Yoga Positions for Gardeners, a book review

Gardener’s Yoga - Bend & Stretch, Dig & Grow. Veronica D’Orazio, Sasquatch Books.

Essentially, this delightful little manual demonstrates how yoga can help combat the common aches and pains associated with otherwise pleasurable gardening chores.

In this cheerfully illustrated handbook, the author suggests a series of yoga poses that help prepare our bodies for our favorite hobby, protect our limbs from surprising strains, and soothe our muscles after our outdoor work has taken its physical toll.  

For both men and women, the objective is to foster awareness how breathing, posture, and deliberate flowing movement can benefit the gardener. For those who have never practiced yoga before, this publication, based upon twenty-one simple poses, also serves as a general introduction to yoga itself.

When Veronica D’Orazio felt her back go out after a strenuous week of weeding, she decided to soothe her sore muscles with yoga. That inspired her to create a yoga program that targets the body’s stress, helps prevent injury, and bolsters strength and flexibility.

Prior to beginning a gardening chore, the reader is encouraged to Break Ground. This group of yoga poses gently warms up the spine and prepares the lower limbs for the day’s work

For the actual outdoor chores, aka Planting Seeds, the author suggests poses that emphasize breathing and balance to reduce body tension and soreness.

In the last section titled Harvest Time, the focus is on poses for relaxation and elongating tired muscles to restore and unwind the body.

A valuable addition to this publication is a chart that readers can consult when seeking guidance to cure specific pain. Seven body parts that are most vulnerable to discomfort are cross-referenced with specific yoga poses that offer relief.

If yoga is a new concept for gardeners, it’s helpful to know that it does more than relieve strain on muscles and joints. It also rejuvenates the mind and spirit, balances the central nervous system, cleanses internal organs, strengthens the circulatory system, and promotes an overall sense of well-being and contentment. In that respect, both yoga and gardening are sources of similar natural benefits and each complements the other.

The author is a certified yoga instructor and gardener. The illustrator, Tim Foss, who gives life and meaning to Ms. D’Orazio’s text, is also a gardener and yoga practitioner. The publisher, Seattle-based Sasquatch Books, has created the ultimate printed product. It is an instructive, affordable gift, beautiful to look at, and fun to read.

"Campfire" is a Continuous-Blooming Rose for Cold Climates.

http://www.jcbakker.com/products/details/87895100Continuous blooming roses are one of the most important plants that I use in my garden compositions. Their petals are reminiscent of the soft, old-fashioned flower heads of yesteryear, while their ruggedness resonates with gardeners in colder climates. Depending upon variety and growing conditions, a large number of them are resistant to pests and diseases.

The only shortcoming of this class of plants is the absence of intense fragrance usually associated with short blooming high maintenance hybrid tea and old-fashioned roses. Nevertheless, for this perennial gardener, who wants to see color in his flowerbeds all season long, nothing compares to continuous blooming rose bushes to pump out colorful flowers from early summer to late fall and sometimes to early winter.

http://www.jeffriesnurseries.com/Imagine my enthusiasm, therefore, when I read, in the Spring 2013 edition of Garden Making magazine, that Campfire Rose, would be this season’s new introduction in the Canadian Artist Series. From the developers of the Explorer and Parkland roses, this series of next-generation plants are named after Canadian artists who created lasting works of beauty on canvas, in sculpture, or in song. Campfire Rose pays homage to a painting by Tom Thompson.

A Canadian Artists rose is evaluated more rigorously than those in the previous two series of Parkland and Explorer for the benefit of growers and gardeners across Canada and the northern United States. It must be adaptable to all parts of Canada and able to survive the climate, frost lines, diseases and capricious weather patterns from coast to coast. That means a gardener in Prince George, British Columbia, can reliably grow the same rose bush as the gardener in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Kingston, Ontario, Dauphin, Manitoba, or Truro, Nova Scotia.

For those of us who garden in cold climates, it’s comforting to know that roses that have been bred in Canada hardly ever require winter protection. Known for their toughness and refinement, they have strong root systems, clean foliage, good-to-excellent disease resistance, and strong blooming power.

Campfire Rose variety starts to flower in early summer and remains in bloom until hard frost sets in. Can a passionate gardener ask for anything more?

Growers report that this vibrant, multi-colored variety is an awesome performer. Commercial sites describe it as having a mild fragrance. Very rounded, full and bushy, it reaches 2 to 3 feet in height and is slightly wider than high.  

According to technical details supplied by the breeder and growers, the 20-petal blossoms of Campfire Rose begin as shapely buds with yellow and red tones. The flowers open yellow, edged in a deep rosy pink. Some blooms that appear  in the early season will be nearly all yellow, gradually developing pink edging. As the season progresses the pink edging becomes more prominent. Some flowers will be nearly all pink and some nearly all yellow. As autumn approaches, the blooms tend to be yellow in bud, quickly turning soft pink. Growers report that the unusual, stunning, visual effect is harlequin-like.  

Campfire Rose is described as being one of the most disease resistant of any hardy rose and cold hardy to USDA Zone 2 or CAN Zone 3. The branching on this plant is at 45 degrees, giving it both height and width. It covers ground quickly yet has enough height to be used as a high ground cover or low shrub. The stems are smooth with only the occasional short thorns, making it easy to work with.  This upcoming spring, I look forward with great excitement to test grow this new rose in my garden.

Most Canadian nurseries carry Canadian Artist roses. American gardeners should inquire at the nurseries listed below.

Minnesota
Sabin	Levi Reunions Inc.	218-789-7581
St. Paul	Bailey Nurseries	651-459-9744
St. Paul	Friends School Of Minnesota	651-917-0636
North Dakota
Beulah	High Plains Concept	701-873-2334
Ellendale	Harvest Garden Centre	701-349-4837
Harwood	Sheyenne Gardens	701-282-0050
Minto	Helen's Country Greenhouse	701-248-3104
Mohall	The Flower House	701-756-6072
Sutton	Hwy 200 Greenhouse	701-769-2338

Tree Tunnels: A Visually Stunning Photo Essay

JACARANDA WALK, PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICAOne doesn’t have to be gardener to appreciate nature’s beauty. I discovered this photo-essay via a friend’s email; she sent it to me after receiving it from a colleague who had copied it from a foreign-language forwarded message received from Europe.

AUTUMN TREE TUNNEL, SMUGGLER'S NOTCH, VERMONT, USAIt is possible that it originated at toptenz.net.

BAMBOO PATH, ARASHIYAMA, JAPANThe power of the images is so moving and pervasive, that readers around the world have been downloading this post and eagerly forwarding it to their contacts.

RUA GONCALO DE CARVALHO, PORTO ALEGRE, BRAZILIt has been re posted on countless other websites, including YouTube. Yet, there has been no accreditation to its originator. This reproduction has occurred even though the Digital Millennium Copyright Act protects the content of the original source.

GINKO TREE TUNNEL, TOKYO, JAPANThe photo-list impressed me so that I thought to share it with my readers.

WISTERIA TUNNEL, SHIZUOKA, JAPANHowever, as a blogger, I had an obligation to determine its source. 

CHERRY BLOSSOM TUNNEL, BONN, GERMANYThat created an ethical dilemma because this copyrighted material has already been reproduced without accreditation all over the internet and has been forwarded around the world via innumerable personal emails.

YEW TREE TUNNEL, WALES, UKBy now, some may incorrectly assume that it is in the public domain.

TUNNEL OF LOVE, KLEVAN, UKRAINEUsing a Google search, I discovered that, to the best of my knowledge, toptenz.net is the originator.

THE DARK HEDGES, GRACEHILL HOUSE, NORTHERN IRELANDI would be grateful to any reader who can confirm or correct this information. In the meanwhile, I hope that these images generate as much pleasure for you as they have for me and the thousands of readers around the world who have been sharing them with their friends.

Fine Foliage for Flowerbeds and Container Gardening, a book review

Fine Foliage, Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz,       St. Lynn’s Press

Sometimes, a gardener will return from the nursery with a car full of annuals and perennials, place them in flowerbeds or containers according to the guidelines of good garden design, and yet, the resulting plant arrangements still look wanting.

Perhaps the gardener forgot about foliage. Foliage is to garden design what fashion accessories are to clothing. Without the addition of the interesting leaves of perennials, ornamental grasses, shrubs, annuals, and trees, a garden never seems to be complete.

Image copywrite by finefoliage.comFoliage works as a facilitator. It allows otherwise unintegratable plants to combine successfully with others. It also serves as a proscenium, helping to make a perennial or a combination of perennials and shrubs appear more beautiful. Foliage may also supplies direction, volume, color, texture, visual excitement, movement, and mystery.

However, foliage has another role to play; and that is the theme of this book. When plants that are defined by their leaves rather than by their flowers or berries, are combined with other foliage plants, they provide unusual and spiritual visual drama.

Image copywrite by finefoliage.comThe premise of Ms. Chapman and Ms. Salwitz’s beautiful and delightful little book is that it is possible to create successful, eye-catching plant combinations using foliage alone for flowerbed and container gardening. The publication showcases more than sixty inspired foliage-plant partnerships that illustrate this successful style of garden design, while, at the same time, revealing the authors’ immense talent in that field.

Each combination is given a two-page spread with full-color, exquisite, high quality photographs of the individual plants within. So that readers might achieve similar results in their own garden beds and containers, descriptive directions accompany each grouping. Attention is also paid to important details such as sun or shade requirements, seasons, growing zones, soil preference, plant characteristics and care.

Image copywrite by finefoliage.comHowever, what sets apart this book from other garden design manuals is the focus on helping the gardener… get to “beautiful”. The authors take the time to explain why each of their sixty foliage combinations is successful. This information allows readers to gain a designer’s perspective. That outlook, in turn, will enable them to make better choices; it also encourages gardeners to take risks - all in the hope of creating unique personal landscapes and container gardens.

This richly illustrated guide is full of easy-to-use advice. Gardeners of all skill levels will be able to adapt  instructions to create elegant, stylish, flowerbeds for their gardens and breathtaking, designer-looking, containers for their patios.

Image copywrite by finefoliage.comBoth authors are hands-on gardeners. Karen Chapman is a garden coach, horticulturist, garden writer and owner of a container design company. Christina Salwitz  is a garden coach and garden writer who specializes in garden and container design. The authors live with their respective families in the Seattle area of the State of Washington, in the USA.

Twelve Children’s Books on Gardening

It's a sign that that spring is almost here when children’s bookstores display garden books in their storefront windows. On a trip to Boston this past weekend, I noticed that The Childrens Book Shop on Harvard Street, in Brookline, Massachusetts, has dedicated its entire streetfront display to the topic of gardening. Here are twelve books they selected along with publishers or sellers descriptive notes. Click on each image for more information, prices, and shopping. A Day At The Market, Sara Anderson. Celebrate one glorious day of fresh flowers, fish, and produce at Seattle's Pike Place Market--a 100-year-old working farmer's market that steals the hearts of locals and visitors alike. With her signature cut-paper style and playful rhymes in a sturdy, oversized board book with peek-a-boo die-cuts, Sara Anderson captures the essence of the Market she treasures--not only its friendly cacophony, but also the richness of its colorful community, the secrets of its many nooks and crannies, and its irresistible summer bounty. All ages.

Earth Care, Margaret Read Macdonald. A collection of traditional tales and proverbs from over twenty countries or ethnic groups, touching upon both human and ecological themes such as environmental protection, the care of other creatures, and the connection of all things in nature. The book contains 41 stories and 41 proverbs. 53 cultures are represented. Ages 5 and up.

Growing Garden, Lois Ehlerts. Color explodes from the author's bold, beautiful cut-paper collages like seeds from an over-ripe pod. Three gift-sized editions of her beloved hardcover picture books--Eating the Alphabet (with a glossary of fruits and vegetables), Planting a Rainbow (a concept book about colors and different flowers), and Growing Vegetable Soup (includes a recipe!)--are packaged in a lovely slipcase with a 16" x 22" flower-garden poster. Age 4 and up.

How Does My Garden Grow? DK. Help your child discover the science behind the wonderful world of plants. They'll learn all about the lifecycle of plants, how they work and where they live through hands on fun projects that show science in action. From pollination to hydroponics, this book will teach your child new science facts in a fun and simple way. Age 7 and up.

In The Garden, Elizabeth Spurr. In this gently rhyming board book, a young boy creates a garden, one small action at a time. First, he digs in the dirt and plants seeds, then he adds soil, water, and some patience. With time, the seeds grow and the boy excitedly discovers what he has helped to make. Along the way, readers learn the words for simple objects related to the garden and nature.

Maisy’s Garden, Lucy Cousins.  A Maisy book with stickers!  There are lots of wonderful things growing in Maisy’s garden - fruits, flowers, vegetables, grass, and more! Young readers join the fun as they complete the scenes with more than 25 full-color, reusable stickers. Age 3 and up.

My Garden, Kevin Henkes. A girl helps in her mother’s garden, but in the garden of her imagination, there are chocolate rabbits, tomatoes as big as beach balls, flowers that change color, and seashells. Age 2 and up.

Plant A Little Seed, Bonnie Christensen. With a little help from a watering can, bright sunlight, and a lot of patience, two friends plant seeds in their community garden and watch how they grow. Slowly, the seeds turn into sprouts, which grow into stems, followed by leaves and buds! The garden will soon be teeming with life and ready for a harvest season celebration. But until then, the children water and wait and dream. Age 3 and up.

Secrets Of The Garden, Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld. Alice's family plants a vegetable garden each spring, and this budding naturalist reports how the plants grow, what insects come to eat the plants, and what birds and animals come to eat the insects.  It's the food chain, in her backyard! Age 5 and up.

Seed, Soil, Sun, Cris Peterson. With these three simple ingredients, nature creates food. Using the corn plant as an example, the author celebrates the agricultural cycle of growth, harvest, and renewal. This American Farm Bureau Foundation Agriculture Book of the Year also discusses the make-up of soil and the creatures who live there--from microscopic one-celled bacteria to moles, amoebas, and earthworms. Ages 4 to 7.

The Future Of The Earth, Yann Arthus-Bertrand. In easy terms for the older child, a book about sustainable development. A primer on mankind's direct and indirect impact on the natural world, it explains how global trends, economic disparity, and invasive species have changed our world. Spectacular photos of fragile environments. Age 10 and up.

Who Am I? Farm Animals, DK. A peephole format to keep babies and toddlers engaged, and age-appropriate text introducing simple facts about favorite objects and animals. Lift-the-flap format establishes parent and child interaction; Peephole guessing game improves cognitive skills and memory; Simple facts encourage early learning and oral skills; Ages 0 to 5.