the top rankings on the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) annual American Fitness Index™ (AFI) report. The report, “Health and Community Fitness Status of the 50 Largest Metropolitan Areas” evaluates the most populous city areas to identify the healthiest and fittest places in the United States. Minneapolis-St. Paul ranked number one this year, with the DC area (including parts of Virginia and Maryland) coming in second.

You can read the full report online, but some of the things that helped with the ranking are: higher percentage of people eating 5+ surveys of fruits/vegetables a day, higher percentage of city land used as park land, more farmer's markets per capita and higher percentage of people in excellent or very good health. In my mind, those things all point to the high number of gardeners in the area. Gardening is great exercise, and the trend towards organic gardening is teaching many gardeners the pleasure of eating what we grow or what is grown locally.

The other headline in the news: President Obama has proclaimed June Great Outdoors Month, to encourage American's to appreciate and preserve our Great Outdoors. Here are a few excerpts from the proclamation, but I encourage you to read the whole thing online:

As America's frontier diminished and our cities expanded, a few bold leaders and individuals had the foresight to protect our most precious natural and historic places. Today, we all share the responsibility to uphold their legacy of conservation, whether by protecting an iconic vast public land, or by creating a community garden or an urban park.... 

Our plan will restore and increase recreational access to public lands and waterways; bolster rural landscapes, including working farms and ranches; develop the next generation of urban parks and community green spaces; and create a new Conservation Service Corps so that young people can experience and restore the great outdoors.... 

As we commit to protecting our country's outdoor spaces, we also celebrate all they have to offer. Our public lands and other open areas provide myriad opportunities for families and friends to explore, play, and grow together -- from hiking and wildlife watching to canoeing, hunting, and fishing, and playing in a neighborhood park. These activities can help our kids stay healthy, active, and energized, while reconnecting with their natural heritage.

Yes, I know it's hot outside. But I encourage you to take a break and go outside and follow the advice in the Great Outdoors Proclamation:

This month, let each of us resolve to protect our great outdoors; discover their wonders; and share them with our friends, our neighbors, and our children.