Today is Protect the Groundwater Day

Every day, Americans use 79.6 billion gallons of fresh groundwater for public and private use, including for drinking water, irrigation, livestock, manufacturing, mining, and more. On September 13^th, “Protect Your Groundwater Day,” the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) reminds all Marylanders about the value of clean groundwater and what citizens can do to protect this essential and valuable resource.

“Half of the water in Maryland’s rivers, streams, and reservoirs originates as groundwater, and all Marylanders get their drinking water from these sources,” said Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Robert M. Summers. “Protecting Maryland’s groundwater is a critical component to restoring our waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. In addition, our work to reduce polluted runoff form urban and agricultural sources, to properly dispose of and clean up hazardous waste, and to proceed cautiously as we study potential drilling in the Marcellus Shale all protect Maryland’s groundwater as well as our streams, rivers, and reservoirs. We encourage citizens to also do their part to protect our fresh water, including groundwater, today and every day.”

Groundwater is created from rain that falls on the land, running into waterways or soaking into the ground. Water that soaks into the ground is filtered as it passes through various layers of sand, clay, or rock. However, man-made chemicals such as gasoline, fertilizers, and pesticides may not get filtered and can contaminate groundwater.

Below are just a few of the ways citizens can help keep Maryland’s groundwater clean:

• Support Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration effort and all of Maryland’s critical clean water initiatives to reduce pollution from wastewater treatment plants, septic systems, urban/suburban runoff, agricultural runoff and even air pollution controls, which reduce the nitrogen falling on our land and water from power plants, cars, and trucks.
• Seventeen million gallons of gas are spilled each year in America during the re-fueling of lawn mowers — fuel your lawn mower over impervious surfaces and be careful to not to overfill your tank.
• Ensure your septic system was installed per current code standards and consider installing nitrogen reducing technology, which protects your drinking water and is good for the Bay.
• Apply fertilizers and pesticides sparingly to reduce polluted runoff that can contaminate groundwater and water wells. 
• Use water wisely: Don’t pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it, such as watering your indoor plants or a garden, and don’t run a faucet when you’re not using water while brushing your teeth.Learn more about groundwater and Protect Your Groundwater Day here.

Information for this post supplied by Maryland Department of the Environment

Today is a Beautiful Day - Make Sure that you See It

I know it is human nature to complain about the rain/wind/snow/cold/heat and yet to ignore the days when we don't have any of those things bearing down on us. And when I read the paper in the morning, it seems like it is also human nature to want to dwell on the negative aspects of life and people. No matter what is happening with the weather or the world, my morning walks in the garden generally help me forget all the negative aspects of life and dwell on only the beautiful.

It is just gorgeous out there this morning! A light dew sparkling on all the leaves. Tiny little mushrooms popping up in the yard, looking like miniature umbrellas for the critters that crawl through the grass. Butterflies! Birds! It's going to be a beautiful day! I encourage you to take the time to notice it!

A Hero and His Habitat - 20 Days in a Garden

This post was written by Jeff Smith, the gentleman that I introduced a few days ago in my article entitled Planting Peace – Finding Wonder in a Warzone, about people in military conditions who go to extra efforts to create gardens. In last night's post, From Ground Zero to A Garden, I spoke of Jeff's role on September 11, 2001, as he helped to search for survivors.

I asked Jeff if he would like to provide one more guest post, and this is what he sent. As you read it, I hope you will take the time to remember all of the heroes that this country has, both civilian and military, and to give your thanks to them either silently or in person.

Please keep in mind that this blog and these posts are not meant to take sides on any political issues. They are just meant to encourage you to think a little more deeply about the heroes of our country.

From Jeff Smith:

I'm so busy trying to get everything done that needs doing on a short 20 day break. I have several fronts that need attention, so it's easy for the days to slip between my fingers. Hope it's not too late … had a few thoughts for you.  

In the light of how little time I have home from Afghanistan this year, it's difficult to explain to some people why I'm spending so much time on yard work. After living like a prisoner in Afghanistan for months, shouldn't you be out kicking up your heels, whooping it up? Why in the world do you spend all your time doing YARD work? If I have to explain, they're not going to understand. Maybe I can share with some like-minded individuals who can help me come up with a sound bite that satisfies the vast unwashed, the non-gardening masses. 

What's so difficult to explain is that, every night as I fell asleep to the sounds of war, I was building this garden in my mind for months. I remember a couple of years ago at a FOB near the Tangi valley, as four and six inch guns fired overhead into the night, sucking the air from the tent with the round's sonic boom, I was thinking about my next group of nectar and host plants for certain species of butterfly. A worried new arrival asked me if that was OK. Is it incoming or outgoing? We had nearly 100 RPGs and mortars come over the Hesco at us that month, in the less favored direction. "That's the sound of freedom, buddy. Go back to sleep." I planted a few more vines in my head, arranging them around a horse fencing trellis supported by agricultural timbers. Beautiful. Rocked to sleep by the comforting lullaby of the Howitzer. 

We have long days there. Rise at 0230, shower, stuff something in the flight suit pocket for breakfast, check the flight plan, weather, preflight, airborne at sunrise. Will today be The Day? No. Stow that. 

It's a helicopter pilot's question. One can not stifle it. If you think of every possible thing that can go wrong in a helicopter, amplify that flying low over a fluid, motivated and capable threat, you can be paralyzed. One is empowered and fueled by a wave of positivity in the rotary wing world. It's not bravery or courage – just positive energy supported by confidence, competence and planning. 

After several hours of flying missions, plan for tomorrow, try to get the one hot meal for the day, wind down, prepare equipment for tomorrow. 

So now I'm home again, cutting weeds, trimming shrubs and trees, re-arranging irrigation, spreading mulch for winter. I'm setting aside the areas for spring plantings of nectar plants. A gopher tortoise has moved in and established a few giant burrows, so I'm working around those. I'll have to build some natural barriers to keep him from munching my tender new butterfly plantings and maybe plant a little tortoise food plot with prickly pear cactus and some other favorites. Any endangered species is welcome in this little backyard habitat. 

I go back over next week. I think I'll plan a pond.

From Ground Zero to A Garden

A few days ago, I posted an article called Planting Peace – Finding Wonder in a War Zone that talked about people in the military going to extra efforts to plant gardens. In that post, I introduced you to Jeff Smith, a young man that I “met” through email.

Today I would like to tell you a little bit more about Jeff and his role on September 11, 2001. And about his gardens. Highlighted text is from Jeff.

I worked at ground zero for the first couple of weeks searching for survivors with teams from the NYPD Emergency Services Unit until they called off the rescue effort. One of my buddies was lost in the towers, working as an ESU policeman. He was the brother of a fellow Coast Guard pilot. My job was to search with the team all day and then come back to the police station where the families were holding their vigil and speak to them about what I saw in each location. None of the family members were allowed on the site at that time, and the police chief wanted somebody who was not NYPD or FD to ease them into the reality of the outcome. Even though it was a service for others who had suffered great personal loss, it was also a life-altering experience for me.”

Yes, I was in the Coast Guard during 9/11, but I worked at the World Trade Center while on leave – the family briefing responsibility was an unusual and unique role there, requested by the chief of police at the behest of a family member. After a career of flying helicopters in the Air Force and Coast Guard, I retired in '03. I fly helicopters now as a civilian contractor in support of military logistics and combat missions, another unusual role in a war zone.

I have seen military members growing small gardens in front of their tents in various locations around Afghanistan. Often, the struggling plants, even a lone sunflower, would be surviving against all odds next to a sign pointing west displaying the distance to the gardener's home town. The simple please of growing a plant from seed is never taken for granted in such a place.

Amazingly, in this arid and austere environment, the Afghans are able to conjure up water by hand digging to grow their crops. Although every effort comes with great cost in such a severe environment, the joy of a beautiful garden is not lost on the Afghan culture. The construction of a cool, inviting home oasis seems to be the goal of many farmers even as they toil to make a meager living.

Obviously, I'm far from my garden when I'm working overseas. When I get to enjoy the luxury of an internet connection, I stay in touch with my Eden via a blog Florida Habitat Gardening I’m attaching a photo from my most recent visit home. Through these rare and treasured recollections, I am able to stay in contact with the most peaceful place on the planet. If I sit there long enough, a visitor will happen by … perhaps a gopher tortoise, a rabbit, throngs of songbirds, displaying chameleons or a lone black racer. There is nothing so rewarding as watching critters arrive that would not be there without strategic habitat gardening, but the real pleasure is basking in the peace of this moment.

Those quiet moments in my backyard seem a million miles away in the Helmand Province, but a quick visit to my garden blog site transports me to a true place of peace 

Jeff Smith

I’ve read his entire garden blog since he contacted me. He definitely has the same “fondness” for critters that I do. But I got a real kick out of this post that he had about orchard mason bees.

Here’s a cool thing to do for all of your pollinating needs. If honeybees are having a hard time in your area, then the Orchard Mason Bee (Osmia lignaria) might be your answer. “But, how do I get some, Jeff?” Glad you asked! Just drill a bunch of 1/4″ holes in just about anything and set it outside. If you build it, they will come. These things cannot reSIST a 1/4″ hole. They just HAVE to fill it with pollen, lay an egg in it and seal it up with mud. Note that the smooth edge holes (drilled at high speed with a brad point bit) were preferable to the rough edged holes drilled with a regular bit at medium speed. Some people build these hives with soda straws, which might be useful if you don’t have a drill. Check out this site to learn more: http://gardening.wsu.edu/library/inse006/inse006.htm 

Note to fellow pilots out there: they LOVE pilot tubes. If they discover yours, you’ll have to keep it covered 24/7 until next year, or move to another location. This is a persistent (and now disappointed) OMB trying to find a way around my homemade pitot tube cover on the bottom of an EC-130 helicopter. This little girl grounded the medevac helo more than once by clogging the pitot tube. With no airspeed indication, the pilot has to turn it back to maintenance for repairs. As emergency use helicopters rarely stand ready for service with the tubes covered, this little bee can be a nuisance.

Thanks again, Jeff.

Tips for your yard and garden after heavy rains or flooding

Here are some tips for your lawn and garden after heavy rains or flooding from Louisiana State University Ag Center and other sources:.

Hurricanes and heavy rains can create excessively wet soil. If combined with high temperatures it can create stressful, and potentially deadly, conditions for bedding plants, perennials, vegetables, shrubs and even trees. 

When the soil is saturated with water, pore spaces in the soil that normally hold air are filled with water. Since the roots of plants get the oxygen they need from the air in those spaces, the roots can literally drown when soils stay waterlogged for an extended period. A sick root system leads to a sick plant. 

Wet conditions also encourage fungus organisms in the soil to attack the roots or crown of a plant and cause rot. The crown is the area where the stem of a plant enters the soil. These disease organisms can cause dieback or severe damage or even kill plants. Once infection occurs, little can be done to help a plant. Plants with succulent stems, those that like lower temperatures and those that prefer drier, well-drained soils are particularly susceptible.

Here are some tips for gardens affected by heavy rains:

1) Under saturated conditions, mulch should be pulled back from around plants or removed from beds entirely. This will allow evaporation to help the soil dry faster.

2) You can help plants that were affected by wet soils or root rot by aerating the soil in the root zone. Using a garden fork, drive the tines straight down into the soil about 8 inches and pull straight out in numerous places around the shrubs. Do not dig with the fork, but make as many holes as seems practical. This technique provides air to the roots and encourages the soil to dry faster. A metal rod or wooden dowel could also be used to make the holes.

3) Pests such as snails and slugs, which chew holes in leaves and flowers of many plants, thrive and reproduce rapidly during rainy weather. Try not to let their populations get out of control. If you have toads in your garden, that's great because they feed on slugs. You can place a bowl up to its rim in the ground and fill it half full of beer to attract and drown many snails and slugs or remove them by hand and dispose of them humanely.

4) Heavy rains over an extended period will leach available nutrients from the soil in the landscape. This is especially true of nitrogen and potassium but not so much for phosphorous. Give your plants a chance to recover from the saturated soils, and fertilize if needed if they do not improve. Do not fertilize hardy trees, shrubs and lawns after August, even after heavy rains. Late fertilization can make them less winter hardy. Do consider fertilizing bedding plants and vegetable gardens, if needed. Dried blood meal can add nitrogen to soil while rock potash can supply potassium.

5) Do not consume any vegetables that may have been touched by floodwater. There may be contaminants in the water. In general, fruits and vegetables which were immature at the time of flooding should be safe to eat by the time they are ready to harvest.

6) Some fruits and vegetables are more susceptible than others to bacterial contamination.

1. Leafy vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, mustard, kale, collards, spinach, swiss chard, celery, and fleshy vegetables and berry fruits such as tomatoes, summer squash, strawberries and peppers are highly susceptible to bacterial contamination. Silt and other contaminants may be imbedded in the leaves, petioles, stems or other natural openings of fleshy structures and can be difficult to remove.
2. Root, bulb and tuber crops such as beets, carrots, radishes, turnips, onions and potatoes are less susceptible to bacterial contamination. Disinfect these vegetables, peel and cook them thoroughly before eating.
3. Produce with a protected fruit or impervious outer skin such as peas, melons, eggplant, sweet corn or winter squash should be washed and disinfected before the outer shell, skin or husk is removed. Then shell, peel or husk the produce and cook it if possible.

7) For additional safety, disinfect produce and cook it before eating.

8) Gardeners should take extra precautions to use good personal-hygiene when working in gardens that may have been flooded. Wash hands before and after gardening. Leave garden shoes at the door, and change clothing after working in a flooded garden. Avoid direct contact with flood waters, including the soil, as much as possible. Young children can be at a high risk for flood related contaminants. If a garden plot has been flooded, consider either not having young children in the garden with you or take precautions to utilize good personal hygienic practices.

9) Newly planted seeds and transplants may not survive even short-term flooding, and seeds may have washed away. Resist the urge to replant immediately; give the soil a chance to dry out first. Working wet soil will have long-lasting effects of soil compaction.

10) Many snakes are left homeless after a flood. They may seek food and shelter in debris caused by the flood or yard cleanup. Watch where you put your hands and feet when removing or cleaning debris. More information about local snakes.

11) Heavy rains can result in excessive breeding of mosquitoes, resulting in the possibility of disease being carried by the insects. Remove excess water from birdbaths, flowerpots, tires, buckets and other containers to minimize the breeding of mosquitoes.

12) Bees, wasps, and hornets may have had their nests disturbed by excessive wind and rain. The insects can become very aggressive. Before beginning clean up, survey the site to see if bees, wasps, or hornets are hovering in the area. Take necessary precautions to avoid these insects.

In addition to the obvious damage to plants, there are more long-term effects to soils, which have been flooded for extended periods. Soil microorganisms that require oxygen may be killed and those that survive without oxygen take over, which in turn affects availability of nutrients for plant use. The soil structure itself may be physically harmed due to compaction of soil particles.

It will be difficult to know the full effect of the heavy rains in the area until things begin to dry out. And then, of course, a lot will depend on what future stresses the weather may bring to our landscapes.

For more information contact your local Extension office:  

Cooperative Extension Services

• Virginia Cooperative Extension
• Home and Garden Information Center - Maryland Cooperative Extension
• Cooperative Extension Service – Washington, DC

or these sources, which I used in this articles:

Sources: Flooded Lawns and Gardens, LSU Ag Center

Flooded Gardens, (pdf file) South Dakota Cooperative Extension

After the Flood: Garden and Landscape Plants, Purdue Extension

Preventing Disease and Illness in a Flood – Fairfax County

Planting Peace - Finding Wonder in a War Zone

I used to love to travel, but I don’t so much anymore. It has nothing to do with the extra security at the airports. The reason I hate to travel is that I hate to leave my gardens. Depending on the season, my landscape and gardens are often filled with fruit and veggies, flowers or birds, butterflies, hummingbirds and other wildlife. No matter what is going on in this stressful, rat-racing world (and travelling is almost always a little stressful), my gardens bring me peace and solace.

When I do travel, I often seek out gardens to relax in. I’ve even been known to take along birdseed or a hummingbird feeder and some sugar so that I can attract some wildlife when visiting areas that aren’t quite as wildlife inviting as I would like. My garden brings me peace, and I like to take that peace with me in any way that I can.

So I was deeply moved when I received an email message a few weeks ago from a young man named Jeff Smith asking for help with his backyard wildlife habitat.

He found me while searching the web for information about butterfly gardening and wanted to know if I could help him by sharing some advice for his garden and his garden blog. I like to help anyone I can who wants to create a wildlife friendly landscape. After all, wildlife friendly = environmentally friendly. But this particular email really touched my heart when I read the next sentence.

“I wasn’t able to plant some of the plants I wanted this year,” he said “I’m off flying helicopters in Afghanistan now.”

Of course, a million thoughts raced through my mind with that one sentence. Thoughts of war and peace and national security and the people who are involved with protecting our country. But mostly, I thought about how someone who is over flying helicopters in Afghanistan is already making plans for his garden when he gets home.

“The place that you might be able to help is to direct me towards suitable sources of information to read while I'm overseas,” Jeff continued. “This gives me a chance to plan my garden and my site. As green gardening is a big interest of yours, I'll bet you can focus my efforts.”

I had already been thinking about writing a post about the value of gardens as therapy for dealing with stress (and specifically with events such as 9/11 or serving in the military), and after sharing that idea with Jeff, he had the perfect comments to help get my thoughts in gear.

Jeff said, “I have sometimes seen people growing a flower outside their tent [in Afghanistan], underscoring your point that life and beauty are encouraging forces. Perhaps, playing the part of Creator in the garden offers a person the only venue where they can enjoy control of their environment.”

There is a long history of soldiers growing plants in the extreme conditions of a war zone. In Fact, Kenneth Helphand, a professor of landscape architecture at the University of Oregon, wrote a whole book about it, entitled Defiant Gardens: Making Gardens in Wartime (Trinity University Press). He also has a website, defiantgardens.com, which contains many of these stories.

Helphand talks about people such as the late Dr. John L. Creech, who operated a greenhouse out of a prisoner of war camp in Poland in World War II to help feed himself and his comrades. Captain Creech was awarded the bronze star for his contribution to the health and nutrition of his fellow prisoners and later went on to become director of the US National Arboretum.

But Helphand also talks about many others in the military (or other extreme situations) who seem to enjoy their gardens not just for food, but for the more intrinsic values such as beauty, determination and yes, defiance.

Defiant gardening often is not about food at all, Helphand says. Motivations vary, he said, but fall into five general areas:

– Hope: "Planting is an optimistic act," Helphand says. "You put a seed into the ground in anticipation it will grow. It takes time, attention and maintenance. There's a miraculous aspect. Hope is embodied in all that."

– Life: "Gardens are alive. They provide a connection with nature and life's forces."

– Home: "Gardens either are part of or an extension of home, or places where we've lived or would like to be."

– Work: "It's something to do. The garden often is part of a person's identity and culture."

– Beauty: "Gardens are beautiful, and in a time of crisis that beauty is accentuated," Helphand says. "They're often strikingly dramatic when done in devastated areas."

Stories on the defiantgardens website seem to express the idea that people who need the peace and wonder of a garden can go to great lengths in order to have it:

Here is one dated 2006 from Bradley J. Kohn in Afghanistan

My wife sent me some seeds to begin a garden several months ago. I began planting the melon and squash seeds along a fence line next to my Hqs. building. The plants took off very well and began to thrive. But the giant hedgehogs that are indigenous here, had a field day, and destroyed my first crop. We decided to build raised beds from ammo boxes and put the beds on top of our bunkers. This is where we are at the moment. I have a compost pile started with shredded documents, dirt, vegetable waste, along with goat and sheep droppings. Water was a problem too, since we had only bottled water when I arrived here. Now we have a well to provide more water for our needs. 

The temperature in the summer is between 125 to 145 degrees in the peak of the day. Water is very important for things to thrive here. The melons grown here are absolutely wonderful. They grow a melon here called Stambul. It is used as a fragrant smell. People use it in their homes and cars. I have collected many seeds to take home to North Bend in hopes of growing some of the things I have found here in Afghanistan. 

It is hard to give the attention to my morale, welfare and recreation projects, but my men volunteer to take on the building of the raised beds and watering projects. We all like the idea of real beautiful food that add color and taste to our lives here and to be doing something else beside war time missions. The goal is to see and taste home while we are all serving our country.

And another from LT Janette Arencibia Kabul, Afghanistan Oct. 2006

… I have been here for three weeks and have a year to go. Other soldiers (including coalition forces) have been establishing gardens in this country for the last several years.

. … My job as a gardener is to share my passion with the other wonderful individuals who have already made Afghanistan more beautiful. 

I am attaching a few pictures from a small garden in Kabul, specificallyat Camp Cobra, an Afghan National Army base. This garden was created by an officer in the Afghan National Army with a passion for flowers. I listened to him passionately tell the story of the origin of the seeds - tremendous!

And here is one dated this year, June 2011 An Unlikely Flowering in Helmand

As a member of the army combat camera team based in Afghanistan, my role is to cover everything that the military does, whether that’s a full-scale helicopter-borne assault, or a female engagement team teaching Afghan women how better to look after their family’s animals. 

Finding this garden was a complete shock. It’s so unexpected, a flower garden that has been cultivated and grown by local people, in the middle of a military headquarters – Lashkar Gah is the main headquarters for Task Force Helmand, in Helmand Province. The garden was started by some British civilians, about three years ago, and I think the intention was just some flower beds outside the main building. Then three gardeners were employed who decided they wanted their own areas to cultivate, and now there are three gardens within the space. These men have made the gardens what they are; they come in, spend all day working, then quietly go home again. 

What they have created is such a contrast to the very hot, dusty and sometimes extremely hostile environment of Afghanistan. They have planted a combination of local flowers and seeds that have been sent over from the UK. The hollyhocks are pretty impressive - some of them are taller than most of the people on the base – and the roses are startling, because you don’t expect to see an English rose in the middle of Afghanistan.

Reading these thoughts from gardeners in Afghanistan helps to remind me of something vital. They aren’t just military personnel, or soldiers or troops. They are people. Just like you and me.

I recently came across an article entitled Therapy Can Drive You Mad which questions whether counseling and therapy and reliving the events of a tragedy really help. The article stated “Researchers believe that the process can sometimes push people deeper into depression or worsen the anxiety.” I know that’s how things work with me.

Addendum: I received another email from my new friend Jeff the other day. He is back in the U.S. right now, what he calls “The greatest country in the world”, and he shared this experience with me:

“I was eating breakfast the other day, and saw a zebra longwing visiting a flower just outside the window. I was talking with a buddy and tried not to look too surprised and happy, lest I have to explain how jazzed I was to see a ... um, a ... butterfly, man. :) Yeah, but really dude, it's a SPECIAL butterfly.”

I agree, Jeff. But to me, they are all special. Welcome back to the states and thanks again for everything you do.

 

Beautiful Ways to Save the Rain

Rainy days are great for sitting around dreaming and wishing. What I’m wishing for right now is a better way to capture all of this rain water that is getting away from me.

Sure, we have rain barrels at our house, so I can take a little bit of “green” pride in the fact that I’m saving a couple hundred gallons of water, and using the overflow tubes to direct water to the places that I want it in the garden. But there are still thousands of gallons that are just washing away.

So I decided to use these rainy days to look into some other options for capturing rain water.

The coolest thing that I have found, and something I definitely want to learn more about, is the Aquascape RainXchange Rainwater Harvesting system. Basically, these systems divert the rainwater, store it underground, and “reveal” it on the surface through either a fountain or pond.

Some of the benefits of these systems, from the Aquascape website, are:.

• Clean, Filtered Water Collection & Storage - While you enjoy the benefits of a decorative water feature, the RainXchange™ Rainwater Harvesting System filters the stored water to prevent stagnation and growth of unhealthy bacteria.
• The RainXchange™ Rainwater Harvesting System reveals only a beautiful water feature that integrates easily into existing landscape.
• Collecting and storing the water underground maintains the integrity and beauty of your home and landscape.
• Wildlife Habitat - Because the water stored in the RainXchange™ System is constantly moving and being aerated, it becomes a sanctuary for wildlife.
• Water Feature Lifestyle - Enhanced landscaping improves property value and water features provide soothing sights and sounds that help you relax and de-stress in today’s busy world.
• Environmental Conservation - Capturing rainwater to operate the water feature creates true self-sustainability, drastically reducing the need for chemically-treated traditional water sources.

I used the Aquascape website to find a Certified Aquascape Contractor in the area and Tom Hunt, of Green Earth Landscaping, LLC was happy to allow me to share some of the photos of rainwater harvesting systems he has on his website. Hunt told me that they have installed three of these systems in the area: 500, 1000 and 2000 gallons. Hunt has been in the landscaping business in the area for 20 years.  

According to their website, rainwater harvesting is one of Green Earth Landscaping's specialities, and they definitely seem to know the importance that harvesting rainwater can play for our local environment.

“Capturing rainwater decreases the high demand for municipal water while providing homeowners with a beautiful and sustainable way to manage stormwater runoff," Hunt said. " And studies show that plants watered with rainwater are healthier and grow better than plants watered with municipal water.”
















The RainXchange systems all seem to work on the same principle. They capture the rain water and store it underground in modular aquablocks. The rainwater can then be used to flow through a fountain or to help
maintain a garden pond.

In this case, a picture is really worth a thousand words. Green Earth Landscaping, LLCs website has some fantastic photos of RainXchange projects to let you see just how beautiful these projects can be. And it looks like they also do rain barrels, rain gardens and pervious pavers.

If you are looking for something to do while the rains are keeping you indoors, I encourage you to check them out. (There are also several other Certified Aquascape Contractors in the area). And keep in mind that there are many local incentive programs that may help you pay for your rain harvesting system, whether it is a rain barrel, rain garden or RainXchange system. Leah Lemoine, Environmental Protection Specialist for the District Department of the Environment told me that they have even more rebates in the works - up to $500 for rain gardens and dry wells.

For information about rebate programs for rain barrels, rain gardens, etc: How to Earn Green by Going Green

More information from this blog:

The Rain Barrel Response

The Benefits of Permeable Surfaces are Starting to Soak In      

Interesting news and notes about gardens and gardening

A lot of  interesting garden stories have crossed my desk lately and I wanted to share some of them with you:

University of Maryland Launches Beehive Project in City Cemetery: Just inside the locked gate of Old St. Paul's Cemetery on Martin Luther King Boulevard, honeybees zip in and out of a white hive perched on cinder blocks. They flit past weathered headstones for a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the hero of the 1814 defense of Fort McHenry, a Civil War general and other long-gone luminaries.

The hive, put there by staff and students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, is one of the latest — and certainly one of the more unusual — installments in the growing pastime of backyard beekeeping. Read More

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Rain Gardens: A Practical Solution for Water Pollution: Rain is basically clean — until it passes along roads, businesses and communities. As water runs off roofs, paved surfaces and chemically treated lawns, it can pick up spilled gasoline, oil, road salt, fertilizer, pet waste and other pollutants.

If the contaminated water flows into ditches and storm drains, there's an increased risk for the pollutants to reach natural waterways. In fact, rainwater runoff has become the fastest-growing source of pollution to the Chesapeake Bay. Read More

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Conservation Garden Blossoms in Wheaton Triangle: The Wheaton Triangle Conservation Landscape Garden, which non-profit GreenWheaton finished in June, serves an important purpose. Organizers designed the garden with soil, flowers and grasses that soak up potentially harmful run-off and prevent excess rain water from flowing into storm drains and a nearby stream. Read More

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Demonstration Herb Garden – University of Maryland Extension (photos and plant list)

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Men Enjoy Their Gardening Club – Gardening isn't just for women, as the Men's Garden Club of Frederick County will assure you.

"Yes, there really is a Men's Garden Club," said Richard Adams, club secretary. "It's Frederick's best-kept secret."

The club, which has 37 members, meets seven times a year to learn about gardening-related topics from guest speakers.

"We usually meet around 7 o'clock at a member's house for cocktails … and then we have a speaker lecture on different modalities of gardening," said Vincent DiFabio, club president. Read More

Washington Youth Garden - 40th Anniversary

Since 1971, the Washington Youth Garden has grown a love of gardening for generations of children in the DC metropolitan area. To commemorate its 40th anniversary, WYG will be hosting a 40th birthday party on Saturday, September 17th at the Washington Youth Garden, on the grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum.

The event will take place from 11am-3pm and is free and open to the public. The day will include fun activities for children and families, music, great local fare, the introduction of WYG's Bee-delicious honey and more! Visit the Washington Youth Garden website over the coming weeks for additional details.

On Labor Day, celebrate those who labor with love

According to the U.S. Department of Labor website, “Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.”
 

In 2011, the “contributions and achievements of American workers” are often much different than they were in 1882, when the holiday was first celebrated. Now, more and more companies are doing their part to help make the planet a better place, not just by contributing money, but by going outside and “getting dirty” in an effort to help make a positive difference.

There are many companies that go “over and above” to contribute to the well-being of the Metro DC area. But because this is a “green” garden blog, I decided to talk about the garden project initiated by D&R International of Silver Spring Maryland, an environmental consulting firm that serves businesses, government, and nonprofits.

In June 2010, to mark their 25th anniversary in business, D&R contacted the Montgomery County Department of Parks with their idea to create a demonstration Xeriscape garden in the park across from their office. Their idea was not only to create a more environmentally friendly garden, but to use it as a way to help teach and inspire others.

Located at the corner of Spring Street and Georgia Avenue, the gateway to the Silver Spring business district, the planned Xeriscape Demonstration Garden at Woodside Urban Park would serve as a teaching tool for educators, school groups and the general public. Xeriscape gardening is a wonderful way to protect the planet because it requires less water and is an environmentally sensitive approach to gardening in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

For five months, D&R worked closely with the Parks Development Division on garden layout, plant selection, and other details. On October 30, 2010, D&R staff and their families joined members of the Parks Department and other Woodside neighbors to plant over 500 low maintenance, drought-tolerant, native plants and shrubs. The resulting 1,200-square-foot garden now features a wide array of native species that require little water, no pesticides or fertilizers, attract wildlife, and beautify this small corner of the world. Bray & Scarff, a local kitchen and appliance retailer, provided financial support for the project. GreenLink, a local landscape company, donated the shrubs.

On May 24, 2011, D&R held a dedication ceremony for the garden, which is the first government-business volunteer garden project in Montgomery County. Speakers included Montgomery County Department of Parks Director Mary Bradford, Montgomery County Department of Recreation Director Gabriel Albornoz, and Maryland State Senator Jamie Raskin.

“The Xeriscape Demonstration Garden at Woodside Urban Park is a living symbol of how cultivating change together can create a more beautiful environment and a healthier community,” said D&R President David Steiner. “This project allows us to connect to the local community and highlight the importance of resource conservation on a larger scale. We also hope this effort will serve as a model for other companies looking to give back to the community.”

Senator Raskin also commented about the value of companies partnering with government. “In cultivating this magnificent garden, D&R is turning back to the community to make it more beautiful, more green, and more peaceful. This is a model of what a real public-private partnership should be.”

After the first year, the plants will require very little water, which is appropriate for a region that experiences frequent droughts. D&R planted the garden, developed educational signage, and will provide ongoing maintenance. Most of the maintenance for the Demonstration Garden is weeding, which D&R staff carry out on their lunch hours or before work about once a week. Less weeding will be required next year as the garden fills in.

This Friday, September 9th, at 6:30 p.m., there will be a tour of D&R’s demonstration Xeriscape garden. Landscape Architect Ching-Fang Chen will be on hand to talk about xeriscaping techniques, including plant selection, garden design, and maintenance. The tour is sponsored by D&R International.

Why not stop by and say thank you to some of the people that are helping to make the area a little more environmentally friendly. Perhaps their labor of love will help to inspire one of your own.

To attend, RSVP to Susan Conbere at sconbere@drintl.com. To learn more about the garden, you can visit their Facebook page, here.